"The Good Stuff"

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Kerry Thedorf & Johan Eide, Co-Founders of Region. & Sampl.

Region is a unique and innovative wine bar concept located in both Sebastopol & San Luis Obispo. Founded by Kerry & Johan in 2020 in the heart of the Barlow Sebastopol, Region. was the first of its kind in Sonoma County. The second location opened in 2022 at the Hotel San Luis Obispo, a property owned by the Piazza Hospitality Group, which owns properties in Sonoma County as well. Region. uniquely offers a self-serve model with state-of-the-art WineStation machines, which pour over 50 hand-selected small production wines from 35+ Sonoma County wine producers. Each week, they host a winery takeover event, where one of their partnering wineries offers a special flight, winemaker appearances & curated food pairings. In addition to its focus on supporting small production wineries, Region. is committed to sustainability, donating 1% of its sales to the environmental organization 1% for the Planet.

Sampl., founded in 2022 by Kerry & Johan, is a subscription-based wine tasting club emerged from their success with Region. Every quarter, Sampl takes you to a different winemaking region, delivering seven 100ml glasses of curated wines from the best local producers in eco-friendly, reusable packaging directly to your home. This model allows consumers to explore a variety of wines without committing to a full bottle, enabling smaller wineries to thrive in the by-the-glass market.

And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks!

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Andrew Smith, Agricultural Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures for Sonoma County. Andrew first got interested in nature and agriculture by working in his family's garden and doing landscaping. With over a decade of public service experience in regulatory roles, Andrew is dedicated to finding solutions for compliance issues faced by both agricultural and non-agricultural pest control practitioners. He shares some of the strangest things that he has found in packages making their way to Sonoma County. He was recently accepted into the prestigious California Agricultural Leadership Program in the 54th class. Andrew also really enjoys presenting to the Sonoma County Winegrowers Leadership Academy. Finally, his department is responsible for making sure you don't get ripped off when buying veggies at the supermarket, or when you fill up your tank! (That's the Weights and Measures part of his job.) Andrew talks about the Crop Report, and how it paints a picture in time, especially when paired with the historical events of the time, and with economic factors. Sonoma County has crop reports going back to the 1920s on their website! And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Sharon Cohn, co-owner of Breathless Wines. Sharon talks about her path to starting a sparkling wine brand with her sisters. She has had all kinds of adventures, from a post in the Air Force, to becoming a dental hygienist (where she met her husband Bruce Cohn), owning a Massage Envy shop, and being a managing partner for the BR Cohn Olive Oil Company. Her sister Rebecca Faust founded Rack and Riddle, a custom crush facility that works with more than 250 wine clients making wines. Sharon, Rebecca, and their sister Cynthia Faust created Breathless Wines in honor of their mother, Martha, who had a rare lung disease that literally left her breathless. Now, with winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster, Breathless Wines is producing award-winning sparkling wine. And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Kimberly Charles, President and Founder of Charles Communications Associates, and one of the founders of Come Over October along with wine journalist Karen MacNeil and PR expert Gino Colangelo. Kimberly shares the details of Come Over October, an initiative created to promote the social benefits of drinking wine. She says wine is a communal beverage and it should be shared and celebrated with friends and family. Many companies have joined the campaign, including Jackson Family Wines, Wine Enthusiast, and Lyft, as well as international wine regions. You can learn more and find local ways to participate by visiting comeoveroctober.com. And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Chris Crispo & Audrey Bush of Bush Crispo Vineyards, located in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley, a family-owned estate with a history spanning three generations of the Bush Crispo family. Together, they manage the 13.5-acre property which is split between Pinor Noir & Chardonnay. The vineyard was certified sustainable in 2015, a milestone that reflects the family's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. And finally, Virginie & Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with David and Alan Ramey, father and son duo from Ramey Wine Cellars. David started Ramey Wine Cellars in 1996 after going to France to learn during a harvest season, and working for Simi and Matanzas for a while. Alan and his sister Claire joined the family business in 2013, and became co-presidents in 2021. The strong core of long-time employees makes this transition to the next generation an easy one. And finally, Virginie, Karissa, David, and Alan share their Tuesday Night wine picks.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Phillip Staehle, founder and winemaker at Enkidu Wines. Phillip grew up in Lake County with older brothers and sisters who exposed him to wine. With an early appreciation (and collection!), Phillip decided to major in Political Science, as one does. He worked in restaurants during college, gaining an education in the "School of OTJ." (On The Job) He became a wine buyer, then a cellar rat, and also worked with his brother on a wine packaging business. In 2003 he started Enkidu, which he then sold in 2022, but still remains as winemaker. And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Professor Emeritus George Day at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Co-Chair of the Ag Sustainability Center. Professor Day was one of Karissa's professors when she attended Wharton for her MBA, and the two have a mutual admiration. After her rigorous studies at Wharton, Karissa eventually found her way to Sonoma County and became the Executive Director of Sonoma County Winegrowers. She realized that there was an opportunity to help winegrowers learn how to innovate and that an Ag Center would be a good way to bring people from various industries together to shape goals and practices for improving the economics of farming, sustainability, leadership growth, and adapting farm practices. She asked her former Professor to lead the charge, and he took about a nanosecond to consider before he said yes. Initially meant to be just a year-long project, the Ag Center has blossomed, and more people and perspectives have joined in. And finally, Virginie, Karissa, and Professor Day share their Tuesday Night wine picks.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff," presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Jim Pratt, Owner of Cornerstone Certified Vineyard, Jose Cervantes, Operations Supervisor at Cornerstone, and Susan Ramirez from Cornerstone. Jim started his career in Sonoma County after getting a degree in botany. He worked with Richard Kunde at Sonoma Grape Vines, which was a very influential time in Jim's life. Jim met Jose while in Oregon and in 1999, Joes began working with Jim. Jose's strength in a leadership role led him to be selected for the Sonoma County Winegrowers Leadership Academy, as well as the Vineyard Employee of the Year. He was part of the first group of Leadership Academy members to go to Washington DC and meet with our congressional leaders. And finally, Virginie, Karissa, Jim, Jose, and Susan share their Tuesday Night wine picks.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk with Winemaker Erich Bradley. He shares his background, with a foundation in academics. Erich studied math and philosophy, and after some time in chilly Chicago, realized he needed to head back West. His parents bought a home and vineyard in Kenwood, and that is where he learned about winemaking. The timing was right to get lots of winemaking experience with some of the biggest names in the Sonoma Valley, including Arrowood Winery. The fruit grown on the hillsides and ridges drew his attention, and he grew to love what has now become the Moon Mountain District AVA. This show features a bonus segment all about that AVA. Erich makes wines for Repris Wines, Pangloss Cellars, and Texture Wines. And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks.