Sip Sip Hooray Podcast

Brenae Royal didn’t dream of a career in wine. Growing up in California’s Central Valley, agriculture was her world, from her grandmother’s vegetable and flower garden to Future Farmers of America and eventually studying crops and horticulture at Chico State University. Her wine epiphany was a popular red blend, one that helped her realize there was another way to use her agricultural background. “Oh wait, wait, wait, wait. I can farm this. I can farm this. I've never been on a vineyard, but please hire me,” she says.

That enthusiasm helped Brenae land an internship with Gallo and launched a career that eventually put her in charge of the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma’s Moon Mountain District. Brenae also talks candidly about being a young Black woman in agriculture and how being “the only” became a source of strength. “I never really used that to shy away. It was like well I'm in the room for something so you're gonna hear what I have to say,” she says.

Today Brenae is putting that experience into her own wine label, Violet’s Paradise. What she originally envisioned as a one-time collection has grown into six wines, including five Monte Rosso Vineyard wines and a sparkling wine that helps support scholarships. She also explains why she doesn’t call herself a winemaker even though her farming decisions shape what ends up in the bottle.

Brenae’s ambitions go well beyond her own bottles. Through the Violet’s Paradise agriculture scholarship, she hopes to help more young people build careers in agriculture, while proceeds from her sparkling wine also benefit The Veraison Project. We also dig into how changing weather is reshaping vineyard management and why she sees farming as far more than growing grapes.

“My dying wish is to see Paso Robles be a household name.” - Austin Hope

What does it take to help build a wine region?

Austin Hope knows. His family moved to Paso Robles in 1978, when the area was still dominated by grain fields and cattle. Decades later, Hope Family Wines is making wine for consumers around the world—and Austin is still pushing Paso Robles forward.

The Marys chat with Austin about the family’s journey from farming to winemaking, the evolution of Paso Robles wine and its 11 sub-AVAs, and why he believes the region’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths.

We also dig into regenerative farming, soil health, biodiversity, the One Block Challenge, baby doll sheep, alpacas, bees and the family’s new provisions project that includes growing truffles. Plus, Austin tells the story behind his childhood nickname— and how Troublemaker eventually became a wine brand.

And then there’s Hope on Park, the family’s downtown Paso Robles newest tasting experience, where wine is meant to be fun, approachable and experiential. Don’t miss the gorgeous sidewalk tasting bar and infinite Instagram worthy backdrops.

As Austin says, “It’s about bringing people together and sharing stories, laughs, cries, love.”

What do guitar strings, ambient music, and one of Italy’s most exciting white wine regions have in common?

Meet Luca Formentini of Podere Selva Capuzza, the fourth-generation winemaker helping preserve the identity of Lugana DOC on the shores of Lake Garda in northern Italy. In this episode, Luca shares how music influences his winemaking, why sustainability became central to his philosophy, and what makes Turbiana one of Italy’s most captivating white grapes.

White Wine, Regenerative Farming, and Reinventing Yourself at 50

What does it mean to acquiesce to wine? For Lodi winemaker Susan Tipton it means surrendering to the grapes, making wine that represents what the grapes give her.

Meet Susan Tipton, founder of Acquiesce Winery and Vineyards in Lodi, California. In a region famous for Zinfandel and other red wines, Sue took a different path, building a winery devoted entirely to Rhône-inspired white wines. What began as a passion project after she fell in love with a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape eventually became one of Lodi’s most acclaimed wineries.

Sue shares how she and her husband Rodney arrived in Lodi after years of moving around the world for corporate assignments, and how a song called “Acquiesce” by KD Lang inspired both the winery’s name and philosophy. Today, Acquiesce is known for wines that as they say, surrender to the grapes, focusing on expressing the vineyard rather than manipulating the wine. She also explains why Lodi’s warm days, cool Delta breezes, and sandy soils make Lodi an ideal place to grow Rhône white varieties such as Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Picpoul Blanc, and Bourboulenc.

Our conversation explores Sue’s career change in her 50s, the challenges of launching a winery focused exclusively on white wines, and the recognition that followed. From selling out her first vintages to being named Woman Winemaker of the Year by the International Women’s Wine Competition, Sue’s story is a testament to following curiosity and conviction.

We also discuss Acquiesce’s food-and-wine pairing program, regenerative farming practices, and the Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective, an initiative co-founded by Rodney Tipton to help create pathways into the wine industry for people of color.

So grab a glas and join us for this inspiring conversation about wine, hospitality, sustainability, and the rewards.

“We’re about as high as you can get in the Sierra Foothills and still grow grapes.” — Derek Delfino

El Dorado County in the Sierra Foothills wine country is one of California’s best kept secrets, but it shouldn’t be.

When gold was discovered here in the mid 1800s, the Italians who came to the region to strike it rich brought with them their grapevines and winemaking traditions. The folks with Edio Vineyards at Delfino Farms in the Camino district came from this heritage.

In homage to patriarch Edio Delfino - who created the family’s fruit orchards, the third generation planted vineyards at what many might think is an impossible elevation - up to 3,000 feet - where wintry snows are not uncommon.

Today, you’ll meet brothers Derek and Peter Delfino, who bring their wine growing and winemaking talents as third generation vintners to the family’s endeavor, and along with other family members, created what today is one of the most exciting wineries in El Dorado County.

Edio is named for their grandfather, Edio Delfino, a lifelong farmer and visionary who helped establish Apple Hill as a premiere apple growing region in the Sierra Foothills.

With Derek managing the vineyards, Peter making Edio wines, together they are balancing family tradition with innovation and a through line of love for the land and a deep respect for where they come from.

The Marys were fortunate enough to visit Edio in 2023 and we enjoyed the beautiful views from the new tasting room. We sipped the fabulous wines that are full of distinct characteristics of the region - the zesty acidity, the aromatic notes and minerality really blew us away. So we’re so happy to have Derek and Peter with us to share their story.

We’re continuing our celebration of the 50th anniversary of the legendary Judgment of Paris Tasting, that 1976 blind showdown where California wines stunned the French establishment and changed wine history forever.

We’re revisiting an interview Mary Orlin did with the late Warren Winiarski, the visionary winemaker behind the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon that shocked the judges when it was ranked above some of the most revered Bordeaux in the world.

We’ll talk about how the wine came to be, what the victory meant in the moment and how it helped reshape the future of the Napa Valley and the global wine conversation.

You’ll hear Warren’s own words on tape from an interview 10 years ago on the occasion of the Paris Tasting’s 40th anniversary.

What does it take to lead one of Napa Valley’s most iconic wineries into the future—especially in a milestone year? In this episode, Matt Crafton, winemaker and president of Napa Valley’s Chateau Montelena, reflects on guiding the winery during the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris—the moment their 1973 Chardonnay stunned the world by beating top white Burgundies from France.

While that historic win put Montelena on the global map, Matt emphasizes that the real responsibility today isn’t reliving the past—it’s honoring it through innovation and consistency. He shares how the winery continues to focus on long-term decisions, resisting industry trends in favor of site-driven wines that prioritize balance, ageability, and a true sense of place.

While Chateau Montelena is celebrating that feat this year there’s barely any of the 1973 Chardonnay left. You can find an unopened bottle on display at the winery and one in the Smithsonian. It makes us wonder how relevant is the judgment of Paris today? Is the legacy strong or fading? And will it be celebrated in 10, 20, even another 50 years from now? We’re happy that Matt Crafton is here to discuss this and to bring us up to date on how Chateau Montelena has evolved - and continues to evolve - since that fateful tasting. 

We’re popping the cork on a milestone moment, the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, the legendary blind tasting that shocked the wine world and put California wine on the global map in a big way. To help us unpack what it all meant then and what it means now, we’re joined by wine journalist Esther Mobley, formerly of the San Francisco Chronicle.

We’ll chat about how that legendary showdown reshaped the wine scene, what’s changed over the last five decades in California and where things are headed next.

Plus we’ll get to know Esther, her path into wine, what’s next for her since departing the Chronicle.

During Esther’s tenure at the Chron, extreme wildfires raged through Napa,Sonoma, the Santa Cruz Mountains and more. Then came the pandemic when people stocked up on wine and booze to drink at home. Yet post pandemic America’s thirst for wine is drying up. We also saw Napa Valley becoming increasingly and some say too expensive to visit.

As Esther leaves the Chronicle for a new chapter, she comments on the state of the California wine industry, bright spots amid all the gloom and doom and what she thinks will happen in the next decade in wine.

Raise a glass of California sparkling wine!

Fifty years ago, when America was celebrating its Bicentennial, and the famous Judgement of Paris put California wine on the world map, Barry and Audrey Sterling founded Iron Horse Vineyards. At the time, the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley AVA was unknown. But the Sterlings saw potential there, and created a sparkling wine house that would go on to earn worldwide acclaim.

CEO and second generation vintner Joy Sterling is back for an encore appearance on the pod. She shares how a winery stays relevant for half a century and what it means to keep the Iron Horse spirit galloping into the future.

As Joy says, Iron Horse’s 50th anniversary is a toast for the history books. It also coincides with the Chinese lunar year of the horse, Joy’s mother’s Audrey Sterling’s 95th birthday, winemaker David Munksgard’s 30th vintage and America’s 250th anniversary. Iron Horse has played a role in that, with its sparkling being served in seven presidential administrations at America’s table. While looking back is a fitting tribute, Joy says it’s important to look and move forward to the next 50 years.

Two friends are crafting a European tradition with a California vibe.

We’re stepping into that delicious moment before dinner, when the day loosens its tie. We take a breath and we ease into the evening. It’s the perfect time for an apéritif.

Can America have an apéritif or aperitivo culture just as the French and Italians do? Rue de Rêve Apéritifs founders Jennifer Kimpe and Jeanne-Marie Hebert say, pourquoi pas, perché no or why not? You can sip the classic drinks - bitters like Aperol or Campari, bubbles and botanicals, Vermouth, et cetera - but there’s room for a new style of apéritifs, created by our guests today.

Jennifer and Jeanne-Marie always say that apéritif isn’t something you drink, it’s something you do. After three years of research and recipe development, these friends are on their way to realizing their dream of a modern apéritif culture in the U.S.