The Grape Nation

Eduard and Stephanie Tscheppe-Eselbock from Berganland, Austria took on the task and challenge of restoring a 17th century winery, a 200 year-old-press, and vines that were ignored for over 20 years. What they created was a family of wines based on the personality of these wines with now iconic labels of different family members. Their winery Gut Oggau produces living wines with great energy and is certified biodynamic by Demeter. 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.

Yannick Benjamin was born and bred in NYC to French parents. He visited Bordeaux at age 13 and got the wine bug early. He started in hospitality at a young age working his way through Le Cirque, Jean Georges, Atlas, and eventually becoming a Somm at Felidia in NYC. In 2003 Yannick experienced a life-changing event that would set a different course in his life. Yannick is an advanced Sommelier working at the University Club in NYC, appeared on the Esquire TV series, UNcorked and is the co-founder and director of development for Wheeling Forward. 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.

Colorful and legendary Australian winemaker David Powell made his mark in 1994 when he started Torbreck Vintners in Barossa. Torbreck is one of the most awarded wines in Australia. After almost 20 years, David moved on to start Powell and Son with his son Callum. They grow Rhone varietals from the Barossa and Eden Valleys in a a traditional and minimalist style. 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.

Lettie Teague is an award winning author and columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Her column "On Wine" appears weekly in the Journal. Lettie has received three James Beard Awards including the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award. Lettie Teague was formerly the wine columnist for Food and Wine Magazine ("Wine Matters") and it's wine editor for over 12 years. Lettie has published three books, "Wine in Words", "Educating Peter", and illustrated "Fear of Wine" 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.

Marquis Piero Antinori is Vintner and Honorary President of Marchese Antinori. Mr. Antinori is the patriarch of his family's wine business in Italy with vineyards in Umbria, Chianti Classico, Brunello, Bolgheri, Napa and beyond. Piero Antinori along with his three daughters oversee the six-century old storied family wine 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.

Seattle born Morgan Harris made his way to NYC and jumped into the wine game full time in 2011. He cut his wine teeth with Master Sommelier Laura Maniec at Corkbuzz Wine Studio, did a short stint at Jean Georges before moving to Charlie Palmer's Aureole in NYC as head sommelier. Morgan was named Wine and Spirits "Best New Sommelier" holds an advanced sommelier certificate and is an instructor at the American Sommelier Association. 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.

Victoria James got an early start in the restaurant biz at 13. She blazed her path as a server, bartender, and sommelier working at Harry's at Hanover Square, Aureole, Morini, Piora, and now as Beverage Director at Cote in NYC. Victoria became a Certified Sommelier at age 21, has been named a Wine and Spirits "Best New Sommelier", Forbes and Zagat's "30 Under 30" and a Wine Enthusiast "40 Under 40 Tastemaker". Victoria James is a Rose evangelist and author of "Drink Pink: A Celebration of Rose", published last May. 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.

Olivier Krug is Directeur de la Maison Krug and a member of the Krug tasting committee. Olivier grew up in Reims, France and is the eldest of Henri Krug's five children, Olivier joined Krug in 1989 and is now Krug's house director. Olivier talks about Krug's rich history since 1843 and the transformation of Champagne in the past 20 years. 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.

Yumiko Munekyo and Jason Geiger are the co-founders of Sake Suki. Yumiko was born and raised in Fukui Prefecture and Ishikawa Japan, famously know for thier rice and Sake production. Yumiko came to the US in 2011 with the intention of bringing great Sake to the US and focusing on small production regional artisan Sakes known as Jizake. Jason Geiger is a Certified Sake Adviser from the Sake Service Institute. 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.

Belgian born Cedric Nicaise grew up in a family of wine enthusiasts. Cedric worked his way downstate to Charlie Palmer's Aureole in NYC, later becoming a sommelier at Eleven Madison Park and eventually the Wine Director. Cedric oversees the wine and beverage program at the three Michelin starred, New York Times four starred, and the Best Restaurant in the World from the World's 50 Best Restaurants. A very very rare achievement. 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.

Alsatian born Michael Engelmann is a Wine and Spirits "Best New Sommelier", he has won the American Sommelier Association's "Best Sommelier in America" and is a Master Sommelier. Michael is one of only 14 Master Sommeliers to receive the Krug Cup, awarded to those who pass all three parts of of master Somm test on the first day. Michael Engelmann is the Wine Director at Danny Meyer's The Modern at MoMA and Untitled at the Whitney, borth 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.

Jon Bonne is an award winning author and journalist. He is Senior Contributing Editor for Punch, an online magazine featuring wine, spirits, beer and cocktails. He is the former editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. Jon is the author of "The New Wine Rules", his current book and "The New California Wine". He is working on his next book, "The New French Wine". We'll talk to Jon about his new book and the "New" wine. 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 will look back to 2017, the year in wine with Josh Greene, Editor and Publisher of Wine and Spirits Magazine. Josh has been at the helm of the magazine for over three decades and has a unique perspective of wine, wine regions, restaurants, sommeliers, trends, and much more. 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 look back at the past year on The Grape Nation to present six awards recognizing past guests, trends, and wine including Favorite Wine & Food Pairing, Best Rant, Favorite Wine Guest, Favorite Restaurant and/or Wine Bar, & more. Winners call in to accept their awards. Plus we do a quick dive into Central Coast/Santa Barbara wines with winemaker Tyler Thomas of Dierberg & Star Lane Vineyards. 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.

Peter Liem is an American wine writer and author of the new book "Champagne The Essential Guide to the Wines, Producers, and Terroirs of the Iconic Region". He is the author of of the online site ChampagneGuide.net, a comprehensive guide to the wines and producers of Champagne. Peter splits his time between New York and is the only English wine writer living in Champagne. Peter is the co-creator of of Le Fete Du Champagne and Sherryfest, one of the world's largest Sherry events. He also co-authored "Sherry, Manzanilla, and Montilla." 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.

Ryan Arnold is a Divisional Wine Director of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, one of Chicago and the county's most successful restaurant groups owning a diversity of restaurants. Ryan oversees the wine programs at some of Lettuce's finest restaurants, each focused on a different cuisine and wine program. Ryan was a 2015 Star Chefs "Rising Star." 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.

Peter Hellman has been at it over 40 years as a wine journalist and best selling author. Based out of NYC, Peter has written for Wine Spectator, The NY Times, The NY Post, and the WSJ among others. He has penned multiple best sellers including "When Courage Was Stronger Than Fear", "Chief", and "50 Years After Kitty Genovese". Peter started following and writing about Rudy Kurniawan in 2008, which led to his eighth and current book "In Vino Duplicitas". 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 Sommelier Dustin Wilson & Sommelier Thomas Pastuszak are among the most highly respected & regarded people in the wine world today. Dustin & Thomas are award winning Somms with a deep background in wine & service at the best restaurants in the country...think Eleven Madison Park, The Nomad, RN74, Colicchio & Sons, Frasca & more. Both Dustin & Thomas make their own wines & Dustin is Proprietor of Verve Wine in Tribeca (you may know him from the movie "Somm") and Thomas is the Wine Dir. at The Nomad in NYC. They have created a festival & celebration to the wines of the Northern Rhone Valley called The Reboule Du Rhone, benefitting No Kid Hungry. 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.

Isabelle Legeron is a Master of Wine and founder of the Raw Wine Fair. She is the author of the newly revised book "Natural Wine" The Raw Wine Fair advocates fine natural wine made by small independent producers who cherish biodiversity and sustainable wine production. Tony Coturri of Coturri Winery in Sonoma County, California embraces the Raw Wine philosophy remaining true to the traditional methods of his family winery. We'll talk to Isabelle and Tony about natural wines and the Raw Wine Fair coming to Brooklyn and Los Angeles in November. 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.

Katie Morton was voted on of "The Best New Sommeliers of 2017" by Wine and Spirits Magazine. Katie attended the Culinary Institue of America, worked at Eleven Madison Park and The Nomad, moving on to the Union Sq. Hospitality Group's Maialino for over two years finally landing as the Wine Dir. at Marta and the newly opened Vini e Fritti, all 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.