The Grape Nation

Paul Grieco of Terroir Wine Bar in NYC has been on the New York wine and restaurant scene for over 30 years. He is a true prophet of Riesling and wines that deserve their due. He is the father of "The Summer of Riesling" We'll talk to Paul about Riesling, under appreciated wines, and hospitality and service in the wine and restaurant business.

Caleb Ganzer, Wine Director and Managing Partner of Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, NYC talks about the natural wine movement, wines from the Roussillon region of France, other hot wine regions, and Compagnie NYC with one of NYC's most compelling wine lists.

Rajat Parr, Sommelier, winemaker, and partner at Sandhi, Domaine de la Cote, and Evening Land Vineyards is one of the most respected personalities in wine with an impeccable palate. Raj talks about his favorite wine, Burgundy, Pinot Noir, La Paulee, IPOB, and the art of making wine.

Kris Matthewson, Winemaker & Proprietor of Bellwether Wine Cellars in the Finger Lakes Region of NY State has been called the "Rock Star of the Finger Lakes" in reference to his winemaking. He concentrates on Riesling and Pinot Noir expressing single vineyards. Kris will talk about his Bellwether winery and wines and winemaking currently in the Finger Lakes. Kris also dabbles a little in the family business making hard cider.

Laura Maniec is proprietor of Corkbuzz in NYC and Charlotte, NC. She is a Master Sommelier and a true Champagne evangelist.

Adam Sachs is Editor in Chief of Saveur Magazine. We talk to Adam about what makes food and wine so meaningful to people all over the world.

Daniel Johnnes wears a lot of hats. He oversees the wine program for the Daniel Boulud restaurant group. He created and founded La Paulee, a celebration of Burgundy in New York and San Francisco, preceded by Burgundy Week at participating restaurants around town. Daniel also founded Daniel Johnnes Wines, a curated collection of some of the great wines of the world with a slant towards Burgundy. He currently lives in Lyon, France with his family.

Pascaline Lepeltier is a Master Sommelier, Beverage Director, and Partner at Rouge Tomate in NYC. Pascaline is one of 146 Master Sommeliers in the US of which 24 are women. Rouge Tomate is nominated for a 2017 James Beard Award for "Outstanding Wine Program" Pascaline talks about her favorite wine, Chenin Blanc and other great wines to drink now, focusing on organic, biodynamic, and natural wines She will discuss what it takes to deliver an outstanding wine program.

Karen MacNeil is the author of The Wine Bible in it's 2nd Edition with over 550,000 copies sold. She is a multi award winning journalist including the James Beard Award. Karen talks about her journey in life and wine, the 14 years it took to write The Wine Bible and we discuss the global and domestic wine scene.

Amanda Smeltz worked wine at April Bloomfield's John Dory and the Breslin, spent over 4 years building the wine program at Roberta's Pizza in Bushwick, and is now the Head Sommelier at Bar Boulud and Boulud Sud. We talk to Amanda about restaurant wine lists, under appreciated wine regions and styles, and what to drink now.

Jasmine Hirsch is the General Manager of Hirsch Vineyards, Sonoma, California. Hirsch Vineyard is a Sonoma Coast Pinot pioneer. We sit down with Jasmine to discuss farming, winemaking, Pinot Noir and In Pursuit of Balance.

Grand Cru Selections is a NYC based wine importer and distributor of fine wines from around the world, representing some of the most passionate winemakers and sought after wineries. We talk global wines and how wine gets from the vineyard to your table with Ned Benedict and Bryan Garcia.

A look inside one of the most intimate winegrowing regions in the world, Napa Valley, as we follow several of the most prominent winemakers on their journey to master their craft. We talk to Napa winemakers Heidi Peterson Barrett, Steve Reynolds, and Anthony Bell about the new documentary film "Decanted", their individual wineries and projects, and the state of wine in Napa Valley.

We'll talk all things wine with Wine and Spirits Publisher/Editor, Josh Greene. Josh and the staff at W&S magazine tastes over 15,000 wines annually. We'll talk best wines of the year and wine trends.

Jon Bonne is one of today's most prolific wine writers. Jon served as the wine editor and chief wine critic of the San Francisco Chronicle. He is now Senior Contributing Editor of online magazine, Punch. Author of The New California Wine and currently working on The New French Wine He is James Beard Award winning journalist bringing a critical eye and and a well trained palate to the world of wine and food.

Gary Vaynerchuk, Wine expert, entrepreneur, CEO of social media agency VaynerMedia, angel investor, venture capitalist, NY Times best selling author, and all around hustler, talks wine, social media, and how advertising and marketing have changed in a digital world. Gary also tells us his hottest wine trend, Barolo.

David White is the creator of popular wine blog The Terroirist and just wrote an approachable, comprehensive book about Champagne, "But First, Champagne: A Modern Guide to the World's Favorite Wine". We'll talk blogs and bubbles with David White.

Wanna get a job in wine? Hillary Zio has been in the wine industry for over 10 years with experience in fine dining, retail, distribution, events and as an educator and consultant. She's a certified sommelier and holds an advanced certificate with the WSET. With no luck in finding a career guide, she wrote her own "The Unfiltered Guide to Working in Wine".

This week on The Grape Nation, Top Sommelier of the Year and Wine Enthusiast's "40 Under 40" Michael Madrigale talks wines that taste more expensive than they really are, BYO's to bring them to, and direct to consumer wine sales.

Wine legend Kevin Zraly has been at it over 40 years. He founded the Windows on the World Wine Course and best selling companion books, and continued the classes after 9/11, when the facility was destroyed. He is a true wine influencer, launching generations of today's sommeliers; an educator teaching over 20,000 students; a prolific author; a recipient of the 2011 James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award; and still going at it!