Cru | Wine Industry Podcast artwork

Cru | Wine Industry Podcast

111 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago - ★★★★★ - 62 ratings

Welcome to Cru, a wine industry podcast.

Every Monday, we feature in-depth interviews with the legends and disruptors in the wine industry.

Whether you're a seasoned sommelier, a brand new business owner, winemaker with many vintages under your belt, or just starting your journey in the industry, you won't want to miss a single episode. Have the best minds in the wine business whispering their secrets and insights directly into your ear holes. Guests include Raj Parr, Steve Matthiasson, Esther Mobley, Francoise Peschon, Andre Mack, Marissa Ross, Bob Cabral, Brian McClintic, and many more.

Hosted by founder of Monday Wine, Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker, award-winning sommelier, and wine marketer, Chappy Cottrell.

Explore the show notes at CruPodcast.com

Food Arts Society & Culture Personal Journals californiawine winemaker drink foodanddrink foodandwine hospitality vineyard wine wineindustry winemaking
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Episodes

Prospecting for Beautiful Wines with David Wilson

June 25, 2018 16:03 - 1 hour - 92.8 MB

David Wilson is the co-founder of Wilson Foriegner & Director of Vineyards & Grower Relations at Pahlmeyer. Learn more about David with the show notes here. David grew up on the family ranch, Rancho Chimiles, where he resides now with his wife, Christine, and their two children. David studied fruit science with an emphasis on wine and viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. From working harvest in South Africa to learning directly from Warren Winiarski at Stags Leap Winery, David has cu...

How to Create a True Wine Experience with Noah Dorrance

June 12, 2018 16:21 - 1 hour - 94.1 MB

Noah Dorrance is the co-founder & chief winemaker of Reeve Wines based in Dry Creek Valley, California. In this episode, Noah shares his story of how he first got into wine. How going from college to Europe changed his life and how seizing opportunities in down times created a launch pad for other ventures. We dig into the founding of Banshee Wines, Noah’s first wine label. He shares with us how Banshee was able to grow quickly over short period of time with a focus on creating high qualit...

How to Approach Making Exceptional Wine with Julien Fayard

May 10, 2018 16:53 - 1 hour - 119 MB

Originally from Provence, Julien Fayard is one of Napa Valley’s most respected consulting winemakers producing California varietals with French finesse. Formerly of Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Philippe Melka’s team, he lends two decades of winemaking expertise to more than a dozen different brands, including the highly-rated Le Pich and Purlieu wines, as well as his own labels — Azur, Covert Estate and Empreinte. You can learn more at FayardWines.com   In this episode, Julien and I dig...

How to Grow & Make Fine Wine in Extreme Conditions with Norman Hardie

January 14, 2018 19:14 - 55 minutes - 76.5 MB

Norman Hardie, @normanhardiewinery, is the owner & winemaker of Norman Hardie Winery in Prince Edward County, Ontario, making some of the best Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other Burgundian varietals in North America. Learn more about Norman with the show notes here. Norman is an incredibly well traveled winemaker with a highly trained palate. Having started his career as a sommelier with Four Seasons Hotels his intrigue of making the wines he loved so much, particularly Pinot Noir & Chard...

How to Support a Community from Around the Table with Jennifer Reichardt

January 08, 2018 18:32 - 43 minutes - 59.2 MB

Jennifer Reichardt is the founder and winemaker of Raft Wines, a small production wine label based in Santa Rosa, California with a heavy focus on Rhone Varietals. Learn more about Jen with the show notes here. You may wonder where the name Raft comes from, as you’ll find out in the episode, Jen’s background is based in the duck business and a raft is a dense flock of swimming birds. In this episode, we dig into Jen’s story, how she got into wine when being raised in a household that w...

Making Connections and Operating a Wine Brand with Chelsea Boss

January 01, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 101 MB

Chelsea Boss, @seaboss on Instagram, is the general manager of Senses Wines who make fantastic small production pinot noir and chardonnay based in Occidental, California and one of the founders of Rebuild Wine Country, an organization that is working with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County to raise $5 million dollars in order to rebuild owned & rented homes lost in the Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Mendocino, and Lake County wildfires. You can learn more about Chelsea with the show notes here. ...

When Wine Is Your Work, Life, and Community with Sara Morgenstern

December 18, 2017 18:00 - 1 hour - 132 MB

Sara Morgenstern is one of those people that if you try to introduce her to someone, she’s already good friends with them and if you ask her to join in on a project, she’ll dive in head first even though her calendar is already fully booked. She’s some what of a local celebrity here in Sonoma County, particularly in Healdsburg for those in the wine industry, most notably for her work at the imported wine shop/bar and grilled cheese joint, Bergamot Alley, but also for her work with 7% Solut...

How to Make Delicious Wines For Everyone with Blair Guthrie

December 11, 2017 18:43 - 1 hour - 132 MB

Blair Guthrie is a kiwi transplant to the Napa Valley and winemaker for Stewart Cellars, Hollis Wines, Slingshot Wines, and his personal passion project, Guthrie Family Wines all based in Napa Valley. I met up with Blair at the Stewart Cellars tasting room in Yountville, which I highly recommend you visit, especially if you are able to do a library tasting in what they call their Nomad Room. It is a gorgeously designed space with art on the walls, dark leather furniture, books galore that ...

Bonus Episode #2: The Story Behind Cru & The Future

November 30, 2017 18:34 - 1 hour - 111 MB

As a wine lover and fan of podcasts I took the opportunity to record a bonus episode with Jim Duane, who produces the Inside Winemaking podcast. Our conversation ranges from my background, my goals in building a wine podcast, and what I've have learned from the wine professionals that have shared their experience during my interviews.   We also speak about how I recently moved to Healdsburg, California to work the 2017 harvest and am beginning a new position as a sommelier and assistant ...

Exploring Taste & Terroir with Rajat Parr

November 27, 2017 17:11 - 46 minutes - 63.2 MB

In this episode, Raj and I dig into his story of being both a sommelier and winemaker, we chat about the fascinating topic of the terroir of California, and Raj tell us about his new book The Atlas of Taste along with his new, 500 person wine club he’s opening soon. Learn more about Rajat with the show notes here. With that, there are two organizations I want to introduce you to, that are working to support, rebuild, and make thrive wine country in the wake of the devastating fires that ...

How to Grow a Family Owned Winery with David Ramey

November 20, 2017 16:46 - 59 minutes - 82 MB

David Ramey is the owner and winemakers of Ramey Wine Cellars based in my new home of Healdsburg, California. You may have heard of Ramey, or even purchased a few bottles, as it is distributed in almost every market. David has been making wine for 40 odd years in France, Napa, Sonoma, most notably at Chateau Petrus, you’ve probably never heard of that though, Chalk Hill, Matanzas Creek, Rudd Estate, and Dominus in Napa and Sonoma. Learn more about David with the Show Notes here In this e...

The Making of a True Rosé with Lorenza Wine

July 31, 2017 16:12 - 55 minutes - 76.8 MB

Melinda Kearny and Michèle Ouellet, the mother-daughter duo behind Lorenza Rosé based in Napa. Learn more about Lorenza with the show notes here. In this episode we dig into the story behind Lorenza, what it was like starting to make rosé eight years ago when the main things on the market were Charles Bieler and his pink Cadillac paving the way, and the dreaded white zin hangover that everyone has experienced at least once in their life! We also chat about making wine with intentionali...

How to Experiment with Wine with Chad Stock

July 24, 2017 16:58 - 1 hour - 128 MB

Chad Stock is the winemaker and owner of Craft Wine Co, which produces the labels Minimus Wines, Origin Wines, and Omero Cellars in Carlton, Oregon. Learn more about chat with the show notes at https://crupodcast.com/show/chadstock Chad is known for experimenting with many varietals and styles to produce truly unique wines that not only he loves and is proud of, but that push the boundaries of traditional and low intervention winemaking. From Gruner to Grenache and wines with high VA to...

On the Road to Becoming a Wine Expert with Chappy Cottrell

July 18, 2017 15:00 - 1 hour - 97 MB

This episode is a little different. It is a bonus episode you could say. Here's the deal! Recently, I was asked to take part in the Road to Wine Expert Summit, which is a virtual wine summit that shares interviews with 30+ wine experts sharing their stories, tips, and secrets to get you on the fast track to wine expertise and help you build a foundation for your dream career in wine.  Some of the speakers include folks who have been on Cru before, like Hillary Zio, Brian McClintic, and S...

How to Approach Learning About & Making Wine with Martha Stoumen

July 17, 2017 06:16 - 1 hour - 103 MB

Martha Stoumen is a winemaker and viticultralist behind Martha Stoumen wines out of Napa Valley. Learn more about Martha with the show notes here.  In this episode we dig deep into the thinking behind wine as an agricultural product, the work that Martha does in the vineyard, and how she approaches making the best wines she possibly can with inspiration from her love of Italian culture and having worked on a farm in Tuscany. We then dig into a very enlightening conversation around the ...

Exploring the Business of Importing Wine with Vine Connections

June 26, 2017 08:36 - 1 hour - 102 MB

Nick Ramkowsky and Ed Lehrman are co-founders of Vine Connections, a wine import company that was the first company to import Argentine wines to the US. Learn more about Vine Connections with the show notes here. In this episode with Nick and Ed, we dig into the story of Vine Connections, how it got started with a trip to Argentina, and they paint a picture of what they found down there in the early '90's. We then get into the business side of things, like what is their process of select...

Living a Wine Legacy with Sofian Himeur

June 19, 2017 17:33 - 42 minutes - 57.8 MB

Sofian Himeur is the assistant winemaker at Gruet Winery, the champagne method sparkling wine producer in New Mexico. Learn more about Sofian with the show notes here at CruPodcast.com  In this episode, Sofian and I dig into the story behind Gruet and how he and his family came to start making sparkling wine in New Mexico of all places. He then takes us into his story, what it was like growing up in a winemaking family, working side-by-side with his grandfather at their Champagne house, ...

How to Start an Online Wine Shop with Erin Vaughen

June 11, 2017 11:14 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MB

Erin Vaughen is the founder of Vinley Market, an inspired fine wine online boutique and wine club based in LA. Learn more about Erin & Vinley Market with the show notes here. In this episode, Erin and I dig into what its like to start an online wine retail shop, the challenges and trends that she continues to experience, how people approach buying wine online, whether that is more by individual bottle or by joining a wine club, and we talk about the importance of marketing and branding w...

Growing A Champagne House with Clémence Lelarge-Pugeot

May 29, 2017 02:44 - 51 minutes - 71.1 MB

Clémence Lelarge-Pugeot is the marketing and export manager for her family’s grower Champagne house, Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot. Learn more about Clémence here In this episode, Clémence and I dig into her and her family’s story, how she is working to grow the company while living in Petaluma, California, one particular popular wine that they make called Les Meuniers de Clémence, and her dream of helping more grower producers in Champagne to grow their businesses by exporting to the US & Ca...

Reviving a Lost Story Through Wine with Caleb Forlong

May 21, 2017 12:49 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MB

At 24-years old, Caleb Forlong is the Director of Marketing & Business Development for the only single estate winery in Upper Wairau Valley in Marlborough, Hillersden and spearheading the winery’s growth in the United States. Caleb originally began his studies in theatre, but after observing the creative, sustainable methods being implemented by his father in the vineyard, he decided to plant himself in the family business and sought to learn as much as he could about wine. Caleb now split...

Understanding and Interpreting a Vineyard with Alan Viader

May 15, 2017 05:50 - 1 hour - 85.9 MB

Alan Viader, second generation winemaker and Director of Operations for Viader Vineyards & Winery in Napa. Learn more about Alan at CruPodcast.com  In this episode, Alan shares with us the story behind his family’s estate on Howell Mountain, how his mother used dynamite to move rock in order to plant the vineyard all while raising three kids, and how working with winemakers in Argentina, Alan realized that he wanted to become a winemaker. We then get into the viticultural and winemakin...

Creating An Authentic Wine Company with Rachel Silkowski

May 08, 2017 06:00 - 57 minutes - 79.1 MB

Rachel Silkowski is the assistant winemaker for Loring Wine Company & the founder/winemaker of Rasi Wine Company, both based in Lompoc, California. Learn more about Rachel here. pronounced rac·y 1. full of zest or vigor; having a strongly marked quality; piquant; risqué, suggestive 2. having the distinctive quality of something in its original or most characteristic form Rachel and I dig into how she initially got into wine, her curiosity of the winemaking process, and the feeling of...

How to Build a Successful Wine Club with Shannon Westfall

May 01, 2017 06:00 - 58 minutes - 80.7 MB

Shannon Westfall (@vinfluence) is the founder of Vinfluence, the wine club that is helping you drink better by sending you handpicked wines from boutique wineries every month while supporting nonprofits that are making a difference. Learn more about Shannon & get a transcript of the episode here. In this episode, Shannon share with us how Vinfluence was born out of her love of helping people and sharing wine. She tells us her story of how she broke into the wine industry with no experien...

Truth, Justice, and Making Great Wines with Palmer Emmitt

April 24, 2017 06:00 - 43 minutes - 59.9 MB

Palmer Emmitt (@palmnut) is the co-owner and co-winemaker behind Emmitt-Scorsone Wines, which make the labels, Judge Palmer and Domenica Amato, in Healdsburg, California. Learn more about Palmer with the show notes at crupodcast.com/show/palmeremmitt In this episode, Palmer and I dig into how he went from working in the film industry in Hollywood to owning a winery that makes Cabernet harvested from the famous To Kalon Vineyard, and that’s just one of the wines he and his partner, Michae...

How to Challenge the Norm of Wine Retail with Dustin Wilson MS

April 17, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 85.5 MB

Dustin Wilson (@dustinwilsonms) is a partner and owner the wine shop in Tribeca, New York City called Verve Wine. Dustin came on the podcast when the show first started and he was working at Eleven Madison Park, but in this episode he tells us about how he transitioned from being a somm on the floor of restaurants for so many years to starting and being on the floor of a retail store and what the challenges of starting a new wine shop in New York City has been like. We then dig into the st...

The Journey of Natural Wine with Fabio Bartolomei

April 09, 2017 16:24 - 46 minutes - 63.4 MB

Fabio Bartolomei is the winemaker behind Vinos Ambiz in the Gredos region of Spain, just outside of Madrid. I’m super excited for this episode because it was my first in-person interview. Fabio and I met up while I was in Madrid last weekend and he took me to the only natural wine shop in the city called Wine Attack, then the next day we drove out to his winery about an hour northwest of Madrid in a small town called El Tiemblo. Learn more about Fabio with the show notes here. He took me...

Facing the Challenges of Growing a Wine Company with Jordane Andrieu

April 03, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 85.4 MB

Jordane Andrieu (@heritagefinewines) is the owner of Heritage Fine Wines wine store and bar located in Beverley Hills & proprietor of Domain Clos du Moulins aux Moins in Burgundy. Subscribe to our newsletter, Cru Mail, here to learn more about Jordane. In this episode, Jordane and I dig into his story, how he went from working for an engineering company in Paris to running an estate in Burgundy while studying viticulture & oenology and converting the vineyard to organic. He shares with u...

The Life & Travels of a Winemaking Ambassador with DLynn Proctor

March 27, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 89.7 MB

DLynn Proctor (@WineauxDLynnP) is the winemaking ambassador for Penfolds Americas. You may remember DLynn from the movies Somm and Somm: Into the Bottle on Netflix, but in this episode we don’t talk about the movies, but DLynn’s story, who inspired him to become a sommelier in the first place, how he was able to travel the world to learn about wine on other people’s dime as a young somm. Learn more about DLynn with the show notes here. We also dig into the day to day of what being the wi...

The Art of Wine Retail with Michael Drapkin

March 20, 2017 06:00 - 57 minutes - 78.5 MB

Michael Drapkin is the proprietor, wine educator, and Instagram model behind Kingston Wine Company in the town of Kingston, New York in the Hudson Valley. You can find him wordsmithing wine descriptions on Instagram @kingstonwineco and buy all of his delicious, natural and esoteric wines at KingstonWine.com Learn more about Michael with the show notes here. In this episode Michael and I dig into where his passion for wine comes from, both the books and the people who influenced him, and ...

How to Craft a Wine with Michael Cruse

March 13, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 84.8 MB

Michael Cruse (@crusewine) is the winemaker and owner of Ultramarine Wines and Cruse Wine Co. based in Petaluma, California. Learn more about Michael with the show notes here. In this episode, Michael and I dig into his background and how he got into the wine world, the terroir of California and how Michael is working to share that through his wines, and where his love of sparkling wines come from. Before we get into the show, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes...

Wine Tales of a Young Master Sommelier with Jack Mason MS

March 05, 2017 11:02 - 46 minutes - 63.5 MB

Jack Mason (@jamasoniii) is one of the youngest Master Sommelier, and is the MS & Wine Director at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Houston, Texas. Learn more about Jack with the show notes here. Jack achieved MS status at the very young age of 27 and he’s one of the youngest to do so. He is one of only 9 esteemed Master Sommeliers currently in the state of Texas and one of 144 Master Sommeliers in the U.S. He’s been featured in Forbes’ annual 30 Under 30 list of outstanding young professio...

Finding Your Happy with Amanda Brackett

February 27, 2017 06:00 - 57 minutes - 79 MB

Amanda Brackett (@soconnwineco) is a winemaker and owner of Southern Connecticut Wine Co. in Wallingford, Connecticut. So Conn Wine Co. is the first urban winery in the entire state. Learn more about Amanda with the show notes here. In this episode Amanda and I converse about her passion for winemaking and how she became a winemaker in Connecticut to how she is working to teach more and more people about wine. She also shares the challenges she has had to overcome not only with governmen...

How to Become a Hedonist with Master of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee

February 20, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 88.8 MB

Jeannie Cho Lee (@jeanniecholee) is a Master of Wine, a wine writer, critic, professor at the Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management in Hong Kong, television host, speaker, wine consultant, and designer! Learn more about Jeannie in the show notes here. She was so gracious in speaking with me for over an hour about everything from her upbringing and how she got into wine to how to become a hedonist and experience what she calls palate orgasms. We also dig into how...

On Being a Professional Wine Writer with Christina Pickard

February 13, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 83.9 MB

Christina Pickard (@winewchristina) is a wine writer, educator, and social media consultant. She has lived and worked from London to Perth, Australia, and now in the Hudson Valley of New York writing about wine and educating people about wine on places like the BBC and her own wine school. Learn more about Christina with the show notes here. In this episode, we dig into her story and how she got into wine while working as an actress. We then talk about how she learned more and more while...

How to Create & Share Your Wine Story with Hillary Zio

February 06, 2017 05:30 - 57 minutes - 79.1 MB

Hillary Zio (@hillaryzio) is a certified sommelier, wine industry consultant, wine writer, educator, and author of The Unfiltered Guide to Working in Wine, her book that works as a career guide for those who have questions about being anything in the wine world from a sommelier to a distributor. You can buy it here on Amazon. You can learn more about Hillary with the show notes here. In this episode we dig into a lot from Hillary’s story and how her career progressed to now being able to...

How to Write About and Describe Wine with Marissa A. Ross

January 29, 2017 17:46 - 1 hour - 91.9 MB

  Marissa A. Ross (@marissaaross) is a leisure enthusiast, writer, and wine drinker. She’s also the author of the new book, Wine. All The Time.: The Casual Guide to Confident Drinking, writer of the wine blog WINE. All The Time, and is the wine editor for Bon Appétit. Learn more about Marissa here with the show notes. In this episode, Marissa and I dig into a lot from her story and background and how she got into wine to becoming Bon Appétit’s wine editor. We also talk a lot about wine...

Add Some Spice to Your Everyday Life with Dalia Ceja

January 23, 2017 05:00 - 47 minutes - 65.3 MB

Dalia Ceja (@daliaceja), a Latina in love with sharing lifestyle tips and trends focused on fashion, travel, food, drinks, and fiestas. She’s also the sales and marketing director for her family’s vineyard and winery, Ceja Vineyards. Dalia also has her own wine label called La Tapatia, which she created as a consulting winemaker with Naked Wines. You can learn more about Dalia here. Dalia and I dig into a lot in this episode from how her grandparents and parents worked in the vineyards w...

The Confidence to Boldly Go for Your Goals with Whitney Adams

January 16, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 95.3 MB

Whitney Adams (The Whitney A. Channel) is a sommelier turned YouTuber, on-camera host, and writer living in LA. We had a great conversation about everything from her background and how she got into the wine industry to her decision to start a YouTube channel which now has over 30,000 subscribers. Then reflecting on how she got to where she is by creating her own path in the industry and her goals for the future. Whitney also gives practical tips and strategies for growing a personal brand, l...

Wine Doesn't Have to be This Hard with Ryan Harms

January 09, 2017 05:30 - 54 minutes - 74.2 MB

Ryan Harms (@harmsryan) is the founder, owner, and winemaker of Union Wine Company based just outside ofPortland, Oregon. They can be considered pioneers in the canned wine space with their brand Underwood. Learn more about Ryan here. Ryan and I had a fantastic conversation talking about his story and how he started in the wine industry, how union first started as a virtual winery and now it can be considered an industrial chateau. We really dig into the mission and purpose behind Union,...

Nurturing the Land, Vines, and Fruit with Chad Melville

January 02, 2017 05:30 - 1 hour - 93.8 MB

Chad Melville (@melville_winery) is the head winegrower at his family’s winery, Melville Winery in the Santa Rita Hills of California producing Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay. In this episode, Chad tells us his story of growing up in a grape growing family and eventually starting Melville from its first plantings of their vineyard. We get into the viticulture behind the wines he grows, why he considers their wines to be made once the grapes are harvested, and how having control from vin...

How to be Successful in the Wine World with André Hueston Mack

December 19, 2016 05:00 - 1 hour - 139 MB

André Hueston Mack (@youknowmouton) is a Sommelier-at-Large, maker of Mouton Noir Wines, designer behind Get Fraiche Cru, and author of Small Thyme Cooks: coloring & activity book. The over arching theme in this episode is how to be successful in the wine world. For André, it comes down to two things; showing up and working hard. André has an amazing story of growing up as an Army brat, moving from place to place every few years to being inspired by the show Frazer to start exploring win...

Empowering Women Winemakers with Christina Musto

December 12, 2016 03:00 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MB

Christina Musto (@threadsandvino) is the 4th generation of a family wine business, Musto Wine Grape Company, based in Connecticut where she works with commercial and home winemakers to provide them with the tools and grapes they need to make great wine. She is a long-time member of the American Wine Society, has studied at UC Davis, and has her Wine Business MBA from Sonoma State University, and on top of all of that is a founding member of Women Winemakers of Connecticut. Learn more abo...

Sharing Wines with Soul with Julian Lewis

December 05, 2016 04:00 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MB

Julian Lewis (@julianlewis4) is the co-founder of Bybo Wines, an online wine shop and wine club that sells “Wines with Soul.” They believe that some wines have soul and others don’t. They also believe that value and price are distinctly different things. If you feel this too, then join them at bybo.co.uk. Julian is the buyer for Bybo, but he’s also a surfer, father, husband, veteran of two Master of Wine exams, and an IWC judge. He lives in Bristol, England with his wife and children. Ju...

Growing An Unlikely Vineyard and Winery with Deirdre Heekin

November 28, 2016 21:55 - 1 hour - 90.8 MB

Deirdre Heekin is the co-founder, winegrower, organizer, writer, photographer, flower farmer, and designer behind La Garagista Farm + Winery in Barnard, Vermont. In this episode we get into a lot from where the idea came from to start growing and making wine in Vermont to its challenges as she successful makes amazing natural wines in this environment. We also talk about her love of travel, the biodynamic practices that have been instilled in her, and her new book, An Unlikely Vineyard. We...

How to Make Your Passion Your Profession While Traveling The World with Brian McClintic MS

November 21, 2016 02:00 - 1 hour - 93.2 MB

Brian McClintic (@brianmcclinticms) is a Master Sommelier and founder of the wine company and travel blog, Viticole Wine (@viticolewine). In this episode we get into a lot from why and how he first got into wine to how Viticole is becoming a lifestyle business for him that combines his passions of wine, travel, and writing. Learn more about Brian at https://crupodcast.com/show/brianmcclintic We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here and leave us a review. Our goal is to g...

Good People, Good Wine, and Celebrating Life with the McBride Sisters

November 07, 2016 06:00 - 1 hour - 86.6 MB

Robin and Andrea McBride are the sisters, owners, and winemakers behind McBride Sisters Wines. They make fun, playful, and approachable wines in New Zealand and California. In this episode we dig into a lot starting with their incredible story that only God or fate could have made happen to diversity in the wine industry and their experiences as African-American women. They also tell the story of how Oprah, Gayle King, and Common started repping their wines. Robin and Andrea are a powerhou...

Building Relationships and Sharing Stories with Bill Bishop

October 31, 2016 02:00 - 1 hour - 108 MB

Bill Bishop is the National Sales Manager for Steele Wines in Northern California. He has a lifetime of experience in the wine world from helping his father deliver wines as a boy in Connecticut and studying enology and viticulture at University of California Davis to working harvest at Far Niente Winery and nearly 20 years of his career at Carneros Creek Winery. Bill has a wealth of knowledge that we dig into in this episode. He has a story for everything about wine and it was an absolute p...

Creating Change, Setting Standards and Being Yourself with Helen Johannesen

October 24, 2016 04:30 - 1 hour - 84.6 MB

Helen Johannesen (@helenswines) is a sommelier, entrepreneur, wine shop owner, lover of the hustle, and an incredibly thoughtful and kind person. We dive into a lot in this episode from growing up in NYC and moving to Madison, Wisconsin to the challenges she’s overcome in a male dominated industry and how her drive and lack of insecurity has pushed her to accomplish so much at a young age. We also talk about being recognized for your hard work with awards and what effect they have; she’s a...

How to start a boutique winery with Chris Strieter

October 17, 2016 06:00 - 1 hour - 94.1 MB

Chris Strieter (@cstrieter) is an entrepreneur and co founder of Senses Wines (@senseswines), a boutique winery in Sonoma making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and is the co-founder of Duchess in Oakland (@duchessoakland), a gastro pub serving up California pub fare. You can learn more about Chris at http://crupodcast.com/show/chrisstrieter In this episode we dive into a lot of different topics, but the main one being how Chris and his co-founders have worked to build a boutique winery from th...

What it Takes to Start A Wine Label with Michael Villas

October 10, 2016 08:00 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MB

Michael Villas is an advanced sommelier and co-founder of the wine labels Penville and Maison d’Amis. Penville makes Rhone style Grenache from the Santa Barbara region in California and Maison d’Amis makes Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. You can connect with Michael on Instagram @mcvillas and learn more about him at crupodcast.com Before we get into the episode, I want to invite you to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. With your help we can achieve our goal of being on the New & Notewort...

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