Beats Vines and Life

MJ’s guest today is Winemaker, Environmentalist, and Outdoor Enthusiast Alisa Jacobsen. In this episode, Alisa and MJ discuss her remarkable career. Everything from growing a major brand, making wine around the world, purchasing her own vineyards, and launching her Turning Tides label. It’s a raucous episode filled with insights and laughter.   A huge thank you to Alisa Jacobsen Follow her on...

This is the most important episode of the podcast recorded to date.   In this episode MJ and Anne-Charlotte Melia-Bacha discuss the origins of her family's historic estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the current tragic situation in which it is currently embroiled.    It's a heavy episode...    Anne-Charlotte opens up about some of her initial feelings and thoughts about how...

In this bonus episode, MJ's guests are Winemakers Ashley Trout, Matt Austin, George-Anne Robertson, Kelsey Itameri, and Josh McDaniels. MJ also talked with graphic wine novelist, Stacy Buchanan, The Walls Vineyards Retail Sales Director, Kathryn Padberg, and Sommelier James Darden.   Make sure you follow all of my amazing guests! @troutashley @vitalwines @brookandbull @mattaustinwine @grosgra...

MJ’s guest today is the Co-Founder and Winemaker of Brewer Clifton Wines, Greg Brewer. Greg also makes wines under the Diatom and Ex Post Facto labels. In this episode, MJ and Greg discuss the advantages of growing up bi-coastal and how Greg went from being a professor of French to becoming a cellar rat. What the “Parker Effect” did for Brewer-Clifton and his endless pursuit of precision in his wi...

MJ’s guest today is the Owner and Winemaker of Morét Brealynn Wines, Morét Brealynn. A boutique winery in Sonoma County with a focus on Pinot Noir and supporting animal shelters. In this episode, MJ and Moret discuss growing up in the Central Valley. Work-life in the non-profit sector. Animal rescue and Catceanera's. Tina Fey, Pete Buttigieg, and making world-class Pinot Noir along the California...

MJ’s guest today is Co-owner and Winemaker of the McLaren Vale’s Brash Higgins Winery. Brash Higgins is committed to producing wines from little-known or outre varietals. In this episode MJ and Brad discuss his journey from being a world traveling couch-surfer to the working in some of the finest Michelin starred restaurants in NYC. And how that led him into pushing boundaries and redefining the t...

MJ’s guest today is James Beard Award winning wine journalist and author Alice Feiring. Alice was proclaimed “the queen of natural wines” by the Financial Times. She publishes the authoritative natural wine newsletter, The Feiring Line . And Alice has recently released her 6th book,   To Fall in Love, Drink This: A Wine Writer’s Memoir . In this episode they discuss why there’s no place like...

MJ’s guest today is Proprietor of Sonoma’s Winery Sixteen 600 and co-host of the highly regarded The Winemakers Pod Sam Cotturi.   In this episode, MJ and Sam talk about Sam’s early days growing up in the Moon Mountain District of Sonoma County. His life as the son of an organic farming pioneer. Joining the family business and launching a boutique label with an industry legend. They discuss e...

MJ’s guest today is the Brand Manager at DAMILANO Barolo Thomas Cuni. In addition to his focus on the US Market, Thomas is also in charge of worldwide export. He is a graduate of the University of Bologna where he studied Food Science and Oenology. Thomas moved to the US in 2006 and began his career in luxury wine.  In this episode MJ and Thomas discuss his journey from the son of hardworking...

MJ’s guest today is the Managing Director of Napa Valley’s Rudd Estate Oscar Henquet.   In this episode, MJ and Oscar talk about how he found his passion for the luxury hospitality industry at a very young age while working with his family’s hotel business in The Netherlands. The importance and value of understanding various cultures. Life as a 6’4 European living in China. His first week on...

MJ’s guest today is described as the “always theorizing and experimenting Vineyard Manager” at Stolpman Vineyards since 1994, Ruben Solorzano!  Ruben was crowned “the Grape Whisperer” by Wine Enthusiast (Journalist Matt Kettmann). Through Ruben’s vineyard management company - Coastal Vineyard Care Associates - he controls several of the best sites from the Western edge of STA Rita Hills throu...

MJ’s guest today is the fourth generation of his family to play an instrumental role in the fine wine and spirits realm in the United States. He's Director of Business Development at the Taub family’s NYC-based wholesale business, Independence Wine & Spirits (IWS), Jake Taub! In 2020, Jake joined IWS as a key account manager and was quickly promoted to director of business development. Jake ha...

MJ’s Guest today is today is Alma Rosa’s winemaker, Samra Morris. Samra was born in Sarajevo Bosnia. She grew up during the Bosnian war of 1992-95. Samra is the first woman from Bosnia to make wines in California. She completed a viticulture internship at St. Supéry during the 2014 harvest as well as working with Rivers Brown’s Mending Wall for three harvests. Samra formerly served as quality cont...

MJ’s Guest today is music producer, fashion designer, foodie and DJ, Skinny Pablo! Based out of Long Beach, California, Skinny Pablo was born and raised on the island of Guam. He has recording credits including Lee "Scratch" Perry, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy. Skinny Pablo DJs events such as RieslingStudy, and started his own party called Riesling & Reggae in Los Angeles. His favorite wine i...

MJ and Jermaine Stone get together for an impromptu cipher to discuss their upcoming battle at the Wine and Hip Hop “Pass The Aux Sessions” NYC on July 23rd in Brooklyn. If you don't know... now ya know... For more information go here: https://bit.ly/PassTheAuxNYC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s guest is artist, an art historian, a wine collector, a salesman, an importer, and the founder of Vom Boden, Stephen Bitterolf. Stephen came to NYC in the early 00s to get his PhD in Northern Renaissance painting - during which time his fascination was born. In 2005, he landed a job as a salesperson at the newly opened Crush Wine & Spirits , one of New York City’s sleekest wine stores at t...

MJ’s guest today is former banker turned wine importer, and founder of VOS Selections, Victor O. Schwartz. Victor initially worked in the banking sector on loans, stocks and bonds, before transitioning to the wine industry. His upbringing was steeped in an intense culinary culture. In 1986, Victor moved to France to jump start his wine career. VOS Selections has been a staple in the wine industry...

Part 2 of MJ’s live chats from Hospice Du Rhône’s flagship event in Paso Robles, California.   This bi - annual event brings together an international community to celebrate Rhône wines and winemakers.  The 2022 event featured over 120 international Rhône producers, seminars on the forefront of Rhône thinking, an exclusive live auction and delicious meals paired with Rhône wines .....

 MJ brings his listeners a front row seat to the Hospice Du Rhône’s flagship event in Paso Robles, California.   This bi - annual event brings together an international community to celebrate Rhône wines and winemakers.  The 2022 event featured over 120 international Rhône producers, seminars on the forefront of Rhône thinking, an exclusive live auction and delicious meals pair...

MJ’s guest today is esteemed Châteauneuf-du-Pape vigneron and winemaker, Isabel Ferrando! Isabel has been cultivating vines and making wine in Chateauneuf-du-Pape for 18 years. Her wines have been dubbed by critics as “some of the most profound wines on the planet” (Jeb Dunnuck). Drawing inspiration from the Burgundian tradition of single vineyards, Isabel produced three different cuvées from Sain...

MJ’s Guest today is a 5th generation winemaker of Azelia, an historical and small family-run winery founded in 1920, in Castiglione Falletto in the heart of the Barolo region in Piedmont, Italy. Lorenzo attended the Oenological School in Alba, the most prestigious wine school in Italy. Lorenzo graduated summa cum laude with the title of Oenologist. Lorenzo works full time alongside his father Luig...

MJ’s Guest today is a renaissance man! He comes from an executive background, a wine importer, a business owner, and is dedicated to global humanitarian support, a Lehigh graduate, Peter Morales. His career began in retail and operations management at Johnson & Johnson, Grand Metropolitan (now Diageo), and Peerless Importers. In 1998, Peter opened his own worldwide business consulting company,...

MJ’s guest today is one of a select few 100-point winemakers in Washington State and winemaker with Force Majeure, Holocene, Weathereye Vineyards, PASXA, and The Walls: Todd Alexander. Previously, Todd was the Winemaker for acclaimed “cult” winery Bryant Family Vineyard in Napa Valley. He began his career in the Napa Valley at esteemed wineries including Cade and PlumpJack. Todd holds a winemaking...

MJ’s Guest today is a California native, a Georgetown graduate,  a fine wine specialist, a former retail worker, businessman, and a managing partner at Stolpman Vineyards, Pete Stolpman!    On this week’s episode, MJ and Pete talk about his dad’s movie-esque life before the inception of Stolpman Vineyards, Pete’s time in Australia, working retail, and working alongside the most tale...

MJ’s Guest today is an industry changemaker, a leader for diversity and inclusion in the hospitality / food and beverage industries, a professor, a philanthropist, a mentor, a sommelier, and wine director, Tonya Pitts!    This week MJ and Tonya discuss her time in San Francisco, her fierce commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as her need to dig deep and pull things apart! ...