Debra Del Fiorentino - Owner, WineCompetitions.com
Debra is a veteran of all things wine. Along with being a one time winery owner, and
running five of the most noted wine competitions, Debra is now part of
Spirited Magazine. A background in the publishing industry makes the
job a perfect fit. We talk about the debut of Spirited, and the
upcoming North Coast Wine Challenge, named the best of the best, with
only gold medal winning wines.
Alexandra Russell - Editor in Chief, Spirited Magazine
Alex has just geared
up and released the first issue of this unique magazine. Wine, spirits, beer,
and ciders, all play a role in the content, the target reader is both
the professionals in the field and all interested in finer beverages.
Alex tell us about starting a publication and her relation with The Press Democrat, the most popular wine country newspaper.
Rene Byck - Co-owner, Paradise Ridge Winery
Being Co-owner of Paradise Ridge winery in Santa Rosa Ca, is a dream job for
sure. With his brother in law Dan Barwick making award winning wines,
support from the entire family, and one of the most beautiful wineries
in the United States, Rene is sitting on top of the world. Located at
the north end of Santa Rosa, the winery and vineyards are one of the
most popular spots for events in the wine country. There is a long list
of special reasons to visit throughout the year, the outdoor Art
Garden is beyond compare. As one of the extraordinary venues for
weddings, you can't miss, when you are in Sonoma County, stopping at Paradise Ridge.
Scot Covington - Winemaker, Trione Winery
Just outside of Geyserville in the Alexander Valley, Scot
is the Winemaker at Trione Winery. With a long history in Sonoma County the
Trione Family found a gem of a winemaker in Scot and he is producing
wines winning major awards. A world traveler, with a degree from Fresno
State, the choice to premier the winery with Scot at the helm has
worked perfectly. We talk about the Sonoma scene and what is happening with the 2017 vintage.
George Christie - Founder & CEO, Wine Industry Network
Involved in the wine business for many years, George sits
on agency boards, has worked for Northern California Wineries that are household
names, and now runs a newsletter that gives you more information than
any other. We talk about Spring in Sonoma, politics and wine, and the prospect of a great 2017 vintage.
Ray
Johnson - Director of the Wine Business Institute, Sonoma State University
Educator, Author, Wine Competition Maven, and all around
good guy, Ray is with us to talk about the new building at Sonoma
State University. The Wine Business Program is off to a great start
and is already known around the world. With the addition of the hub
of the program, the students will enjoy state of the art surroundings on
their way to a Masters Degree in Wine Business. We talk about the progress and the date we expect the opening. With the addition of the
Green Center a few years ago, world class entertainment is at hand and expect more great things all about wine.
Tim McDonald - Founder, Wine Spoken Here
A part of two of the best wine competitions in California,
Tim is also a principle in Wine Spoken Here. The Central Coast Wine Competition, and The San Francisco International, are just around the
corner and Mr. McDonald has a big job ahead of him. We talk about
the logistics of staging an international event, and all about the Paso Robles Competition.
Jim Gordon - Editor, Wines and Vines Magazine
Jim is with us in
part to talk about a huge cork seminar in the works and what's new in the
field of closures. We talk about the newest approaches to making
world class wine, and his outlook for the now well watered vineyards in California.
Beth Costa - Executive Director, Wine Road Northern Sonoma County
Being the person in charge of The Wine Road in Sonoma County, this also means you are the host of the worlds largest wine event. Beth
has been hosting the Barrel Tasting for years now. Including more than
100 wineries, you have a chance to taste barrel samples, current releases, and meet principles in some of Northern California's best. We talk about this huge event scheduled for two weekends in March, and Beth will give you the inside scoop on how to have the best time on the Road.
Dan Barwick - Winemaker, Paradise Ridge Winery
Winemaker and part of the family at Paradise Ridge Winery,
Dan is a pro at putting together a great time at Paradise Ridge during the
Barrel Tasting season. A favorite stop for CRN's Mike Horn, this Santa
Rosa winery Is a must visit. Award winning wines, beautiful vistas,
and the best outdoor art gallery in Sonoma County make for an
unforgettable experience. Dan along with Beth Costa will fill you in on
the best way to join the fun for the biggest of wine country events.
Agoston Haraszthy - The Count, Buena Vista Winery
Buena Vista Winery has one of the most recognized figures in
Northern California as the goodwill ambassador . The Count, in period costume
and his trademark stovepipe hat, hosts dinners, leads tours, and brings
the spirit of the founder of the oldest winery in Sonoma alive. We talk about the developments at Buena Vista, and how you can participate in the total experience.
Barry Lawrence - Founder, Eagle Ridge Winery
Author, educator, fixture in both food and wine in Sonoma
County and around the world, Founder of Eagle Ridge Winery, and a commercial pilot. Barry is also a historian, and tells us of the Count at Buena Vista Winery. Barry has stories for us all.
Miro Tcholakov - Vice President of Winemaking, Trentadue Winery
Being the Vice President of winemaking at Trentadue Winery,
and having his own brand, Miro Wines, Mr. Tcholakov is one of the
stars in Sonoma County. Coming off a sweepstakes prize at The San
Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and a quick trip to visit family in
Bulgaria Miro has jetted in to be on this weeks show. Especially
involved in Rhone style wines, he is with us to talk about the new
releases from both wineries, and the effect of a major win at the worlds largest competition of American wines.
Elizabeth Slater - Founder, In Short Direct Marketing
A savant in the marketing field, Elizabeth is the founder of
In Short Direct Marketing. A veteran in the Wine Industry and a
Motivational Speaker, Elizabeth is here to talk about the
future of California Wines, and in specific, the Wine Label Competition
she runs in Northern California. A long time friend and a fixture in the business, lends for great stories and insight into all things wine.
