"The Good Stuff"

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Taylr Cuneo of Hamel Family Wines to hear about her unconventional path into the wine industry and the experiences that shaped her along the way. 

From business school in Chicago to culinary school, Taylr has brought together her love of food, hospitality, wine, and agriculture to her career. Tune in as she shares how her passion for cooking began at a young age, the lessons she’s learned through the “school of life” in the wine industry, and what drew her to Hamel’s thoughtful approach to farming, winemaking, and hospitality. 

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Katie Ambrosi, Executive Director of Wine Road, to talk about her roots in Healdsburg and her journey through Sonoma County’s wine and hospitality industry. 

Tune in as Katie reflects on growing up in Healdsburg, her path in the wine industry from Heck Estates to Wilson Family Wines, and now her new role leading Wine Road into its 50th anniversary year. She also shares what’s ahead, including the 28th annual Wine & Food Affair this November. 

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Damien Wilson, the Hamel Family Chair of Wine Business at Sonoma State University and a pioneer in wine business education. 

Tune in as Damien shares his unconventional path into the wine industry, from growing up learning about wine in his family’s convenience store in Australia to becoming the first person in the world to earn an honors degree in wine marketing. He also reflects on developing wine business programs in Australia and France, joining Sonoma State in 2015, and where wine business education is headed next, including the growing role of AI and new technologies. 

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Brad Petersen, a longtime Sonoma County winegrower, former board chair of Sonoma County Winegrowers, and current Vineyard Manager at Silver Oak. 

Tune in as Brad reflects on growing up in Alexander Valley, building a career from the ground up at Silver Oak, and the philosophy that continues to guide him: “We have yet to make our best bottle of wine.” For Brad, that mindset means always looking for ways to improve - whether in the vineyard, the cellar, or the way the industry approaches sustainability. 

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Josh Little, a Sonoma County Winegrowers board member and fourth-generation winegrower whose roots run deep in Sonoma County agriculture. 

Tune in as Josh shares how growing up in the wine industry, and learning the value of hard work from an early age, shaped his approach to business and agriculture. From working in wine sales to helping grow G3 Enterprises and Little Vineyards, Josh has carried a philosophy of staying relevant, continuing to grow, and embracing new technology throughout his career. 

Hear Josh share his perspective on innovation, entrepreneurship, and building a lasting future for Sonoma County’s wine industry. 

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Tony Lombardi of Lombardi Wines to explore his family’s connection to wine, his journey into the industry, and the legacy he’s building in Sonoma County. 

Tune in as Tony shares the story of his grandfather, who came to the United States from Italy in 1914, and how his family’s love of wine was passed down through generations. From growing up in Sonoma County with wine at the table to taking a leap of faith and changing career paths into the wine industry, Tony’s path has been shaped by family, friendship, and a passion for the people behind the bottle. 

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Nick Frey and Duff Bevill to reflect on the history, growth and future of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. 

Tune in as Nick and Duff share stories from their decades in the industry, from the early days of Sonoma County’s modern winegrowing movement to the people and organizations that helped shape the region into what it is today. They also look back at the creation and evolution of the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission and the important role it has played in supporting local growers and strengthening Sonoma County’s reputation as a world-class winegrowing region. 

With decades of experience between them, Nick and Duff offer a firsthand perspective on what it takes to continue building a strong, sustainable future for the next generation of winegrowers.  

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Alex and Christian Ehret of Ehret Winery.  

Tune in as Alex and Christian Ehret share the story of their family’s deep roots in Knights Valley and the evolution of their estate from a cattle ranch into a thriving winegrowing operation. After their grandfather purchased the property in the late 1970s, the family pivoted to winegrowing, planting hundreds of acres of vines and building a sustainable future rooted in the land. 

From growing up immersed in their German heritage and family traditions to returning to Sonoma County and joining the family business, Alex and Christian share the people, places and experiences that brought them back to the land. Plus, hear about their Bordeaux vineyards, Sonoma County’s largest truffle orchard and their unique vineyard safari experience.  

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Claudia Ross of Ross Ranch in Knights Valley. 

Tune in as Claudia shares how growing up moving from place to place taught her the art of reinventing herself, making new friends and building community, lessons that would ultimately shape her journey into wine. After a fortuitous decision to plant 90 Syrah vines on their property, Claudia and her family began making wine in their garage, producing their first vintage in 2007. 

From learning to make wine together as a family and developing their palates to discovering Knights Valley and putting down roots, Claudia shares the people, places and experiences that helped shape their path to winegrowing. 

This week, hosts Karissa and Virginie sit down with Alexandra O’Gorman, Vice President of Community Relations at Foley Family Wines & Spirits. 

Tune in as Alexandra shares her journey from growing up in Carmel to building her career in Sonoma County’s wine industry. From her early days in hospitality and events to earning her MBA in Wine Business at Sonoma State University, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her passion for community leadership and collaboration. 

The conversation also explores Foley Family Wines & Spirits’ commitment to sustainability following its recognition with the Sonoma County Winegrowers Sustainable Winery Award. Alexandra discusses the company’s guiding philosophy: "Good Dirt, Good Deeds, Good Sense", along with the diverse portfolio of wineries and tasting experiences that span Sonoma County, from Sonoma Valley to Bodega Bay and Healdsburg.