The Banter

The Guys went to a firefighter cook off. It was fantastic! Listen for Mark’s advice on how to elevate any dish. 

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys welcome pillar of California wine country Bettina Sichel of Laurel Glen Vineyard. Bettina talks about the uniqueness of Laurel Glen and the amazing story of her family’s legacy from escaping Germany during the war to owning the best selling wine in the world! 

The Inside Track

The Guys took their staff to visit Bettina at Laurel Glen a few years ago. It was great to hear about her work leading up to running Laurel Glen Vineyard. 

“Well, it did start small. so I went to work for Augustine Hues who was getting ready to launch his pet project, his very special project Quintessa. And, I was lucky enough to be on there to help him. I was the first director of sales and marketing and I helped to build the reputation and it was a great ride. It was really fun,” Bettina Sichel on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025

Bio

In 2011, Bettina Sichel, a veteran of the California wine industry, became the steward of Laurel Glen Vineyard after purchasing the iconic estate from founder Patrick Campbell in partnership with a small group of wine lovers. During her 30-plus-year career, she has worked with some of the finest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1998, Sichel helped launch Quintessa and went on to develop its reputation and profile distribution over the next decade as director of sales and marketing. The daughter of Peter M.F. Sichel, the man responsible for making his family’s Blue Nun a household name in America, Bettina is the fifth generation of the Sichel family to work in the wine business.

Info

Laurel Glen Vineyard

https://laurelglen.com/

Peter Sichel (who passed away Feb 2025)

https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/peter-m-f-sichel-from-cia-to-blue-nun

Peter Sichel’s memoir

The Secrets of My Life: Vintner, Prisoner, Soldier, Spy

Join us on March 12 for a wine dinner with Balletto

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