"The Good Stuff"

This week, hosts Karissa Kruse and Virginie Boone are joined by mother-and-son duo Sharon Pastori and Paolo Pastori-Ng — a family deeply rooted in Alexander Valley with more than a century of farming history in Sonoma County. 

Sharon reflects on her upbringing on the family ranch — from harvesting prunes, apples, and pears to her father planting the family’s first vineyards in the 1970s. Today, Paolo carries that legacy forward, farming alongside his wife while raising their young twins on the property. 

A conversation about legacy, family, and the future of Sonoma County farming you won’t want to miss! 

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse welcome Tyler Flowers, Senior Relationship Manager at American AgCredit and Sonoma County winegrower. 

Tune in as Tyler shares his deep roots in agriculture — from growing up on his family’s 200-year-old cattle farm in Mississippi to building a career in agricultural finance and finding his way to Sonoma County’s wine industry. 

Tune in as Lisa shares her journey into winemaking — from growing up in Sonoma County, to discovering her passion for wine while living abroad, and ultimately returning home to join the team at Benziger, where she has helped craft wines at the renowned biodynamic estate since 1999. 

In this episode, Lisa reflects on the power of mentorship, the artistry behind great winemaking, and the importance of growing grapes that truly express the character of the land.  

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse welcome Emily Lokka, Agriculture Teacher at Analy High School, along with two inspiring FFA students: 

Bailey Cassady – North Coast FFA Region President and member of the AHS Grapevine Pruning Team 
Harlyn Menendez – Analy High School student, FFA member, and Grapevine Pruning Team competitor 

Tune in to hear how these young women discovered their passion for agriculture and how the FFA program is helping them grow as future leaders. From building communication and leadership skills to competing in grapevine pruning and animal showing competitions, their stories highlight the next generation shaping the future of agriculture. 

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse are joined by Bob Cabral, celebrated Sonoma County winemaker and Founder of Bob Cabral Wines. 

Tune in as Bob shares how he got his start in agriculture, growing up in California’s Central Valley and working for large-production wine brands and how he made the move to Sonoma County to focus on artisanal, small-batch winemaking.   

A former Williams Selyem winemaker and now boutique winery owner, Bob’s career has been defined by craftsmanship, critical acclaim, and a passion for expressing Sonoma County’s vineyards at their very best. 

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse are joined by Beth Costa, Executive Director of Wine Road. 

Listen in as Beth shares how a passion for hospitality led her to wine and a 25-year journey with Wine Road — and reflects on how the organization and Sonoma County’s wine community have evolved over the years. 

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse are joined by Hilary Cline, VP of DTC and Marketing at Cline Cellars, alongside Tom Gendall, Director of Winemaking and Viticulture. 

Tune in as Hilary shares her family’s remarkable journey—from inventing the Jacuzzi to putting down roots in Sonoma County in pursuit of winegrowing and winemaking—and as Tom reflects on his path from New Zealand’s wine industry to finding his home at Cline Cellars. 

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse sit down with Clark Lystra - a Sonoma County Winegrower, former President of the Russian River Valley Winegrowers, author, and former Senior Duty Officer in the White House Situation Room.  

Tune in as Clark reflects on his unique journey into the wine industry, his time working in the White House Situation Room during 9/11, and all about his new book, Saving Freedom.  

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse sit down with Brian Shepard, a member of the SCW Century Club and steward of Jack London Ranch in Glen Ellen.  

Tune in as Brian reflects on the deep history of the ranch, the story of discovering his own love for viticulture and grape growing, and what it takes to preserve a family-owned farm for future generations in today’s climate.  

This week, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse sit down with Gail, Steve, and Jordan Dutton – representing three generations of the Dutton family farming in Sonoma County.  

Tune in as the Dutton family reflects on Gail and Warren Dutton’s entrepreneurial beginnings at Dutton Ranch selling apples and pears, how adaptability and long-term vision helped shape a multigenerational farming legacy, and what it truly means to work side by side on the land they’ve stewarded for decades