Sip Sip Hooray Podcast

On this episode of Sip Sip Hooray, we take a frank BTS look on what - and how much money - it takes to establish a new winery in Napa Valley. Fred and Trey Eppright are the father-son duo behind Parable Wines in Napa Valley. They built careers as real estate developers in Texas, but after trips to various wine regions, Trey fell in love with wine and wanted to find a winery property in Napa Valley...

In this episode of Sip Sip Hooray! we dive into the the recent declarations that no level of alcohol is safe, calls for cancer labeling, the anti-alcohol movement and the impacts on the wine industry and wine lovers. Our guest, Erlinda Doherty , a sommelier, alcohol policy expert and founder of Vinicola Consulting , sheds light on the latest health warnings, the World Health Organization's stance...

SawyerSomm is in the house! In this episode, we talk with Chris Sawyer, the “Sommelier to the Stars,” about his unique approach to wine, film, and music. From high school nights with Winona Ryder to private tastings with Hollywood's biggest and brightest, Chris shares his passion and unforgettable stories.   There's just not enough time to describe Chris's impact on the wine world. His unique appr...

Our guest today is Jess Druey, founder of Whiny Baby , a wine label that's all about keeping it fun and keeping it real. These are not your parents' dusty vintages and the wines not aimed at wine aficionados with massive cellars of expensive bottles. This is wine for a younger generation, Gen Z to be specific, the babies of the wine world, people dipping their toes in and looking for a good time....

What are your biggest pet peeves when it comes to wine? On the pod we’re usually anti-whiny, but on this episode we’re sharing some stuff about the wine world that just gets under our skin, grape skin and otherwise - the quirks that irk us and annoying things about the wine scene that are frankly hard to swallow. We do love wine, but there are some things about wine and the wine industry that baff...

You probably don't think of gold or the gold rush when it comes to the Willamette Valley, but it's the foundation for our guests today for their families, farm, ranch and now vineyard and winery. Cam Bower and Bernadette Bayliss-Bower are the the husband and wife team behind Ghost Hill Cellars in Oregon’s storied Willamette Valley. They’re here to share their haunting tale about apparitions lurkin...

We here at Sip Sip Hooray! love a good deal! Amid all the stories swirling around about how expensive Wine Country visits have become, we decided to challenge ourselves and see if we could buck the trend, and save a few - or more - bucks. Our first destination was Napa Valley, and ICYMI the episode, check it out here. Now we’re headed to Sonoma County, one of Travel & Leisure’s Best 50 Places...

We've got the OG Wine Riot Ringmaster in the house! Our guest today is about as anti-wine snob as they come. Tyler Balliet has been on a mission to bring joy to the wine world, focusing on the fun, the fascinating stories and the celebrations big and small that are created with wine. Tyler is the author of The Rebel School of Wine: A Visual Guide to Drinking with Confidence , and let me tell you,...

On this episode of Sip Sip Hooray! the Marys are playing Santa’s helpers! We’ve been on the hunt for the perfect wine holiday gifts, from budget-friendly stocking stuffers to little indulgences, experiences, good reads and a few splurges. Listen all the way through for exclusive discount codes! We wanted to think outside the typical wine gift and inspire you to get creative gifting the wine lover...

The Author of The World in A Wineglass is here! Food & Wine executive wine editor and Travel + Leisure wine editor Ray Isle has been writing about wine and other adult beverages for over 20 years. You've also seen his byline in many publications, including The Washington Post , Time and Wine & Spirits. Ray has also collected all sorts of awards and accolades for his work, including three J...

There's more to a wine label than meets the eye. Most of us buy wine in the store and when we do, we picture that bottle coming from a small winery nestled among the vines somewhere in wine country. But did you know a growing chunk of popular labels don't have their own winery or winemaking team? They are private label wines contracted out to a third party winery who supplies the grapes, the winem...

On the pod today - we're thinking inside the wine box! Have you noticed there are more boxed wine options on the market and they're getting better and better? What may have seemed like a cheaper choice before is now viewed as a more sustainable choice. And the wine in the bag in that box? It keeps getting better. We get the lowdown on the move to wine in boxes from industry expert Erin Kirschenman...

Do something. That’s what The Wine Bible author and wine expert Karen MacNeil said to herself when she was thinking about media stories focusing on alcohol’s negative effects - but not the positive communal, cultural, historic and yes, cardiac health aspects of wine. Now there is a new campaign to bring people back to the table, the communal table, not necessarily the bar. It is called Come Over O...

We've got Hot Takes with Tom Wark! From DTC shipping, the anti-alcohol movement and more, Tom's got something to say, and he says it on our pod. But you can get a regular dose of Tom's commentary and insights on the wine industry must read Substack, Fermentation. Because everyone wants to know what Tom thinks. Tom Wark is one of the OG wine bloggers and the wine industry's favorite...

We’re talking to Megan Bell, winemaker and founder of Margins Wines in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. She was recently profiled in a San Francisco Chronicle story about struggles small wineries and winemakers face as they work to keep their labels going despite many challenges. Megan is the face of the story. We wanted to hear all about it straight from her - and while there’s gloom, she remai...

A New Wine Label Takes the Stage. Launching a new wine label, especially during the pandemic, is never easy. But today we meet two actors who make, promote and sell their wine between acting, directing and producing gigs. They are Matt and Carolina Espino de Jager of Fuil Wines - pronounced fool - and we're excited to hear their story of starting their own winery and the two labels that they&#...

On this podcast episode, let's hear it for the girls. As founder of ⁠Teneral Cellars⁠ , Jill Osur is driven to make a difference, harnessing the power of business for good and using wine as a conduit for change. All this while also creating a selection of exceptional, sustainable wines. Did you know women are the primary purchasers of wine? That's right, nearly 70% of wine sold is bought b...

Why You Should Be Drinking Portuguese Wines Now On the podcast today, the Symington family has a history in Portugal as rich as their Ports. We are excited to have DOC Douro Category Manager Mariana Brito and fifth generation family member Harry Symington joining us on the pod from Portugal to share Symington’s story. Port is a wine we think of as the perfect end to a great meal, a relaxing wine t...

When you look at a restaurant's wine list, what do you see? Do you see equity, cultural and biodiversity, representation, affordability, fun? Our guest today believes all of that should be front and center on a wine list. Miguel de Leon has made a career and a celebrated name for himself as a wine professional of color in New York City, where he is currently the wine director at Pinch Chinese...

The number one thing people always ask us is, can you do wine country on a budget? With the Napa Valley wine experience becoming more and more expensive, with wine tastings regularly costing upwards of $10, can you visit this incredible wine mecca without blowing a small fortune in the process? We, the Marys, say yes! You can be bougie on a budget in Napa Valley. We've got the inside scoop on...

Is it time to turn to white wine? Wine drinkers are now choosing white wine more than red! Our guests, Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, aka the World Wine Guys , are the perfect ambassadors for exploring the wide and delicious world of white wine. After all, their motto is, "We uncork your world." Mike and Jeff could have dedicated their new book, "White Wine, The Comprehensive Guide...

On the podcast today, a wine friend so busy we can't believe she's made time to visit us again. And she’s speaking to us from Mendoza, Argentina. Dr. Laura Catena is the managing director of one of the best known names in wine - Catena Zapata. Catena is admired around the world not only for incredible wines her family produces, but also for their stewardship of the land and efforts to make...

We’ve become cork dorks! That’s right, while you may love the convenience and ease of screw caps, after today’s pod, you’ll never think about cork stoppers the same way. Sure, cork has been used for centuries to seal wine bottles, and, you may know it comes from the bark of cork oak trees. You may not know 60% of the world’s cork comes from Portugal. That’s one reason we’re excited to have Carlos...

Does wine speak make your eyes roll or glaze over? One of the most intimidating things about wine isn't about what's in your glass - it's the words used to describe it. Do tasting notes that allude to a pasture in Southern France, stewed plums or brown spices (whatever those are!) turn you off from wine? You're not alone. The way we talk about and communicate sets wine apart from o...

Want to know the inside tracks, the backroads and the best bets of the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley in northern Sonoma County? We got you! Our guests today co-host the popular, fun and informative award-winning podcast, The Wine Road . As they say, it's all about the wine when and where of Sonoma County. Marcy Gordon and Beth Costa are podcast pros! They've d...