This is our special podcast of the Sonoma County Barrel Auction 2025 featuring the Vintners/Winemakers telling why Sonoma Wines are special. Cheers!

Clay Mauritson/Mauritson Wines

Mike Sullivan/Benovia Winery

Courtney Wagoner/Martinelli Winery

Jessica Gilmore/Williams Selyem miss

Caroline Guerra/MacRostie Winery

Ben Papapietro/Papapietro-Perry Winery

Ames Morison/Medlock Ames Wine

Brian Ball/Skipstone

Phil Holbrook/Salty Goat Wine

SaCha Stewart-Coleman/Twomey & Silver Oak

Dan Kemp/Twomey & Silver Oak

Brandon Muller/Brandon Gregory Estate

Lisa Evich/Chateau St. Jean

Geoff Bedrosian/Domaine de la Riviere

Ryan Prichard/Three Sticks

Mark Hernandez/ACTA Wine

Nick Briggs/Dutcher Crossing Winery

Katie Wetzel Murphy/Alexander Valley Vineyards

Ken McCabe/DeLoach Vineyards

Mari Jones/Emeritus Vineyards

Sally Johnson Blum/SJB Winemaking

Crystal Fairbanks/Knights Bridge Winery

Hanna Smith/Aperture Cellars

Reid Kinnett/Brooks Note Winery

Cushing Donelan/Donelan Family Wines

Nicole Hitchcock/J Vineyards & Winery

Laura Fontaine/J Vineyards & Winery

Caroline Shaw/J Vineyards & Winery

Sarah Lampi/Ravenswood Winery

Christopher O’Gorman/Rodney Strong Vineyards

Learn more by visiting sonomawine.com

This is our first of three videos from the Sonoma County Barrel Auction 2025. Please enjoy the many smiling faces of Sonoma County!

Around 85% of Sonoma County’s wineries are family owned. That’s a pretty big deal. It’s not easy to take over the reigns of operating a vineyard and winery. But hard work and long hours payoff in highly sought after fine wine. Evan Merriam along with his parents own Merriam Family Vineyards in Healdsburg. I interviewed their Winemaker Will Weese on podcast 682 and now I chat with Evan about his wine journey and you could say even his wine awakening.

You can also hear Evan on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “Alive”

Learn more by visiting merriamvineyards.com