Richard Niner fell in love with Paso Robles when he visited in the '90's on a business trip...it took 1o years to find the right parcel of land and he and his wife took up the Paso Robles life by purchasing BootJack Ranch. Son Andy Niner is at the helm now and we sat down on Wine Talks to see what Niner Wine Estates is up to under 2nd gen leadership.
I read Chefs, Drugs and Rock and Roll at the behest of the great Melvyn Masters. I wasn't 20 pages into the book before I decided having Andrew Friedman on the show was a must. A variable wealth of American cuisine knowledge, Andrew Friedman breaks the subject down to help us understand how what we eat came to be. Enjoy.
Bartholomew Broadbent has a storied wine history on his own. He currently owns one of the great importing houses in America, Broadbent selections, and single handedly brought Madera back to America after a prohibition hiatus. Not to mention the son of one of the great Masters of Wine, wine critic and famed wine auctioneer Michael Broadbent. We get into it on this episode of Wine Talks.
Meet PhD Katherine Larson, curator of the Fire And Vine Exhibit at the Corning Museum of Glass and wine have 1000's of years together and Katherine took the time to sit with us and explain the history....quite intriguing....and learn what the "punt" is for!
It has been a few years since Emmanuel Kemiji was hanging around...we got him in studio to tell us of his newest ventures...this man has been busy, canning wine and making incredible craft beers. Hear the story and the path it took to get here (not to get to the studio...to canning wine and making beer).
Tom Hinde's resume is off the charts. He has made wine for iconic wineries such as Kendal Jackson and iconic celebrities such as Yao Ming. His outlook and passion for wine is clearly a reflection of his experience. You will find this episode informative and inspiring. Have a listen to Tom Hinde....really quite revealing.
Pat Roney, CEO of Vintage Wine Estates, has kept vigilant in growing his company to one of the largest winery groups in America. His insightful look at the industry reminds us that it is about quality products and good service....despite phoney taste algorithms. Hear his insights and resolve to forge more quality for Vintage Wine Estates.
The food scene in the US was changing rapidly in the '80's and LA was the hub. Being a Chef was not a claim to fame in those days but restaurants like Michaels in Santa Monica was changing all that. Michaels was like a Chef breeding ground churning greats like the namesake, Michael McCarty, Ken Frank, Jonathan Waxman, Nancy Silverton and more. You will be amused and intrigued with Michaels recollection back in the day.
Eric Asimov's experience in the food and wine world is impossible to compare. Having started with the NY Times as a food critic and then moving to wine 16 years ago, he has developed an all-encompassing opinion when it comes to all things wine. His insights are thoughtful and insightful. Enjoy.
Each time I sit with Frédéric Barnier, it is like going to Burgundy school. Due to Covid, the 2019 barrel tasting of the wines of Maison Louis Jadot was canceled, so I reached out to head winemaker, M. Barnier to catch up on the happenings. From Covid to climate change, we covered it all.
We could have chatted for another hour and still had more to discuss. Andre and Michael of the Canadian podcast "Two Guys Talking Wine" was like meeting up with old friends and catching up; the subject ? Wine, naturally.
If you found a menu from a restaurant in the Burgundy part of France from let's say 1965, you would find that fine Beaujolais wines rivaled in price their competitors of Burgundy. With the advent of Beaujolais Nouveau, the perception of Beaujolais began to change. Meet Cyril Chirouze, winemaker at Chateau Des Jacques of Maison Louis Jadot, His commentary and insight into this historical region will compel you to do a bit of research.
If you go on a wine tour of either Bordeaux, France, or Argentina, you will make a big mistake if don't take along the respective copy of Michael Higgins' Exploring Wine Regions. A Ph.D., pilot, and wine devotee having traveled the world to create these two gorgeous coffee table books. And a hoot to talk to.
In 1988, my father visited England to explore the wine route and I have his notes to prove it. Back then, the wine trade was sparse and the wines were average at best...climate change has changed enough in the past 30 years that a world-class sparkling wine trade has emerged. Laura Rhys is a Master Sommelier who heads up the program at Gusbourne in Kent, England. It is quite surprising what they are doing there.
I hear "this wine is sustainable" regularly from the wineries and vendors....what does that mean? Hear the answer...from Beth Vukmanic....and by the way, this girl is cut...we talk about her exercise regiment as well.
I had Garen and his daughter on the show weeks ago discussing the winery and marketing. Only a few months later, the winery became a spoil of the war in favor of the Azeris. A scary proposition to say the least as the local partner lost his son in the battle. Hear the history and the recovery.
Sexism, racism, and grape supremacy could have derailed Aaliyah from making a dream a reality. Hear how she overcame the headwinds and was able to license a shipping container as a winery! That is a feat.
Her work has led her to be named one of “The 2017 Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink” by Fortune, as well as one of “The 50 Most Influential French People In The World In 2017” by Vanity Fair. Isabelle Legeron earned the coveted Master of Wine and founded the RAW wine movement. Fascinating conversation.
His passion for winemaking comes through his heritage and the quality of his wines. We had some laughs and spoke of his winemaking and farming philosophy.
The Aroma Wheel was invented in 1990 to help consumers get in touch with their senses to understand describing the smell of wine. Her extensive work with one of the largest soda manufacturers in this field has primed her to go on her own and build a program around the very subject. Have a listen.
Piero Selvaggio opened the famed Valentino's in Santa Monica in 1972 and began a food revolution in LA that is the basis for today's food movement. Piero is also known for his wine knowledge and for being one of the first (if not the first) Wine Spectator wine list reward recipient.
Mark Williamson, a brit by birth opened Willi's Wine Bar 40 years ago in the Premiere Arrondissement. He just released Immovable Feast; forty years of feeding the French. The brasserie is a must stop when visiting Paris and the owner Mark Williamson sat with us to tell the tale.
I was blindsided by winemaker Phillip Titus....he makes wine at Chappellet, Acumen, and is the consulting winemaker at his own winery, Titus. Furthermore, a wealth of Napa history comes to light with our bantering. Really interesting conversation.
After reading The Hotel at Place Vendome, I dug to find her contact information and after 3 minutes of speaking with her, I told her "I must have you on the show!" My copy of Widow Clicquot is on its way. Enjoy this insightful conversation with Tilar Mazzeo.
As a college student, Thane removed his clothes from his closet and turned it into a winery and became the most popular guy on campus. The bug bit and he landed himself in the Napa Valley and worked his way up to head winemaker at Raymond Vineyards. Listen to the trek.
With a storied background in the Napa Valley, Karen Cakebread forged her way through headwinds to land herself with Ziata wines. Here the stories; hear the commitment.
Bruce Neyers is a quintessential story teller. Listen to the growth of Napa, the changes in the culinary arts, and the passion it takes to make wine. He tells how he would load up the station wagon with wine and drive to LA hoping to sell it all before returning (hint: he would stop at Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits).
My first European visitor since Covid hit and we had a blast speaking on wine, Spain and the Rioja. Sergio Serrano got the bug and never looked back. El Coto wines are of very high value and quality.
Joanne DePuy was an influential player in the Judgment of Paris...but that is not the most inspirational part about her. Wait until you hear her the rest of the story.
The Caucuses have long been known as ancient wine growing regions. The latest re-birth is from Artzakh. Garen Bagdasarian and daughter Emilia are spearheading a new wine experience all together for the region. Hear their story.
