The Wine CEO Podcast

Is Texas becoming America's next great wine region? Two neighboring Texas Hill Country wineries just earned Gold medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards, and today we're talking about what that recognition really means for the future of Texas wine. I'm joined by Kristen from Ab Astris and Andy from Adega Vinho, two producers located right down the road from each other in Stonewall, Texas. We talk about what it takes to grow grapes and build a successful winery in an emerging wine region, how neighboring wineries differentiate themselves, and whether international awards actually translate into more sales for small producers. We also dive into the grapes that may ultimately define Texas wine, why Texas doesn't need to become the next Napa Valley, and what needs to happen for consumers outside of Texas to start taking the region seriously. If you've ever been curious about Texas wine or the Texas Hill Country, this episode is a fascinating look at a region that may be just getting started. In this episode: • The rise of Texas Hill Country wine • What winning a Decanter Gold means for a small winery • Tempranillo, Souzao and the grapes thriving in Texas • Building a winery in an emerging wine region • Competition vs. collaboration between neighboring wineries • The business behind Texas wine • Where the Texas wine industry goes next Subscribe to The Wine CEO newsletter at thewineceo.com for a FREE guide to food and wine pairing! Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZpsdoCMDDnw Today's Guests: Ab Astris: https://www.abastriswinery.com/ Adega Vinho: https://adegavinho.com/ 2026 Decanter Gold: https://awards.decanter.com/DWWA/2026/search/wines?_gl=1%2A1u9sq6i%2A_gcl_au%2ANDM3MTc2NDk0LjE3OTEzMDUyNjk.%2A_ga%2AMjgzNjk0MjUyLjE3OTEzMDUyNjk.%2A_ga_130J98WCTM%2AczE3OTEzMDUyNjgkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTEzMDUyNjgkajYwJGwwJGgw&award=Gold&competitionType=DWWA    #TexasWine #TexasHillCountry #WinePodcast #WineEducation #FredericksburgTX #TexasWineries #TheWineCEO

What if the future of California wine isn't Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay—but grapes like Sangiovese and Vermentino? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Dan Fitzgerald, winemaker at AVIVO Wines in Lodi, California, to talk about how a changing climate could reshape what we grow and drink. AVIVO is taking a different approach to California wine. Their wines are made from climate-adapted Mediterranean grape varieties, grown using certified organic and regenerative practices, and made with just TWO ingredients: organic grapes and a small amount of sulfur dioxide. Dan and I discuss: 1) What makes a grape variety "climate-adapted" 2) What sustainable, regenerative, organic and Biodynamic wine mean for AVIVO 3) Why AVIVO wines contain only two ingredients 4) Why Mediterranean varieties like Sangiovese and Vermentino make sense in Lodi 5) How California wine culture may evolve in the years ahead If you've ever wondered what's actually in your bottle of wine, whether sustainable wine tastes different, or what California wine might look like in the future, this episode is for you. WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/UJdBsR-a_e8 Subscribe to The Wine CEO for approachable wine education, conversations with winemakers and industry leaders, and a look at the people and trends shaping the future of wine. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter at thewineceo.com for a FREE guide to food and wine pairing! Follow me on instagram ----- Today's Guest: Dan Fitzgerald AVIVO Wines https://avivowines.com/ #Wine #CaliforniaWine #SustainableWine #OrganicWine #RegenerativeAgriculture #LodiWine #winemaking #WineEducation #TheWineCEO #podcasts #newepisode

What's actually in your glass of wine — and should wineries be required to tell you? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Michael Honig, President of Honig Vineyard & Winery in Napa Valley, for a fascinating conversation about transparency, sustainability, and the future of wine labeling. Starting with its 2025 Classic Sauvignon Blanc, Honig is taking a major step toward greater transparency by listing the wine's ingredients directly on the bottle: grapes, yeast, and sulfites. It's a simple move that raises some much bigger questions for the wine industry. Why hasn't wine traditionally included ingredient labels? Do consumers deserve to know exactly what goes into their wine? And could greater transparency help wineries build trust with a new generation of consumers? Whether you're a wine lover, wine professional, sommelier, or simply someone who has wondered what's actually inside a bottle of wine, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. 🍷 Subscribe to The Wine CEO for approachable wine education, conversations with leading winemakers, and a behind-the-scenes look at the business of wine. Get my FREE food and wine pairing guide by subscribing to my newsletter: thewineceo.com  Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thewineceo Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KUUyCBjNt38  Today's guest: Michael Honig https://www.honigwine.com/ #Wine #WineEducation #NapaValley #HonigWinery #WineLabels #WineIngredients #WineIndustry #SauvignonBlanc #CaliforniaWine #WinePodcast #Winemaking #Sommelier #TheWineCEO

What does it take to turn an "impossible" piece of Napa Valley land into one of the region's most influential vineyards? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jan Krupp, founder of Krupp Brothers Winery and the visionary behind Napa Valley's legendary Stagecoach Vineyard. Jan shares the remarkable story behind his new book, "Forging Eden", including his journey from a successful career in medicine to the wine industry and the enormous risks, challenges, and perseverance required to transform hundreds of acres of rugged volcanic mountainside into a world-class vineyard. We also look at the wine industry today and where Napa Valley may be headed next. Jan shares his perspective on changing consumer behavior, the challenges facing the wine business, and why he believes the industry may be missing an important opportunity in the broader conversation around wine, health, moderation, and lifestyle. In this episode we discuss: • The incredible story behind Stagecoach Vineyard • Why Jan left medicine for the wine industry • Building a vineyard experts said couldn't be built • How consumer attitudes toward wine are changing • Wine, health, moderation, and the evolving wellness conversation Whether you're a wine lover, wine professional, entrepreneur, or simply fascinated by the people who helped shape modern Napa Valley, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.  Watch this episode on my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/6tAbWuvN0QM  🍷 And don't forget to subscribe to The Wine CEO for approachable wine education, interviews with leading voices in the wine industry, and conversations about wine, food, and travel. thewineceo.com (sign up for my newsletter for a free guide to food and wine pairing!)  Today's guest:  Dr. Jan Krupp https://www.kruppbrothers.com/ Pre-Order his new book: https://www.amazon.com/Forging-Eden-Impossible-Legendary-Vineyard-ebook/dp/B0HBRGN4L8/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgingedennapa #NapaValley #NapaWine #WinePodcast #TheWineCEO #JanKrupp #KruppBrothers #StagecoachVineyard #ForgingEden #WineIndustry #WineBusiness #CaliforniaWine #NapaValleyWine #WineEducation #Winemaking #Viticulture #cabernetsauvignon #winelovers #winelover #winevibes    

Can Christians drink wine? Is alcohol inherently sinful? And if the Bible speaks openly about wine, why has drinking become such a controversial topic in parts of the American church? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Pastor Randy Frazee for a thoughtful conversation about the spiritual significance of wine and alcohol in Scripture. We discuss what the Bible actually says about drinking, the difference between alcohol and drunkenness, how Prohibition helped shape American church culture, and why faithful Christians can come to different convictions on this issue. Whether you enjoy a glass of wine or choose not to drink at all, this conversation offers fascinating historical and biblical context for a topic the church has debated for generations. Watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GeXbyfjubUc ------ Subscribe to my newsletter on my website for a free guide to food and wine pairing! thewinceo.com  ------ Today's Guest: Pastor Randy Frazee: https://www.randyfrazee.com/ New Book on Wine: https://www.randyfrazee.com/wine-in-the-word https://www.instagram.com/randyfrazee https://www.instagram.com/giselakreglinger/ #TheWineCEO #Christianity #Bible #Wine #ChristianLiving #Faith #BiblicalTruth #ChristianPodcast #AlcoholAndFaith #RandyFrazee