Mike drives to the northern reaches of Sonoma to the Rockpile AVA on Rockpile Road to speak with Jack Florence Jr, one of the first people to plant Zinfandel in what has become one of the state's premier areas for Zin. Hear what inspired Jack to plant his vineyard, and how he just kept planting more as people started to catch on. It's a fun conversation!

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Wine Discussed This Episode:

2024 Florence Vineyard Zinfandel "Jack's Reserve" Rockpile, Sonoma County

2021 Florence Vineyard Petite Sirah, Rockpile, Sonoma County 

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Mike takes Kyle Stoner, a podcast guest from a couple of years ago, into the lesser known Coombsville AVA of Napa. They chat about life, sip wine, laugh, get a little confused at some point, it's all good!

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Amy Tyler, host of The Redfern Book Review Podcast, joins Mike for another fun chat about books one might read this summer. This is Amy's fourth visit to the show, also notable because THIS is the 100th episode of The TallMikeWine Podcast!!! Of course they also go off on tangents about things; soccer, German metal band Scorpions, and Mike teaches you how to make Rosé. Pour yourself a glass and sip along!

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The BOOK List:

Land by Maggie O’Farrell
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
Salt, Sweat and Steam by Bridgid Washington
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Whistler by Ann Patchett

Wines Discussed This Episode:

2023 Gerard Bertrand Cote Des Roses, Languedoc

2023 Rivera Pungirosa Bombino Nero, Castel Del Monte

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You hear about them, whenever wine is discussed, those French Oak Barrels. But what does it all really mean? Mike has an in-depth chat with Gerhard Ziemer, who knows a LOT about barrels! They talk about other things, too, and sip some delicious wines. But it's one of the geekiest episodes EVER!! So enjoy it.

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Wines discussed this episode:

2023 Grosgrain Vineyards Albariño, Philips Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley

2021 Field Recordings Cabernet Sauvignon, The Armory Vineyard, Paso Robles

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Mike's favorite fellow wine podcaster Ellen Clifford ZOOMS in from LA for an update on all of her podcasting, wine journalism, acting and now YouTubing!! Plus, why are today's "youths" living such boring lives? And of course two different wines are sipped and discussed.

Wines discussed:

2021 Symington Syrah, Quinta da Fonte Souto

2016 McGuigan Syrah "Hand Made" Langhorne Creek

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Ellen's YouTube HERE

Mike's YouTube HERE

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Waaaay back in 2021 Hiro was Mike's guest on episode #5. Hiro was at the time, and still remains the youngest guest to apear on the show. The guys theorize as to why "the youths" aren't getting into wine in a big way, and what that means for the industry as a whole. Also Hiro tells us what he's up to now, how his winery came to close, and of course wines are sipped and discussed! It's a great and mellow chat.

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Hiro's website, check it out!

Wines discussed:

2024 Kazumi Koshu, Napa Valley

2023 Noria Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma Coast

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IMPORTANT!! Please "follow" or "subscribe" to the podcast, so you don't miss an episode. If you listen on Apple Podcasts take a moment to rate (5 stars please!) and write a review. They tell me it helps A LOT!

Making his third appearance on the Podcast, Sean brings the scoop on current Pacific Northwest comings and goings in the wine world. Check out the site HERE! The guys sip a few wines, talk about the old days, Sean revisits his love for Mount Rainier, and of course they talk BASEBALL - since it's the Wine Podcast that's NOT "all about wine".

Wines tasted this episode:

2023 Cayuse Vineyards Syrah Special #18, Walla Walla Valley

2019 Roccolo Grassi Valpolicella Superiore

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Wineries arrive on the scene in a variety of ways. Hear about a fairly new Sonoma winery that emerged from a long-standing family-owned vineyard, at the behest of "the next generation"! Mike chats with Tyler and Andrew from Ricci Vineyards, and also sips a few of their wines.

Ricci Vineyards website (go see them!)

Wines discussed this episode:

2025 Ricci Vineyards Pinot Noir Pet-Nat "Spazzino", Carneros

2024 Ricci Vineyards Pinot Noir, Los Carneros

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Mike has a chat with candidate for Congress Danny Minton, a democrat from Texas's 6th Congressional district. They talk about the mid-decade redistricting and what it's like to be a first-time candidate for national office. Danny also sips and talks about a wine from Texas's "Hill Country" wine region.

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Wines discussed this epidode:

2021 Llano Estacado, Tempranillo Winemaker's Reserve, Texas High Plains

2019 Lacoste-Borie, Pauillac

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Hear all about the development of one of the great tools for serious (and not so serious) wine drinkers, Cellar Tracker, from the man who came up with it, Eric LeVine. Eric also talks about growing up in Boston, going to Harvard, then moving to Seattle and working for Microsoft! Also, Mike talks about trying (and failing) to get someone from Costco to come on the podcast, they just don't do it. Nonetheless he does taste a wine from Costco.

Start tracking your cellar HERE

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Wines discussed:

2016 Dirty and Rowdy Mourvèdre Old Vine Evangelho Vineyard Contra Costa County

2018 Immortal Estate Cabernet Sauvignon "Slope" Sonoma County

Other wines mentioned:

Kobayashi Winery

Delmas Wines

Send Mike a TEXT (click here) he may use it on a future episode!

Support the show

IMPORTANT!! Please "follow" or "subscribe" to the podcast, so you don't miss an episode. If you listen on Apple Podcasts take a moment to rate (5 stars please!) and write a review. They tell me it helps A LOT!