New Sip Sip Hooray! pod ep. Click to listen.

What do guitar strings, ambient music, and one of Italy’s most exciting white wine regions have in common?

Meet Luca Formentini of Podere Selva Capuzza, the fourth-generation winemaker helping preserve the identity of Lugana DOC on the shores of Lake Garda in northern Italy. In this episode, Luca shares how music influences his winemaking, why sustainability became central to his philosophy, and what makes Turbiana one of Italy’s most captivating white grapes.

Luca believes we should all "trust your taste," how a package of guitar strings changed the way he approached sustainability, and why the best wines are those that complement food, not compete with it.

If you’ve never tasted Lugana wines, you’re missing out. They’re delicious and a great value. Also, this conversation might inspire your next wine adventure—to Lugana DOC and Lake Garda

.Visit Selva Capuzza winery

Visit Borgo San Donino agriturismo

Visit Cascina Capuzza Restaurant

Follow Selva Capuzza on Instagram

Follow Luca Formentini on Instagram

Luca Formentini’s ambient music compositions on Spotify

Wines tasted in this episode:

• Selva Capuzza Lugana Selva, Lugana DOC

• Selva Capuzza Campo del Soglio (Tuchi grape), San Martino della Battaglia DOC

New Sip Sip Hooray! podcast drop - click to listen.

What does it mean to acquiesce to wine? For Lodi winemaker Susan Tipton it means surrendering to the grapes, making wine that represents what the grapes give her.

Meet Susan Tipton, founder of Acquiesce Winery and Vineyards in Lodi, California. In a region famous for Zinfandel and other red wines, Sue took a different path, building a winery devoted entirely to Rhône-inspired white wines. What began as a passion project after she fell in love with a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape eventually became one of Lodi’s most acclaimed wineries.

Sue shares how she and her husband Rodney arrived in Lodi after years of moving around the world for corporate assignments, and how a song called “Acquiesce” by KD Lang inspired both the winery’s name and philosophy. Today, Acquiesce is known for wines that as they say, surrender to the grapes, focusing on expressing the vineyard rather than manipulating the wine. She also explains why Lodi’s warm days, cool Delta breezes, and sandy soils make Lodi an ideal place to grow Rhône white varieties such as Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Picpoul Blanc, and Bourboulenc.

Our conversation explores Sue’s career change in her 50s, the challenges of launching a winery focused exclusively on white wines, and the recognition that followed. From selling out her first vintages to being named Woman Winemaker of the Year by the International Women’s Wine Competition, Sue’s story is a testament to following curiosity and conviction.

We also discuss Acquiesce’s food-and-wine pairing program, regenerative farming practices, and the Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective, an initiative co-founded by Rodney Tipton to help create pathways into the wine industry for people of color.

So grab a glass and join us for this inspiring conversation about wine, hospitality, sustainability, and the rewards.

Wines tasted in this episode: All are estate Lodi AVA wines

• 2023 Sparkling Grenache Blanc

• 2024 Grenache Blanc

• 2024 Picpoul Blanc

• 2024 Bourboulenc

• 2024 Belle Blanc (Acquiesce’s Rhône-style white blend)

  • 50% Roussanne

  • 30% Grenache Blanc

  • 20% Bourboulenc

• 2024 Grenache Rosé

Visit Acquiesce Winery

Follow Acquiesce Winery on Instagram

New Sip Sip Hooray! pod episode - click to listen.

El Dorado County in the Sierra Foothills wine country is one of California’s best kept secrets, but it shouldn’t be.

When gold was discovered here in the mid 1800s, the Italians who came to the region to strike it rich brought with them their grapevines and winemaking traditions. The folks with Edio Vineyards at Delfino Farms in the Camino district came from this heritage.

In homage to patriarch Edio Delfino - who created the family’s fruit orchards, the third generation planted vineyards at what many might think is an impossible elevation - up to 3,000 feet - where wintry snows are not uncommon.

Today, you’ll meet brothers Derek and Peter Delfino, who bring their wine growing and winemaking talents as third generation vintners to the family’s endeavor, and along with other family members, created what today is one of the most exciting wineries in El Dorado County.

Edio is named for their grandfather, Edio Delfino, a lifelong farmer and visionary who helped establish Apple Hill as a premiere apple growing region in the Sierra Foothills.

With Derek managing the vineyards, Peter making Edio wines, together they are balancing family tradition with innovation and a through line of love for the land and a deep respect for where they come from.

The Marys were fortunate enough to visit Edio in 2023 and we enjoyed the beautiful views from the new tasting room. We sipped the fabulous wines that are full of distinct characteristics of the region - the zesty acidity, the aromatic notes and minerality really blew us away. So we’re so happy to have Derek and Peter with us to share their story.

Wines tasted in this episode

:

• Edio Vineyards 2025 Albariño, El Dorado County

• Edio Vineyards 2024 “No. 5 Blanc,” El Dorado County

• Edio Vineyards 2023 Grenache, El Dorado County

• Edio Vineyards 2024 Mourvèdre, El Dorado County

• Edio Vineyards 2023 “No. 5 Rouge,” El Dorado County

• Edio Vineyards 2023 Frank’s Blend Red, El Dorado County

Visit Edio Vineyards and Delfino Farm

Follow Edio Vineyards on Instagram

New Sip Sip Hooray podcast drop! Listen here.

We’re continuing our celebration of the 50th anniversary of the legendary Judgment of Paris Tasting, that 1976 blind showdown where California wines stunned the French establishment and changed wine history forever.

We’re revisiting an interview Mary Orlin did with the late Warren Winiarski, the visionary winemaker behind the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon that shocked the judges when it was ranked above some of the most revered Bordeaux in the world.

We’ll talk about how the wine came to be, what the victory meant in the moment and how it helped reshape the future of the Napa Valley and the global wine conversation.

You’ll hear Warren’s own words on tape from an interview 10 years ago on the occasion of the Paris Tasting’s 40th anniversary.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

New Sip Sip Hooray! pod drop - click to listen.

What does it take to lead one of Napa Valley’s most iconic wineries into the future—especially in a milestone year? In this episode, Matt Crafton, winemaker and president of Napa Valley’s Chateau Montelena, reflects on guiding the winery during the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris—the moment their 1973 Chardonnay stunned the world by beating top white Burgundies from France

.While that historic win put Montelena on the global map, Matt emphasizes that the real responsibility today isn’t reliving the past—it’s honoring it through innovation and consistency. He shares how the winery continues to focus on long-term decisions, resisting industry trends in favor of site-driven wines that prioritize balance, ageability, and a true sense of place

Chateau Montelena is celebrating that feat this year, yet there’s barely any of the 1973 Chardonnay left. You can find an unopened bottle on display at the winery and one in the Smithsonian.

It makes us wonder how relevant is the judgment of Paris today? Is the legacy strong or fading? And will it be celebrated in 10, 20, even another 50 years from now? We’re happy that Matt Crafton is here to discuss this and to bring us up to date on how Chateau Montelena has evolved - and continues to evolve - since that fateful tasting.

Wine tasted in this episode:

• Chateau Montelena 2023 Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Visit Chateau Montelena

Follow Chateau Montelena

New Sip Sip Hooray pod drop! Click to listen.

We’re popping the cork on a milestone moment, the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, the legendary blind tasting that shocked the wine world and put California wine on the global map in a big way. To help us unpack what it all meant then and what it means now, we’re joined by wine journalist Esther Mobley, formerly of the San Francisco Chronicle.

We’ll chat about how that legendary showdown reshaped the wine scene, what’s changed over the last five decades in California and where things are headed next.

Plus we’ll get to know Esther, her path into wine, what’s next for her since departing the Chronicle.

During Esther’s tenure at the Chron, extreme wildfires raged through Napa, Sonoma, the Santa Cruz Mountains and more. Then came the pandemic when people stocked up on wine and booze to drink at home. Yet post pandemic America’s thirst for wine is drying up. We also saw Napa Valley becoming increasingly and some say too expensive to visit.

As Esther leaves the Chronicle for a new chapter, she comments on the state of the California wine industry, bright spots amid all the gloom and doom and what she thinks will happen in the next decade in wine.

Follow Esther Mobley https://www.instagram.com/esthermob/

Esther Mobley’s San Francisco Chronicle articles

Esther Mobley at The Boston Globe

New Sip Sip Hooray! pod drop - click to listen now.

Fifty years ago, when America was celebrating its Bicentennial, and the famous Judgement of Paris put California wine on the world map, Barry and Audrey Sterling founded Iron Horse Vineyards.

At the time, the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley AVA was unknown. But the Sterlings saw potential there, and created a sparkling wine house that would go on to earn worldwide acclaim

.CEO and second generation vintner Joy Sterling is back for an encore appearance on the pod. She shares how a winery stays relevant for half a century and what it means to keep the Iron Horse spirit galloping into the future.

As Joy says, Iron Horse’s 50th anniversary is a toast for the history books. It also coincides with the Chinese lunar year of the horse, Joy’s mother’s Audrey Sterling’s 95th birthday, winemaker David Munksgard’s 30th vintage and America’s 250th anniversary. Iron Horse has played a role in that, with its sparkling wines being served in seven presidential administrations at America’s table. While looking back is a fitting tribute, Joy says it’s important to look ahead and move forward to the next 50 years.

Visit Iron Horse Vineyards - 9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol, CA

Wine tasted in this episode

• 2019 Spirit of ‘76

• 2023 Audrey Chardonnay

• 2023 Green Valley Estate Pinot Noir

Listen to Joy’s first appearance on Sip Sip Hooray!

New Sip Sip Hooray! pod drop. Click here to listen. We’re stepping into that delicious moment before dinner, when the day loosens its tie. We take a breath and we ease into the evening. It’s the perfect time for an apéritif.

Can America have an apéritif or aperitivo culture just as the French and Italians do? Rue de Rêve Apéritifs founders Jennifer Kimpe and Jeanne-Marie Hebert say, pourquoi pas, perché no or why not? You can sip the classic drinks - bitters like Aperol or Campari, bubbles and botanicals, Vermouth, et cetera - but there’s room for a new style of apéritifs, created by our guests today.

Jennifer and Jeanne-Marie always say that apéritif isn’t something you drink, it’s something you do. After three years of research and recipe development, these friends are on their way to realizing their dream of a modern apéritif culture in the U.S.

Apéritifs mentioned the episode:

• Blanc

• Rosé

• Rouge

Follow Rue de Rêve on Instagram

New Sip Sip Hooray! podcast episode - click to listen now, or find Sip Sip Hooray on your favorite podcast platform.

If you’ve read the wine headlines lately, you’d think wine is over. Younger generations don’t drink it. Wellness concerns have people cutting back. Baby boomers are aging out of the market.

But according to Dr. Liz Thach, President of the Wine Market Council and one of the world’s most respected wine researchers, that story is incomplete.

On this week’s Sip Sip Hooray podcast, Liz joined us to share brand-new research from the Wine Market Council — and the picture she paints is far more nuanced, and far more hopeful.

Liz is a Master of Wine, an educator, author, and longtime professor who lives at the crossroads of wine, business, and culture. She asks the big questions about how wine is made, sold, and enjoyed, and she has a gift for connecting what’s happening in the vineyards and boardrooms to what ends up in our glasses.

Recent Wine Market Council research finds Millennials are now the largest wine-drinking generation in the U.S., surpassing Boomers faster than expected. Gen X remains steady. And Gen Z? They do like wine — they just drink it differently.

Liz gives us an insight into her organization’s forward-looking research on the U.S. wine consumer buying habits, attitudes, and trends for 2026.

More on the Wine Market Council 2025 U.S. Wine Consumer Benchmark Segmentation Survey.

Please vote for our podcast - we’ve been nominated for three viewers choice awards in the Taste Awards!

@sipsiphooraypodcast is a finalist for the 17th annual @tasteawards in 3 Viewers Choice categories:

• Narsai David Award for Best Food or Drink Radio Broadcast

• Best Food or Drink Podcast

• Best Single Topic Series

We need your help to win. Voting is open NOW through Feb. 7. Link to vote here

Spread the word, tell your family and friends. We’d really love to win - we’ve been finalists many years, so we’re hoping 2026 is Sip Sip Hooray’s year!

Thank you for your support,

The Marys

New Sip Sip Hooray pod drop! Click to listen now.

On the podcast today, a woman who’s been wowing the wine world since she started work as a sommelier at the ripe old age of 21. Today, she owns one of the buzziest wine concepts around. Corkbuzz is part wine bar, restaurant and education center. Laura Maniec is a Master Sommelier and a master of bringing people together to learn about wine, enjoy good food and wine and spirited conversation.

Laura’s been educating folks on wine even before she opened the doors to her first Cork Buzz Restaurant & Wine Bar in New York City. A sommelier prep course at New York’s former Windows on the World led Laura on a path to roles at various restaurants in New York and Las Vegas, where she was encouraged to pursue the Master Sommelier certification. She became a mentor for others on that path and continues to educate a new generation of wine lovers and professionals alike. Corkbuzz is just as buzzy as it was when it opened in 2011.

Laura also takes us inside her role as U.S. Ambassador for Vinho Verde, Portugal’s vibrant wine region. She celebrates the freshness, affordability, and versatility of Portuguese wines — and encourages us to explore beyond the usual bottles.

Laura’s mission is clear: make wine approachable, joyful, and endlessly fascinating.

Visit Corkbuzz Restaurant & Wine Bar in New York City’s Chelsea Market

Follow Corkbuzz on Instagram

New Sip Sip Hooray! pod ep - click to listen now.

On today’s show, we’re headed to New York’s Finger Lakes region, where winemaking dates back to the 1800s. Meaghan Frank is the great granddaughter of Dr. Konstantin Frank, a Ukrainian immigrant credited with pioneering modern winemaking in the Finger Lakes. He is known as the father of vitis vinifera in the East because he taught American vintners how to grow European varietals in the cold climate of the Finger Lakes. Dr. Frank developed and mastered cold weatherproofing farming techniques in Ukraine and he brought that innovation to America and his namesake winery, Dr. Konstantin Frank

Meaghan Frank inherited quite a legacy, but she’s also brought her own experience and knowledge to the family winery, where she is now in charge of the day-to-day operations.

Meaghan’s family has many milestones to celebrate, including 40 years of making sparkling wine and women playing major roles in the winery’s success and evolution. Riesling wines are a big part of the story. In fact, Dr. Frank’s Riesling Vineyard, planted in 1958, is the oldest Riesling planting in the Eastern United States

.Riesling is one of the most aromatic and versatile white varieties in the world, made in many styles, from bone dry to dessert wine sweet, in both still and sparkling versions. After listening to today’s episode, we hope you’ll be inspired to seek out Riesling in all its styles.

Want to know the best winery to visit in the US? The Dr. Konstantin Frank winery was named the best winery tour in America for the third year in a row in 2024 by the USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards. What’s the secret sauce? Meaghan’s here to tell us all about it.

Visit Dr. Konstantin Frank

Follow Dr. Frank Konstantin on Instagram

Wines tasted in this episode:

• 2021 Brut, Finger Lakes

• 2020 Blanc de Blanc, Finger Lakes

• 2020 Blanc de Noirs, Finger Lakes

• Célèbre NV Riesling Sparkling Wine, Finger Lakes

New Sip Sip Hooray pod ep! Click to listen

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.

This guide pulls together every wine, winery, non-alcoholic option, and wine gift mentioned in the episode.

🥂 Sparkling Wines for any Holiday Occassion

• Meaghan Frank recommends Dr. Konstantin Frank Célèbre NV Sparkling Riesling, Finger Lakes $25 and gives her favorite food pairing.

• Iron Horse Vineyards 2021 Classic Vintage Brut, Green Valley, Russian River Valley $58

2021 Russian River Cuvée, Green Valley, Russian River Valley $58

• Caraccioli Cellars - Best US Sparkling Wne at the 2025 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships for 2019 Brut Rosé, Santa Lucia Highlands $75

🍽️ White Wines for Holiday Tables

Sauvginon Blanc

• 2024 Alma de Cattleya Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County $28

• Darcie Kent Vineyards in Livermore Valley - a selection of three Sauv Blancs

• Page Mill 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, Livermore Valley $24

Chenin Blanc

• Kunin 2022 Chenin Blanc Natural, "Jurassic Park", Santa Ynez Valley $36

• Lang & Reed 2024 Chenin Blanc, Mendocino $35

Riesling and Grüner Veltliner

• Tatomer Wines - Riesling and Gruner around $30

• Maidenstoen - site specific Rieslings and Grüner $22-$25

• Trefethen 2024 Dry Riesling, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley $35

• Cambria 2022 Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley $22

🎉 Friendsgiving Favorite

• Whiny Baby Wines - Unwind White, OMG Rosé and Obsessed Red, all $18

🍷 Red Wines for Holiday Feasting

• Bradley Brown of Big Basin Vineyard gives us several holiday options, and tells us about a special on library wines for $25/bottle, available only at the Santa Cruz, CA tasting room. 2022 Old Vine Carignan, Wirz Vineyard, Cienega Valley, $39; 2022 Pinot Noir , Lester Family Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains $60; 2019 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains, $66; 2019 62 Terraces Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains, $60

• Gamay: I. Brand & Family 2022 Gamay Noir, Escolle Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, $36

• Grenache: Many selections from A Tribute To Grace in Los Alamos, starting at $36. Clementine Carter, also in Los Alamos, offers several Grenache options and a Grenache Blanc, $45-$56.

• Zinfandel: Ridge Vineyards 2023 Benito Dusi Zinfandel, Benito Dusi Ranch, Paso Robles, $42

• Malbec: 2023 Catena Malbec, Mendoza - around $18-$20 at various wine retailers

• Cabernet Franc from Livermore Valley: Steven Kent 2023 Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley, $48 and 2022 L’Autre Côte Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley $120; Cuda Ridge 2923 Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley $46; McGrail Vineyards 2022 Cabernet Franc, Livermore Valley, $65

• Nolan Jones, winemaker at Lava Cap Winery in El Dorado, in the Sierra Foothills, has three great suggestions: 2024 Grenache, El Dorado, Sierra Foothills, $32; 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, El Dorado, Sierra Foothills, $45; 2023 Tectonic Barbera, El Dorado, Sierra Foothills, $40

Pinot Noir

• 2021 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, $45

• Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery - 2020 Pinot Noir, Gap’s Crown Vineyard, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County, $90

🍾 Best Non-Alcoholic Wine Options (Delicious & Wine-Like)

• Studio Null Wine - $32-$36. Co-founder Dorothy Munholland gives us her favorite recommendation.

• Noughty Wines: Noughty Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Chardonnay $23 and Noughty Non-Alcoholic Rouge (Syrah) $25

• Oddbird Wines

• Giesen Wines

• Lautus De-alcoholized Wine

• Saint Viviana

•Kally verjus based non-alcoholic wine

🎁 Wine Gifts Worth Giving (that you may want for yourself!)

• Josh Cellars Prosecco $18 + Hotel Lobby Prosecco Candle $58

• Gabriel-Glas “StandArt” Universal Glasses (machine blown lead-free crystal, dishwasher safe) Two glasses $68

• Water & Wines Puzzles (California, France, Wine Periodic Table), all $59. A Black Friday sale of 3 for 2 is on offer.

• ReSparked Custom Engraving Pen (etch your own wine bottles!) $55 Black Friday sale

🎧 Links to all the friends of the pod episodes

Joy Sterling of Iron Horse Vineyards

Scott Caraccioli of Caraccioli Cellars

Bibiana González Rave of Cattleya and Alma de Cattleya

Darcie Kent of Darcie Kent Vineyards

Dane Stark of Page Mill Winery

Jess Druey of Whiny Baby Wines

Bradley Brown of Big Basin Vineyards

Ian Brand of I. Brand & Family Wines

Sonja Magdevski of Clementine Carter

Trester Goetting and Shauna Rosenblum of Ridge Vineyards

Laura Catena of Catena Zapata Winery

On alcohol and health

World’s Best Vineyard, WHO and more

Gold in the Vineyards

Steven Kent Mirassou of Steven Kent Winery

James Hall of Patz & Hall

Theresa Heredia of Gary Farrell Winery

Dorothy Munholland and Catherine Diao of Studio Null

#SipSipHoorayPodcast #WinePodcast #HolidayWineGuide #HolidayWines
#WineGifts #WineLovers #WinemakerPicks #SparklingWine
#WineRecommendations #NonAlcoholicWine
#WineGiftGuide

“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. Click to listen.

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.

Visit Cattleya Wines

Alma de Cattleya

Shared Notes Wine and Shared Notes Coffee

Wines tasted in this episode

• 2024 Alma de Cattleya Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

• 2023 Cattleya Chardonnay, Sonma Coast

• 2023 Cattleya “The Goddess” Pinot Noir, West Sonoma Coast

• 2022 Cattleya “The Initiation” Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands

The Marys are on location in Amador County in California’s Sierra Foothills! Click to listen now.

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.

Visit PleinAir Vineyards: Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 11:00am to 4:30pm, 21090 Ostrom Road, Fiddletown, CA

Follow PleinAir on Instagram

Wines tasted in this episode:

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Fiddletown

2021 Syrah, Fiddletown

“I wanted the freedom to drink whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.” – Coravin inventor Greg Lambrecht.

Listen here

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.

Coravin.com

Follow Coravin on Instagram and YouTube

New Sip Sip Hooray pod drop! Click to listen.

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.

Wine Folly website

Wine Folly books

Wine Folly maps

Wine Folly+ - even more great wine educational materials

Follow Wine Folly on Instagram

Follow Wine Folly on TikTok

Click to listen!

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.

Wines tasted in this episode:

• 2022 Sparkling Brut Rosé of Grenache, El Dorado County

• 2024 Viognier, El Dorado County

• 2023 The Miner’s Inch Red Blend, El Dorado County

Visit Starfield Vineyards

Follow Starfield Vineyards on Instagram

He sold his winery to Big Wine - then he bought it back: James Hall’s bold return to Patz & Hall. Click to listen here.

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.

Wines tasted in this episode:

• 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

• 2022 Chardonnay, Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley

• 2021 Pinot Noir, Moses Hall Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley

Visit The Sonoma House at Patz & Hall

Follow Patz & Hall on Instagram

New Sip Sip Hooray! podcast drop. Click to listen.

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 Jana plays - she even has her own label - and why Amador County is one of California’s best-kept wine secrets.

Wines tasted in this episode

• 2022 Jana Vermentino, Amador County

• 2021 J&S Reserve Barbera, Amador County

• 2022 Vineyard 1869 Old Vine Zinfandel, Amador County

Visit Scott Harvey wines

Follow Scott Harvey Wines on Instagram