Napa Valley is first for fine wine and first for fine dining. So today we talk about fine wine and fine dining in Yountville as I visit Stephen Arnold, Wine Director and Sommelier at Bottega Napa Valley. I rarely get the chance to look behind the scenes at how a Wine Director’s job works. Humor, Kindness and sincere willingness to help guests is exactly how it works. Stephen has a darn cool job.

You can also hear Stephen on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “Fiasco”

Learn more by visiting botteganapavalley.com

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Working side by side with your father in a winery really brings home the concept of a family business.

During a recent visit to California wine country I took a drive to El Dorado county and spent some time with Rob Sinton, Owner of Starfield Vineyards in Placerville. Rob and his dad still to this day work the winery and what a great story that is. If you have the chance, make your way to El Dorado and find some of these fantastic vineyards.

You can also Hear Rob on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “Rafle” (Haf-ler)

Learn more by visiting starfieldvineyards.com

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The less crowded road to the Coombsville AVA will fill your wine loving heart with delights. Rolling hills, family winegrowers and wild mountain terrain rise from old volcano, this is where some of Napa Valley’s best grapes thrive. Florencia Palmaz is CEO of Palmaz Vineyards and this is her home and her love. Florencia’s enthusiasm is contagious! I spent some time with her a few weeks ago to learn what feeds her passion. Its not that hard to figure out.

You can also hear Florencia on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “Gravity Flow”

Learn more by visiting palmazvineyards.com

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Extraordinarily beautiful and less touristy, the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley offers a peaceful way to see some of the finest vineyards in the Valley. Jim Pennella and his wife live next to their vineyard in an old school house easily identified as you pass by. Their wine is called Farang and I’ll let you take a listen to see where that came from. Jim and I chatted at the schoolhouse during a very typical Napa Valley winter as the rain fell for several days, giving the grapes much needed help for the growing season.

You can also hear Jim on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “Angels Share”

Learn more by visiting farangwine.com

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Way back in April of 2014 I recorded an interview (podcast 109) with Ron Sciandri, Proprietor of Sciandri Family Vineyards in the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley. Just a few weeks ago I was able to have a bit of a family reunion with Ron’s son and daughter at their home in Coombsville. Ron and Rebecca now run the family vineyards as their dad had passed in 2015. It was great to catch up and remember their Ron with great love. This is family. This is Coombsville.

You can also hear Ron and Rebecca on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “ASDIN”

Learn more by visiting sciandrivineyards.com or coombsvilleava.com

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