Family wineries are the best. From family comes the care and focus to make the very best wines possible especially when your name is on the bottle. Merriam Vineyards is found on the edge of Healdsburg and Will Weese is Winemaker. I met up with Will just a few weeks ago to get his take on his winemaking style. Growing up in wine country doesn’t make it easier, it just imbeds the passion deeper within you.

You can also hear Will on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “Audible”

Learn more by visiting www.merriamvineyards.com

This is our final video for Premiere Napa Valley 2025 featuring a sampling of the 190 lots auctioned at the event. I interviewed 68 Winemakers & Vintners giving us a detailed description of what it takes to make a PNV lot. To learn more visit www.napavintners.com

In order of appearance:

Tom Rinaldi/Patent Wines

Brian Kayes/Trefethen Family Vineyards

Sara Fowler/Peju

Chris Hyde/Hyde Vineyards

John Skupny/Lang & Reed

Christopher Morisoli/Morisoli Vineyard

Mason Revelette/Revelette Wines

Hanna & Emma Salvestrin/Salvestrin Winery

Emma Swain/St. Supery Vineyards

Michael Scholz/St. Supery Vineyards

Andy Cohen/Trade

Sally Johnson Blum/SJB Wine Consulting

Stephen Cruzan/Titus Vineyards

Alise Merritt/Chase Cellars

Lindsey Wallingford/St. Helena Winery

Todd Kerlin/The Debate

Alexander Eisele/Volker Eisele Family Estate

Jim Panek/Panek Wines

Malek Amrani/The Vice

Blake Van Treese/Last Bottle

Margo Van Staarveren/Beaulieu Vineyards

Julie Johnson/Tres Sabores

Rich Salvestrin/Salvestrin Winery

Aaron Whitlach/Green & Red Vineyard

Lily Coquerel/Coquerel Wines

Khristopher Lund/Elyse Winery

Jessy Franchini/Tierra Roja

Linda Neal/Tierra Roja

Jennifer Rue/Oakville Ranch

Elizabeth Vianna/Chimney Rock

Karen McFarland/Lindstrom Wines

Christopher Tynan/Cliff Lede Wines

David Grega/Vin Roc Wine Caves

Jorge Hernandez/Antinori Wines

Charles McKan/Acumen

Morgan Maureze/7 Apart

Victoria Coleman/Joviah Wines

Julie Robertson/Crocker & Starr

Mike Anderson/MTGA Wines

Cathy Corison/Corison

Kurtis Ocasawara/Robert Mondavi

Caren Frutig Hatton/Arietta Winery

Melissa Paris/Alpha Omega

William Nemerever/Nemerever Wines

Alex Lapuyade/Grounded Wine Co.

Hudson Miller/Paraduxx

Jonathan Tyer/Inglenook

Matthew Perry/Lail Vineyards

Jeff Cole/Sullivan Rutherford Estate

Eric Risch/Patent Wines

Gillian Balance/Beaulieu Vineyards

Fred Zammataro/Schramsberg Estate

Jean Hoefliger/Conn Creek

Eben Drucker/Conn Creek

Carissa Mondavi/Continuum Estate

Bastien Lucas/Marciano Wines

Brian Maloney/Buena Vista Winery

Wesley Steffens/Vineyard 7&8

Robert Smith/ATC Wines

Sierra Zieter/Merus

Josh Widaman/Pine Ridge Vineyards

Eric Stauffer/VGS Chateau Potelle

Mara York/JennaMarise Wines

Robert Foley/Robert Foley Vineyards

Steve Tonella/SR Tonella Cellars

Shannon Staglin/Staglin Family

Paula Kornell/Paula Kornell Sparkling Wines

The last time I interviewed Doug Nalle was back in 2009 so I was way, way overdue to visit Nalle Winery. This time around I met with Doug and his son Andrew with occasional commentary from Doug’s wife Lee. We laughed a lot back in 2009 and we laughed even more in 2025. Nalle is a name highly respected in wine. They make a spectacular Zinfandel in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County and planning a visit is a must. You can even just walk in during tasting hours. Imagine that!

You can hear Doug on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “Zinberry”. You can also hear Andrew define the term “Sweet Tannins”

Learn more by visiting www.nallewinery.com

Next week we feature the full Nalle Winery podcast featuring Doug, Lee and Andrew Nalle, but this week we offer a Sneak Peak. For this podcast, the Nalle family answer the question, “Why is Wine Important?” Lots of fun, this one!

Learn more by visiting www.nallewinery.com

When a winery has skilled leadership as well as a sense of humor, the sky is the limit. Pam Starr is Owner and Founding Winemaker and Cyrus Hazzard is Partner and President at Crocker & Starr in Napa Valley. Spirited conversation, exceptional tastings and lots of laughs are at the heart of these two leaders. If you meet either of them while tasting at the winery, you’ll not soon forget their passion. And you’ll laugh too.

You can hear Pam on our Vino Lingo segment defining the term “The Cycle”. And listen to Cyrus defining the phrase “Blending is not just grapes”.

Learn more by visiting www.crockerstarr.com