Episode #11 – Donna Wolfe & Brian Kusko Join for a Viognier Showdown

Welcome back to Vino Frankel: A Taste of Sculpterra!In Episode #11, Paul sits down with Donna Wolfe and Brian Kusko for a dynamic, behind-the-scenes conversation about wine, creativity, events, and everything happening at Sculpterra.Brian joins the show for the first time — he’s the creative engine behind Sculpterra’s graphics, photography, video, social media, and IT, and he brings a fresh perspective to this episode.Donna returns as co-host to recap major events, including Black Friday, Author’s Showcase prep, and two new vintages of Viognier on the tasting table.This episode is packed with winery operations, post-harvest chaos, French terroir breakdowns, raccoon vineyard drama, and Paul’s unapologetic take on whether he drinks other people’s wine (spoiler: rarely).🕰 Episode Highlights• Black Friday Recap & Holiday Rush1,185 cases soldBiggest movers: Viognier, Pinot Noir, Primitivo, Héroe CabernetTaste of the Backroads Thanksgiving Dinner“PORT saved the day!”• Harvest & Cellar UpdatePost-harvest equipment teardownTartrate scraping, bin stacking, reorganizing, filtrationUpcoming bottlings:1,500 cases — 2024 Héroe Cabernet Sauvignon225 cases — 2024 Mourvèdre250 cases — 2023 Tree Frog Wild Hogge Bermuda Wine• Donna Spotlight Q&AHer biggest Black Friday orderWhy she loves ViognierHow her palate has changedHer go-to Sculpterra wine• Brian Kusko Joins the Show• The World of WineA deep dive into French terroir — climate, soil, elevation, tradition, and how place shapes flavor.• Sculpterra Event CalendarAuthor’s Showcase — December 6Musical Christmas — December 18Christmas Eve + New Year’s scheduleManny’s Winemaker Pizza PairingWine Club Open HouseBlending PartyZin Fest• TMI with PaulDoes Paul drink other people’s wine?How he uses new wines to decide release dates“My wife wants me to go wine tasting — she’s right.”• Animals in the Vineyard — RaccoonsSmart, dexterous, persistentHow they behave in vineyardsHow the team protects the fruit• Nerd Out on WineViognier — how it’s made, how it changes year to year, and how Jason Bushong contributes.• MailbagCan Viognier age, and what changes in the bottle?How many more Christmas lights does Paul need to hang?🍷 Wine Tasting2023 Viognier vs. 2024 ViognierA full vintage-to-vintage comparison.