Wine is ethereal. It literally binds people together. It brings something to the table that should and does transcend race, gender, lifestyle and generations. Isis Daniel is a testimony to that very bind. She coined "The Millennial Somm" as her calling card to help the industry and the consumer alike to comprehend the generational changes that wine could and must transcend. Throw in that she is a woman of color and you have got a force of nature. Her insights are thoughtful and complex. She sees...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 16Ep. 14
The Master of Wine Diploma out of London is probably the most rigorous of certifications to acquire. It took Nova 8 years of study, frustration and tasting to get it done; and that was only after she failed out the first time around. Yes, you can spend 6 years going through the program and if you don't hit certain milestones during the final testing, it is like the kids board game Shoots and Ladders...back to the beginning. An MW that saw the potential in Noca Cadamarte, pulled her aside to insp...
Aug 31, 2023•48 min•Season 16Ep. 13
John Wilkinson was making wine at home. Afterall, he was living in the Napa Valley but felt disconnected not having any relationship with the most public of industries. As he sought advice from his friends to figure how to get his wine right, he stumbled across a complete void in the wine sector; a properly management wine facility that could be used by others to make their deream come true. He was a bit gun shy when he started, who would make wine in his facility when he himself really didn't k...
Aug 29, 2023•52 min•Season 16Ep. 12
The path to being intoxicated with wine (I do not mean with alcohol) comes in many fashions. Virtually everyone that is consumed with wine has a story to tell. Some left the family wine business to become lawyers or even doctors but the allure brought them back to their roots (full of puns today). There are not many careers that would align themselves for a switch to wine as does Katarinas first love of history; maybe food, hospitality and a few others would be synergistic but history would be m...
Aug 23, 2023•58 min•Season 16Ep. 11
When one stumbles across a strong will in the wine industry, one has to take notice. A strong will will necessarily show through in the resulting wines. It takes an opinion, it takes a will to create the finest example of wine a vineyard can produce. If one is "laissez faire" about what is in the bottle, one will cut a corner or shortcut a process or leave out a process that would not necessarily create a poor wine, but will certainly keep a nuance or a character out of a wine. For Elizabeth, it...
Aug 23, 2023•52 min•Season 16Ep. 12
There are few wineries in California history with the legacy of Beaulieu Vineyards. Just the sheer amount of time the winery has survived (including prohibition) and the lineage of serious and infamous winemakers, makes this story a multi episode of Wine Talks. Trevor During sat with us to take us through the history of Andre Tchelistcheff (the literal father of California wine) and Beaulieu Vineyards, his own plight and legacy to step in as a steward of the land and wine. At one point we speak ...
Aug 16, 2023•54 min•Season 15Ep. 15
Argentina is considered new world when describing where it fits in the history of wine. The question is....is New World versus Old World a matter of character or oprigin? I think it is a combination of both. Los Noques is a family story of wine and I was intrigued by the passion and desire to let the world know about what pedigree of wines can be created in the Valle de Uco. It is unique in it's position against the Andes and the elevation from where the grapes draw their character. Hear the sto...
Aug 15, 2023•49 min•Season 16Ep. 10
Ever industry needs is leaders...the mythical legends that inspire us to do better, to keep your head down and persevere. Dennis Overstreet is that man and I had the chance to set up the studio in his store in Beverly Hills. Sitting amongst the greatest wines in the world, we laughed, gafawed and got serious about wine. In the early days of California wine, the path was uncertain and the risks were high (still are for that matter). Dennis Overstreet had a vision and pusued it relentlessly. Not o...
Aug 08, 2023•58 min•Season 16Ep. 9
It is very often you hear about an American family 10 generations into their contribution to society/ Certainly, you hear of such geneology in Europe; namesake wineries handed down through the generations. In this case, it is 10 generations of farmers. Going back to the 1800's, John Bookwalter can tell you of the players and stories that landed him in Washington state's Columbia Valley making wine. The history is rare and the wines are great; the old 1-2. Wine is about the story and the stories ...
Aug 01, 2023•57 min•Season 16Ep. 8
Such a bright light in the world of wine and food; and she can create recipes out of thin air. Emily Saladino has made her way around both the world of culinary arts and wine to create give herself a comprehensive understanding of the marriage between the two. The conversation was so interesting, we never even got to discuss wine and food pairing...seems like it would have been a natural. There were too many philosophical approachs to wine and food to attack, we never got to the practical points...
Jul 25, 2023•55 min•Season 16Ep. 7
It is contended that Prohibition was not really repealled...it was just broken into 50 pieces. Navigating this and becoming the 2nd largest distributor of wine, beer and liquor is a formidable task Meet Tim Moore, he is the VP of wine of RNDC (formerly Youngs Market). Listen on how Youngs, as a family owned business, grew to be the 2nd largest player by joining forces with RNDC. We discuss the RTD (ready to drink) marketplace for both cocktails and wine, the landscpe of trying to start your own ...
Jul 19, 2023•49 min•Season 16Ep. 6
These days, you cannot miss the canned aisle in your favorite grocery store. It seems to be taking over more real estate of the wine aisle each month. The category is rather cluttered with competitors..that didn't seem to daunt Jessica Hershfield. Jumping in with two feet, Jessica spent time researching the market, making a couple of mistakes but eventually launching her brand of 250ml canned wines. But the proposition is unique. What she found missing in the space was vintaged, appelated canned...
Jul 14, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 16Ep. 6
Wine Talks has has some amazing guests in each of the various disciplines of the wine trade. A few years ago, Vahe was on the show as we mulled over some of the pertinenant issues of the day. This second podcast years later is that much more interesing. Since our first episode together, so much has changed in the Armenian wine world; a proliferation of new wineries, the addition of European and American know how, real technolgy and added appelations; Vahe is up to speed on all of it. We met at t...
Jul 09, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 16Ep. 4
After we recorded this episode of Wine Talks, Mariam entered and won the very first Sommelier event ever held in Armenia. Congratulations. The fact they even had a sanctioned event such as this in Armenia will tell you how far the Armenian wine culture has progressed. In this episode, you will hear from one passionate individual who saw a need and was willing to take a risk to find out if it even really existed. Ten years later and with a total of 1500 sku's in her store, I think we can safely s...
Jul 01, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 16Ep. 4
Taking on the gib boys is a war. And even just the idea seems a bit crazy, but WarRoom Cellars was founded on just that principal. How do we get under the skin of the big boys? One idea is to meet the consumer of wine where they live; meaning each of us is on a wine journey and each of us needs to try to get to the next level. Enter the story behind WarRoom Cellars...crafting wines to meet each of us where our current palate is with wine. WarRoom creates wines for the novice as well as the enthu...
Jun 27, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 16Ep. 3
Nadia Pavlevska drank vodka and coke in Bulgaira. Hardly a precursor to becoming a wine educator and influencer. Now the go to Sommelier for resorts like The Terranea in Palos Verdes, Nadia had taught wine with a logical and pratical outlook. Her reposnses to wine, politcal and life-style question might suprise you...no, will suprise you. She headed west making stops in Salzburg, Austria, Sacramento, California and now in the beach cities of Southern California. Her thirst (pun intended) had bro...
Jun 22, 2023•53 min•Season 16Ep. 3
Her life story takes on many adjectives. Inspring is one. Painful is another. Worldly could say it. But driven would be the word I would use. When you face headwinds, you must put your headdown; Brooke has and continues to do that. A model, a pageant winner, a Catholic, a Muslim, a mother and a wife has prepared her for a career that is completely unique; she motivates the motivators. Working with some of the great self-help motivators like Anthony Robbins, Brooke brings to the table a worldy vi...
Jun 20, 2023•53 min•Season 16Ep. 2
Sometimes it is just obvious why someone is successful. Certainly, your personal definition of success comes into play but if you define "success" as getting what you want out of life and never letting moss grow under your feet...you and Katies Hamilton Schaffer are from the some cloth. Katie's energy is infectious which turns to inspiring the more you peel her back. Soccer, wine, charity, and film define this girl...for now. It seems to me that when biting off a new project, one might want to d...
Jun 15, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 16Ep. 1
His LinkedIn profile calls Marc out as "Noted Celebrity Sommelier" and I couldn't agree more. When you have been around the industry in the various capacities as Marc, you can call yourself whatever you want...but it does help that it is an accurate description...and his is accurate. We go deep into consumerism, bulk wine manufacturing, and general wine insider discussion. He agrees that wine is a complicated subject but we all land on learning what we feel compelled to learn and drink the wines...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 15Ep. 20
Romik Arconian bit at the dream. He was in the wine trade working in Paris. He loved what he was doing. As with most of us in this industry, the idea of owning a Chateau swirled around in his head. Seeming like an unattainable dream, he left it on the back burner. As fate would have it, Chateau Canon Chaingneau become available and a the idea of owning a Chateau in the Lalande de Pommerol appelation became a reality. The other reality was Covid. The pandemic hit and soon this dream of owning a C...
Jun 08, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 15Ep. 19
Opus One is not only iconic in the world of Napa Valley wine, it is iconic throughout the world in the world of wine. As a joint develpment between the French and the Americans, it represents so much more than just fine wine. Consider the preeminant French Bordeaux family, the Mouton Rothschilds and the preeminant Napa Valley family, the Mondavis, joining forces to create a winery of iconic quality but of iconin architecure as well. Sitting with Mike Silacci is sitting with Napa royalty. You wou...
Jun 05, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 20
WIne is a tough racquet. You have heard this before. Sometimes we all learn through trial and error, our failures and sometimes our successes. But as Calvin Coolidge says "perserverence is omnipotent." Nothing could be more true for Austin Hope. The Hope family farms have been a staple in Paso Robles for 50 years and they are still adapting to the not only the changes in climate, but the wine industry as well. When you sit with an Austin Hope and hear about the headwinds and the decision making ...
Jun 04, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 15Ep. 18
There is no standard path to get into the wine busines. Ask 100 people and you will get 100 answers on landing on the passioln it takes to make, market or sell wine. Garys story is one for the books. When you have seen as many changes in the wine business as Gary has, you learn a 6th sense about people, wine, business and life. Gary might have a 7th sense. Wisdom doesnt come cheap and innovation in any sector of business can be risky. The key is recognizing the opporutinty, crafring a quick resp...
May 26, 2023•59 min•Season 15Ep. 17
It takes inspiration to make wine. It takes a dream. It takes ambition. It takes hard work. Jay Nunez has all these traits and more. But the most important trait it takes to make honest wine is philosophy. Wine is part science but mostly art. We might find AI in the winemaking game one day (don't ask me how) it might make solid wine every time...but it won't make passionate wine. It won't make the kinds of wines that Jay philosophizes about, the type of wine Jay dreams of as he is picking the gr...
May 23, 2023•44 min•Season 15Ep. 16
GiniFest is a Los Angeles bred wine festival that features the wine making skills of both indigenous Armenian winemakers but Armenian winemakers in the diaspora as well. A very professionally done show and an opportunity to showcase incredible wines of great distinction. Wine Talks played host to (3) of the wine families who attended this years GiniFest and Stepan Bagdassarian of Wines of Armenia dot com. Really quite inspiring to hear the plights and objectives of a group seeking world recognit...
May 15, 2023•59 min•Season 15Ep. 14
May is the anniversary month of the Judgement of Paris and we are celebrating by hearing from the very players who tool part in this famed event. Bo Barrett was in the cellar when Mike Grgich crafted the 1973 Chardonnay. Little did they know the history they were about to make and literally change the world wide acceptance of California wine forever. Have a listen to Bo Barrett, President of Chateau Montelena and cellar rat in 1976.
May 12, 2023•52 min•Season 15Ep. 13
Celebrating Judgement of Paris month. When Mike Grgich came to America, he had sewn $32 into the sole of his shoe, that's all he had to his name. He arrived in Saint Helena without a plan or a job but became one of the most influential winemakers in California's history. In May of 1976 when the California wines beat the French wines in a French-judged tasting, the wine world was changed forever, Mike Grgich was the winemaker at Chateau Montelena and was the man who slayed the French white Burgun...
May 11, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 15Ep. 12
The holy grail of the restauranteur is to be recognized by the Michelin Guide. Though the guide has various levels of accolades for the restaurants it reviews, the best restaurants are awarded stars; 1,2 or 3. These stars are coveted and suggest the Chef has mastered his craft from the cuisine to the hospitality. The pandemic caught Chef Dave at a disadvantage and he lost his star at Pasjoli...and he wants it back. Have a listen and hear about his philosophy not only of the cuisine but on the ma...
May 05, 2023•54 min•Season 15Ep. 11
The anniversary month of the Judgement of Paris Is May. The Judgement of Paris is considered one of the single most influential even for American wine….ever. Meet the only journalist to bother showing up. George Tabor was with Time magazine at the time. Living a dream in Paris, he decided to attend a wine judging event. He was the only journalist who showed and that became his fame. Meet George Taber the man with the story because he was there.
May 02, 2023•59 min•Season 15Ep. 10
Influencers are a new marketing tool. Some have more influence than others. Jamie, as part of corporate retirement, decided to TikTok some wine information videos...and voila, influencer. What started as a hobby turned to a commitment. As a collector he learned about wine but turning influencer he really learned about wine. This influencer journey took him to a place he never expected and ultimately became the proprietor of a successful and embedded wine shop in Ohio. Learn about his trip to the...
Apr 27, 2023•47 min•Season 15Ep. 9
