The Grape Nation

You can’t talk about wines from the Priorat region of Spain without recognizing the impact the Perez Family has made in the last four decades. Sara Perez is the wine maker and owner along with her family of Mas Martinet, one of the five founding wineries in the Priorat. Sara farms organically, is a magician with the Garnacha and Carignane grape and produces some of the most sought after and interesting wines in the world.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Eric Asimov is the Chief Wine Critic for the New York Times. Hs tenure with the newspaper goes back to 1984. His column on wine appears Wednesdays in the Food Section of the Times. His monthly Wine School column enlightens and invites you to drink and discuss wine with him. He has published numerous books and guides including “How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto” Eric is a prolific Tweeter and a fellow Jet’s fan. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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 is truly one of the most respected sommeliers in the world. As a Master Sommelier she has received numerous awards including the Un des Meilleurs Ouviers de France. Born in the Loire Valley of France, it is no secret of her love for Chenin Chenin Chenin. She is a true evangelist of natural wines and also makes Chepika wines with her friend Nathan Kendall in the Finger Lakes of New York. Pascaline is a prolific writer and also collaborated with Alice Feiring for the “Dirty Guide to Wine”. She is a partner with David Lillie in Racines NY, overseeing a 2000 plus wine list of mostly natural, organic and Biodynamic wines served beside Diego Moya’s incredible food.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Born on the east coast, Dustin Wilson headed west to make his mark in wine at Frasca, Little Nell, and RN74, eventually heading back east as Wine Director of 3 Michelin starred 11 Madison Park. Dustin packed in working the floor to pivot towards wine retail creating Verve Wine in NY, SF, and now Chicago. He has raised money for No Kid Hungry through his Reboule du Rhone events and you know his face from the Somm movies as the only person in the first Somm movie to pass and become a Master Sommelier. Dustin Wilson, along with partner Chef Austin Johnson are about to open one of the most anticipated restaurants in NYC, 1 White Street.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

What can I say about Raj Parr that hasn’t been said before, Raj is the greatest uncertified Sommelier in the world with the most revered palate. His career in hospitality spans the Fifth Floor, the Michael Mina Group including RN74 and his Bibi Ji. He is the award-winning author of “Secrets of Sommeliers and most recently, “The Sommelier’s Atlas of Wine” Raj is the founding partner, proprietor and winemaker at Sandhi, Evening Land and Domaine de la Cote. Raj just got his ass out of Santa Barbara and moved to Cambria to his own bio-diverse Phelan Farm.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Nicole Rolet grew up in New York City and Milan to an American mother and French Italian Dad, surrounded by food and wine. After graduating Vassar, Nicole got herself deep into finance, politics and think tanks, eventually putting that all aside to pursue her love of the land and wine. She joined her husband Xavier to restore an historical priory and vineyard in remote Cretset in the South of France called La Verriere and Chene Bleu. Nicole is a thought leader and hyperactive in ecoculture, the promotion of Grenache, women in wine, and the future of fine wine.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Laurence Feraud grew up at her family winery in the Southern Rhone of France. She returned in 1987 after studying wine and business to join her dad, Paul, and work with him at their storied Domaine du Pegau in Chateauneuf du Pape. In 2005 Laurence took on full oversight and winemaking at the winery. Laurence has extended the family holdings, creating Chateau Pegau and her Selection Laurence Feraud.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Rutger de Vink is a tough as a Marine and as soft as a glass of Merlot. His family made their way to the United States from the Netherlands while a teenager.After leaving college to join the Marines and then working in telecommunications, Rutger pursued his love of agriculture with a wine apprenticeship and trips to Bordeaux & California. He was determined to find his own site to farm and make wine. Rutger ultimately settled in Virginia in 2004 creating RDV Vineyards on a hilltop in historic Delaplane, about 50 miles west of Washington, DC. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Heini Zachariassen hails from the Faroe Islands and grew up in Denmark, attending college in Copenhagen. He became a software developer and serial entrepreneur. Heini founded Vivino in 2011 with Theis Sondergaard. Today Vivino is the world’s largest online marketplace and most downloaded wine app driven by a community of 50 million users, over a billion five wine label scans, and a new round of funding for continued growth for their wine community.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Brits, Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew found a bond in wine that would lead them to create a wine magazine, two restaurants and a book to talk about it all.Dan had a successful career in the music business while Mark became a Master of Wine and worked at a leading London wine merchant. Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew are Noble Rot Magazine, Noble Rot Wine Bar, Noble Rot Soho, and authors of recently released “The Noble Rot Book: Wine from Another Galaxy”.The Grape Nation has been nominated for the Taste Awards! Check out all the finalists at http://www.thetasteawards.com/12th-annual-taste-awards-nominees-finalists-and-honorees/Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Jane Lopes has graced our microphones a few times to discuss sexual harassment in the wine industry, multiple issues at the Court of Master Sommeliers and her life through her book “Vignette”. Jonathan Ross is a Master Sommelier. He worked as Head Sommelier at Eleven Madison Park before following Jane to Australia to work with the Rockpool Group. While in Australia, Jon bought a few grapes to make wine, this was the beginning of Micro Wines. Jane and Jon, who are married, moved back to the states to start Legend Imports, focusing on the wines of Australia. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Nate Ready is a former Master Sommelier. He worked the floor at Bobby Stuckey’s Frasca in Boulder and the French Laundry in Yountville before heading north to find a small working farm in Hood River, Oregon. Hiyu Farm is a biodiverse environment where Nate grows over 100 grape varietals, fruits, vegetables and raises animals. He is a true permaculturist.The Grape Nation is nominated as a Taste Awards "Viewer's Choice" finalist. Help us win by voting today!Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Napa Valley native, Tegan Passalacqua cut his teeth in the Rhone, New Zealand and South Africa before literally planting his roots in California. Tegan started at Zin Zen Masters Turley Wine Cellars in 2003, and is currently working as Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager. He launched his own Sandlands Wines with wife Olivia in 2011 working with a multitude of varietals practicing vine head training and dry farming. Tegan Passalacqua is a true American Vigneron living in the heart of Lodi, California, home of his Kirschenmann Vineyard and Passalacqua Farming.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Martha Stoumen did not grow up around wine, but connected with the soil during a trip in college to Italy, studying agriculture. She was drawn to the vineyards and thus began a Vigneron’s view of winemaking. Martha received a Masters at UC Davis and went on to apprentice with some of the best winemakers around the world including Giusto Occhipinti, Didier Barral, and Chris Brocway. She started her eponymous label a few years ago and now follows her own vision of making responsibly farmed, terroir-driven wines in the land that she holds so dear in her heart, California.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Far from wine country, Maggie Harrison was born in the Midwest and pursued a career in International Relations and Conflict Resolution…well that didn’t last long. Maggie made her way out west to pursue a career in wine. She landed a job with quirky and legendary Sin Que Non winemaker Manfred Krankl, as his assistant for 8 years. Along the way she started her own small label, Liilian specializing in Syrah before a group of friends asked her to look at their property in the Eola Amity Hills of Oregon. Maggie joined them and is now the owner-winemaker at Antica Terra making gorgeous Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Philippe Andre grew up around fine dining at his parent’s upscale restaurant in Evanston, Illinois. He worked every job in the restaurant, eventually hitting the floor and creating a wine program, becoming their first Somm in 18 years. After almost a decade at the restaurant, Philippe left the family business to pursue a career in wine, first traveling to Oregon, stints at Hart Davis Hart and Moet Hennessy with Southern Glazer. Philippe is now the first Brand Ambassador for Champagne Charles Heidsieck and runs the Grand Cru and consultancy.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Jean Gonon is a second-generation wine maker with the soul, knowledge and experience of many more years. Jean, along with his brother Pierre are the proprietors of Domaine Pierre Gonon in St. Joseph in the Northern Rhone of France. The purity and distinctive character of their wines, achieved through great terroirs, a strong commitment to farming and winemaking with an eye towards their ancestor’s methods, has made Domaine Pierre Gonon the Domaine in St Joseph.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Jay Boberg had a long career in the music business. He was a co-founder of IRS Records, think R.E.M. and Black Sabbath and Presient of MCA/Universal. His love for wine led him to Nicolas Jean Meo, part of the legendary Meo-Camuzet family in Burgundy. Jay's business acumen and Jean Nicolas' winemaking skills helped launch Nicolas-Jay in the  Willamette Valley. Larry Stone, is a multi award winning Master Sommelier and Educator, Larry has a deep wine history at the finest restaurants. He pursued his dream to make wine and own a winery. Larry is the founder of Lingua Franca Wines. Both producers specialize in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of the highest quality in Oregon.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Joshua Greene has been the Editor and Publisher of “Wine and Spirits” magazine since 1986. In addition to writing feature stories and commentaries for each issue, Josh and staff taste thousands of wines annually. Josh is also the critic for the wines of the Napa Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Portugal, Rioja, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Wine and Spirits Magazine annually features the “Best New Sommeliers”, the “Restaurant Poll”, “Top 100 Tasting and Symposium”, and extensive wine reviews.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.

Sarah Fernandez got into wine and hospitality only a few years ago. She has worked at Shoji, Niche Niche and Special Club in NYC. A Graduate of Cornell University, she also spent many years in research at Jacobi, Mt Sinai, and NYU Hospitals. She currently works in wine retail at Depanneur in Brooklyn.Jane Lopes returns to The Grape Nation and also the United States after a long stint at Attica in Melbourne, Australia. She is the author of “Vignette, Stories of Life and Wine in 100 bottles” She received her Master Sommelier certification in 2018, only to have it revoked by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Jane is now the Co-Founder of Legend Wines, importers of curated Australian wines with her husband Jonathan Ross.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!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.