• 3:24.00 - After the grape pricing break down how can you make wines of a certain pricepoint? Is it possible to target that and make it work?
• 9:07.00 - What is the driving force behind Napa grape prices rising so dramatically?
• 17.44.00 - When preparing to purchase grapes when does that conversation happen? What is the conversation like when negotiating a grape contract or price you are going to pay?
• 22:00.00 - Why would a winery decide to distribute their wine or not?
• 34:04.00 - Are the new wines in the cellar from 2023 still on the "vintage of the decade path?"

Into the inner sanctum of the wine industry: what it costs for our grapes! Each year we get a lovely report that dives directly into the California wine grape market and how it is going to impact our bottom line. For all you stat nerds like me out there here is the link to the USDA/CDFA grape reports going all the way back to 1976:

• https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/California/Publications/Specialty_and_Other_Releases/Grapes/Crush/Reports/index.php

Questions 1 - 3

3:43.00

1. What is the main focus of the "slow" season in the cellar?
2. When you are barrel tasting young wines what are you looking for?
3. What is going on in your barrels right now?

19:04.00

Before bottling what is the last chance you have to make adjustments to a wine?

31:07.00

For the health-conscious crowd what are your thoughts on low-alcohol or zero alcohol wines? What are the things we should look out for?

We've been so hyped up on this last year that we've been neglecting the wines that are going to being bottled sooner rather than later. 2022 had its challenges and particular vibe that is very akin to a few years that came before it.

The life of the traveling wine salesman. It is a HUGE new-ish avenue for wine producers but is the juice worth the squeeze?

The new year is here and we are ready for it! While I might not be the most "woo woo" I do believe that your mindset makes a HUGE difference. Let's get into what we are running with as our theme and vibe for this new year.

RESOURCES

• Maggie Rogers - folk / Alaska (Pharrell's feedback) - https://youtu.be/TyimCGEkiUc?si=Et4L3zrf8XLVUB3x
• Rick Rubin: Protocols to Access Creative Energy and Process - https://youtu.be/GpgqXCkRO-w?si=a26wRpIZSY8nBSp-

1:52.00 - What is your favorite holiday wine pairing?

6:27.00 - What are winemakers doing during the "off season" after harvest?

16:.03.00 - Why is every photo of a winemaker we see them leaning on a trellis super well lit as if they have a professional crew with them?

24:15.00 - What are the biggest challenges facing Napa in 2024?

• Wine for Normal People - Episode 502 with Stu Smith - https://youtu.be/CdDPDaaqHyQ?si=Bmx9NirqkcWXhHNU
• SF Chronical Article by Jess Lander - https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/hoopes-vineyard-napa-tasting-18265232.php

Here it is folks! Let's dive into everything that this amazing growing season and harvest had to offer.

Where does it come from and how can you capture it? Inspiration, much like motivation, can be tough to come by. As long as you are open to it and willing to push through it is more readily available than you think.

You better be ready for it then and don't say I didn't warn you... There are few ways that people make it happen. Let's dive into each of them and talk about some of the perks and some of the pitfalls.