The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits

Like many of our guests Larry Brooks never planned on being a winemaker and how he ended up in this business is part of the story. We had a great conversation with Larry about winemaking, AcaciaWinery creating perfumes and his extensive experiences in and around wine. His latest winemaking projects and his new book Liquid Geography. Check it out! [Ep308] https://larrybrooks.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/avoluptuary

Scott & Jenny Schultz make small lots of beautiful wines made from unique varietals, using simple winemaking methods, whole cluster, foot crushed, indigenous yeasts, aged in cement eggs and neutral oak, with little or no sulfur added. They just moved to the neighborhood and Scott came over to introduce himself and tell us about the wines. [Ep307] Jolielaidewines.com @jolielaidewines

Topics discussed in this podcast include the analysis of GTC and depletion data for wineries, integrating technology into the slow-moving wine industry, the surprising growth of vineyards in England, insights on brand building, marketing challenges and viral memes, supporting wine and hospitality initiatives, the influence of wine-drinking politicians on wine laws, deficit and challenges in the alcohol industry, the DTC Wine Symposium and the journey of Walter Carter, contacting wineries on Instagram and challenges of becoming Masters of Wine, exploring luxury wine buyers and collecting fine wines, regulations and requirements for text messaging businesses, using texting for DTC programs, consumer behavior in the wine industry, the evolution of marketing, the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, the connection between smell, memory, and wine tasting, the role of an advisor in personal and business growth, books on business and work in the age of data and COVID, the long-term impact of COVID-19 and changing mindsets, reflections on DTC Wine Symposium, a discussion on stolen Taylor Swift merchandise and dinner shout out, Valentine's Day sushi dinner event, exploring the potential of Granage and making it a collectible luxury product.

It’s the annual Á Deux Têtes release from Sixteen 600, timed to celebrate the dearly departed Philippe Cambie’s birthday, January 21st. Phil Coturri joined Brian, John and Sam to talk about his friendship with Philippe, how Isabel Gassier came into our lives and his deep love of Grenache. The guys taste the new releases as well as check in on the previous vintages. How are these wines aging? What is the cellar life and prime drinking windows? Listen in to see what the guys say, or if they can even figure it out! Tune in, turn on, and drink more Grenache [Ep305]

After Holiday upon holiday, COVID, so many parties and a huge New Years bash, the guys finally sit down for a recap of our favorite shows and wines of 2023, Plus, get a look inside Phil’s Wine Cellar and the upcoming DTC Symposium. Enjoy and Welcome to the New Year with The Wine Makers! [Ep304]

When Orson Welles famously slurred “We will sell no wine before its time,” he must have been talking about Slow Wine! The Slow Food Movement began 35 years ago, to celebrate local and traditional, to be thoughtful about where food comes from and how it was farmed—to be the opposite of fast food. Recently Slow Wine picked up from there, celebrating artisanal, thoughtful wine. In the process they created the world’s first wine guide where the baseline for inclusion is farming without synthetic herbicides. It’s the NO ROUND UP Wine Guide! Wine journalist and organic specialist Pam Strayer is an Editor of the Slow Wine Guide USA. Pam caught the organic bug when her work in health care journalism led her to the Pesticide Use Report and found out what farmers in California were really spraying in their fields.  In addition to the Slow Wine Guide, you can find Pam’s work on WineBusiness.com and her own page Wine Country Geographic. [Ep303] https://slowfoodusa.org/product/slow-wine-guide-usa-2024/ https://winecountrygeographic.com/

We first had Reid on the show with Cody from Desire Lines talking about his work at graduate school about the effects of microbiome of vineyards in wine. At that time he shared a wine that really caught our attention. Since then Tidings Wine Co had had its first release and was sold out within an hour. It is a nights-and-weekends project that Reid started, and only exists because of the many opportunities given to him by mentors on his journey, and the support of his wife and young daughter. Reid is a first-generation winemaker who found his calling to wine through a fascination with the natural world and has been lucky enough to work with some of the most passionate and generous people in the industry, near and far. Tidings is focused on crafting Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah that reflect the distinct ecology of where they are grown, to honor the history and character of the land, and the people who steward it. Also since then Reid has been named the winemaker for one of the most historic estates in Napa Valley Stone Hill Vineyards. [EP301] www.tidingswine.com https://daily.sevenfifty.com/understanding-microbial-terroir-in-wine/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33927711/

Legendary California wine maker Randall Graham and globe-trotting wine writer Elaine Chukan Brown discuss Randall's legacy project Popelouchum, exploring its nature and pronunciation. They also delve into topics such as the process of self-crossing in wine grape selection, reintroduction of excluded varietals in Bordeaux wines, and the characteristics of serene and surah grapes.

The 300th episode of The Wine Makers!!! Okay; IT WAS A PARTY and we ran up against the technology curve for the first 15 minutes, but it’s all great after that! Listener calls, Sonoma luminaries and past guests, even a call from MJ Towler in Italy.  It’s all there and we hope you enjoy the show as much as we did.  And a huge thanks to our awesome listeners at home and around the world because we couldn’t have done it without each and everyone of you.  Enjoy! [EP300]

Tim Zahner, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, joins the hosts to discuss the history of Sonoma Valley, vineyards, wine, cannabis tours, and the local music and art scene.