The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits
The Wine Makers
A laid-back journey into the heart of wine culture Every week, hosts Sam Coturri, Bart Hansen, and Brian Casey pull the cork on real conversations with winemakers, growers, sommeliers, and industry trailblazers from Sonoma and beyond. The Wine Makers blends deep knowledge with a relaxed, no-snobbery approach to everything from biodynamic farming to rebellious cider makers and sake artisans. These are not dry lectures or polished promos—just passionate people talking shop over a glass (or three). The hosts’ decades of hands-on experience in vineyards, cellars, and tasting rooms fuel lively discussions about sustainability, storytelling, and the changing world of wine. Whether you’re just starting to explore wine or already know your skin-contact from your carbonic maceration, this show delivers honest insight, practical advice, and plenty of personality. Pour a glass and press play.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 4, 2022 • 1h 30min
The Wine Makers – Jake Neustadt, Soleras Del Pacifico
Viticulturist Jake Neustadt is a bay area native who was attending UC Davis, studying journalism and international relations. Like other stories that we have heard he discovered viticulture and winemaking and how that maybe this was to be his career path. Starting at Rock Wall Winery, some time in New Zealand and then to Ridge winery where he dove deep into old vines. But it’s his time at Bedrock that has brought him to the podcast. What likely started out as a conversation about the Old Vine Palomino that grew at the Evangelho vineyard has become Soleras Del Pacifico. Flor-aged wines made from California’s ancient Palomino vines. Ready for a bit of education about Sherry? Check it out. [EP 221]
www.solerasdelpacifico.com
@SolerasDelPacifico
Jan 28, 2022 • 1h 56min
The Wine Makers – Randy Hester of C.L. Butaud
Randy Hester, creator of the Lightning wine brand, has taken over Austin Texas by storm. With his family name carried on with the C.L. Butaud line and Frenchy’s Rose, Randy and Brooke made the leap from Sonoma to Austin and did it right. 100% Texas wines is obviously a Really good thing in Austin and Randy tells all of the stories on this week’s show. We sampled lots of great wines and heard and told lots of old friend stories. Enjoy.
clbutaud.com
Facebook @clbutaud
Instagram @clbutaud
Randy’s IG @elrandin
Jan 21, 2022 • 1h 48min
The Wine Makers – Brooke Delmas Robertson
Delmas/SJR Vineyard had a problem. It’s a prime Syrah vineyard in the The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA in Walla Walla Valley but extreme winter temperatures were wreaking havoc on the vines and threatening the viability of the vineyard. Rather than keep doing what everyone else did, Brooke Delmas Roberts came up with a radical new way of pruning and training the vines-MHT or Mini Head Trained vines were born. Hear all about their vineyard, their wines and this premier OREGON appellation. [EP 219]
Jan 14, 2022 • 1h 40min
The Wine Makers – Lyle Fass
Lyle Fass is devoted to wine and sneakers. He’s devoted, emotionally, scientifically and financially. His devotion would verge on manic if he wasn’t so good at it. Never one to shy away from a story or an opinion, Lyle joins the Wine Makers via Zoom from Manhattan and breaks down, what he looks for in wine, how he finds and how he sells and tells us what he really thinks about natural wine…and Nikes. [EP 218]
Jan 8, 2022 • 1h 14min
The Wine Makers – Listener Questions
This week’s show is brought to you by Zoom. Yes we are temporarily recording by Zoom because of COVID worries, but hope to be back live with a new guest next week. This week we opened it up to listener questions, a vineyard update and Sam has more nice words about the loss of Phillpe Cambie. Thanks to all of your support and we look forward to a great year. [EP217]
Cheers!
Dec 17, 2021 • 1h 53min
The Wine Makers – Tim Gatto and the Art of Label Design
Ever wonder why one wine label hits you and others just don’t? Or how a label can actually represent what’s really in the bottle with all of the wine’s particular characteristics? Well, Tim Gatto has a lot of answers for you and it’s a fascinating discussion. We explore how winemakers hit And miss the mark everyday and what you should look for in the wine aisle. [EP216]
Enjoy!
tim@gatto.design
gatto.design
Dec 10, 2021 • 1h 34min
The Wine Makers – Hardy Wallace, Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah!
To say Hardy thinks about wine different than all of us is a understatement. He seems thinks about life differently. The amount of energy, soul and excitement he has and spreads when talking about wine is infectious. Hardy shares stories about how he went from high tech to low intervention wines and now to Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah!!! [EP215]
Grab a glass of wine and hang on tight.
Cheers!
www.winecoyeah.com
@winecoyeah
@dirtysouthwine
Dec 4, 2021 • 1h 34min
The Wine Makers – Brad Warner, Leto Cellars & Glenn Workman, Robert Mondavi Winery
This week on the show we talk with Brad and Glenn about their time working for Mr. Mondavi. Brad got his winery job at Charles Krug working harvest in 1967, while there he accepted a second job working at the then new Robert Mondavi Winery in 1970. Perhaps the only person who has worked in both Mondavi cellars at the same time. Shortly thereafter Brad was promoted to Cellar Foreman, it was shortly after that time he interviewed Glenn Workman for a cellar position, after an extensive interview Glenn joined the team. This was a time in the California wine industry of growth and learning. These two men were working for one of the leader’s that brought us to what we now know as the modern California wine industry. Enjoy their stories and check out Brad’s wines Leto Cellars [EP214)
www.letocellars.com
@letocellars
Nov 19, 2021 • 1h 43min
The Wine Makers – Jason Jardine & Brandon Brédo, Team Hanzell Farm
Ambassador James D. Zellerbach founded Hanzell Vineyards in 1953 with a vision to create wines that could compete on the world stage and he picked an amazing piece of property in Sonoma Valley. Over the past 68 years there have been some stellar teams at Hanzell. Today we talked with part of the current Hanzell Farm team. Both Jason and Brandons path to Hanzell is best told in their own words. Which is the story of how Hanzell has evolved from being a vineyard and a winery to a farm that continues to produce some of the most sought after, age worthy wines in California. They aren’t the first to farm using some of the techniques but they might be one of the most thoughtful. Enjoy the show and we hope you have a great Thanksgiving. [EP213]
Cheers!
www.hanzell.com
@hanzellfarm
@jasonmjardine
@brandon.bredo
Nov 12, 2021 • 2h 14min
The Wine Makers – Will Bucklin, Old Hill Ranch
Will Bucklin and his family have long and notable history in Sonoma Valley. However that history is dwarfed by the history in their 150 year old vineyard, Old Hill Ranch. While tasting through the incredible line up of wines Will makes from the vineyard his mother and step-father saved from demolition nearly 50 years ago, we tried to capture some of te storied history of both the place and the people. Mostly we ended up talking about Grenache—and after nearly 2 and half hours we were all left wanting more. Look for Part Deux one day soon when we record from bridge of the Starship Bucklin! [EP212]
www.buckzin.com
@willbuckzin
