The Grape Nation

Brooklyn born Dan Petroski made his way uptown to Columbia University, played a little football, headed downtown to NYU Biz School before moving into marketing, finance and advertising at Time Inc. and Sports Illustrated. His love of wine and a college friend with connections got Dan over to Sicily. Dan came back to the states, made his way to Cali to follow his passion and the rest fermented into a career in wine. Dan is the winemaker at Larkmead Vineyards and owns Massican Winery in California and was the 2017 Winemaker of the Year from the SF Chronicle. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

American Sommelier turned French Winemaker, Michele Smith Chapel worked at New York’s finest restaurants including Per Se and Brooklyn Fare combining for 6 Michelin Stars. She met David Chapel in Beaujolais, got him to move back to NY and both eventually packed up to move back to France…and make wine. Michele Smith Chapel is the proprietor of Domaine Chapel in Beaujolais. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Caleb Ganzer is the Wine Director and Managing Partner at La Compagnie Des Vins Surnaturels in NYC. Compagnie is a cozy neighborhood wine bar for the world and caters to every type of guest from the inquisitive amateur to the industry professional. He is an alum of Eleven Madison Park and Daniel Boulud's Dinex group. Caleb has innovated great events at Compagnie like Wine Mixtape, Mystery Wine, and Wine Boot Camp to name a few. Caleb has created a new wine app called VKNOW, teaching people about wine using adaptive learning techniques. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Allen Meadows made the shift from finance to fine wine. He is the definitive, independent voice of Burgundy and it’s leading expert and critic. Allen Meadows is the Burghound and publishes Burghound.com a quarterly review, and online site for Burgundy and pinot enthusiasts. Allen just published his new book “Burgundy Vintages, A History from 1845”, an essential reference book for Burgundy enthusiasts. Allen also covers California, Oregon, and some Champagne. Photo courtesy of Erica Meadows. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christine Collado got a quick start in fine wine and dining at Dinex Group’s Bar Boulud, Boulud Sud, and flagship Daniel before moving to Wine Director at Brooklyn Fare and it’s three-star Michelin tasting menu. She recently left to open Parcelle Wine Store, a curated wine shop near Hudson Yards in NYC. Photo Courtesy of Christine Collado The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pascaline Lepeltier holds a Masters Degree in Philosophy and is a Master Sommelier. Pascaline worked her way in wine and restaurants in Europe to the US in 2009 landing at Rouge Tomate. She recently received the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, which translated is the Best Craftsmen of France in the Sommelier category and, also received The Best Sommelier of France. These are the two top awards in her field and the only women to receive them. Pascaline makes a Finger Lakes Pet Nat called Chepika with Nathan Kendall, co-authored “The Dirty Guide to Wine” with Alice Feiring and is Managing Partner at Racine’s in NYC. Pascaline is one of the most respected admired, awarded and loved people in all of wine. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jersey girl Michelle De Feo pursued her childhood love of France studying French in college and abroad in the Loire Valley; she worked as a translator, and broke into the biz as an administrative assistant at Clicquot. She fine tuned her skills at a wine shop and worked her way up the Champagne ladder to her current position of President Champagne Laurent-Perrier US. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Washington DC born and aspiring actor, Scott Woltz made his way to NYC, bagged the acting, worked with Tom Coliccho, Eleven Madison Park, and La Sirena. More importantly, Scott had a heck of a year last year. He was named Best New Sommelier by Wine and Spirits in 2018, earned his advanced pin in the Court of the Master Sommeliers, and was a runner up in the 2018 Ruinart Challenge, but most importantly he had his first child. Scott is now the Wine Director at Babbo in NYC. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Native New Yorker James Molesworth was surrounded by wine growing up. After graduating college, he took a job at a famed New York retailer specializing in Burgundy. He moved to the restaurant side as a cellar-master and eventually Sommelier at the legendary 21 Club. James joined Wine Spectator in 1997 as a tasting coordinator and was elevated to Senior Editor in 2004. He became a regular taster in 2000 and his tasting beat covers Cali cabs, Bordeaux, The Rhone, Loire, Port and South African wines. Photo Courtesy of Michelle McSwain, The Vinum Collective. The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kirk Sutherland became fascinated with wine while working in coffee in the mid 2000’s discovering their similarity - each being ground-driven expressions of their moment. In moving to New York he found a home in Andrew Tarlow’s Brooklyn group. Working at Reynard under Lee Campbell, then heading programs at both Marlow & Sons and Diner, Kirk fell in love with honesty and transparency of natural wine. He worked as Sommelier for all spaces in the Matter House group and in 2016 Kirk began his continuing work in Portland, Oregon partnering in harvest with Division Winemaking Company and Brianne Day. Since 2017 Sutherland has directed the wine program at both Roberta’s (NY&LA) and Blanca. The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Manila to Japan and finally NYC, Jhonel Faelner landed in the Big Apple to pursue his love of wine after a stint in fashion and being swept up by the wine culture in Japan. He worked his way thru One Five Hospitality and The Nomad before running the wine program at one of the country’s hottest restaurants. Jhonel is an Advanced Somm studying for his MS; he is a Wine and Spirits Best New Sommelier for 2018 and the Wine Director at Atomix in NYC The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hailing from Pennsylvania, Stephen Bitterolf left for New York to study art, eventually becoming an artist. His love and interest in wine brought him to wine retail and ultimately wine importation. Stephen is the creator of Rieslingfeier, a celebration of Riesling and the proprietor of vom Boden, a boutique wine import company specializing in German wines. The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gaelle Goossens was born in Reims France and grew up in the countryside of Champagne. She studied abroad, but was drawn back to her Champagne roots eventually getting a postgraduate degree in Biochemistry and a National Diploma in Oenology (2012). She spent five years at Champagne house Bollinger. Gaelle joined Veuve Clicquot in 2016 in Development, Innovation, and Communication of Oenology, responsible for winemaking, communication, pressing and vinification. The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Josh Greene is the Editor and Publisher of Wine & Spirits Magazine, a five-time James Beard Award winner for “Excellence in Wine Writing”. Wine & Spirits Magazine caters to the wine professional as well as the consumer. Josh has been at the helm of the magazine since the mid-eighties and besides publishing and editorial duties is also a critic for wines of the Napa Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Port, Rioja, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The staff at Wine & Spirits Magazine tastes over 15,000 bottles annually. The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talk about the wines of Portugal, specifically the regions of Porto, Douro and Alentejo. Paolo Russell Pinto oversees promotions and communication for the Institute of the Wines of Douro and Porto in Portugal. Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein is one of the nations most prolific food and wine writers and a wine veteran with an expertise in Portueguese wines and the Alentejo region. The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Terry Theise is an importer of highly curated boutique wines from Germany, Austria, and Champagne. He has played a critical role in exposing this country to the joys of great Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, grower Champagne, and more through his portfolio, Terry Theise Estate Selections. Terry won the James Beard Award recognizing him for "Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional. Terry is also a prolific author and wine writer penning "Reading Between the Wines" and his brand new book "What Makes a Wine Worth Drinking. In Praise of the Sublime". Terry Theise has been at this for over Thirty years and his views of wine are vastly different than most in the business. The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jorge Riera has been drinking and promoting natural wines in New York almost longer than anyone. He started as the Manager/Sommelier at Balthazar, worked with Arnaud Erhart at 360 in Brooklyn, spent many years at the Ten Bells, Contra and Wildair, among the first all natural wine bars in NYC, and is now the Wine Director at Frenchette, one of NYC's most talked about restaurants serving only natural wines. Jorge Riera is a bigger than life guy and a true believer and evangelist of natural wines. The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Born in Calcutta, armed with a degree in hospitality from India, and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Raj Parr morphed from food to the world of wine. Raj worked with the best in wine including Larry Stone, Michael Mina, Rubicon, Fifth Floor, and RN74. Always thirsty for more wine and wine challenges, Raj moved into the world of winemaking. He is now the proprietor of Sandhi and Domaine de la Cote in CA, and Evening Land in Oregon. Raj Parr is a James Beard award-winning author, celebrated Sommelier, sought after speaker, and is considered to have the best palate in the business. He just wrote a new book with Jordan Mackay called "The Sommelier's Atlas of Taste". The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Master Sommerlier Dustin Wilson is the proprietor of Verve Wine in NYC and SF, a retail and online marketplace for Sommelier curated wines. Thomas Pastuszak oversees the wine program for Daniel Humm and Will Guidara's Nomad in NYC, LA, and Las Vegas. Dustin and Thomas came up through the ranks of Frasca, Colicchio and Sons, and Eleven Madison to name a few. Dustin Wilson appears in the new Somm 3 movie and Thomas is making some great wine in the bottle and can. They are the creators of Reboule du Rhone, a four-day celebration of the wines of the Northern Rhone, November 15-18, 2018 in NYC. 100% of the proceeds benefit No Kid Hungry. *The Grape Nation* is powered by Simplecast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talk to two masters for our show. Isabelle Legeron is an award winning Master of Wine, author, wine consultant, and founder of Raw Wine and The Raw Wine Fair in London, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles, and Montreal. Raw Wine is the largest community of low-intervention, organic, biodynamic, natural wines, their growers and makers and those who love drinking them. Nate Ready is a Master Sommelier earning his chops at Frasca and the French Laundry. Nate's interest shifted to winemaking and logged time in Italy, Slovenia, and the Williamette Valley before settling in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and creating a food and wine oasis like no other called Hiyu Wine Farm. The Grape Nation is powered by SimplecastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.