The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits

The Wine Makers
  • 4.7 (165)
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A laid-back journey into the heart of wine culture Every week, hosts Sam Coturri, Bart Hansen, and Brian Casey pull the cork on real conversations with winemakers, growers, sommeliers, and industry trailblazers from Sonoma and beyond. The Wine Makers blends deep knowledge with a relaxed, no-snobbery approach to everything from biodynamic farming to rebellious cider makers and sake artisans. These are not dry lectures or polished promos—just passionate people talking shop over a glass (or three). The hosts’ decades of hands-on experience in vineyards, cellars, and tasting rooms fuel lively discussions about sustainability, storytelling, and the changing world of wine. Whether you’re just starting to explore wine or already know your skin-contact from your carbonic maceration, this show delivers honest insight, practical advice, and plenty of personality. Pour a glass and press play.

  1. 4D AGO

    The Wine Makers – Episode 400 and DTC Reflections

    Four hundred episodes. In classic Wine Makers Pod style, this one sorta snuck up on us. Technically, we breezed past our 400th episode somewhere in the Monterey fog while recording at the DTC Wine Symposium. So we decided to package two of our favorite DTC interviews with two of our favorite people on the planet, Elaine Chukan Brown and Duskie Estes. Both delivered keynote addresses, bringing the outside perspective we love so much about this conference. Elaine took us on a deep dive into California wine history, showing how past challenges mirror today’s conditions and reminding us that this industry has always found its way forward through collaboration and innovation. Duskie’s story, full of grit and infectious enthusiasm, laid out a path to success built on perseverance and community. On the show, the conversations were mostly what you’d expect from old friends at a great conference; a chance to catch up, laugh, and reflect. To mark the milestone, Brian, Bart, Sam, and Jasmine sat down to reminisce about eight years and 399 episodes. We revisited a few favorites and took a moment to appreciate just how far this little project has come. Most importantly, we raised a glass to everyone who helped us get here, the hundreds of guests, the thousands of listeners, and of course, our dear friend John Myers. So sit down, pop something special, and get ready for the next 100 shows. Thanks for being part of this wild ride. [Ep 400]

    2h 3m

  2. FEB 6

    The Wine Makers – SORBET Keeps Growing!

    Brian, Bart, Danielle and Sam sit down with the rest of the SORBET (Sonoma Organic Regenerative Biodynamic Educational Tasting) crew, Morgan Twain Peterson, Katie Bundschu and Alli Badar, along with special guest Ryan Woodhouse of K&L Wines, to discuss two new SORBET developments. If you missed last year’s event at Fort Mason, don’t worry. SORBET will be back. But first we are turning our focus to friends in the industry who want to learn how to begin incorporating organic, regenerative and biodynamic practices into their viticulture. Morgan and Katie break down what to expect from the first ever SORBET Field Day on February 18. The day begins with a seminar at Abbott’s Passage covering animal integration in vineyards and the One Block Challenge, followed by a quick hop over Madrone Road to Bedrock Vineyard to see mob grazing in action. Sign-ups are open now. Then the really big news. We are taking SORBET to LA. Ryan Woodhouse of the esteemed K&L Wines joins the crew to talk about how SORBET caught his eye, why these wines matter more now than ever, and what guests can expect when we take over the K&L Culver City store on May 3. Stay tuned for more details and a ticket link. Until then, grab a glass, pop a bottle of organic, regenerative or biodynamically grown wine, and get ready for some witty banter, moderate shit talking, and a deep dive into obscure Sonoma Valley history. We also talk about good farming and great wine. From muddy boots in Sonoma to pouring glasses in Los Angeles, this episode is about what happens when farming, community, and wine all live in the same conversation. [Ep 399] https://www.sorbetwine.org/ https://regenerativeviticulture.org/resources/rvf-initiatives/one-block-challenge/ https://www.klwines.com

    57 min

  3. JAN 30

    The Wine Makers – DTC Wine Symposium, Pt. 1

    Steve Gross, Honore Comfort & Mark Barden Wine Institute Monterey, Calif. — Sitting down with Steve Gross has become one of our favorite DTC Wine Symposium traditions. Not only does he have one of the best radio voices in the wine business, but he’s spent nearly four decades on the front lines of wine shipping battles nationwide. Largely thanks to his efforts, residents of 49 states can now receive direct-to-consumer wine shipments. Steve is always ready to update us on the latest state-level shenanigans aimed at limiting consumer access to their favorite wines. But his role has recently grown even bigger. Last month, he stepped into the role of interim president of the Wine Institute. Frankly, we couldn’t feel more confident having Steve Gross leading this crucial organization at such a pivotal moment. One of the big-picture initiatives coming out of the Wine Institute is the Share Wine Co-Lab. To dig into how and why it came together, we were joined by a familiar face for Sonoma County folks, Honore Comfort, Vice President of International Marketing at the Wine Institute, along with marketing consultant Mark Barden. Together, we unpacked the market research that led to the creation of Share Wine Co-Lab, and explored how wineries of all sizes, in any region, can use it to better promote themselves, their communities, and wine in general. Sit down, pop a bottle, and get ready to go deep into the wine business. The dispatches from DTC Wine Symposium 2026 are just getting started. [Ep 398] Learn more: https://dtcwinesymposium.com/ https://freethegrapes.org/ https://wineinstitute.org/news/share-wine-colab/

    1h 34m

  4. JAN 16

    The Wine Makers – Evan Roscoe

    While Evan Roscoe is a Napa native, he grew up far from Napa’s wine culture. So far, in fact, that his family’s mountainside cabin was technically on the Solano side of the county line. There wasn’t wine on the table growing up, and his family had no connections to the wine business. Evan left Napa for college in Chicago and eventually found his way into hospitality and bar management. He returned home after the 2017 fires to find a wine industry already reeling, at the beginning of what would become a long stretch of calamities, corrections, and a few brief booms over the next eight years. In that time, Evan formed some strong opinions about how the wine industry presents itself to the public and how it operates behind the scenes. With a keen sense of aesthetics and a sharp instinct for storytelling, he has turned his creative director skill set into a mirror held up to the industry itself. Evan now posts provocative, thought-provoking reels nearly every day on Instagram @Evan__Roscoe, punctuated with taglines like “Wine is f****d” and “Wine is boring.” After months of sharing, reposting, and commenting on his work, and watching colleagues across the country do the same, we realized we needed to hear directly from Evan Roscoe himself. Sit down, pour a glass, and settle in for this one. Evan has a lot to say. [Ep 397]

    1h 47m

  5. JAN 2

    The Wine Makers – Grand Scheme Wines

    We sit down with Tom and Chrissy from Grand Scheme Wines and dig into a story that has more layers than it first appears. It begins in Carneros, where they bought a piece of land and started planting Barn House Vineyard in 2018 with a clear vision from day one. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were non-negotiable, and organic farming was always part of the plan. What follows is a conversation about commitment, patience, and the reality of building something from the ground up. As they walk us through the decisions, challenges, and moments that shaped the vineyard, the bigger picture comes into focus, and it’s worth paying close attention to how it all connects. We wrap things up feeling grateful for the year behind us and excited about what’s ahead. Happy New Year, and here’s to raising a glass together in 2026. [Ep 396]

    1h 21m

  6. 12/26/2025

    The Wine Makers – 2025 In Review

    We get together with Isabel Gassier and Jasmine Egan for a relaxed year-end catch-up, looking back at the guests, conversations, wines, and trends that stood out in 2025. It’s part reflection, part shop talk, and very much the kind of conversation that happens once the microphones are already on. Listener questions guide a lot of where we go, including the critical ones, and we appreciate all of it. We wrap things up by raising a glass to the year behind us and talking about what’s ahead, with plans to keep pouring and talking into 2026. [Ep 395]

    1h 1m

  7. 12/20/2025

    The Wine Makers – Jenny Murphy, Oxlee Graham Wines

    Jenny Murphy went to UC Davis to study forensics. While attending a job fair, she was lured into the wine business with visions of a laboratory filled with expensive, new equipment. She took a temporary position at Korbel Champagne and was bitten by the wine bug. After accepting a job at Paul Hobbs, she moved up the ranks, finally settling into the Director of Winemaking, where she was responsible for numerous 100pt wines. Jenny recently left Paul Hobbs and started her own label, Oxlee Graham, making precise Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, and some very interesting whites. She is perhaps the most detail oriented winemaker we have ever met, her attention to the wine, barrels, tanks and even corks set her apart from the crowd. The wines are expressive and speak to the vineyard sites, from Mendocino to Santa Cruz. We can’t recommend these wines highly enough, they are very small production so move fast. [Ep 394] oxleegrahamwines.com @oxleegrahamwines

    1h 27m

  8. 12/06/2025

    The Wine Makers – Keith Beavers, Wine101 & VinePair

    The conversation this week features Keith Beavers, Tasting Director at VinePair and host of the Wine 101 podcast. He’s a self-taught wine geek who once ran the New York wine bar In Vino and co-owned Alphabet City Wine Co., and he brings that mix of curiosity and real-world experience to everything he does. Wine 101 is his way of breaking down grape varieties, regions, and technical concepts so they feel clear and approachable. He focuses on helping people understand how wines are made, why they taste the way they do, and how to navigate the world of wine without feeling overwhelmed. The discussion stretches across a wide range of topics, including standout American wines from outside California and a lively digression about “natural wine,” whatever that may mean on any given day. It’s an easy, engaging conversation with someone who knows the subject inside and out, and already feels like a guest worth welcoming back the next time he’s in California. [Ep 393] @vinepairkeith

    1h 44m
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4.7
out of 5
165 Ratings

About

A laid-back journey into the heart of wine culture Every week, hosts Sam Coturri, Bart Hansen, and Brian Casey pull the cork on real conversations with winemakers, growers, sommeliers, and industry trailblazers from Sonoma and beyond. The Wine Makers blends deep knowledge with a relaxed, no-snobbery approach to everything from biodynamic farming to rebellious cider makers and sake artisans. These are not dry lectures or polished promos—just passionate people talking shop over a glass (or three). The hosts’ decades of hands-on experience in vineyards, cellars, and tasting rooms fuel lively discussions about sustainability, storytelling, and the changing world of wine. Whether you’re just starting to explore wine or already know your skin-contact from your carbonic maceration, this show delivers honest insight, practical advice, and plenty of personality. Pour a glass and press play.

Information

  • Creator
    The Wine Makers
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    403
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Wine Makers, Radio Misffits Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    The Wine Makers on Radio Misfits

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