Mr. Wine Guy Podcast

In Episode 151 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Dominic Chappellet Chief Operating Officer of Chappellet Winery out of Pritchard Hill, CA.

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I’ve often spoke about how Chappellet is at the top of my list of wineries in the Napa Valley but it’s without question their contribution to viticulture and winemaking have placed them at that same level amongst so many people just like myself.

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When I decided to relaunch my podcast in the earlier part of 2023, Chappellet was the first family I thought of as a potential guest on the show so I reached out to Alexa Chappellet to see about a potential interview and went from there.

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Alexa was kind enough to connect me with the PR team to organize everything and before long I was chatting with Dominic Chappellet about all the things his family created in the wine industry!

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In this episode Dominic talks about his Father Donn and Molly, Donn's entrepreneurial background with coffee dispensing and Molly's background in architecture, art, literature, and being a James Beard award winning author!

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Dominic talks about the decision his parents made after Donn's coffee dispensing business went public to sell everything they had and move the entire family to Napa Valley to go full time in the wine industry.

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Dominic went on to talk about what it was like for his family to break ground in Pritchard Hill in 1967 with the help of Architect Ed Moses and Engineer Dick Keith and the inspiration they had to choose Pritchard Hill thanks to the great André Tchelistcheff.

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Dominic talks about what it was like for his family to make their 1969 Estate Cabernet, a wine that is considered today to be a unicorn wine, his mothers love and passion for their Chenin Blanc.

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Dominic also shares the privilege his family has to focus on the environment through their solar project, state-of-the-art water processing system, and being fully certified organic in 2012 by the (CCOF) California Certified Organic Farmers.

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As I mentioned, this podcast means so much to me and what this family has done for so many decades to make a massive impact on the wine industry and is a conversation I know you're going to love as well!

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Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/4aE24oP

To follow Chappellet on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chappellet_winery/

To sign up for Chappellet's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://chappellet.com/shop/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linktree&utm_campaign=shop+chappellet+wines

https://chappellet.com/join/mailing-list/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linktree&utm_campaign=join+our+mailing+list

https://chappellet.com/join/#chappellet-wine-club

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin: https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 150 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Michel Gassier, Owner of Winemaker of Château de Nages and Domaine Gassier out of the Costières de Nîmes appellation of the Languedoc-Roussillon Region of France which is one of the most southernly parts of the historic Rhône Valley.

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Michel kicks off the 2nd half of Season 4 of the podcast and he's also my first old-world wine guest on the show so it brings me a tremendous amount of honor and gratitude to be sharing his story and the multiple generations of his family in the wine industry.

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In this episode Michel talks about his time growing up in the outdoors of the Rhône Valley, his time attending Ag school, and how thanks to his secondary education was able to opt out of a mandatory 18 month military service obligation by working at the French Embassy in Washington DC.

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Michel talks about his time at Domaine Bernard and how eventually becoming President of this winery was pivotal in helping him not only earn an income while learning sales and marketing, but eventually getting his personal brand up and running, focusing soley on his own vineyards and winery (Domaine Gassier) by the end of 1999.

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Michel talks about the creation of Domaine Gassier while simultaneously working at his family winery Château de Nages with his brother. Michel goes on to say that "Château de Nages is the inherited terroir while Domaine Gassier is the chosen terroir!"

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Michel also goes on to talk about the Nîmes appellation and what makes it so special, his philosophy on pruning, and Michel even educates us on some of the common misconceptions of old-world wines and even some of the cultural advantages and benefits that we all love and appreciate about this beautiful and historical terroir!

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Having Michel onboard was truly and honor and a special shoutout to Leah Isenberg of Colangelo & Partners for making this interview possible from South FL to South FR! 🙏🏼

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Cheers 🍷

To follow Michel on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chateaudenages/

https://www.instagram.com/domainegassier/

To purchase some of Michel's wines, or to sign up to learn more about Château de Nages and Domaine Gassier:

https://www.chateaudenages.com/en/wines/

https://www.domainegassier.com/en/wines/

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/domaine+gassier/1/usa

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/chateau+de+nages/1

https://www.totalwine.com/search/all?text=chateau%20de%20nages

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 149 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jean Hoefliger, Owner of Jean Hoefliger Wine Consulting and Winemaker of AXR out of Napa Valley, California.

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Jean was a previous podcast guest in Episode 51 and is part of a four interview lineup where I brought back a few amazing people for a new, fresh conversation as a soft launch for Season 4! With Jean being the 4th person of the throwbacks it was great having him back but I also can't believe we're already half way though Season 4 of the podcast!

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In this episode Jean talks about his time at Newton Vineyard and Alpha Omega Winery as Winemaker early in his career and how those experiences, especially woking with world-renowned Consultant Michel Rolland really had a massive impact on who he is today as a consultant himself.

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Jean talks about the consulting side of winemaking and why it's so important and especially how he's personally never satisfied in his pursuits of perfection and how he "positions himself more in doubting, therefore more progression."

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Jean also educates us on the importance of pruning and how he delays his pruning to play off the frost season, speeding up bud break for the vintage to come and why it's so important for him in the long run.

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Jean brings so much energy and charisma to this podcast and as a mid-season finale for Season 4, you're not going to want to miss!

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Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3wwX1bC

To follow Jean on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jean_hoefliger/

https://www.instagram.com/jhwineconsulting/

To purchase some of Jean's wines, or to sign up to learn more about JH Wine Consulting:

https://www.jhwineconsulting.com/about-us

https://www.axrnapavalley.com/Wine

https://www.thedebatewine.com/The-Store

https://www.harbisonestatewines.com/wine/

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 148 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with John Caldwell or "JFC"...Owner, Smuggler, and Head Dude of Caldwell Vineyard out of the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley, CA.

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John Caldwell is what I would call a true pioneer in his ability to understand French vine clones back in the early 1980's and how important they would be to viticulture in other parts of the world, and especially in his vineyard in California.

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The problem was, John wanted them faster than customs would allow so he smuggled them across the Canadian border, which this story in itself is something out of a movie and illustrated in such a way that John leaves you captivated and speechless all at the same time.

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John talks about everything from his time growing up learning from his parents but especially his mother in her shoe business about Entrepreneurship and everything that goes into running a business successfully through hard work and commitment.

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John talks about what inspired him to purchase his property in Coombsville in the early 1980's and the day he realized while digging up dirt with the Abreu brothers on his property that being a winegrower was what he was destined to be.

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John also talks about his infamous smuggling story in great detail, what it's meant to him and his legacy over the years, and how those risks have offered him huge rewards over the course of his lifetime.

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This is just bits and pieces of an incredible interview that I believe will go down as one of the most inspiring and captivating interviews of this season so get ready for a wild ride with the legend himself, John Caldwell!

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Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3QwMDax

To follow John on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/caldwellvineyard/

To sign up for John's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.caldwellvineyard.com/pages/discover-wines

https://www.caldwellvineyard.com/pages/the-society-of-smugglers

https://www.caldwellvineyard.com/pages/society-of-winesteins

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 147 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Rebecca George, Owner and Winemaker of Mojave Wines and Associate Winemaker of Brandlin Estate out of Sonoma and Napa Valley, CA.

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In this podcast Rebecca talks about what it was like growing up in the Mojave Dessert, exploring nature and her surroundings in the Canyons at the base of the Eastern Sierra's, and how her love for nature and exploring easily translated to her love for vineyards and the outdoor life of winemaking.

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Rebecca talks about some amazing encouragement from her stepmom, (also named Rebecca George) to enroll in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis while in pursuit of her bioscience degree and how if it wasn't for that encouragement we may know even know the Rebecca George we know today in winemaking.

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Rebecca also shares some pretty incredible "pinch me" moments that she got to experience while pursuing her career in wine like getting to taste at Domaine De La Romanée-Conti (DRC), when she was in her early 20's, working at Marcassin for Helen Turley, being the Winemaker at Kelly Fleming Wines and also what it's meant to have Francoise Peschon as a mentor then and throughout her career.

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Speaking of Francoise, she was arguably the person responsible for encouraging Rebecca to step out and start her own brand Mojave which pays homage to her childhood roots of the Mojave Dessert and focuses on bright acidic chardonnay's and pinot noir's.

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Rebecca is also the Associate Winemaker for Brandlin Estate, a winery with a century's worth of history, elevated up in the mountains of the Mount Veeder AVA, a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley.🍷

Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3WnbyBd

To follow Rebecca on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rlgeorge18/

https://www.instagram.com/mojavewines/

https://www.instagram.com/brandlin_wine/

To sign up for Rebecca's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.mojavewines.com/acquire

https://brandlinestate.com/wines

https://brandlinestate.com/membership

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 146 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Eric Jensen, Owner and Vintner of Booker Vineyards out of Paso Robles, CA.

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Eric has always been a guy I've looked up to from a place of Entrepreneurship, a place of risk taking, but also a guy whose personality shines through and someone who at the end of the day, tells it like it is and makes his wines from that same genuine and authentic place.

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Eric starts the show talking about his life before wine as a concert promoter and a real estate developer in Newport Beach, CA before deciding to leave that all behind with his wife Lisa and head to Paso Robles to become a full-time farmer.

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Eric talks about the history of Booker, going back to brother's Claude and Dick Booker and what they meant to the local community, and also his first 5 vintages as a winemaker in the early 2000's, leaning on mentorship from gentlemen like Stephan Asseo of L'Aventure Winery and Justin Smith of Saxum Vineyards.

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Eric also talks about the blessing of 2023 harvest and his other brands; My Favorite Neighbor which pays homage to Stephan Asseo, his neighbor in Paso, and Harvey and Harriet which pays homage to his parents Harvey and Harriet and what they meant to him.

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Eric delivers in so many ways in this podcast and tells it like it is so get ready for an interview from a guy full of heart and energy and commitment to something that started with a vision over 2 decades ago!

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Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3U6wAS4

To follow Eric on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bookerbadger/

https://www.instagram.com/bookervineyard/

https://www.instagram.com/mfnwines/

https://www.instagram.com/harveyandharrietwine/

To sign up for Eric's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.bookerwines.com/shop

https://www.bookerwines.com/wine-club

https://www.myfavoriteneighbor.com/Wine

https://www.myfavoriteneighbor.com/wine-club https://harveyandharriet.com/collections/our-wine

https://harveyandharriet.com/account/register

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

In Episode 145 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Ellie Anest, Owner and Vintner of Eleven Eleven Wines out of Napa Valley, CA.

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Ellie is a guest that I've wanted to have on the show for several years now, dating back to the early part of 2018 when this podcast was in it's beginning days. Her entrepreneurial spirit in business have always been inspiring to me so when I learned that an interview was set and on the horizon I was beyond thrilled for the opportunity!

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In this episode Ellie talks about her life growing up on a farm with her parents Paul and Katherine and the inspiration they were for countless reasons but especially as far as hard work and commitment are concerned.

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Ellie talked about the creation of 11:11, the inspiration behind the brand and the unique relationships she had with her business partners that really made everything come together over a shared love and passion for wine and fellowship.

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Ellie talks about what it's like to have Kirk Venge on as winemaker and his passion and expertise for how he crafts all his wines and how he inspired what was originally a real estate transaction with 11:11 to a wine venture that would lead to so much more fulfillment as a result.

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Ellie talks about what it's like to be a custom crush facility for other brands in Napa while making her own wines and how she prides herself on being so attentive to detail, even down to the cleanliness and sanitization of her facility.

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Ellie also talks about what 11:11 truly means to her from an ethos standpoint, what it means to give back as a philanthropist, and the exciting things she does on a daily basis to make a moment for each and every person that enjoys and celebrates her wines.

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Ellie is a true entrepreneur, and extraordinary businesswoman, but more importantly than that, a woman who is so passionate and loving to everyone and everything that surrounds her which I'm excited to get to share with you today!

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Cheers 🍷

To listen on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/43Y8g9i

To follow Ellie on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ellieanest/

https://www.instagram.com/11.11.wines/

To sign up for Ellie's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://shop.elevenelevenwines.com/

https://www.elevenelevenwines.com/discover-club-eleveneleven/

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

Russell Bevan

Bevan Cellars & Adversity Cellars

In Episode 144 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast, I have the privilege of sitting down with Russell Bevan, Owner and Winemaker of Adversity Cellars and Bevan Cellars out of Napa Valley, CA.

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In this episode Russell talks about the importance of pairing food and wine and the ingredients of certain foods as it relates to the density and acids in his wines, and why these correlations are so important to his style of winemaking.

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Russell talks about canopy management, the importance of properly managing his vines and also how important monitoring his fermentations are up to bottling and distribution of each of his wines.

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Russell also talk about what it was like to score the only 100 point in Napa Valley wine in 2011, what it meant to make exceptional wines in 2023 which he describes as a "legendary vintage", and some of the advantages to his portfolios whether his Sonoma Pinot's, or his Napa Valley Cabernet's with Bevan.

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Russell is a true inspiration in the wine industry and a guy I've looked up to for so many years so get ready for an in-person interview full of fun and excitment and all things encompassing the true passion and committment in the wine industry!

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Cheers 🍷

To follow Russell on Instagram and TikTok:

https://www.instagram.com/adversitycellars/

https://www.instagram.com/bevancellars/

https://www.instagram.com/russellandheidibevan/

https://www.instagram.com/russell_bevan/

https://www.instagram.com/heidi_bevan/

https://www.tiktok.com/@adversity_cellars

To sign up for Russell's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.adversitycellars.com/purchase/

https://www.adversitycellars.com/profile/login/

https://bevan-cellars.obtainwine.com/

https://bevan-cellars.obtainwine.com/profile/create-account

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

Josh Phelps

Grounded Wine Co.

In Episode 143 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Josh Phelps, Owner and Winemaker of Grounded Wine Co. out of Napa Valley, CA.

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In this episode, Josh talks about his life growing up pursuing a career in entrepreneurship, his travels with family to various old-world wine regions, and how these experiences as a whole is really what sparked his interest in ultimately pursuing a career in wine.

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Josh talks about his various work in distribution with groups such as Chamber and Chambers and Kimberely Jones and also, what it meant to work havest production at Joel Gott and how that experience helped expand his understand of winemaking which ultimately enhanced his ability to be exceptionally great at selling wine.

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Josh talks about his father Chris Phelps, what Chris means to him and the wine industry as a whole, and how working with his father is so fulfilling and rewarding considering the wines they craft not only together but alsdo their personal projects as well.

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Josh talks about a brand he created early in his career called Taken and how the idea of Taken was to create wines that are incedible, but at an affordable price. Since then, Josh created his now brand Gounded in 2017 with the same concept in mind, crafting wines up and down the West Coast from Oregon and Washington State to the regions of Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Edna Valley.

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Josh also stresses the importance of sales and agrees that the making of wine can be challenging but the actual sales of wine is where it's at and fortunately through distribution channels early on like Kimberely Jones, was able to hone in on this skill to better prepare him for all the successes he had in store!

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Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/494OGtQ

To follow Josh on Instagram and TikTok:

https://www.instagram.com/groundedwineco/

https://www.instagram.com/joshphelps/

https://www.tiktok.com/@user448792041?_t=8jfEGwHyyDe&_r=1

To sign up for Josh's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://www.groundedwineco.com/signup/

https://www.groundedwineco.com/wines/

https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=grounded+wine+co&tref=typeahead%7Cterm%7Cgrounded+wine+co%7C%7C%7Chistory

To sign up for Josh Phelps Swag and Roll Face collabs:

https://www.rollface.co/products/men-s-premium-heavyweight-tee

https://www.rollface.co/products/salmngnon-blanc-crop-top

https://www.rollface.co/products/unisex-hoodie-4

https://www.rollface.co/products/men-s-premium-heavyweight-tee-1

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/

Flora Chang

Plinth Wines

In Episode 142 of the Mr. Wine Guy Podcast I had the privilege of sitting down with Flora Chang, Owner and Proprietor of Plinth Wines out of Pritchard Hill, CA.

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In this episode Flora talks about how a mere real estate investment in 2010 to purchase land on Pritchard Hill went from an interest in just owning land to becoming one of the biggest and most influential cult wine bands of our time!

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Before there was Plinth there was Nine Suns, a brand that Flora and her husband Jason originally created which was ultra-premium, site specific terroir driven wines focused entirely on curated relationships and storytelling with an emphasis on Jason's Chinese heritage.

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Later throughout the course of their journey in 2017 Plinth was born with the same storytelling emphasis, as a way to parallel outside of the Nine Suns estate model, not to dilute the reputation Nine Suns had created, as more of a side project originally.

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Soon after, through massive popularity Plinth would morph into its own identity around the time that Flora and Jason would decide to part ways and sell Nine Suns in 2022 to their close friends and colleagues at Realm Cellars.

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Flora talks about her love for Plinth, her aspirations for this brand and what she hopes to experience over this next chapter in her and Jason's life, and all the things she's been so thankful to accomplish over the past decade and beyond!

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Cheers 🍷

To watch on YouTube:

https://bit.ly/3SrJr01

To follow Flora on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/plinthwine/

https://www.instagram.com/flora_s.c/

To sign up for Flora's mailing list, receive allocation opportunities, or to purchase wines:

https://acquire.plinthwine.com/

To follow Michael on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Linkedin:

https://www.tiktok.com/@themrwineguy?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.instagram.com/themrwineguy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs2ckU2tCtHUuPL7fzV6eA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gallagher-70637b70/