Life Between the Vines

What could be better than making wine in a castle? Peter Velleno does in fact, make wine in a castle, in Napa Valley. Castello di Amorosa is found in Calistoga at the north end of Napa Valley and actually is easy to miss. As you head up the driveway this 13th century Tuscan castle reveals [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Peter Velleno, Winemaker, Castello di Amorosa, Napa Valley, defining the phrase “Two Dragons, One Sword”.  Learn more by visiting castellodiamorosa.com

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay tend to run hand in hand coastal areas of California. Freestone Vineyards focuses on those two grapes along the Sonoma Coast making some very serious wines. Justin Ennis is the Senior Director of Winemaking and I caught with him recently to learn more about this wine that had its start at [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Justin Ennis, Senior Director of Winemaking, Freestone Vineyards, Sonoma Coast, defining the term “Whole Cluster”.  Lear more by visiting josephphelps.com/freestone-vineyards

Nolan Jones grew up literally across the street from where he now makes wine in El Dorado County, California. Schooled in Los Angeles and then England, he worked wine in Champagne, Sonoma, Paso Robles and Napa Valley but found his way back to El Dorado and Lava Cap Winery. That’s where the bears really, really [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Nolan Jones, Winemaker, Lava Cap Winery, El Dorado County, defining the term “Alpine”.  Learn more by visiting lavacap.com

The history of Napa Valley is extensive but few names have have left a mark like Mondavi. Peter Mondavi Jr. now takes the helm of Charles Krug Winery in St Helena, continuing the legacy and importance, of family. I met up with Peter at the winery earlier this year to clarify a bit of the [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Peter Mondavi Jr, Co-Proprietor, Charles Krug, Napa Valley, defining the term “Bottle Variation”.  Learn more by visiting charleskrug.com

February in Napa Valley can bring an interesting menu of weather variations. My recent trip saw cold and rain along with a bit of snow on top of Mount St Helena. All it took was another week until it got to 70 degrees and a more pleasant scene. But its wine country so who cares? [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Michael Honig, President, Honig Vineyard and Winery, defining the term “Fumé Blanc”.  Learn more by visiting honigwine.com

The Sierra Nevada wine growing region may surprise many of our listeners as wineries are plentiful. Steve Kautz of Ironstone Vineyards in Calaveras County recently won the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance Community Award, and he is our guest on this program. Ironstone is located in the town of Murphys in Calaveras County. Steve grew up [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Stephen Kautz, President, Ironstone Vineyards, Calaveras County, defining the term “Pachiche”.  Learn more by visiting ironstonevineyards.com

Many of those who have attended Premiere Napa Valley or the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Auction are familiar with Fritz Hatton, auctioneer extraordinaire. For many, many years Fritz has also been a vintner, co-owner of Arietta Wine. Who’d have thunk? Fritz is always with a smile and even more great stories of the wine biz. [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Fritz Hatton, Co-Owner, Arietta Wine, Napa Valley, defining the term “Viscosity”.  Learn more by visiting ariettawine.com

A background in the culinary world is a huge plus for a winemaker, and Jesse Fox has just that. Jesse the Winemaker at Sequoia Grove Winery in Napa Valley and his time as a chef has certainly paid off. I caught up with Jesse when he visited Milwaukee just a few weeks ago while on [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Jesse Fox, Winemaker, Sequoia Grove, Napa Valley, defining the term “Complexity”.  Learn more by visiting sequoiagrove.com.

Commonly you can find tasting rooms in many wineries around Napa Valley. Bazan Cellars is easily found right in the heart of downtown Napa just across the street from the famous Bounty Hunter restaurant. Even better, you can walk in without an appointment. I met up with Co-Owner Gloria Bazan as part of my tour [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Gloria Bazan, Co-Owner, Bazan Cellars, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Tasting Notes”.  Learn more by visiting bazancellars.com or coombsvillenapa.org

During my recent tour meeting Coombsville AVA winemakers, I spent some time with Julien Fayard at his tasting room in downtown Napa. The interview starts quietly enough then, shortly the room grew to a good sized happy crowd of Fayard wine lovers. Julian is a delight to talk to and his candid opinions were refreshing. [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Julien Fayard, Founder, Fayard Wines, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Negoviant”.  Learn more by visiting fayardwines.com or coombsvillenapa.org

Napa Valley is first for fine wine and first for fine dining. So today we talk about fine wine and fine dining in Yountville as I visit Stephen Arnold, Wine Director and Sommelier at Bottega Napa Valley. I rarely get the chance to look behind the scenes at how a Wine Director’s job works. Humor, [...]

Napa Valley is first for fine wine and first for fine dining. So today we talk about fine wine and fine dining in Yountville as I visit Stephen Arnold, Wine Director and Sommelier at Bottega Napa Valley. I rarely get the chance to look behind the scenes at how a Wine Director’s job works. Humor, [...]

Working side by side with your father in a winery really brings home the concept of a family business. During a recent visit to California wine country I took a drive to El Dorado county and spent some time with Rob Sinton, Owner of Starfield Vineyards in Placerville. Rob and his dad still to this [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Rob Sinton, Owner, Starfield Vineyards, Placerville, California, defining the term “Rafle”.  Learn more by visiting starfieldvineyards.com

The less crowded road to the Coombsville AVA will fill your wine loving heart with delights. Rolling hills, family winegrowers and wild mountain terrain rise from old volcano, this is where some of Napa Valley’s best grapes thrive. Florencia Palmaz is CEO of Palmaz Vineyards and this is her home and her love. Florencia’s enthusiasm [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Florencia Palmaz, CEO, Palmaz Vineyards, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Gravity Flow”.  Learn more by visiting palmazvineyards.com

Extraordinarily beautiful and less touristy, the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley offers a peaceful way to see some of the finest vineyards in the Valley. Jim Pennella and his wife live next to their vineyard in an old school house easily identified as you pass by. Their wine is called Farang and I’ll let you [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Jim Pennella, Co-Owner, Farang Wine, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Angels Share”. Learn more by visiting farangwine.com

Way back in April of 2014 I recorded an interview (podcast 109) with Ron Sciandri, Proprietor of Sciandri Family Vineyards in the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley. Just a few weeks ago I was able to have a bit of a family reunion with Ron’s son and daughter at their home in Coombsville. Ron and [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature a very special term from our past as defined by Rebecca Sciandri Griffin & Ron Sciandri, Owners, Sciandri Family Vineyards, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, and the term is “ASDIN”.   Learn more by visiting sciandrivineyards.com or coombsvilleava.com

JL Wood dives deeper into Chardonnay than any other winery I’ve ever spoken to. Ed Filice is the Winemaker at JL Wood and we met up at the Napa Wine Company to talk about his experiences. These white wines are as varied as can be and well worth the taste. But your question might be, [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Ed Filice, Winemaker, JL Wood, Monteray & Napa Valley, defining the term “Elevage”,  Learn more by visiting jlwoodwine.com

The Coombsville AVA is Napa Valley’s 16th sub-appelation and that designation originated with a petition to the federal government, started by Tom Farella. Tom’s wine journey started when he was very young, finding an appreciation of fine French wines. And the rest is history. I visited Tom at his beautiful Coombsville property by the foot [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Tom Farella, Proprietor, Farella Vineyard, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Shrinkle”.  Learn more by visiting farella.com

In February I sat down with four Spring Mountain Winemakers to talk about their wines and what it takes to operate a mountain winery. Stu Smith/Smith-Madrone, Sheldon Richards/Paloma Vineyard, Wesley Steffens/Vineyard 7 & 8 and Justin Mooday/Aadland-Moody join us at the Vineyard 7 & 8 tasting room. This is a strong group of winemakers growing [...]

Every wine lover has a passion for turning friends on to new, high end wines and I’m no different. Coombsville has been an AVA of Napa Valley since 2011 and Winemaker Lisa Redmon has been living and growing wine there for some time now. Coombsville is now recognized as a top fine wine area, something [...]

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Lisa Redmon, Proprietor, Redmon Wines, Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley, defining the term “Struggle”.  Learn more by visiting redmonwines.com