Getting to Mount Eden Vineyards in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains is an adventure! The drive is up a twisty mountain road with lots of hairpin turns and steep drop offs. A good portion of the road – at the topmost part – is unpaved. But then you arrive at the peak, 2000 feet above Silicon […]
If you’ve ever picked up a wine book, there’s a good chance it’s The Wine Bible, by our guest Karen MacNeil. The Wine Bible is so popular that Karen just revised this 3rd edition, and it has surpassed the one million copies sold mark! But she didn’t want to call her book a wine bible. […]
Buckle up for the newest Sip Sip Hooray! podcast episode! When you think of wine in Carmel Valley, the first label that comes to mind is Bernardus. This Monterey County winery led the way in establishing the Carmel Valley AVA as a world class wine region. The Marys are excited to be back at Bernardus […]
Climate change is on eveyone’s mind, especially when it comes to the world’s grape growers and winemakers. Wildfires, drought, water scarcity, hail, floods, extreme weather, oh my! While there’s much reason for concern, our guest today says there is hope. It is not all gloom and doom, but we must be mindful. Let’s be clear, […]
We’re celebrating bubbles and California’s Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County on Sip Sip Hooray! with Scott Caraccioli of Caraccioli Cellars. Of course the holidays are sparkling wine season, but we believe bubbles are for year round — and yes, daily sipping š„ But there is much more to Caraccioli Cellars than sparkling wine! Scott […]
Acclaimed wine writer Alice Feiring has been in love with wine for decades. She started her sensory training at very young age, sniffing everything along with her grandfather. Little could she have imagined then growing up to be the OG natural wine movement writer, or the person to take down the homogenous āParkerizationā of wine, […]
If you don’t know the wines of Lepe Cellars in Monterey County, you’re in for a treat! The Marys continue their Monterey County wine tour, where we met up with Miguel Lepe, founding winemaker of Lepe Cellars. Miguel is an up and coming winemaker, who, as the county’s first Mexican American winery owner, has a […]
Creating opportunity. Thatās how our guest, winemaker Denis Hoey, has been living his life. He pursued a dream of making wine, and now that heās established his own winery, Odonata Wines in the Monterey County AVA, heās dedicated to bringing others along in the wine industry. The Marys visit Denis at his Salinas Valley winery […]
The Marys have a new friend in wine! Join us for an engaging conversation with the woman who just doesn’t know how to stop! Sip Sip Hooray to that! Are you ready to meet the tour de force that is Iris Rideau? From a young age she always had the determination to make hers and […]
We are excited to introduce you to this wine dynamo! Heidi Scheid does it all, from transforming her family’s business as grape growers to winemakers, overseeing Scheid Family Wines business operations, developing new brands – including a low ABV wine – to raising a family and summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. Whew! The Marys traveled […]
The Marys are thrilled to welcome a true wine dynamo and new friend to the pod! Meet Philana Bouvier. She’s the President of Napa Valley-based Demeine Estates, whose impressive portfolio includes Heitz Cellar, Burgess, Stony Hill, as well as international wineries Champagne Legras & Haas, Domaine de Montille, Racine, La Chablisienne, Ca Rome, and more […]
For this episode of Sip Sip Hooray! we are in Hopland in Mendocino County at the beautiful, picturesque winery, Saracina Vineyards. Tucked into the rolling hills, the mantra at this wine ranch is biodiversity and sustainability. Since its founding by John Fetzer and Patty Rock in 2001, Saracina has been on the leading edge of […]
Can you have a healthy and balanced life with wine? Our guest today says yes! Wine is plentiful in so many professional and personal situations and it can be challenging to navigate, especially if you feel like pulling back. Rebecca Hopkins created A Balanced Glass, an online community of winegrowers, winemakers, cellar workers, winery management […]
From behind the scenes of the theater and opera stage to behind the wine label, Sabrine Rodems gave up the bright lights of theater and film production for producing bold wines. Sabrine hones her craft daily at Wrath Wines in the picturesque Santa Lucia Highlands of California’s Monterey County. This region is known for world […]
Her family is California’s First Family of Chardonnay. Most Chardonnay vines planted in the state are from the Wente clone, developed in Livermore Valley at Wente Vineyards by Niki Wente’s family. So you can imagine Niki has big shoes to fill. But as a 5th generation winegrower, she’s stepping up to the challenge in her […]
Are you watching OWN’s The Kings of Napa? We are, and we’re loving the bingeworthy show about a powerful African-American family in Napa Valley with secrets and scandals that are juicier than the grapes! Joining us for this special Sip Sip Hooray episode is creator and showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois. She’s the award-winning writer and […]
Meet Mark Pisoni. He’s a 3rd generation farmer and son of legendary winemaker Gary Pisoni of Pisoni Vineyards. While Gary is larger-than-life, Mark is quietly building his own legacy, as grape grower extraordinare, managing what some call Grand Cru vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands: Pisoni, Garys’ and Sobranes. For Mark, it all comes down […]
We strike a harmonious cord in the wine world with this episode! Say hello to winemaker Shalini Sekhar. She wears many hats in her role as winemaker for Neely Wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Waits-Mast Family Cellars in Mendocino County, among others. She also finds time to make wine under her own label, […]
Why should California try to be Champagne? That’s the question Napa winemaker Jon Person posed to himself and his wife Jacqueline. When it comes to bubbly, Champagneās allure is clear. But thanks to folks like Dan and Jacqueline, thereās a new style of California bubbly. Think sunshine in a glass, and breaking all the traditional […]
If you think tech and wine don’t go together, you haven’t met our guest, tech entrepreneur T.J. Rodgers.Ā We all know stories about tech world titans who buy – or launch – their own winery, which often becomes a vanity project. But that’s not the case for T.J. Rodgers. The man who created Cypress Semiconductor […]
Have we got an Olympic-sized episode for you! We are thrilled to welcome 12-time Olympic medalist swimmer Natalie Coughlin to Sip Sip Hooray! She won gold in the pool, now sheās winning gold in the vineyard. Join us, the Marys, As we dive deep into what drives Natalie, her Olympic career and her new wine […]
This episode is a Sip Sip Hooray! podcast exclusive! What does lineage mean when it comes to wine? For our guest today lineage means everything. Steven Kent Mirassouās family is Americaās oldest winemaking family – older than the Mondaviās, the Sebastianis and the Gallos. Heās now working side-by-side with the seventh generation. If you are a […]
This Sip Sip Hooray! episode is all about courage! As a child growing up in Bosnia, Samra Morris dodged incoming fire just trying to go to school. This brave woman survived her war-torn country, studying winemaking in her native Sarajevo. Now Samraās following in the footsteps of a wine world legend – Richard Sanford at […]
She’s bubbly, effervesecent, elegant and ebullent. We’re thrilled to have Champagne Laurent-Perrier’s Michelle DeFeo join us for a great conversation about one of our favorite beverages, French Champagne. Michelle DeFeo is the President of Laurent-Perrier U.S. The winery, dating back to 1812, is the largest family-owned and female-led Champagne house. Join us, the Marys, as we […]
Resilience. Determination. Perseverance. These three words describe our guest, Alan Viader of Viader Vineyards & Winery. Resilience to continue in the face of wildfire devastation. Determination to grow grapes on the steepest, rockiest slopes of Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain, and perseverance to survive not one but two major fire events. Join the Marys as we […]
Julia Coney is a powerhouse in the wine world. This wine journalist and entrepreneur, a former beauty writer, who loves perfume and Champagne, is changing how the world views the wine industry. She founded Black Wine Professionals in the wake of the George Floyd shooting to recognize Black people working in all aspects of wine, […]
When documentary director Jason Wise premiered SOMM at the Napa Valley Film Festival in 2012, he didn’t imagine the film’s runaway success. This peek into the secretive world of Master Sommeliers not only spawned two sequels, but it also inspired people to become sommeliers, even if it meant a career change. Nearly 20 years later, […]
Have we got an inspirational episode for you! Meet Judy Jordan, the woman who is helping make a difference for young women beginning their careers in wine agriculture, cellar work and hospitality. In her words, “Drink Well. Do Good.” We couldn’t agree more. Judy created J Vineyards, a predominately sparkling wine house in the Russian […]
We have a sparkling episode for you! The always bubbly Joy Sterling of Iron Horse Vineyards in the Green Valley AVA of Sonoma County is our guest. She and her family are committed to caring for the earth through wine. As we celebrate Earth Month, Joy shares her commitment to protecting the oceans, regenerative agriculture […]
Do you love bold, indulgent and decadent California Chardonnays? Then you’ll love our guest, Rob Lloyd. He’s the winemaker you can thank for delivering Cali sunshine in a glass, perfected at La Crema and Rombauer. Now Rob and his wife Bonnie have their own venture, Lloyd Cellars and Prescription Vineyards, but he still makes wine […]
How do you take your coffee? That’s the question winemaker Larry Schaffer of Tercero Wines asks when you visit his Los Olivos, CA tasting room. What’s your coffee preference have to do with wine? The Marys were wowed by this! Join us and find out why.
We are excited to have Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein as our 25th episode guest! Evan was the youngest person to pass the Master Sommelier exam, and, as you can imagine, has had quite the career journey since! We worked with Evan during our In Wine Country TV days, and he was a favorite guest because […]
Chateau Margaux is in the house! Winemaker Margaux Alvarez that is. If you’re a Titan Games fan then you may have seen our guest running the obstacle course, defying time and gravity, to claim Mount Olympus in victory as the Season 2 West Region Champion. Margaux is fierce in the gym and in competition, and […]
There’s one thing to know about Alfaro Family Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. You are guaranteed great wine and a good time. This family-owned winery is in Corralitos, at the southern end of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. It’s a mecca for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir lovers, but at Alfaro, you’ll also find Syrah, […]
What makes a great vineyard great? Laura Catena, of Argentina’s leading Catena Zapata Winery and the Catena Institute, set out on a mission to discover what the world’s best wines have in common. Instead of telling these vineyard stories the traditional, boring way, Laura takes Gold in the Vineyards readers through an illustrated, colorful, fun […]
On this special edition of Sip Sip Hooray! we hear the incredible stories of bravery, heroism and spirit from vintners most impacted by the August 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires. You will be riveted by their stories, but you’ll also find hope as they assess the aftermath and the path forward. Equally important, we share […]
We’ve got a sparkling edition of Sip Sip Hooray! Our special guest is the bubbly Blaine Ashley, aka Champagne Blaine and founder of New York Champagne Week.
It’s all about wine with heart on this episode of Sip Sip Hooray! We welcome Phil Long, winemaker and co-founder, with his late wife Debra, of Longevity Wines in California’s Livermore Valley, east of San Francisco and San Jose. Phil’s a busy man! He just inked a national wine distribution deal — which is a […]
There’s a saying in the wine industry that sommeliers are the last to be hired and first to be fired. This has never been truer than in the time of coronavirus. A staggering majority of somms were furloughed, laid off or let go permanently. Ever since businesses across the United States closed down during the […]
Across the country winery tasting rooms are slowly coming out of covid-19 lockdown. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has just given the green light to winery reopenings across the state, depending on local county guidelines. So what does that mean for wineries and winery guests like all of us? Join us for the second in […]
In March 2020 the world came to a dramatic stop. Non-essential businesses closed and we stayed at home. But we didn’t stop drinking – or buying wine. In fact by some estimates, online wine sales rose as much as 44%. We think much of it is thanks to the creative ways wineries and winemakers took […]
The Marys visited SummerWood Winery in Paso Robles, where we met the charming winemaker, Mauricio Marchant, in June 2019. We talk to the Chilean native about his journey through wine, starting at Chile’s Concha y Toro, with stints in Oregon and Napa Valley, before landing in Paso. Come along with us and discover what role […]
What is it about Paso Robles that makes it such a popular wine destination? In our opinion, it’s the rolling hills covered in vineyards, gently winding country roads leading to the wineries tucked away behind the vines, where you are often the only traveler, soul-stirring views, and of course, exceptional wines. The scenery along the […]
Are you on the hard seltzer bandwagon yet? White Claw, Truly, Bon & Viv, Smirnoff, Henry’s, Pura, boozy bucha and tipsy teas are all vying for your tastebuds. More and more grocery stores and adult beverage retailers are giving canned booze a growing portion of shelf space — that is if they can keep these […]
Paso Robles, on California’s Central Coast, is known for big Cabernets and Zins, and Rhone varietals, from Grenache Blanc to Syrah. But now, Paso is becoming a craft spirits mecca, with at least a dozen distilleries along the Paso Robles Distillery Trail. One common thread? You’ll find most of the spirits start out in wine […]
We are thrilled to have a real life cover girl on our show! Meet Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins, a total dynamo in the wine world. Her title at Ancient Peaks Winery in Santa Margarita, Calif., which is just south of Paso Robles, is VP of Operations, but she does so much more. Amanda is a tireless promoter […]
We’re headed to Napa Valley to interview a star of the wine world. Meet Pam Starr, co-founder and winemaker extraordinaire of Crocker & Starr. She’s the queen of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, but that’s not all! Pam’s path to wine started with a plan to go to dental school. Fortunately, wine won out.
In Napa Valley, the name Shafer is synonymous with grit and determination. That’s what it took for John Shafer, one of the valley’s pioneering winemakers, to start his namesake winery in Napa’s famed Stag’s Leap District. Shafer’s Hillside Select wine, made with 100% estate fruit, is one of Napa’s top wines, reaching cult status. Shafer’s […]
If you’re like us, you’ve been holding on to a special bottle of wine that someone gave you to celebrate a wedding, a birthday, an anniversary, or, you’ve squirreled away the bottle you splurged on when you visited a winery on a vacation. Every time you come across that bottle and entertain the idea of […]
When the winery motto is āItās all good at Wood,ā you canāt help but have fun at Wood Family Vineyards in Californiaās Livermore Valley. Airline pilot turned winemaker Rhonda Woodās path to wine is inspiring.