The Grape Nation

Yannick Benjamin is a Sommelier in his native New York. Yannick refused to let a life-changing accident alter his dreams of college and his love of wine.He is the Co-Founder and Director of Development for Wheeling Forward and their event “Wine on Wheels”, coming up in NYC on Saturday April 4th. Yannick is soon to open his new restaurant, Contento, a ground breaking barrier free space in Harlem. 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.

Laurent Ponsot and Erwan Faiveley are amongst the most revered winemakers in Burgundy. Laurent left his eponymous family winery after 36 years to start Laurent Ponsot Wines. Erwan Faiveley oversees his eponymous family winery, Domaine Faively, one of the largest Burgundy producers making quality wines at all levels. Laurent and Erwan were interviewed at the 2020 Naples Winter Wine Festival.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.

Cathy Corison has been making wine for over 4 decades. She was the first woman winemaker-proprietor in the Napa Valley at her Corison Winery located in the benchland of the valley since 1987. Her focus has been Cabernet Sauvignon and her sought after wines are alive, powerful, elegant, aromatic, complex and long lasting.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.

I was recently in Florida at the Naples Winter Wine Festival benefitting the Naples Children and Education Foundation.I had the opportunity to sit with the best wine people from around the world.This episode is the Bordeaux show. I talk to Nicolas Glumineau, the winemaker and General Manager at Pichon Comtesse and Alfred Tesseron, Proprietor of Chateau Pontet-Canet and now Pym-Rae in Napa. Both of these wines are among the most sought after, critically acclaimed, and beloved wines from Bordeaux. Enjoy.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.

Siblings Jen and Zach Pelka would make any parent proud graduating respectively form Stanford and Wharton. Zach with a background in finance and startups is now a consultant and the CEO/Founder of Champagne Campaign.Jen started in the kitchen as a stage with Daniel Boulud. She worked her way out of the kitchen to do research for Daniel, worked with Daniel and Thomas Keller on the Bocuse d’Or, did stints at Open Table, Gilt Taste, and Tumbler before starting her own PR and marketing firm Magnum PR, aimed at the hospitality industry. Jen still had a hospitality itch to be scratched and opened The Riddler, an award-winning Champagne bar in SF and recently opened a Riddler in NYC. Jen and Zach are about to release their own Champagne, Un Femme. 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.

Valter Fissore is the Co-owner and winemaker at Elvio Cogno, a multi-generational winery in the Novello commune in the Piedmont region of Italy. Valter had worked side by side with his father-in-law Elvio Cogno for over 25 years producing iconic Barolos before Elvio’s passing in 2016. Now Valter carries on the tradition with his wife Nadia. Brahm Callahan is a Master Sommelier and Corporate Bev. Dir for the Himmel Hospitality Group, a leading restaurant group in Boston and now 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.

Natalie Johnson grew up around food and drink with her family. Her Dad further exposed her with a trip to Italy when she was 15. Natalie moved to NYC in 2010 and cut her teeth on some downtown restaurants cementing her love for wine. She has worked with Jack Mason at Marta, Bobby Stuckey at Frasca and Dan Kluger at Loring Place. Natalie recently left to become GM and Beverage Manager for Anton’s in NYC with star chefs Chef Nick Anderer and the Franks.  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.

From military school to Citicorp, to wine, Andre Hueston Mack got his start in San Antonio where he was selected Best Young Somm by the Chaine des Rotisserie, also the first Afro-American to do so. Andre channeled the good vibes west to Thomas Keller’s French Laundry as a Somm and then headed east as the opening crew at Keller’s Per Se. Following his passion for winemaking, Andre created Maison Noir Wines. Things don’t stop there, Andre is a graphic artist, restaurant and wine store owner, and author of his new book “99 Bottles: A Black Sheep’s Guide to Life Changing 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.

Hannah Blair Williams studied creative writing at Columbia and studied abroad in Scotland where she found her love for wine. She eventually made her way back to NYC where she pursued a career in wine. Hannah is a Wine and Spirits “Best New Sommelier” for 2019 (where by the way, she started her career as an intern) and is an Advanced Sommelier. Hannah Williams is the Beverage Director at Dan Barber’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, NY.Image courtesy of Andre Baronowski.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.

Herve Jestin is the Chef du Cave at Champagne Leclerc Briant, overseeing all production since 2008. Herve is a practitioner and expert in organic and biodynamic farming and is a forefather of bioenergetics, bringing the energy of nature to the finished wine.The holiday season is all about food and community. There’s no better time to show your support for food radio by becoming a member! Lend your voice and help HRN continue to spreading the message of equitable, sustainable, and delicious food – together, we can change minds and build a better food system. Go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate  today to become a crucial part of the HRN community.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.

Aldo Sohm is an award-winning Sommelier, including “The Best Sommelier in America”, and the Wine Director of the legendary 3 Michelin starred Le Bernadin Restaurant in NYC since 2007. In 2014 along with Le Bernadin, Aldo opened the eponymous Aldo Sohm Wine Bar. Aldo also makes wine with Austrian winemaker Gerhard Kracher for their Sohm and Kracher label. Aldo Sohm has penned a new book to help demystify wine and make it more approachable called “Wine Simple”.The holiday season is all about food and community. There’s no better time to show your support for food radio by becoming a member! Lend your voice and help HRN continue to spreading the message of equitable, sustainable, and delicious food – together, we can change minds and build a better food system. Go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate today to become a crucial part of the HRN community.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-i

Josh Greene, really needs no introduction on The Grape Nation, this is his fourth appearance and we invite him on the show at the end of each year. We will be looking back at “2019, The Year in Wine” with him. Josh Greene has been the Editor and Publisher of Wine and Spirits Magazine since 1986.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.

Today we will be talking with Brian Polen and Brandon Doughan from Brooklyn Kura, makers of American craft Sake, and NY’s first Sake brewery, and Gregg and Terry Moore from Moore Bros. Wine Company, curating artisan natural wines direct from the vineyards. Both make their homes right here in Industry City in Brooklyn.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 to a French wine family in Morocco, Genevieve Janssens studied under the best wine minds in France. She made her way to Napa in 1978 to work for Robert Mondavi, spent a few years consulting, and returned to Mondavi’s Opus One in 1989. Genevieve returned to Robert Mondavi Winery as Director of Winemaking in 1997. Over two decades later Genevieve still oversees wine as the chief winemaker. Genevieve in not only one of the great women in wine but one great wine person.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.

Victor Urrutia is the CEO of Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana also known as CVNE or CUNE. He is fifth generation and only the seventh person to run this family business. CVNE is a storied Rioja producer dating back to 1879. Under Victor’s tenure, CVNE has combined traditional winemaking methods with modern innovation.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.

Gianluca Bisol is the President and CEO of Bisol Prosecco Superiore in Conegliano Valdobbiane in the Treviso/Veneto region of northeast, Italy. This revered Prosecco house dates back five centuries to 1542 and 21 generations.Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio. Our tenth anniversary bacchanal is a rare gathering of your favorite chefs, mixologists, storytellers, thought leaders, and culinary masterminds. We’ll salute the inductees of the newly minted HRN Hall of Fame, who embody our mission to further equity, sustainability, and deliciousness. Explore the beautiful Palm House and Yellow Magnolia Café, taste and imbibe to your heart’s content, and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tasty gifts for any budget at our silent auction. Tickets available now at heritageradionetwork.org/gala.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-

Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson are wine writers and journalists…that sounds a bit pedestrian! Jancis and Hugh are collectively the most awarded, influential, and respected writers in all of wine. Their awards, books, articles are too numerous to mention. Jancis and Hugh have revised “The World Atlas of Wine” and the 8th Edition is now available.Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio. Our tenth anniversary bacchanal is a rare gathering of your favorite chefs, mixologists, storytellers, thought leaders, and culinary masterminds. We’ll salute the inductees of the newly minted HRN Hall of Fame, who embody our mission to further equity, sustainability, and deliciousness. Explore the beautiful Palm House and Yellow Magnolia Café, taste and imbibe to your heart’s content, and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tasty gifts for any budget at our silent auction. Tickets available now at heritageradionetwork.org/gala.The Grape Nation is powered

Byron Bates was waving the “natural wine flag” before it was a thing. He introduced natural winemakers via his wine lists in NYC over 20 years ago. He left the floor to bring these wines to the US thru his Goatboy Selections. Byron is the driving force behind Wild World New York, A Fermentation Festival in Brooklyn.Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio. Our tenth anniversary bacchanal is a rare gathering of your favorite chefs, mixologists, storytellers, thought leaders, and culinary masterminds. We’ll salute the inductees of the newly minted HRN Hall of Fame, who embody our mission to further equity, sustainability, and deliciousness. Explore the beautiful Palm House and Yellow Magnolia Café, taste and imbibe to your heart’s content, and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tasty gifts for any budget at our silent auction. Tickets available now at heritageradionetwork.org/gala.The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy

Elena Penna Currado Vietti is partner at Vietti Winery and wife of winemaker Luca Vietti. Vietti is one of the oldest producers in Barolo with an impressive list of vineyard sites in the region. They also have played an important role in “Cru” Barolos and the survival of Arneis.Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio. Our tenth anniversary bacchanal is a rare gathering of your favorite chefs, mixologists, storytellers, thought leaders, and culinary masterminds. We’ll salute the inductees of the newly minted HRN Hall of Fame, who embody our mission to further equity, sustainability, and deliciousness. Explore the beautiful Palm House and Yellow Magnolia Café, taste and imbibe to your heart’s content, and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tasty gifts for any budget at our silent auction. Tickets available now at heritageradionetwork.org/gala.The Grape Nation is powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali

Isabelle Legeron is a Master of Wine, consultant, contributing journalist, and author of the seminal book on natural wine, “Natural Wine, An Introduction to Organic and Biodynamic Wines Made Naturally”.Isabelle is the founder and creator of Raw Wine and Raw Wine Fairs. She is leading the charge globally for greater transparency and promotes growers who work organically, who ferment their wines naturally, and use little to no additives. Raw Wine Fairs are now in London, Berlin, Miami, Los Angeles, Montreal, and New York. 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.