The best way to make wine “less scary”, is to talk with winemakers. They really do tell the best stories. Winemakers bleed grape juice, work crazy hours and practically live in the vineyard. So we see it as our job to let them tell their stories. Elizabeth Vianna is Winemaker for Chimney Rock Winery in the Stag’s Leap District of Napa Valley. Elizabeth has been a longtime friend and a joy to chat with. She makes spectacular wines and keeps it real. And while making wine in Napa Valley is very cool…making wine in the Stag’s Leap District is just out of this world!

Hear Elizabeth define “Mouth Feel” in our Vino Lingo segment of the podcast.

Learn more by visiting www.chimneyrock.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Winemakers are an extraordinarily diverse bunch. They come from all over the planet and have found the true meaning of passion in their lives. They have an in depth knowledge of wines that would astound the average wine lover. Ana Diogo Draper was born in Portugal and now makes wine for Artesa Vineyards and Winery in the Carneros district of Napa Valley. She makes some really good wines. Ana is a pleasure to talk with because of her fantastic smile, wide knowledge of wine and a hearty sense of humor. Listen and you’ll see.

You can also hear Ana in our Vino Lingo section defining the wine term “Winemaker’

Learn more by visiting www.artesawinery.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

It’s been almost ten years since we’ve done a sit-down with Bruce Cakebread of Cakebread Cellars. Bruce has been a great friend to the podcast and is always a darn nice guy to take to. The Cakebread Winery has undergone changes over the last year with expansion and remodeling. Not an easy thing to do in Napa. But the Cakebread brand is well known and just about as established as you can get. Napa Valley defines the idea of a family winery. The Cakebread family will be soon inviting you to a brand new tasting room but with the same top notch wines they’ve produced for years.

Learn more by visiting www.cakebread.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Way back in June, 2008 we released Podcast #2.  This program featured John Shafer of Shafer Vineyards.  This was a delightful interview with John, seeing how we were brand new to this podcast thing.  John was patient, sincere and a gentleman to chat with.  So in his memory, we present a rebroadcast of that podcast from 2008.  Thank you John.  We will miss you.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

For the ninth time, the Napa Valley Vintners invited Life Between the Vines to Premiere Napa Valley, held at the Culinary Institute of America in St Helena. Premiere is the trade auction that all Napa and the wine industry look forward to. The time to catch up with old friends from the valley as well as from around the world. Tasting one-of-a-kind wines made especially for PNV. Watching breathless bidding on gems that we may never see again. It really is a special event. For this program we tasted the fantastic 2017 vintage while recording brief interviews with 27 vintners…all while shooting video and balancing an audio recorder along with a wine glass. Needless to say, we did not finish the tasting with the same glass we started with.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS