The Stories Behind Wine

Cathy Corison is the owner of Corison Winery in St. Helena, California. An alum of Freemark Abbey, Robert Sinskey, and Chappellet, she’s made wine under her eponymous label since 1987. Critic Eric Asimov of the NYT has written, “Corison is one of the greatest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley today,” and she’s been named a “Winemaker of the Year” by San Francisco Chronicle. She talks to us about what it was like being one of the first female winemakers in Napa in the late 1970s, and her impressions of how the industry has evolved in the last 40 years.

Cathy Corison is the owner of Corison Winery in St. Helena, California. An alum of Freemark Abbey, Robert Sinskey, and Chappellet, she’s made wine under her eponymous label since 1987. Critic Eric Asimov of the NYT has written, “Corison is one of the greatest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley today,” and she’s been named a “Winemaker of the Year” by San Francisco Chronicle. She talks to us about what it was like being one of the first female winemakers in Napa in the late 1970s, and her impressions of how the industry has evolved in the last 40 years.

In Episode 14, we sit down with Dr. Paulo Lopes, a Portugues scientist and one of the foremost experts on cork closures. We explore his journey from being a forest engineer to studying with some of the most influential wine minds at the University of Bordeaux, leading to his Masters and Ph.D. He has conducted some groundbreaking research that has dispelled some of the myths and long-held beliefs of the role of corks in the aging of wine.

In Episode 10 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone Winery. Stu is a winemaker, a man of science and a passionate skeptic on many topics in the wine business. We cover a wide range of issues from biodynamics, Napa’s Controversial measure C, why he thinks its stupid to try and make a 100 point wine, what it was like in Napa Valley in the early days for the 2nd boom as well as his thoughts on what the future holds for Napa Valley.

In Episode 9 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Dan Petroski San Francisco Chronicle's Winemaker of the Year who makes wines for Larkmead Vineyards and Massican Winery. Dan tells us about his fascinating journey to become a winemaker even though he has no formal winemaking training or education.

In Episode 9 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Dan Petroski San Francisco Chronicle's Winemaker of the Year who makes wines for Larkmead Vineyards and Massican Winery. Dan tells us about his fascinating journey to become a winemaker even though he has no formal winemaking training or education.

In Episode 8 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Mary Margaret McCamic one of only 45 Masters of Wine residing in the United States, of whom just 16 are women. She discusses her journey to becoming one of the wine world’s top experts, shares her tips on passing the most challenging wine exam on the planet and what its like to win both the Bollinger Medal for outstanding tasting ability and the Overall Achievement Award for being the top student in her graduating Master of Wine class.

In Episode 8 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Mary Margaret McCamic one of only 45 Masters of Wine residing in the United States, of whom just 16 are women. She discusses her journey to becoming one of the wine world’s top experts, shares her tips on passing the most challenging wine exam on the planet and what its like to win both the Bollinger Medal for outstanding tasting ability and the Overall Achievement Award for being the top student in her graduating Master of Wine class.

In Episode 7 of our ongoing podcast series, The Stories Behind Wine, we speak to Angela Maculan the globe trotting ambassador for her family estate in the Breganze DOC of northern Italy. Angela shares with us what it’s like to be a woman in the male dominated wine business and about her family’s rich history and how they transform the ancient indigenous Vespaiola grape variety into some of the most revered sweet wines in Italy.

On today’s show, we speak to Angela Maculan the globe trotting ambassador for her family estate in the Breganze DOC of northern Italy. Angela shares with us what it’s like to be a woman in the male dominated wine business and about her family’s rich history and how they transform the ancient indigenous Vespaiola and Torcolato grape varieties into some of the most revered sweet wine in Italy.