In this bonus episode, MJ's guests are Winemakers Ashley Trout, Matt Austin, George-Anne Robertson, Kelsey Itameri, and Josh McDaniels. MJ also talked with graphic wine novelist, Stacy Buchanan, The Walls Vineyards Retail Sales Director, Kathryn Padberg, and Sommelier James Darden. Make sure you follow all of my amazing guests! @troutashley @vitalwines @brookandbull @mattaustinwine @grosgrainvineyards @itawinery @kcalbro @ga.j_robertson @yellowhawkwallawalla @thejoshmcdaniels @doublebackwine @bl...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 47 min
MJ’s guest today is the Co-Founder and Winemaker of Brewer Clifton Wines, Greg Brewer. Greg also makes wines under the Diatom and Ex Post Facto labels. In this episode, MJ and Greg discuss the advantages of growing up bi-coastal and how Greg went from being a professor of French to becoming a cellar rat. What the “Parker Effect” did for Brewer-Clifton and his endless pursuit of precision in his winemaking. A huge thank you to Greg Brewer! Follow him on IG at @gregbrewerwines and @brewerclifton C...
Nov 21, 2022•1 hr 43 min•Season 5Ep. 87
MJ’s guest today is the Owner and Winemaker of Morét Brealynn Wines, Morét Brealynn. A boutique winery in Sonoma County with a focus on Pinot Noir and supporting animal shelters. In this episode, MJ and Moret discuss growing up in the Central Valley. Work-life in the non-profit sector. Animal rescue and Catceanera's. Tina Fey, Pete Buttigieg, and making world-class Pinot Noir along the California Coast. A huge thank you to Morét Brealynn! Follow her on IG at @moretbrealynnwines Check out her web...
Nov 14, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Season 5Ep. 86
MJ’s guest today is Co-owner and Winemaker of the McLaren Vale’s Brash Higgins Winery. Brash Higgins is committed to producing wines from little-known or outre varietals. In this episode MJ and Brad discuss his journey from being a world traveling couch-surfer to the working in some of the finest Michelin starred restaurants in NYC. And how that led him into pushing boundaries and redefining the terroir of one of South Australia’s premier wine regions. A huge thank you to Brad Hickey! Follow her...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 39 min•Season 5Ep. 85
MJ’s guest today is James Beard Award winning wine journalist and author Alice Feiring. Alice was proclaimed “the queen of natural wines” by the Financial Times. She publishes the authoritative natural wine newsletter, The Feiring Line . And Alice has recently released her 6th book, To Fall in Love, Drink This: A Wine Writer’s Memoir . In this episode they discuss why there’s no place like NYC, the “Parkerization of Wine” and MJ finally gets a working definition of “Natural Wine.” Grab a glass o...
Oct 31, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Season 5Ep. 84
MJ’s guest today is Proprietor of Sonoma’s Winery Sixteen 600 and co-host of the highly regarded The Winemakers Pod Sam Cotturi. In this episode, MJ and Sam talk about Sam’s early days growing up in the Moon Mountain District of Sonoma County. His life as the son of an organic farming pioneer. Joining the family business and launching a boutique label with an industry legend. They discuss everything from Hippies, Hip-Hop and Podcast Host Life. Go ahead and grab a glass and get ready to see grape...
Oct 24, 2022•1 hr 40 min•Season 5Ep. 83
MJ’s guest today is the Brand Manager at DAMILANO Barolo Thomas Cuni. In addition to his focus on the US Market, Thomas is also in charge of worldwide export. He is a graduate of the University of Bologna where he studied Food Science and Oenology. Thomas moved to the US in 2006 and began his career in luxury wine. In this episode MJ and Thomas discuss his journey from the son of hardworking blue-collar parents in Emilia-Romagna to running one of the most historic estates in all of Italy. A huge...
Oct 17, 2022•2 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 82
MJ’s guest today is the Managing Director of Napa Valley’s Rudd Estate Oscar Henquet. In this episode, MJ and Oscar talk about how he found his passion for the luxury hospitality industry at a very young age while working with his family’s hotel business in The Netherlands. The importance and value of understanding various cultures. Life as a 6’4 European living in China. His first week on the job in NYC. Monkey Bar, and how he came to work with Richard Gere. A huge thank you to Oscar Henquet! F...
Oct 10, 2022•1 hr 40 min•Season 5Ep. 81
MJ’s guest today is described as the “always theorizing and experimenting Vineyard Manager” at Stolpman Vineyards since 1994, Ruben Solorzano! Ruben was crowned “the Grape Whisperer” by Wine Enthusiast (Journalist Matt Kettmann). Through Ruben’s vineyard management company - Coastal Vineyard Care Associates - he controls several of the best sites from the Western edge of STA Rita Hills through Happy Canyon. Ruben focuses on innovation throughout his viticultural empire. His partnership wine bran...
Aug 08, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Season 4Ep. 80
MJ’s guest today is the fourth generation of his family to play an instrumental role in the fine wine and spirits realm in the United States. He's Director of Business Development at the Taub family’s NYC-based wholesale business, Independence Wine & Spirits (IWS), Jake Taub! In 2020, Jake joined IWS as a key account manager and was quickly promoted to director of business development. Jake has increased national sales at his family’s proprietary California wineries, Saracina in Mendocino an...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 4Ep. 79
MJ’s Guest today is today is Alma Rosa’s winemaker, Samra Morris. Samra was born in Sarajevo Bosnia. She grew up during the Bosnian war of 1992-95. Samra is the first woman from Bosnia to make wines in California. She completed a viticulture internship at St. Supéry during the 2014 harvest as well as working with Rivers Brown’s Mending Wall for three harvests. Samra formerly served as quality control manager for Free Flow Wines. She was recruited by General Manager Debra Eagle to join Alma Rosa ...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 4Ep. 78
MJ’s Guest today is music producer, fashion designer, foodie and DJ, Skinny Pablo! Based out of Long Beach, California, Skinny Pablo was born and raised on the island of Guam. He has recording credits including Lee "Scratch" Perry, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy. Skinny Pablo DJs events such as RieslingStudy, and started his own party called Riesling & Reggae in Los Angeles. His favorite wine is Mosel Riesling. He loves to read Bukowski and do art in his spare time. On this episode, MJ and Sk...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 39 min•Season 4Ep. 77
MJ and Jermaine Stone get together for an impromptu cipher to discuss their upcoming battle at the Wine and Hip Hop “Pass The Aux Sessions” NYC on July 23rd in Brooklyn. If you don't know... now ya know... For more information go here: https://bit.ly/PassTheAuxNYC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 11, 2022•46 min
MJ’s guest is artist, an art historian, a wine collector, a salesman, an importer, and the founder of Vom Boden, Stephen Bitterolf. Stephen came to NYC in the early 00s to get his PhD in Northern Renaissance painting - during which time his fascination was born. In 2005, he landed a job as a salesperson at the newly opened Crush Wine & Spirits , one of New York City’s sleekest wine stores at the time. In 2012, he became an importer of German wines which led to his founding of Vom Boden. Vom ...
Jul 04, 2022•1 hr 35 min•Season 4Ep. 76
MJ’s guest today is former banker turned wine importer, and founder of VOS Selections, Victor O. Schwartz. Victor initially worked in the banking sector on loans, stocks and bonds, before transitioning to the wine industry. His upbringing was steeped in an intense culinary culture. In 1986, Victor moved to France to jump start his wine career. VOS Selections has been a staple in the wine industry for over 35 years. In this episode MJ and Victor talk about his journey from banking to learning the...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 40 min•Season 4Ep. 75
Part 2 of MJ’s live chats from Hospice Du Rhône’s flagship event in Paso Robles, California. This bi - annual event brings together an international community to celebrate Rhône wines and winemakers. The 2022 event featured over 120 international Rhône producers, seminars on the forefront of Rhône thinking, an exclusive live auction and delicious meals paired with Rhône wines .. and MJ was there recording live with many of the brilliant winemakers and other prominent wine folks attending this ye...
Jun 27, 2022•1 hr 19 min
MJ brings his listeners a front row seat to the Hospice Du Rhône’s flagship event in Paso Robles, California. This bi - annual event brings together an international community to celebrate Rhône wines and winemakers. The 2022 event featured over 120 international Rhône producers, seminars on the forefront of Rhône thinking, an exclusive live auction and delicious meals paired with Rhône wines .. and MJ was there recording live with many of the brilliant winemakers and other prominent wine folks ...
Jun 20, 2022•1 hr 14 min
MJ’s guest today is esteemed Châteauneuf-du-Pape vigneron and winemaker, Isabel Ferrando! Isabel has been cultivating vines and making wine in Chateauneuf-du-Pape for 18 years. Her wines have been dubbed by critics as “some of the most profound wines on the planet” (Jeb Dunnuck). Drawing inspiration from the Burgundian tradition of single vineyards, Isabel produced three different cuvées from Saint Prefert’s estates from 2003 to 2019: Classique, Réserve Auguste Favier and Collection Charles Gira...
Jun 13, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 4Ep. 74
MJ’s Guest today is a 5th generation winemaker of Azelia, an historical and small family-run winery founded in 1920, in Castiglione Falletto in the heart of the Barolo region in Piedmont, Italy. Lorenzo attended the Oenological School in Alba, the most prestigious wine school in Italy. Lorenzo graduated summa cum laude with the title of Oenologist. Lorenzo works full time alongside his father Luigi at Azelia participating in every step of the process, from the work in the vineyards to the winema...
Jun 06, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Season 4Ep. 73
MJ’s Guest today is a renaissance man! He comes from an executive background, a wine importer, a business owner, and is dedicated to global humanitarian support, a Lehigh graduate, Peter Morales. His career began in retail and operations management at Johnson & Johnson, Grand Metropolitan (now Diageo), and Peerless Importers. In 1998, Peter opened his own worldwide business consulting company, Peter Andrew LLC, which specializes in international beverages. After taking on a project with Sout...
May 30, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Season 4Ep. 72
MJ’s guest today is one of a select few 100-point winemakers in Washington State and winemaker with Force Majeure, Holocene, Weathereye Vineyards, PASXA, and The Walls: Todd Alexander. Previously, Todd was the Winemaker for acclaimed “cult” winery Bryant Family Vineyard in Napa Valley. He began his career in the Napa Valley at esteemed wineries including Cade and PlumpJack. Todd holds a winemaking certificate from UC Davis and has worked with some of the best and brightest in the wine industry, ...
May 23, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Season 4Ep. 71
MJ’s Guest today is a California native, a Georgetown graduate, a fine wine specialist, a former retail worker, businessman, and a managing partner at Stolpman Vineyards, Pete Stolpman! On this week’s episode, MJ and Pete talk about his dad’s movie-esque life before the inception of Stolpman Vineyards, Pete’s time in Australia, working retail, and working alongside the most talented man he’s ever met! A huge thank you to Pete Stolpman ! Follow Pete’s IG at @peter_stolpman Follow Stolpman Viney...
May 16, 2022•1 hr 47 min•Season 4Ep. 70
MJ’s Guest today is an industry changemaker, a leader for diversity and inclusion in the hospitality / food and beverage industries, a professor, a philanthropist, a mentor, a sommelier, and wine director, Tonya Pitts! This week MJ and Tonya discuss her time in San Francisco, her fierce commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as her need to dig deep and pull things apart! A huge thank you to Tonya Pitts Follow her on TW and IG at @noirsommelier Check out her website: https://www.tonyapitt...
May 09, 2022•1 hr 36 min•Season 4Ep. 69
Two Hosts - One Podcast! On this special bonus episode MJ joins host Adam Montiel live from Paso Robles! Coming straight from the airport MJ and Adam meet up at Josh Klapper's winery,Timbre for a lively discussion covering the beginnings of MJ's IG feed, then the podcast, his early days of working wine auctions and so much more! Adam even manages to coax Lani, MJ's producer on the mic for even more insights on how his popular show came to life! Big thanks to Adam and Josh for the great conversat...
May 08, 2022•31 min
Enjoy a special episode as MJ joins the Wine Makers podcast live! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ There was a lot of energy going into this show, not only were we all excited to be back in Paso Robles for Hospice du Rhone but we were also getting to meet our friend M.J. Towler "The Black Wine Guy Experience" IRL... Add to the mix The.Grenachista, the one and only Kevin Burns, Jeff Cohn and M.J. brought his go...
May 08, 2022•1 hr 36 min
MJ’s Guest today comes from a family of winemakers, the President of the Long Island Wine Country, and the man you want to know at Paumanok Vineyards, Kareem Massoud. Paumanok has been recognized with numerous accolades over the years including Wine Spectator's Critic's Choice Award, NY Wine & Food Classic's "Winery of the Year" Award and "outstanding" reviews in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Outside of Paumanok, Kareem serves on the Riverhead Farmland Preservation Committee and on the Exec...
May 02, 2022•1 hr 39 min•Season 4Ep. 68
MJ’s Guest today is owner and founder of Adrian Chalk Selections, NY-based purveyor of fine wines, Adrian Chalk. 30 years ago, Adrian helped build a new winery in Provence as a sweat-equity partner of Chateau Routas. He went on to work for Lauber Imports for 17 years, a job which took him around the globe visiting wine-growing regions. In 2015, he launched his own portfolio, Adrian Chalk Selections. In this episode, Adrian talks about growing up in Ontario, Canada, and making wine with his famil...
Apr 25, 2022•1 hr 27 min•Season 4Ep. 67
Super Somm! Bobby Stuckey IS a Hospitality Superhero. MJ’s Guest today is award-winning Master Sommelier, co-founder of Frasca Food and Wine Group, Pizzeria Locale, and Scarpetta Wine Company, and leader in the hospitality industry: Bobby Stuckey. In 2000, Bobby worked with world-renowned chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in California, and led the restaurant’s team to earn the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Wine Service award. That same year, San Francisco Magazine recognized Bobby...
Apr 19, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Season 4Ep. 66
MJ’s guest today has been named by The New York Times as the “foremost authority on hamburgers,” and “America’s biggest burger name,” by Eater LA; he’s a well-traveled Emmy Award-winning freelance filmmaker, author, and photographer - George Motz. George shot, produced, edited, and directed his documentary, Hamburger America which was nominated for a James Beard Award and recognized by the US National Archives as an integral part of American food history. In 2016, George authored his first cookb...
Apr 11, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Season 4Ep. 65
MJ’s guest today is Founder and President of Fass Selections, Lyle Fass. Lyle has over 25 years of experience in the wine business, and has served as the founding wine buyer at Crush in New York City, as well as the German wine buyer at Chambers Street. He founded Fass selections in 2013 and has grown it to be one of the leading importer retailers in the United States. Fass Selections specializes in wines from France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. In this episode, MJ and Lyle talk about Lyle’...
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Season 4Ep. 63
