The Vine Guy

Dave Phillips grew up on the family homestead in Lodi, California, which was settles by his Great Great Grandparents in 1865.  His youth was spent driving tractors in the vineyards and growing fruit and vegetables to sell at the family’s roadside fruit stands and local farmers markets. Today, he and his brother Michael have created some of the most iconic brands in the wine industry, including Seven Deadly Zins (which they subsequently sold), Earthquake, Freakshow, and their latest project, Outerbound. He is passionate about sustainability and his community. Dave and his wife, Corene, have two boys, and travel the world together marketing their winery and extolling the virtues of Lodi fruit. His passions include Ultra running, mountain biking, triathlons, and skiing. I invite you to drink in this entertaining episode with the very down-to-earth – and good friend – Dave Phillips.

Leigh Orleans is a Private Chef based in North Carolina but travels all over the country crafting fresh, seasonal meals for her clients.  Her culinary skills were showcased on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen Season 22, where she competed and earned a Black Jacket during the finalists round.  Leigh holds a degree in Culinary Arts from the Savannah Culinary Institute and a Master’s Degree in Wine and Beverage Management from the Culinary Institute of America. In May 2017, she graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a business major from Kenan-Flagler Business School.  Travel has consistently been a significant source of inspiration for Leigh’s culinary creations. Her passion for travel was further nurtured through study abroad programs in Sevilla, Spain, and South Africa. I invite you to drink in this entertaining episode with the very enthusiastic Leigh Orleans.

Wine has always been a part of Executive Winemaker Ben Papapietro’s life. A native San Franciscan of Italian descent, Ben grew up with wine as part of every family meal and gathering. His passion for wine making caught fire in his early twenties as he explored wines from around the world. But the wines that really turned Ben’s head were from the Burgundy region in France. During his 37-year career with the San Francisco Newspaper Agency, Ben met future partner Bruce Perry. Through their common passions—cooking and wine—they became fast friends. They joined together to make wine as a hobby in their garages. To hone their craft. they volunteered to work during harvest at a friend’s Sonoma County winery specializing in Pinot Noir. Today, the Papapietro Perry cellar is simply a more elaborate version of Ben’s garage wines. He describes his wines as “… an extension of my home and personal hospitality.”

I invite you to drink in this conversation with the delightfully complex, yet humble Ben Papapietro.

After graduating UC Davis Viticulture and Enology program, Tyler Klick joined Redwood Empire Vineyard Management in 1997 on the grounds crew and eventually worked himself up to his present position as co-owner and viticulturist. Tyler oversees all traditional and specialty viticulture for REVM and also handles estimating, budgeting and overall construction projects. He is passionate about the environment and is actively involved in creek restoration projects and certification programs such as Fish Friendly Farming, CCOF, Organic Certifiers, and Certified CA Sustainable Winegrowing. Tyler led REVM to become the first certified sustainable vineyard management company in the State of California, where they farm about 2,000 acres. He is proud of REVM’s commitment to organic and sustainable farming practices, making sure that any property REVM manages is environmentally  better when they are done. I invite you to drink in this fascinating  episode with Tyler Klick.

As the fourth-generation winegrower and co-owner of Zialena Winery, Mark Mazzoni’s deep-rooted connection to the land and his family’s winemaking legacy have guided his passion for crafting exceptional wines. A pivotal trip to South America in 2004 immersed him in winemaking traditions, broadening his perspective. In 2012, he co-founded Zialena Winery with his sister, Lisa Mazzoni, focusing on artisanal Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel using open-top concrete fermenters. Beyond winemaking, Mark’s devotion to uplifting the local wine community in his hometown of Geyserville is paramount to his success. His dedication to sustainable farming practices and his reverence for tradition are reflected in every bottle of wine that bears the Zialena label. I invite you to drink in this fascinating episode with the innovative Mark Mazzoni.

At the tender age of 10, Erica Stancliff demonstrated the skills that would later define her career as a winemaker and enologist. Now, with 16 harvests under her belt, Erica has been described by Press Democrat as a “young Sonoma County winemaker turning heads” and featured in renowned publications, such as Wine Enthusiast, Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle, Robb Report, Martha Stewart, and more. Currently, she consults for five unique wine brands, including her family’s winery, Trombetta Family Wines, where since 2014, Erica has helped her family’s winery expand from 500 cases of a single Pinot Noir a year to a broad portfolio of 1200+ cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. I invite you to drink in this episode with the charming and talented Erica Stancliff.

Paul and his wife Kathryn have worked hard to consistently grow grapes and produce inspiring wines of authenticity. I invite you to drink in this very educational episode with the dedicated Paul Sloan.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FGsr38ZPeTRTio0cwOX7N