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.

In episode thirty-nine of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Vincenzo Loseto, Chef de Cuisine at PRESS Restaurant in St. Helena. Vincenzo shares his culinary journey from fishing with family in Long Island to working in world-renowned kitchens like Eleven Madison Park—and now leading one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated restaurants. Currently starring on Bravo’s Top Chef, Vincenzo opens up about his creative process, PRESS’s evolution, and what it’s like to build a farm-to-table tasting menu that celebrates Napa’s unique growing seasons.

Episode Highlights:

• From New York to Napa – Vincenzo’s path through culinary icons like Noma and Eleven Madison Park to becoming Chef de Cuisine at PRESS.
• A Napa-Driven Menu – How PRESS is redefining fine dining with house-grown ingredients, seasonal changes, and a collaborative kitchen culture.
• Beyond the White Tablecloth – The vision behind PRESS’s new lounge menu and upcoming projects like a bakery, butcher, and casual eatery next door.
• Cooking for the Masses – Behind the scenes of PRESS’s elevated fair food at BottleRock, including the now-famous lobster corn dog.
• From Chef to Celebrity – What it’s really like filming Top Chef, and how the show’s camaraderie surprised him.

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.

In episode thirty-eight of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Niccolo Cymbalist, CEO and founder of Clippership. Nicco shares his fascinating journey from growing up on a vineyard in Italy to working in Formula 1 and Tesla—ultimately launching a startup that’s rethinking maritime shipping from the hull up. Clippership is building fast, beautiful, wind-powered cargo vessels that aim to revolutionize transatlantic freight—starting with sustainably transporting European wine to the U.S.

Episode Highlights:

• From Tesla to Transatlantic – How Nicco’s background in engineering and product development shaped Clippership’s vision and pace.
• Rethinking Global Logistics – Why today’s container ship model is outdated and how smaller, autonomous, wind-powered vessels can offer a better, cheaper alternative.
• Why Wine? – How Clippership zeroed in on wine as the ideal first cargo—temperature-sensitive, high-value, and aligned with sustainability-conscious consumers.
• Maritime Meets Design – Collaborating with world-class yacht designers to build cargo ships that are as stunning as they are efficient.
• The Future of Sustainable Shipping – How Clippership plans to serve the wine industry and beyond, and why faster isn’t just a goal—it’s a mindset.

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

In episode thirty-seven of the Napa Valley Insider podcast, Andrew sits down with Noah Friedman, co-founder of Top Shelf Ventures and Uncharted. Noah shares his journey from working with Michael Loeb at a venture accelerator to launching a private equity and VC fund dedicated to the alcohol and vice industries. He dives into the challenges and opportunities in early-stage alcohol investing, the importance of velocity and retention in consumer brands, and why traditional Venture Capital has overlooked this massive market.

Episode Highlights:

• Investing in Alcohol Startups – Why early-stage alcohol brands struggle to secure funding and how Top Shelf Ventures is filling the gap.
• Velocity & Retention – The key metrics Noah looks for in a winning alcohol brand and how he picks portfolio standouts.
• Building a Community for Founders – How Uncharted curates intimate gatherings for top-tier entrepreneurs and investors.
• The Future of Non-Alcoholic & THC Beverages – Noah’s take on the growing demand for non-alc drinks and where he sees real opportunities.
• A New Playbook for Wine – Why the wine industry must innovate to capture Gen Z consumers and who’s leading the charge.

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