In episode forty-nine of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Garret Hales, Estate Director at Spring Mountain Vineyard, one of Napa Valley’s most storied and secluded properties. Garret shares his journey from working the floor at The French Laundry to leading the revival of a 151-year-old estate perched above St. Helena. He dives into the challenges—and opportunities—of managing 900 acres of mountain terrain, the legacy of Spring Mountain’s Judgment of Paris moment, and the winery’s ambitious plans to blend luxury hospitality with deep historical roots. From ATV vineyard tours to century-old palms and a reimagined tasting experience, Garret gives listeners a glimpse of what’s next for this iconic mountain estate.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

To learn more about Spring Mountain Vineyard or to book a tasting, visit springmountainvineyard.com.

In episode forty-eight of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Bruce Marder, the celebrated chef and restaurateur behind Capo in Santa Monica and its new offshoot in St. Helena. Bruce shares the story of how a beach in Morocco sparked his passion for cooking, why he walked away from convention to build restaurants on his own terms, and what it’s been like launching a fine-dining concept in Napa Valley’s ever-evolving culinary landscape. With decades of experience and a clear creative vision, Bruce opens up about everything from Murano glassware to the challenges of earning local trust.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

To learn more about Capo and Bruce’s newest venture in Napa Valley, visit caporestaurant.com.

In episode forty-seven of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Nick Kite, the innkeeper behind The Craftsman Inn and Wine Way Inn in Calistoga. Originally from the UK, Nick shares how he and his wife Gillian left Silicon Valley for a lifestyle shift that led them to Napa Valley hospitality over two decades ago. With dry wit and deep experience, Nick offers a unique perspective on what it takes to run a successful inn—and what Calistoga needs to thrive as a destination.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

To learn more about The Craftsman Inn and Wine Way Inn, visit lodginginnapavalley.com and follow along for local insights and travel inspiration.

In episode forty-six of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Jeff Durham and Joey Wolosz of Gentleman Farmer Wines in downtown Napa. They share the story of their journey from garage winemakers to creating a charming, community-focused tasting experience inside a beautifully restored 1926 California Craftsman bungalow. With deep Napa and Central Coast roots, Jeff and Joey bring decades of hospitality experience into a space that feels more like a home than a tasting room.

The duo discusses how their background in hotels and restaurants shaped their unique, food-forward approach to wine tasting—where guests are welcomed like old friends to enjoy wine with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They also share insights into their narrative cookbook project, their creative monthly newsletter, and what’s ahead for their growing brand, including a Mediterranean wine cruise and YouTube web series.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @napavalleyinsiderpodcast and @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

To learn more about Gentleman Farmer Wines, visit gentlemanfarmerwines.com and follow @gentlemanfarmerwines, @jeffbret, and @joeywolosz on Instagram.

Subscribe to Gentleman Farmer's newsletter, Field Notes

In episode forty-five of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with James Harder and Ed Feuchuk from Tank Garage Winery in Calistoga. They share the unique origin story behind Tank Garage—a former gas station turned rebellious tasting room that breaks the mold of traditional Napa wineries. James and Ed discuss their journey from Alberta and Napa roots to operating both Tank Garage and James Cole Winery, all while embracing an unpretentious, edgy vibe that captures the spirit of California.

They dive into what makes Tank Garage stand out, from its punk rock-inspired tasting room to its eclectic wine blends with vinyl album-style labels. James and Ed also reflect on their recent expansion to Paso Robles, their commitment to pushing boundaries in winemaking, and how staying authentic drives their brand's soul and community.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @NapaValleyInsiderPodcast, @tastefuli.napa, and @drewdillinger for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

For more on Tank Garage Winery and James Cole Winery, visit tankgaragewinery.com and jamescolewinery.com, and follow @tankwinery, @jamescolewinery, and @napajames on Instagram.

In episode forty-four of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Samaria O'Brien, founder of Vigie Limoncello. Samaria shares how a cherished family recipe inspired her to craft an artisanal, all-natural limoncello right here in California. She walks us through the early days of Vigie—from hand-peeling organic lemons to designing a brand that channels the breezy spirit of Mediterranean summers.

They also dive into what it means to be a female founder in the beverage space, the challenges of scaling an ultra-premium product, and how staying authentic to her roots has shaped Vigie's identity.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @NapaValleyInsiderPodcast and @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

For more on Samaria and Vigie Limoncello, visit drinkvigie.com and follow @drinkvigie on Instagram.

In episode forty-three of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Philip Tessier—renowned chef, restauranteur, and chef-partner at PRESS in St. Helena.

Philip shares his inspiring journey from cooking family meals as a teenager in Virginia to earning Michelin stars and leading Team USA to its historic silver and gold wins at the prestigious Bocuse d'Or competition. He opens up about PRESS’s evolution into a Napa Valley institution, his vision for the future with the new Understudy project, and how he's building community and mentorship for the next generation of chefs. From international accolades to Napa Valley roots, Philip’s story is one of relentless passion, creativity, and leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @NapaValleyInsiderPodcast and @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

👨‍🍳📖 Check out Chef Phil's Cookbook

In episode forty-two of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew catches up with Chuck Matto—better known as Chuck’s Flavor Train.

Chuck opens up about his journey from growing up in Browns Valley to becoming a beloved barbecue influencer, private chef, and soon-to-be cookbook author. He shares how a backyard passion turned into a full-time career, what it means to stay authentic in the world of brand sponsorships, and how food became his way of honoring his roots and connecting with others. From viral videos to winery dinners, Chuck’s story is a flavorful mix of hustle, heart, and hometown pride.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @NapaValleyInsiderPodcast and @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.

For more on Chuck, follow him @chucksflavortrain on Instagram and TikTok.

In episode forty-one of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Josh Phelps, the Saint Helena native behind Grounded Wine Co.

Josh shares his journey from launching his first wine brand out of a college project to building a nationally distributed wine company that’s redefining the idea of an “affordable luxury” wine. From navigating retail partnerships with Target and Whole Foods to building community through outdoor lifestyle collaborations, Josh offers a candid look at what it takes to scale a modern wine brand.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @NapaValleyInsiderPodcast and @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.​

For more on Grounded Wine Co., visit groundedwineco.com.

In episode forty of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Fearon DeWeese and Juliana Folk, the visionary co-founders of Napa Valley StreamFest. They delve into the inspiration behind creating an immersive festival that celebrates podcasts, series, films, and social content, set to take place April 24-27, 2025, in Downtown Napa.

This episode is brought to you by Tastefuli, the go-to app for planning your Napa Valley experience. Follow @NapaValleyInsiderPodcast and @tastefuli.napa for updates and behind-the-scenes content.​

For more information about Napa Valley StreamFest and to purchase tickets, visit napavalleystreamfest.com.