You can’t talk about wines from the Priorat region of Spain without recognizing the impact the Perez Family has made in the last four decades. Sara Perez is the wine maker and owner along with her family of Mas Martinet , one of the five founding wineries in the Priorat. Sara farms organically, is a magician with the Garnacha and Carignane grape and produces some of the most sought after and interesting wines in the world. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network....
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 186
Eric Asimov is the Chief Wine Critic for the New York Times. Hs tenure with the newspaper goes back to 1984. His column on wine appears Wednesdays in the Food Section of the Times. His monthly Wine School column enlightens and invites you to drink and discuss wine with him. He has published numerous books and guides including “How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto” Eric is a prolific Tweeter and a fellow Jet’s fan. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Supp...
May 26, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 185
Pascaline Lepeltier is truly one of the most respected sommeliers in the world. As a Master Sommelier she has received numerous awards including the Un des Meilleurs Ouviers de France. Born in the Loire Valley of France, it is no secret of her love for Chenin Chenin Chenin. She is a true evangelist of natural wines and also makes Chepika wines with her friend Nathan Kendall in the Finger Lakes of New York. Pascaline is a prolific writer and also collaborated with Alice Feiring for the “Dirty Gui...
May 19, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 184
Born on the east coast, Dustin Wilson headed west to make his mark in wine at Frasca, Little Nell, and RN74, eventually heading back east as Wine Director of 3 Michelin starred 11 Madison Park. Dustin packed in working the floor to pivot towards wine retail creating Verve Wine in NY, SF, and now Chicago. He has raised money for No Kid Hungry through his Reboule du Rhone events and you know his face from the Somm movies as the only person in the first Somm movie to pass and become a Master Sommel...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 183
What can I say about Raj Parr that hasn’t been said before, Raj is the greatest uncertified Sommelier in the world with the most revered palate. His career in hospitality spans the Fifth Floor, the Michael Mina Group including RN74 and his Bibi Ji. He is the award-winning author of “Secrets of Sommeliers and most recently, “The Sommelier’s Atlas of Wine” Raj is the founding partner, proprietor and winemaker at Sandhi, Evening Land and Domaine de la Cote. Raj just got his ass out of Santa Barbara...
May 05, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 182
Nicole Rolet grew up in New York City and Milan to an American mother and French Italian Dad, surrounded by food and wine. After graduating Vassar, Nicole got herself deep into finance, politics and think tanks, eventually putting that all aside to pursue her love of the land and wine. She joined her husband Xavier to restore an historical priory and vineyard in remote Cretset in the South of France called La Verriere and Chene Bleu . Nicole is a thought leader and hyperactive in ecoculture, the...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 181
Laurence Feraud grew up at her family winery in the Southern Rhone of France. She returned in 1987 after studying wine and business to join her dad, Paul, and work with him at their storied Domaine du Pegau in Chateauneuf du Pape. In 2005 Laurence took on full oversight and winemaking at the winery. Laurence has extended the family holdings, creating Chateau Pegau and her Selection Laurence Feraud. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation...
Apr 08, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 180
Rutger de Vink is a tough as a Marine and as soft as a glass of Merlot. His family made their way to the United States from the Netherlands while a teenager. After leaving college to join the Marines and then working in telecommunications, Rutger pursued his love of agriculture with a wine apprenticeship and trips to Bordeaux & California. He was determined to find his own site to farm and make wine. Rutger ultimately settled in Virginia in 2004 creating RDV Vineyards on a hilltop in histori...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 179
Heini Zachariassen hails from the Faroe Islands and grew up in Denmark, attending college in Copenhagen. He became a software developer and serial entrepreneur. Heini founded Vivino in 2011 with Theis Sondergaard. Today Vivino is the world’s largest online marketplace and most downloaded wine app driven by a community of 50 million users, over a billion five wine label scans, and a new round of funding for continued growth for their wine community. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported ...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 178
Brits, Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew found a bond in wine that would lead them to create a wine magazine, two restaurants and a book to talk about it all. Dan had a successful career in the music business while Mark became a Master of Wine and worked at a leading London wine merchant. Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew are Noble Rot Magazine , Noble Rot Wine Bar, Noble Rot Soho, and authors of recently released “The Noble Rot Book: Wine from Another Galaxy”. The Grape Nation has been nominated for the Ta...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 177
Jane Lopes has graced our microphones a few times to discuss sexual harassment in the wine industry, multiple issues at the Court of Master Sommeliers and her life through her book “Vignette”. Jonathan Ross is a Master Sommelier. He worked as Head Sommelier at Eleven Madison Park before following Jane to Australia to work with the Rockpool Group. While in Australia, Jon bought a few grapes to make wine, this was the beginning of Micro Wines. Jane and Jon, who are married, moved back to the state...
Mar 04, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 176
Nate Ready is a former Master Sommelier. He worked the floor at Bobby Stuckey’s Frasca in Boulder and the French Laundry in Yountville before heading north to find a small working farm in Hood River, Oregon. Hiyu Farm is a biodiverse environment where Nate grows over 100 grape varietals, fruits, vegetables and raises animals. He is a true permaculturist. The Grape Nation is nominated as a Taste Awards "Viewer's Choice" finalist. Help us win by voting today ! Heritage Radio Network is a listener ...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 175
Napa Valley native, Tegan Passalacqua cut his teeth in the Rhone, New Zealand and South Africa before literally planting his roots in California. Tegan started at Zin Zen Masters Turley Wine Cellars in 2003, and is currently working as Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager. He launched his own Sandlands Wines with wife Olivia in 2011 working with a multitude of varietals practicing vine head training and dry farming. Tegan Passalacqua is a true American Vigneron living in the heart of Lodi, Califo...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 174
Martha Stoumen did not grow up around wine, but connected with the soil during a trip in college to Italy, studying agriculture. She was drawn to the vineyards and thus began a Vigneron’s view of winemaking. Martha received a Masters at UC Davis and went on to apprentice with some of the best winemakers around the world including Giusto Occhipinti, Didier Barral, and Chris Brocway. She started her eponymous label a few years ago and now follows her own vision of making responsibly farmed, terroi...
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 173
Far from wine country, Maggie Harrison was born in the Midwest and pursued a career in International Relations and Conflict Resolution…well that didn’t last long. Maggie made her way out west to pursue a career in wine. She landed a job with quirky and legendary Sin Que Non winemaker Manfred Krankl, as his assistant for 8 years. Along the way she started her own small label, Liilian specializing in Syrah before a group of friends asked her to look at their property in the Eola Amity Hills of Ore...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 172
Philippe Andre grew up around fine dining at his parent’s upscale restaurant in Evanston, Illinois. He worked every job in the restaurant, eventually hitting the floor and creating a wine program, becoming their first Somm in 18 years. After almost a decade at the restaurant, Philippe left the family business to pursue a career in wine, first traveling to Oregon, stints at Hart Davis Hart and Moet Hennessy with Southern Glazer. Philippe is now the first Brand Ambassador for Champagne Charles Hei...
Jan 21, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 171
Jean Gonon is a second-generation wine maker with the soul, knowledge and experience of many more years. Jean, along with his brother Pierre are the proprietors of Domaine Pierre Gonon in St. Joseph in the Northern Rhone of France. The purity and distinctive character of their wines, achieved through great terroirs, a strong commitment to farming and winemaking with an eye towards their ancestor’s methods, has made Domaine Pierre Gonon the Domaine in St Joseph. Heritage Radio Network is a listen...
Jan 13, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 170
Jay Boberg had a long career in the music business. He was a co-founder of IRS Records, think R.E.M. and Black Sabbath and Presient of MCA/Universal. His love for wine led him to Nicolas Jean Meo, part of the legendary Meo-Camuzet family in Burgundy. Jay's business acumen and Jean Nicolas' winemaking skills helped launch Nicolas-Jay in the Willamette Valley . Larry Stone, is a multi award winning Master Sommelier and Educator, Larry has a deep wine history at the finest restaurants. He pursued h...
Dec 16, 2020•59 min•Ep. 169
Joshua Greene has been the Editor and Publisher of “ Wine and Spirits ” magazine since 1986. In addition to writing feature stories and commentaries for each issue, Josh and staff taste thousands of wines annually. Josh is also the critic for the wines of the Napa Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Portugal, Rioja, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Wine and Spirits Magazine annually features the “Best New Sommeliers”, the “Restaurant Poll”, “Top 100 Tasting and Symposium”, and extensi...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 168
Sarah Fernandez got into wine and hospitality only a few years ago. She has worked at Shoji, Niche Niche and Special Club in NYC. A Graduate of Cornell University, she also spent many years in research at Jacobi, Mt Sinai, and NYU Hospitals. She currently works in wine retail at Depanneur in Brooklyn. Jane Lopes returns to The Grape Nation and also the United States after a long stint at Attica in Melbourne, Australia. She is the author of “Vignette, Stories of Life and Wine in 100 bottles” She ...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 167
Out of the gates of Louisville, Vanessa Price got her first taste of wine at a local winery. She made her way to New York to study acting, music and film, then ultimately to follow her passion for wine and hospitality. Vanessa worked at various restaurants, helped open a wine bar, and worked in wine import, sales, and education. She dedicated herself to becoming both a student and teacher of wine, receiving her diploma from the WSET. Vanessa Price wrote a column for NY Magazine, is the Creative ...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 166
Joel Gott grew up around wine in California, he is a fifth-generation winemaker producing his wildly popular eponymous Joel Gott wines with from California, Oregon, and Washington with his wife Sarah. Joel, along with his brother Duncan also run Gott’s Roadside Stand, a legendary food stop in Northern California. Joel is a busy guy these days expanding his wine and restaurant holdings along with an eye towards giving a little back. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast...
Nov 11, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 165
Quebecois David McMillan is considered one of the most innovative, successful and interesting restauranteurs in Canada. He along with his partner Fred Morin are Proprietors of multiple Montreal restaurants including Joe Beef and wine bar Le Vin Papillon. Legendary for his bigger than life eating and drinking, David now is more inward appreciating life with his daughters on his farm. David McMillan has been an early evangelist of natural wines…even though he spits now and has published two radica...
Nov 05, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 164
New York City’s own Ariel Arce is the proprietor of Niche Niche, Airs Champagne Parlor, Tokyo Record Bar, and Special Club. Ariel is a thought leader, tastemaker, influencer and has been tagged as “The New Guard of New York Dining”. She has created a convivial, laid back and affordable neighborhood hang with a focus on wine, Champagne, education, music, and creative food. Ariel Arce has been referred to as the Champagne Queen or Empress and has a new book “Better with Bubbles”. We’ll talk about ...
Oct 28, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 163
You can’t talk about natural wine in the US without Zev Rovine being in the conversation. Waiter turned wine distributor, Zev starting importing wines back in 2008 from small estates that are terroir driven, practicing low intervention and organics. He is the proprietor of Zev Rovine Selections, importing wine from over a dozen countries and 140+ wineries. In light of the pandemic and racial inequality the industry continues to change, Zev has proposed a “Working Contract” or code of conduct to ...
Oct 21, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 162
Rupert Symington is a fourth-generation port maker from a family of British and Portuguese origin dating back to the late 1800’s. Rupert was educated in England and worked in finance there, making his way to San Francisco before returning to the family business in Porto and the Douro in Portugal. Rupert is the CEO of Symington Family Estates, overseeing four of the leading Port houses including Grahams and Dow along with 26 Quintas or vineyards also making non ports in the Douro and Alentejo. He...
Oct 14, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 161
Bi-Coastal Patrick Cappiello has been in the wine biz for almost thirty years, and he ain’t an old guy! He has been an award-winning sommelier, restaurant owner, wine importer/distributor and now the owner/winemaker of his own wine label in Sonoma County, Monte Rio Cellars with partner Pax Mahle. Patrick crafts wine from grapes in the spirit of old California, a style lacking of oak and high alcohol with pure fruit and high acid. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast n...
Oct 08, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 160
Victoria James is an award-winning Sommelier and Beverage Director at Michelin starred Cote Korean Steakhouse in NYC. Victoria’s road to success was not an easy one as documented in her new memoir “Wine Girl” The Obstacles, Humiliations, and Triumphs of America’s Youngest Sommelier”. It is an intense story of a childhood plagued by poverty, neglect, and abuse, and ultimately her ascension into the wine world as a woman. Victoria’s life was shaped by guys like Antonio, Cisco, Frankie, Enzo and Re...
Sep 30, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 159
Delia Viader was born in Argentina and made education a priority. She spent her formative years in Europe bringing her PHD from the Sorbonne to the US to further pursue business and wine studies at MIT, Univ. of Calif. Berkley and Davis. Delia got into the wine business in Napa, Calif. In the early 1980’s and was one of the first women winemakers in the Valley. She is Proprietor of the now multi-generational Viader Vineyards and Winery on Howell Mtn. in the Napa Valley. Heritage Radio Network is...
Sep 24, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 158
Houston born Zwann Grays headed north to work for People magazine in NYC and Miami eventually morphing to a career in wine getting her chops at the retail level and at a wine importer in New York. She followed her love for wine into the restaurant biz and worked at Anfora, Bouley, Terroir, and Estela to name a few. Zwann Grays is now the Wine Director at Olmsted in Brooklyn and is a big proponent of the live vibrancy of natural wines. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podc...
Sep 17, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 157
