Inside Winemaking - the art and science of growing grapes and crafting wine

This episode features the features Garrett Buckland in a conversation about strategies to adjust farming winegrapes during a changing climate. Garrett, who has been on the podcast before, is a consulting viticulturist based in Napa, and one of the first people I call with difficult vineyard questions.

This podcast was recorded in July, 2020, a month before California suffered catastrophic fires across the state and affected nearly every winegrowing region on the Pacific Coast. Hindsight allows a perspective that reveals a glaring blind spot in our discussion of climate change. We never once mentioned fires nor smoke and yet that would become the defining element of the 2020 vintage. It was a part of climate change that we had under-appreciated in magnitude.

I do believe there is a great deal of valuable discussion of technical viticulture in this episode with Garrett. He came through on my request to outline strategies to adjust vineyard practices to maximize vine health, farm high quality grapes, and think about how to farm grapes in changing climate.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by Total Wine. Total Wine is a holiday Wonderland with over 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits and 2,500 beers all in one place.  Awe-inspiring. But not intimidating. they over deliver on choice, expert help and low prices

There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to walk into Total Wine’s Wonderland. With prices this low, you can afford to explore, be fearless in your curiosity.

Friendly guides will help find gifts for everyone on your list. Including yourself. 

Yes, you’ll find the first growths, the top shelfs and easy wines for tonight’s dinner. But they also give a voice and shelf space to small growers and distillers.

Need a gift idea? Put a bow on a bottle of Bordeaux and you’re done. Total Wine’s experts can help you discover highly rated Bordeaux and more. On a budget? In There are over 1,500 wines under $10—just the thing for gift exchanges.

Total Wine offers lots of easy ways to shop including online, in store or curbside pickup, same-day delivery and shipping. Go to totalwine.com to check out options available in your area.

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Direct download: Garrett_Buckland_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30pm EDT

This episode features a guru of American Pinot Noir. Founding winemaker at Kosta Browne, and now proprietor and winemaker at Cirq and CHEV, Michael Browne is continuing his craft of building hand-made Pinot Noir, and has written a newly published book documenting his life and wines. We sat down in the middle of a cold and windy vineyard to record our conversation the day before the book released. I enjoyed Michael’s book and the opportunity to sit down and dig further into his stories.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by Total Wine. Total Wine is a holiday Wonderland with over 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits and 2,500 beers all in one place.  Awe-inspiring. But not intimidating. they over deliver on choice, expert help and low prices

There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to walk into Total Wine’s Wonderland. With prices this low, you can afford to explore, be fearless in your curiosity.

Friendly guides will help find gifts for everyone on your list. Including yourself. 

Yes, you’ll find the first growths, the top shelfs and easy wines for tonight’s dinner. But they also give a voice and shelf space to small growers and distillers.

From Lobster Mac & Cheese to Pineapple glazed ham, Total Wine & more’s experts have spot-on pairing recommendations 

Total Wine offers lots of easy ways to shop including online, in store or curbside pickup, same-day delivery and shipping. Go to totalwine.com to check out options available in your area.

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

If you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Direct download: Michael_Browne_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:09pm EDT

This episode features the Steven Mirassou, who continues his family’s long legacy of making wine in California’s Livermore Valley. Our conversation traverses back and forth between Steven’s winemaking experience and an exploration of viticulture and wines from Livermore Valley. Livermore is part of California’s Central Coast, but at only 2K acres under vine it is a unique AVA nestled in the San Francisco Bay Area. Steven guides me through the vineyards of Livermore and describes how the different sites are suited to his three brands: Steven Kent, Mia Nipote, and Lineage.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by Wine Compliance Alliance. Ann Reynolds, who runs Wine Compliance Alliance has been on the podcast twice before. In Ep. 45 we discuss common compliance issues that wineries deal with and in Ep. 61 she has a solo episode where she covers the compliance items for starting a new winery.

Winery compliance. Bring it up to winery owners or their staff and you get either a completely blank look or a grimace of some sort. In other words winery compliance is a topic that is either very unfamiliar or very disliked. But yet, every winery is required to do it and can suffer serious consequences if they don't. Wine Compliance Alliance focuses on providing wineries with solutions to both of these areas of issue. If a winery has little familiarity with their compliance requirements our office can provide training assistance to get them up to speed to be able to manage it themselves. If a winery would prefer instead to have their files managed for them we’ve got you covered there too. Wine Compliance Alliance, Full throttle from grape to bottle.

Find out more at winecompliancealliance.com

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

This episode features the Steven Mirassou, who continues his family’s long legacy of making wine in California’s Livermore Valley. Our conversation traverses back and forth between Steven’s winemaking experience and an exploration of viticulture and wines from Livermore Valley. Livermore is part of California’s Central Coast, but at only 2K acres under vine it is a unique AVA nestled in the San Francisco Bay Area. Steven guides me through the vineyards of Livermore and describes how the different sites are suited to his three brands: Steven Kent, Mia Nipote, and Lineage.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by Wine Compliance Alliance. Ann Reynolds, who runs Wine Compliance Alliance has been on the podcast twice before. In Ep. 45 we discuss common compliance issues that wineries deal with and in Ep. 61 she has a solo episode where she covers the compliance items for starting a new winery.

Winery compliance. Bring it up to winery owners or their staff and you get either a completely blank look or a grimace of some sort. In other words winery compliance is a topic that is either very unfamiliar or very disliked. But yet, every winery is required to do it and can suffer serious consequences if they don't. Wine Compliance Alliance focuses on providing wineries with solutions to both of these areas of issue. If a winery has little familiarity with their compliance requirements our office can provide training assistance to get them up to speed to be able to manage it themselves. If a winery would prefer instead to have their files managed for them we’ve got you covered there too. Wine Compliance Alliance, Full throttle from grape to bottle.

Find out more at winecompliancealliance.com

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

 

Direct download: Steven_Mirassou_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

This episode of the Podcast is a Zoom recording with Quinn Roberts who is the Master Cooper at Tonnellerie O in Benicia, California. The Zoom platform allowed for sharing of photos to support the discussion of oak forests and coopering oak barrels for winemaking so we made the podcast into a Youtube video as well. The conversation traverses from the management of oak trees and forests, the differences in oak between France and the Midwest region of the US, timing and methods for tree selection, the processing of stave wood, seasoning, coopering, toasting and finishing barrels that are then ready to be filled in a winery. Quinn is a tremendous source of knowledge when it comes to crafting barrels to fit a full range of wine styles, especially given his deep understanding of European wines.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by  the hope that you are keeping safe and healthy. if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show using the Paypal link. Thank you for the support!!

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Direct download: Quinn_Roberts_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:29pm EDT

This episode features the father and son team crafting Cabernet franc and Chenin blanc wines led by long-time Napa Valley baller, John Skupny, who first crushed grapes for their brand, Lang and Reed, in 1993. Reed Skupny joined his father after working for several wineries in France and Napa Valley, and was the driving force to bring Chenin blanc into their small portfolio. I used to work with Reed when he was at Antica Napa Valley and I was working for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, but had recently had the chance to get to know John. We recorded this podcast with social-distancing in mind and it leaves the audio quality a bit rough at moments, but John and Reeds’ stories are more than worth it.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by Fruition Sciences. At the start of 2020 we know what is on your mind. As winemakers and winegrowers we are thinking about keeping our vines healthy while producing consistent quality yields year in and year out. However, we know that you are also considering the effects of climate change on our vineyards and wines and the improved management of our natural resources like water.

We have great news. Now, we, winegrowers and winemakers, can use a compelling method that allows us to keep our vines healthy and improve yield and grape quality while also saving water and reducing costs. We are happy to inform you that this is possible. The method is called 360viti-Water Pilot and is base on sap flow sensors technology.

This impressive technology developed by Fruition Sciences is based on more than ten years of experience show stunning results in California, Australia, and France. The method measures and monitors the transpiration rate of your vines so you can make sure that they receive the right amount of water at the optimal time. You will precisely know when your vines need water so that you can respond appropriately, keeping them healthy and performing at their optimal levels. Because this measurement is plant based, you will be able to target and address the needs of the specific vines or areas of your vineyards, improving the quality of your grapes when it comes time to harvest.

Given the latest heatwave episodes this will be a necessary measure to keep your vines safe. Please contact the Fruition Sciences team today. Together we will change the way we use our precious resources while taking care of our beloved vines.

To learn more visit fruitionsciences.com or you can also send an email to leyla@fruitionsciences.com or find us on Linkedin. We are also available by phone at 888-295-5187.

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Direct download: LangandReed_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:32am EDT

This episode features Ron Alvarado, who is one of the founders of Ficks Hard Seltzer. Our conversation covers Fick’s start up based in San Francisco, the early days of low-sugar mixers, the path to learning fermentation with orange juice, flavor stability in cans, the warfare of store shelf placements, and the quest to find and produce real fruit flavors in their seltzers.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

If you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show using the Paypal link. Thank you for the support!!

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

 

Direct download: Ron_From_Ficks_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:10pm EDT

This episode’s guest is Dusty Nabor, who is based out of Ventura County in Southern California. Using fruit from Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, and the Santa Rita Hills Dusty has built a set of brands and is often a resource I call when I have questions about making Grenache. In our conversation we cover Dusty’s efforts to learn winemaking, how he has used both grapes and bulk wines to build his brands, and his approach to judging ripeness on the vine.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by Wine Compliance Alliance. Ann Reynolds, who runs Wine Compliance Alliance has been on the podcast twice before. In Ep. 45 we discuss common compliance issues that wineries deal with and in Ep. 61 she has a solo episode where she covers the compliance items for starting a new winery.

Winery compliance. Bring it up to winery owners or their staff and you get either a completely blank look or a grimace of some sort. In other words winery compliance is a topic that is either very unfamiliar or very disliked. But yet, every winery is required to do it and can suffer serious consequences if they don't. Wine Compliance Alliance focuses on providing wineries with solutions to both of these areas of issue. If a winery has little familiarity with their compliance requirements our office can provide training assistance to get them up to speed to be able to manage it themselves. If a winery would prefer instead to have their files managed for them we’ve got you covered there too. Wine Compliance Alliance, Full throttle from grape to bottle.

Find out more at winecompliancealliance.com

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

 

Direct download: Dusty_Nabor_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:55pm EDT

This episode features Dr. Anita Oberholster, Associate Specialist Cooperative Extension in Enology from UCDavis. Anita did her PhD at the Australian Wine Research Institute and earned her degree from Adelaide University. As extension enologist at UCDavis, Anita brings research and developments from the Dept. of Viticulture and Enology to the wine industry and continually interacts with its stakeholders. Our conversation covers Red Blotch Associated Virus, winery sanitation, and smoke taint. In order to reach the industry while we are sheltering in place the Dept of V&E has created and new program with former podcast guest, Dr Dave Block, called “Office Hours with Dave and Anita” and will be held over Zoom on Tuesdays from 2-3 PM PST.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by Scott Laboratories -- For over 85 years, Scott Labs has been the leader in providing the North American wine and beverage industry with innovative solutions and products, including fermentation goods, filtration and filter media, equipment, packaging and cork products, and laboratory services. They recently published their annual Winemaking Handbook which is now available for download. Hard copies are also available to be shipped upon request.

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal link at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Direct download: Anita_Oberholster_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:53pm EDT

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what are the most essential operations in a winery during this COVID19 pandemic, which has limited all of our ability to staff the cellar. Given that I work alone in the cellar at Seavey, I asked Tyler Thomas, from Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyards, to synthesize his thinking on this topic from the viewpoint of a medium-sized winemaking operation.  In the end I put in my two cents regarding the need to think about how we need to think and plan for similar reductions in capabilities during the harvest season.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by the hope that you are keeping safe and healthy. if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show using the Paypal link. Thank you for the support!!

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

Direct download: Tyler_Thomas_Essential_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:37pm EDT

This episode is my opportunity to answer questions that have been submitted by listeners. As is my style the answers are a practical approach addressing how I would think about these situations in my own cellar. Thank you to all the people who have emailed their questions and also sent them in from my Instagram page.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by the hope that you are keeping safe and healthy. if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show using the Paypal link. Thank you for the support!!

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

Direct download: Winemaking_QA_with_Jim_Daune_April_2020.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:17am EDT

This episode features Julien Fayard, who is a consulting winemaker based in Napa. Julien was raised in Provence, trained in Bordeaux, and since moving to California in 2003 has built his own brand, Azur Wines, and is now consulting for an impressive list of clients. We recorded this podcast at Covert Estate, a beautiful winery built under a hillside that Julien constructed with his business partners. Our conversation ranges from Julien’s background, native fermentations, rosé winemaking, and the key aspects of working with clients to support their projects.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by the love of the good lord and my wife reading the intro. if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show using the Paypal link. Thank you for the support!!

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

Direct download: Julien_Fayard_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:57pm EDT

This episode features Patrick Rue, founder of Erosion Wine Co, who I first met when he was part of the Deep Winemaking course in August, 2019. Prior to Patrick’s winemaking venture he was the founder and brewer at The Bruery in Orange County. Our conversation covers Patrick’s founding and growth of The Bruery, their numerous products, blurring the lines between beer and wine, flavor additive management, his winemaking vision for flavor targets, aluminum crowlers, key kegs, and the two taprooms that Erosion is now opening in Napa.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by the love of the good lord and my wife reading the intro. Please consider donating to the podcast using the Paypal link at the bottom of the Homepage.

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

Direct download: Patrick_Rue_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:42am EDT

This episode features Jasper Riddle, proprietor and winemaker for Noisy Water Winery in Ruidoso, New Mexico. I was able to meet Jasper when he was in town for the Unified Symposium trade show in February 2020. After being founded in 2009 Noisy Water is a winery that Jasper took from his parents’ early venture and built into a medium-sized winery that now has five tasting rooms in New Mexico. During our conversation, Jasper mentions some of the challenges in growing grapes in New Mexico but spends most of his energy describing the opportunities that he sees in his area and around the state.

Direct download: Jasper_Riddle_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:54pm EDT

This episode features Tim Colla, Winemaker for Saintsbury, in Carneros, Napa. Tim and I had the chance to talk about Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production as told through the history of Saintsbury’s presence and experimentation in the Carneros in south Napa Valley.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

This podcast is brought you by Fruition Sciences. At the start of 2020 we know what is on your mind. As winemakers and winegrowers we are thinking about keeping our vines healthy while producing consistent quality yields year in and year out. However, we know that you are also considering the effects of climate change on our vineyards and wines and the improved management of our natural resources like water.

We have great news. Now, we, winegrowers and winemakers, can use a compelling method that allows us to keep our vines healthy and improve yield and grape quality while also saving water and reducing costs. We are happy to inform you that this is possible. The method is called 360viti-Water Pilot and is base on sap flow sensors technology.

This impressive technology developed by Fruition Sciences is based on more than ten years of experience show stunning results in California, Australia, and France. The method measures and monitors the transpiration rate of your vines so you can make sure that they receive the right amount of water at the optimal time. You will precisely know when your vines need water so that you can respond appropriately, keeping them healthy and performing at their optimal levels. Because this measurement is plant based, you will be able to target and address the needs of the specific vines or areas of your vineyards, improving the quality of your grapes when it comes time to harvest.

Given the latest heatwave episodes this will be a necessary measure to keep your vines safe. Please contact the Fruition Sciences team today. Together we will change the way we use our precious resources while taking care of our beloved vines.

To learn more visit fruitionsciences.com or you can also send an email to leyla@fruitionsciences.com or find us on Linkedin. We are also available by phone at 888-295-5187.

Questions?  Comments?  Let me know what you think: jim@insidewinemaking.com

if you learn something from the collection of podcasts at Inside Winemaking, please considering donating to support the show.  Paypal links at the bottom of the Inside Winemaking homepage.  Every small donation is helpful.  

The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes

And Stitcher Radio Too

 

Direct download: Tim_Colla_Complete.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:33pm EDT

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