The Grape Nation Heritage Radio Network

Jon Fine is the Editor in Chief of “The New Wine Review”. He is an award-winning writer, including a James Beard, and served as Executive/Acting Editor-in-Chief of “Inc. Magazine” along with stints at Business Week, Vanity Fair, GQ & Food & Wine. He has also documented his life as a musician in his book, “Your Band Sucks”. The New Wine Review is a next generation wine publication and has set out with the goal of making it the most interesting place on the internet for people who love wine.

Sophie Menin is a journalist, Editor, and Author, living and working in NYC. With a Masters Degree in Cultural Reporting and Criticism from NYU, a professional degree in the Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and an advanced WSET certificate, Sophie is an award-winning writer focusing on how wine connects us with our sense and the rhythms of the natural world. She has written for the NY Times, Wine Spectator, Barron’s, Saveur and Punch, to name a few. Sophie’s new book “A Year in the Vineyard” offers an insider’s look into the yearlong cycle of the vine. The book is on sale June 4th.

Pax Mahle is an old soul in the new California wine establishment.

He made his way to wine country in 1997, launching his own winery in 2000, and has been making wine for over 25 years. Pax has changed the way we think about California Syrah and has shown us Chenin Blanc, Trousseau Gris, Gamay Noir, and Vermentino, among others can flourish in California.

He has mentored and influenced a generation of winemakers and is now working on Halcon, his new estate grown Syrah project.

For Part 2 of our visit to Blackberry Farm, we check out sister property Blackberry Mountain, a 5200 acre haven nestled in the Smoky Mountains. We speak with Logan Griffin, Director of Food and Beverage at BBM, along with Andy Chabot, to discuss the vast wine program, mixology, and one of the best spirits collection in the country. We further pursue our "Feast for the Ears" wine and food pairing session with Chefs Joey Edwards, PM Exec.Chef at Three Sisters and Joel Werner, Exec. Chef at the Firetower. Logan and Andy selected six wines to pair with our chefs creations.

New Englander and wannabe chef, Andy Chabot attended the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park in NY. His love for food turned into a passion for wine. After CIA, Andy headed west to work at wine mecca Little Nell in Aspen, eventually heading back east to settle in at BlackBerry Farm with second generation owners Sam and Mary Celeste Beall. Sam, along with Andy wanted to transform Blackberry Farm into a true wine destination…mission accomplished, two decades later, Blackberry Farm has over 150K bottles in their cellars, is the recipient of the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Wine Program” along with two “Best Chef” awards, and numerous Wine Spectator Grand Awards. Andy Chabot is the SVP of Food and Beverage at BBF and BlackBerry Mtn. We tour the wine cellars with Andy, Asst. Bev. Dir, Kelly Schmidt, and Somm John Schlichting and select wines to pair with our dishes from Exec. Chef Cassidee Dabney, The Barn, and Trevor Iaconis, The Dogwood at BBF. 

Growing up in Angola, Luis Seabra returned to Portugal in the 1970’s. He studied viticulture at Vila Real and his obsession with terroir led him to work in soil research in Vinho Verde. He launched a revolutionary still wine program while working at Nierpoort, eventually starting his own small winery in 2013, Luis Seabra Vinhos. To Luis, it is all about making wines he enjoys drinking: elegant, fresh, terroir-driven wines that are also age-worthy. Luis Seabra is the most exciting winemaker in Portugal today.