Episode Summary
Who is Susie Selby, and what does it take to build an independent winery in Sonoma County?
In this episode of the Wine Road Podcast, Katie Ambrosi sits down with Susie Selby, owner, winemaker, and sole proprietor of Selby Winery in downtown Healdsburg, California, for a wide-ranging conversation about winemaking, harvest in Sonoma County, the evolution of Healdsburg, and more than 25 years of making wine under the Selby label.
Susie shares the story of founding Selby Winery with her father in the late 1990s and continuing the winery after his unexpected death just a few years later. She talks about her winemaking philosophy, her love of classic, Burgundian-style Chardonnay, and why she has always focused on making wines people can actually afford to open and enjoy.
The conversation also uncovers some remarkable chapters in Selby's history. Susie recalls being selected to make Chardonnay for Robert Redford's Sundance program, discovering that "Bob" was actually Robert Redford, and accidentally mistaking Glenn Close for Meryl Streep. She also explains how Selby wines found their way into the White House during three presidential administrations, including becoming a favorite of Laura Bush and having Selby Sauvignon Blanc served as a house white during the Obama administration.
Katie and Susie also explore the lighter side of Sonoma County wine country: the story behind the cult-favorite Bobcat Zinfandel, Susie's new Naughty Nancy white port, favorite old and new Healdsburg restaurants, affordable ways to experience Wine Country, and Susie's other passion—playing drums in a local band.
It's a conversation about Sonoma County wine, women in winemaking, Healdsburg history, hospitality, family, resilience, and the relationships that make Northern Sonoma County wine country special.
In This Episode
You'll hear about:
- Susie Selby's journey from working at Rabbit Ridge to becoming the owner and winemaker of Selby Winery
- What harvest season actually looks like for a Sonoma County winemaker
- Selby's approach to Russian River Valley Chardonnay and French oak
- Making wine for Robert Redford and Sundance
- How Selby wines were served at the White House
- The story behind Bobcat Zinfandel
- How Susie continued the winery after losing her father and co-founder
- Women in the Sonoma County wine industry, then and now
- Old-school Healdsburg restaurants and today's favorite local spots
- Affordable ways to taste, eat, and explore Healdsburg
- Selby's Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, dessert wines, and port
- Susie's unexpected second act as a drummer
Timestamps
0:10 — Welcome to the Wine Road Podcast; Katie and Susie introduce themselves
0:20 — Meet Susie Selby: owner, winemaker, and national sales manager of Selby Winery — and what it means to run an independent winery as a sole proprietor with no partners or investors
1:05 — Sonoma County harvest season: night picks starting at 12:30 AM and 3:30 AM, checking tonnage, estimating tank space, and making sure vineyard crews start in the right place
2:20 — What's coming into the winery this harvest: Sauvignon Blanc arrives first, with Chardonnay coming next
2:30 — Tasting the 2024 Selby Chardonnay and Susie's "old-school" Chardonnay philosophy: barrel fermentation, French oak, approximately 20% new oak, and a Burgundian style
3:45 — The Selby Winery origin story: starting the winery with her father in the late 1990s and making the wines they loved instead of chasing the buttery, heavily oaked Chardonnay trend. "The backup plan is to drink it."
5:10 — The Robert Redford story: how Sundance selected Susie as its Chardonnay winemaker for 8–10 years — and why she didn't initially realize "Bob" was Robert Redford
7:00 — A winemaker dinner at Sundance and the night Susie thought she was sitting next to Meryl Streep — but it was Glenn Close
8:45 — Selby wines at the White House: wines ordered during the Clinton administration, served frequently during the Bush administration, and Selby Sauvignon Blanc becoming a house white during the Obama administration
9:40 — How Selby wine actually got into the White House: a Hotel Healdsburg "bring your own magnum" party, a call to the White House Usher's Office, and an unexpected private tour
11:50 — Hospitality comes full circle: discovering that the White House staffer giving Susie the tour had visited her tasting room years earlier and spent two hours barrel tasting with her
13:20 — Sonoma County wine industry camaraderie and how the relationship between wineries shifted from competition toward greater collaboration after COVID
15:15 — The founding of the Wine Road in 1976, personal winery recommendations, and the lost art of spontaneous Wine Country weekends
17:15 — Women in winemaking: the Carol Shelton story and how dramatically opportunities for female winemakers have changed since the 1970s
18:30 — Susie's early winemaking career at Rabbit Ridge, where her name is still written on the warehouse door at what is now Matrix Winery
19:15 — Where to eat in Healdsburg: El Sombrero vs. Guadalajara, favorite restaurants, and why choosing just one is nearly impossible
22:30 — The story of Selby Bobcat Zinfandel: a cult-favorite, approximately 500-case wine at 17% alcohol, named after a bobcat Susie spotted in the vineyard
25:00 — Visiting Selby Winery in downtown Healdsburg: the courtyard patio, intimate tasting experience, and Raphael's personalized approach to wine tasting
26:30 — Susie's father and Selby Winery co-founder: a renowned spine surgeon, international wine collector, and the dream that inspired them to start a winery together
28:20 — Losing her father unexpectedly to an aneurysm at age 61 and Susie's decision to stay in California and continue building Selby Winery
29:20 — What Susie's father would think of Selby Winery today: "I think he'd be proud."
29:50 — Susie's wine pricing philosophy: making approachable, affordable wines you can open on a Tuesday night—not just save for Saturday
31:30 — Exploring the Selby Winery portfolio: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, three Zinfandels, dessert wines, and port
34:50 — Fancy Nancy and Naughty Nancy: a late-harvest Gewürztraminer dessert wine and new white port named after Susie's 90-year-old mother, Nancy
36:30 — Which Selby wine is most like Susie? Not the elegant Chardonnay or powerful Bobcat Zin—it's the Carignan: low-maintenance, fun to drink, and hard to pronounce
38:30 — Susie's dream wine to make next: Vermentino or Arneis and her interest in unique white grape varieties
39:30 — Old Healdsburg memories: Charcuterie, Bistro Ralph's, Scopa, Fitch Mountain Eddie's, street dances, Molly Malone's, and favorite dishes locals still remember
43:30 — Healdsburg happy hours and affordable Wine Country experiences: Matheson, its rooftop "reverse happy hour," Spoonbar, and where locals find great value
45:00 — How Wine Road helps visitors plan a Sonoma County wine trip: printed maps, personal recommendations, chat, itinerary planning, and a searchable winery database
47:30 — Susie the musician: playing drums in Vertical Flight with Michael DeLoach, her sister Betsy on saxophone, and Adam Lieb on guitar
49:10 — Cloverdale karaoke nights with Katie and Gina Mazzocco — and plans for a possible band debut at Susie's "bring your own magnum" party
50:30 — Final toast: to the Chardonnay, to Bob, to Dave, and to next time
Wines Mentioned
- Selby Russian River Chardonnay (2024)
- Selby Dave Selby Reserve Chardonnay
- Selby Sauvignon Blanc
- Selby Bobcat Zinfandel
- Selby Carignan (2021, Peterson Ranch)
- Selby Cabernet Sauvignon
- Selby Pinot Noir and Dave Reserve Pinot Noir
- Selby Grenache
- Selby Syrah
- Selby Merlot
- Selby Old Vine Zinfandel
- Selby Otto's Block Zinfandel
- Fancy Nancy Late Harvest Gewürztraminer
- Naughty Nancy White Port
- Selby Port
Healdsburg & Sonoma County Places Mentioned
Selby Winery — Downtown Healdsburg El Sombrero — Healdsburg Guadalajara — Healdsburg The Matheson — Healdsburg Spoonbar — Healdsburg Campo Fina — Healdsburg Charcuterie, Bistro Ralph's, Scopa, Fitch Mountain Eddie's and Molly Malone's — former Healdsburg favorites Rabbit Ridge / Matrix Winery Rockpile — Sonoma County Hotel Healdsburg Cloverdale Railroad Station
About Selby Winery
Selby Winery is an independently owned winery based in downtown Healdsburg, California. Owner and winemaker Susie Selby produces a diverse portfolio of Sonoma County wines, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, dessert wines, and port.
About the Wine Road Podcast
The Wine Road Podcast explores the wineries, wines, people, food, events, and stories of Northern Sonoma County, including Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley. Hosted by Katie Ambrosi of Wine Road, the podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of Sonoma County Wine Country and introduces the people who make it such a special place to visit.
