Wine Talks with Paul K.

Latest Episodes:

Max Mussio Lewis defines Friuli wine. Meet Max. Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

Once in a while in this crazy business, you stumble across passion that has no bounds. Certainly, even to engage in the wine trade it takes passion, but there is typically an end to it. I am not sure it is fair to say the passion has an end, but there are many who might give up in an idea before its time

Not Max Mussio. He is so committed that it took exactly 2 days for him to indoctrinate his then-new wife into the trade. Max and his wife represent an area of Italian wine that is growing in popularity and fascinating to discover: Friuli.

That arching piece of land that connects Italy with Slovenia and sits at the base of the Dolomites, produces an amazing array of wines without deference to their original origin.

You can taste light-hearted Pinot Grigio with character or a robust Cabernet Franc in the same sitting.

Have a listen to Max, hear his passion and join him on a trip through Friuli.

A very rare wine story. It doesn't happen like this. Meet Alex Gambal. Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

It just doesn't happen like this. All the headwinds were there. It most likely cannot be repeated, so don't get any bright ideas.

Americans don't just pick up and move to Burgundy, buy land, produce wine, become indoctrinated to the region and leave (to live in Idaho).

It just doesn't happen like that, unless you are Alex Gambal. The path to Burgundy starts in Washington DC while in the real estate sector and frequenting wine shops and tastings.

A seredipitous meeting with known negociant Becky Wasserman and Alex uproots his family, moves to Burgundy, goes to wine school, hangs with some of the best known producers, buys vineyard land and begins making wine. Truly a test of self realization and risk.

Listen through this amazing story and play close attention; ask yourself "could I have done this?"

Perserverance is the only explanation. Hear the incredible story of Laura Donadoni, Italian wine girl. Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

Sometimes you just come across a story that makes you realize that you haven't had is so tough. You haven't had to start from scratch...ever. You haven't had to leave your life behind in your home country to start a new. You haven't had to learn a new career in short order to get financial footing. Well, I haven't but Laura Donadoni and her husband have. The tone of this podcast defines humility and requires one to reflect on his or her own trials and tribulations. At least to take inventory against the story of Laura and her husband.. She landed on her feet as the Italian Wine Girl; more than an influencer but an educator, organizer and Italian wine flag waver as well. Indugle yourself in a story or pure humility and gut checks.

They don't make them like Melvyn anymore. Hear Melvyn Master in his own words. Sep 09, 2023

Show notes

Melvyn and Janie Master were my heroes. Their life together was a pure love affair. In recent years, when they would come to LA to hang, Melvyn would insist on dinner together and each of these encounters sollidified this magical relationship. And why shouldn't be that way, their story together covers all the gamets of life; start out with nothing, take a few risks, end up with nothing and go again. And as they navigated two of the most difficult of industries (restaurants and wine), they became synonomous with both. Always giving of his contacts and friends, I will always charish these two with fond recollection.

Experience is everything in most industries. Coming back from rock bottom is a critically important experience… as is garnering understanding of the industries that surround your particular industry. It all comes together to create "educated guesses" when trying to determine your next step. Meet Melvin Masters who is all that and more.

Counterfeit wine is real (real fake!). Meet the pre-eminent authority, Maureen Downey. Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

We all know the story of Rudy Kurniawan, the famed subject of the movie "Sour Grapes" and the most publicized of wine counterfeiters. When the FBI needed help in understanding what otherwise was, according to the FBI, "non-consequential", they turned to Maureen for counsel.

Maureen Downey has carved a niche around what is now a growing industry of counterfeit wine. The stories are endless and the creativity of the people who counterfeit wine can only be out played by the people who sleuth them. Maureen is the best sleuth in the business.

If you can believe it, the problem has been exacerbated to the point where they are counterfeiting Yellow Tail, a $7.99 retail wine. This seems to be an unlikely target, but who is going to notice that a below average, sugared-up wine is going to be counterfeit?

This is part one to the series with Maureen...we didnt even get to our solution section of the problem.

Have a listen.

As a woman of color, the headwinds in this industry are compounded. Meet the Millennial Somm, Isis Daniel. Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

Wine is ethereal. It literally binds people together. It brings something to the table that should and does transcend race, gender, lifestyle and generations. Isis Daniel is a testimony to that very bind.

She coined "The Millennial Somm" as her calling card to help the industry and the consumer alike to comprehend the generational changes that wine could and must transcend. Throw in that she is a woman of color and you have got a force of nature.

Her insights are thoughtful and complex. She sees wine and life from a positive perspective with a bit of social (wine social) justice mixed in. Her persuit of wine knowledge is not for self-edification, it is for real knowledge that she can take to the streets to enlighten all in her race, generation and gender.

Have a listen and wish her "bon voyage" on her new venture in Paris.

Drive would be a word for Nova Cadamarte, but it doesn't tell the real story. Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

The Master of Wine Diploma out of London is probably the most rigorous of certifications to acquire. It took Nova 8 years of study, frustration and tasting to get it done; and that was only after she failed out the first time around. Yes, you can spend 6 years going through the program and if you don't hit certain milestones during the final testing, it is like the kids board game Shoots and Ladders...back to the beginning.

An MW that saw the potential in Noca Cadamarte, pulled her aside to inspire and console her at the same time. This time she passed.

There are fewer that 250 female MW's and fewer than 10 that actually make wine....but Nova is the only MW who makes wine in Napa, the Fingerlakes and Ohio (that is correct, Ohio).

You will find her entertaining, funny, charming and intelligent.

Have a listen.

He found a need in Napa, filled it and expanded it. Meet John Wilkinson of Bin to Bottle. Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

John Wilkinson was making wine at home. Afterall, he was living in the Napa Valley but felt disconnected not having any relationship with the most public of industries. As he sought advice from his friends to figure how to get his wine right, he stumbled across a complete void in the wine sector; a properly management wine facility that could be used by others to make their deream come true.

He was a bit gun shy when he started, who would make wine in his facility when he himself really didn't know what he was doing...the answer: A lot of people.

Born was the winery Bin to Bottle where famed brands such as The Prisoner have been born. When you head into the Napa Valley, you can't help but spy the Bin to Bottle facility on the right; that is only the tip of the iceberg.

Since those founding days, Bin to Bottle also plays host to manufacturing ciders, spirits and canned wines. The buildings have grown and one of his latest ideas is a FLEX building; too hard to explain...have a listen to hear the story.

She is a true winemaker. Has an opinion and it shows in her incredible wines. Meet Elizabeth Tangney.. Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

When one stumbles across a strong will in the wine industry, one has to take notice.

A strong will will necessarily show through in the resulting wines. It takes an opinion, it takes a will to create the finest example of wine a vineyard can produce.

If one is "laissez faire" about what is in the bottle, one will cut a corner or shortcut a process or leave out a process that would not necessarily create a poor wine, but will certainly keep a nuance or a character out of a wine.

For Elizabeth, it is about expressing the terroir she is, as she says it, priveldged from where she is to create wine. This is important; as a steward of the land for the Cornell family (from whence the name of the winery is drawn), she has a reponsibility to protect and enhance.

The 2020 fires ripped through area and the rebuild is under way. Elizabeth is inspired to coax the vines back to their expressive selves.

Have a listen to this inspiring and driven winemaker.

With Phd. and passion, Katarina Andersson shifted gears and fell in love with wine. Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

The path to being intoxicated with wine (I do not mean with alcohol) comes in many fashions. Virtually everyone that is consumed with wine has a story to tell. Some left the family wine business to become lawyers or even doctors but the allure brought them back to their roots (full of puns today).

There are not many careers that would align themselves for a switch to wine as does Katarinas first love of history; maybe food, hospitality and a few others would be synergistic but history would be my vote for natural progression to wine. Wine is history. Wine is about the story. All of history has wine.

Katarina was taken by wine during her studies and quickly became an academic in the world of wine. Settling in Florence, 100's of kilometers from her native Sweden, Katarina has become an expert in the regions and ways of Italian wine. With over 2000 wine varietals, she has much to learn but that is what wine is about....the chase of the knowledge.

Have a listen to Katarina's chase.