Mr. Wine Guy Podcast

In Episode 157 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Chris Phelps, Owner and Winemaker of Ad Vivum Cellars and Coil Wines out of Napa Valley and Sonoma, CA.

🍷

Chris is the final interview for Season 4 and what a way to end an incredible season filled with so many amazing guests than to have Chris Phelps on the show, a man whose personal story is just as storied and illustrious as his career in the wine industry.

🍷

Chris was a recommendation by his son Josh Phelps who I had the privilege of interviewing in Episode 143 where we talked about Josh's brand, Grounded Wine Co. so be sure to check that out but shout out to Josh for being the reason this interview was able to take place!

🍷

In this episode Chris talks about his life growing up in Livermore, CA, mildly surrounded by wine with his parents and in particular his connection to his buddy Mike while fighting sage brush wildfires in the Idaho desert that sparked his interests about wine through Mike's love and passion for wine himself.

🍷

Chris talks about ditching pre-med and taking up wine studies while attending UC Davis and as a result, his time abroad working and studying in France and in particular being part of the incredible 1982 growing season.

🍷

This is where Chris got linked up with Christian Moueix of Petrus and Dominus and winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, what those connections meant to him, and how they also led him back to California where he eventually became the inaugural winemaker for the famed Dominus Estate.

🍷

With that being said, Chris talks about the 1991 Dominus that he made, a wine that many believe to be a unicorn wine, and how that wine not only defined him as a winemaker but was also at a time when Dominus was really starting to dial in everything they had been working toward over the previous decade.

🍷

Chris talks about what it was like to be winemaker for Swanson Vineyards, Red Winemaker for Caymus, and his personal brands Ad Vivum and Coil and the meaning behind Ad Vivum which is a story Chris was willing to share and you're not going to want to miss.

🍷

Chris goes on to talk about his son Josh and what it means to get to work alongside Josh with his project Grounded, and also what it's like to be doing what he loves alongside his son which is super cool!

🍷

Chris's passion, vulnerability, and honesty shine through in this podcast and whether it's his mentors he's had along his journey, wines he's had the privilege to make, or those he's mentored himself, I couldn't think of a better guest to have to close out Season 4 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast!

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3KZjvG5

To follow Chris on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chrisphelpswines/

https://www.instagram.com/coilwines/

To sign up for Chris's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.advivumcellars.com/vintages/

https://www.advivumcellars.com/signup/

https://coilwines.com/wines/

https://coilwines.com/signup/

To follow Michael Gallagher on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 156 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Rebekah Wineburg, Owner and Winemaker of Post & Vine and Winemaker at Quintessa out of Napa Valley, CA.

🍷

In this episode Rebekah talks about her life growing up, her family's love and appreciation for wine and a trip to Napa Valley with her family when she was 16 years old that was ultimately responsible for her eventual pursuit in a life of winemaking.

🍷

Rebekah shares a serendipitous moment while dining with her family that involved a special bottle of Italian wine by Ornellaia and how that wine not only had an "aha" effect on her perception of wine, but it was also a place she would end up working and beginning her career.

🍷

Rebekah talks about her times at Staglin Family Vineyard, Rudd Estate, and Buccella Wines and what each of these experiences meant to her individually, and of course her current time as winemaker at Quintessa and what it means to be a part of the rich history and success that the Huneeus family has created over the decades.

🍷

Rebekah also talks about her personal brand Post & Vine, the different types of wines she creates with Post & Vine vs. Quintessa and how these particular vineyards for Post & Vine are almost these forgotten vineyards with tons of history, backbone and pedigree.

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3w9XYG9

To follow Rebekah, Post & Vine, and Quintessa on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rebekahwineburg/

https://www.instagram.com/postandvinewines/

https://www.instagram.com/quintessawinery/

To sign up for Rebekah's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.postandvine.com/shop

https://www.quintessa.com/shop/joinlist/

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 155 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Dan Petroski, Owner and Winemaker of Massican Winery out of St. Helena, CA.

🍷

In this episode Dan talks about his life growing up in Brooklyn, NY, his time in Manhattan in High School, and eventually his time at Columbia University playing football.

🍷

Dan's introduction to wine came at the unfortunate season opening loss to Harvard University his Freshman year.  The team spent the evening at a Chinese restaurant where he had a little too much white wine to drink, but the wine itself would somehow find it's way back to him a few years later.

🍷

Dan talks about his time working in publishing for Time Inc. from 1996-2005 for editorials such as Sports Illustrated which was a huge advantage for him in the business world of winemaking because it allowed him to have a road map to dissect problems for example and indirectly helped him build his personal brand Massican.

🍷

During his time with Time Inc. Dan talks about a sabbatical he took to Italy to work for a family owned winery and what it was like going from football at Columbia, working 10 hour days in NYC, to vineyard work, harvest, and spending time with the owners learning about the land, viticulture, farming practices, and how to ultimately appreciate wine.

🍷

Dan talks about his time at DuMOL Winery and Estate in the Russian River Valley and his time at Larkmead Vineyards in Calistoga and how all that wouldn't have even been possible had it not been for Andy Smith.

🍷

Dan talks about the creation of Massican with his first vintage in 2009, the inspiration behind the name being associated to the Massican Hills in Italy as an homage to his family, and how his whole experience during his sabbatical had everything to do with the inspiration for Massican because of the love and appreciate he had for Meditteranean lifestyle and culture.

🍷

Dan talks about the inspiration he had to create Massican Magazine thanks to his time in publishing and growing up reading magazines as a kid, his knowledge in the Metaverse and blockchains, and what inspired him to create an NFT project which allows anyone an opportunity to get their very own Massican NFT with every purchase of Massican wine!

🍷

Dan also talks about climate change and what he's doing to help lessen his carbon footprint, what it meant to receive San Francisco Chronicle's Winemaker of the Year in 2017, and what it meant for his to join up with E&J Gallo and how amazing it is to have their support and resources.

🍷

This podcast is top to bottom one of the coolest conversations I've had on this show and it means to much to get to share it with each and every one of you today!

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/4caqeZ2

To follow Dan on Instagram and TikTok:

https://www.instagram.com/danpetroski/

https://www.instagram.com/massicanwinery/

https://www.tiktok.com/@massicanwinery?lang=en

To sign up for Dan's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.massican.com/shop/

https://www.massican.com/profile/create-account/

To learn more about the Massican Muses:

https://www.massican.com/muses/

To get access to your very own Massican NFT:

https://opensea.io/Massican

https://www.massican.com/muses/your-digital-collectible/

To follow Michael Gallagher on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 154 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Matt Murphy and Mark Porembski, Owner and Winemaker of Unwritten Wines out of Napa Valley, CA.

🍷

This is the only dual guest podcast this season which is exciting because I've done interviews like this in the past where you get to hear 2 different pespectives of the same brand and in the case of Unwritten, from an Ownership and Winemaking standpoint.

🍷

Unwritten was launched in 2014 as a passion project between a handful of guys either involved in wine, or passionate about wine, that collectively wanted to come together and create something unique in an industy that it seems like today is growing at a faster pace than ever.

🍷

In this episode Matt starts off by talking about his life growing up around his grandfather who was an Italian immigant that migrated to Ellis Island from Northern Italy and who had a passion for cultivating the land from orchids, fruit trees, to eventually grapes.

🍷

Matt continues to talk about his work in tech and how he eventually linked up with Randy Wigginton, (number 6 employee of Apple in 1976) and Isaac Pirolo with an idea to create a brand around their shared passions in wine.

🍷

Mark jumps in and talks about how he had absolutely no wine background growing up and instead was studying poetry in Boston visiting local restaurants and enjoying different wines with friends from time to time.

🍷

Mark and Matt collectively talks about how they got connected at a private tasting at Acme Fine Wines in St. Helena for Mark to eventually become winemaker, the creation of Unwritten, the inspiration behind the name and how in their first year they only started the with a 50 case production.

🍷

Mark also talks about what it's like to make wines alongside his wife Jennifer Williams with their personal brand Zeitgeist, and Mark's creation of Band of Vintners which supports local winemakers that make the same incredible, yet affordable wines mostly distributed for "by the glass" sales in restaurants.

🍷

As Matt quoted and I think is fitting to close this intro, "Life is unwritten.  It's your journey to forge and create and do what makes you happy and don't hold back." 

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To follow Unwritten Wines on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/unwrittenwines/

To sign up for Unwritten's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines: 

https://unwrittenwines.com/store/

https://unwrittenwines.com/cabernet-sauvignon-subscription-wine-clubs/

To follow Michael Gallagher on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin: https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 153 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Natalie Winkler, Winemaker and Viticulturist for Salvestrin Winery out of St. Helena, CA.

🍷

In this episode Natalie talks about her life growing up in Kansas City and later attending the University of Oregon where she initially found a love and passion for wine working at a wine bar while attending classes.

🍷

After travels and studies abroad Natalie would find herself at Westwood Estate Wines in St. Helena working alongside David Ramey and how a recommendation from Aaron Pott to meet Michel Rolland would provide her an internship opportunity in France which would have a massive influence on who she is today as a winemaker.

🍷

Natalie goes on to talk about accepting the winemaking position at Salvestrin Winery in 2017, what it's like to cultivate one of the Dr. Crane vineyards, and also what it's like to be a part of the rich history that Rich and Shannon Salvestrin have continued throughout the years.

🍷

With that being said, Natalie talks about Rich's influence on rootstock over several decades owning his own Nursery business and what she's learned from Rich as it pertains to rootstock and how that mentorship has been incredibly influential to her career as a viticulturist.

🍷

Natalie talks about her strength in organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farming that she's learned over the years while working alongside Philippe Coderey, and how those practices if adopted little by little can be so impactful for so many people just like herself.

🍷

Natalie also talks about the amazing 2023 vintage and this whole conversation in general from a background in French winemaking, Spanish winemaking, sustainable farming practices you name it, this episode is jammed packed with so many amazing things that I can't wait for you to take a listen!

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/4e1TdjH

To follow Natalie on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/natalie_jane_winkler/

https://www.instagram.com/salvestrinwinery/

To sign up for Salvestrin's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://store.salvestrinwinery.com/estate-wines

https://www.salvestrinwinery.com/wine-club/

To follow Michael Gallagher on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 152 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Michael Cruse, Owner and Winemaker of Ultramarine Wines and Cruse Wine Co. out of Petaluma, CA.

🍷

Having Michael on the podcast was amazing because I was able to learn about what it’s like to make Cali Sparkling and Petnats vs. traditional still white and red varietals that a majority of winemaker’s produce.

🍷

It was actually thanks to a Reel that I noticed on my IG page with MS Dustin Wilson tasting through Michael’s “Cruse” lineup that got me intrigued which I’m grateful I stumbled across.

🍷

In this episode Michael talks about his life growing up and in particular his time at University of Cal Berkley and how his Instructor Terry Leighton had a lot to do with inspiring a love and a passion for wine in him through the correlation of his Bio-chemistry degree.

🍷

Michael talks about his personal brand Ultramarine Wines, what it means for that brand to be recognized as California's first Sparkling cult wine, and the thought process for Michael and his business partners while creating Ultramarine in the early 2000's.

🍷

Michael goes on to talk about his other project Cruse Wine Co., what makes it different from Ultramarine in terms of Sparkling, and his Pét-Nat portfolio with Cruse and why these wines are so unique and appropriate for California's growing region.

🍷

Michael also shares what it meant to be name San Francisco Chronicles Winemaker of the Year and how that recognition has been an encouragement to him throughout the course of his career.

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/4aL2I3C

To follow Michael on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/crusewine/

https://www.instagram.com/crusewineco/

https://www.instagram.com/ultramarinewine/

To sign up for Michael's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.crusewineco.com/shop/

https://www.crusewineco.com/signup/

https://www.ultramarinewines.com/

To follow Michael Gallagher on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 151 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Dominic Chappellet Chief Operating Officer of Chappellet Winery out of Pritchard Hill, CA.

🍷

I’ve often spoke about how Chappellet is at the top of my list of wineries in the Napa Valley but it’s without question their contribution to viticulture and winemaking have placed them at that same level amongst so many people just like myself.

🍷

When I decided to relaunch my podcast in the earlier part of 2023, Chappellet was the first family I thought of as a potential guest on the show so I reached out to Alexa Chappellet to see about a potential interview and went from there.

🍷

Alexa was kind enough to connect me with the PR team to organize everything and before long I was chatting with Dominic Chappellet about all the things his family created in the wine industry!

🍷

In this episode Dominic talks about his Father Donn and Molly, Donn's entrepreneurial background with coffee dispensing and Molly's background in architecture, art, literature, and being a James Beard award winning author!

🍷

Dominic talks about the decision his parents made after Donn's coffee dispensing business went public to sell everything they had and move the entire family to Napa Valley to go full time in the wine industry.

🍷

Dominic went on to talk about what it was like for his family to break ground in Pritchard Hill in 1967 with the help of Architect Ed Moses and Engineer Dick Keith and the inspiration they had to choose Pritchard Hill thanks to the great André Tchelistcheff.

🍷

Dominic talks about what it was like for his family to make their 1969 Estate Cabernet, a wine that is considered today to be a unicorn wine and his mother Molly's love and passion for their Chenin Blanc.

🍷

Dominic also shares the privilege his family has to focus on the environment through their 960 module solar project, state-of-the-art water processing system, and being fully certified organic in 2012 by the (CCOF) California Certified Organic Farmers.

🍷

As I mentioned, this podcast means so much to me and what this family has done to make a massive impact on the wine industry over the course of several decades though all their hard work and commitment!

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/4aE24oP

To follow Chappellet on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chappellet_winery/

To sign up for Chappellet's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://chappellet.com/shop/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linktree&utm_campaign=shop+chappellet+wines

https://chappellet.com/join/mailing-list/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linktree&utm_campaign=join+our+mailing+list

https://chappellet.com/join/#chappellet-wine-club

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 150 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Michel Gassier, Owner of Winemaker of Château de Nages and Domaine Gassier out of the Costières de Nîmes appellation of the Languedoc-Roussillon Region of France which is one of the most southernly parts of the historic Rhône Valley.

🍷

Michel kicks off the 2nd half of Season 4 of the podcast and he's also my first old-world wine guest on the show so it brings me a tremendous amount of honor and gratitude to be sharing his story and the multiple generations of his family in the wine industry.

🍷

In this episode Michel talks about his time growing up in the outdoors of the Rhône Valley, his time attending Ag school, and how thanks to his secondary education was able to opt out of a mandatory 18 month military service obligation by working at the French Embassy in Washington DC.

🍷

Michel talks about his time at Domaine Bernard and how eventually becoming President of this winery was pivotal in helping him not only earn an income while learning sales and marketing, but eventually getting his personal brand up and running, focusing soley on his own vineyards and winery (Domaine Gassier) by the end of 1999.

🍷

Michel talks about the creation of Domaine Gassier while simultaneously working at his family winery Château de Nages with his brother.  Michel goes on to say that "Château de Nages is the inherited terroir while Domaine Gassier is the chosen terroir!"

🍷

Michel also goes on to talk about the Nîmes appellation and what makes it so special, his philosophy on pruning, and Michel even educates us on some of the common misconceptions of old-world wines and even some of the cultural advantages and benefits that we all love and appreciate about this beautiful and historical terroir!

🍷

Having Michel onboard was truly and honor and a special shoutout to Leah Isenberg of Colangelo & Partners for making this interview possible from South FL to South FR! 🙏🏼

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To follow Michel on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chateaudenages/

https://www.instagram.com/domainegassier/

To purchase some of Michel's wines, or to sign up to learn more about Château de Nages and Domaine Gassier:

https://www.chateaudenages.com/en/wines/

https://www.domainegassier.com/en/wines/

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/domaine+gassier/1/usa

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/chateau+de+nages/1

https://www.totalwine.com/search/all?text=chateau%20de%20nages

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 149 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jean Hoefliger, Owner of Jean Hoefliger Wine Consulting and Winemaker of AXR out of Napa Valley, California.

🍷

Jean was a previous podcast guest in Episode 51 and is part of a four interview lineup where I brought back a few amazing people for a new, fresh conversation as a soft launch for Season 4!  With Jean being the 4th person of the throwbacks it was great having him back but I also can't believe we're already half way though Season 4 of the podcast!

🍷

In this episode Jean talks about his time at Newton Vineyard and Alpha Omega Winery as Winemaker early in his career and how those experiences, especially woking with world-renowned Consultant Michel Rolland really had a massive impact on who he is today as a consultant himself.

🍷

Jean talks about the consulting side of winemaking and why it's so important and especially how he's personally never satisfied in his pursuits of perfection and how he "positions himself more in doubting, therefore more progression."

🍷

Jean also educates us on the importance of pruning and how he delays his pruning to play off the frost season, speeding up bud break for the vintage to come and why it's so important for him in the long run.

🍷

Jean brings so much energy and charisma to this podcast and as a mid-season finale for Season 4, you're not going to want to miss!

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3wwX1bC

To follow Jean on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jean_hoefliger/

https://www.instagram.com/jhwineconsulting/

To purchase some of Jean's wines, or to sign up to learn more about JH Wine Consulting:

https://www.jhwineconsulting.com/about-us

https://www.axrnapavalley.com/Wine

https://www.thedebatewine.com/The-Store

https://www.harbisonestatewines.com/wine/

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 148 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with John Caldwell or "JFC"...Owner, Smuggler, and Head Dude of Caldwell Vineyard out of the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley, CA.

🍷

John Caldwell is what I would call a true pioneer in his ability to understand French vine clones back in the early 1980's and how important they would be to viticulture in other parts of the world, and especially in his vineyard in California.

🍷

The problem was, John wanted them faster than customs would allow so he smuggled them across the Canadian border, which this story in itself is something out of a movie and illustrated in such a way that John leaves you captivated and speechless all at the same time.

🍷

John talks about everything from his time growing up learning from his parents but especially his mother in her shoe business about Entrepreneurship and everything that goes into running a business successfully through hard work and commitment.

🍷

John talks about what inspired him to purchase his property in Coombsville in the early 1980's and the day he realized while digging up dirt with the Abreu brothers on his property that being a winegrower was what he was destined to be.

🍷

John also talks about his infamous smuggling story in great detail, what it's meant to him and his legacy over the years, and how those risks have offered him huge rewards over the course of his lifetime.

🍷

This is just bits and pieces of an incredible interview that I believe will go down as one of the most inspiring and captivating interviews of this season so get ready for a wild ride with the legend himself, John Caldwell!

🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3QwMDax

To follow John on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/caldwellvineyard/

To sign up for John's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.caldwellvineyard.com/pages/discover-wines

https://www.caldwellvineyard.com/pages/the-society-of-smugglers

https://www.caldwellvineyard.com/pages/society-of-winesteins

To learn more about John's book, "John Caldwell's Guide for Grapevine Clones for Proffessionals":

https://www.caldwellvineyard.com/products/john-caldwells-guide-for-grapevine-clones-for-professionals

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/