Episode 157: Chris Phelps: Ad Vivum Cellars: Coil Wines
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 157 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Chris Phelps, Owner and Winemaker of Ad Vivum Cellars and Coil Wines out of Napa Valley and Sonoma, CA. 🍷 Chris is the final interview for Season 4 and what a way to end an incredible season filled with so many amazing guests than to have Chris Phelps on the show, a man whose personal story is just as storied and illustrious as his career in the wine industry. 🍷 Chris was a recommendation by his son Josh Phelps who I had the privilege of interviewing in Episode 143 where we talked about Josh's brand,...
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Episode 156: Rebekah Wineburg: Post & Vine and Quintessa
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 156 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Rebekah Wineburg, Owner and Winemaker of Post & Vine and Winemaker at Quintessa out of Napa Valley, CA. 🍷 In this episode Rebekah talks about her life growing up, her family's love and appreciation for wine and a trip to Napa Valley with her family when she was 16 years old that was ultimately responsible for her eventual pursuit in a life of winemaking. 🍷 Rebekah shares a serendipitous moment while dining with her family that involved a special bottle of Italian wine by Ornellaia and how that wine...
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Episode 155: Dan Petroski: Massican Winery
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 155 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Dan Petroski, Owner and Winemaker of Massican Winery out of St. Helena, CA. 🍷 In this episode Dan talks about his life growing up in Brooklyn, NY, his time in Manhattan in High School, and eventually his time at Columbia University playing football. 🍷 Dan's introduction to wine came at the unfortunate season opening loss to Harvard University his Freshman year. The team spent the evening at a Chinese restaurant where he had a little too much white wine to drink, but the wine itself would somehow...
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Episode 154: Matt Murphy and Mark Porembski: Unwritten Wines
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 154 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Matt Murphy and Mark Porembski, Owner and Winemaker of Unwritten Wines out of Napa Valley, CA. 🍷 This is the only dual guest podcast this season which is exciting because I've done interviews like this in the past where you get to hear 2 different pespectives of the same brand and in the case of Unwritten, from an Ownership and Winemaking standpoint. 🍷 Unwritten was launched in 2014 as a passion project between a handful of guys either involved in wine, or passionate about wine, that collectively wanted...
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Episode 153: Natalie Winkler: Salvestrin Winery
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 153 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Natalie Winkler, Winemaker and Viticulturist for Salvestrin Winery out of St. Helena, CA. 🍷 In this episode Natalie talks about her life growing up in Kansas City and later attending the University of Oregon where she initially found a love and passion for wine working at a wine bar while attending classes. 🍷 After travels and studies abroad Natalie would find herself at Westwood Estate Wines in St. Helena working alongside David Ramey and how a recommendation from Aaron Pott to meet Michel Rolland would...
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Episode 152: Michael Cruse: Ultramarine Wines: Cruse Wine Co.
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 152 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Michael Cruse, Owner and Winemaker of Ultramarine Wines and Cruse Wine Co. out of Petaluma, CA. 🍷 Having Michael on the podcast was amazing because I was able to learn about what it’s like to make Cali Sparkling and Petnats vs. traditional still white and red varietals that a majority of winemaker’s produce. 🍷 It was actually thanks to a Reel that I noticed on my IG page with MS Dustin Wilson tasting through Michael’s “Cruse” lineup that got me intrigued which I’m grateful I stumbled across....
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Episode 151: Dominic Chappellet: Chappellet Winery
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 151 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Dominic Chappellet Chief Operating Officer of Chappellet Winery out of Pritchard Hill, CA. 🍷 I’ve often spoke about how Chappellet is at the top of my list of wineries in the Napa Valley but it’s without question their contribution to viticulture and winemaking have placed them at that same level amongst so many people just like myself. 🍷 When I decided to relaunch my podcast in the earlier part of 2023, Chappellet was the first family I thought of as a potential guest on the show so I reached out to...
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Episode 150: Michel Gassier: Domaine Gassier and Château de Nages
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 150 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Michel Gassier, Owner of Winemaker of Château de Nages and Domaine Gassier out of the Costières de Nîmes appellation of the Languedoc-Roussillon Region of France which is one of the most southernly parts of the historic Rhône Valley. 🍷 Michel kicks off the 2nd half of Season 4 of the podcast and he's also my first old-world wine guest on the show so it brings me a tremendous amount of honor and gratitude to be sharing his story and the multiple generations of his family in the wine industry. 🍷 In this...
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Episode 149: Jean Hoefliger: Jean Hoefliger Wine Consulting
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 149 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jean Hoefliger, Owner of Jean Hoefliger Wine Consulting and Winemaker of AXR out of Napa Valley, California. 🍷 Jean was a previous podcast guest in Episode 51 and is part of a four interview lineup where I brought back a few amazing people for a new, fresh conversation as a soft launch for Season 4! With Jean being the 4th person of the throwbacks it was great having him back but I also can't believe we're already half way though Season 4 of the podcast! 🍷 In this episode Jean talks about his time at...
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Episode 148: John Caldwell: Caldwell Vineyard
Mr. Wine Guy Podcast
In Episode 148 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with John Caldwell or "JFC"...Owner, Smuggler, and Head Dude of Caldwell Vineyard out of the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley, CA. 🍷 John Caldwell is what I would call a true pioneer in his ability to understand French vine clones back in the early 1980's and how important they would be to viticulture in other parts of the world, and especially in his vineyard in California. 🍷 The problem was, John wanted them faster than customs would allow so he smuggled them across the Canadian border, which this story in...
info_outlineIn Episode 141 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Danny Fay, Owner and Winemaker of Hill of Tara Wines out of Sonoma, CA and GM of TOR Wines out of Napa Valley, CA.
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In this episode Danny talks about his life growing up in the West Cotswold's of Oxford, England in a small village called Ducklington before eventually moving to the Silicone Valley and then Sonoma, CA at the age of 12.
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Danny talks about how his plan growing up was to pursue a degree in aviation but was eventually altered to enrolling in an agriculture class in pursuit of a business degree instead.
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Danny shares a funny story about the late Dr. Keith Patterson and Dr. Patterson's equational philosophy on wine and how that philosophy changed the trajectory of his life!
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Danny talks about his "Envolve"ment with Envolve Winery, and his time at Kanzler Vineyards as GM as the first non-family hire and what it meant for his career to be part of both of these brands.
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Danny also goes into great length to talk about his personal brand Hill of Tara, a reflection of his families history going back to Oxford, England.
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The Hill of Tara, being the most sacred land of Ireland at over 5,000 years old and ruled throughout history by over 142 kings was purchased by his great grandfather in 1928 before selling back to the country in 1974. Danny's family was the last private landowners of this historical place.
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In addition Danny talks about his wines being Cabernet or Cabernet Franc and a blend of both varietals and how his wines are so exclusive that he only makes up to 3 barrels of each wine and considers himself a micro winery if there's such a thing.
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Danny also talks about what it means to be a pat of Tor Wines in Napa Valley and his love for mentorship; what it meant to him growing up and what it also means for him to be a mentor to others as well.
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Cheers 🍷
To watch on YouTube:
To follow Danny on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/hilloftarawines/
https://www.instagram.com/winemakingnomad/
To sign up for Danny's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:
https://members.hilloftarawines.com/signup/
To purchase Tor's book:
https://torwines.com/reflections-of-a-vintner/
To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:
https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/