Podcast

This episode is a replay that originally aired on Aug 29, 2020

Andy Erickson is the winemaker for Highest Beauty, a wine from the To Kalon Vineyard Company.

Although  he’s originally from the Midwest, a summer in France convinced Andy  Erickson that his calling was wine. Beginning his journey in Napa Valley  and Sonoma, he soon moved to Mendoza in Argentina. Returning to Napa,  he honed his craft, working under a number of renowned winemakers,  including John Kongsgaard, and Michel Rolland. After earning a master’s  degree in enology, Andy worked as a winemaker at Harlan Estate and  Staglin Family Vineyards, eventually establishing a consulting firm with  his wife, viticulturalist Annie Favia, where he made such highly  coveted wines as Screaming Eagle. Andy and Annie have recently  established their own winery, Leviathan.

https://tokalonvineyardcompany.com/

We Talk About:

His background getting into wine

The Favia Brand with his wife

The interesting history with To Kalon Vineyard, Robert Mondavi and Andy Beckstoffer

Andy's winemaking style including blending, aging, and picking decisions

The Highest Beauty wine and what is coming next for the To Kalon Vineyard Company brand

This episode is a replay which originally aired on July 17, 2020

Rebekah Wineburg is  the winemaker at Quintessa. She previously worked as the assistant  winemaker at Rudd, among other roles in Oregon, New Zealand, and more.  She co-owns a label   Post & Vine, with a focus on small historical  vineyards, featuring unique varietals like carignane and old vine  zinfandel. She graduated with a Masters in viticulture and enology from  UC Davis.

https://www.quintessa.com/the-wine

https://www.postandvine.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdw-eyue1XY

We Talk About:

-Her background in Oregon, New Zealand, and more

Working at Rudd and Edge Hill

-History of Quintessa: founded in 1989

-The micro-terroirs of Rutherford AVA

-Biodynamics and Organic farming

-Carmenere in the Bordeaux Blend

-The Illumination Sav Blanc

-Winemaking as both science and art

-Her label: Post & Vine and the unique and amazing wines she's producing

-What does "Rutherford" mean to you?  Rutherford Dust?

-Biodynamics

-What she’s been eating and drinking lately

This episode is a replay which originally aired on June 18, 2020

Rex Pickett is the  author of the novel Sideways, which was adapted into the now iconic wine  movie of the same name. Two other books followed to complete the  trilogy.

As a writer and director with countless  credits, his love of wine began back in the ‘90s when he was researching  "Sideways."  He grew up in southern California, and attended the  University of California at San Diego, graduating with honors.

http://rexpickett.com/

https://twitter.com/rexpickett

http://sideways-wine.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Sideways-Novel-Rex-Pickett/dp/0312342519

We Talk About:

The wine shop in Santa Monica, CA where Rex got interested in wine

How a conversation at Pinot Days led to Sideways: The Play

Why the movie featured a 1961 Château Cheval Blanc instead of a 1982 Chateau Latour

Impact the movie had on wine:  both pinot and merlot

A surprising fact Rex has never mentioned on any other interview

The Sidways Pinot from Chile and what wine Rex is doing next

Why there was no sequel to the movie

Will there be a Sideways 4 book?

This episode of a replay that originally aired on June 18, 2020

Amanda McCrossin is a  sommelier, media personality, wine educator, and creator and host of  the Instagram and YouTube channel "SOMMVIVANT."

She was formerly the Wine Director at  PRESS Restaurant in Napa Valley and today, she focuses her efforts on  producing wine "Edutainment" - a mix between education and  entertainment, and digital media content for both consumers and  professionals alike.

She's been featured in many media outlets  and publications including Food Network, Wine Enthusiast, Food &  Wine, and Wine Spectator to name a few.

https://www.instagram.com/sommvivant/

https://www.youtube.com/c/amandamccrossinsommvivant

http://sommvivant.me/

We talk about:

-Amanda's journey into wine

-Inside scoop on all things Somm related:  Decanting and that first "small pour"

-The rare bottle Robert Parker opened with Amanda at PRESS in Napa

-The Million Dollar Nose article in The Atlantic

-The 1972 BV Georges de Latour, 1991 Dominus, and Calder Charbono

-Why you won't see an ABV% on certain bottles

-What happened when a famous critic tried the same wine in a different glass

-What Amanda will be doing next (Hint: a podcast!)

This episode is a replay which originally aired on July 2, 2020

Ren Harris is the  owner and operator of Paradigm Winery along with his wife Marilyn. He  and his family have a long and storied history in the Napa Valley,  starting long before the first vintage in 1991.

https://paradigmwinery.com/

https://paradigmwinery.com/collection/wine

We Talk About:

-His family and the long history in growing grapes in Napa Valley

-The first vintage of Paradigm in 1991 and winemaker Heidi Barrett

-What makes the Oakville AVA so special

-Some details on the Paradigm Cab Sav: 11 blocks; the rootstocks and clones vary to give complexity

-The grape you may be surprised to know was planted on the property in Oakville in 1976

-Story of how he held a contest to choose the name for the winery

-A sign off Hwy 29 that says: “No Wineries This Road”

-A horse that was named after the winery, which is still alive to this day

-The inside story on his "business card wine" produced with Jean Phillips in 1992 that's half Screaming Eagle and half Paradigm

-Why they extended the length of the cork

Jenna Davis is the Assistant Winemaker at DuMOL.

We Talk About:

-Her experience berry tasting and doing her first couple of harvests

-The history of DuMol going back many years

-How DuMol thinks about farming, winemaking, and more

-The Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley

-The Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

-And much more!

https://dumol.com/

We get an update from our sponsor First Bottle Wines!

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Mari Jones is the President at Emeritus Vineyards.

We Talk About:

-Her family's history in the Russian River Valley

-The Hallberg Ranch and Pinot Hill Vineyards

-The Pinot Noir program and a special white wine they make

-Thoughts on vineyard management and cellar practices such as oak and more

-The "Wine Life" area of the website and how people can purchase wine

https://www.emeritusvineyards.com/

Sarah Wuethrich is the winemaker at Maggy Hawk Winery.

We Talk About:

-How she got into the wine business

-Her stops long the way at Copain and more

-The Maggy Hawk wines, vineyards they are sourced from, and style in which they are made

-A white Pinot Noir?!

-And much more

https://www.maggyhawk.com/

https://webpages.scu.edu/womenwinemakers/view.php?id=488

John and Katianna Hong are owners and chefs at Yangban Society in Los Angeles.

We Talk About their Upcoming Restaurant Launch:

-This September, Katianna & John Hong open Yangban Society, a Korean-American Deli and Super in the heart of Downtown L.A.’s Arts District. With Yangban Society, Katianna & John showcase an autobiographical experience that celebrates the varied dimensions of their respective backgrounds while providing standout to-go offerings and a dynamic space for locals to gather.

-The Yangban Deli menu draws inspiration from Korean flavors and influences, regional California ingredients, as well as aspects of deli culture informed by Katianna's childhood memories frequenting New York delis. Together, Katianna & John craft dishes that reveal their distinct perspectives and upbringings as Korean Americans, as well as their nuanced culinary approach, refined from their shared time at The Restaurant at Meadowood, The Charter Oak and Mélisse.

-While celebrated within the fine dining space, at Yangban Society, Katianna & John offer an experience intended for the everyday. An expansive deli counter displays hot and cold plates that can be plated or packaged for guests on-the-go including soy and garlic-brined rotisserie chicken, pea shoots & chive salad, Doenjang-roasted mushrooms & bracken fern, and avocado with Asian pear & furikake. Comforting dishes such as kimchee & pork belly posole, a Bolognese rice bowl and soy-braised oxtails invite guests to linger around the table, sipping canned cocktails, Hite beer or half bottles of Krug.

https://yangbanla.com/

https://la.eater.com/2020/12/2/22054973/bon-temps-arts-district-opening-katianna-hong-yangban-society-new-restaurant

https://www.wsj.com/articles/yangban-society-la-11626351679