"The Good Stuff"

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Bill Nachbauer, owner of Alegria Vineyards.  

Bill shares how he and his wife Betsy made the leap from a career in law and public policy to farming grapes in Sonoma County, where Bill's family roots stretch back to the 1860s. Bill recalls the moment in 1989 when he first saw Alegría Vineyards and knew it was the place to build a future. He reflects on the challenges and triumphs of those early years, the lessons learned as a winemaker with ACORN Winery, and the unique experience of farming alongside Betsy.

Bill also shares what he’s most proud of from his journey, and what lies ahead for Alegria Vineyards!

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Jen Berman, General Manager, and Phillip Dube, Winemaker at North Coast Wine Co., to discuss North Coast Wine and the Outerbound wine label. 

Phillip shares his unconventional journey from practicing law on the East Coast to winemaking across continents—from South Africa to Australia to California. He opens up about the moment he knew it was time to leave the courtroom for the vineyard.

Jen, with a background in biochemistry and nearly 20 years in the industry, talks about how science shaped her love of wine- and how that lens still guides her leadership today.

They reflect on the mentors and moments that shaped their paths, and how those experiences influence their work now at North Coast Wine Co. From launching standout brands like Outerbound to exploring new vineyard sites, to collaboration to create new ideas and crafting wines that express a true sense of place and varietal character. 

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Mark Stark, Executive Chef & Co-Founder, and Terri Stark, Hospitality Director & Co-Founder of Stark Reality Restaurants.

The husband-and-wife team provide a behind the scenes look into Stark Reality Restaurants, a collection of eight locally loved restaurants in Sonoma County. They opened their first, Willi’s Wine Bar, in 2002, introducing the small plates concept to Santa Rosa. Over the next two decades, they steadily expanded their footprint across Sonoma County. 

Listen in to hear about their journey from meeting in Palo Alto to building one of Sonoma County’s most beloved restaurant groups, their inspirations behind each unique concept, and how they balance culinary creativity with hospitality excellence! 

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Jack Florence, Founder of Florence Vineyard and Author of Dare to Dream.

Jack shares his story of trading a career in nuclear engineering for a life among the vines in Sonoma County. Originally from New York, Jack spent over two decades in the nuclear energy industry, often traveling to Asia. But after missing Easter with his family due to a work commitment in South Korea, Jack and his wife Fran knew it was time for a change.

Inspired by a newspaper article about grape growing in Napa Valley, Jack began exploring viticulture and ultimately relocated his family to Dry Creek Valley, where they established Florence Vineyard. The transition wasn’t easy- Jack’s early days included a rocky relationship with a vineyard manager and a humbling first harvest that made him realize he needed to get his hands dirty. He left engineering behind and embraced farming full-time, instilling a love for the land in his son, Jack Jr.

Jack also shares how his vision and perseverance helped shape the Rockpile AVA in 2002, in partnership with the Park family. Today, he remains active in the vineyard alongside his wife Carol, continuing a family legacy rooted in passion, resilience, and community. 

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Karen Francis Degolia, Owner of Limerick Lane Cellars. 

Karen shares the early days of bringing Limerick Lane back to life in the 1990s, working alongside Tom Collins to revive long-dormant vineyards. She shares what it was like to walk through the property for the first time in decades, the emotional pull of returning to land rich with history, and the foundational work that went into rebuilding the estate.

Karen’s career path took her from wine country to Detroit, where she became one of the youngest female executives in the automotive industry. She discusses how her background in agriculture informed her leadership approach and the parallels she sees between managing a legacy wine estate and overseeing global brands like Oldsmobile and Ford.

The conversation comes full circle as Karen shares what makes Limerick Lane wines unique to her and the legacy she hopes to leave behind: one of bold choices, heartfelt returns, and deep respect for the land that started it all.

In this episode of "The Good Stuff" presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Kevin Bersofsky, Owner and winemaker of Montagne Russe Wines, and Steve Sangiacomo, Third Generation Winegrower and Partner at Sangiacomo Family Vineyards and Winery, about the Petaluma Gap and the upcoming Wind to Wine Festival on August 8th-10th! 

Kevin’s path to winemaking was anything but typical. After earning a mechanical engineering degree from Cornell and designing makeup tanks for Estée Lauder, he found himself drawn to the world of wine- and soon after, faced with a surprise visit from the ATF, ABC, and Napa DA for his garage winemaking operation. That wild start gave way to Montagne Russe Wines, named after the French word for roller coaster- a fitting metaphor for his journey. Today, Kevin crafts expressive Syrah and Pinot Noir in the Petaluma Gap and has even blended his love of music into the experience with Vino & Vinyls, a record shop tucked inside his Healdsburg tasting room, featuring over 2,000 records.

Steve Sangiacomo, meanwhile, represents the next generation of one of Sonoma County’s most respected farming families. Having grown up working the vineyards, Steve now co-leads operations across 1,600 acres and supplies grapes to more than 70 top wineries. From early morning frost protection runs to launching the Sangiacomo Family Wines label, Steve brings deep-rooted passion and strategic vision to the Petaluma Gap and beyond. 

Together, Kevin and Steve offer a dynamic look at the Petaluma Gap's evolution, terroir, and collaborative spirit.  

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 to Andrea Robinson, Master Sommelier, Chef, Television Personality, and Author.

Andrea shares her remarkable journey to becoming one of only 28 women in the world to hold the Master Sommelier title. She was the first woman ever named Best Sommelier in the U.S., currently curates wine for Delta Air Lines, and has earned three James Beard Awards. In 2004, Bon Appétit honored her as Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year. 

She opens up about her roots—growing up in North Dakota, Texas, and Southern Indiana—and how her early love for cooking eventually led to an unexpected passion for wine after taking a tasting class while in college. That one class changed everything. 

Andrea talks about starting her career in finance after earning economics and business degrees from Southern Methodist University, and how volunteering at a wine school in exchange for classes opened the door to a whole new world. A chance to lead a tasting for Champagne Krug sealed her fate—she left her job at Morgan Stanley the next day to follow her calling. 

She also recounts her solo six-month journey across Europe, where she immersed herself in wine culture before landing a role at the iconic Windows on the World in New York City. Mentored by wine legend Kevin Zraly, Andrea became the restaurant’s first female cellar master and eventually earned her Master Sommelier diploma. She even competed in the World Championship of Sommeliers.

Andrea shares insights into writing four bestselling wine and food books, including the award-winning Everyday Dining with Wine, and how she created her own stemware line, The ONE, designed to enhance any wine with just one universal shape. 

She discusses the launch of her video wine course at andreawine.com, where she continues to educate thousands of wine lovers each month. Andrea also opens up about building beverage programs for top hospitality brands—from cruise lines to hotel groups—and her passion for teaching both professionals and everyday wine drinkers.

Andrea reflects on her television work, having hosted over 100 episodes for Scripps Networks, including Quench on Food Network and Pairings with Andrea on Fine Living. Named a Working Mother of the Year, she’s also been featured by People, Glamour, NBC’s Today Show, CBS This Morning, and The New York Times.

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 to Rick Hutchinson Owner, President, and Winemaker of Amphora Winery and his wife and partner, Bridget.

A Sonoma County native, Rick’s winemaking journey began humbly at age 20 on the bottling line at Sebastiani Winery. A single step into the cellar—and the nostalgic scent of fermentation—transported him back to his childhood memories of canning jam with his mother, igniting a lifelong passion. From there, Rick trained under acclaimed winemakers like Doug Nalle and John Kongsgaard, developing deep roots in Sonoma’s winemaking traditions, particularly the bold varietals of Dry Creek Valley.

But Rick’s story doesn’t stop with grapes. A chance pottery class led him to discover a new creative outlet: shaping clay amphorae, the ancient vessels once used to store and age wine. That intersection of art and craft became the soul of Amphora Winery, which Rick founded in 1997 with just a few tons of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah—and a vision to do things differently.

Today, Amphora stands out as one of the few California wineries fermenting and aging wine in traditional Italian terracotta. From its early days in a redwood barn to its current home in the Timber Crest collective, Amphora has grown into a destination for adventurous, small-lot wines. Rick shares how his portfolio has expanded to include varietals like Mourvèdre, Alicante Bouschet, Teroldego, and sparkling rosé—while always staying true to his philosophy of sourcing great fruit and letting the wine speak for itself.

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 to Dani Price, Proprietor of Fat Dragon Wines.

Dani’s journey in wine spans more than 14 years building and managing two of the most dynamic corporate wine programs in the world—including her time as Executive Director of Wine for Wynn Resorts, where she led a $42 million-a-year program across four global properties. Prior to that, she oversaw the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group’s corporate wine program during a period of explosive growth.

Now based in Healdsburg, Dani shares how she transitioned from the high-stakes world of luxury hospitality to running Maison du Prix, one of the world’s most respected fine wine sourcing companies, alongside launching Fat Dragon Wines, an estate-driven label that crafts Rhône varietals and Cabernet Sauvignon from their meticulously restored Dry Creek Valley vineyard.

The story behind Fat Dragon Wines is as bold as its name—born from a surprise bet at the Hong Kong racetrack and brought to life on a once-abandoned 30-acre vineyard property. Listeners will hear how Dani and her husband Mike transformed the land, what it takes to build a brand from scratch, and how they’re offering a new kind of wine hospitality experience with their vineyard cottages.

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 to Dayna Ghiradelli, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau.

A proud Petaluma native, Dayna takes us through her inspiring path in agriculture—from growing up on a dairy farm and participating in 4-H and FFA, to now leading one of Sonoma County’s most influential ag organizations. Her journey reflects a deep connection to the land, a passion for community, and a strong commitment to supporting local farmers and ranchers.

During the conversation, Dayna shares insights from her time with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and how that experience broadened her perspective on ag education and outreach. She also speaks to the role the dairy industry played in shaping her values around advocacy, sustainability, and the importance of giving back—especially to the youth programs that helped shape her early years.

Listeners will get an inside look at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s work, including the ways it champions local agriculture through policy support, education, and sustainability initiatives. 

Looking ahead, Dayna shares her vision for the future of Sonoma County agriculture and how the Farm Bureau is evolving to meet the needs of a diverse and dynamic ag community. From supporting a wide range of crops to empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders, she paints a hopeful and strategic picture of what’s to come.

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