In this episode, we sit down with Varinder Sahi, Owner & Winemaker of Copia Vineyards in Paso Robles, for a candid and deeply human conversation about land, heritage, and the unlikely path that led him to world-class winemaking.

Born in Punjab and raised within thirteen generations of Indian farming tradition, Varinder shares how the philosophy that “land is like mother” continues to guide every decision he makes in the vineyard. From his early years in engineering and business, to discovering wine later in life and studying winemaking at UC Davis, this episode traces the full arc of a calling that brought him back to his agricultural roots—halfway across the world.

We talk openly about identity and representation in the wine world, what it means to be one of the few Indian winemakers in California, and how Varinder and his wife Anita—co-owners of Copia—have become respected trailblazers not only in Paso Robles, but across the global wine regions they visit for inspiration.

This is a conversation about curiosity, patience, resilience, and building something meaningful from the ground up—one vineyard block, one harvest, and one bottle at a time.

If you care about terroir, heritage, and the stories behind the wine in your glass, this episode is for you.