Wine Country Women

Episode 80 - Erinn Benziger Weiswasser, Glen Ellen Star by Michelle Mandro

Episode 79 - Sofia Torres McKay, Cramoisi Vineyard by Michelle Mandro

Tracy Dutton is the proprietor of Dutton Estate Winery in the Sonoma County. Learn how her first job at 12-years old, working for her families farming business managing their fruit stand helped prepare her for her work today, overseeing the day to day operations of the winery. Discover how she met and married the boy next door. Discover what she enjoys most about working with her family, why she e...

Robin Lail is the founder and president of Lail Vineyards, but also a real trailblazer. Robin grew up at the historic Inglenook property in the Napa Valley. Her father was a renaissance man who helped establish this wine region and was Robert Mondavi’s mentor. Robin started her career at the Bank of America, and later went on to create Dominus, and Merryvale along with launching the first Auction...

Meet Rachel Davies who is a vintner and proprietor of Stellareese handbags in the Napa Valley. Learn how she’s coping after being evacuated from her home because of the fires. Find out more about this talented entrepreneur, including how a position at T-Vine winery provided the perfect opportunity to start her own boutique wine brand. Learn how quality and craftsmanship are the cornerstones to bot...

Meet chef Liza Hinman from Sonoma County. Learn how this business owner, wife and mother of three started her career as an editorial assistant at Gourmet magazine and is now the proprietor and chef of a restaurant and hotel. Discover the inspiration behind her popular restaurant and what makes it so unique. Learn the history of the Astro hotel which has been renovated with a mid-century design, an...

Joan Little is the proprietor of Little Vineyards Family Winery in Sonoma County. Joan’s family is rich in wine history; her grandfather is Julio Gallo. With no intention of working in the wine industry, she started her career at Bank of America, until she met man and found the perfect property in Sonoma County. Take a listen to this interview and learn her story.

Episode 73 - Chelsea Barrett, Materra Wines by Michelle Mandro

Meet Amy Groth the co-proprietor of Prohibition Spirits in Sonoma, CA. Learn how growing up surrounded by entrepreneurial parents led her to start and run a successful event company, to creating and launching the first certified organic limoncello in California. Discover why this distilled spirit was the foundation the business was built on. Today, the company produces over 60 small batch products...

Episode 71 - Artist Sandra Spiedel by Michelle Mandro

Meet Kate MacMurray the spokesperson for MacMurray Estate Vineyards in Sonoma County. Learn how she started her career as a fashion model in Los Angeles, and became the ambassador for a wine brand with her name. Discover what life was like for her growing up at MacMurray Ranch with parents who were successful actors. Find out what Kate enjoys most about working in the wine industry, and learn abou...

Akiko Freeman is the proprietor of Freeman Vineyard & Winery in Sebastopol, CA. Learn how she dreamed of a career as a curator in a Museum, but an appreciation for wine eventually, led her to become a winemaker. Learn how she describes her winemaking style which is focused on chardonnay and pinot noirs. Find out how her wine ended up at the White House. Discover how she met her husband, how they p...

Meet Tim Mondavi the proprietor of Continuum Estate in the Napa Valley. Enjoy this special Father's Day edition of our Wine Country Women podcast. It's a fun, insightful, and interesting show. Tim is the son of the legendary Robert Mondavi, and also the father of five. Learn about the man, his contribution to the wine industry, and what makes Continuum the wine you should be enjoying now and aging...

Meet Nicole Hitchcock the winemaker at J Wines in Sonoma County. Discover how she started her career working in the wine cellar at Robert Mondavi before pursuing a career in winemaking. Learn about the top moment in her career (so far), and a newer wine project that is generating a lot of buzz. Find out how this woman, who grew up in Carmel, decided to live in Santa Rosa, and so much more!

Meet Daisy Damskey the proprietor of Palmeri Wines in Sonoma County. Learn what makes this wine unique. Find out how Daisy went from working in PR to becoming a winery owner. Discover why she decided to make Geyserville home even though she grew up in the Napa Valley.

Meet Erin Miller a California winemaker, wife and mother. Discover how she went from traveling the world with the Peace Corp to becoming an experienced winemaker and now, director of wine at Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, CA. Find out how Erin first perfected her skills producing cabernet sauvignon in the Napa Valley before she became a pinot-file in Sonoma County. Learn about her winemaking sty...

Meet Erica Stancliff the winemaker of Trombetta Family Wines in Sonoma County. She’s a California girl making wine for her family, and consulting for a few other wineries. Discover how the legendary Paul Hobbs influenced her career. Learn how she met her husband on a trip to Las Vegas, and what she likes most about Argentina and horses! All this and more when you take a listen to this show.

Episode 63 - Nancy Cline, Cline Family Cellars by Michelle Mandro

Meet Susan Tuck the proprietor of Chevoo, a marinated goat cheese company in Healdsburg, CA. Discover how Susan went from teaching first and second graders to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Learn the story behind creating the business including some of the challenges and innovation. Discover Susan’s love of chili and lemon, and honey and lime. Find out how this Australian landed in the United...

Meet Amy Chenoweth the winemaker for Chenoweth Wines in Sonoma County. Discover how she went from art teacher to successful winemaker. Learn about her boutique wine brand which produces pinot noir, chardonnay and rose. Find out how you can taste her wines and go for a ride through the vineyard too. Learn everything Amy’s involved in including a new initiative called Regions. Find out about her per...

March is Women’s History Month so, our founder and president, Michelle Mandro is talking with some of her friends. This week, meet Cherie Melka who is the proprietor and vintner of Melka Estates. Cherie started her career as a micro biologist, and found fulfillment and happiness working in the wine industry. She met and married a successful French winemaker. Together, they started Melka Estate in...

March is Women’s History Month so, our founder and president, Michelle Mandro is talking with some of her friends. This week, meet winemaker Heidi Barrett who is also an artist, pilot and skier. Wine critic Robert Parker has awarded her wines 100 points five times. Learn about the moment she decided to study wine and become a winemaker. Find out about her work with Screaming Eagle and the story be...

March is Women’s History Month so, our founder and president, Michelle Mandro is talking with some of her friends. This week, meet Layla Fanucci who is an international artist and proprietor of Charter Oak Winery in St. Helena, and also a wife, mother and an exceptional cook! Layla started her career as a music teacher. After 25 years she made a change and became a successful self-taught artist. L...

Meet chef Alicia Deal who was the primary food stylist on Wine Country Women of Sonoma County. Learn about her unique upbringing and what she enjoys most about living in the town of Sonoma, and much more!

Meet Karin Warnelius Miller who is a grape grower, winemaker and proprietor of Garden Creek Vineyards in Sonoma County. Discover how this Swedish woman found herself right at home in the Alexander Valley. Learn how this wife and mother, started working in the wine industry for Jean Charles Boisset before creating her own unique boutique wine brand. Learn how Karin spends her time off, and how you...