Andrew Jones didn’t set out to make wine. Instead, he spent decades planting vines for other people — some of the biggest names in California (e.g., Beckstoffer). But along the way, Andrew started stockpiling stories — and grapes — and what began as a side project turned into Field Recordings, a brand known for bending rules and bottling attitude. The brand has since been featured in Wine Enthusiast, on Vinepair, and in the New York Times, growing into one of the most talked-about labels in the country. In this episode, Andrew talks with Eli Brown and Jonathan Ellsworth about nursery hustle, breaking the rules, and why wine should be fun, not fussy. We also talk about boxed wine, baseball card philosophy, and Andrew fires off some of the sharpest wine one-liners we’ve ever heard.

RELATED LINKS:

Blister Craft Collective

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Field Recordings Winery

Field Recordings Instagram

TOPICS & TIMES:

Intro to California Winemaking (2:26)

From Football to Farming (4:44)

Transition from Nursery to Winemaking (6:22)

The Birth of Field Recordings (12:50)

Terroir & Storytelling (14:12)

Nurseries & Vines (22:21)

Economics of Wine Pricing (26:07)

Field Recordings: Quality & Accessibility (27:24)

Finding Unique Properties for Winemaking (29:44)

Making Wine Enjoyable for Everyone (42:12)

Understanding Wine Pricing (47:31)

Navigating the Wine Aisle: Tips for Beginners (48:11)

Quality Control, Ingredients, & Additives (51:45)

The Natural Wine Movement (58:27)

Future Trends? (58:32)

Andrew’s Recommendations: New Varietals (1:04:35)

“Topped-Up” Wines (1:14:31)

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