Welcome back to another episode of The Everyday Wine Aficionado Podcast, today let me introduce you to  Eric and Riley of Flanagan Wines.Flanagan Wines was born out of Eric’s love for wine. He visited wine-growing regions around the world from New Zealand to Greece and was fascinated by how the same grape variety produced different wines in different locations.  This led to an interest in great vineyard sites and a focus on the soils and the climate that made each unique.  In 1999, he chose to act on his  interest by purchasing 40 acres on the heights of Bennett Mountain and planting their first vineyard. He now produces wines from several of the most highly regarded vineyard sites in Sonoma County.

Flanagan Wines is becoming known for making great wines from the best vineyards in Sonoma County. 

Let’s dive into his wine story!

[00:01 - 08:42] Opening Segment 

• I introduce our guestS for this episode, Eric and Riley
• Eric and Riley talk about how they started in the wine business and the strategies that made the business grow

[08:43 - 17:18] Things to Consider When Starting a Winery

• Riley on making wines intentional
• • Making Rosé using the Saignee method
• How you could sell the wine
• • Their wines are known for being varietally correct 
  • Right location
  • Start making the best wine then focus on the marketing plan
• What factors influenced their approach to the wine industry?
• • Make the best wine at the most suitable vineyard site and farming
  • Take good care of the customers
  • Owning a vineyard is pure hard work. It’s not as glamorous as it looks but the farmers ensure customers get the best experience

[17:19 - 24:38] Wine Business Is Not for Everyone

• How to maintain work-life balance
• • Be the best and make friends with the people n the industry
  • Enjoy the events and the responsibilities that come with it
• Eric and Riley’s advice if you’d like to start your own wine business 
• • Decide what you want to do and don’t change that
  • You are your brand
  • Have your cashflow ready and be prepared for the risks

[24:39 - 33:30] The Tasting Round

• Learn everything you need to grow your wine, business, or brand with Wine Business Bootcamp where I help other wine producers master the fundamentals of digital marketing, nail their customer experience, and convert more wine tasters into their wine clubs and other offers. Just send me a dm or email at [email protected] with the subject: Wine Business Bootcamp
• Favorite go-to wine after a long day  
• • Pilsner or Sauvignon Blanc
• Favorite Go-to Pairing
• • Riley: Oysters and Sauvignon Blanc, popcorn with Manchego and Chardonnay
  • Eric: mature triple cream with VNA, Cabernet with gouda
• Wine and Vineyard Resources
• • People
  • Working with different vineyard management

Connect with Eric and Riley at https://flanaganwines.com/

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Always respect your customers and take great care of them.” - Eric“The best part about being in this industry is you get to actually hang out with people and connect with them and become a part of their lives and meet amazing people. And we have awesome customers. But it's a two-way street and you have people bringing you into the best parts of their lives. You have to show up and be real. And it requires a certain sense of vulnerability, I think, to create real friendships with people. And it took a while for me to understand that that was okay. You know, a lot of jobs where it's actually about making friends.” - Riley“There's nothing really a creative to the brand, except that I love the freaking wine.”  - Eric

“If people start by buying bulk juice and slapping a label on it, and coming up with cute marketing ideas, that's different. But that's not about wine. That's not about making a wine you love or believe in, that's about making a product that isn't good, but that makes you money. And if you were going to do that, I would say you might as well do it in a different field with better margins. You know, like, if you just want to do that, then go to a different if you don't care about wine, then you don't need to be in the wine business. It's not the best business to be in anyway. So if you're going to be in it, make sure that you're in it because you really love wine and you love the idea of making great wines and you care about that. And then that will sustain you through the dark days, hopefully.” - Eric

While the history of most wine producers is established in the years after they begin, Delgadillo Cellars started with a 30-year history in the Napa Valley under its belt. 30 years working the vineyards of Napa Valley. 21 years in winemaking. Winemaker Ignacio Delgadillo, Sr., started in the wine industry in 1975 at Freemark Abbey, eventually becoming cellar master during the days when Freemark produced one of the top Cabernet Sauvignon releases in the Napa Valley (and that is saying something). Along the way, he has consulted as a private vineyard contractor and established a successful custom wood packaging business.

After all those years in the vineyards and in the winery, Ignacio and his son, Ignacio Delgadillo Jr., found the opportunity to create their own label in 2001, and Delgadillo Cellars was born. With Ignacio senior’s extensive knowledge of the vineyards of Napa Valley, he and his family selected a small vineyard along Mill Creek in the northwest part of the valley. The Cabernet vines in Mill Creek Vineyard were planted between 1971 and 1976. Spur pruned, ladder trained, and completely dry-farmed, the fruit from these vines is concentrated, complex, and elegant. Delgadillo Cellars farms the site, allowing them to hand tend the fruit from bud break to bottling. Each Delgadillo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon release spends several years in French oak and has been bottle aged for three years in ideal cellar conditions before release. Delgadillo Cellars wines are truly a family affair, steeped in the traditions of Napa Valley wine growing.

[00:01 - 08:02] Opening Segment

• Ignacio recalls his experience of growing up in wine country, learning about the industry and the different aspects of it from a young age had a big impact on his later career choices
• Wine is a very labor-intensive industry with many benefits (such as therapeutic work), but there are also challenges (such as long hours and competition);

[08:03 - 19:01] Get to Know Delgadillo Cellars

• Ignacio tells the story of how Delgadillo Cellars came to be
• It wasn't easy starting a wine business when he was just a high school student
• Starting a wine business is a big investment, but if it fails, it's not really that big of a risk

[19:02 - 24:35] Whites and Reds

• Get to know the different varieties of wines offered by Delgadillo Cellars and how they are made
• Ignacio shares his thoughts on their wine, specifically the red blend they produce.

[24:36 - 48:19] Closing Segment

• What goes with this wine? Ignacio mixes and matches their wines with the best food the pair to
• Cabernet Sauvignon is a versatile wine that can be paired with meals that have complex flavors.
• Ignacio enters the Tasting Round

Connect with Ignacio through [email protected] and Delgadillo Cellars.

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Tweetable Quotes

"Being in the booze industry is really a party every day." - Ignacio Delgadillo

Welcome back to another episode of The Everyday Wine Aficionado Podcast, today let me introduce you to Rebekah Wineburg.

Rebekah’s passion for winemaking began when at the age of 16 she visited Napa Valley vineyards with her parents. The discussions from their visit left such a lasting impression that she went on to pursue a dual degree in chemistry and biology at Macalester College with the dream of becoming a winemaker. Committing wholeheartedly to her dream, she enrolled in the winemaking program at the University of California, Davis, where she earned her master’s degree in viticulture and enology. After completing her MS with a thesis on the effects of winemaking techniques on the phenolic composition of Cabernet Sauvignon, she abandoned the lab and went headfirst into a series of harvests in Italy, Oregon, and New Zealand before settling down in Napa Valley where she has worked and continued to learn winemaking at exceptional producers, such as Staglin Family, Rudd Estate and Buccella Wines before joining the Quintessa team in 2015. 

Let’s dive into her wine story!

[00:01 - 13:32] Opening Segment 

• I introduce our guest for this episode
• Rebekah tells the story of how she became interested in wine and decided to study it in Italy
• Quintessa was a dream to Rebekah until she was introduced and hired to work there

[13:33 - 23:57] Growing a Brand from the Ground Up while Developing a Top Tier Winemaking Program 

• Rebekah started Post and Vine because he was fascinated by the vineyards and wanted to learn more about winemaking herself
• Wine should be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their dining situation or table setting
• Sourcing food can be a challenge, but with experience and a good relationship with the farmer, it becomes easier.
• Organic farming is better for the environment and that biodynamics is a philosophy that guides the relationship between the farmer and their land.

[23:58 - 37:03] Old Vines and New Wines

• Old vines are the privileged terroir and you don't have to do operations or force things to happen to make great wine
• Some trends to watch out for in making wine in Napa Valley include climate change, increasing demand, and the growth of digital marketing

[37:04 - 41:11] Closing Segment 

• Learn everything you need to grow your wine, business, or brand with Wine Business Bootcamp where I help other wine producers like yourself, master the fundamentals of digital marketing, nail their customer experience, and convert more wine tasters into their wine clubs and other offers. Just send me a dm or email at [email protected] with the subject: Wine Business Bootcamp
• Rebekah plays the tasting round 

Connect with Rebekah

Website: https://www.postandvine.com/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/postandvinewines

      instagram.com/rebekahwineburg

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker-owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Tweetable Quotes:

“My philosophy is the same in every wine I make. It's just the expression of the wines are different because the vineyards are different.”  - Rebekah Wineburg

“Most of the biodynamic practices are not about the grapevine or not about the grapes at all. It's about soil health.”  - Rebekah Wineburg

Welcome back to another episode of The Everyday Wine Aficionado Podcast, today let me introduce you to Kyle Williams of Savor and Swirl.

Chef Kyle Williams has over 22 years of experience in the culinary industry, working in restaurants all over the world – from 2 Michelin starred Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef restaurants in Italy, to private resorts in Hawaii, large hotels, small café’s to opening and working in restaurants in NYC for a few of the best 3 starred New York Times celebrity chefs (Todd English, David Burke, and Daniel Boulud) in the world.

Kyle has a passion for creating delicious and beautiful dishes. With an ever-growing love of the process of vineyard management & the wine making process and all it encompasses, pairing wine with delectable food is where he comes alive to his passion!

Let’s dive into his wine story!

[00:01 – 04:36] Opening Segment

• This week’s special! I introduce our guest for this episode, Chef Kyle Williams
• Kyle shares with us his passion for food and how his career came to be

[04:37 – 13:00] From Buffalo Wild Wings to Three Michelin Star Restaurants

• Kyle’s journey from culinary to school to three Michelin Star Restaurants
• A More Creative Outlet: Food and Wine Pop-Up
• Lessons learned from Italy’s restaurant industry
• Making Food and Wine is All About Quality Ingredients
• Kyle on TV!  

[13:01 – 25:03] Serving Wine and Food with Passion

• Savor and Swirl, Creative and Fun
• Casual, self-driven meals to your doorsteps
• Travelling to serve love: How Kyle chooses his menu
• Know why Kyle thinks everyone can make wine  
• Let’s talk about wine! Reach out to us and see you on May 20th in Kansas.

[25:04 – 29:36] Closing Segment

• Learn everything you need to grow your wine, business, or brand with Wine Business Bootcamp where I help other wine producers like yourself, master the fundamentals of digital marketing, nail their customer experience, and convert more wine tasters into their wine clubs and other offers. Just send me a dm or email at [email protected] with the subject Wine Business Bootcamp
• Kyle plays the Tasting Round

Connect with Kyle through

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://savorandswirl.com/about-us/

Instagram: @savorandswirl, @savorathomekc, @savortogo, @kylewilliams923

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram!

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Tweetable Quotes:

“It’s really about pleasing the guest and exceeding their expectations with food, wine, service, and ambiance.” – Kyle Williams

“Never despise the small beginnings.  The best things in the world started small.” – Kyle Williams

Welcome back to another episode of The Everyday Wine Aficionado Podcast, today let me introduce you to Chris Morisoli of Morisoli Vineyard

Chris Morisoli is the Vineyard Manager at Morisoli Vineyard. Chris also serves in the California National Guard and is a member of the Rutherford Dusk Society. 

Chris is also becoming a first-time vintner this year with Morisoli Vineyard's first release of the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon which will be coming out soon.

Let’s dive into his wine story!

[00:01 - 09:17] Opening Segment 

• I introduce our guest for this episode
• Chris takes us on a trip to memory lane on how his family got into the wine business
• Chris’ journey and transition to wine

[09:18 - 15:02] It Starts in the Vineyard

• Wine relationships that keep the business going
• How relationships and vineyards create great wines
• Know the place to find any wine you want

[15:03 - 28:35] Another Perspective on Wine

• Chris talks about an underappreciated blend that’s on another level
• Wine latitude and longitude
• Creating a more classic Napa Cabernet
• The future of vineyards and wineries in 2022 is history
• Continuing to celebrate wine creation

[28:36 - 38:07] Closing Segment 

• Learn everything you need to grow your wine, business, or brand with Wine Business Bootcamp where I help other wine producers like yourself, master the fundamentals of digital marketing, nail their customer experience, and convert more wine tasters into their wine clubs and other offers. Just send me a dm or email at [email protected] with the subject Wine Business Bootcamp
• Chris plays the Tasting Round

Connect with Chris through [email protected] and Instagram.  You can also visit their website https://morisolivineyard.com/. 

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Drinking is history for me.  These are old vines and something you can be a part of.  Wine is so experiential, just being here and being able to taste it and walk through the vineyard is so cool.”  - Chris Morisoli

Today, let me introduce you to Alpha Omega Winery's Winemaker Matt Brain.

Matt Brain is the winemaker for Alpha Omega Winery, whose mission is to create artisanal wines drawing on Old World vineyard handcrafted practices and emphasize unique terroir-driven characteristics that reveal a sense of place combined with New World technology.

Matt also runs the Vineyard Team podcast, talking about sustainability in the world of wine.

Let’s dive into his wine story!

[00:01 - 05:13] Opening Segment 

• I introduce our guest for this episode, Matt Brain
• How Matt transitioned from Hockey to Wines
• Matt tells the story of how he got into wines through his soon-to-be father-in-law

[05:14 - 16:48] Crafting a Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Program

• Programming improvements and portfolio evolutions of Alpha Omega Winery
• • Making wines stand out on their own in every step of the winemaking process
• Let’s talk about single vineyards in Napa
• • Different sites, elevations, and soil types all contribute different things to the grape

[16:49 - 24:38] The Barrel Fermentation Program

• The most interesting things about time and wine
• • What you have to know about The Barrel Fermentation Program
• Sustainability is all about the long picture
• • Check out the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast

[24:39 - 28:01] The Tasting Round

• Favorite Wine
• • Chardonnay
• Favorite Go-to Pairing
• • Red wine and Italian
• Wine and Vineyard Resources
• • People

Connect with Matt

https://www.vineyardteam.org/about/staff/matt-brain/ 

Instagram: @aowinery

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Wine is all about exploration. It's about learning about new flavors and new styles and trying something new. And I think that's what makes wine so special.”

“Sustainability is all about the long picture.”

Today, let me introduce you to Barrett Spiegel of Alpha Omega Wines.

Barrett Spiegel is a Virtual Ambassador at Alpha Omega Winery, a premier Napa Valley winery whose mission is to create artisanal wines drawing on Old World vineyard handcrafted practices and emphasizes unique terroir-driven characteristics that reveal a sense of place combined with New World technology.

Let’s dive into his wine story!

[00:01 - 10:00] Opening Segment 

• I introduce our guest for this episode, Barrett Spiegel
• Barrett tells the story of how he got into wines, signed up for level 1 wine classes, and how got into his current career
• An overview of Alpha Omega Winery and how shifted to the virtual market during the pandemic 

[10:01 - 19:00] Understanding the Napa Luxury Wine Experience

• The difference between virtual versus in-person wine-tasting worlds
• How excellent customer service has put Barrett under the spotlight
• The Secret to Why Napa is Special
• Exploring the Best Wine that You Can Have

[19:01 - 36:24] Wine You Won’t Get Scared Purchasing

• The Power of Relationships in Wine
• Barrett talks about the different wines offered by Alpha Omega Winery
• The Boutique Wine World versus The Grocery Store
• Alpha Omega Winery’s open-top barrel fermentation process
• The Future of Alpha Omega Winery in 2022

[36:25 - 43:09] The Tasting Round

• Favorite Wine
• • Chardonnay, Chablis, Sauvignon Blanc
• Favorite Place to Travel to 
• • Spain
• Favorite Go-to Pairing
• • Bone-in ribeye and Chardonnay
• Wine and Vineyard Resources
• • People
  • GuildSomm

Connect with Barrett

Website: aowinery.com

Instagram: instagram.com/barrettsuniverse

Instagram: instagram.com/aowinery

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Wine doesn't choose a side. Wine brings people together and the relationship aspect of understanding that is that everybody that comes in to taste with me like this is a crucial experience right now.” - Barrett Spiegel

“I think the game is changing completely right now, and everybody wants to come to Napa.” - Barrett Spiegel

“I think the pandemic just kind of fast-forwarded this concept of going virtual in the wine world by a few years, but it's here to stay. And we're still rocking and rolling with it.” - Barrett Spiegel

Welcome to Kris Levy's Everyday Wine Aficionado! In this podcast series, Kris will be featuring amazing wines from different wine regions including Napa Valley. He'll be speaking with some of the people behind these wines, getting their insights and experiences on how they make their wines. Along the way, he'll also have some great interviews with other wine lovers who are passionate about what they drink. So sit back, relax and enjoy a whole bunch of interesting wine talk!

[00:01 - 00:33] Opening Segment 

[00:34 - 07:04] Future Plans for the show

• Wineries in Napa Valley
• Different HBAs in Napa Valley and their unique flavor profiles
• Future guests
• • Rebekah Wineburg of Quintessa
  • Barret Spiegel and Matt Brain of Alpha Omega Winery
  • Eric and Riley Flanagan from Flanagan Wines

[07:05 - 08:57] Closing Segment

• Take your wine business to the next level! Connect with me through the links below.

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Today, let me introduce you to Michael Kelly.  

Michael Kelly was born and raised in California. He started out his higher education in Forestry in Northern Calif, switched to Psychology and Philosophy, then went off to Switzerland for college. Upon returning, he spent three years in Chicago focused on philosophy and theology. Michael returned to California and ended up in high-tech management. He has worked in various semiconductor companies focused on memory chips, microprocessors, and ASICs.  He has also worked at three startups and was a member of the Executive Management team and designated SEC officer. Michael has always been interested in wine, tennis, and golf as pastime activities while traveling the globe as worldwide VP of Sales and Marketing.

Let’s dive into his wine story!

[00:01 - 05:03] Opening Segment 

• I introduce our guest for this episode, Michael Kelly
• Traveling the world and falling in love with wine after retirement

[05:04 - 15:28] Developing a Second Career in Wine

• Judging Wines by Wine Tasting
• • The Dump Bucket is Your Friend
  • It’s all cognitive! 
• Reasons to Buy and Collect Wine
• • A Cabernet Franc showcase

[15:29 - 25:51] Wine Collecting for Multi-Billionaires

• Michael recalls his experience collecting wines for a billionaire
• A Trip to Japan and Advising Three-Star Michelin Restaurants on Wine Lists
• How to Keep Yourself from Buying Wine Like Crazy
• A piece of advice for aspiring wine writers

[25:52 - 29:39] The Tasting Round

• Favorite Wine
• • Something red and bold
• Favorite Go-to Pairing
• • Steak
• Wine and Vineyard Resources
• • Winemakers

Connect with Michael by emailing him by visiting California Wines and Wineries.

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Tweetable Quotes:

“When you're sipping on wine and you're swirling it around your mouth, it's all cognitive.” - Michael Kelly

“Don’t buy wine like crazy!” - Michael Kelly

“Wine is like life.  You never have the answers.” - Michael Kelly

Today, let me introduce you to Jennifer Carruthers of JC Select Wines.  

Once a civil engineer, Jennifer "stumbled" into the wine industry during her move from Canada to California.  She started out on the broker/distributor side of the business over 10 years ago where she co-founded a brokerage.  Jennifer is passionate about the lesser-known, fantastic wineries & their stories. So in 2019, she launched a passion project, Great Pour Decisions®, a lifestyle and wine accessories brand, followed by her dream business, JC Select Wines® a couple of months later. Jennifer founded JC Select Wines to bring her favorite wines directly into the hands of those in search of the great gems out there.

Let’s dive into her wine story!

[00:01 - 11:50] Opening Segment 

• I introduce our guest for this episode
• How Jennifer got attracted to wine early on the consumption side
• The turning point from consumption to business
• An introduction to JC Select Wines

[11:51 - 20:50] Becoming a Wine Concierge

• Secrets of a Wine Concierge
• Make Wine Approachable to Anyone
• How Jennifer chooses her wines and adds them to her portfolio
• Jennifer shares her experience with people who are unsure about their wines 

[20:51 - 35:48] The Case of Wine for You

• The coming together of wines, stories, sellers, and people
• Jennifer’s biggest struggle with wine
• Finding the balance between supporting your friends’ wine business your own preferences
• Want to become a wine concierge? Jennifer lets us in her secret to success!

[35:49 - 40:24] The Tasting Round

• Favorite Wine
• • Talisman Adastra Vineyard Pinot Noir
• Favorite Go-to Pairing
• • Champagne and fried chicken
• Wine and Vineyard Resources
• • People in the wine industry

Connect with Jennifer on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Or you can visit their website!

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram! 

JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Resources Mentioned

• Sideways

Tweetable Quotes:

“I appreciated the culture of wine and how it brought family and people together.” - Jennifer Carruthers

“Make your wine look more expensive than it even is.” - Jennifer Carruthers

“Wine doesn't give you headaches. Bad wine gives you headaches.” - Jennifer Carruthers