Another Bottle Down

Mark Rashap and Jessica Dupuy
  • 4.8 (31)
  • Food
  • Biweekly

Revived from a previous iteration in 2022, Another Bottle Down explores the when, what, why, and how of the wine and spirits world. Join us as we share the ins and outs, the stories, and our honest insights one bottle at at time.

  1. Oct 21

    Massimo Alois: Reviving Campania’s Indigenous Grapes and Wine Heritage

    Massimo Alois: Reviving Campania’s Indigenous Grapes and Wine HeritageWhat does it take to bring a nearly forgotten wine tradition back to life? About Massimo Alois Massimo Alois is part of the family behind Fattoria Alois, a winery in Campania, southern Italy, dedicated to preserving the region’s winemaking heritage and championing its indigenous grape varieties. In This Episode Jessica Dupuy sits down with Massimo to explore the story of Pallagrello Bianco, Pallagrello Nero, and Casavecchia, grapes that nearly disappeared and are now finding new life through the work of passionate local producers. From Campania’s volcanic soils and the Alois family’s history to the challenges of reviving native varieties, the conversation looks at how wine connects us to a place and its past. Massimo also shares his thoughts on wine pricing, making wine more accessible, and why wine is about more than what’s in the glass. It’s part of the food, culture, and traditions that bring people together. ► SHOW INDEX ◄ 00:00 – Introduction 11:29 – Meet Massimo Alois and Discover Campania 14:30 – The Alois Family’s History in Southern Italy 22:30 – Campania’s Volcanic Soils and Their Influence on Wine 25:00 – From Silk Production to Winemaking 30:00 – The History of Campania’s Indigenous Grapes 35:30 – Pallagrello Bianco, Pallagrello Nero, and Casavecchia 37:30 – Why Reviving Nearly Forgotten Grapes Matters 40:00 – Preserving Southern Italy’s Wine Heritage 45:00 – The Challenges of Reviving Indigenous Varieties 50:00 – Understanding the Wines of Alta Campania 55:00 – Wine, Food, Culture, and Affordability 1:01:22 – Misconceptions About Southern Italian Wine 1:07:15 – Exploring Campania: History, Architecture, and Culture 1:12:00 – The Connection Between Wine, Nature, and Landscape 1:13:17 – Closing Conversation ► CONNECT WITH ANOTHER BOTTLE DOWN ◄ Instagram: www.instagram.com/anotherbottledownpodcast Website: www.anotherbottledown.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/@anotherbottledownpodcast ► CONNECT WITH MASSIMO ALOIS ◄ Instagram: www.instagram.com/massimoalois/ ►CONNECT WITH THE HOSTS ◄ Jessica Dupuy Website: www.jessicadupuy.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessicandupuy Mark Rashap Website: www.theilluminatedbottle.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/illuminated_bottle #AnotherBottleDown #MassimoAlois #ItalianWine #WinePodcast

  2. Sep 4

    Upcoming Fundraiser- Grapes for Good with Mandi Nelson

    On today's show, we have a short bonus episode with Mandi Nelson, the organizer of the upcoming fundraiser, Grapes for Good. This is a wine event in Austin, Texas, presented by ATX Somms and featuring local sommeliers pouring some of their favorite wines. Come out for a wonderful evening on September 13th from 6–9pm at Wanderlust Wine Co. in East Austin. For tickets and more information:  Gapes for Good This year's benefactor:  Good Work Austin More info on ATX Somms Mandi's new brokerage company- Communal Wine and Spirits

  3. Aug 30

    Cocchi Vermouth and the Brilliance of Infusing Herbs

    On today's show, Mark sits down with Paolo Bava, winemaker and head herbalist of Cocchi Vermouth. In the late 1970s, Paolo's father purchased Cocchi Vermouth, and a few years later Paolo enrolled in Enology school and took an herbal infusion course. He was hooked. Paolo describes the various infusions of wine and herbs, including Barolo Chinato, Vermouth, and Americano, in comparison to water-based bitters such as Campari. He also digs into the historical importance of these wine-based beverages, as well as the history of Cocchi Vermouth. More on Giulio Cocchi Here Jessica's book Italianity with a chapter on Cocchi Vermouth

  4. Aug 15

    Alberto Navarro of Loco Tequila

    Alberto Navarro has spent much of his career thinking about tequila from nearly every angle. He began in consumer marketing before moving into the spirits world with Casa Pedro Domecq and later Pernod Ricard, where his work took him from commercial leadership into global tequila education and advocacy. He became closely associated with Olmeca, Altos and the Tahona Society, helping teach bartenders and the trade about tequila at a time when the category was still working to move beyond its shot-and-salt reputation. He later became an independent consultant and wrote Larousse del Tequila, an award-winning reference book on the spirit. Today, Navarro is CEO and Maestro Tequilero of Loco Tequila, an ambitious project based in El Arenal, Jalisco, built around the idea that tequila can express place with the same seriousness we give terroir in wine. Loco takes an unusually detailed approach to production, from mature estate-grown Blue Weber agave and a second, more exacting jima, to slow oven cooking, tahona and roller-mill extraction, and separate fermentations in wood, concrete and stainless steel. Those components give Navarro a palette from which to build the final tequila. For Loco Puro Corazón, the distillation is even more selective, retaining only the heart of the run rather than recovering heads and tails for later use. Jessica sat down with Alberto to talk about his path through the tequila world, why El Arenal matters, what terroir means in a distilled spirit, and the thinking behind a tequila designed to preserve agave character rather than disguise it. The Loco Tequila Story

  5. Jul 27

    Todd Graff of Frank Family Vineyards in Napa

    On today's show, Jessica sits down with Todd Graff, Head Winemaker and General Manager of Frank Family Vineyards. A Petaluma native and UC Davis graduate in plant science and viticulture, Todd spent the first two decades of his career circling the globe — working harvests in Germany, France, Australia, and Portugal — before returning to Napa Valley to hone his craft at Stag's Leap Winery and Schramsberg Vineyards, where he developed deep expertise in sparkling wine. He joined Frank Family in 2003 and has since become one of the valley's most decorated winemakers, earning Napa Winemaker of the Year honors and building Frank Family's reputation on quality and value. Todd's rare fluency in both still and sparkling winemaking — and his leadership in earning Frank Family's Napa Green certification — have made him an enduring and innovative force in Napa Valley. Frank Family Vineyards More about Todd Graff and the Frank Family winemaking team

  6. Jun 23

    Joe Nielson of Ram's Gate Winery in Carneros

    On today's show, Jessica sits down with Joe Nielson, General Manager and Director of Winemaking at Ram's Gate Winery. Joe didn't grow up in a family of wine lovers or winemakers, but with parents who were avid gardeners and farmers. He discovered early in his college career that he wanted to work with his hands and grow grapes. After a brief stint in Michigan wine, Joe made his way to Sonoma in 2008 and worked his way up through a few notable wineries before establishing himself as winemaker at Ram's Gate in 2018. Joe conveys energy, creativity, and a thoughtful intentionality in his approach to winemaking. He's also a strong proponent of farming the right way, leading Ram's Gate to achieve California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) certification in 2024 and Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) status in 2025 for the estate's 28 acres of vineyards. Useful links: More about Joe Nielson an the Ram's Gate team More about Regenerative Organic Certified Press release concerning Ram's Gate achieving Regenerative Organic Certification

  7. May 16

    Stephen Arnold and Selling Italian Wine in Napa Valley

    On today's show, Jessica heads to the Napa Valley to sit down with Stephen Arnold, the wine director of Bottega Restaurant in Yountville, Napa.  Stephen lives and breathes hospitality, and he's driven by a thirst for knowledge with the ultimate goal of elevating the guest experience at Bottega.  Jessica and Stephen talk about all the ins and outs of selling Italian wine in California wine country, educating the staff and guests, and acquiring all the verticals and gems that make Bottega a wine destination. Check out more info on Bottega Napa

  8. Apr 20

    Italianity by Jessica Dupuy and Andrea Lonardi

    On today's show, we take a deep dive into Jessica's forthcoming book, Italianity. Mark and Jessica introduce the book and discuss the writing process. Then, Mark interviews Andrea Lonardi, and they explore the overarching themes that Andrea has been developing over many years. Pre-order Italianity here More on Andrea Lonardi here

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4.8
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Revived from a previous iteration in 2022, Another Bottle Down explores the when, what, why, and how of the wine and spirits world. Join us as we share the ins and outs, the stories, and our honest insights one bottle at at time.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Rashap and Jessica Dupuy
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    194
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mark Rashap and Jessica Dupuy
  • Show Website
    Another Bottle Down

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