Sip Sip Hooray Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Uncorking Amador On Location With Scott Harvey, The Sierra Foothills Zinfandel and Barbera Trailblazer, Ep. 113 Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

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.

The Path To Wine Dreams - Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribó of Camins2Dreams, Ep. 112 Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

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.

Justin Boeger of El Dorado County's Boeger Winery on Reviving This Historic Gold Country Wine Region, Ep. 111 Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

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 Heart Health and other wine and health issues, Ep. 110 Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

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.

From iPods and GarageBand to Wine: Xander Soren's Foray into Pinot Noir and Japanese Cuisine, Ep. 108 Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

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.

A flower shop chance encounter led to a life in wine. Meet winemaker Sonja Magdevski of Clemetine Carter Wines, Ep. 107 May 28, 2025

Show notes

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. 🍷

Terah Wine Co. winemaker Terah Bajjalieh is crushing it with lesser known grape varieties and natural wines, Ep 109 May 14, 2025

Show notes

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.

LA Fires Aftermath - How The United Sommeliers Foundation Helps with Cristie Norman, Ep. 106 Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

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.

Earth Day Special! Regenerative Organic Grape Growing with Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard, Ep. 105 Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

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.

A Wine Parable With A Happy Ending - Napa Valley's Parable Wines, Ep 104 Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

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.

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