Resting up after the Thanksgiving indulgence? Making the trip back home? Whatever it is, you’ll probably enjoy it more if you’re listening to this trio of savvy, SE MI wine biz luminaries with their thoughtfully piloted discussions laced with both humor and gravitas. Maria owns SimplyWine in Northville; Taylor is beverage director at the upcoming Echelon restaurant in Ann Arbor; Kat is in wholesale wine sales with Decanter & Coupe. Maybe it’s their complementary experiences, but we tend to think the magic is that thoughtful people are just really interesting!

Dial this one up on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and enjoy the discussion!

We're kicking off Season 4 with three former wine directors of Paesano restaurant in Ann Arbor, one of the city's most long-lived restaurants and one of precious few to offer sommelier service, which it did for roughly 24 years. Justin King is currently in sales with Woodberry wine distributing, Alan Collins is an amateur winemaker and grape grower, and Kenny Frost works at Michigan winery Aeronautique. We're delighted to bring this unique panel together, honoring Paesano founders Michael and Bridget Roddy's vision and commitment to Italian fine wine. Enjoy the show!

Brent Mayeaux is Stagiaire Wine, a young, super-cool brand kicking out impressive, zero-zero wines from their digs out on Treasure Island, in the middle of the San Francisco Bay.

Farming and pulling fruit from Santa Cruz Mountains, Marin and a bit from Mendocino, Brent's wines are definitely New California style, but distinguished by the patience he applies to the winemaking, giving the wines plenty of time to settle and mature, giving them a sense of completeness and elegance which sets Stagiaire apart from the bunch.

Brent is cool, down-to-Earth, smart and thoughtful...definitely someone you'll enjoy meeting, so click Play and enjoy the interview!

Anne-Charlotte is the charming and talented owner/winemaker of Chateauneuf-du-Pape winery, Font du Loup. Distinguished both for being the only estate other than Chateau Rayas sited on sandy soils (although different) and for the fresh, vibrant quality of its. wines, Font du Loup is worth seeking out. Anne-Charlotte is also worth listening to, as she's funny, frank, humble, and passionate, in those ways in which only the best winemakers are. We ran over time by 2 minutes, but we went with it, as we're confident no one will be disappointed to hear what Anne-Charlotte has to say!

Come hang out with the superior Adam Mahler, the one-man show who is Ampelography, a wine sales and marketing company committed to supporting authentic wines from real people. Big-hearted, right-thinking, and gracious, in his work Adam focuses on education and the stories behind the wines, making him a powerful ally in the distribution chain.

Recorded in the midst of the raucous TRWS Season 4 kick-off afterparty, please forgive the rowdy background noise. It's a triumph of technology that the discussion is clear and listenable! Enjoy!

We had the great privilege to sit down with acclaimed Spanish winemaker Pepe Raventos, who continues a 500 year family legacy in wine as head of the Raventos I Blanc winery in Saint Sadurni d'Anoia in the Penedes region. Pepe is a man of tremendous and compelling passion for his work and craft, of abiding respect for both human tradition and the natural world, and who holds sincere and deep concern for well-being. If you're thinking he sounds like a philosopher, we agree, and if you think it sounds like we enjoyed our conversation, you're right again! We ran a couple of minutes over time, but tuck in for a listen...you'll understand and forgive us!

If you don't know Mary Taylor, get to know her; this dynamic American importer has what is probably the most unique philosophy in the business, focusing as she does on typically styled, accessible, terroir wines from European appellations. Carve out 10 minutes for this one...you don't want to miss it!

We close out Season 3 with seasoned, TRWS veterans Chris Hunter from Vino Volo DTW and Diego Aliste, who is now heading up Stadt Garden Detroit as well as opening a new wine retail project in Troy’s Somerset Collection mall called Lutine. Rounding out the panel is Travis Reeves, the master behind Plum Markets’ online wine sales apparatus.

We got three winemakers on the panel here, so while this is just as fun to listen to as any other episode, hardcore heads and those who like to get geeky with it might find a little more to love in this one!

Come meet Elizma Visser, the winemaker at Olifantsberg winery in South Africa’s Breedekloof valley. She’s making “new wave” wines— fresher, more elegant and balanced— and specializing in Rhone varieties. Energetic and passionate, we believe she’s a rising star, and were stoked to have her in the studio!