Inside Winemaking - the art and science of growing grapes and crafting wine

Jillian Johnson DeLeon - Laffort In this episode, Jim sits down with Jillian Johnson DeLeon of Laffort to dig into the practical mechanics of yeast nutrition, starting with the difference between organic (amino-acid based) and inorganic (DAP) nitrogen sources. They walk through how to calculate the Nitrogren needs for a successfule fermentation across a two-addition strategy, timing the first dose within 24 hours of pitch (or at first signs of cap formation for native ferments) to support the yeast's growth phase, and the second closer to mid-fermentation to carry them through to dryness without triggering Hydrogen sulfide production. The conversation covers dosing heuristics like the one-third organic to two-thirds DAP ratio for that second addition, how nitrogen demand varies by yeast strain and biomass production, fermentation temperature's effect on ester versus thiol expression, the risks of both under- and over-dosing nutrients, and the case for early co-inoculation with malolactic bacteria to avoid stuck ferments and reduce spoilage risk. Jillian also shares her own field-tested Brix-to-potential-alcohol conversion figures and closes with an overview of Laffort's broader product lines, from oak alternatives to vineyard applications. Resources from this Episode Laffort   This podcast is sponsored by InnoVint. Wineries of all sizes rely on InnoVint's winery operating system to optimize vineyard tracking, manage wine production processes, automate compliance reporting, track costs seamlessly, and make data-driven decisions. The best part? The software is intuitive, easy to use, and mobile and offline friendly! And with the highest-rated customer service in the industry, you're guaranteed to have a smooth transition, even right before harvest. Learn more: innovint.us Get a demo: innovint.us/request-a-demo/ Join our free winemaking community: innovint.us/join-the-punchdown/     Check out the Fundamentals of Winemaking Made Easy video course   The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes Now on Spotify And Amazon Music

In this episode I talk with John "JJ" Julius Naab, assistant winemaker at Matthiasson Wines and founder of Lamitié Wines, about his unconventional path from Chicago brokerage and endurance sports into the wine world. JJ traces his move from finance to Santa Barbara hospitality and DTC sales at Brewer-Clifton and the moment he realized he wanted to make his own wine. We dig into his decision to complete the UC Davis Winemaking Certificate, how that "inch deep, mile wide" technical foundation pairs with on-the-job experience, and what he really learned during his first harvest at Kosta Browne in the middle of COVID and wildfire smoke. We then dive into JJ's Chardonnay-focused Lamitié project: why he chose to be known for one thing, his focus on low alcohol, high-acid chemistry, and what he looks for in vineyards like Charles Heintz (clone 4, cool sites, marine influence). JJ explains his press strategy ("the juice isn't always worth the squeeze"), fermenting Chardonnay in puncheons on full solids, running relatively warm ferments, and then moving the wine to stainless for a second year to tighten texture and enhance reduction in his efforts towards a Burgundy-inspired style that still reflects California fruit. Resources from this Episode L'Amitié Wines Matthiasson Wines   This podcast is sponsored by Wine Compliance Alliance. Are you concerned about your winery's reporting? Do you worry that it's not being done correctly, or being vulnerable to a TTB audit? Help is here! The Winery Compliance Training Academy has custom-designed courses created by industry experts with deep backgrounds working at wineries managing production compliance! Our course, The TTB reports all US Wineries are required to file is designed to walk you through the 3 reports all US wineries are required to submit to the TTB. This course is a fit for all winery staff who are responsible for filing reports or label approvals to the TTB.   Check out the Fundamentals of Winemaking Made Easy video course   The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes Now on Spotify And Amazon Music

Jennifer Williams joins Jim to talk about her work as a contract winemaker, leading Arrow & Branch and co-owning Zeitgeist Cellars with her husband, Mark Porembsky. They dig into the design and philosophy of the new Arrow & Branch custom crush facility in Oak Knoll—its flexible tank mix, "white glove" service model, and how it's built to handle challenging vintages and a range of client brands. Jennifer explains the stylistic goals and vineyard sourcing for Zeitgeist, including heritage whites like Chenin Blanc and Trousseau Gris, and a Cabernet Franc program that uses barrel fermentation and moderate maceration to shape tannins. Along the way they get into pick-date decisions and herbaceous character in Cabernet Franc, managing slow malolactic fermentations, the realities of custom crush pricing and client expectations, and how small Napa brands are navigating a tougher wine market through relationships, thoughtful growth, and authentic visitor experiences. Resources from this Episode Arrow & Branch Zeitgeist Cellars   This podcast is sponsored by InnoVint. Wineries of all sizes rely on InnoVint's winery operating system to optimize vineyard tracking, manage wine production processes, automate compliance reporting, track costs seamlessly, and make data-driven decisions. The best part? The software is intuitive, easy to use, and mobile and offline friendly! And with the highest-rated customer service in the industry, you're guaranteed to have a smooth transition, even right before harvest. Learn more: innovint.us Get a demo: innovint.us/request-a-demo/ Join our free winemaking community: innovint.us/join-the-punchdown/     Check out the Fundamentals of Winemaking Made Easy video course   The Inside Winemaking Podcast on iTunes Now on Spotify And Amazon Music

This episode features a conversation with Elias Fernandez, longtime winemaker at Shafer Vineyards in Napa Valley. Fernandez, who was raised by migrant farm workers in the Napa Valley, traces his path from studying enology at UC Davis to joining Shafer in 1984, where he became winemaker in 1994. He discusses the winery's evolution under John and Doug Shafer, its shift toward estate-only vineyards with additions like Wildfoote and Altimeter, and the current portfolio, including Hillside Select, TD-9, the One Point Five, and the Wine Spectator–acclaimed Relentless Syrah. The conversation also covers his hands-on approach to extended maceration, his early and enthusiastic adoption of non-Saccharomyces yeasts and crossflow filtration, and his use of AI-based tools like Tule for vineyard water management. Fernandez closes by reflecting on mentoring his son, now assistant winemaker at Shafer, and on the importance of introducing younger generations to wine. Resources from this Episode Shafer Vineyards

In this solo episode of Inside Winemaking, Jim tackles one of the questions he gets most often: how to manage empty barrels. Working through the full lifecycle of a barrel, Jim covers receiving and inspecting new barrels on arrival, keeping them hydrated before harvest (his go-to: shrink-wrap them tight and lock the moisture in), and recovering barrels that have dried out. He walks through swelling and leak-testing before filling, the realities of finding and repairing leaks with spiles, and smart practices for stacking, filling, and leaving proper ullage for young wines still off-gassing CO2. From there, Jim gets into cleaning and sanitizing — why an immediate rinse matters, where he lands on tartrates, and his candid take on the trade-offs between burning sulfur, SO2 gas, ozone, and steam. He closes with short-, medium-, and long-term storage strategies, how often to recharge sulfur based on cellar conditions, and how to tell when a barrel is truly done. Practical, opinionated, and grounded in real cellar experience, this episode is a field guide for anyone trying to keep their empty barrels healthy between fills.   This podcast is sponsored by InnoVint. Wineries of all sizes rely on InnoVint's winery operating system to optimize vineyard tracking, manage wine production processes, automate compliance reporting, track costs seamlessly, and make data-driven decisions. The best part? The software is intuitive, easy to use, and mobile and offline friendly! And with the highest-rated customer service in the industry, you're guaranteed to have a smooth transition, even right before harvest. Learn more: innovint.us Get a demo: innovint.us/request-a-demo/ Join our free winemaking community: innovint.us/join-the-punchdown/