Rajat Parr: The Quiet Revolution

If wine has a conscience, a compass, and a rebel streak, it might sound a lot like Rajat Parr. From the dining rooms of the world's most celebrated restaurants to the windswept vineyards of California's Central Coast, Rajat Parr has spent a career challenging assumptions about what great wine should be. Sommelier, author, farmer, winemaker, and visionary, he has become one of the most influential voices in modern wine—championing authenticity over excess, place over power, and farming over manipulation. Through Sandhi, Domaine de la Côte, and Phelan Farm, Parr has helped redefine California wine, proving that elegance can be every bit as compelling as intensity. His work is rooted in a simple but profound belief: great wine begins long before the cellar, in the vineyard, where soil, climate, and thoughtful farming tell the real story. On this episode of Wine Pros on the Go, we explore the philosophy behind the wines, the future of farming, and why listening—to nature, to place, and to history—may be the most important skill a winemaker can possess. This is a conversation about wine, but also about curiosity, discipline, and seeing the world differently. Wine Pros on the Go is produced in Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you for listening to Wine Pros on the Go. Hosted by sommelier and wine educator Lauren Crim, the podcast explores wine through the people, places, ideas, and stories that make it worth caring about—from the world's great regions and bottles to the voices shaping wine today. Because wine is more than what's in the glass. It's culture, history, geography, memory—and one of the best reasons to gather around a table. Subscribe to Wine Pros on the Go wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you enjoy the show, leave a rating and share it with someone who loves wine—or simply wants to understand it better. Better Wine. Better Stories. #WineProsOnTheGo #WinePodcast #WineEducation #Sommelier #WineCulture