

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

May 1, 2020 • 1h 21min
The Wine Makers – Cathy Huyghe
Cathy is the co-founder and CEO of Enolytics, a big data startup providing business intelligence for the wine industry. She also currently writes for Forbes.com about the business and politics of the wine industry, and for Inc.com about entrepreneurs with a special focus on women. She is the author of the award-winning book Hungry for Wine: Seeing the World through the Lens of a Wine Glass.
Cathy’s writing has appeared in print and online for both general-interest and wine industry publications including the Harvard Business Review network, The Atlantic, Decanter, Food52.com (where she was the “Wine, Unfussed” columnist), DailyBeast, The Boston Globe, the Washington Post, Wine Enthusiast, GlobalPost, Grist.org, and Daily Candy.
She found a little time to come hang out with us.
cathyhuyghe.com
Cathy’s Book, Hungry for wine
Cathy’s Post on Balanced Glass

Apr 24, 2020 • 1h 25min
The Wine Makers – Esther Mobley
This week we finally sit down with Esther Mobley, former editor at Wine Spectator in New York and current wine, beer and spirits writer at the San Francisco Chronicle. What we have loved most about Esther since joining the Chronicle in 2015 is her ability to use wine as a backdrop to get at the really interesting stories about the people and issues behind the wine. Iconic wine makers and wineries are sometimes used as a backdrop to cover deeper stories of immigration, climate change and social inequity. Her natural sense of curiosity serves her well and endears her to the readers. We talk about what it’s like to cover the wine industry in these strange times where personal contact is off limits. Pour yourself a Paloma and enjoy… [EP143]
Stay safe, order wine, tune in and turn on…..
sfchronicle.com
esthermobley.com

Apr 17, 2020 • 1h 2min
The Wine Makers – Junk Folder
This week the guys were supposed to have Esther Mobley on, wine writer for the S.F. Chronicle. Our Zoom invite somehow made it into her “junk” file but we decided to do the show anyway. Don’t worry, we got her back for next weeks show. We discuss the origins of the podcast and how it has changed in the last few weeks. Stay safe, order wine, tune in and guzzle down. [EP142]

Apr 13, 2020 • 1h 21min
The Wine Makers – Virtual Wine Tasting
BONUS CONTENT! – On Friday the 10th of April 2020 The Wine Makers Podcast did their first Virtual Wine Tasting with Dane Cellars & Sixteen600. They recorded it and decided to release it as a “bonus” show for anyone that wanted to hear it. Thank you to everyone that signed up and joined us, it was nice to see all of your faces and we truly appreciate the support. Cheers!
The next virtual tasting is scheduled for Friday May 1st. Stay tuned for details.
winerysixteen600.com
danecellars.com
thegirlandthefig.com

Apr 10, 2020 • 1h
The Wine Makers – Paul Mabray, Emetry
“The Wine Industry doesn’t have an education problem, we have an engagement problem”. Paul Mabray is an outspoken voice in the wine industry when it comes to data collection and how to properly use it to engage our customers. We thought this was a good time to have him back since all of us in the industry are scrambling to connect with our customers in a meaningful way. Stay safe, order wine, listen in and turn on. Cheers [EP141]
Thanks emetry.io paul @ emetry.io

Apr 3, 2020 • 1h 17min
The Wine Makers – Jordan Kivelstadt
Jordan Kivelstadt joins us on “lock-down” this week to talk about his new project KIvelstadt Cellars Wine Garden & Eatery that was set to open April 18th in the former historic site of Fords and Schellville Grill. Jordan and his chef Matt Tucker have had to put things on hold so they shifted to a wine and meal delivery service to stay connected with their clients and the community. Sam and Bart talk about their new “virtual tasting” experience that rolls out this week. Stay safe, order wine and join us in the digital world, this could go on for a while. Go to Dane Cellars or Sixteen 600 websites below to order wine for the virtual tasting. Cheers. [EP140]
danecellars.com
winerysixteen600.com
kivelstadtcellars.com

Mar 27, 2020 • 1h 30min
The Wine Makers – The Return of Lily Hawk Wakawaka
One of our favorite guests joined us on the show this week to chat about the state of the global wine industry, virtual wine tasting and how damn tasty moose can be when cooked properly. Enjoy !!!
wakawakawinereviews.com
lilyelainehawkwakawaka@gmail.com

Mar 20, 2020 • 1h 13min
The Wine Makers – State of Sonoma
The “shelter-in-place” order has been given by our California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Wine Makers are working from home this week. We decided to practice “social distancing” and try out the Zoom app to continue to continue recording shows for our listeners. Sondra Bernstein, owner of the girl & fig restaurant, sits in and talks about the state of the food and wine industry going forward. Her restaurants and catering business closed on Monday with no projected opening dates. It’s getting weird out there !!! We will continue to do our shows and bring some information and hopefully spread a little joy. [EP139]
Once we get familiar with our different app options with quality sound we will continue bringing guests onto the show. We hope that by continuing to record our podcasts we can bring some sense of normalcy into your lives. Enjoy the show.
thegirlandthefig.com
thebitegoeson.com

Mar 13, 2020 • 1h 7min
The Wine Makers – Quixote Winery, B.R. Smith
In 1989, Carl Doumani discovered the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, a Viennese painter, architect, ecologist and philosopher. Believing that the wine world had transformed a beverage of consummate pleasure into an absurdly serious pursuit, he commissioned Hundertwasser to design a winery to combat these notions. [EP137]
Imagine Alice in Wonderland meets Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.
Now about the wines…
The winery borders the famed Shafer’s Hillside Select vineyards in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District. Winemaker B.R. Smith, who studied under Aaron Pott, crafts these deeply flavored wines under the watchful eye of consulting winemaker Philippe Melka. Cabernet Sauvignon is the obvious draw but the Petite Sirah steals the show, bringing grace and elegance to an otherwise dark and brooding variety.
Upon entering the barrel room, Smith’s surfboard, perched atop the first row of barrels, lets you know these people have a zest for life and whimsy. Bruce Mackay is the tour guide and historian, with numerous stories of the property and it’s eccentric inhabitants.
If you were visiting Napa and only had one winery to visit, this would be a fulfilling choice. Hope you enjoy the show.
quixotewinery.com
@quuixotewinery

Mar 6, 2020 • 1h 7min
The Wine Makers – Lauren Feldman & Tanner Walle
This week we sit down with Tanner Walle and Lauren Feldman of Valley Bar & Bottle and talk about the new wine bar and restaurant opening up in the former space of Harvest Moon. Both of these hospitality professionals have decades of experience servicing industry staff as well as visiting tourists. This funky space is destined to be a “hot spot” in Sonoma for wine and food lovers. Wine “geeks” like us are craving a place to hang out and drink interesting global wines with cutting-edge foods. They are in final stages of preparation and should be open by May 1st. Great show… [EP136]
valleybarandbottle.com
@tannerwalle
@laurenfeldman