Life Between the Vines

Every winemaker brings a different perspective to our interviews. These folks are true individuals. The best part of talking with a winemaker is enjoying the enthusiasm and passion that pours from them. Richie Allen is Director of Viticulture and Winemaking at Rombauer Vineyards in Napa Valley. While Richie is from Australia, it is clear how [...]

Most people are surprised to find Ohio has been a major wine grape producer dating way back to the early 1800’s. Many areas around the state grow wine grapes but the Grand River Valley, located in northeast Ohio, is one of the most popular for wine and high end wineries. Over the 4th of July [...]

Well known as makers of one of California’s best Chardonnay, Stony Hill Vineyard sits on Spring Mountain just above Napa Valley. The history of winemaking on Spring Mountain goes back a good long way…and the Stony Hill story like so many wineries, starts with family. Sarah McCrea who’s family started the vineyard, met with us [...]

Talking with Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery on Spring Mountain is to get a strong feel of what Napa Valley was like back in the 1970’s. Stu goes way back to 1971, a time when there were very few wineries in the valley. Along with his winemaker brother Charlie (who we interview for [...]

In Napa Valley, Oakville is a very special place for Cabernet Sauvignon. Linda Neal farms just over 4 acres along Silverado Trail and makes a very special wine called Tierra Roja. Linda’s wine industry experience is varied and includes wine retail to vineyard manager to owner….and she still farms the land too. About three hours [...]

Just as wine can be made up of different varietals, a winery’s heart is made of different elements as well. Silver Trident Winery features one owner from the travel business and the other from the sea cruise industry with a winemaker who was a former ad agency owner and a vp of sales who is [...]

Another Auction Napa Valley is in the books! This year the weekend event brought in $14.3 million dollars!! Read more detail about the events in our Wine Country News section of this newsletter. The Barrel Auction was held on Friday, June 3rd and we attended for the 9th year in a row. This Podcast features [...]

Another Auction Napa Valley is in the books! This year the weekend event brought in $14.3 million dollars!! Read more detail about the events in our Wine Country News section of this newsletter. The Barrel Auction was held on Friday, June 3rd and we attended for the 9th year in a row. This Podcast features [...]

To celebrate Auction Napa Valley, which happens this week, we offer a rebroadcast of last years Barrel Auction. Enjoy! The first time you visit Napa Valley…you never forget your experience. Napa has a way of making you think of leaving everything behind and finding a home in the hills surrounding the valley. But when you [...]

Last year we interviewed Italian Winemaker Alois Lageder of Alois Lageder 1823 (Podcast #155, July 2015) while he visited Milwaukee. Two weeks ago we interviewed his son Alois Clemens Lageder at Tesori Restaurant in Chicago. Clemens has joined the family business after years of garnering experience in other areas of the industry. Family is always [...]