Claim OwnershipBeyond the Pour Podcast by California Tastings
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© Nilu Afshar 2025
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Welcome to my podcast and my journey. I grew up in England, mostly boarding schools. I moved to California when I was around 24 years old mostly because I needed the beach and the sun. I have dabbled in a few different things but the minute I began learning about wine and cocktails and pairings I was hooked. I started my own business with all things hospitality in 2019. I passed my Certified Sommelier exam in 2023 and my Certified Specialist of Wine a few years before that.
My goal is to learn and then help others understand the complicated world of wine and cocktails. At the same time I want to understand what those in the Hospitality Industry think and do. That is why I started this podcast last year in 2025. While I know we have a long way to go to get this show out there, I don't think I have enjoyed doing anything as much as this. I hope together we can see behind the pour, behind the mind, behind the thoughts of people who really do not have an easy job. They work like no other but once they are in front of the consumer, they put on a big smile and make it look easy. The life of anybody in Hospitality is certainly not easy and it takes a certain type of person to pull it off. I find it fascinating especially since I have been on both sides of the bar or table. Join me as I talk to more trailblazers in this world and I mean world.
21 Episodes
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In this episode, we explore Derek Bromley's passion for crafting the perfect cup, how OHM got its name, his band "Mama Said" and how his background as a sommelier has allowed him to blend wine, coffee and guitar riffs. At Ohm Coffee, every roast strikes the perfect chord between craftsmanship and creativity. Founded by guitarist and sommelier Derek Bromley, the roastery is inspired by the world of vintage guitar amps — where tone, balance, and intensity matter just as much as they do in a great cup of coffee. Just as Derek carefully selects notes and nuances when playing guitar, he approaches coffee with the same refined palate he developed as a sommelier. Each blend is thoughtfully chosen and named according to its intensity — from smooth, low-voltage profiles to bold, high-ohm roasts — reflecting the depth, character, and complexity inside every bag. For Derek, roasting coffee is like composing music or pairing fine wine: it’s about harmony, structure, and feeling. Ohm Coffee isn’t just about caffeine — it’s about flavor turned up to eleven. Derek says coffee amps you up! He and his wife, Jennifer Knight who is the Creative Director of OHM coffee roasters are bringing it all together from music, coffee and community!
Allo Gilinsky is a Sonoma County native and Certified Cicerone with 10 years of front-of-house hospitality experience. He has engaged people online and founded his own business, with a persona widely known as "The Craft Beer Concierge". His favorite thing about the world of beer besides the liquid itself, is the community it cultivates and stories behind the glass. He once worked at Russian River Windsor leading tours and credits his time there for spurring his beer education passion. You can almost always find him waxing poetic about lagers and sipping Saisons, and other great beers around Sonoma County. He is a Certified Cicerone, which is similar to a Certified Sommelier in the wine world. That means he has tasted a lot of beer and can distinguish the aromas and flavors between them.
🌟 About Vanessa Robledo | Vintner’s Diary 🌟 Vanessa Robledo and her daughter Jocelyn Robledo were kind enough to join us on this episode of Beyond the Pour by California Tastings. Vanessa Robledo is a trailblazing winemaker and entrepreneur. The fourth of nine children of Maria and Reynaldo Robledo, Vanessa helped found and manage Robledo Family Winery in Sonoma before becoming the managing partner of Black Coyote, a Black-owned winery in Napa Valley. In 2015, she helped her mother launch Maria de Luz Wine Company, selling premium grapes, and also founded Vanessa Robledo Wine Consulting. Today, she is the founder and owner of Vintner’s Diary, a brand dedicated to making wine simple and approachable. As Sonoma Woman Magazine says: "Vanessa is not only the American dream personified, she is reinventing that dream as she goes along, serving as a bridge over cultures, gender, wine industry, age, and family stereotypes."
Nilu, owner of California Tastings sits down with Henrik Poulsen of Release winery.In our new series called "France in a Glass" we are hand-picking French wines that we have enjoyed in the past and tasting them together.These wines are under $50. As we taste we like to talk about the area that the grapes come from, and how the soil and weather affect the final flavors in the bottle.This conversation is about "Chablis" which is the northern part of Bourgogne. It is abut 80 miles away from Champagne and the soil is quite unique. It is rich in limestone and clay with fossilized oyster shells. That's why Chablis wines are known for their crispness, high acidity and distinctive minerality.They often have notes of apple, citrus, and clean, pure finish. This unique combination makes Chablis wines stand out among Chardonnays of the world.
Rajeev, the proprietor of Kubani Wines is inspired by a timeless legacy. The art of wine and all things luxurious. Starting with his humble beginnings as an entrepreneur, his journey as a father as well as his experiences while traveling the world.He loves life, specially having an appreciation for the finer things, from growing organic tomatoes, eating farm to table or learning about wine & truly appreciating it.Their wines include varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Petite Sirah.The winemaker for Kubani Wines is a Sommelier and Winemaker by the name of Bobby Moy. He brings his expertise to the winemaking process to craft the elegant and approachable wines that Kubani wines are known for. Rajeev tells us that creating Kubani Wines is a culmination of his love for family, life, and passions, inspired by his children, Shibani and Kunal. "My wines express finesse, elegance, a subtleness, yet bold flavors.What a great journey for a family who knew that this was their passion and did not let anything stop them.
Chef Jeremy Cabrera came from humble beginnings and learned from an early age that food was equal to life itself.At the age of 14, he found himself working in a commercial kitchen and immediately he was hooked on everything gastronomy.By 21, he was working in Las Vegas as an Executive Chef. Although this was a short stint, he learned valuable lessons. A while later, he helped open Petras Greek Taverna in Las Vegas.Jeremy believes food should be art — that's why it is called culinary arts, not culinary jobs. To him, food should be a cartoon on a plate. He is currently creating that plate, and many more, at Little Saint Restaurant in Healdsburg, California.
Above Board was co-founded by Nicole Slone and her husband, Brent Slone, a San Diego couple whose personal wellness journey sparked the idea.Frustrated by the lack of flavorful, low-sugar liqueurs in the market—despite growing demand from health-conscious drinkers—they launched the brand in 2021 to fill that gap.Everyone is looking for more healthy ways to drink alcohol and sometimes choosing to drink Non-Alcoholic all together.Most creations come from necessity, and that is exactly what pushed Nicole & Brent Slone to create zero sugar liqueurs.
I’m thrilled to introduce someone who’s redefining what it means to be a trailblazer in Spirits — Mel Heim, the co-founder and master blender of Big Nose Kate Whiskey. Mel is one of the first female master distillers and blenders in the United States, known for her fearless innovation and deep respect for craft. With Big Nose Kate, she’s created a whiskey inspired by one of the most legendary women of the Wild West — a spirit that’s as bold, complex, and unforgettable as its namesake.
Welcome back to Beyond the Pour, where we explore the stories, passions, and creativity that flow into food, wine, and hospitality. For Episode 13, I’m excited to introduce today’s guest, Chef Jessie Keilt of Blue Blossom Catering.Jessie has built a reputation in Sonoma County for her thoughtful, seasonal menus that celebrate the bounty of Northern California. With roots that stretch across both British and American traditions—and a dash of artistic influence from her father, a songwriter for the Grateful Dead—her culinary journey is as layered and soulful as the dishes she creates.
We are talking to a young winemaker who already has her wine in a 2 Michelin Star Restaurant. Her label is Schema and she is all about showcasing her ability to create Old World Wine from Sonoma County grapes. I can attest she is doing exactly that as I got to get my hands on a few bottles. Join us in finding out what pushes someone to follow their dream at a time when the wine industry is not thriving they way it was a few years back.
Today, we’re thrilled to have Jessica Waugh, a Las Vegas-based wine exam coach and the founder of JWaugh Education. With over 20 years in the beverage industry, Jessica’s journey took her from sommelier roles at top Vegas spots like Aureole and Gordon Ramsay Steak to becoming a powerhouse educator. She’s passed 27 high-level exams, including the Advanced Sommelier and WSET Level 3, and now uses her neuroscience-based coaching to help thousands ace their wine certifications. Get ready for her insights on mastering wine studies and embracing your unique learning style! Learning how to study is what we all need to figure out. Jessica can figure that out for us and that is why it is so interesting to listen to what her company offers.
Today, I’m excited to be joined by Megan Cline, a second-generation vintner carrying forward the Cline family legacy in Sonoma. She worked in a Wine Bar one summer in Santa Barbara and got pulled into the Sommelier world and proceeded to pass her exam at 21 years of age. Megan grew up surrounded by vineyards and winery life, but it wasn’t until 2015 that she officially returned to Cline Family Cellars to contribute her creativity and vision.
In this episode 8, I am thrilled to welcome Michael Tremblay, the Beverage Director at Ki Modern Japanese + Bar in Toronto, where he oversees Canada’s largest sake program. A globally recognized Sake Samurai—one of only about 100 worldwide—Michael was honored by the Japan Sake Brewers Association for his deep passion and expertise in sake, as well as his dedication to spreading Japanese culture. He’s a certified WSET sake instructor, a senior judge at the International Wine Challenge, and co-author of the James Beard Award-winning book Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake. Beyond his mastery of sake, Michael is also an accomplished composer and pianist, bringing a creative flair to both music and the art of beverage.
Born in Osaka, Japan, and later moving to Canada during high school, SHINTARO NAKAGAWA graduated from the University of Toronto. My sake world journey began during the COVID pandemic, when restaurants were closed.With a close connection to a sake brewery and through his advertising company LEAF — which has over a decade of experience in publishing and advertising — he created a spin off and began blending sake as a creative online project to explore new flavors and value. He also felt this was a way to help the breweries sell some of their Sake.After receiving awards in Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Milan, SHINTARO NAKAGAWA felt confident opening a sake shop where customers can blend their own original sake.
In Episode 7 of Beyond the Pour, I sit down with Henrik Poulsen, Danish-born owner and winemaker of Release Winery in Napa Valley.With over two decades of experience, Henrik blends Old World finesse with New World creativity to craft exceptional wines. From his roots in fine wine retail in Denmark to apprenticeships in Bordeaux and now pioneering boutique winemaking in Napa, his journey is one of passion, persistence, and precision. Henrik shares insights on sustainable practices, wine philosophy, and how he turned his vision into reality at Release Winery.
Step into the heart of Sonoma’s natural wine movement with Jack Sporer, the force behind Fres.co Wine and Magnolia Wine Services. In this candid episode of Beyond the Pour, Jack breaks down what "natural wine" really means—from organic farming and zero-zero winemaking to building a collaborative space for the next generation of winemakers.We discuss how Jack's deep roots in Sonoma and passion for regenerative agriculture led to his creation of wines that are raw, honest, and expressive of their terroir.
In this episode, I'm excited to introduce Matthew Citriglia, a Master Sommelier and Director of Education at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Florida.With over 40 years of experience in the beverage industry, Matthew’s journey began at just 14 years old, stocking shelves in his father’s store. By 22, he owned his own wine shop — and by 2002, he earned the prestigious Master Sommelier title. Today, he leads Educational programs, mentors teams, and deepens wine and sake knowledge across Florida's market. Off the clock, you’ll find him staying sharp with yoga or biking.
In this episode, I get to chat with Oscar Navarro, the assistant winemaker at Napa Valley College’s groundbreaking Viticulture and Winery Technology program.A proud alumnus of the program himself, Oscar has transformed his passion for wine into a remarkable career, helping shape the next generation of winemakers through hands-on education at the college’s teaching winery. With a story that embodies dedication and opportunity, he’s here to share his journey, insights into Napa Valley’s wine industry, and the exciting future of wine education.
In episode 3 of Beyond the Pour, I sit down with Laurel Livezey, Wine Director at Little Saint in Healdsburg, to dive into the world of wine, hospitality, and sustainability. The rise of the Non-Alcoholic Pairing Menu and so much more!With a Level 3 Award in Wine from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), Laurel brings expertise and passion to every bottle she curates. We explore her journey into wine, the rising demand for natural wines, and the growing momentum behind sustainable viticulture.Laurel also shares her thoughts on what the next five years could look like in Wine Country—from evolving customer preferences to the impact of climate change on winemaking. If you're passionate about wine, this is an episode you won't want to miss. One of her goals and mine is to have Stevie Nicks come have a libation with us at Little Saint.
In Episode 2 of Beyond the Pour, we sit down with Sahar Gharai, the inspiring owner of La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge in Petaluma, California. With roots in Florence and a passion for authentic hospitality, Sahar shares how she created a timeless community wine lounge that’s thrived for over 18 years. From her advanced wine education to empowering women in wine and curating wines that tell meaningful stories, this conversation uncorks a journey of culture, resilience, and connection—one glass at a time.
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