Jen & Sara were going to make wine together, and they knew that it started with organic grapes and that the wine would be a reflection of the vineyard. What they didn't know was what the winery would be called. Now inspiration comes in many forms and "Trouble" comes in many forms and after getting to know these two we think you will know exactly where the name comes from. [EP198] www.littletroublewines.com @littletroublewineco
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 50 min
Sam, Bart and John cover Weather, Wind and Water after the holiday and answer listener questions. The heat spell is starting to fade a bit, Sonoma is beautiful and we're still in the mega drought. Enjoy a light-hearted conversation that's a lot of fun. Cheers! [EP197]
Jul 09, 2021•47 min
This week we sit down with Morgan Twain-Peterson, MW, founder and winemaker of Bedrock Wine Co. in Sonoma. If you listen to the show, you know Morgan is a bit of a phenom, making his first wine at 5, saving historic vineyards, starting a California “grower” sparkling wine program Under the Wire, M.W., the list goes on. If you want to know anything about wine, ask Morgan. We get into a lot of subjects on this pod, including drought, DOC instability, climate change, and the amazing investment bein...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 37 min
How nice was it for the whole team to gather outback of the Sixteen600 Tasting House for a chat with John Musto and Tom Young from Drive Wines. These guys make some really nice wines and we actually got to taste some of their original garage-made that aren't for sale. But don't worry as they have plenty of great wines on their list and these are Micro-production, single-vineyard wines too. This is another great Sonoma area success story that started out in an old race car garage that ended up we...
Jun 18, 2021•1 hr 28 min
La Prenda Vineyard Management is a full service vineyard management company. That means that not only do they have a skilled crew working in the vineyards and in this case orchards but they also have a winemaker on staff. Mike Cox is a Sonoma native who first started working at Hacienda Winery when attending UC Davis in the late 80's. Mike spent the majority of the last 30 years working at Schug Winery and he brought along a bunch of wines and a couple of ciders he made to share with us. We only...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 39 min
Groove Wines isn't a canned wine company, it's a winery that puts some of it's wines in cans. We sat down this week with Nate Miles and Matt Nagy to talk about their new brand. Yes the same Matt from Benevolent Neglect, Nate and Matt met each other working for Steve Matthiasson in Napa valley, it was a great conversation check out the show. Nate says that Groove is a new wine company interested in making wines that you want to drink, bring you pleasure, and make you happy. We want to make your w...
May 28, 2021•1 hr 44 min
When we first sat down with David Ramey in October of 2018 we spent time talking about his start in the wine business and the winemaking techniques that he pioneered of which many winemakers use today. This time we are joined by his children Claire and Alan as David takes a step into the future helping guide his children toward running this family business. We also get some insight into the standards that this winery has build it’s reputation on. [EP192] rameywine.com/ @davidramey @rameywinecell...
May 21, 2021•1 hr 16 min
While studying chemistry at the University of Colorado at Denver, Danielle sensed that laboratory research was not fulfilling her passion. Throughout her young adult life, Danielle’s father, shared his love of wine, continually encouraged her to move to California and explore winemaking. Finally, in the late summer of 2013, she took his advice and moved to Sonoma. That year Danielle had her first opportunity in the wine industry working as a cellar intern for harvest at the Kamen Estate. Dan, ar...
May 15, 2021•1 hr 47 min
Master Sommelier Christophe Tassan has spent his career hanging out in the most rarified air the wine and hospitality business has to offer. He grew up in his family’s Michelin-starred restaurant in Avignon, he worked for super star chef Alain Ducasse, he was the wine director of the legendary Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia, he attained literal heights running the wine program at Aureole in Las Vegas famous for the Wine Angels soaring 50 feet into the air to retrieve the best bottles. A career like ...
May 07, 2021•1 hr 24 min
This week we sit down with Paul Duroussay, former intern to our friend Jeff Cohn. Paul grew up and was educated in Burgundy with friends and family in the wine business. He now imports small production wines that would normally never see American soil. Follow the story from France to California and see what it takes to bring these incredible wines to us. Oh and there’s Champagne too !!! The wines are incredible and the prices are mind blowing for the quality. Viva la France 🇫🇷... pierreclosimp...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 35 min
This week we checked in with two of our favorite guests, Blair Guthrie from Guthrie Family Wines and Joel Burt from Las Jaras Wines. We thought it would be fun to have them both on together to double your pleasure. This is a great show, covering a wide variety of topics, and a multitude of wines. Normally we tell you to pour yourself a glass, but this week you might want to crack a couple bottles. Enjoy !!! [EP188] lasjaraswines.com guthriefamilywines.com
Apr 23, 2021•2 hr 10 min
Well it’s been a year of Zoom for The Wine Makers during the Covid pandemic so to celebrate Spring, bud break and vaccinations, we did this show in person on the beautiful new deck at the Sixteen600 Tasting House. We cover a lot of ground today with lots of beautiful new releases from Bart and Dane Cellars plus new ones from Sam. This is an episode you should really enjoy. Cheers! [EP188]
Apr 16, 2021•1 hr 29 min
This week we discuss Weed Slayer, no that’s not Sam’s nickname. The maker of Weed Slayer/ Agro Gold WS Herbicide and Fertilizer was hit with a false advertising class action lawsuit related to claims that the product was safe. We are now learning that this product contains glyphosate and diquat, which are both prohibited for use in organic production. What are the consequences and what do we do now? [EP186]
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Scott Kirkpatrick moved out to California from Kentucky with $30 in his pocket. He discovered a love for wine, and for a woman named Allison. After working numerous harvests at a crush pad facility, he had an idea. What if we make Petite Sirah and treat it like the aromatic, lively beauty that it could be, instead of continuing to produce the masculine beast that most wine makers typically do ? Mountain Tides was born, with his artistic photographer wife crafting the labels, they started on a vo...
Mar 26, 2021•1 hr 22 min
Paul Giusto and Michael Sebastiani met back in the day, working together at Viansa Winery in Sonoma. In 2004, they decided to partner up and go out on their own, taking their vineyard connections, Michael's wine making experience and Paul's marketing skills. These guys are true ambassadors of Sonoma County, showcasing fruit from some of the most prized and historic vineyards. Their wines are like them, accessible and approachable. Paul joined the conversation from the back of his truck, parked i...
Mar 19, 2021•1 hr 13 min
We welcome back Paul Mabray this week and he is joined by Erica Duecy, they are here this week to introduce us to their new company. Pix is a wine discovery platform that helps wine consumers find the right bottle: If you're looking for a specific wine, the website will help guide you to it, or to a great alternative. If you're exploring a region or variety, they will find benchmark bottles in the price range you specify. Pix locates bottles for in person pick-up or delivery. Set to launch in Sp...
Mar 06, 2021•1 hr 2 min
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....
Feb 27, 2021•1 hr 13 min
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...
Feb 19, 2021•1 hr 19 min
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 Manipul...
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 43 min
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 ...
Feb 05, 2021•1 hr 23 min
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]
Jan 08, 2021•1 hr 3 min
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 havi...
Jan 01, 2021•1 hr 6 min
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 l...
Dec 25, 2020•1 hr 20 min
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]
Dec 18, 2020•1 hr 9 min
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 f...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 9 min
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 wi...
Dec 04, 2020•1 hr 8 min
This week we gathered together on Zoom the day before Thanksgiving to answer some listeners' questions. As a request from a couple of listeners we will be asking for suggestions and questions that we can attempt to answer each week. But to always be on brand we recommend that you "Question the Answers". If nothing else we will eventually get the right answers to your questions. Brian, Sam, Bart and John are truly grateful for all your support for the podcast from you listeners. We love doing the...
Nov 27, 2020•1 hr 13 min
Bertus grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and knew he wanted to be a winemaker at the age of 15. He went on to study Viticulture and Enology at the University of Stellenbosch, then working in the cellars at Deetlefs Estate, Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons, Glen Carlou. In 2010 he came to California to work harvest in Napa Valley where he met Alli. But it wouldn't be until 2012 when they had their first date at Bouchon and shared a bottle of 2008 Domaine Tempier. Whether it was his South Afric...
Nov 20, 2020•1 hr 15 min
Just the name makes you wonder about the wines and who makes them. It all started with Syrah, funny how a lot of our winemaking guests have told us it started that way. Matt Nagy and Ben Brenner both found their way to California from the East Coast working at different wineries in Napa Valley. In 2013 they came together and started making Syah from the Las Madres Vineyard in Carneros. Now they are sourcing grapes from the Alder Spring vineyard in the farthest reaches of Mendocino County and dow...
Nov 13, 2020•1 hr 14 min
This week we're joined by a trio of young winemakers who are making their voices heard about the future of winemaking in Sonoma Valley. Jack Sporer wears many hats, he runs the operations of Sonoma's newest custom crush facility, Magnolia Wine Services, he's the assistant winemaker for Bucklin Vineyards and has his own label, Fresh Wine Co. Through Magnolia he works with Dan Marioni who got hooked on making wine the hard way at Coturri Winery and now makes zero/zero Natural wines under labels D....
Nov 06, 2020•1 hr 33 min
