Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Another Bottle Down

On today's show, we have a short bonus episode with Mandi Nelson, the organizer of the upcoming fundraiser, Grapes for Good. This is a wine event in Austin, Texas, presented by ATX Somms and featuring local sommeliers pouring some of their favorite wines. Come out for a wonderful evening on September 13th from 6–9pm at Wanderlust Wine Co. in East Austin.

For tickets and more information:  Gapes for Good

This year's benefactor:  Good Work Austin

More info on ATX Somms

Mandi's new brokerage company- Communal Wine and Spirits

On today's show, Mark sits down with Paolo Bava, winemaker and head herbalist of Cocchi Vermouth. In the late 1970s, Paolo's father purchased Cocchi Vermouth, and a few years later Paolo enrolled in Enology school and took an herbal infusion course. He was hooked.

Paolo describes the various infusions of wine and herbs, including Barolo Chinato, Vermouth, and Americano, in comparison to water-based bitters such as Campari. He also digs into the historical importance of these wine-based beverages, as well as the history of Cocchi Vermouth.

More on Giulio Cocchi Here

Jessica's book Italianity with a chapter on Cocchi Vermouth

Alberto Navarro has spent much of his career thinking about tequila from nearly every angle.

He began in consumer marketing before moving into the spirits world with Casa Pedro Domecq and later Pernod Ricard, where his work took him from commercial leadership into global tequila education and advocacy. He became closely associated with Olmeca, Altos and the Tahona Society, helping teach bartenders and the trade about tequila at a time when the category was still working to move beyond its shot-and-salt reputation. He later became an independent consultant and wrote Larousse del Tequila, an award-winning reference book on the spirit.

Today, Navarro is CEO and Maestro Tequilero of Loco Tequila, an ambitious project based in El Arenal, Jalisco, built around the idea that tequila can express place with the same seriousness we give terroir in wine.

Loco takes an unusually detailed approach to production, from mature estate-grown Blue Weber agave and a second, more exacting jima, to slow oven cooking, tahona and roller-mill extraction, and separate fermentations in wood, concrete and stainless steel. Those components give Navarro a palette from which to build the final tequila. For Loco Puro Corazón, the distillation is even more selective, retaining only the heart of the run rather than recovering heads and tails for later use.

Jessica sat down with Alberto to talk about his path through the tequila world, why El Arenal matters, what terroir means in a distilled spirit, and the thinking behind a tequila designed to preserve agave character rather than disguise it.

The Loco Tequila Story

On today's show, Jessica sits down with Todd Graff, Head Winemaker and General Manager of Frank Family Vineyards. A Petaluma native and UC Davis graduate in plant science and viticulture, Todd spent the first two decades of his career circling the globe — working harvests in Germany, France, Australia, and Portugal — before returning to Napa Valley to hone his craft at Stag's Leap Winery and Schramsberg Vineyards, where he developed deep expertise in sparkling wine.

He joined Frank Family in 2003 and has since become one of the valley's most decorated winemakers, earning Napa Winemaker of the Year honors and building Frank Family's reputation on quality and value. Todd's rare fluency in both still and sparkling winemaking — and his leadership in earning Frank Family's Napa Green certification — have made him an enduring and innovative force in Napa Valley.

Frank Family Vineyards
More about Todd Graff and the Frank Family winemaking team

On today's show, Jessica sits down with Joe Nielson, General Manager and Director of Winemaking at Ram's Gate Winery. Joe didn't grow up in a family of wine lovers or winemakers, but with parents who were avid gardeners and farmers. He discovered early in his college career that he wanted to work with his hands and grow grapes. After a brief stint in Michigan wine, Joe made his way to Sonoma in 2008 and worked his way up through a few notable wineries before establishing himself as winemaker at Ram's Gate in 2018.

Joe conveys energy, creativity, and a thoughtful intentionality in his approach to winemaking. He's also a strong proponent of farming the right way, leading Ram's Gate to achieve California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) certification in 2024 and Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) status in 2025 for the estate's 28 acres of vineyards.

Useful links:

More about Joe Nielson an the Ram's Gate team

More about Regenerative Organic Certified

Press release concerning Ram's Gate achieving Regenerative Organic Certification

On today's show, Jessica heads to the Napa Valley to sit down with Stephen Arnold, the wine director of Bottega Restaurant in Yountville, Napa.  Stephen lives and breathes hospitality, and he's driven by a thirst for knowledge with the ultimate goal of elevating the guest experience at Bottega.  Jessica and Stephen talk about all the ins and outs of selling Italian wine in California wine country, educating the staff and guests, and acquiring all the verticals and gems that make Bottega a wine destination.

Check out more info on Bottega Napa

On today's show, we take a deep dive into Jessica's forthcoming book, Italianity. Mark and Jessica introduce the book and discuss the writing process. Then, Mark interviews Andrea Lonardi, and they explore the overarching themes that Andrea has been developing over many years.

Pre-order Italianity here

More on Andrea Lonardi here

This week on Another Bottle Down, we're heading to the Napa Valley for a conversation with Jeff Cole, the winemaker at Sullivan Rutherford Estate. A Napa native who grew up in Yountville, Jeff came to winemaking almost by accident, enrolling in wine courses at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before finding his calling. He honed his craft at Schramsberg Vineyards and J. Davies Estate, then joined Sullivan in 2013, where he has directed the program ever since.

Sullivan Rutherford Estate is a fully estate model winery, and the 26-acre property's terroir gives Cole something genuinely special to work with. Despite sitting on the Rutherford Valley floor, the vineyards rest on gravelly soils deposited over centuries by Spring Mountain runoff. That gravel allows fantastic drainage and promotes viticultural stress, and the result shows up in the glass: wines of unusual concentration and structure including some of the most compelling Merlot being produced in Napa Valley today.

Sullivan backs that claim with one of the more distinctive tasting experiences in the area where guests blind taste Sullivan's Merlot alongside examples from around the world.  Jeff joins Jessica Dupuy on location at the estate to talk through what it means to grow up in Napa, what makes Sullivan distinct, and why this land, and these grapes, have something brilliant to say.

Sullivan Rutherford Estate

Jessica Dupuy — Merlot's Comeback, Food & Wine

On today's show we have the second episode that Mark recorded while visiting Piedmont a couple months ago for the fall truffle season.  Paolo Bava is in charge of the wine production and vineyards at Cantine Bava, which has vineyard holdings in Cocconato (Asti), Castiglione Falleto (Barolo), Nizza and Alta Langa.  It's a fascinating story of how the family expanded into Barolo and Nizza from the home base of Asti.  And, Mark explores some of the themes we've been digging into recently such as mulit-generational wineries, Eastern facing expositions lending a little more freshness, and much more.

Useful links:

The Bava Website

Alba Truffle Festival

Pre-order Jessica's book:  Italianality

On today's show, we have the first of two interviews Mark did while travelling in the Barolo area last fall.  Stefano Corino is Renato Corino's son, and they work side by side in the vineyards and cellar to create all the wines under the Renato Corino label.  Stefano also makes his own wine from very elegant Roncaglie cru on the north side of La Morra approaching Verduno.

While Renato Corino was one of main players in the modernist movement of Barolo in the 1980's, the lines these days are being blurred and there is an evolving conversation around the style of one of Italy's greatest wines.  Stefano gives us a glimpse into the conversations and debates he has had with his father and how they think about the identity of the winery today.

For reference, Renato Corino has vineyard holdings in Rocche dell'Annunziata, Arborina, Pozzo, and of course Roncaglie.

Links:

Renato Corino's Website

Renato Corino's Importer for US

Pre-order Jessica's forthcoming book on Italian Wine: Italianality

On today's show, we have a live recording with Jessica and Chris Brundrett at the Texas Hill Country Wine Symposium.  Chris is the owner, founder, and winemaker of William Chris Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country and is an amazing advocate for Texas grown wine.  Jessica and Chris talk about the state of the industry and delve into the successes, challenges, and seeds planted during Chris long tenure in the TX industry.  Chris is finely in tune with what it takes to establish a world class winery and has insights to scaling operation with every thought given to giving his guests and fans their 'Best Day Ever.'

For more information:

More on the Texas Hill Country Winery Association

More on William Chris Vineyards

On our first episode of 2026, Jessica sits down with Chris Kajani, President and Head Winemaker of Bouchaine Vineyards in Carneros California.  They have an in-depth discussion of all things growing high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Napa Valley's coolest and most southerly growing region.  Chris took over production at Bouchaine in 2015 and quickly made her mark by implementing a variety of progressive techniques in both the vineyard and the winery.  She deeply understands the terroir and is an amazing advocate for the wines of Carneros and Bouchaine.  

More about Chris Kajani here

Bouchaine's official website

More about Carneros from the Napa Valley Vintners Association

Join Jessica and Mark as they put a close to 2025 and welcome 2026 with an in depth discussion on Madeira, the island and its wines.  Mark has been passionate about Madeira for over a decade, partially because it is under-appreciated and is often mistakenly lumped in with Port.  They delve into all things Madeira:  the dynamic of grower and producer, terroir of the island as well as of the cellar, the different production techniques, age indications, sweetness levels, and the cutting edge trends that we'll see in the coming years.  

The official Madeira Website: https://vinhomadeira.com/

On today's show, Mark and Jessica kick off by talking about 9 books that Jessica reviewed for her annual wine books of the year for Forbes.  They then talk more generally on gift giving for the wine lover with tidbits that will come in handy any time of the year.  They also dig into the Benvenuto Brunello event that Jessica attended in Montalcino, Italy, along with a discussion on of methodology in rating vintages for Brunello.

Links:

Jessica's article in Forbes: 9 Essential 2025 Wine And Spirits Reads For The Curious Drinker

Jessica's article on Benvenuto Brunello in Forbes

Jessica's article in Guildsomm:  From Stars to Words: How Brunello FORMA Is Redefining Vintage Evaluations

Charles Lazzara is the owner and founder of Volio Imports, an import company focused on but not exclusive to Italian wine.  Jessica and Charles chat about the early days of Volio and how it started as a wholesaler of wine in Colorado.  Eventually, the sale of the wholesale business led to a full focus on the import portfolio and all the particularities of that side of the business.  Charles brings true entrepreneurial acumen to the business and to all of his interactions in market.  Selling wine isn't just about the quality in the glass these days, it's about compelling stories and how producers can further connect with the consuming public.  Lots of great selling tidbits in this episode.

Links:

Volio Imports Websites here

On today's show, Jessica gets together a group of wine and beverage journalists for a roundtable discussion on the state of the wine industry.  Each journalist has an interesting and well-researched perspective on various angles of the industry that they have been reporting on throughout the year.  From declining wine sales, producers recalibrating business models, innovative ways brands have connected with consumers, eco-labeling, tariffs, and what to look for in 2026, this episode has it all.

Our panel and the relevant articles they have written on the state of the industry:

Shana Clarke (based in NYC):

https://vinepair.com/articles/what-the-wine-industry-needs-right-now/

https://daily.sevenfifty.com/insights-from-our-2025-beverage-industry-career-and-salary-report/

https://substack.com/@shanaspeakswine

Kate Dingwall (based in Toronto):

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/california-wine-production-plummets/

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/trump-tariff-price-impacts/

Kathleen Willcox (based in New York)

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/10/how-to-win-wine-sales-in-a-losing-market/

https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2025/10/07/next-gen-wine-win-over-the-modern-consumer-through-influence-identity-and-occasion/

https://kathleenwillcox.substack.com/

On today's show, Mark and Jessica kick off the holiday season and head out to the Texas Hill Country to check out an over-performing winery, Elisa Christopher.  They sit down with the owner/ winemaker, Elisa Jones, who is quickly making a name for herself in the Texas industry as a leader for quality sparkling wine both under her own label as well as a custom disgorging facility for other wineries.  They chat about Elisa's previous career in intelligence with the Department of Defense as well as all the challenges of setting up a dedicated in-house disgorging facility and growing Texas grapes for sparkling wine production.  Mark and Jessica are excited to continue to follow the evolution of Elisa Christopher wines and the overall sparkling segment of Texas wines.

Check out Elisa Christopher Website Here

Check out the Another Bottle Down Episode on the Texas Vintners Cup here.

On today's show, Mark and Jessica have a meandering conversation based on some more abstract concepts that Mark has be exploring.  While it was originally intended to be a conversation about learning wine and wine education, Mark takes a different course and explores the relationship between wine and art.  "Do we find beauty in wine" and "can imperfect wines be attractive," are some of the larger topics Mark and Jessica tackle.

Cited:

What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory, by Brian Eno

On today's show, Mark and Jessica celebrate October as Texas Wine Month with a recap of the 5th annual Texas Vintner's Cup.  Sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture's Uncork Texas Wines program, Jessica along with Master Sommeliers Jack Mason and Steven McDonald have judged hundreds of Texas wines to come up with a full case of the top 12 wines from this year.  Plus, there are an additional 30 wines that received honorable mention. 

Listen in as Mark and Jessica dive into the trends, surprises, and the fun from behind the scenes of this year's judging.  Also, Mark and Jessica kick off this episode by talking about Jessica's forthcoming book Italianality, due to hit shelves in March of next year.

Useful links:

Preorder Italianality by Jessica Dupuy and Andrea Lonardi

Full article on the Texas Vintners Cup at Texas Monthly

Online article on the Texas Vintners Cup

Sevenfifty Daily:  Jessica's article on Volatile Acidity

On today's episode, Jessica is joined by the Marchese Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga, the current owner and managing director of Tenuta San Leonardo in Trentino.  Over 1,000 years ago, San Leonardo was founded as a monastery, but it has served as the residence of the Marchese Guerrieri Gonzaga family for over three centuries.  Anselmo elaborates on the winemaking traditions of the estate, starting with his father the Marchese Carlo being drawn to Bordeaux and eventually working with the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta at San Guido (before Sassicaia was made).

Anselmo is such an advocate for Trentino and the Bordeaux varieties in Northern Italy vs the coastal Bolgheri.  Additionally, he breaks down the fascinating history of Carmenere in the region and his uncompromising attitude to creating an honest and drinkable style of wine.  So many great stories in this episode, please enjoy!

Fact checking:

The weather is actually cooling off in Austin; we're currently experience a delightful Texas fall.

Bordeaux and Coonawarra Australia are both Region II on the Winkler scale of 'Growing Degree Days' with Trentino being Region III on the valley floors and Region II on the higher elevation vineyards. 

Links:

San Leonardo Website

On today's show, Jessica interviews Yannick Benjamin, a wine industry veteran who is outspoken about the injustices and inequities of the wine and restaurant industries.  Yannick's thoughtful approach to hospitality and inclusion is an inspiration to so many people who work in beverage and beyond.

Born into a family of French restauranteurs, Yannick has worked at The University Club, Le Cirque, Oceana, Jean Georges, Atlas, Felidia, and Atelier at the Ritz-Carlton.  In 2021, he opened Contento, a barrier-free restaurant accessible to all.  Today, he is owner of Beaupierre Wine and Spirits in NYC and runs the non-profit Wine on Wheels, which strives to enhance the quality of life for people living with disabilities.  The annual Grand Tasting and Silent Auction brings together Yannick's passion for hospitality and awareness for people with disabilities. At this event, hundreds of esteemed sommeliers come together to pour over 200 wines from around the world for the charity.

Discover more about Yannick Benjamin:

Yannick's non-profit Wine on Wheels

This year's Wine on Wheels Grand Tasting and Silent Auction- September 28, 2025

Yannick's wine shop:  Beaupierre Wines

Yannick on Instagram

On today's show, Jessica and Mark host a special episode with Mandi Nelson, president and founder of ATX Somms, on the upcoming event, Grapes for Good, benefitting the Kerrville Floods relief effort.  On August 10th 2025, that's this upcoming Sunday, the Texas sommelier industry will get together at Wanderlust East Austin to show off some seriously amazing wine and celebrate community, and YOU are invited!  The biggest impact will be to buy tickets; 100% of the admission proceeds will go to relief efforts.  There will also be a silent auction and retail purchases with proceeds also going to Kerrville relief.  This is a great way for the Texas wine loving community to use what we love and have it go to a good cause.

Buy tickets and more information at ATX Somms.com

Benefitting organization: Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country

The Wine and Food Foundation is matching up to $7,500 in Ticket Sales

On today's show, Jessica interviews Roberto Bruno, CEO and Commercial Director of Fontanafredda in the commune Serralunga d'Alba in Barolo.  Roberto has worked at this historic estate for 34 years and has even lived for a time in the eponymous village. 

Roberto and Jessica get into the origins of Fontanafredda which is really tied to the origins of Barolo as a whole.  In 1858, King Vittorio Emmanuele II purchases a renowned hunting lodge and grounds as a gift to his mistress Rosina.  Shortly thereafter, the king also purchases vineyards and is the first to use the word Barolo on bottles.  Roberto also leads us through various other notable and historical moments in the region, such as the Barolo boys, promoting Seralunga as a communes, the organic movement and so much more.

For more information:

History of Fontanafredda

Fontanafredda's US Importer:  Palm Bay

Roberto Bruno on Instagram

Mathieu Billecart, 7th generation owner and President of Champagne Billecart Salmon, comes on the show to talk about partnering in a new non-Alc project called Jukes.  Mathieu has been frustrated by a lack of options in the non-alc space.  For him, wine lovers who choose to abstain for a temporary or permanent time period deserve a beverage that provides an elevated tasting experience, similar to that of wine, but dealcoholizing wine is not the best option.  During a recent lunch with Matthew Jukes, a friend and British wine expert, he learned what Jukes was working on: an apple cider vinegar based product with various blended fruit and vegetable juices.  Mathieu was intrigued and a partnership formed.

The second half of the show is dedicated to learning about the Billecart Salmon Prestige releases of Cuvee Nicolas Francois 2012 (Blanc), Elizabeth Salmon 2012 (Rose), and Louis Salmon 2012 (Blanc de Blancs).

 Jukes Website

Champagne Billecart Salmon- Prestige Cuvees

Mathieu Billecart's first appearance on Another Bottle Down

On today's show, Jessica interviews Marcus Notaro, head of wine production at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.  In 1976, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars shocked the world by winning the famed Judgement of Paris which put Napa Valley Cabernets up again the famous Bordeaux estates.  It was the 1973 S.L.V. Estate Cabernet produced by Warren Winiarski that took home the price, and it was also the very fist vintage at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. 

Jessica and Marcus dig into all things Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, from climate of the Stag's Leap AVA to soils of the particular single vineyards.  Marcus brings so much perspective having worked in Washington State at Col Solare, then moving down to Napa in 2013.  Make sure to catch some of the stories towards the end of the episode that Marcus tells about his friendship with Warren Winiarski, the founder and original winemaker of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars website

Stags Leap Winegrowers Association

More info on Warren Winiarski

On today's episode, Mark chats with Matt Crafton, head winemaker at the historic Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley.  Matt is the fifth winemaker at Montelena and has been at the helm since 2014 overseeing all aspects of winemaking, vineyard management, communication, and strategy.  Matt and Mark delve into the history of this historic estate as well as the vineyards that go into the core Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The conversation weaves in elements of the Napa Valley terroir, creativity in winemaking, and various challenges that face the industry in today's wine-loving world.

Pertinent links:

Matt Crafton's Bio

Chateau Montelena's Website

Napa Valley Vintners

The Restaurant in San Miguel that Mark referenced:  Naakary San Miguel de Allende

On our second episode of a two part series on Montalcino, Mark interviews Daniele Marcone the Sales Director of Capanna Winery.  Capanna is located north of the town of Montalcino in the unofficial sub-region of Montosoli and is one of the more historic and traditional wineries producing Brunello. 

The Cencioni family was one of the first share-cropping families to save up enough money to purchase the land they were working for generations.  Throughout the years, they have followed the Consorzio and bet on the success of the territory acquiring new land and leading the way with a more traditional style of wine. 

This is a must-see stop to both the winery and their restaurant if you're visiting Montalcino:

Capanna Winery Website

Capanna Suites and Restaurant

Jessica's article on the new Brunello rating system, FORMA

On today's show, we have Riccardo Fratton, head winemaker of San Polo in Montalcino, Italy.  Riccardo was raised in the Veneto region but didn't really blossom as a winemaker until working in California.  He was so impressed by the level of experimentation and a sort of freshness to winemaking that he brought those points of inspiration back to his home country.  Meeting and working for Marilisa Allegrini, the Queen of Amarone, brought him to relocate to another Allegrini estate in Montalcino, San Polo.

Jessica has spent a substantial amount of time in Montalcino over the last year and has the good fortune to taste the 2024 vintage and beyond with Riccardo.  They talk about all of the particularities of Southeast Montalcino and the diversity and history of the San Polo Estate. 

Here are some pertinent links:

Wineries of Marilisa Allegrini

San Polo Montalcino website

Jessica's article on the new Brunello FORMA

Riccardo Fratton on Instagram

On today's show, Mark and Jessica break down the current tariffs and other economic factors that are affecting the wine industry.  This episode was recorded on April 30th, 2025, perhaps the situation has changed by the time you listen.

More information on the US Wine Trade Alliance.

Here are some of the articles Jessica has published on the impact of tariffs:

How Tariffs Will Impact the Wine Industry, Forbes, Jan 22, 2025

How Tariffs Could Make American Wine and Spirits More Expensive, Forbes, March 14, 2025

Tariffs and Trade Winds: VinItaly 2025, Forbes, April 10, 2025

On today's show, Jessica interviews Gus Zhu, a Master of Wine and author of the recently published book Behind the Glass: The Chemical and Sensorial Terroir of Wine Tasting.  Gus does an amazing job of breaking down complex topics involved in wine chemistry and sensorial analysis to be understandable by wine lovers of all levels.  In addition to talking about the book, Jessica and Gus delve into many misunderstood topics, from volatile acidity and cork taint to cultural shifts of flavor and aroma preferences within various populations.  In Gus's words, a deeper undertanding of how we perceive aromas will lead to a more colorful human experience.

Purchase Behind the Glass through the Academie du Vin Library:  Here

More about Gus Zhu from the Institute of Masters of Wine:  Here

Gus Zhu's consulting company: Here

On today's episode, Jessica interviews Kelli White, a wine writer and educator, about her new book, Wine Confident.  Kelli's book was released in the latter part of 2024 and was part of Jessica's review of top wine books for last year with Forbes.  While we couldn't get this episode in last year, this conversation is so enjoyable and pertinent all year round, great for graduation gifts and other occasions that are coming up.

This book is a culmination of Kelli's 20+ year career in wine, which spans literally every sector of the wine industry from restaurants, retail, winemaking, and finally, education.  There is no better person than Kelli to explore learning about wine, dispelling myths, and everything else you didn't even know was out there.

Links referenced in the episode:

Purchase Kelli White's Wine Confident here.

Visit Kelli at the Wine Center at Meadowood here.

Purchase Kelli White's first book, Napa Valley Then and Now, here.

Jessica's article in Forbes on the top wine books of 2024, here.

Kelli's first interview on Another Bottle Down, here.

Mark and Jessica continue to gear up for the Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening (BBWO) by chatting with Evan Davis about all the considerations in a retail setting of appreciating this iconic region.  Evan is Central Texas Wine Educator with Spec's Wine and Spirits and oversees the wine departments and staff in 34 different stores.  Mark and Evan dig into how the public sees Barolo and Barbaresco in a retail setting, the challenges of limited availability, favorite vintages, and so much more.

Spec's Wine and Spirits: Website

Purchase tickets for the Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening on March 25th, 2025: HERE

"Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them."

On today's show, Mark and Jessica gear up for the big Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening event in Austin by interviewing Patrick Olds.  Patrick recently left MML Hospitality and started his own consulting firm, Sidecar Hospitality.  He's a big Barolo and Barbaresco fan and gives tons of juicy insights on the region, the grape (Nebbiolo), and how to approach a large scale tasting such as the World Opening.

Purchase tickets to Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening on March 25th:  Here

"Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them."

On this week's episode, Jessica visits a very iconic Scilian producer, Donnafugata.  She interviews the 5th and 6th generation of the winery, first José Rallo and then her daughter Gabriella Anca Rallo.  There's so much to talk about with Donnafugata from the western areas around Palermo to Mt. Etna to the rustic island of Pantelleria.  There's lots of history, legacy, and innovation wrapped up in these conversation.

History on Donnafugata here.

Buy a ticket for Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening on March 25th in Austin Here.

Mark and Jessica take this episode to reflect on 2024 and dig into some trends in the broader industry as well as themes that have come up in their personal circle.  Front-and-center topics span non-alcohol wines, AI in wine journalism as well as the broader industry, and what regions are still performing well in a 'down market.' 

Thank you for listening in 2024 and we're looking forward to a full and exciting program for 2025.

Stay tuned!

On today's episode, Mark catches up with Morgan Twain-Peterson, owner, founder and winemaker of Bedrock Wine Company in Sonoma, California.  Morgan grew up in a winemaking family as his father Joel Peterson was founder and winemaker of Ravenswood.  Ravenswood started out as a side-hustle for Joel (as Morgan describes it), then it became the world's largest producer of red zinfandel.

Since starting Bedrock in 2007, Morgan has become a bit of an old-vine guru and has rehabilitated numerous vineyards that would have otherwise been torn out.  He also wrote his Master of Wine research paper on the nurseries and dissemination of vine and rootstock post phylloxera in California from the 1880s onward. 

Mark and Morgan get into the nitty gritty of California's history as well as recuperating these vinous treasures, soil health, regenerative farming, and so much more.

Useful links:

Bedrock Wine Company Website: here

Bedrock Podcast: here

On this year's Thanksgiving episode, Jessica and Mark have on Austin Farina, wine director of Jeffrey's, Sammie's, and a number of other MML Hospitality restaurants.  They kick off the discussion with a commentary of the recent publishing of the Michelin guide for Texas.  Then, they dig into Thanksgiving pairings from overall pairing guidelines to Austin's recommendations.  He is loving Western Sonoma Coast, Cali Zin and Mexican and Texas selections. 

References:

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/texas/restaurants

https://mmlhospitality.com/

https://jeffreysofaustin.com/

On today's show, Jessica meets up with Simon Kelly, export manager of te Pā winery in Marlborough, New Zealand.  Te Pā means "at home" or "the home" in Māori, and the owner and founder Haysley MacDonald can trace his family history to the early Māori settlers who landed on Wairau Bar 800 years ago.  Simon explains how Haysley went from selling most of the fruit from the his land to larger wineries and then the path to make and bottle all estate wine. 

Simon has extensive experience in the wine industry and really breaks down the state of the Kiwi wine industry from the meteoric rise of Sauvignon Blanc to perhaps a lack of recognizing individual regions within the broad category.  Enjoy this episode with a plate of briny oysters and, of course, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Links:

Te Pā winery website: here.

Banville Wine Merchants (importer of te Pā): here.

Recent Wine Enthusiast coverage of Māori owned wineries: here.

Alessandro Marini is head winemaker at Tenuta Luce in Montalcino.  Originally coming from the Marche, Alessandro spent time working at wineries in California and then Bordeaux, where he also obtained his Enology degree.  Tenuta Luce was originally conceived as a partnership between the Frescobaldi family and Robert Mondavi and was the first winery in Montalcino to produce a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot.

Jessica and Alessandro explore Montalcino in depth and how Luce occupies a special place in the winemaking landscape. 

Links:

www.tenutaluce.com

Importer to the US:  Vintus.com

On today's bonus show, Mark and Jessica chat with Denise Silverman, the Executive Director of the Wine and Food Foundation, based in Austin, TX.  Mark and Jessica will be on stage providing color commentary on many auction lots during the gala evening on November 2nd. Denise explains all of the ins and outs of the auction from its origins, to the featured winemaker Kathryn Walt Hall, to the festivities the evening of the event.

With over 70 live auction lots, this is one of Texas's premiere wine events.  There is still a few days left to get tickets:

https://winefoodfoundation.org/events/2024rfw/

On today's show, Jessica catches up with Laura Rhys, MS from Gusbourne Estate in Kent, England.  Laura has long been an advocate of promoting traditional method English sparkling wine and now works as Global Brand Ambassador for Gusbourne.  She also is part of the winemaking team involved with blending of the base wines for the assemblage as well as the final disgorgement blends. Jessica and Laura dig into all things Brittish bubbles from the history of English wine to the various terroirs of southwest England and the future of the industry.

https://www.gusbourne.com/

Also, there are just a few days left to get tickets for the Wine and Food Foundation's Rare and Fine Wine Auction.  Tickets here.

On today's show, Jessica visits the icon property of Ornellaia, situated on the Tuscan coast in Bolgheri.  She tastes through their beautiful wines with the new Director of Winemaking, Marco Balsimelli.  Marco joined the executive team at Ornellaia and Maseto in January 2024 and comes from a rich background that spans various wineries in Tuscany and Bordeaux, and most recently he worked for Eric Boissenot's oenological consultancy that advised on winemaking for more than 150 properties in various countries.

More on the wines of Ornellaia here.

US Importer Vintus's producer profile with Marco's full Bio here.

Tickets for the Wine and Food Foundation's Rare and Fine Wine Auction here.

Pietro Russo is the third Master of Wine in Italy and part of the group of Italian MW's who are now being referred to as the "Three Muscateers" (coined by Stevie Kim of VinItaly).  He grew up in the region of Marsala and after travelling the world and making wine in other countries returned to Sicily to make wine at Donnafugata.  In 2024, he transitioned from official winemaker of Donnafugata to consultant and started a project based on old vine Grillo called Officina del Vento.  Jessica digs into all facets of passing the MW exam along with the genesis of this new project all about high-quality and camaraderie. 

Donnafugata website: https://www.donnafugata.it

Pietro Russo on the Master of Wine website: https://www.mastersofwine.org/pietro-russo-mw

Announcement of Officina del Vento: here.

On today's show, Mark catches up with Jeremy Hart, co-founder of Somm.ai.  

Jeremy Hart is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, specializing in sales, brand management, and strategic marketing.  He managed over 400 SKUs from 56 brands across six states while covering national accounts for a renowned importer for seven years.

He co-founded Inknowlogy Marketing Agency, created his wine brand Explicit Content, and holds the significant role as the Chief Strategic Marketing and Co-Founder at Somm.ai. Jeremy is dedicated to pushing the beverage industry's growth and promotion through data-enhanced methods.

Somm.ai website: https://www.somm.ai/

On today's show, Jessica catches up with PIerangelo Tommasi who is the Managing Director of Tomassi Family Estates and one of nine family members who make up the 4th generation of the wine company.  Pierangelo delves into the family history, how their roots are planted in the Valpolicella, and the family's need and desire to expand to other regions across Italy.  Currently, there are 8 different estates across Italy with 800 hectares (close to 2,000 acres) of vineyards and various partnerships in other regions. 

Pierangelo is such an advocate for the region and what he calls the 'contemporary' style of Amarone, which focuses more of freshness and elegance.  He also believes the message of Amarone should the emphasis of vineyards and terroirs over the process of appassimento (the drying of the grapes).

References:

Tommasi Family Estates Website

Famiglie Storiche Website

Antica Bottega del Vino

Jessica and Mark follow up the last episode on Piedmont with a more in depth discussion of Alta Langa while focusing on one of the pioneers of sparkling wine in Piedmont, Enrico Serafino.  Our guest, Erika Abate, is the export manager of Serafino and has spent her entire life steeped in the wines of Piedmont.  We dig into the origins of the Alta Langa apellation, the particulars of growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in this non-continguous and high-elevation region, and the how these sparkling wines are positioned to be some of the most prestigious in Italy.  We cap off the conversation with Serafino's work with the unique biotype of Nebbiolo, Picotener.

More info on Enrico Serafino here: https://www.enricoserafino.it/en/

On today's show, Jessica digs into Piedmont with wine writer and educator David Way.  David spent the last 4 years traveling to Piedmont and researching the widest array of topics including the famous icons of the Langhe, the more obscure regions and varieties further afield, various winemaking technologies, and the fascinating story of the sparkling wines of Alta Langa.  With various anecdotes from the book writing process and some travel tips, David and Jessica bring the piedmont with all of its complexities alive.

David is also one of the people responsible for writing and editing the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) reference books.  Jessica and David chat about the book writing process and the need to stay on top of this ever changing and evolving industry.

More information and useful links:

The Wines of Piedmont.  Published by the Académie du Vin Library

Wine Friend by David Way- David's personal website and blog

WSET Reference Books

Matt Dees is the winemaker for sister properties Jonata and the Hilt.  Matt and Jessica catch up about all things Santa Barbara from soils and geography to the more philosophical approach to wine.

Useful links referenced in the episode:

www.jonata.com

www.thehiltestate.com/

AVA's of Santa Barbara

Manfred has been the winemaker at Querciabella since 2010.  He comes to Italia via his home country of South Africa, to New Zealand, California and beyond.  Based on his passion, he has clearly found a home in Chianti Classico. 

Jessica and Manfred dig into the history of his winemaking path along with that of Querciabella and the new laws governing the new premium category of Gran Selezione.  We can't wait to try the several Gran Selezione designated as Greve, Lamole, Radda, etc. 

Links referenced in the episode:

https://www.chianticlassico.com/en/consortium/

https://querciabella.com/wine/querciabella-chianti-classico/

Chris Brundrett is co-founder and CEO of William Chris Wine Company and William Chris Vineyards.  Chris and Jessica catch up on the state of the Texas industry and the origins of William Chris Vineyards. 

https://www.williamchriswines.com/

This is Texas Wine Podcast with Shelly Wilfong: https://thisistexaswine.com/

The book that Mark forgot that Jessica wrote: https://www.jessicadupuy.com/shop/p/winessouthwestusa