Welcome to Cru, a wine industry podcast. Every Monday, we feature in-depth interviews with the legends and disruptors in the wine industry. Whether you're a seasoned sommelier, a brand new business owner, winemaker with many vintages under your belt, or just starting your journey in the industry, you won't want to miss a single episode. Have the best minds in the wine business whispering their secrets and insights directly into your ear holes. Guests include Raj Parr, Steve Matthiasson, Esth ...
…
continue reading
1
An Upsidedown Journey into Washington State Wine with Seth & Audrey Kitzke
1:14:11
1:14:11
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:14:11
Seth & Audrey Kitzke (@UsDoingWine) grow and make Upsidedown Wines, Kitzke Cellars, and The Devil is a Liar based in Richland, Washington. About The Podcast Episode To kick us off with the first episode of the relaunch of the Cru wine industry podcast, I sat down with Washington Stateâs dynamic duo behind Upsidedown Wine, Kitzke Cellars, and The DeâŠ
…
continue reading
Welcome to Cru! I'm your host, Chappy Cottrell, and I'm here to take you on an exhilarating journey through the captivating world of wine. As an award-winning wine marketer, podcaster, sommelier, and wine director, I've dedicated my life to uncovering the hidden gems of the industry. Episodes can be listened to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or CruPodâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Visually Tell Your Story with Heather Daenitz
1:01:24
1:01:24
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:01:24
Heather Daenitz is the founder and photographer of Craft & Cluster, a photography and social media consulting company focusing on brands in the wine and beer industries! It was while working for a vineyard management company in Santa Barbara County that Heather rediscovered her love of photography and found a previously unknown interest in social mâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Chatting All Things Chillable Red Wines with Kathryn and Tug Coker
1:34:28
1:34:28
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:34:28
As you know, I generally interview amazing wine folks to learn about their stories and coax out a bit of knowledge and advice. Todayâs podcast is a little bit of a different format however. Hereâs whatâs up. The other day I reached out to an incredible power couple of the wine world, Kathryn and Tug Coker who together are married with two tiny humaâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Sculpting a Truly Coastal Wine with Rachel Martin & Marbue Mark
1:17:07
1:17:07
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:17:07
A Virginia native, Martin was present at the inception of what is now considered one of that stateâs premier wine producers, Boxwood Estate Winery, in 2005. As Executive Vice President of Winery Operations, Martinâs job was to oversee all facets of production, sales and marketing of Boxwoodâs award-winning whites, rosĂ©s and Bordeaux-style red blendâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Re-imagining the Path from Grapes to Glass with Brian Smith
1:01:56
1:01:56
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:01:56
Winc is a unique winery in that they make over 100 individual SKUs of wine from around the country at a range of price points. On top of that, their direct-to-consumer first model and mass utilization of Digital marketing mixed with a heavy dose of customer feedback has enabled them to continue to craft wines that their audience is looking for. WitâŠ
…
continue reading
This is a bonus episode of sorts. Recently I sat down with Carey Vanderborg @careydrewsomm on Instagram Live to turn the tables and interview me, Chappy! For those who don't know Carey he is a sommelier at Press Restaurant in St. Helena, California. In this down time he's started interviewing some of the top talent in Napa Valley Kellie White, ChriâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Exploring the Crossroads of Farming & Winemaking with Natalie Bath
1:04:43
1:04:43
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:04:43
A native Californian, growing up in St. Helena, Natalie came back to the Napa Valley after graduating college and fell back in love with the beauty of the Napa Valley. Growing up with a Master Sommelier father, she knew if she wanted to change career paths to the wine industry she would need to do something different. Natalie did a harvest at EtudeâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Making Contemporary Wines of Israel with Guy Eshel
1:14:19
1:14:19
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:14:19
Born in Tel Aviv, Guy grew up between California and Israel, building a strong bond with both lands. After a harvest internship in Napa Valley, Guy decided to pursue winemaking professionally, and he graduated from the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology in 2013. He has worked at Cliff Lede Vineyards and Whetstone Wine Cellars in Napa VaâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Wine Business x COVID_19: A Roundtable Discussion
1:06:43
1:06:43
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:06:43
A few days ago I had the idea to get a handful of amazing wine professionals together to discuss whatâs actually going on in the wine industry right now during this COVID_19 quarantine time. I wanted to get a pulse on how everyone is feeling, what sales are looking like in various markets, how this immediate transition to everyone pushing sales onlâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Create Context in Storytelling and Wine with Matt Morris
1:20:23
1:20:23
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:20:23
When you discuss wine, context is everything. Whether the topic of conversation is a specific region, grape varietal, producer, the context in which that topic is discussed leads the participants and audience to understand what the story and purpose is. In order to tell a story, how do you create that context? Insert Matt Morris. For over a decade âŠ
…
continue reading
1
Showcasing the Character of Organic Old-Vine Vineyards with Alex Pitts and Marty Winters
1:22:54
1:22:54
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:22:54
MaĂźtre de Chai translates to cellar master, or the person responsible for the development and aging of wine. By extension, the humble cellar master is the person responsible for the management of the winery. Established in 2012, MaĂźtre de Chai is the personal project of Marty Winters and Alex Pitts, two friends who met in the kitchen of the famed tâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Learning a New Terroir with Chris Carpenter
1:05:46
1:05:46
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:05:46
Since 2012 he has travelled to McLaren Vale numerous times per year to oversee the winemaking for the Bordeaux varieties at Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard, covers a steep cut of country from the ridgetops above the village of Clarendon to the Onkaparinga River in the gorge below. Since its establishment in 1971, the Hickinbotham vineyard has becomâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Making Products for How Todayâs Generation Gathers with Helena Price Hambrecht & Woody Hambrecht
57:01
I was first introduced to the powerhouse that is Helena Price Hambrecht a few years back when I was living in England and listening to the podcast Design Details on which she was a guest. Intrigued by her eloquence, her candor, and the sheer number of projects that she was working on at the time, I needed to learn more. From there, I started followâŠ
…
continue reading
This is a brief discussion that occurred between Steve Matthiasson and myself before we started recording for the podcast episode published previous to this publishing. In this conversation, Steve and I discuss the human element in wine in regards to terroir. This subject came up after myself speaking to comparative tastings of white Burgundy and CâŠ
…
continue reading
1
The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence in Farming and Winemaking with Steve Matthiasson
1:19:01
1:19:01
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:19:01
Steve dreamt of farming his entire life. He became an obsessed gardener and cook while studying philosophy in college. In 1994, while back in grad school for horticulture after three years as a bike messenger/wannabe farmer, he found a job in vineyards and orchards working for a small sustainable agriculture consulting firm. In 1999 he co-authored âŠ
…
continue reading
1
Bringing Small Production Wine to the Market with William Whelan
1:17:07
1:17:07
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:17:07
William Whelan is the Vice President of Wine for Winestyr, an online and physical retail space operating on a direct-to-consumer and wine club model. Winestyr gives you unprecedented access to a curated collection of wines from the over 7,000 wineries in the United States. Most of these producers are actually too small to warrant the attention of râŠ
…
continue reading
1
The Voice of a Site with Cory and Mike Waller
1:32:32
1:32:32
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:32:32
Mike and Cory Waller are brothers raised running around the hills of Hollister, California. After years of work, travel, and discovery, they find themselves crafting wines a mile away from each other in the Cienega Valley with Mike the winemaker of Calera Wines and Cory the winemaker for Eden Rift Vineyards. Cory grew up exploring the forests, canyâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Finding Belonging in the Mountains and Vines with Bertus and Ali van Zyl
1:17:09
1:17:09
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:17:09
Bertus and Alli are the owners and winemakers of Belong Wine Co. based in Napa Valley making RhĂŽne and fringe varietals from the El Dorado Foothills. With 1 ton of fruit and a whole lot of gumption, started Belong Wine Co. in 2017 to celebrate everything they hold dear: love, adventure, and a sense of exploration. They grew up on opposite ends of tâŠ
…
continue reading
She writes primarily about California wine, though her beat also includes beer, spirits, drinking culture, cults and, occasionally, doughnuts. In her regular Drink Up column, she reviews Bay Area bars. She leads the editorial team for The Press, the Chronicleâs digital guide to visiting wine country. Her weekly email newsletter, Drinking with EstheâŠ
…
continue reading
Josh Phelps is the founder and winemaker of Grounded Wine Co. making delicious, all-American, and approachable wines across the west coast while based in St. Helena, California. Joshâs roots run deep in Napa, raised in a winemaking family, he was exposed to the industry from a young age, starting his very first endeavor in the wine world, âNapa ValâŠ
…
continue reading
1
A Radically Intentional Restaurant & Wine Bar with Lauren Feldman and Tanner Walle of Valley Bar & Bottle
1:04:43
1:04:43
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:04:43
Valley Bar & Bottle is a neighborhood restaurant, wine bar, and wine retail establishment that simultaneously reveres and revitalizes Sonoma cuisine and hospitality. Launching as a dinnertime restaurant, Valley will gradually incorporate daytime services. Valley aims for a sustainable approach to all aspects of its business, from waste-reducing andâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Strategically Market and Develop A Wine Brand with Jeff Meisel
1:06:32
1:06:32
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:06:32
Jeff Meisel is the Vice President of Brand Development for Long Meadow Ranch based in St. Helena, California. Jeff oversees all things marketing and development across Long Meadow Ranch, Farmstead Restaurant, Hunt & Harvest, and Stony Hill. We chat about Jeffâs story and career in the wine industry thus far, his learnings, and dig into how the LongâŠ
…
continue reading
As online wine sales continue to increase in the U.S., the wine purchasing experience inevitably changes. How do you convey the texture, length, intensity, aromas, and balance of a wine through the internet? How do you sell a visceral product like wine with words and pictures? If the consumer cannot taste the wine themselves before purchase, they nâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Discussing Climate Change & Sustainability in Napa Valley with Dan Petroski
1:04:57
1:04:57
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:04:57
Dan Petroski is the winemaker of Larkmead Vineyards and the founder & winemaker of Massican. Recently, Dan spoke on a panel regarding climate change and sustainability in relation to the global wine industry. Leaving me with more questions, we sat down to chat about the effects of climate change on Napa Valley specifically, with a focus on the bencâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Organically Farmed, Sans Pretense Canned Wine with Jake Stover & Gina Schober
1:28:53
1:28:53
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:28:53
Founders, Jake Stover and Gina Schober, met in 2013 and started Sans Wine Co. in late 2015. Their preference for fresh, vibrant and approachable âwines of placeâ paved the way for what is now Sans Wine Co. The philosophy behind Sans Wine Co. is sourcing premium wine grapes from organically farmed vineyards and environmentally conscience growers in âŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Make Wines with Intention with Scott Kirkpatrick & Allison Watkins
1:14:35
1:14:35
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:14:35
Both being artists, Scott a musician and Allison a photographer & textile based visual artist, this husband and wife duo have an approach to making wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. With constraints of knowing the farmer by name and them living on their vineyard, organically farming, and obviously the varietal having to be Petite SiraâŠ
…
continue reading
1
An Exploration of the Loire in California with Kim & Tyler Elwell
1:23:27
1:23:27
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:23:27
Santa Barbara-bred Tyler and Napa Valley-native Kim launched Halcyon Wines in 2013 after Tyler discovered an intriguing Cabernet Franc vineyard along the Central Coastâa varietal he always dreamed of working with. In his 15 years of winemaking experience, Tyler has produced some of the most critically acclaimed wine as Assistant Winemaker at world-âŠ
…
continue reading
1
How a Wine Reviewer Considers Wine in Context with Virginie Boone
1:15:53
1:15:53
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:15:53
Contributing Editor Virginie Boone has been with Wine Enthusiast since 2010, and reviews the wines of Napa and Sonoma. Boone began her writing career with Lonely Planet travel guides, which eventually led to California-focused wine coverage. In this episode with Virginie, she and I dig into the life of a wine reviewer and how Wine Enthusiast works âŠ
…
continue reading
1
The Journey of First Generation Grape Growers with Matt Naumann & Audra Chapman
1:07:59
1:07:59
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:07:59
After 17 years of doing literally everything in the wine industry from farming coastal vineyards and washing barrels to running national sales and curating wine lists, Matt & Audra have ventured on to a delicious new journey called Newfound. Find the full show notes here. Having a proclivity for the tactile and tangible work of farming a vineyard, âŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Be A Winemaker with Jim Duane
1:08:40
1:08:40
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:08:40
Having found fermentation at an early age, starting with brewing beer in a fuel can under the stairs, Jim Duane has not ceased in the pursuit of learning more and more. Heâs worked in New Zealand, Washington, and finally settled down in Napa Valley in 2004 having worked at Robert Mondavi and Stags Leap Cellars. Today, he grows the wines on the steeâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Reliving The Past & Forecasting the Future with Bob Cabral
1:45:15
1:45:15
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:45:15
Having made a career out of producing wines for companies across California, Bob decided a few years ago to make wines for himself with a focus on experimentation and having fun. For those who donât know Bob, he cut his teeth working on his familyâs vineyards in the Central Valley, graduated with an enology degree from Fresno State, worked for BronâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Cultivating A Mountain-Top Wine Tribe with Sophie & James Gray
1:04:03
1:04:03
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:04:03
With a dream to buy a ranch in order to reconnect with nature, work with their hands, and raise a family, Sophie & James Gray started searching for the perfect piece of land in Northern California. Wine wasnât even a forethought. They eventually settled on a little slice of heaven perched atop the volcanic ash rich, Sonoma Mountain with 360 views hâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How To Build An Authentic Personal Brand with Amanda McCrossin
1:05:37
1:05:37
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:05:37
Having previously worked as a sommelier in New York City, Amanda moved to the west coast in July 2015 where she joined the wine team at PRESS restaurant in St. Helena. Known as the "sommvivant" to her Instagram followers and YouTube subscribers for being a "Sommelier" with a "Bon Vivant" lifestyle, Amanda documents her life as a somm in the Napa VaâŠ
…
continue reading
1
If It Tastes Perfect, Youâve Missed It with Bob Cabral & Ryan Prichard
2:02:23
2:02:23
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
2:02:23
Under the guidance of philosophies like, âGreat winemaking is doing the right thing when no one is looking,â and âif it tastes perfect, youâve missed it,â Bob, Ryan, and the Three Sticks team are crafting elegant wines with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They source fruit from some of the top vineyards in Sonoma County including Gaps Crown, âŠ
…
continue reading
1
Crafting Elegant Mountain Cabernet with Francoise Peschon & Elizabeth Tangney
1:02:55
1:02:55
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:02:55
Francoise Peschon is the head winemaker for Cornell Vineyards. She has always had an affinity for estate properties â for those places that are âabout the land and the wines, not necessarily the winemaker.â In her thirty-year career, sheâs worked at some of the bestâincluding Stagâs Leap Wine Cellars, Araujo Estate Wines, Viader Vineyards and Vine âŠ
…
continue reading
Born in Spain, Laura grew up sharing sips of wine with her father while watching the fishing boats during their family vacations in the North of Spain. Her first sip of Albariño solidified her love of wines and her first winemaking internship solidified her future as a winemaker. After completing her post graduate degree in enology at the PolytechnâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Create Legacy for Past, Present, and Future Generations with Mike & Steve Sangiacomo
1:07:57
1:07:57
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:07:57
With the 2016 harvest, Mike, Steve, and their sister Mia, decided to take the family business to a new level by hiring winemaker James Macphail to bring their vision of estate Pinot Noir & Chardonnay under the Sangiacomo Wines label to life. The goal? Create legacy for past, present, and future generations of Sangiacomos. Fast forward two years, thâŠ
…
continue reading
Before opening their doors in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco, Chris spent 15 years in wine and spirits sales in the Bay Area, working mostly with wineries in California, Oregon or Washington. He met a number of winemakers and proprietors who shared his passion for wine and for being good stewards of the land. These relationships reinfâŠ
…
continue reading
Remi directs the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle and is responsible for top quality, small-lot winemaking expressive of appellation and vineyard site. In addition, she oversees the sale of all wines through the hospitality experience and the wine club programs direct to consumer, and throughout the domestic and international markets. LeaâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How Unconventional Wines Create Connections with West + Wilder
1:15:00
1:15:00
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:15:00
West + Wilder is redefining the look and taste of canned wine and setting a new benchmark for quality within a growing category. Dedicated to sustainability and taste, this small wine company with big world values recently added a Sparkling White and a Sparkling RosĂ© to their portfolio of West Coast inspired wines. With varied backgrounds in marketâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Finding Home In Sonoma Valley with Dan O'Brien
1:13:25
1:13:25
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:13:25
Dan O'Brien has worked throughout the wine industry, first starting in high-end restaurants in the North East, eventually moving out west to San Francisco to start the Grand Award winning wine program at Cavallo Point. From there he started the Cultivar wine label, was the estate director for Long Meadow Ranch & Larkmead Vineyards, started the HuntâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How Wine Affects The World with Brian McClintic, MS
1:16:57
1:16:57
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:16:57
Brian McClintic is a Master Sommelier and documentary film star of the feature length SOMM, the follow up SOMM: Into the Bottle, and now Somm 3, coming out later in 2018. After 15 years in hospitality, spanning wine destinations such as the Little Nell in Aspen, Brian co-founded Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant in Santa Barbara, where he was namedâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Finding Your Voice in Wine with Cameron Hughes & Jessica Kogan
1:02:57
1:02:57
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:02:57
As consumer advocates, Cameron Hughes Wines is passionate about bringing extreme wine value to wine drinkers at an affordable price. Cameron founded Cameron Hughes Wine with his partner Jessica Kogan in 2001. In 2004, they launched the âLot Seriesâ with Lot 1, a Lodi Syrah. More than a decade later, they've produced over 600 unique Lot wines and thâŠ
…
continue reading
1
Dissecting Winemaking Decisions with Todd Graff
1:09:37
1:09:37
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:09:37
Frank Family's current success would not exist without his leadership. Todd joined in 2003 and has provided consistency of winemaking, vineyard sources, and leadership in Frank Familyâs estate vineyard acquisitions, which are not more than 250 acres in Rutherford, Capell and Carneros. He also has culled relationships with several great growersâBeckâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Produce Compelling Wines with Ian Brand
1:55:13
1:55:13
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:55:13
Our guest this week did not set out to make the beautiful wines he does. He, and is incredible team, discovered great vineyards at the edge of sensible farming and decided to bring them to light. Learn more about Ian Brand here. The farther they looked, the more they found â remote, challenging vineyards, with hard depleted soils, and intense sunliâŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Achieve Quality & Consistency Over Time with Dan Petroski
1:07:55
1:07:55
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:07:55
After a decade long career in advertising for Time Warner, Dan Petroski got a harvest internship in Italy, booked a flight and didnât look back. For the next year, he would live as a local in his adopted home of Italy, working in vineyards. From that point onward, Dan knew that wine would take the center focus of not only his career, but his life. âŠ
…
continue reading
1
How to Let Wines Speak for Themselves with Katy Wilson
1:19:10
1:19:10
SpÀter Spielen
SpÀter Spielen
Listen
GefÀllt mir
Geliked
1:19:10
As one of the 4% of female winemakers in California who are also owners of their own winery, Sonoma-based LaRue Wines winemaker and owner, Katy Wilson is also making waves within the 10% minority of California wineries whose lead winemaker also happens to be female. Because, not only does she manage every harvest decision, punch down and barrel regâŠ
…
continue reading
It all started with converting potato fields into rows of vineyards in a sleepy field in the heart of California. It was during the late 1960s when a bad potato crop pushed the Bogle family to plant those first grapes -- and now, five decades later -- Bogle Vineyards has become one of the worldâs most popular wine brands on the market. Learn more aâŠ
…
continue reading
Michael Evans is the co-founder of The Vines of Mendoza, a winery in the Uco Valley of Argentina that crafts nearly 300 custom wines each year with 130 private vineyard owners. Fifteen years ago Michael came to Argentina from Los Angeles for what he thought would be a three-week vacation. Michael fell in love with the people and the place that is MâŠ
…
continue reading