Australia

Podcast

Episode 12 – Callum Powell Part 2 (Agricola Vintners)

This episode is part 2 with Callum Powell of Agricola Vintners based in Australia’s Barossa Valley. In this episode, we get more into the details of his two Syrah wines, called ‘Flaxman Valley’ and ‘Ebenezer’ – what’s unique about the sites where they were grown, how they were made, how they’re different, etc. We also talk a bit about the business side of things because Callum only recently quit his other winemaking gig and went full in on Agricola.
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Australia

Podcast

Episode 11 – Callum Powell Part 1 (Agricola Vintners)

Episode 11 is with Callum Powell of Agricola Vintners based in Australia’s Barossa Valley. You might recognize his last name, Powell, as he is the son of Dave Powell, the man who launched Torbreck. In today’s episode, you’ll hear Callum’s coming of age in the wine industry, starting with memories of Torbreck back in the 90s. You’ll hear about all the people who have molded Callum’s perspective, from his dad to Jean Louis Chave to the folks at Tyrells and Jasper Hill, just to name a few.
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Podcast

South Africa

Episode 10 – Mark Stephens (Deep Rooted Wines)

Episode 10 is with Mark Stephens of Deep Rooted Wines based in Walker Bay, South Africa. Mark is a regenerative viticulturist-turned-winemaker and is a prominent figure in the Cape South Coast’s new wave. The South Coasters – as they call themselves – are an exciting group of winemakers whose energy and enthusiasm resemble that of the Swartland […]
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Podcast

*Bonus* Episode 9 – Ronnie Sanders (Vine Street Imports)

Normally, this podcast tells the stories of the winermakers in the Vine Street Imports wine portfolio, but today we have a special guest for you, and while he wears many hats, winemaker isn’t one of them. This holiday bonus episode is with Ronnie Sanders, Vine Street Imports’ founder and CEO. In today’s show, we discuss […]
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England

Podcast

Episode 8 – Trevor Clough (Digby Fine English)

Trevor Clough is the owner and head blender at Digby Fine English based in West Sussex, England. Digby is a sparkling wine brand, and they’re the first wine producer to operate under the négociant, or blending house, model in England. This means they source their grapes from growers in places like Kent, Sussex, and Dorset, and blend […]
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Australia

Podcast

Episode 7 – Steve Crawford (Frederick Stevenson)

Frederick Stevenson is the brainchild (and longtime alias) of Steve Crawford. Steve launched this small-scale winery based in Adelaide, Australia as an antidote to the industrial scale and trophy winemaking that he felt had overwhelmed the Aussie wine scene. What Steve prefers to make and drink are the fresher, livelier styles he had become accustomed to […]
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Podcast

South Africa

Episode 6 – John Seccombe (Thorne & Daughters)

In this episode, you'll hear how John came to be known for his textural whites, and how he learned to embrace a model for winemaking that fit his terroir (read: not trying to be a copy/paste version of Bordeaux or Burgundy). You'll also hear John's take on why getting South African wine to be mainstream in the US is still an uphill battle, as well as his adoration for Japan and, yes, McDonalds... 
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Australia

Podcast

Episode 5 – Alastair Reed (Konpira Maru)

Today's episode is with Alastair Reed of Konpira Maru, which is based in the Whitlands subregion of the King Valley in Victoria, Australia. In this episode you’ll hear what Konpira Maru really means (no, it’s not a Japanese whaling vessel) and how owner Alastair Reed and his former student-turned-business partner Sam Cook almost turned Konpira Maru into a Sherry company. We’ll talk a bit about the grapes and the geography of Australia, and why “diner pepper shaker” is the only kind of pepper aroma Alastair and Sam ever seek to extract from their grapes.
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England

Podcast

Episode 4 – Tim Wildman (Wildman Wines)

Today's episode is with Tim Wildman of Wildman Wines​. At Vine Street Imports, we import his two "sibling" pét-nats to the US. In this episode, you’ll hear about Tim’s experience becoming a Master of Wine and why he chose to build his business around pét-nat. You’ll hear some hot takes on how he thinks Australia has yet to make its best wine, and you'll hear why he doesn’t think the wine industry should waste its time "demystifying" wine. 
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