The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits

Bart Hansen and Sam Coturri are officially announcing their “Spring Release” wines. Dane Cellars is releasing the 2018 Chenin Blanc from the Buddha’s Dharma vineyard and the 2018 Grenache from Rossi Ranch. Sam Coturri is releasing the “A Deux Tetes” series with a 2019 Grenache Rose from the Miller Vineyard in Napa, a 2018 Grenache from Rossi Ranch and the 2018 Grenache from Oakville Ranch. All the wines are currently available by visiting their websites. [EP182] winerysixteen600.com danecellars.com sonomasommwines.com

Shaina Harding earned her degree in Enology & Viticulture at UC Davis, working for Domaine Chandon, Clos Pegase and Flora Springs before taking the position of Associate Winemaker at HUNNICUTT Wines. Natalie Coughlin grew up outside of Napa in Vallejo, with a love of food and wine,before becoming one of the most decorated American Olympic swimmers in history. How did these two dynamic women meet and decide to start a small production label called Gaderian Wines? Listen to this week’s Podcast and  get the whole story. [EP181] Gaderianwines.com Hunnicuttwines.com Nataliecoughlin.com

This week we are joined by Fred & Jamie Pererson of Peterson Winery in Dry Creek Valley. Producing wines for the past 30 years and like most wineries in the Valley, they make Zinfandel but it’s the other wines and their unique part of Dry Creek that are an important part of the story. Fred is an iconoclast with an old-world winemaking philosophy and a reverence for sustainable farming. The Peterson approach is to capture the essence of vintage and vineyard—a philosophy they call Zero Manipulation—with low tech, yet high touch winemaking techniques to produce wines of a place, wines with soul. Jamie was named assistant winemaker in the summer of 2002 and in 2006, they moved their production to Timber Crest Farms on Dry Creek Road, Jamie was given the overall responsibilities as winemaker. Together Fred and Jamie assess the grapes each evaluating how the weather, soil and site are interacting for the particular vintage. [EP180] These are exceptional wines made with thought, care and have a lot of soul. We hope you enjoy the show. Cheers www.petersonwinery.com @petersonwinery

There are stories about people who leave their jobs in corporate America to pursue their dreams of working in the wine business. This week we have Sean McBride from Crosby Romann Wines on the show. Sean, his wife Juliana and their twin daughters did just that. Their first commercial release from 2007 was made at a custom crush facility and they have been moving forward ever since. They purchased an abandoned commercial building in Napa, completed its construction to be their production facility and tasting room. Just last year they purchased a 5 acre vineyard in Carneros planted to Sauvignon Blanc and a plan to replant part of it to some Bordeaux varieties for their own Estate Blend. Hope you enjoy hearing their story and that you will check out their wines. [EP179] We are excited to be back and have a whole list of exciting shows for 2021 and can’t wait to share them with all of you. Cheers Crosby Romann Wines www.crosbyroamann.com @crosbyromann

The guys gather this week on the day after… No not New Years Day, the day after what can only be described unbelievable. We touched on a number of subjects, everything from what’s going on in the vineyard to vineyard designated gummies. We are looking forward to 2021 and already have an entire list of guests we can’t wait to introduce you to. Stay safe everyone and we look forward to a great year. Cheers!!! [EP178]

Laura joined the conversation while sitting on her lanai on Kauai sipping a Pellegrino in the morning sun talking about wanting to distill some rum. Ahh, the life of a winemaker right ?? Not exactly… Dig deeper and you’ll find that she is extremely thoughtful in her approach to the wine business, almost like she has one eye on a barrel of Merlot and the other eye up in space looking down at the planet. She catches the attention of the critics, named Winemaker to watch in 2017 and recently having her Carneros Merlot selected as 1 of 12 wines that defined 2020 by Esther Mobley, but that is not her goal. Laura wants to make soulful wines made with intention for everybody to enjoy. Reacting to climate change, she has moved up to Washington to make more acid-driven white wines, in a cooler environment with lower overhead. She is not a fan of social media or even the process of selling, Laura simply wants to create beautiful wines. You can purchase some of these wines through Benchmark in Napa. Happy New Year, thanks for supporting us this year, it is truly appreciated. [EP177] 1614 Sixth Street Berkeley, CA  94710 (510) 883-3189 laura @ inconnuwine.com

Fine Disregard Wine Cowas founded by Mike Schieffer and Kara Maraden – both came to the Napa Valley drawn to wine from previous careers, Mike from Texas and Kara from Pennsylvania. Mike graduated from American University in Washington, DC – worked for the Discovery Channel – exploring a possible career in law – but then was bitten by the wine bug. His introduction to wine making came through a Rugby coach who connected him with several wineries in Bordeaux – Mike worked in Bordeaux in 2008 and later in the Hunter Valley in Australia where he was introduced to Sémillon – an introduction that would later influence his decision to work with Sémillon in the Napa Valley. Kara graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and Master’s in Plant Pathology. Trying to determine a career – she initially helped managed large estate gardens in Pennsylvania, sold beer for a stint before moving to California in 2010. Initially seeking a job in a tasting room, she soon discovered viticulture was a better match to her interests and background. She has been a viticulturist for Clos Du Val, Regusci and Foley Family of Wines. [EP176] https://www.finedisregardwine.com

This week on the show we discuss the wines on our favorite year ending lists, Wine Spectator Top 100, Wine Spectator top 100 wines under $20, Esther Mobley’s 12 California wines that defined 2020 and Jeb Dunnuck top 100. We also discuss automated tractors, future guests, supply chain inequities and our personal favorite wines of 2020. Happy Holidays. [EP175]

Ray has had a life full of adventures, from traveling around Asia after graduating college to signing up to help build a sailboat and the being on the crew sailing around the South Pacific. Ray’s wine-making career began on various Sonoma Valley bottling lines in the late 1970’s. From there he worked at Kenwood Vineyards in the cellar for about 5 years. Ray also picked-up some Pinot Noir knowledge, by working a couple of harvests at Bouchaine Vineyards. In 1987 he began working as co winemaker for Laurel Glen Vineyards. When Ray first started, the wine world was a different place. He watched and learned as stainless steel tanks began replacing redwood tanks and concrete fermenters. He saw refrigeration become commonplace, and work in the vineyards and the wineries become more specific. He saw this willingness to change lead California to produce unique world class wines. Similarly, Ray developed as a winemaker first by following traditional procedures, then by following the more technical approach suggested by the University of Davis. Ultimately, Ray’s wine making style utilizes traditional, natural methods supported by technical knowledge. Ray is uniquely familiar with the difference between working with multiple vineyards to make one wine and using a single vineyard. In Argentina, the single vineyard concept is still new.  Before Ray’s first visit, he knew very little about Argentina. Once he arrived, he found great joy in the people, the culture, the food, and of course–the Malbec. The wine industry reminded him of California when he first started out. At that time, there was an influx of new people and new ideas. Change for the better was in the air, grounded by an appreciation and respect for tradition. [EP174] https://adelantewine.com/

The Wine Makers celebrate their favorite holiday of the year, Repeal Day, with Tom Wark, wine publicist, wine blogger and tireless advocate for wine consumers, producers and retailers. Perhaps best known for his Fermentation Wine Blog, where he never shies away from controversy and frequently takes on the archaic “Three-Tiered System” of wine sales that has allowed wholesalers to keep a stranglehold on the market since the repeal of prohibition. Listen in as Wark dispatches on 30 years in the wine business, the current state of wine shipping laws, neo-prohibitionists and much more! [EP173]