Grown in Napa Valley

Napa Valley Grapegrowers

This local podcast will discuss wine grape growing in Napa Valley. Through short, candid interviews and discussions, listeners will gain timely insights into vineyard activities and trends growers are seeing, encouraging, and creating an open platform for sharing and inspiring action for the grower community.

  1. 16H AGO

    Episode 23: Why Wine Still Matters with Felicity Carter & Glass with a Grower, Philippa Ward and Tim Colla

    This episode of Grown in Napa Valley brings together two timely conversations that reflect the cultural, generational, and economic shifts shaping today’s wine industry. In the first segment, host Caleb Mosley speaks with journalist and podcaster Felicity Carter at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium about changing attitudes toward alcohol, health, and moderation. Their discussion explores the rise of wellness culture, generational risk aversion, and how wine is increasingly framed within broader public health narratives. Carter offers perspective on how growers and producers can engage more confidently in these conversations by grounding them in science, history, and wine’s longstanding social role, encouraging pride, visibility, and thoughtful storytelling as tools to navigate uncertainty.  The episode then shifts to Carneros for a Glass with a Grower conversation with Philippa Ward and Tim Colla of Saintsbury, recorded amid the energy of the tasting room. Together, they reflect on Saintsbury’s founding vision, Carneros’ role in shaping California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the winery’s evolution across generations. The conversation highlights the importance of curiosity, collaboration between growers and wineries, and a willingness to innovate while honoring legacy. From vineyard partnerships to new winemaking explorations, the segment underscores how adaptability, stewardship, and shared purpose continue to define resilient brands and communities in Napa Valley. Support the show

    57 min
  2. JAN 10

    Episode 22: Cross Country Craft: A 2026 Kickoff with Mark Carter & Glass with a Grower, Dan Petroski

    Caleb opens the 2026 season of Grown in Napa Valley from Louisville, Kentucky, where he sits down with vintner-turned-whiskey-maker Mark Carter. Their conversation traces Carter’s journey from Eureka hospitality to Napa winemaking and ultimately to Kentucky bourbon, highlighting the shared craftsmanship between wine and spirits, barrels, blending, farming roots, and the growing consumer interest in how raw materials are cultivated. Carter reflects on decades of working with iconic Napa vineyards and the parallels he now sees in the rising “grain-to-glass” movement, as distillers embrace terroir and agricultural storytelling much like grape growers do. Their tasting together underscores how both wines and whiskies reflect the land, the season, and the maker’s hand.  The episode then returns to Napa for Glass with a Grower featuring winemaker and NVG Board Member Dan Petroski. Dan speaks to his passion for Mediterranean-style white wines, the evolving needs of Napa’s wine market, and the importance of growers becoming more visible partners in consumer storytelling. He discusses the challenges of the 2025 season, the opportunities ahead in 2026, the need for deeper collaboration between growers and wineries, and the promise of AB 720 in connecting visitors directly with vineyards. Looking forward, Dan stresses community resilience, thoughtful adaptation, and a renewed focus on helping growers navigate shifting markets while continuing to champion the quality and diversity of Napa Valley agriculture.  Support the show

    1h 5m
  3. 12/10/2025

    Episode 21: Half a Century in the Vines: Stories of Stewardship and Renewal with Ashley Anderson & Glass with a Grower, Tom Davies

    In Episode 21 of Grown in Napa Valley, the podcast celebrates the Napa Valley Grapegrowers' 50th anniversary by spotlighting two stories of resilience and reinvention. Ashley Anderson of Cain Vineyard shares her personal and professional journey farming organically on Spring Mountain, detailing the challenges of managing steep, terraced vineyards and navigating the aftermath of the devastating 2020 Glass Fire. Her commitment to protecting the land, nurturing the soil, and honoring the vineyard’s legacy shines through as she recounts the thoughtful replanting efforts and her team’s emotional connection to vines that survived against the odds. Ashley also reflects on the joy and collaboration of planning the Organic Winegrowing Conference, emphasizing the value of community in sustainable farming. The episode then shifts to V. Sattui Winery, where Tom Davies reflects on the winery’s own 50-year legacy. In a warm, lively conversation, Tom shares stories of his serendipitous entry into the wine world and how he and founder Dario Sattui built a business rooted in Italian hospitality and direct-to-consumer connection. He highlights the recent transformation of their tasting room into the Mercado del Gusto, designed to foster community and accessibility in contrast to the trend of exclusivity in Napa Valley. From launching natural and non-alcoholic wines to keeping tastings affordable and open to all, Tom’s vision is to keep wine—and the joy it brings—at the heart of Napa Valley life. Both segments underscore a shared commitment to stewardship, innovation, and heartfelt connection to land and people. Support the show

    55 min
  4. 11/10/2025

    Episode 20: 2025 Harvest Highlights: Quality Through Adaptation

    In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, guest host Jonathan Cristaldi presents highlights from the 2025 Napa Valley Harvest Press Conference, presented by the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and Napa Valley Vintners,  joined by growers and winemakers Ashton Leutner, Mayan Koschitzky, Nate Weis, and Megan Gunderson. They unpack a cooler, steady 2025 growing season shaped by early rains, slow canopy development, minimal heat spikes, and strong fruit set. With phenolic ripeness outpacing sugar accumulation, the panel notes vibrant color, natural acidity, and balanced alcohol across the vintage. They discuss the year’s key challenges — elevated mildew pressure and a stop-and-start harvest caused by intermittent rain — and share how tight spray intervals, sport-trap monitoring, and thoughtful canopy work helped maintain fruit quality. Market shifts also left some fruit unharvested, creating an opening for growers to redevelop vineyards, adjust crop loads, and focus on long-term soil and plant health. The conversation turns to the Pickett Fire, which produced highly localized smoke impacts. Thanks to improved air-quality tools and advanced ETS smoke-taint testing, growers were able to assess risk with far more precision than in past fire years. Early takeaways from the panel point to a distinctive, expressive 2025 vintage — wines with strong color, refined tannins, and clear AVA character — underscoring a maturing Napa Valley rooted in adaptation, stewardship, and continuous learning. Support the show

    43 min
  5. 10/10/2025

    Episode 19: Fighting Fire with Foresight: Lessons from the Pickett Fire with CALFIRE Chiefs Matt Ryan and JC Greenberg & Glass with a Grower, Bill Hanna

    In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley speaks with CAL FIRE’s Matt Ryan and JC Greenberg about the recent Pickett Fire in Calistoga and the evolution of wildfire management in Napa County. They recount how lessons learned from past disasters like the Glass Fire informed a faster, more coordinated response, aided by years of fuel reduction, maintained containment lines, and collaboration with Napa Firewise. New technology—including AI-enabled smoke detection, night-flying helicopters, and mobile retardant bases—has revolutionized early fire response. The chiefs emphasize that resilience depends on community-wide preparedness: defensible space, pre-fire planning, and responsible vineyard burn practices to prevent smoke impacts during harvest. The conversation then turns to Bill Hanna, Napa Valley Grapegrowers’ first Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, who reflects on his family’s 50-year partnership with Château Montelena and their deep roots in Napa farming. Hanna shares how trust, quality, and collaboration have sustained this grower–winery relationship across generations. Beyond the vineyard, he highlights decades of advocacy for farmworker housing and community well-being, noting Napa’s leadership as the only county where growers self-assess to fund workforce housing. Looking ahead, Hanna discusses the need for balance—between groundwater use, vineyard density, pricing, and long-term environmental stewardship—underscoring education and cooperation as the keys to Napa Valley’s enduring agricultural legacy. Support the show

    1h 2m
  6. 09/10/2025

    Episode 18: Innovation Without Borders: Grapegrowing in a Changing World with Julien Dumercq & Glass with a Grower, Randy Heinzen & Donnell Brown

    In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley first speaks with Julien Dumercq of IVES (International Viticulture and Enology Society), who highlights the organization’s mission to provide open-access research in viticulture and enology. Julien explains how IVES grew from a small initiative in Bordeaux into a global network of 35 universities and research institutes, supported by members and partners including several Napa Valley wineries. Their peer-reviewed journals, multilingual technical reviews, and international conferences foster collaboration and innovation, ensuring that research is widely available and free from financial barriers. Julien emphasizes the importance of building community across continents, sharing best practices, and maintaining scientific integrity while adapting to new technologies like AI. The conversation then turns to the U.S. with Randy Heinzen of Vineyard Professional Services and Donnell Brown of the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA). Randy shares his journey from Napa to Paso Robles and his experiences farming across diverse sites, underscoring the value of research and cost-based vineyard management. Donnell explains NGRA’s national role in setting research priorities for all grape sectors—wine, juice, table, and raisins—and in advocating for projects with USDA and funding agencies. Together, they stress the importance of collaboration, sustained investment in research, and engaging the next generation of leaders to address challenges such as climate change, pests, and shifting market dynamics. The episode highlights Napa Valley’s role in both global and national research efforts, bridging science and practice to support resilient grape growing. Support the show

    1h 3m
  7. 08/10/2025

    Episode 17: Rooted in Resilience: Community, Legacy, and Leadership in Napa Valley with Terence Mulligan & Glass with a Grower, Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko

    In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley sits down with two local leaders to explore how deep-rooted community values and agricultural resilience shape Napa Valley. First, Terence Mulligan, President and CEO of the Napa Valley Community Foundation, discusses how the foundation serves as a platform for strategic philanthropy, especially in times of crisis. He highlights initiatives like the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund and the One Napa Valley Initiative, which have helped thousands of residents—particularly undocumented families—through disaster recovery and access to citizenship. Mulligan emphasizes the importance of community trust, the power of pooling resources, and the unique generosity of Napa Valley donors in supporting long-term solutions. The second half features Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko, co-chair of Harvest STOMP, President of Yount Mill Vineyards, and a fifth-generation grape grower. She reflects on her family’s multigenerational commitment to viticulture, organic farming, and business innovation. Kendall shares her journey from compliance work to managing vineyard sales and growing the family business, while also serving on influential industry boards. She speaks candidly about balancing motherhood, leadership, and legacy, and underscores the importance of Harvest STOMP as a fundraiser rooted in community care. Her message is clear: to preserve Napa Valley's future, growers must lead with collaboration, gratitude, and a deep respect for the land and the people who tend it. Participate in the Harvest STOMP eAuction from August 16 - 22, 2025! Support the show

    59 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

This local podcast will discuss wine grape growing in Napa Valley. Through short, candid interviews and discussions, listeners will gain timely insights into vineyard activities and trends growers are seeing, encouraging, and creating an open platform for sharing and inspiring action for the grower community.

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