Sip Sip Hooray Podcast

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.

SawyerSomm is in the house! In this episode, we talk with Chris Sawyer, the “Sommelier to the Stars,” about his unique approach to wine, film, and music. From high school nights with Winona Ryder to private tastings with Hollywood's biggest and brightest, Chris shares his passion and unforgettable stories. There's just not enough time to describe Chris's impact on the wine world. His unique approach to pairing films with vintages, and behind-the-scenes stories from Hollywood to Napa Valley are legendary and unforgettable. But, as you’ll learn, Chris keeps it real and down-to-earth. From hosting underground cellar tastings to rubbing shoulders with Michael Keaton and Francis Ford Coppola, Chris proves that wine is more than just a drink—it’s a story waiting to unfold. Grab a glass and enjoy the conversation!

Our guest today is Jess Druey, founder ofWhiny Baby, a wine label that's all about keeping it fun and keeping it real. These are not your parents' dusty vintages and the wines not aimed at wine aficionados with massive cellars of expensive bottles. This is wine for a younger generation, Gen Z to be specific, the babies of the wine world, people dipping their toes in and looking for a good time. Jess says the wine industry has an old people problem and that wineries don't know how to talk to Gen Z and wine newbies. We agree with that. So Jess went about re-imagining, reinventing, and reinvigorating the often stodgy wine world. Think of wine in terms of the vibe, the experience, the emotion. We love a wine bottle that comes with bling and super fun labels that turn in the savable stickers. But Jess is not just a rising star in the wine world, she's a star in the TV world. We'll get some behind the scenes stories about her big win onGordon Ramsay's Food Stars. Whiny Baby is Gen Z owned and operated, loud, colorful, fun, and irreverent. By re-imagining the wine experience, Whiny Baby's call to Gen Z is, it's time for you to break up with your seltzers.

What are your biggest pet peeves when it comes to wine? On the pod we’re usually anti-whiny, but on this episode we’re sharing some stuff about the wine world that just gets under our skin, grape skin and otherwise - the quirks that irk us and annoying things about the wine scene that are frankly hard to swallow. We do love wine, but there are some things about wine and the wine industry that baffle us, or just piss us off. We've compiled a list of our top wine pet peeves, perhaps some of the same things that you wish would change. Plus, we've got pleas to the wine industry to take action on some of these points. They can take them or leave them, but we hope they take them. We'd love to know if our pet peeves resonate with you, and we'd love to know what your pet peeves are that aren't on our list. DM us on social media or leave a comment on our podcast platforms.

What are your biggest pet peeves when it comes to wine? On the pod we’re usually anti-whiny, but on this episode we’re sharing some stuff about the wine world that just gets under our skin, grape skin and otherwise - the quirks that irk us and annoying things about the wine scene that are frankly hard to swallow. We do love wine, but there are some things about wine and the wine industry that baffle us, or just piss us off. We've compiled a list of our top wine pet peeves, perhaps some of the same things that you wish would change. Plus, we've got pleas to the wine industry to take action on some of these points. They can take them or leave them, but we hope they take them. We'd love to know if our pet peeves resonate with you, and we'd love to know what your pet peeves are that aren't on our list. DM us on social media or leave a comment on our podcast platforms.

You probably don't think of gold or the gold rush when it comes to the Willamette Valley, but it's the foundation for our guests today for their families, farm, ranch and now vineyard and winery. Cam Bower and Bernadette Bayliss-Bower are the the husband and wife team behind Ghost Hill Cellars in Oregon’s storied Willamette Valley. They’re here to share their haunting tale about apparitions lurking among their picturesque winery and vinyeards. Yes, this is a wine podcast, but bear with us. We’ll connect the dots because the Ghost Hill Cellars has roots that date back to the gold rush in Oregon.

We here at Sip Sip Hooray! love a good deal! Amid all the stories swirling around about how expensive Wine Country visits have become, we decided to challenge ourselves and see if we could buck the trend, and save a few - or more - bucks. Our first destination was Napa Valley, and ICYMI the episode, check it out here. Now we’re headed to Sonoma County, one of Travel & Leisure’s Best 50 Places to Travel in 2024. We did the research so you don’t have to. How about wine tastings for $35 or less, hotels for $200 or less a night, good local eats and fun activities that won’t break the bank? Yes please! We’ve even got several recommendations that are free 😃 You might just have money left over for purchasing some bottles - or cases - of wine. Sonoma County is big - and encompasses many different geographical areas, so we’re offering our best finds, a taste of what you can discover in this diverse region that stretches from the Pacific Coast eastward to the border with Napa County. Note: This is our own independent research and recommendations. We are not receiving fees or commissions for the places mentioned in this episode.etails

We've got the OG Wine Riot Ringmaster in the house! Our guest today is about as anti-wine snob as they come. Tyler Balliet has been on a mission to bring joy to the wine world, focusing on the fun, the fascinating stories and the celebrations big and small that are created with wine. Tyler is the author of The Rebel School of Wine: A Visual Guide to Drinking with Confidence, and let me tell you, we cannot wait to get schooled. Tyler has thrown more wine parties than we can count, each more extravagant, creative, and out there, and most importantly, super fun, and totally Instagram and TikTok worthy. His goal is to entertain and educate, but you're never talked down to. In fact, Tyler says we're all talking about wine the wrong way. His book, The Rebel Wine School, restores joy and curiosity about wine. There are so many juicy details about wine, its culture and history that we never knew that, thanks Tyler, we’re happy to know about now. The Rebel School of Wine book is the anti-wine book, a lively, colorful, all-inclusive read that you'll go back to over and over instead of leaving it collecting dust on your bookshelf. Find out why in our lively conversation with Tyler.

On this episode of Sip Sip Hooray! the Marys are playing Santa’s helpers! We’ve been on the hunt for the perfect wine holiday gifts, from budget-friendly stocking stuffers to little indulgences, experiences, good reads and a few splurges. Listen all the way through for exclusive discount codes! We wanted to think outside the typical wine gift and inspire you to get creative gifting the wine lover in your life. We tried to have a broad price point range too, in hopes of providing inspiration for all pocketbooks. Be warned, you may want to keep some of these to gift to yourself. To be clear, we are not getting any kickbacks for promoting any of these gift ideas, and they are all chosen and in most cases, tested by us.

The Author of The World in A Wineglass is here! Food & Wine executive wine editor and Travel + Leisure wine editor Ray Isle has been writing about wine and other adult beverages for over 20 years. You've also seen his byline in many publications, including The Washington Post, Time and Wine & Spirits. Ray has also collected all sorts of awards and accolades for his work, including three James Beard nominations for beverage writing. He makes the world of wine understandable and attractive. Ray is also the author of a beautiful new book called The World in a Wineglass. His first book is It is part love letter, part encyclopedia or wine Wikipedia, and part delightful guide to wine around the globe. But Ray is not your typical wine writer. In fact, he might be better known for his wine and potato chip pairings: barbecue chips and Zinfandel or spicy AF jalapeño or sriracha chips with a super acidic chilled white wine like Riesling or Grüner Veltliner. So, Ray is the perfect guide through this world of wine. In The World in a Wine Glass, he explains the difference between corporate-owned, mass-produced wines and the wine producers who grow their own grapes and make wines that reflect the place and vintage variations for a unique sip. He does this by comparing them to the difference between a Taco Bell taco and a taco made from scratch from your local taqueria. The wines that Ray chose for his book offers something more, stories, soul and a few surprises. Yet the world of wine and wine journalism is changing and from his vantage point, Ray has seen it all. So pop the cork, pour a glass and settle in for some great wine stories.

There's more to a wine label than meets the eye. Most of us buy wine in the store and when we do, we picture that bottle coming from a small winery nestled among the vines somewhere in wine country.But did you know a growing chunk of popular labels don't have their own winery or winemaking team? They are private label wines contracted out to a third party winery who supplies the grapes, the winemaking team and creates a company's vintage vision. A great example that most of us can relate to is Costco’s Kirkland Brand or Trader Joe's wine. We're exploring the world of private label wines with one of the best in the business. Alison Crowe is Vice President of winemaking at Plata Wine Partners and she helps create more than 100 labels for clients near and far. If you've never heard the term private label when it comes to wine, you may be surprised to learn that many of the most popular wine brands are made by talented winemakers whose names or wineries are not on the label. In fact, Alison says she translates the beauty of a vineyard through the medium of wine. We'll set the record straight on how private label wines are made with quality, even sustainably sourced grapes. And we'll take a deeper dive into this very important part of the wine business.

On the pod today - we're thinking inside the wine box! Have you noticed there are more boxed wine options on the market and they're getting better and better? What may have seemed like a cheaper choice before is now viewed as a more sustainable choice. And the wine in the bag in that box? It keeps getting better. We get the lowdown on the move to wine in boxes from industry expert Erin Kirschenmann of Wine Business Monthly and Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, CA. For Erin, when it comes to alternative packaging for wine, she's seen it evolve and she has the inside scoop on the industry perspective and the evolution of boxed wine. For Jason, we’ll learn the inspiration for Tablas Creek being one of the first wineries to put really, really good wine in a box. If you’re used to cheap boxed wine, this is not only a revelation but a trend we’re seeing. So draw some wine from the box in your fridge and join us for a great conversation!

Do something. That’s what The Wine Bible author and wine expert Karen MacNeil said to herself when she was thinking about media stories focusing on alcohol’s negative effects - but not the positive communal, cultural, historic and yes, cardiac health aspects of wine. Now there is a new campaign to bring people back to the table, the communal table, not necessarily the bar. It is called Come Over October. And today on the podcast, we get the lowdown on this effort and why you might wanna give it a try. Karen’s brainstorm about wine bringing people together quickly caught on. She enlisted wine communicator wizes Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET, of Charles Communications and Gino Colangelo of Colangelo & Partners to work together fleshing out a campaign and spreading the word. Karen returns to Sip Sip Hooray (link to her previous episode below). She is joined by Joseph Phelps Vineyards Maison President David Pearson to share with our listeners what Come Over October is - and isn’t (hint: it’s not a wild party) and why it matters.

We've got Hot Takes with Tom Wark! From DTC shipping, the anti-alcohol movement and more, Tom's got something to say, and he says it on our pod. But you can get a regular dose of Tom's commentary and insights on the wine industry must read Substack, Fermentation. Because everyone wants to know what Tom thinks. Tom Wark is one of the OG wine bloggers and the wine industry's favorite muckraker, a man who is not afraid to call out an industry that doesn't always play fair or the forces he feels are working against the American wine consumer. Tom speaks for us, the wine lovers and little guys, and he's not afraid to push back against the big dogs or the accepted norms in the wine industry.

We’re talking to Megan Bell, winemaker and founder of Margins Wines in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. She was recently profiled in a San Francisco Chronicle story about struggles small wineries and winemakers face as they work to keep their labels going despite many challenges. Megan is the face of the story. We wanted to hear all about it straight from her - and while there’s gloom, she remains hopeful and pushes on. By the way, her wines are delicious!

A New Wine Label Takes the Stage. Launching a new wine label, especially during the pandemic, is never easy. But today we meet two actors who make, promote and sell their wine between acting, directing and producing gigs. They are Matt and Carolina Espino de Jager of Fuil Wines - pronounced fool - and we're excited to hear their story of starting their own winery and the two labels that they've created. From acting to winemaking, it's not a unique story. In this case, Matt and Carolina's screenplay is full of passion, wine country romance and determination without a marquee Hollywood name. You've heard folks say to some people who have side gigs, don't quit your day job just yet. Well, the early reviews for Fuil have been notably good. So maybe that advice doesn’t always apply! We're excited to introduce you to these wines and Matt and Carolina, who share how they balance their dual roles. Grab a glass and join us!

On this podcast episode, let's hear it for the girls. As founder of ⁠Teneral Cellars⁠, Jill Osur is driven to make a difference, harnessing the power of business for good and using wine as a conduit for change. All this while also creating a selection of exceptional, sustainable wines. Did you know women are the primary purchasers of wine? That's right, nearly 70% of wine sold is bought by women. As consumers, women have long held the buying power, but not necessarily the business power in the world of wine. Only 10% of winemakers are women today and there are still very few women in leadership roles in the wine industry. Our guest today is determined to elevate women in wine, creating a winery that's run by women, partners with women-owned businesses, and donates part of their profits to groups that empower women. Join us for this uplifting and inspiring conversation!

Why You Should Be Drinking Portuguese Wines Now On the podcast today, the Symington family has a history in Portugal as rich as their Ports. We are excited to have DOC Douro Category Manager Mariana Brito and fifth generation family member Harry Symington joining us on the pod from Portugal to share Symington’s story. Port is a wine we think of as the perfect end to a great meal, a relaxing wine to sip and toast on an evening shared with family and friends. Port invites us to slow down, sip, and savor. The Symington family has lived by that mantra for generations. They are one of the best known names in Port, admired worldwide for their dedication to the wine and sustainable practices. Symington Family Estates owns the Port Houses of Dow’s, Graham’s, Warre’s, Cockburn’s and Quinta do Vesuvio, and dry wine producers in Portugal’s Douro Valley, Vinho Verde and Alentejo wine regions. The family is carefully upholding the best of Port's long history while also stewarding the wine into the future, producing dry white, rosé and red wines. While they trace their roots in the Port trade back to 1652, today the fifth generation of Symingtons is leading the way in the family business. You might think of Port as your father's or grandfather's drink. But Port is being rediscovered thanks in part to travelers choosing to go to Portugal and the historic Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the world's oldest demarcated wine region as their top destination. For this episodes show notes visit https://sipsiphooraypodcast.com/