Sip Sip Hooray Podcast

It’s officially the season of festive dinners, Friendsgiving gatherings, holiday parties, and “What wine should I bring?” moments. On this year’s Sip Sip Hooray Holiday Wine episode, the Two Marys share their top picks for the 2025 season—plus expert recommendations from winemakers across California and beyond. On the show today we've enlisted help from some friends of the pod to suggest the best wines for festive times. No doubt you've seen many holiday wine guides about what to drink with Thanksgiving and other holiday meals, or what to give friends and family. But we've got our own take on this and we hope to help you sort out what will make that magical pairing, that magical gift this holiday season. Check out our recommendations for sparkling wine, white wine, red wine, non-alcoholic wine, what to bring for Friendsgiving and wine related gifts to give.

“I wanted to connect people, my brand, to Colombia and to really just bring a more beautiful part of Colombia than what everybody knows Colombia for.” - Bibiana Gonzáles Rave, ⁠Cattleya Wines⁠ New Sip Sip Hooray pod ep! The Marys chat with Bibiana González Rave, a force of nature in the world of wine. Bibiana’s first sip of wine at age 11 led to a life in wine. At age 14 she declared she would be a winemaker. Even though wine was not grown or made in her native Colombia, she was determined to pursue her teenage dream of becoming a winemaker. A detour to studying chemical engineering didn’t deter her. Bibiana followed a calling that led her across continents. She talked her way into a French enology school after 11 rejection letters, and built a career spanning nearly 30 harvests across France, South Africa, and California. Her wines pay homage to her Colombian roots while reflecting the soul of the California vineyards she works with. Bibiana is also a member of one of the most beloved wine families, the Pisonis, who produced coveted wines from California’s Santa Lucia Highlands. In fact, when she first met Gary Pisoni, her father-in-law to be, he read her astrological chart and made a bold prediction. We’ll get the behind-the-scenes story on all that. But Bibiana has her own voice behind her Cattleya label, and we’re thrilled she’s here to share her story today.

“I’m the only Colombian winemaker in the world, born and raised, trained, who is a grower and a winemaker as a job, man or woman. I wanted to connect people, my brand, to Colombia and to really just bring a more beautiful part of Colombia than what everybody knows Colombia for.” - Bibiana Gonzáles Rave, Cattleya Wines New Sip Sip Hooray pod ep! The Marys chat with Bibiana González Rave, a force of nature in the world of wine — and the first Colombian-born, raised, and trained winemaker working in the United States. Link to listen in bio. Bibiana’s first sip of wine at age 11 led to a life in wine. At age 14 she declared she would be a winemaker. Even though wine is not grown or made in her native Colombia, she was determined to pursue her teenage dream of becoming a winemaker. A detour to studying chemical engineering didn’t deter her. Bibiana followed a calling that led her across continents. She talked her way into a French enology school after 11 rejection letters, and built a career spanning nearly 30 harvests across France, South Africa, and California. Her wines pay homage to her Colombian roots while reflecting the soul of the California vineyards she works with. Bibiana is also a member of one of the most beloved wine families, the Pisonis, who produced coveted wines from California’s Santa Lucia Highlands. In fact, when she first met Gary Pisoni, her father-in-law to be, he read her astrological chart and made a bold prediction. We’ll get the behind-the-scenes story on all that. But Bibiana has her own voice behind her Cattleya label, and we’re thrilled she’s here to share her story today.

"I tell people I haven't made my best wine yet" - Tom Malone The Marys are on location in Amador County in California’s Sierra Foothills! On the podcast today, plein air is a French term for painting outside in a natural environment. Well, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque spot to paint than our location today. We are at PleinAir Vineyards, one of Amador County’s newest wineries. This is a small, intimate winery started by husband and wife team Tom and Sarah Malone, with an eye for design and a taste for good wine. We’re excited to have Tom and his consulting winemaker Steve Leveque (whose pedigree includes Mondavi, Opus One, and Hall Wines) here to paint the picture of PleinAir for us. Tom and Sarah were in the home remodeling business, renovating houses with a French country flair. They bring that design aesthetic to their winery, filled with items Sarah finds combing through French markets, and the winery’s motto- Casual, Rustic, Elegant - reflects this. At PleinAir there’s a certain je ne sais quoi vibe here, inviting you to slow down and soak up the wine country lifestyle in chic style. So pop a cork, pour a glass and dream of enjoying wine plein air.

A game changer for enjoying wine one glass at a time. “I wanted the freedom to drink whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.” – Coravin inventor Greg Lambrecht. How do you open a bottle of wine without committing to finishing it before it goes bad? That question led Greg Lambrecht, a medical device entrepreneur, to invent Coravin - a groundbreaking system that lets you pour a glass without pulling the cork. Greg combined medical technology with a passion for wine to change the way we drink. From the original idea, developed in his kitchen, to the latest innovations like Coravin Sparkling, Greg shares his story of perseverance, problem-solving, and a mission to give wine lovers freedom by the glass. With nearly two million units sold to date since debuting in 2011, Coravin is so popular that the company says a glass of wine preserved with Coravin is poured every second of every day. That’s impressive. Coravin has even become a verb and an adjective. For example, you might say, “I’ll Coravin this wine,” or “That bottle’s Coravined." This wine technology company continues to innovate, developing tools for Coravinning screw cap wines, or even easier to use systems, like the Pivot+ that works with any type of bottle closure. We’re excited to hear Greg’s stories behind the scenes of these groundbreaking products and to find out what’s on the horizon.

If you're a fan of the podcast you know that we're all about simplifying and demystifying the world of wine to make it more accessible and appealing for all of us. That’s also the goal of Wine Folly, a multi-platform blend of information for wine education, entertainment, and enjoyment. Our guest today is Madeline Puckette, the co-founder and chief design officer of Wine Folly. She made a career of guiding people through the maze of wine appellations, varietals, tasting notes, and price points. And she does it all with panache and an ultra relatable appeal. Madeline's an author, a sommelier, an educator, and a wine expert. With Wine Folly, she gives wine lovers at every level more confidence to enjoy what they drink. Wine shouldn't be precious, and we agree. And that's why Madeline is the perfect guest for our pod. We'll hear her perspective on the wine world and what trends you can expect to see. We're delighted she’s joining us to share her story of building a blog, a website, and a wine venture that is folly in name only.

For this episode, the Marys are on location with Rob Sinton, winemaker at El Dorado County’s Starfield Vineyards. This is where the grapes meet the sky, as they say, thanks to high altitude vineyards reaching upwards of 2400 to 3000 feet in elevation. Here at Starfield Vineyards, you gaze at the vineyard views surrounded by evergreens in every direction. This mountain terroir gives El Dorado wines their distinct herbal and spicy flavor, or Sierra spice, as it's called in these parts, a flavor profile that makes them stand out among other California wines. We're so excited to be speaking with Rob Sinton at this gorgeous property set with lakes and miles of walking trails, where you can soak up the wine country experience and enjoy some darn good wines. Starfield is also the dream of Rob and his father Tom, whose love of wine led them on a quest to find the best place to grow Rhone and Italian varietals. Their search sent them into the Sierra Foothills and El Dorado County. Today Rob is not only making wine, he’s reinventing wine labels using solargraphy, championing forgotten grapes, and even creating his own vermouths. We’re sure that once you hear Rob’s story, you’ll want to plan a visit to this and other wineries in the mountainous El Dorado wine country.

We love a good wine comeback story where the little guy wins! On today's show, a story that stopped the wine world in its tracks and made seemingly everyone cheer. It's a "Let's Hear It For The Little Guy" tale, a David versus Goliath story with a dreams do come true plot. We're talking with James Hall, founding winemaker of the illustrious Patz & Hall Winery California’s Sonoma County. He's the guy who pulled off the unimaginable when he bought back his winery from one of wine's biggest conglomerates. James is here today to share his story and his wines with us, and to catch us up on how things are going since the buyback more than a year ago.

We’re on location in California’s Amador County in the Sierra Foothills. Meet Scott Harvey, one of the pioneers in this wine region. Scott has been making wine in the Amador County AVA at his namesake winery Scott Harvey Wines since the late 1970s, making a name for himself with celebrated Zinfandels and Barberas. We're excited to be with Scott at his namesake winery in the Shenandoah Valley, and we can't wait to share his story with you. We're sitting here with Scott overlooking beautiful vineyards on gently rolling hills. Now Scott is known for Barbera and Zinfandel but he will always have a specific German variety in his lineup and we'll get the inside scoop on why and the story behind the label of his vineyard 1869 Zinfandel. Yes, you heard it right, 1869. Scott takes us on a journey from his German winemaking roots and family heritage to his hands-on, terroir-driven approach in the Shenandoah Valley AVA. Plus, we’ll learn the role his wife Janaplays - she even has her own label - and why Amador County is one of California’s best-kept wine secrets.

Two women with a love of wine, the Earth, and chemistry are at the heart of our show today. Their story is a blend of Native American and Spanish culture, but it is rooted in a love of family and belief in dreams. They are Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribó of Camins2Dreams Winery in Lompoc, California. These winemaking wives share their journey from different continents to one shared dream. Tara is the first Native American woman winemaker, and Mireia is a Catalan chemist-turned-vintner. Wine brought them together, meeting as interns at J. Lohr in Paso Robles, to launching a winery that honors underrepresented grapes, tribal traditions, organic farming, and the LGBTQIA2S+ community. And, they’ve been known to roller skate in their Lompoc winery. We know you’ll love getting to know Tara and Mireia, so pop the cork, pour a glass and enjoy hearing their story.

You'll feel you've stepped back in time at Boeger Winery with $15 tasting fees and great wines for far less than in other more famous California wine regions. But the quality here equals them! On today's podcast we are on location at Boeger Winery in El Dorado County, where the original owners of this estate first arrived in California’s Sierra Foothills to strike it rich in gold. What they discovered instead was that there was a more fruitful fortune to be made in fruits and nuts. That same soil is now planted with grapevines and home to Boeger Winery. We’re delighted to be speaking with fourth generation winemaker Justin Boeger about his family’s pioneering role in establishing El Dorado’s first post-prohibition winery, in 1972, and launching the region’s modern wine renaissance. We even got to meet Justin's father Greg, a living legend in the El Dorado County wine world. Visiting Boeger is like stepping back in time. You’re surrounded by rolling hills dotted by vines and you’ll still find the original 1872 gravity-fed winery, along with the modern winery and tasting room tucked in among the trees. The family celebrates its story and the history of El Dorado wine country, where liquid gold flows from the vineyard to the glass. We’ll learn why El Dorado County is a hidden gem for wine lovers. High altitude wines define El Dorado, where acidity and intensity - and Sierra Spice - are the hallmarks of the region’s wines. Along with that, visitors discover great mountain views and a variety of activities, from wine tasting, to mountain biking, river rafting, camping and more. We’ll also find why Barbera and Zinfandel thrive here, Justin’s family’s German roots and a new white wine variety just being released that we think is awesome.

Dr. Laura Catena reacts to AHA’s statement on alcohol and cardiac health and the possibility of USDA Dietary Guidelines dropping alcohol consumption guidance. Given the recent news that the USDA may drop the current recommendation of one alcoholic drink per day for women and two alcoholic drinks per day for men in the soon to be released update of the USDA dietary guidelines, and the American Heart Association’s new statement that alcohol may have no to little impact or could even be beneficial on heart health, we are fortunate to have just the right person to respond to this and sort it all out for us. We welcome vintner and physician Dr. Laura Catena back to the podcast. With her unique dual background in medicine and winemaking, Catena shares her researched perspective, emphasizing the importance of scientific integrity, the value of moderate wine consumption in historical health data, and the need for ongoing research free from bias. She challenges the absolutist messaging that no amount of alcohol is safe, and urges a more balanced, evidence-based conversation.

On today's show, when you think of Japanese cuisine, what beverage comes to mind? Maybe sake or a Japanese beer? What about an elegant Pinot Noir? Our guest today is out to prove that Pinot is the perfect complement to umami-rich Japanese dishes. Xander Soren has spent his career blending technical expertise with a passion for music and creative expression. He helped launch iTunes, the first iPods, and he co-created GarageBand, which opened the world of music production to creators everywhere, inspiring indie music makers around the world. Today Xander's focus is wine. His latest venture is Xander Soren Wines, a boutique wine label with wines that truly sing. Xander certainly brought the Apple design sensibility to his wines in the packaging and in the elegance of the Pinot Noir made with one of our favorite winemakers, Shalini Sekhar. We've never met a vintner or winemaker who counts top Japanese sushi masters as friends. Nor have I ever heard a reaction to a wine where a friend who I recently shared a bottle of Xander's Olivet Lane Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley say it slides into sushi and takes the place of soy sauce. We'll explore Xander's decidedly different approach to wine, which includes his personally curated playlist to help you get in the groove to enjoy wine.

What do a 1946 Western film, a fight for independence in the Balkans, a celebrity Engagement, a Fulbright Scholarship and Baskin-Robbins ice cream have in common? They are all part of the life story of a charismatic, hardworking, and big dreaming winemaker. Meet Sonja Magdevski of ⁠Clementine Carter Wines⁠ in Santa Barbara County’s Los Alamos, where she’s one of the OGs who turned the sleepy little town into a must visit wine destination. But, her first job in wine was planting a vineyard with no experience. We explore how Sonja fell in love with Grenache, her pioneering role in the Los Alamos wine community and her passion for storytelling through both wine and writing. Join us for an inspiring conversation about taking risks, following unexpected paths, and creating something truly unique. We're excited to have Sonja, a fellow journalist and an inspiration to so many people, joining us to share her story. 🍷

What do a 1946 Western film, a fight for independence in the Balkans, a celebrity Engagement, a Fulbright Scholarship and Baskin-Robbins ice cream have in common? They are all part of the life story of a charismatic, hardworking, and big dreaming winemaker. Meet Sonja Magdevski of Clementine Carter Wines in Santa Barbara County’s Los Alamos, where she’s one of the OGs who turned the sleepy little town into a must visit wine destination. But, her first job in wine was planting a vineyard with no experience. We explore how Sonja fell in love with Grenache, her pioneering role in the Los Alamos wine community and her passion for storytelling through both wine and writing. Join us for an inspiring conversation about taking risks, following unexpected paths, and creating something truly unique. We're excited to have Sonja, a fellow journalist and an inspiration to so many people, joining us to share her story. 🍷

On the podcast today, the story of a woman who went from finance to fermentation. Terah Bajjalieh earned her degree focused on economic forecasts and number crunching, but instead wound up working in a world of weather forecasts and grape crushing. She's a winemaker you need to know -- who just debuted two of her wines at select Whole Foods. Terah graduated with a degree in finance, but a three month course on wine ended up changing the course of her life. So she followed that unexpected passion for wine and is now one of the most exciting new voices in wine. She's gone from being a globetrotting harvest helper to getting a masters degree in Enology and Viticulture and becoming a sommelier as well. Today, she is winning rave reviews for her natural style winemaking and the impressive wine she makes under her Terah Wine Company label. Terah's work as a natural winemaker earned her a spot as one of Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemakers in 2024. So pour a glass of wine and join us to hear Terah’ s inspiring story.

The need for help for impacted wine professionals is ongoing. On this episode of Sip Sip Hooray!, we dive into how the wine and hospitality community supports professionals in crisis. Guest Cristie Norman, president and co-founder of the United Sommeliers Foundation, shares how the nonprofit has been providing financial aid to sommeliers and wine professionals affected by disasters—including the recent Los Angeles wildfires. The recent LA wildfires may be over, but their impact on the wine and hospitality industry continues. Cristie Norman discusses the ongoing need, not only for the LA Fires but also for recent hurricanes, other natural disasters, but also healthcare needs and domestic violence issues facing sommeliers. Learn about the foundation’s five-year journey, its impact on industry professiona, and how you can contribute to their mission. From financial aid for those facing unexpected hardships to disaster relief efforts, the USF is making a real difference. From providing emergency grants to those in need to long-term recovery support, their work is truly inspiring.

This Earth Day, we get our hands dirty (in the best way!) with Jason Haas, second-generation proprietor of Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, on California’s Central Coast. Tablas Creek is the first U.S. winery to earn Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC). Jason breaks down what regenerative organic farming is, why it's a game-changer for the planet and your wine glass, and how Tablas Creek is leading the charge in farming that's good for the soil, the vines and grapes, people, animals and the community. Seems Paso Robles is a mecca for the regenerative organic farming movement. Jason has his theory as to why, and he also tells us how regenerative farming goes beyond organic and biodynamic practices and how these practices increase carbon sequestration.

On this episode of Sip Sip Hooray, we take a frank BTS look on what - and how much money - it takes to establish a new winery in Napa Valley. Fred and Trey Eppright are the father-son duo behind Parable Wines in Napa Valley. They built careers as real estate developers in Texas, but after trips to various wine regions, Trey fell in love with wine and wanted to find a winery property in Napa Valley. He convinced Fred to invest in his dream. Their story includes the challenges of starting a winery in Napa Valley and the permit battles that delayed their vision for 3+ years. After listening we know you’ll have a new appreciation for why wine costs what it does.

In this episode of Sip Sip Hooray! we dive into the the recent declarations that no level of alcohol is safe, calls for cancer labeling, the anti-alcohol movement and the impacts on the wine industry and wine lovers. Our guest, Erlinda Doherty, a sommelier, alcohol policy expert and founder of Vinicola Consulting, sheds light on the latest health warnings, the World Health Organization's stance on alcohol, and the potential implications of new government regulations. We discuss the history of alcohol warnings and neo-prohibition movements, the WHO’s "no safe level of alcohol" claim, what’s motivating it and why now? We look at the science behind moderate wine consumption, how health policies and warning labels could change the wine industry, and what wine lovers and industry professionals can do to have their voices heard.