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 fo...

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-base...

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...

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 Schra...

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 20...

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,...

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...

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 h...

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 o...

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 ten...

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 o...

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,...

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 i...

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 bring...

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 conn...

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...

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...

On today's show, Mark and Jessica celebrate October as Texas Wine Month with a recap of the 5 th 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 addit...

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 wit...

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, Oc...

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 ar...

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 Emmanu...

Mathieu Billecart, 7 th 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...

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...