The Cellar Door Podcast

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They don’t come much cooler than Chris Morisoli. He flies UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, he’s completed deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan as a MEDEVAC polite rescuing wounded soldiers out of firefights and flying them to safety, he has served more or less his entire life as a volunteer fire fighter and – oh yes – he is the latest generation of the Morisoli family who are custodians of some of the most magical vineyards in the Rutherford Bench, and the entire Napa Valley for that matter. One might say the Morisoli story is the story of Rutherford. It spans the Italian migration to the United States, prohibition and the rise of the Napa Valley. Chris was born in 1984 and has Rutherford Dust in his veins. He grew up running in and out of the vines and you might be forgiven for seeing his return to the vines post deployment as inevitable. 

Chris’s story and the Morisoli story is one of the most genuine and remarkable stories one will find. And yes – like most special things – you have to find it – tucked away in the shadows of the Mayacamas Mountain range, just off Highway 29, down Niebaum Lane, here lies a historic charming little house surrounded by historic vineyards that whisper memories and stories. This is Chris’s home and the home of the Morisoli legacy. Like most who are part of small family businesses, Chris spends most of his time on the tools, in the vineyard, in the winery or in the car, so cornering him for a chat is no small thing. Hence my elation when we finally settled on a time. This was a truly special conversation to have. My sincerest thanks to Chris for joining me.

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I’ve been living in the USA since April, with April through July immersed in the vibrant Santa Barbara Wine Country alongside Wes Hagen and his wife, Chanda. Longtime listeners will know Wes as a foundational figure in this region, notably for his work in establishing many of Santa Barbara’s AVAs. But next to Wes stands Chanda, his steadfast partner and inspiration, whom he met at a Grateful Dead cover band gig—how Californian! Together, they welcomed me into the heart of Santa Barbara, offering an insider’s view of its history, personality, and the essence of its young and dynamic wine industry. After my deep dive into Santa Barbara, Wes had a unique idea: flip the script and put me in the hot seat. Though it took some persuasion, I finally agreed to let Wes give me a taste of my own medicine. We share a passion for wine, history, and the bigger questions of meaning, which fueled hours of effortless conversation. In this episode, we focused on our shared love of wine and the color it channels. I owe a big thank you to Wes for hosting this lively conversation and to both Wes and Chanda for their generous hospitality. Enjoy this special episode!

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Fraser Mackenzie is the Group General Manager at Artisans of the Barossa, a collective of artisan producers dedicated to showcasing the unique diversity and heritage of Australia’s Barossa Valley. The Artisans’ mission is to dispel myths and redefine perceptions by highlighting the region's remarkable range—from ancient vines and rich soils to the innovative techniques of the families and winemakers who craft its wines. 

Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, Fraser has a dynamic background in marketing and selling wine across the globe, from New Zealand to the USA and even the Middle East. His journey eventually led him to Australia, where he guided Montalto through the challenges of the COVID era. Joining Artisans of the Barossa in late 2022, Fraser has since been steering the group’s vision and message, with a focus on celebrating the exceptional character of the Barossa Valley.

In this episode, Fraser shares his insights on navigating market challenges, the nuances of wine marketing, and the deep joy he and his team derive from sharing the Barossa’s beauty with the world. A heartfelt thanks to Fraser for joining me for this conversation 

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What is blind tasting? Why do it? Who benefits from it? To explore these questions, I sat down with two exceptional guests: industry veteran and Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey, and dynamic wine student Cokie Ponikvar. Bobby brings seasoned wisdom to the table, while Cokie offers her trademark passion and fresh insights that make her a standout voice in the industry.

In this episode, we dive into the world of blind tasting—demystifying a practice that some might see as needlessly complex, yet one that Bobby and Cokie champion as a powerful tool for honing wine knowledge, curating wine lists, and deepening one’s appreciation for wine. My heartfelt thanks to Bobby and Cokie for sharing their perspectives on this invaluable aspect of wine education 

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Robert Joseph is a wine industry luminary. He’s been in the game for a long time and has observed and considered a great many things. He has launched wine labels, he’s had a decorated career as a wine journalist and along the way he found time to launch the international wine challenge considered by many to be the most rigorous, impartial and influential wine competition, yet interestingly Robert decided long ago to leave the world of wine criticism and pursue more innovative projects including launching French label Le Grand Noir, and his experimental Georgian label K'AVSHIRI. In today’s conversation, Robert shares his candid thoughts on the state of the wine industry. He firmly believes that we’ve forgotten that wine is part of the entertainment world—an industry meant to captivate and delight consumers. With too much noise and confusion, consumers are left bewildered, and this has had serious consequences. Robert challenges the industry to reexamine its purpose, starting with the fundamental question: Why? Every action, every label, every marketing decision must have a clear reason behind it which is communicateable and hence communicated to consumers. Robert’s passion for the industry shines through his sharp insights. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and I hope you do to. A huge thanks to Robert for joining me. 

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Some time back a friend graciously gifted me a bottle of wine from a label I had only a distant familiarity with. A quick glance at the bottle set my mind racing. It was a Grenache crafted from Barossa vines over 150 years old—an 1850 Ancestor Vine Grenache from Cirillo Wine Estate in the Barossa Valley’s Nuriootpa sub-region.

A brief dive into the history of Cirillo Estate revealed that the winery is the custodian of some of the oldest surviving vines in the Barossa. In the 1970s, the Cirillo family relocated to Light Pass in the Barossa Valley, where they inherited and began working with ancient vines—some as old as 170 years—that miraculously survived the Great Australian Vine Pull of the 1980s.

Naturally, I set out to track down the elusive Marco Cirillo, elusive because he is perpetually engrossed in the daily demands of the winery. Whether tending the vines, crafting wines, or driving sales, Marco is the force behind nearly every facet of Cirillo Estate. What I discovered was a family man of Calabrian descent, part of a lineage with over 400 years of winemaking tradition in Southern Italy. It’s no surprise that Marco was destined to become a winemaker. And if over 400 years of wine making pedigree were not enough, Marco is married to Annika Lehmann (the Lehmann name needing no introduction in Australian wine circles). She is Marco’s driving force, supporting him in every aspect of the business and doing what Marco describes as the “smart stuff” behind the scenes.

What strikes me most about Marco is how much he avoids the spotlight. It took quite some time to pin him down, but when you ask him a question, you get a straightforward answer—sometimes delivered with both barrels. Marco acknowledges that his directness can be mistaken for arrogance, but he views it as a reflection of his passion for wine and a deliberate effort to tune out the noise of wine politics and undue criticism.

The Cirillo brand has recently ignited global interest, especially following its success at the 2024 Vinous Icons event in New York City, where Marco’s Grenache became a talking point. Marco’s philosophy is to let his viticulture and winemaking speak for themselves, and it seems this approach is yielding significant rewards. I was fortunate to have Marco join me on the Cellar Door Podcast, where he shared his personal journey, insights on working with some of the world’s oldest Grenache and Semillon vines, the Barossa Old Vine Charter, and his overall winemaking philosophy. A heartfelt thank you to Marco for taking the time to join me.

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In or around 2013 three Aussie mates conspired to create the ultimate digital wine playground in a bid to make it easier for everyday Aussies to access great Australian wines. Today the DifferentDrop acts as one of the premier platforms for and supporters of domestic Australian wine. They keep an eye on the trends and form relationships with great Aussie producers to get access to the best wines. But that’s not all. They also want to share their experiences and what they learn along the way, and this has resulted in them creating one of the most engaging and educative online media presences in the Aussie landscape, particularly with their YouTube content. Co-founder Tom Hollings sat down with me to share the story of DifferentDrop and his perspectives on the wine game across Australia. A huge thanks to Tom for joining me. 

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Get ready for an inspiring tale that’s guaranteed to warm your heart! It’s a story about passion, community, and a group of remarkable students at Upper Yarra Secondary College who are taking a bold step into the world of viticulture, winemaking and hospitality. Under the expert guidance of their dedicated teacher and mentor, Marcus Cook, these students have been hands-on in farming their very own school vineyard. The result? The inaugural 2023 Junction Road Pinot Noir, a wine crafted with hard work and determination, which went on to make waves at the prestigious Yarra Valley Wine Show. 

Not only did this student-made wine score an impressive 95 points, but it also took home the award for Best Small Batch Wine – a massive achievement for a school project! Marcus Cook joins me on the Cellar Door Podcast to share the incredible journey of these young winemakers, as they forge a unique path through the world of viticulture, gaining invaluable skills and confidence along the way. 

This is more than just a feel-good story – it’s a testament to what can happen when passion, education, and community come together. I can’t wait for you to hear all about it. A huge thanks to Marcus for joining me!

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According to the World Health Organization, “any level of alcohol consumption is associated with preventable net harms due to multiple health conditions such as injuries, alcohol use disorders (AUDs), liver diseases, cancers and cardiovascular diseases, as well as harms to persons other than drinkers.” According to Dave Parker of Benchmark Wine Group, that statement is demonstrably false. Dave Parker is the CEO and founder of Benchmark Wine Group, one of the worlds leading curators of rare and fine wine selections for retailers, restaurants and collectors. Dave also runs a data analysis company. It was Dave’s passion for wine and details that lead him into the conversation in defense of wine against the growing voice of those who Dave considers making the baseless claim that all alcohol is in any amount is bad for a persons health. According to Dave, its all about the J Curve, a data analysis, which plots that moderate consumption of alcohol is actually overall a health benefit for the average person – a J curve that recent critics claim to be outdated. I sat down with Dave Parker for close to an hour, during which he explained the basics of this topic and the importance of it to the wine industry at large. Given the complexity of this topic, Dave and my conversation is far from a complete analysis of the issue, so I have included links in the show notes to some of the resources Dave provided me. A huge thanks to Dave for joining me.

Article from Wine Business Monthly: www.winebusiness.com/wbm/article/284944

Article from Christopher Snowden: https://snowdon.substack.com/p/cherry-picking-the-evidence-on-alcohol 

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This episode features none other than Joe Fattorini, a true force in the world of wine. Many of you know him as the co-presenter of The Wine Show, where he takes viewers on a journey through vineyards and wine cultures across the globe. But Joe’s influence reaches far beyond the screen. He’s a seasoned wine merchant, expert, educator, and marketer who has spent decades passionately sharing his love for wine, whether through writing, speaking, or consulting.

My introduction to Joe came through an article he penned on the anti-alcohol lobby and the complex challenges the wine industry faces in countering its relentless influence. His sharp insights and vibrant personality were evident, and I knew I had to get him on the show. While I wasn’t entirely sure where our conversation would lead, one thing was clear – with Joe, we could dive deep into just about anything.

In this episode, we talk about his fascinating journey in the wine industry, his thoughts on building consumer engagement, and the ongoing battle against the anti-alcohol lobby. A huge thank you to Joe for joining me. 

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