Beats Vines and Life

MJ’s Guest today is the President, Owner-Manager of the Mastroberardino winery estate Piero Mastroberardino. Piero is the tenth generation to run the Mastroberardino family winery, the oldest winery in the Campania region. Piero took over the winery after his father Antonio, a leader of modern winemaking in Italy and instrumental in preserving the ancient native varieties of the Campania region, retired in 2005.  Piero is a true scholar of his family’s history and shares many incredible stories - including one from the early 1920’s which involves the Mastroberardino wines, pirates, a ransom and the famous Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio! MJ and Piero discuss the importance of developing new ways to farm while also preserving the legacy and winemaking style of his father. This conversation is an exploration and celebration of The Mastroberardino family who have lived in the socio-cultural context of wine for over two centuries. A huge thank you to Piero Mastroberardino! Follow him on IG @pieromastroberardinoFollow Mastroberardino Winery on IG at @mastroberardinowineryLearn more about the wine and winemakers at: www.mastroberardino.comThis episode’s in studio wine:2016 Radici Taurasi DOCG____________________________________________________________To to order your bottles of 2016 Radici Taurasi DOCG from Mastroberardino in Campania, ItalySimply text: PIERO (74736) to 351-444-WINE (351-444-9463) that's PIERO (74736) 351-444-WINEYou will instantly get a text back with the details about the wine, price, shipping, all of it! After that, just sit back, relax and know that this hidden gem is on its way.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guests are American journalists, authors, and wine critics, Dorothy J. Gaiter (Dottie) and John Brecher. They are the wife and husband duo who jointly wrote the successful Wall Street Journal wine column "Tastings" and created the beloved “Open That Bottle Night.” Dottie and John both began their careers at the Miami Herald, meeting each other at 9am on their first day there: June 4th, 1973. It was love at first sight, they have said. Since then, Dottie has worked at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. John has worked at Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg News. They’re also authors of books on wine, including Love by the Glass: Tasting Notes from a Marriage (2003), Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion (2004) and several editions of The Wall Street Journal Guide to Wine. They’ve appeared regularly on TV, from Martha Stewart to the Today Show. Currently, they are senior editors at Grape Collective and co-author of the bi-weekly column; Love by the Glass.Dottie, John, and MJ talk about everything from Dottie and John’s love story, to their career, to the evolution of their love for wine. Dottie shares how she went from writing about race to writing about wine, and what it’s been like to be a Black woman in the wine industry. John talks about the first bottle of wine they ever shared and the first case of wine he ever bought.   A huge thank you to Dottie Gaiter and John Brecher!Follow Dottie and John on IG @dottieandjohn and on Facebook and Twitter @winecouple, and check out their column at www.grapecollective.com.This episode’s in studio wines: 2018 Camins 2 Dream Sta. Rita Hills Syrah Spear Vineyard______________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Taub Family Selections. Taub Family Selections is a dynamic fourth generation, family-owned wine import company with a truly enviable portfolio of fine wines from 11 countries. They are proud to represent an exceptional portfolio of high quality, terroir centric and historic producers from around the world, including Italy and France - where they have an exciting roster of burgeoning vignerons from Burgundy coming your way soon. Learn more at www.taubfamilyselections.comThank you to our sponsor: Independence Wine and Spirits - or IWS. IWS is one of the hot up and coming distributors of fine wines and spirits headquartered in New York City. Like Taub Family Selections, IWS is owned by the Taub family, who have re-entered the NY wholesale market, bringing the family back to its roots in distribution where they held court from 1951 – 2004. To learn more about IWS go to: https://independencewine.com  Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest was executive producer and writer for the Emmy Award-winning TV series “Cheers,” a published author, co-founder of the podcast network Ricochet and host of the weekly podcast, Martini Shot, Rob Long.  A graduate from Yale University, Rob also spent two years studying at UCLA School of Film, Theater and Television. Rob began his career writing and producing TV's long-running series, "Cheers," and served as co-executive producer in its final season. During his time on, “Cheers,” the show received two Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe awards. Rob has been twice nominated for an Emmy Award, and has received a Writers Guild of America award. Rob’s podcast network Ricochet, garners 4 to 5 million downloads per month! He writes regularly for The Washington Examiner and Commentary Magazine, and has been a Contributing Editor at National Review since 1993. Rob’s most recent book, Bigly: Donald Trump in Verse, is a comical string of Trump’s most popular quotes arranged in poetry form! He serves as co-president on the Board of Directors of My Friend’s Place, an agency for homeless teens in Hollywood and is on the board of the American Cinema Foundation. Rob is also an active and passionate member of the Southern Foodways Alliance.Rob and MJ discuss everything from New Haven pizza and fried donuts, writing and producing Cheers, behind the scene stories from Fraser and Friends to vapers and reality TV. This is a trip down memory lane. Buckle up and enjoy the ride. Cheers! A huge thank you to Rob Long!Follow Rob on IG at @rcblCheck out Rob’s Martini Shot podcast at https://martinishotpodcast.com. This episode’s in studio wine: 1998 Cos D'Estournel______________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Taub Family Selections. Taub Family Selections is a dynamic fourth generation, family-owned wine import company with a truly enviable portfolio of fine wines from 11 countries. They are proud to represent an exceptional portfolio of high quality, terroir centric and historic producers from around the world, including Italy and France - where they have an exciting roster of burgeoning vignerons from Burgundy coming your way soon. Learn more at www.taubfamilyselections.comThank you to our sponsor: Independence Wine and Spirits - or IWS. IWS is one of the hot up and coming distributors of fine wines and spirits headquartered in New York City. Like Taub Family Selections, IWS is owned by the Taub family, who have re-entered the NY wholesale market, bringing the family back to its roots in distribution where they held court from 1951 – 2004. To learn more about IWS go to: https://independencewine.com  Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is Recently named as one of “the 50 most influential women in the wine trade,” and as “a leading woman in wine,” Lisa Granik MW entered the field following an earlier career as a lawyer and law professor.  Having worked in wine production, retail, import and distribution channels, she has worked with both small and large wholesalers and importers around the United States. Her writings on wine have appeared in publications such as Sommelier Journal, The World of Fine Wine, and The New York Times. Lisa became a Master of Wine in 2006. She has a BS and MS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, a JD from Georgetown, her LL.M and doctorate from Yale Law School. Lisa and MJ discuss her unconventional path to becoming a Master of Wine, imposter syndrome, how wine is like people, where to get the best steak in Philly, Lisa’s time in the Soviet Union, and why she left litigation behind. A huge thank you to Lisa Granik Follow Lisa on IG at @lisagranikmwFor more information, check out Tastingworks website at http://granikmw.com/This episode’s in studio wines: Kapistoni TavkveriKapistoni Chinebuli Zulal Areni Vayots Dzor ______________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Taub Family Selections. Taub Family Selections is a dynamic fourth generation, family-owned wine import company with a truly enviable portfolio of fine wines from 11 countries. They are proud to represent an exceptional portfolio of high quality, terroir centric and historic producers from around the world, including Italy and France - where they have an exciting roster of burgeoning vignerons from Burgundy coming your way soon. Learn more at www.taubfamilyselections.comThank you to our sponsor: Independence Wine and Spirits - or IWS. IWS is one of the hot up and coming distributors of fine wines and spirits headquartered in New York City. Like Taub Family Selections, IWS is owned by the Taub family, who have re-entered the NY wholesale market, bringing the family back to its roots in distribution where they held court from 1951 – 2004. To learn more about IWS go to: https://independencewine.com  Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s guest is seasoned sommelier, wine educator and founder of Volcanic Selections, Jeff Porter. Jeff has been featured in numerous major food and wine publications, such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Eater and The Financial Times. Jeff’s sommelier career began in Napa Valley, where he worked at Tra Vigne Ristorante in St. Helena. He joined the Bastianich Hospitality Group in 2009 at Osteria Mozza under the auspice of James Beard Award winning chef Nancy Silverton. Jeff is back! On this week’s episode, he and MJ talk all about turning a passion for wine into a successful career. Jeff details making the move from LA to NYC, and the differences in wine culture that he discovered once he arrived. Jeff shares about the process of making Sip Trip, his web series about wine life and culture that aims to show anyone can get be passionate about wine. He reflects on starting an import and distribution business just before the pandemic hit, and opens up about what’s next for him and his business. A huge thank you to Jeff Porter! Follow him on IG @jeffporterwineCheck out Volcanic Selectionshttps://volcanicselections.com/ Follow them on IG @volcanicselections This episode’s in studio wine: 2019 Natte Valley Stellenbosch Cinsault______________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles is a region with so many diverse microclimates that allows for a stunning array of grapes to thrive in. It’s made up of over 200 family-owned wineries, making a beautiful variety of wines.Learn more at https://pasowine.com/Tune in to their podcast Where the Wine Takes You - which explores the people, places and wines of Paso Robles Wine Country! https://pasowine.com/where-wine-takes-you/ Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s guest is Founder of Booker Vineyards, one of Paso Robles Legendary Artisanal Cult Wineries, Eric Jensen. Eric and his wife Lisa Jensen purchased 100 acres of  property in Paso Robles, CA in 2001 with the intent of growing the best fruit for some of the best wineries in the area. After making wine with Justin Smith (of Saxum) for five years and Stephan Asseo (of L'Aventure Wines) for two years, the Jensens decided it was time to create their own expression with Booker Vineyard. The 2005 Vintage was Booker Vineyard's first release with the wines being made by Eric himself. The vineyard received organic certification in April of 2021. In this episode, Eric is fresh in the studio after a big night of celebrating in NYC  - and he and MJ quickly jump into discussing the bottles. This conversation is unscripted and full of heart. The opinions about wine and winemaking are candid and real. From Eric’s humble beginnings in San Dimas, CA to his early days of cold calling to his absolute love of Paso Robles and its winemakers - make sure your ear pods are charged, you don’t want to miss a minute of this one! A huge thank you to Eric Jensen Follow him on IG at @bookerbadgerKeep up with all he has going on at Booker Winery: https://www.bookerwines.comFollow them on IG @bookervineyardThis episode’s in studio wine:2016 Booker White 2015 Booker Oublie ______________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles is a region with so many diverse microclimates that allows for a stunning array of grapes to thrive in. It’s made up of over 200 family-owned wineries, making a beautiful variety of wines. Learn more at https://pasowine.com/Tune in to their podcast Where the Wine Takes You - which explores the people, places and wines of Paso Robles Wine Country! https://pasowine.com/where-wine-takes-you/   Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s guest is JJ Redick, the famous Duke University basketball player, where he still holds several records including “all time leading scorer.” JJ’s professional basketball career began in 2006 when the Orlando Magic selected him with the 11th pick overall. Over the course of his 15 year NBA career he has played with Milwaukee Bucks, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Orleans Pelicans, and finally the Dallas Mavericks. He is the creator and host of the podcast The Old Man and the Three. In 2020, he founded the podcasting company ThreeFourTwo Productions. He is an enthusiastic wine collector, JJ has assembled a cellar of diverse vinous selections, which he recently discussed in “All Starts Uncorked” a digital event sponsored by Acker Wines. JJ is a devout Christian, husband, and father, an ESPN sports corresponder and… a household name. On this week’s episode, MJ and his guest discuss in detail JJ’s legendary journey from an uneven backyard basketball court full of obstacles to numerous records at Duke University, his spectacular professional career, and of course, his love affair with wine. JJ reminisces on his earliest athletic experiences, balancing baseball and basketball before ultimately embarking on the path that would seal his place in basketball history. He reflects on his decision to complete his four years of college, where he was just hours before the draft, the contract celebration that sparked his curiosity about wine, what it was like to bond over a bottle during the NBA pandemic bubble, and what it means to be a compassionate human being.A huge thank you to JJ RedickFollow him on IG at @jjredickCheck out his podcast, The Old Man and the Three, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and his website www.threefourtwo.comThis episode’s in studio wine:2019 Joseph Drouhin Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru______________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles is a region with so many diverse microclimates that allows for a stunning array of grapes to thrive in. It’s made up of over 200 family-owned wineries, making a beautiful variety of wines. Learn more at https://pasowine.com/Tune in to their podcast Where the Wine Takes You - which explores the people, places and wines of Paso Robles Wine Country! https://pasowine.com/where-wine-takes-you/ Huge shout out to our sponsor: 56 Degree Wines. Are you looking for extraordinary new wines that have been tasted and approved by professionals with over 40 years combined experience? Then you have to check out 56degreewine.com. Joe Bembry and his grand crew at the shop do all the heavy lifting for you by vetting every wine on their shelves. Authentic, Artisanal wines. Use the Code:MJ when you checkout to get 10% OFF your first oder.https://www.56degreewine.com/  Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s guest is a cellar’s worth of degrees and experiences in wine, and service, and is currently the wine director of Gary’s Wine and Marketplace, please welcome Brooke Sabel. Brooke has been featured in Real Simple Magazine, Travel + Leisure Magazine, Forbes Magazine, CondeNast Traveler Magazine, SOMM Journal and More! Along with the James Beard Foundation, Brooke has participated in Star Chefs Somm Slam, New Jersey Wine & Food Festival and is one of sommelier luminaries for Nantucket Wine & Food Festival. Brooke was Assistant Wine Director for Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa where she developed wine lists for culinary masters Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck, and Michael Mina. Brooke also developed a wine program for Sir Richard Branson and New Jersey developer Bob Wojtowicz to develop the wine program at Natirar and its award-winning restaurant Ninety Acres, where she held the position of opening Wine Director. It was her focus on sustainable, organic, biodynamic and small-production wines that garnered high accolades amongst her peers and the press.On this episode, MJ and Brooke pull back the curtain on what’s nothing less than an amazing career that started in college! Brooke dishes on her initial foray into wine during a wine class; leaving a potentially lucrative job with the PGA Tour to drink and eat her way through Spain with her class; being recruited to Borgata after just 3 months with 56 Degrees Wine where she worked as the top Sommelier working alongside Bobby Flay (and one particular special night, where he never let her out of his sight again!). Phone call, after phone call, changed Brooke’s career path again and again, and each time, for the better. From Sir Richard Branson to Robin Williams and Billy Crystal - Life doesn’t get much sweeter than this, Kid. Grab a long stem and a cabernet sauvignon, and get ready for a good time. A huge thank you to Brooke Sabel! Follow her on IG at @brookesabelFollow Gary’s Wine and Marketplace @garys_wineGet more of Gary’s Wine at garyswine.com  This episode’s in studio wine:1989 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon______________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles is a region with so many diverse microclimates that allows for a stunning array of grapes to thrive in. It’s made up of over 200 family-owned wineries, making a beautiful variety of wines. Learn more at https://pasowine.com/Tune in to their podcast Where the Wine Takes You - which explores the people, places and wines of Paso Robles Wine Country! https://pasowine.com/where-wine-takes-you/   Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s Guest today is one of the most influential and widely-read American voices on wine and food and Managing Editor of RESY, acclaimed journalist and author, Jon Bonne. In Jon’s 20 + years as a journalist he has been a Senior Contributing Editor for PUNCH. He spent nearly a decade as the Wine Editor and Chief Wine Critic of The San Francisco Chronicle, where he co-edited its Food & Wine section, and won two James Beard awards and numerous other accolades.He is also author of The New California Wine and The New Wine Rules, and is currently finishing his next book, The New French Wine. In this episode MJ and Jon discuss his early beginnings in media at MSNBC where he first pitched the idea of doing a wine column. From that momentum he eventually landed in California, as wine critic at the SF Chronicle which jokingly Jon calls “not awkward” as big California wines had not “been his thing”. MJ and he discuss his journey of discovering California wines “that spoke to him”, writing now iconic books, the love story of meeting his wife and his deep appreciations of Burgundy, the wine and the region. The opinions are strong and the wines are delicious! Cheers! A huge thank you to Jon Bonne! Follow him on IG at @jbonneCheck out his website: jonbonne.comRead his current writings @resy.com This episode’s in studio wine:Monnières - Saint Fiacre2018 Domain De La Pepiere Planquette_____________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles is a region with so many diverse microclimates that allows for a stunning array of grapes to thrive in. It’s made up of over 200 family-owned wineries, making a beautiful variety of wines. Learn more at https://pasowine.com/Tune in to their podcast Where the Wine Takes You - which explores the people, places and wines of Paso Robles Wine Country! https://pasowine.com/where-wine-takes-you/   Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s guest is writer and research journalist J’nai Gaither. She has worked vintages as a cellar hand at Ferrari-Carano Winery in Geyserville, CA, and Indevin New Zealand Winery in Gisborne, NZ. She has done WSET Level 3 and is currently studying for her Master of Champagne through the Wine Scholar Guild. Additionally, J’nai was one of four research journalists working on Karen MacNeil’s upcoming third edition of The Wine Bible. In this episode J’nai has literally just returned from Burgundy after receiving the Becky Wasserman scholarship. MJ and she discuss her early days growing up in Chicago and how her innate ability to “zig while other people zag” has defined her journey to become a celebrated food and wine author. The discussion touches on everything from her new discoveries in Burgundy to California cult wines. J’nai shares her past experiences with racism in the tasting rooms of Napa Valley and her current  joy of being an editor at Wine Enthusiast magazine. The humor, the realness and the wine banter is all at 100. Enjoy!  A huge thank you to J’nai Gaither Follow her on IG at @champagneandreservationsRead her writings at: winemag.com This episode’s in studio wine:Eric Rodez Blanc de Noirs Champagne Grand Cru_____________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles is a region with so many diverse microclimates that allows for a stunning array of grapes to thrive in. It’s made up of over 200 family-owned wineries, making a beautiful variety of wines. Learn more at https://pasowine.com/Tune in to their podcast Where the Wine Takes You - which explores the people, places and wines of Paso Robles Wine Country! https://pasowine.com/where-wine-takes-you/ Huge shout out to our sponsor:  56 Degree Wines.  Are you looking for extraordinary new wines that have been tasted and approved by professionals with over 40 years combined experience?  Then you have to check out 56degreewine.com.  Joe Bembry and his grand crew at the shop do all the heavy lifting for you by vetting every wine on their shelves. Authentic, Artisanal wines. https://www.56degreewine.com/  Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.