The Taste with Doug Shafer

Podcasts

A series from Doug Shafer about the people behind the food & wine you love.

Available to listen on your favorite streaming platforms, or listen directly from this page.

Dave Phinney

48 Minutes

Early in his career Dave Phinney redefined the look and feel of winemaking and marketing in Napa Valley when he created a red blend called The Prisoner. Simultaneously he founded and remains involved with Orin Swift, working in partnership with Gallo. After the sale of his original brands, Dave went on to forge his own path establishing the spirits maker Savage & Cooke and most recently began crafting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the Central Coast under the Our Lady of Guadalupe label.
20240708

Chelsea Barrett

47 Minutes

Chelsea Barrett Growing up in one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated winemaking families, Chelsea brings a wealth of personal knowledge to her professional success. After graduating from UC Davis she gained real-world experience working in wine regions around the world and in wineries of all sizes from large to small. Today she is winemaker at Napa Valley’s Materra Cunat Family Vineyards and Aviatrix, crafting wines with her mom, winemaker Heidi Barrett. Don’t miss previous podcast episodes with Chelsea’s grandfather Richard Peterson, dad, Bo Barrett, and mom, Heidi Barrett. For more, visit: Materra Cunat Family Vineyards
20240701

Jean Hoefliger

47 Minutes

Born in Switzerland, Jean Hoefliger worked in vineyards and wineries throughout the world before landing in Napa Valley in 2001 and his first job here at Newton Vineyard. Since then he’s made wine with some 25 brands including Alpha Omega Winery and AXR Napa Valley as well as with his long-time friend Michele Roland. For more of Jean's story visit: JHWineConsulting.com
20240624

Emma Swain

50 minutes

Emma Swain's journey into wine starts with the early days of Francis Ford Coppola’s Neibaum-Coppola Estate (where she says she met a lot of celebrities she didn't recognize) to wineries owned by Sonoma’s Sebastiani family. Her business insights and acumen ultimately took her to the CEO position at Chanel-owned St. Supèry Estate Vineyards and Winery where she is focused on sustainably producing unforgettable wines. For more visit: StSupery.com
20240612
Doug Shafer and Violet Grgich

Violet Grgich

63 minutes

Third-generation vintner Violet Grgich tells an incredible family wine story that spans a century that includes a world war, daring escapes, and a years-long journey to Napa Valley. Her grandfather was a winemaker in their small town in Croatia, her father came to Napa and help put the region on the world stage and started a winery, Grgich-Hills Estate, where today Violet is president. Enjoy! For more visit: Grgich.com
20221107
Doug Shafer and Hugh Davies

Hugh Davies

59 minutes

Hugh Davies lives in the same house he grew up in at Schramsberg Winery here in Napa Valley and, in a case of history repeating itself, it’s where he and his wife are raising their own family and making world-class wines. Hugh does a great job of weaving together 150 years of stories about family and winemaking on Diamond Mountain. Enjoy! For more visit: Schramsberg.com
20220817
Doug Shafer with John and Rory Williams

John and Rory Williams

62 minutes

In 1975 John Williams arrived in Napa Valley with a return bus ticket and $40 in his pocket. He fell in love with wine and never used that return ticket – instead launching Frog’s Leap Winery. Today John and his son Rory (who also owns Calder Wine Co.) are running Frog’s Leap together and on the podcast, they discuss the joys and challenges of family business. For more visit: FrogsLeap.com and CalderWine.com
20220602
Doug Shafer and John Kongsgaard

John Kongsgaard

61 minutes

John Kongsgaard grew up in Napa Valley, where his father was a beloved local judge. John says their father-son relationship was tested during the stresses of the Vietnam War and the road to healing that rift culminated in the creation of Kongsgaard’s most celebrated wine, The Judge. Today John works with his son, Alex, to keep growing beautiful fruit and making outstanding wines. Enjoy! For more visit: KongsgaardWine.com
20220405
Doug Shafer with Alan and Delia Viader

Alan and Delia Viader

52 minutes

Delia Viader came to the wine business in Napa Valley in the 1980s after living in Argentina, Switzerland, Lebanon, and France and earning degrees from the Sorbonne in Paris and MIT in Boston. Her son Alan grew up on the winery property, learning vineyard and cellar work at a young age. Today this duo runs Viader Vineyards & Winery, one of Napa Valley’s best. Enjoy! For more visit: Viader.com
20211213
Doug Shafer and Adam Lee

Adam Lee

58 minutes

Adam Lee comes from a family of devout Texas teetotalers. In college, however, Adam not only tasted his first wine, he became passionate about it. He and then-wife Diane Novy moved to California and founded Siduri, making outstanding Pinot Noirs from vineyards site that ranged from Santa Barbara to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. After selling Siduri, Adam has gone on to start several exciting new wine projects. Enjoy! For more visit: ClariceWineCompany.com
20211119
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