Wine Talks with Paul K.

Barrels are in mysterious part of the wine making process and is the source of many questions from Wine of the Month Club members. Coopering is an art form and an important influence of wine making. Hear from 4th Generation Master Cooper and artisan Douglas Rennie of Seguin Moreau. Seguin Moreau was founded in the 1800's in Cognac, France. Hear about this fascinating history and personal trek Doug...

In 1855, Napoleon III organized a classification of the Left Bank wineries. Chateau Talbot earned a position as a 4th growth putting it among the top Chateau of the area. In fact, Saint Julien, where Chateau Talbot resides, earned 11 classified positions making it the most awarded sub-district. Hear from Jean Michael Laporte, General Director and winemaker of Chateau Talbot. Also, listen to the Wi...

Tilar Mazzeo used to share the fame Champagne Veuve Clicquot with her friends and would bring anecdotal stories about the widow until her friends said "you need to write a book about this woman" so she did. A fascinating story of the most recognized Champagne brand on the planet... and it wasn't always that way. After you hear the sorted tails, you will be inspired to get on a plane, head to Champ...

There is a certain passion that surrounds Champagne; its production and consumption....it is different than other wines. Yes, it sparkles and is assigned the role of celebration in the wine world. If you ask any wine making family in Champagne if the beverage should be reserved for special occasions, they will respond with..."everyday is a special occasion!" And I agree, Champagne should be part o...

I kept running into Ian at tastings, dinners and special wine events. We got to talking and his expertise oozed during our  conversations. He makes wine, educates on wine and judges wine…pretty much does it all. We sat down and tried to touch on all of it…but ran out of time. It inspires one to hear the drive and passion.

The Stolpman history is storied in the wine business. Typical in that boy becomes attorney, attorney finds wine, attorney starts winery; heard it a thousand times...but this story is for the love of the lifestyle and love of the grape. Here from Jessica Stolpman and her path to the family business. 

Justin Hirigoyen got the bug at wile working at his fathers Basque restuarant.  What is interesting, his first soiree into making wine landed on the opposite side of the Pyrenees at the famed Chateau D'Esclans. After his first harvest, he was hooked. His philosophy is to listen and learn to the land to create the best wine from the terroir. His approach os fresh and we tasted through three Pinot N...

Before we started the recorder,  my conversation with Chuck McMInn was about the telecom industry back in the day....and how he was responsible for the release of the famed Intel 8088 processor (this is serious microprocessor history). The wine bug got him on a trip to Napa and as he puts it "I got into the wine business two weeks before I knew I was in the wine business"" Fabulous story and as wi...

The study of wine started in the late 60's when Ed began calling on Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits as a newspaper ad salesman. He was inspired by dad's exuberance and academia for the subject and committed himself to learn as much as fast as possible. Ultimately, he headed up two chapters of the International wine society, Les Amis Du Vin, through which Ed organized tastings with some of the most...

I bought some Roco Pinot Noir; the Stalker, and during the process was told the winemaker, Rollin Soles was a hoot. Correct. Having made wine in all corners of the world of wine, Rollin Soles has deliberate and unique perspectives on all aspects of wine.  It is refreshing to hear the passion as a result of vast experience. Have a listen to Rollin (pronounced Raw-lin). Salud.

I have been tasting his wines for years and featured the Blanc in my club…I never peeled the story back to understand the motivation behind his wines. Meet Moritz Bak who thought it a good idea to start a winery at the base of the Pyrenees; only one problem…he did not know French. Have a listen.

Wine can be a difficult subject. And I don't believe in the idea that you can simplify it....however, Matthew Lindsey has created an method that engages the novice and enthusiast alike when approaching the subject of wine. His wine festivals combine food, wine and cocktails (oh, and music) all under one venue. I am headed to one of his festivals this month to see how he does it.

George Skorka was highlighted in the first edition of Playboy magazine in Hungary. He escaped the regime to come to America without a word of english and with nothing but his wits, personified hospitality. Having worked at the best of the best restaurants in America, he has come to be the personification of the work Maitre d'. You will find his outlook inspiring and his experience extraordinary. M...

The biodynamic wine movement is real and growing. One of the first in California was Gelert Hart and Ambyth wines. Truly rustic and adhering to the principals of biodynamic farming, Ambyth creates extraordinary wines from a variety of grapes. Hear how the vines grow and the philosophy works throughout the process. 

George Ronay is about to retire from a life of wine; but do you really retire from wine? Hear the passion and philosophy about wine from a man who worked all sides of our great industry. Learn about the passion it takes to be successful and keep an eye on the goal.

Umbria is an unsung hero in the realm of Italian wine. The grape Sagrantino makes a robust long lived wine that speaks so telling of its terroir, I feel like I have travelled 3000 miles with each sip. I speak with my good freind Valentino Valentini, a third generation winemaker and former mayor of Montefalco. Enjoy.  

Mike Houlihan was sent out by his new girlfriend to strong arm a $300,000 debt for her client. The rest of the story is funny, inspiring and out right the story of America.  In 1989, Mike came paid a sales call on me in our old warehouse in Lomita, California. He said he had the La Feet of California wine. And when left, I thought "what a stupid idea"...oh, really, it is not the largest brand in A...

The California wine trade didn't start in Napa, Sonoma, or Mendocino; it started it in Southern California in the 1700's.  Many Italian immigrants game to the Cucamonga area from the Lombardy region…not to make wine but to cut stone. Founded in 1929, San Antonio Winery is currently the only licensed winery in Los Angeles. Amazing history and story. My old friend Santo Riboli sat with me to discuss...

I met Cayce Kerr as he was funning flanker of Fred Couples agent to vet me out as a legit company.  His stories are amazing and the energy and effort he put into creating his own brand of chocolate wine. At the time, I tasted each and every brand on the market....Cayce's was by far the best of the bunch. Seven years later....he is getting some traction...hear the story.

I wouldn't have believed it myself until one of the men I respect most in this industry brought in Dr. Nayan Patel. The Doctor of Pharmacy has been working with a delivery system to bring Glutathione (an known detoxification agent) into the blood stream.  Have a listen what what his new patent is all about.

HIs musical Sideways is gaining attention in the wine world. Hear the story of the book and the movie and the preliminary discussion of the musical. Well, it is coming out and there is a concert in Sonoma to release the songs (at Buena Vista winery). I had the chance to sit down with Rex Pickett, the author of the book Sideways that was made into the multi award winning movie of the same name. Lea...

Andrew came to the wine business with no knowledge of wine but understands internet marketing and logistics. We met on the golf course playing with a round with other wine industry professionals. We had such a great conversation that I thought we would continue on the podcast. He is at a company called Wine Access and works with previous guest, Master of Wine Vanessa Conlin. Salut.

He oozes with charm and charisma but knows how to get serious too. The Boisett name in world of wine is synonimous with fine wines from around the world.  As a child he visited the Buena Vista winery in Sonoma while on a US vacation with the family. He told himself that one day he would return to "this most magnificent place."  Some of the most iconic structures and vineyards in the Napa Valley ar...

The wine trade in Oregon was creeping along until the late '80's when they started their International Pinot Noir Festival. They invited the great French burgundy makers to participate and the French loved the terroir and camaraderie. Maison Louis Jadot and many other Burgundian houses invested in creating great Pinot Noir in the Williamette Valley, Oregon. Guillaume has been a guest on the show p...

I have been reading his prose for years always wondering who the real Dan Berger is. And boy did I find out....engaging, funny, practical and a living wine resource. It is so important to know the history and stories behind wine; as a beverage and as an industry. Hear is all on this episode of Wine Talks.  Salut.