The TallMikeWine Podcast

Mike has a Zoom call with his friend Gordana in the United Arab Emirates. She is a Wine Specialist at a VERY fancy, over the top resort in Dubai. Find out how she got there, and what drives Gordana to continue her wine education to the highest level. How did all of this happen for a girl who grew up in the former Yugoslavia (now Serbia)? And why didn't she continue her education to play class...

Big News! The Podcast has made it on a list of the Top Wine Podcasts...The Feedspot Top 45 Wine Podcasts. See the list HERE . Also, Mike is again "solo sipping" and he explains why (hint: harvest continues at Nicholson Ranch). Care to tell Mike from where you listen to the Podcast? Please drop a line, to tallmikewine@gmail.com - you can also see pictures of wines discussed on the show on...

This "mini episode" features Mike at home, in between guests, with some behind the scenes winery stories of the people he meets, and doesn't quite meet, and what they tell him, and who's getting coasters! Also, wines he's been sipping - there are a few, and all delicious. Please follow along on Mike's Instagram , and send an email to give Mike feedback, ask a question...

Deepak is back for his 4th time on the Podcast, joining Mike in the Vintners room for a discussion and tasting of the Wine Club wines from the new Nicholson Ranch release. The guys also talk about the coming harvest, the life cycle of grape vines, and a coming expansion of Deepak's wine empire. See pictures on Mike's Instagram ! Also, feel free to email Mike with feedback on the show, re...

Mike is back in the Vintners room with VJ Gandhi, wine importer, distributor, and retailer. VJ's company specializes in wines from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. There's yet another Love Story to be told in how VJ ended up moving to the states, and she also explains what prompted her to get into the wine bizz. The two of them also talk about Shania Twain and other notable Canad...

Episode 16; Kerry Shiels grew up in Washington Wine Country. Her parents planted a vineyard when she was in Jr High. She went away to college and to start her "adult" life. Then her parents started a winery, and the vineyard became one of the more renowned vineyards in the state. Hear how Kerry re-tooled and came home to run the family winery. She and Mike also discuss life in "Disn...

An in-between guests episode, Mike talks to *himself* about what he's been drinking, life at the winery mid-summer, the Olympic games, his favorite thing to watch at the moment, AND a podcast recommendation. To see pictures check out Mike's Instagram ! And please send feedback, questions and coaster/sticker requests via email to: tallmikewine@gmail.com Wines discussed this episode: 2006...

Mike chats with Nicholson Ranch Chief Wine Scientist Jean-Claude Pijanowski. JC (as they call him at the winery) discusses his time in wine and his prior time working at NASA, including the time he met his hero Carl Sagan (and things got a little weird). The guys also taste two great wines from faraway lands, discuss the outlook for the 2020 and 2021 vintages, Mike introduces the Podcasts latest m...

Mike, between guest episodes of the podcast, talks about recent goings on at the winery - Nicholson Ranch, in Sonoma. You'll want to check out the Instagram Post for video of something very interesting that happened recently.  Please like/share/follow/ subscribe to the podcast. If you're on Apple Podcasts then leave a review and rating - it helps!!! Wine discussed on this episode: 2014 B...

Mike's pal Olivier visits the Vintners Room for a chat about his restaurant L'appart, which was Mike's favorite, until it had to close. Olivier also explains how and why he came to America from his native France and Mike talks about trying to learn French in High School. The guys talk about a couple of Nicholson Ranch wines as well as fishing and podcasts....so much FUN! See picture...

Bay Area music and concert promoter KC Turner - who's business was basically flattened when the pandemic struck - talks to Mike about different ways he found to bring the music to the people! It's a great story. Also, Mike reveals his ultimate Karaoke set list, welcomes Belgium and Bangladesh to the list of countries tuning in to the podcast AND the guys share a couple of tasty wines. Fo...

Mike talks with Janet Dyer, veteran wine salesperson by day, screenplay writer, actress and performer by night. Janet wrote a screenplay based on her time in the wine business in the 1970s when she was one of the only women working in the business. Her short film "Corked" is now on the festival circuit and the feature film screenplay has been nominated for some big awards. Mike and Janet...

Mike's back in the Vintner's Room! His guest is Jerri Manthey - wine lover and former cast member (and official Villainess) from season 2 of the Survivor Reality TV series. We get some good inside dirt on the production of such shows, what it's like to pack it all up and move to Hollywood in search of stardom and the sort of stardom reality TV bestows on it's "stars"....

Mike chats with Cara Almberg of The Walls Winery in Walla Walla Washington (because he enjoys alliteration) about what pulled her unexpectedly into the wine business, and what keeps her there; her choice for a "desert island" wine; her passion for hockey as well as a certain wine writer named Jeb ! Mike talks about the latter days of his radio career and the transition into a life in win...

Not a full episode, just a wrap up of the weekend in wine. Mike talks about the wines he drank on the weekend, and a "first" meal out in over a year! He also bids farewell to a former restaurant colleague from the Elk Public House in Spokane, Washington. For pictures, go to Mike's Instagram . For feedback, please email to tallmikewine@gmail.com Wines in this episode: 2017 JB Neufeld...

Brian Drake, Mike's best wine pal, hosts Mike and the podcast at his home. Brian works in the Corporate Wine World, but is still a super nice guy. They discuss Brian's unique winery job, the fun things overheard while people taste wine, Mike's ambition to fill in for Terry Gross (Hello? NPR???), and a special shout-out to Anchorage Alaska! Of course all while tasting a couple of del...

Mike travels to Schermeister winery in Glen Ellen to hear the story of Rob & Laura Schermeister. It's a great love story you'll want to hear. They sip a couple of Schermeister wines, talk about owning and operating a small winery, and even Eli the winery dog contributes to the episode in his own special way. Wines tasted this episode: 2019 Schemermeister Viognier, Sonoma Valley &quot...

Episode 7: Deepak joins Mike in the Vintner's room for the 3rd time! They taste through the Nicholson Ranch April wine club release wines, and Mike pairs each wine with a favorite restaurant meal. They discuss the popularity of True Crime podcasts and contemplate pivoting to that genre. Deepak talks about the "business of wine" AND his fondness for 90's grunge rock. Can you ima...

An "in between episodes" check in with Mike, from his home in Novato, California. Grab a glass of wine and hear what Mike's been up to and what he's drinking. It's that simple. To see the wines in this mini-episode, look at Mike's Instagram . @tallmikewine As always, keep in touch! Questions, comments or anything really, drop an email. Wines discussed: 2015 Schiopetto...

The former Executive Chef of Lark Creek restaurant in Walnut Creek (CA) talks to Mike about the downfall of an iconic Bay Area restaurant group; Mike drops knowledge about Petite Sirah (in a very poor French accent); Scott explains his unorthodox sports affiliations and talks about the ups and downs of The Chef Life. See pictures of all the fun on Mike's Instagram ! And feel free to email Mik...

Born in Japan, raised in wine country, Hiro Sogi works at a Napa winery but is also a former College tennis phenom who now uses his physical energies for dance in a Hip Hop dance troupe. He's packed a lot into his 24 years, and there is more to come, as you'll hear in his conversation with Mike from the Vintner's Room. ALSO: The first ever TallMikeWine Merchandise Giveaway! Listen c...

The President of Keenan Winery on Spring Mountain in Napa, Michael Keenan, joins Mike in the Vintners Room. They discuss last year's tragic Glass Fire, shifting wine markets in the pandemic, turning Millennials on to the "good juice" and what it's like to have a pig for a pet! Wines tasted this episode: 2016 Nicholson Ranch Pinot Noir "Cactus Hill" 2016 Keenan Merlot...

Deepak joins Mike again for a very thorough tasting and discussion of 3 wines just released to the Nicholson Ranch Wine Club. They also touch on weird "quirks" within the podcasting world and the Super Bowl! Join the CLUB!! See behind the scenes, follow Mike on Instagram ! Email Mike! Wines tasted this episode: 2017 Nicholson Ranch Pinot Noir "777" 2018 Nicholson Ranch Chardonn...

Mike's longtime friend Russell Robinson joins him in the Bombay Room at Nicholson Ranch; many topics are covered, from Argentine Malbec to Fernet Branca to the passion Russell feels for the (now former Oakland) Raiders football team. Also Mike talks about the download stats from episode 1, as compared to radio ratings from back in his radio days. For feedback, drop Mike and email to TallMikeW...

Kicking off the podcast, with guest Deepak Gulrajani, owner and wine maker at Nicholson Ranch Winery in Sonoma, from where the podcast originates. Mike and Deepak talk about how a kid growing up in Bombay India ended up as a player in the world of California Pinot; how making wine in his garage with friends turned into a full fledged winery making 5000 cases a year; Deepak's favorite activity...