Wine Road: The Wine, When & Where of Sonoma County Wine Road

Episode 205
Sponsored by: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery

 
Today we are joined by Katarina Bonde, the owner and winemaker of West Wines. She reveals how she transitioned from a background in music and software to winemaking and shares unique experiences like harvest walks and library tastings at West Wines, fostering a sense of community in Dry Creek Valley.
Two(!) wines of the day:
West Wines Crest Cuveé & West Wines 2022 Viognier
Fast Five:

Richard's Summer Dessert!

-Peaches
-Butter (or plant milk works too)
-Brown sugar
-Cinnamon
-Salted Pistachios
Cut peaches in half, take out pit
Whisk butter, cinnamon and sugar into a paste. 
Roughly chop pistachios
Dredge the peaches in the paste
Place on  hot grill, flat side down first, char for about a minute and a half 
Flip them over, put the rest of the paste on the charred half, cook for another minute and a half 
Once plated, sprinkle with salted pistachios
Potential sixth ingredient: Vanilla ice cream! Or coconut bliss ice cream :) 
 
Links:
https://westwines.com/
Sponsor:
River Road Family Vineyards and Winery
Credits:
The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at
 Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA.
http://thresholdstudios.info/

Episode 204
Sponsored by: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery

Episode 204 unpacks Moshin Vineyards through a chat with Rick Moshin, shedding light on new varietals like the 2023 Vermintino and exclusive events such as the Bordeaux river cruise. Besides the vineyard's rich history, listeners learn about upcoming events like Amber's art show, a writing workshop, and a joint venture with Swan Winery.
Wine of the Day: Moshin Vineyards 2023 Vermentino
Fast Five: Coco, co-host of Rockin' Vino
Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan optional!)
Ingredients:
-Bananas
-Applesauce
-Oats
-Milk (almond or otherwise is fine too!)
-Vanilla
-Chocolate Chips
-Cinnamon
Set oven to 325
Mash up the bananas, then you put in the applesauce, some oats, a little bit of milk and vanilla, and just mix it all together and then add in, like if you wanted to add cinnamon, which I always do, and then add in your chocolate chips once everything is mixed in. And then you put it on a pan, smash it down a little bit, and bake it for about 15 minutes or so, and they come out delicious.
 
Links:
https://moshinvineyards.com/
https://www.rocknvino.com/
Sponsor:
River Road Family Vineyards and Winery
Credits:
The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at
 Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA.
http://thresholdstudios.info/

Episode 203
Sponsored by: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery

Mark Elcombe, Home Place Manager at Sonoma-Cutrer
This podcast highlights Marc Elcombe of Sonoma-Cutrer, delving into the winery's distinct offerings and acclaimed Chardonnays. Known for tastings, vineyard tours, and unique croquet games, Sonoma-Cutrerstands as a noteworthy asset in the wine industry. Recently, the winery was welcomed into the prestigious Duckhorn Portfolio, cementing its position in the wine market.
Wine of the Day: Sonoma-Cutrer 2021 The Cutrer Chardonnay
Fast Five:
Lemon Spaghetti by Michelle from Rock'n'Vino
Olive Oil
Parmesan Cheese
1 Garlic clove 
Lemon (Meyer or Eureka)
Spaghetti
Use a microplane zester for the following: Zest lemon, Zest garlic clove, zest a fluffy pile of parmesan cheese into a bowl. Add olive oil, squeeze the juice of the lemon juice in and stir. Once pasta is to al-dente readiness, scoop it out and throw it into the bowl with the dressing. Add a little bit of pasta water if it needs to loosen up. And THAT’S IT. :) 
 
Links:
https://www.sonomacutrer.com/
https://www.rocknvino.com/
 
Sponsor:
River Road Family Vineyards and Winery
Credits:
The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at
 Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA.
http://thresholdstudios.info/
 

Episode 202
Sponsored by: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery

In this podcast episode, Dustin Moilanen, co-founder and winemaking director at ACTA shares insights about their unique winemaking process. ACTA, embodying their Latin motto 'Acta Non Verba' or 'Deeds Not Words', puts emphasis on intentional winemaking. Highlighted in the discussion is their signature red blend, Deeds, a rich mix of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and sometimes Malbec.
Wine of the Day: ACTA 2021 Deeds
Fast Five: 
Shane from Wilson Winery: Pulled Pork! 
Pork Tenderloin
Sweet Teriyaki BBQ Sauce
Brown Sugar
Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Cup Chicken Stock 
Crock pot for 5-6 hours - shred with forks, eat on a brioche bun - include coleslaw if you want, but Shane isn’t a coleslaw guy. 
Pairs well with any Wilson Winery Zinfandel!
 
Links: 
https://actawine.com/
https://www.wilsonwinery.com/
Sponsor:
River Road Family Vineyards and Winery
Credits:
The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at
 Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA.
http://thresholdstudios.info/

Episode 201
Sponsored by: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery

Carol Shelton, Winemaker and Owner of Carol Shelton Wines
Today we are joined by renowned winemaker Carol Shelton! We delve into her favorites- currently, the 2022 Coquille Blanc and Wild Thing Rendezvous Rosé, discussing their distinctive winemaking processes. She emphasizes the critical role barrel selection plays in shaping the wines' flavor profiles and highlights the richness of her wines through food pairing, providing a recipe for an asparagus tart that beautifully complements the Coquille Blanc.
Wines of the Day:
Carol Shelton 2022 Coquille Blanc
Wild Thing 2023 Rendezvous Rosé
Fast Five: Carol's "Asparagus Tart" - Or Fancy Pizza :)
Instructions from Carol herself:
Here are the FIVE (sort of, I cheated a bit):
1 roll of crescent roll dough (or puff pastry if you have to be fancy)
2 T. Dijon mustard
2 c. freshly grated gruyère cheese (or fontina or asiago)
1 # very skinny asparagus, tough ends snapped or cut off, then cut into 1” lengths
½ c. freshly grated parmesan cheese
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice and its zest (optional)
A sprinkling of Herbes de Provence (optional)
 
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Flatten out crescent roll dough into a rectangle (approx. 12”x9”) on parchment paper on a sheet pan.
Prick it all over with a fork (called “docking it”).  Spread the mustard evenly over the docked dough. 
Sprinkle grated gruyère over crust, avoiding edges so it won’t bubble over when hot.
Lay asparagus over the bed of cheese and sprinkle herbs, parmesan and lemon juice/zest on top. 
You can make a nice pattern of the asparagus if you want to get fancy!
Bake at 400°F for 15-20 min or until pastry edges are brown and crispy and cheese is melted.
Cut into squares and serve—top with a squeeze of balsamic glaze if desired.
 
Links:
https://www.carolshelton.com/
Sponsor:
River Road Family Vineyards and Winery
Credits:
The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at
 Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA.
http://thresholdstudios.info/

Episode 200
Sponsored by: River Road Family Vineyards and Winery

Richard Ross, Wine Road Podcast Sound Engineer Superstar
The 200th episode of The Wine Road podcast features Beth and Marcy reminiscing on their podcasting journey, with the one and only Richard Ross, the man behind the Wine Road Podcast curtain! Join them on this reflective journey - with a glass of wine!
Wines of the Day: 
Russian River Vineyards 2022 Bacigalupi 
Moshin Vineyards 2019 Estate Pinot Noir
Ron Rubin Blue Bin Planet Friendly 100% Recycled Bottle, the 2022 Pinot Grigio
 
Links:
Russian River Vineyards
Papapietro Perry
Moshin Vineyards
Sonoma County Wine Growers
Alexander Valley Vineyards
The Wine List
Wine Industry Network
VinoTastr
The Matheson
Valette
Gold Ridge Organic Farms
Sponsor:
River Road Family Vineyards and Winery
Credits:
The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at
 Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA.
http://thresholdstudios.info/