Cathy Corison Built Napa's Most Patient Winery. Now Grace Is Next.

A UC Davis professor once told Cathy Corison she would never be a winemaker in the Napa Valley. As a woman, it simply wasn't done.She didn't argue. She just went and did it anyway.Nearly five decades later, Cathy is one of Napa's most respected voices — and her daughter Grace Corison Martin has come home to build on what her mother started.Matt talks with both of them about Kronos Vineyard, planted in 1959 on St. George rootstock and never replanted — through phylloxera, through the Parker era, through every stylistic wave the valley has ridden. They cover Grace's path from a BFA in acting to Union Square Cafe to coming home during COVID and discovering she'd been a winemaker all along. And they dig into the philosophy behind 40 vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon built for the table — wines defined by restraint, benchland fruit, and yields so low they'd make any business school professor wince.This one covers a lot of ground: old vines, family succession, organic and regenerative farming, the broken three-tier system, and what it actually takes to build something meant to last.Join the the list for a Bi-weekly newsletter with loads more wine insights and Matt's picks--https://list.robly.com/subscribe?a=0878917dffaf9516eaade2d00293973fThe official wine glass of the Wine Centric Show is Glasvin.Use code WINECENTRIC for 10% off at https://tidd.ly/41vgdSQWe’re grateful for the support of our episode partners:📍 What You’ll Learn:Old vines and their impact on wine complexityBenchland terroir between Rutherford and St. HelenaKronos Vineyard and its historical significanceSustainable and organic farming practicesCabernet Sauvignon winemaking philosophy at CorisonBuilding a winery from purchased fruit to estateFamily legacy and generational transition in wineNapa Valley’s stylistic evolution and market pressuresChapters:00:00 - The Legacy of Corazon Winery02:44 - Old Vines, Great Wines05:32 - Breaking Barriers: A Woman's Journey in Winemaking08:09 - The Family Business: Succession and Passion10:40 - Finding Home: Grace's Return to Napa11:17 - Miracles of the Kronos Vineyard13:08 - The Financial Journey of Winemaking15:26 - The Evolution of Napa Valley's Wine Industry29:10 - The Mythical Roots of Wine30:30 - Balancing Winemaking and Motherhood32:27 - The Small Scale of Winemaking32:56 - The Importance of Hospitality in Wine34:21 - The Evolution of the Sommelier Community35:17 - Direct-to-Consumer Sales Strategy36:37 - Stylistic Choices in Winemaking37:24 - The Unique Characteristics of Rutherford Fruit40:13 - The Vision for Future Wines42:57 - Sustainability in Winemaking Practices45:31 - The Future of Chorus & Winery47:36 - Adapting to Climate Change in Winemaking51:59 - Exploring New Varietals54:59 - The Role of Regenerative Agriculture59:19 - A Surprise Guest Joins the Conversation01:01:43 - Exploring New Wine Varieties🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into wine culture.🎧 Listen now on YouTube + all podcast platforms🔗 Full episode and show notes at winecentricshow.comWe’re grateful for the support of our episode partners:▪️Fearrington House: https://fearrington.com/