Inside Winemaking - the art and science of growing grapes and crafting wine

Near the end of the 2018 harvest I recorded this episode with Ben and Cameron after they had a chance to work with me at Seavey. I have known both of these guys since they came on the Deep Winemaking trip in 2017. Making the leap from a comfortable career to starting from the beginning as a winery intern requires significant sacrifice. Working a harvest is what I recommend to anyone who finds themselves pondering the first steps in winemaking. Ben and Cameron share their individual paths into wine and we have a frank conversation about the specifics of working in a winery for the first time.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• FEL Wines

• Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley

• VENJobs The UCDavis Bulletin Board for Winery Jobs

• Deep Winemaking

This podcast is brought you by HomeBrewIt.com -- Providing winemaking supplies for the hobbyist and small to mid size wineries

• Everything from small amounts of wine chemicals and shrink caps, to stainless steel tanks, presses, and commercial bottle fillers

• Largest selection of Winexpert Wine Kits on the web

• Real pricing, meaning we don't hide our shipping costs in the price of an item!

• Family owned and operated for over 20 years

• Customer service driven

• Use the code INSIDEWINEMAKING2018 at HomeBrewIt.com/inside-winemaking and get 10% off purchases of winemaking equipment

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

This episode features Dr. Dave Block from UCDavis. Dave is the Chair of the Dept. of Enology and Viticulture, teaches both enology and chemical engineering courses, and directs a research lab. I did my graduate research in Dave's lab and got to know him during our conversations about tinkering with Cabernet fermentor shapes and sizes. I went back to Davis in July, 2018 to record this podcast and find out what Dave is currently working on, what the Dept of V&E has going on, and to discuss the opportunities for online winemaking certificate program, which many podcast listeners consistently ask about.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Dr Dave Block's UCDavis webpage

• Dept. of Viticulture and Enology, UCDavis

• UCDavis Online Winemaking Certificate Program

This podcast is brought you by Scott Laboratories -- For over eighty years, Scott Laboratories has been the leader in providing the North American specialty beverage industry with innovative solutions and products including fermentation goods, filtration media, equipment, packaging products and laboratory services. Scott Labs is introducing their new website, which features online ordering, order history, and a technical library. They can be reached at 707 765-6666.

• Scott Laboratories new website

• Managing Diacetyl from their technical library

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

The folks who put on the City of Riesling invited me to their events this past June in Traverse City, Michigan. I was able to record this podcast featuring Hunter Smith from Frankland Estate, situated in the Frankland River Region of Western Australia, and is known for their Rielsings. Hunter does a great job of describing this remote site, 70 km from the coast, where they are farming and certified organic.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Frankland Estate, Western Australia

• City of Riesling, Traverse City, Michigan

• South African Garden Weevil

This podcast is brought you by HomeBrewIt.com -- Providing winemaking supplies for the hobbyist and small to mid size wineries

• Everything from small amounts of wine chemicals and shrink caps, to stainless steel tanks, presses, and commercial bottle fillers

• Largest selection of Winexpert Wine Kits on the web

• Real pricing, meaning we don't hide our shipping costs in the price of an item!

• Family owned and operated for over 20 years

• Customer service driven

• Use the code INSIDEWINEMAKING2018 at HomeBrewIt.com/inside-winemaking and get 10% off purchases of winemaking equipment

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

The folks who put on the City of Riesling invited me to their events this past June in Traverse City, Michigan. I was able to record this podcast featuring Fred Merwarth, who is the owner and winemaker at Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Our conversation covers Fred's introduction to winemaking, the challenges of growing grapes in the Finger Lakes, the grapevine nursery, which is part of their business, and of course, their many bottlings of Riesling.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Herman J. Wiemer Vineyard, Dundee NY
• City of Riesling, Traverse City, Michigan
• Video of Fred from Skurnik Wines

This podcast is brought you by HomeBrewIt.com -- Providing winemaking supplies for the hobbyist and small to mid size wineries

• Everything from small amounts of wine chemicals and shrink caps, to stainless steel tanks, presses, and commercial bottle fillers
• Largest selection of Winexpert Wine Kits on the web
• Real pricing, meaning we don't hide our shipping costs in the price of an item!
• Family owned and operated for over 20 years
• Customer service driven
• Use the code INSIDEWINEMAKING2018 at HomeBrewIt.com/inside-winemaking and get 10% off purchases of winemaking equipment

The folks who put on the City of Riesling invited me to their events this past June in Traverse City, Michigan. I was able to record this podcast featuring August Deimel, the winemaker for Keuka Spring Vineyards in the Finger Lakes. August has a talent for storytelling and I was incredibly fortunate to connect with him on a whim. Having attended Cornell's enology program, August provided a peek into east coast wine education and winemaking that was a novel perspective for this podcast. His enthusiasm for the grape varietal Vignoles has me eager to try this potential long-lived wine.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Keuka Spring Vineyards - Finger Lakes, NY
• Vignoles
• City of Riesling, Traverse City, Michigan
• Adams County Winery, PA
• Handbook of Enology by Ribereau-Gayon
• Flextank

This podcast is brought you by HomeBrewIt.com -- Providing winemaking supplies for the hobbyist and small to mid size wineries

• Everything from small amounts of wine chemicals and shrink caps, to stainless steel tanks, presses, and commercial bottle fillers
• Largest selection of Winexpert Wine Kits on the web
• Real pricing, meaning we don't hide our shipping costs in the price of an item!
• Family owned and operated for over 20 years
• Customer service driven
• Use the code INSIDEWINEMAKING2018 at HomeBrewIt.com/inside-winemaking and get 10% off purchases of winemaking equipment

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

The folks who put on the City of Riesling invited me to their events this past June in Traverse City, Michigan. I was able to record this podcast featuring the team behind Washington state's Eroica Riesling, produced by Ste Michelle Wine Estates. Bob Bertheau is the head winemaker for Chateau Ste Michelle and Ernst Loosen is the proprietor of the Dr Loosen wines in Germany's Mosel Valley. Since 1999 they have had a partnership focused on an iconic Riesling from Washington called Eroica. More than just a discussion of the Eroica partnership, Bob and Ernst take me through the challenges and technical evolution that encompasses both Washington and Germany.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Eroica Riesling, Washington State
• Dr Loosen, Mosel Valley, Germany
• Chateau Ste Michelle - Washington State
• J Christopher Wines, Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Telmo Rodriguez, Rioja, Spain
• City of Riesling, Traverse City, Michigan

This podcast is brought you by HomeBrewIt.com -- Providing winemaking supplies for the hobbyist and small to mid size wineries

• Everything from small amounts of wine chemicals and shrink caps, to stainless steel tanks, presses, and commercial bottle fillers
• Largest selection of Winexpert Wine Kits on the web
• Real pricing, meaning we don't hide our shipping costs in the price of an item!
• Family owned and operated for over 20 years
• Customer service driven
• Use the code INSIDEWINEMAKING2018 at HomeBrewIt.com/inside-winemaking and get 10% off purchases of winemaking equipment

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

The folks who put on the City of Riesling invited me to their events this past June in Traverse City, Michigan. I had a great time, was introduced to the many of the people who are at the helm of Michigan's viticulture, got to taste a lot more than just Riesling, and recorded six podcasts with winemakers from around the world. This episode features Sean O'Keefe, Bryan Ulbrich, and Jay Briggs, three winemakers based in Traverse City. These guys have been prominent in the skillful handling of Vinifera and modern winemaking that is demonstrating that wines from this special place within Michigan are world-class. Halfway through the episode, Bob Bertheau from Chateau Ste Michelle in Washington state, slips in and widens the prospective of high-latitude winemaking.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Mari Vineyards - Traverse City, Michigan
• Left Foot Charley - Traverse City, Michigan
• 45 North Vineyard and Winery - Traverse City, Michigan
• Chateau Ste Michelle - Washington State
• City of Riesling, Traverse City, Michigan

This podcast is brought you by Tin Sheets Consulting -- a full service wine industry consulting firm that specializes in:

• Small winery business strategies
• Winery Start Up
• Winemaking
• Direct-to-Consumer business optimization
• Marketing and Branding
• Website and social media marketing

Tin Sheets is offering a free 30 min consultation for all new customers

"We recognize the varied nature of our clients needs and are happy to work with you to craft an affordable plan that fits your goals and needs."

• Learn more at www.tinsheets.com
• Contact us via e-mail - [email protected] or call 719-239-7071

"Tin Sheets Consulting was created as a result of our desire to help small businesses find the tools and solutions to reach their full potential. In 2009, we took over a struggling family business and through the implementation of new systems and fresh ideas, grew it to be profitable, and ultimately, successfully sold in 2016. Throughout our journey as small business owners, we discovered that what we enjoyed most about our work was designing the plans and developing the processes and systems to facilitate change and growth. Once we'd achieved this in our business, we realized that we wanted to help others find the same success.

As former small business owners, we understand the difficulties, obstacles, and sleepless nights that are part and parcel of owning your business. Drawing from our experiences and others that we've worked with, our mission is to provide you with the resources to reduce your stress and focus on what matters most, the growth and success of your business."

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

This episode features Josh Jacobsen, who I met when he signed up for the forthcoming Deep Winemaking immersion trip in Napa this coming August. Formerly of Facebook, Josh agreed to help walk me through all the important aspects of creating ads in a manner that would be specific for wineries. Josh provides an incredible insight into creating, tracking, and evaluating the messages and costs that a winery could use on Facebook and Instagram ads.

This ended up being a very technical podcast, not in the usually enological way, but as a guide for winemakers venturing into targeted marketing. Josh patiently talks me through all the steps involved in creating a focused ad campaign, and the show notes include links to all the relevant tools within Facebook's Ad Manager platform. For the portion of the Inside Winemaking audience that has any interest in social media marketing, this will be played on repeat.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Facebook links - Organization
  • Business Manager (hub to house FB/IG assets - pages/ad accounts & respective employee permissions, etc.
• Facebook links - Campaign Management
  • Ads Manager (where you create advertising campaigns/ad sets/ads)
  • Ads Reporting (where you monitor performance, this is a sub-section within Ads Manager)
  • Facebook Events Manager (to create a Pixel for website tracking, this is also a sub-section within Ads Manager)
  • Facebook Pixel Helper (to confirm your Pixel is working)
• Facebook links - Advertising Examples
  • Facebook Success Stories (Case Studies)
• Facebook links - Advertising Resource
  • Facebook Creative Hub (hub where you can create advertising mockups)
• Facebook Training
  • Facebook Blueprint (free online courses, 'certification' costs $)
• Facebook Campaign Management Resources
  • Facebook Marketing Partner Directory (agencies that specialize in social platforms)
• Brehm Vineyards - Josh's grape supplier
• Josh's contact [email protected]

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if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

This episode features Michael Evans, who is the co-founder of the Vines of Mendoza in Argentina's Uco Valley. After falling in love during a trip to Mendoza in 2004 Michael found a local partner and created a place for individual owners to build a wine starting right from vineyard plantings. Under the guidance of full vineyard staff and consulting winemaker, Santiago Achaval, owners can choose the varietals and winemaking style in order to build their own personal wine. Vines of Mendoza has grown to 1,500 acres and now features The Vines Resort and Spa, which includes the restaurant Siete Fuegos directed by acclaimed chef, Francis Mallmann. Michael has an infectious passion for winemaking and the beauty of Mendoza, which made for a great podcast.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Vines of Mendoza, Argentina
• The Vines Resort and Spa, Mendoza Argentina
• Achaval Ferrer, Mendoza Argentina
• Contact Michael Evans by email [email protected]

I will be at City of Riesling in Traverse City, Michigan on June 10 and 11th. If you love Riesling, please come check out the trade and consumer events that this event has to offer. David Bos is billing City of Riesling as "The best white wine on earth in one of the prettiest places on earth."

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal, Bitcoin, and Ethereum links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

This episode features Frederic Panaiotis, Chef de Cave for the Champagne house, Ruinart, which was founded in 1729 and lays claim to being the oldest maison in Champagne. Frederic was on a press tour in the US and I had a chance to record this podcast with him in San Francisco. Chef de Cave translates to Chief Winemaker, which is the post that Frederic serves at Ruinart. As both a holder of tradition, and innovator Frederic is leading the technical team at Ruinart. What i learned from our conversation is that this historic Champagne house is anything stagnant.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Ruinart, Champagne
• Veuve Cliquot, Champagne

I will be at City of Rielsing in Traverse City, Michigan on June 10 and 11th. If you love Riesling, please come check out the trade and consumer events that this event has to offer. David Bos is billing City of Riesling as "The best white wine on earth in one of the prettiest places on earth."

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show. Paypal, Bitcoin, and Ethereum links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage. Every small donation is helpful.