The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits

Brian, Bart, Danielle and Sam sit down with the rest of the SORBET (Sonoma Organic Regenerative Biodynamic Educational Tasting) crew, Morgan Twain Peterson, Katie Bundschu and Alli Badar, along with special guest Ryan Woodhouse of K&L Wines, to discuss two new SORBET developments. If you missed last year’s event at Fort Mason, don’t worry. SORBET will be back. But first we are turning our focus to friends in the industry who want to learn how to begin incorporating organic, regenerative and biodynamic practices into their viticulture. Morgan and Katie break down what to expect from the first ever SORBET Field Day on February 18. The day begins with a seminar at Abbott’s Passage covering animal integration in vineyards and the One Block Challenge, followed by a quick hop over Madrone Road to Bedrock Vineyard to see mob grazing in action. Sign-ups are open now. Then the really big news. We are taking SORBET to LA. Ryan Woodhouse of the esteemed K&L Wines joins the crew to talk about how SORBET caught his eye, why these wines matter more now than ever, and what guests can expect when we take over the K&L Culver City store on May 3. Stay tuned for more details and a ticket link. Until then, grab a glass, pop a bottle of organic, regenerative or biodynamically grown wine, and get ready for some witty banter, moderate shit talking, and a deep dive into obscure Sonoma Valley history. We also talk about good farming and great wine. From muddy boots in Sonoma to pouring glasses in Los Angeles, this episode is about what happens when farming, community, and wine all live in the same conversation. [Ep 399] https://www.sorbetwine.org/ https://regenerativeviticulture.org/resources/rvf-initiatives/one-block-challenge/ https://www.klwines.com

Steve Gross, Honore Comfort & Mark Barden Wine Institute Monterey, Calif. — Sitting down with Steve Gross has become one of our favorite DTC Wine Symposium traditions. Not only does he have one of the best radio voices in the wine business, but he’s spent nearly four decades on the front lines of wine shipping battles nationwide. Largely thanks to his efforts, residents of 49 states can now receive direct-to-consumer wine shipments. Steve is always ready to update us on the latest state-level shenanigans aimed at limiting consumer access to their favorite wines. But his role has recently grown even bigger. Last month, he stepped into the role of interim president of the Wine Institute. Frankly, we couldn’t feel more confident having Steve Gross leading this crucial organization at such a pivotal moment. One of the big-picture initiatives coming out of the Wine Institute is the Share Wine Co-Lab. To dig into how and why it came together, we were joined by a familiar face for Sonoma County folks, Honore Comfort, Vice President of International Marketing at the Wine Institute, along with marketing consultant Mark Barden. Together, we unpacked the market research that led to the creation of Share Wine Co-Lab, and explored how wineries of all sizes, in any region, can use it to better promote themselves, their communities, and wine in general. Sit down, pop a bottle, and get ready to go deep into the wine business. The dispatches from DTC Wine Symposium 2026 are just getting started. [Ep 398] Learn more: https://dtcwinesymposium.com/ https://freethegrapes.org/ https://wineinstitute.org/news/share-wine-colab/

While Evan Roscoe is a Napa native, he grew up far from Napa’s wine culture. So far, in fact, that his family’s mountainside cabin was technically on the Solano side of the county line. There wasn’t wine on the table growing up, and his family had no connections to the wine business. Evan left Napa for college in Chicago and eventually found his way into hospitality and bar management. He returned home after the 2017 fires to find a wine industry already reeling, at the beginning of what would become a long stretch of calamities, corrections, and a few brief booms over the next eight years. In that time, Evan formed some strong opinions about how the wine industry presents itself to the public and how it operates behind the scenes. With a keen sense of aesthetics and a sharp instinct for storytelling, he has turned his creative director skill set into a mirror held up to the industry itself. Evan now posts provocative, thought-provoking reels nearly every day on Instagram @Evan__Roscoe, punctuated with taglines like “Wine is fucked” and “Wine is boring.” After months of sharing, reposting, and commenting on his work, and watching colleagues across the country do the same, we realized we needed to hear directly from Evan Roscoe himself. Sit down, pour a glass, and settle in for this one. Evan has a lot to say. [Ep 397]

We sit down with Tom and Chrissy from Grand Scheme Wines and dig into a story that has more layers than it first appears. It begins in Carneros, where they bought a piece of land and started planting Barn House Vineyard in 2018 with a clear vision from day one. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were non-negotiable, and organic farming was always part of the plan. What follows is a conversation about commitment, patience, and the reality of building something from the ground up. As they walk us through the decisions, challenges, and moments that shaped the vineyard, the bigger picture comes into focus, and it’s worth paying close attention to how it all connects. We wrap things up feeling grateful for the year behind us and excited about what’s ahead. Happy New Year, and here’s to raising a glass together in 2026. [Ep 396]

We get together with Isabel Gassier and Jasmine Egan for a relaxed year-end catch-up, looking back at the guests, conversations, wines, and trends that stood out in 2025. It’s part reflection, part shop talk, and very much the kind of conversation that happens once the microphones are already on. Listener questions guide a lot of where we go, including the critical ones, and we appreciate all of it. We wrap things up by raising a glass to the year behind us and talking about what’s ahead, with plans to keep pouring and talking into 2026. [Ep 395]

Jenny Murphy went to UC Davis to study forensics. While attending a job fair, she was lured into the wine business with visions of a laboratory filled with expensive, new equipment. She took a temporary position at Korbel Champagne and was bitten by the wine bug. After accepting a job at Paul Hobbs, she moved up the ranks, finally settling into the Director of Winemaking, where she was responsible for numerous 100pt wines. Jenny recently left Paul Hobbs and started her own label, Oxlee Graham, making precise Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, and some very interesting whites. She is perhaps the most detail oriented winemaker we have ever met, her attention to the wine, barrels, tanks and even corks set her apart from the crowd. The wines are expressive and speak to the vineyard sites, from Mendocino to Santa Cruz. We can’t recommend these wines highly enough, they are very small production so move fast. [Ep 394] oxleegrahamwines.com @oxleegrahamwines

The conversation this week features Keith Beavers, Tasting Director at VinePair and host of the Wine 101 podcast. He’s a self-taught wine geek who once ran the New York wine bar In Vino and co-owned Alphabet City Wine Co., and he brings that mix of curiosity and real-world experience to everything he does. Wine 101 is his way of breaking down grape varieties, regions, and technical concepts so they feel clear and approachable. He focuses on helping people understand how wines are made, why they taste the way they do, and how to navigate the world of wine without feeling overwhelmed. The discussion stretches across a wide range of topics, including standout American wines from outside California and a lively digression about “natural wine,” whatever that may mean on any given day. It’s an easy, engaging conversation with someone who knows the subject inside and out, and already feels like a guest worth welcoming back the next time he’s in California. [Ep 393] @vinepairkeith

Born and raised in Napa Valley, Derek Flegal studied biology before moving to Spain and living abroad for much of his 20’s. After moving to Mendoza, Argentina, his passion for wine became apparent and he returned to the US to study Enology at Fresno State. Upon completion in 2014, he took a cellar worker position at Outpost wines, where he developed a working relationship with Thomas Rivers Brown. In the following years, he worked alongside renowned winemakers Michel Rolland, Aaron Pott, and Heidi Barrett, and began crafting wines for himself under the Blaine label. Originally planted in 2003, Lewis Platt took the time to meet with the winemakers who would purchase the grapes in the early years: David Ramey (Ramey), Fred Scherrer (Scherrer), Eric Sussman (Radio Coteau), Ted Lemon (Littorai), and Carroll Kemp (Red Car). In a few years, Platt Vineyard grapes became one of the most sought-after and expensive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in California. In 2022, French winemaking group AXA Millésimes bought the vineyard with the ambition to build a winery on site and to make estate wines from Platt that express the unique quality of this terroir. [Ep 392] @platt_vineyard @blaine_wines Plattvineyard.com

This week, the crew welcomes back Todd Jolly from Sonoma’s Best — better known to many as @sonomawinemerchant. A certified sommelier and proudly dubbed “The Champagne King,” Todd serves as Wine Director for Sonoma’s Best and The Sonoma Cheese Factory, where he’s built an exceptional program that blends local standouts with global gems. Todd shares his perspective on the current wine market, shifting consumer trends, and the importance of personal connection in wine retail. The group also talks about his deep love for the Oregon Ducks, his approach to curating unique lists, and what’s exciting him most in the world of bubbles and beyond. [Ep 391]

This week, the crew finally sits down with Jamie Kutch of Kutch Wines—a long-awaited guest whose Pinot Noir reputation precedes him. Jamie has shared a production facility with host Bart Hansen for years, so the team already knew his wines were special. What began as a career on NASDAQ trading floors turned into a lifelong pursuit of crafting world-class Pinot Noir, thanks to a pivotal invitation to work harvest at Kosta Browne—and he never looked back. Today, Jamie makes just 3,000 cases a year, with his wines featured in top restaurants around the world. Recently, he purchased land in Sebastopol, once an apple orchard, now transformed into a Pinot vineyard rooted in Goldridge soils—helped along by a local badger serving as natural pest control. A friend of luminaries like Rajat Parr and Ted Lemon, Jamie shares their commitment to balance, integrity, and a deep respect for terroir. It’s an inspiring conversation with one of California’s most thoughtful Pinot producers. [Ep 390] kutchwines.com @jamiekutch

This week the crew sits down with Brian London, Sommelier and wine buyer for one of Sonoma County’s most beloved spots, Table Culture Provisions. Known for its eclectic and adventurous wine list, TCP has become a favorite among locals and winemakers alike — and Brian is the man behind its carefully curated selections. After falling in love with France during a trip with his fiancée, Brian began importing small-production wines to the States, eventually launching 4Play Wines, a boutique distributorship focused on producers with meticulous farming practices and distinct personalities. He shares stories from his travels, insights into sourcing hidden gems, and even kicks things off by pouring a 2014 Beaujolais and some White Burgundy — instantly winning over the hosts. Plus, a special drop-in from Isabel Gassier wraps up this lively and wine-soaked conversation. [Ep 389] @tcprovisions | @4playwines | @isabelgassierwine

Will Gondak has been chasing the dream. Experiences making wine in Napa, Sonoma, Australia, New Zealand, France, Santa Cruz, and South Africa have broadened his view into what is possible. The wide array of hands-on experience accompanied by the study of winemaking and viticulture at both Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Napa Valley College has yielded one curious wine nerd. Will has been calling Sonoma County home since 2015 and is looking forward to his 18th harvest in 2025. A full-time side hustle, Gondak Cellars was established in 2015. Will spends the majority of his work time helping make wines for several other brands while slowly building Gondak Cellars. [Ep 388] gondakcellars.com @gondakcellars

This week the guys sit down with Matt McDermaid, owner and winemaker at Staysail Wines, a small-lot Sonoma County winery inspired by his background in sailing. The name “Staysail” refers to a sail used to adjust for shifting conditions—much like how Matt adapts to each unique vintage. With deep family roots in the wine world (his aunt and uncle run GlenLyon Vineyards & Winery in Glen Ellen), Matt built his own path, earning an MBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State and studying winemaking at UC Davis. After hands-on experience at Meeker Vineyard, he launched Staysail with a focus on low-intervention wines sourced from organically and regeneratively farmed vineyards. He’s thoughtful, funny, and passionate—and yes, he managed to score some fruit from Rossi Ranch this year. Keep an eye out for those bottles, and definitely grab some Staysail while you can. [Ep 387] Staysailwines.com @staysail_cellars

This week, the crew sits down with Brandon Conley, head distiller at Brucato Amaro in San Francisco, for what could be called an Amaro 101—or maybe an Amaro Study. Amaros have a long, fascinating history, evolving from regional tonics and medicinal tinctures into spirits that connect cultures. Before large-scale production, these bitter liqueurs were hyper-local, crafted from whatever produce and native plants grew nearby. Brucato carries on that tradition today with small-batch amaros that showcase the bounty of California. From sun-ripened citrus to wild foraged herbs, each ingredient is thoughtfully sourced to create a distinctive taste of place. The conversation also covers the exciting new experiences at Brucato. Since April, visitors have been welcomed for tours and tastings, and Bar Brucato now serves fresh, seasonal dishes paired with cocktails that highlight the distillery’s unique amaros. [Ep 386] Learn more at brucatospirits.com

The crew is back together again, and this week they’re catching up after International Grenache Day. They share memories from the celebration, dig into the challenges of this year’s harvest, and get Brian’s perspective on the London wine scene. Bart also offers a heartfelt and important PSA about his recent health scare. It’s a mix of stories, insights, and reflections that remind us why wine is about more than just what’s in the glass. [Ep 385]

Justin Harmon didn’t set out to be a winemaker, but the journey found him anyway. After studying in Philadelphia and working as a chemical engineer, he returned to Chicago in his mid-20s to pursue software engineering. Somewhere in between coding and commuting, his love for wine began to take over. What started as the occasional bottle at dinner soon filled his apartment closets, and weekends were spent roaming Chicago wine shops, devouring books, tastings, and seminars, with every trip planned around a vineyard visit. Curiosity eventually pulled him out of the tasting room and into the cellar. By 2005, Justin was in Sonoma County for his first harvest, followed by internships in 2006 and 2007 that gave him a hands-on education in the craft. Not long after, the chance to buy grapes and ferment them in a professional winery presented itself, leading to the very first bottling under his own label: Argot Wines. Today, Justin blends science, passion, and a relentless curiosity into every bottle. His story is proof that sometimes obsession really does lead to a calling. [Ep 384] argotwines.com @argotwines

We love stories like this. Two neighbors bond over their shared love of wine, make some in their garage, then decide to put in a vineyard. With no formal training but a passion for Rhone varietals, they pushed ahead. While walking their dogs, they “spied” on their neighbors’ vineyards and gleaned information from friends and local wineries. The wines have purity and clarity to them, no over extraction or excessive oak treatment. “Our vineyards, located in the Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley, just south of Healdsburg, are ideal for growing Rhone varietals. Benefitting from the effects of the river the AVA is famous for, we also see the largest diurnal temperature swings that provide richness and depth of flavor to our fruit without excessive sugars. Crux Winery is a Rhone specialist focused on crafting alluring wines made from meticulously nurtured fruit grown in our sustainably cultivated vineyards. Each bottle tells a story of the valley’s terroir, the vintage, and the varietal.” [Ep 383] @cruxwinery Cruxwinery.com

The team looks back at the recent S.O.R.B.E.T. tasting at Fort Mason, sharing highlights and feedback from the event. They also tackle listener questions ranging from winemaking to cellar tips, and reveal their favorite wines tasted so far this year. A lively mix of reflection, advice, and personal picks straight from the vineyard to your glass. [Ep 382]

This week Bart, Sam, and Danielle sit down for a long-awaited conversation with Chris Renfro, the visionary behind The Two Eighty Project and much more. The project began in 2020, when a neglected vineyard along San Francisco’s 280 freeway more or less fell into his lap. Amid the trials and turmoil of that year, Chris took it upon himself to revive roughly 65 vines that had been left for dead. As the vineyard grew, so did The Two Eighty Project’s mission: creating meaningful access to viticulture and wine for communities of color and other groups historically excluded from the industry. The soil of Alemany Farm — and Chris’s little vineyard-that-could — became a seedbed for social and racial equity in wine. Today, in addition to running the 280 Project and its vibrant apprenticeship program, Chris is making wine from grape varieties native to North America, hunting for forgotten vines and vineyards around San Francisco and beyond, and running one of the city’s hottest new wine shops, Friend of a Friend. This one’s got it all — inspiration, ingenuity, and indigenous grapes. [Ep 381] @280Project @friendoffriendsf

Matt Crafton took over the white wine program at Chateau Montelena in 2010, then became head winemaker in 2014. The rich history of the Chateau and the part it played in the “Judgement of Paris”, cementing the New World’s place on the wine map is discussed, but we went deeper in this conversation. Spend five minutes with Matt and you can tell why Bo Barrett put him in charge, with very little oversight. Matt understands the history of this iconic winery but is more focused on where they are going today. There is no tangible “style” of their wines, every vintage is an opportunity to create the best wine ever, always with an intention to age. Most consumers know them for the Chardonnay and Cab, but the Zinfandel and Riesling are a mainstay available only at the winery. There may even be some bubbles coming down the road, a celebration of 50 years is on the horizon, something deserving of a “pop”. [Ep 380] @chmontelena