Episode 112: John Raytek, Winemaker and Co-Owner, Ceritas Wine, CA.

Blackberry Moutain, Part 2: For Part 2 of our visit to Blackberry Farm, we check out sister property Blackberry Mountain, a 5200 acre haven nestled in the Smoky Mountains. We speak with Logan Griffin, Director of Food and Beverage at BBM, along with Andy Chabot, to discuss the vast wine program, mixology, and one of the best spirits collection in the country. We further pursue our "Feast for the Ears" wine and food pairing session with Chefs Joey Edwards, PM Exec.Chef at Three Sisters and Joel Werner, Exec. Chef at the Firetower. Logan and Andy selected six wines to pair with our chefs creations. by The Grape Nation

113 min listen

Blackberry Farm, Part 1: New Englander and wannabe chef, Andy Chabot attended the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park in NY. His love for food turned into a passion for wine. After CIA, Andy headed west to work at wine mecca Little Nell in Aspen, eventually heading back east to settle in at BlackBerry Farm with second generation owners Sam and Mary Celeste Beall. Sam, along with Andy wanted to transform Blackberry Farm into a true wine destination…mission accomplished, two decades later, Blackberry Farm has over 150K bottles in their cellars, is the recipient of the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Wine Program” along with two “Best Chef” awards, and numerous Wine Spectator Grand Awards. Andy Chabot is the SVP of Food and Beverage at BBF and BlackBerry Mtn. We tour the wine cellars with Andy, Asst. Bev. Dir, Kelly Schmidt, and Somm John Schlicting and select wines to pair with our dishes from Exec. Chef Cassidee Dabney, The Barn, and Trevor Iaconic, The Dogwood at BBF. by The Grape Nation

213 min listen

Luis Seabra: Growing up in Angola, Luis Seabra returned to Portugal in the 1970’s. He studied viticulture at Vila Real and his obsession with terroir led him to work in soil research in Vinho Verde. He launched a revolutionary still wine program while working at Nierpoort, eventually starting his own small winery in 2013, Luis Seabra Vinhos. To Luis, it is all about making wines he enjoys drinking: elegant, fresh, terroir-driven wines that are also age-worthy. Luis Seabra is the most exciting winemaker in Portugal today. by The Grape Nation

89 min listen

Chris Carpenter: How the hell does a guy who was a Big Ten defensive lineman, still plays the trombone, loves jazz, got an MBA in Business at Univ. of Chicago, another one at U Cal Davis in Viticulture and Enology, and sometimes bartends during the week…make some of the best wines in the world? That’s Chris Carpenter and he’ll tell us. He is The Drinks Business Master Winemaker of the Year for 2024. He has been working with Jackson Family Wines for decades as the winemaker for Cardinale, Lokoya, La Jota, and Mt. Brave in Napa and Hickinbotham in Australia. Chris is in that rare air of high altitude and highly regarded wines. by The Grape Nation

100 min listen

Stephen Bitterolf, Vom Boden: Stephen Bitterolf has been on the New York wine scene for decades, morphing from retail to importer. He is the founder of Vom Boden, a wine import company representing and supporting small growers and really, what they do. Stephen has been instrumental in finding and bringing the best growers to the market, specializing in Germany. Think, Keller, Stein, Becker, along with the upcoming and avant-garde, that’s Vom Boden! He is the creator of Rieslingfeir and just wrote his first book, “Vom Boden: Ten Years of Hocks and Moselles”. A personal and informative journey. Purchase book here: https://www.vomboden.com/vom-boden-ten-years-of-hocks-moselles/ by The Grape Nation

106 min listen

Mathieu Roland-Billecart: Born in Champagne, Mathieu Roland-Billecart is the 7th Generation CEO of one of Champagnes longest standing family-owned estates. After 15 years working in finance in London, Mathieu came home to the family business in 2018, also the bicentennial year of Billecart-Salmon. He continues to further tradition and innovation at this legendary Champagne house, also loved by critics and Somms. Mathieu leads the charge in philanthropy and sustainability with an eye towards people and the environment. by The Grape Nation

81 min listen

Grant Reynolds: Hailing from Lake Placid, NY, Grant Reynolds realized it was easier to pursue a career in wine than ski-jumping. After college in Boulder, he wound up in the greatest wine incubator at Bobby Stuckey’ Frasca. He went on to work in Burgundy, Piedmont, and Noma, before settling in NYC to open Charlie Bird as wine director and partner, later opening Parcelle Wine. Grant, is a true entrepreneur and believer of wine and e-commerce. He recently opened a new restaurant near Parcelle called Tolo. Besides being an awarded Sommelier, Grant recently published his second book, “'The Wine List'”, Stories and Tasting Notes Behind the World’s Most Remarkable Bottles”. by The Grape Nation

92 min listen

Deirdre Heekin: Born in Indiana, summers and college in Vermont, dancing their way into each-others hearts, Dierdre met her Husband Caleb Barber at Middlebury. Both loved food, influenced by Italy, opened an Italian restaurant, grew their own produce, then eventually grapes, and practiced farm to table before it was a thing. Loyal to the terroir and indigenous fruits, Deirdre went on to make alpine wines in the mountains and lakes of the great state of Vermont. Her first vintage was in 2010, her innovation, commitment, influence and mentorship has not only put Vermont wine on the map, but how we think about wine, sparklers, and cider. by The Grape Nation

100 min listen

Bordeaux 2021: I recently attended the Union Grand Crus Bordeaux tasting in NYC. Over 125 producers pored the 2021 vintage. We spoke with five different producers including Chateau Clinet, Domaine de Chevalier, Chateau Lagrange, Chateau Guiraud, and Chateau Giscours, from different growing regions on the right and left banks in Bordeaux. We’ll get some insight into the wines, climate, challenges of the vintage, ageability, and more for the 2021 vintage. by The Grape Nation

30 min listen

Tira Johnson, Ilis: Tira Johnson migrated east a decade ago to work in wine and hospitality at some of NY’s best, including Beauty & Essex, Crown Shy, Terroir, and Crown Club at Barclays, to name a few. Along the way she received her Somm certification. Tira is now the Wine Director at Ilis, from Mads Refslund, a Co-Founder of Noma. Ilis’ much anticipated opening in Brooklyn is truly one of the most fascinating and unique dining experiences today. Tira’s love for wine is only superseded by her true love for dogs! by The Grape Nation

91 min listen

Pepe Raventos: Pepe Raventos' family has been around for a long time, like since the 1400’s. Pepe is a 21st generation winemaker at Raventos i Blanc in Spain. His family led the development of Penedes into one of the world’s leading sparkling wine regions in Conca del Riu Anoia. Pepe traveled to Burgundy, the Loire, Germany, and the US to hone his craft before settling in to the family winery. Pepe creates pure wines that speak from their origin, making wines with minimal intervention and a focus on minerality. by The Grape Nation

80 min listen

The Holiday Wine & Champagne Show: As the year winds down and we celebrate the holiday season, we want to make sure you are drinking and gifting the right wines and Champagnes. We asked three of our expert friends to guide us through the myriad of wine and bubbly choices out there. We will be talking with Jhonel Faelnar, Katja Scharnagl and Aldo Sohm. Get your pen and paper out for some great recommendations. by The Grape Nation

77 min listen

Josh Greene: Josh Greene is the long time Editor, Publisher and owner of Wine and Spirits Magazine. Josh also serves as its critic for Napa Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Portugal, Rioja, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. He has traveled extensively to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and throughout the US. You can also find feature stories and commentary by Josh in each issue. Josh Greene is always generous with his time and is appearing for the seventh year on The Grape Nation for “2023, The Year in Review” by The Grape Nation

80 min listen

Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak: Stacked, jacked and whacked with every award, including a James Beard, Food and Wine’s Best Chef, LA Times Best Restaurant of the Year, and a NY Times America’s Best Restaurants, Justin Pichetrungsi is the second-generation owner of Anajak Thai in California. More importantly, he is preserving the legacy of his family’s 40-year-old restaurant along with transforming it. After 10 years at Disney as an Art Director and Imagineer, working on Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar, he left to join his family restaurant when his father became ill in 2019. Justin’s innovation and love of natural wine have made Anajak one of the great food and wine destinations in America. by The Grape Nation

94 min listen

Ray Isle: Ray Isle hails from “Deep in the Heart of Texas”, and is the son of an English professor, and he probably pissed his dad off after leaving academia to pursue wine writing. He is the Executive Wine Editor for “Food and Wine” and the Wine and Spirits Editor for “Travel and Leisure”. He has been on the beat for over two decades covering wine, spirits, and cocktails. Ray is a journalist, sought-after speaker, and now author. His brand-new book, “The World in a Wine Glass: The Insider’s Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now”, is an extensive and personal tome on the great natural wines and their makers from around the world. by The Grape Nation

89 min listen

Isabelle Legeron, Raw Wine: Isabelle Legeron needs no introduction to The Grape Nation audience. She is a Master of Wine, author, founder of Raw Wine, and the Raw Wine Fairs, a wine consultant, and she oversees the Raw Wine Club. She is a true advocate of organic farming practices and proper living wines. Raw Wine is coming to NYC Nov. 12 & 13, Toronto Nov. 15th, Montreal Nov. 18th & 19th and Berlin Dec. 3rd. Isabelle has four Raw Wine Fairs scheduled through June 2024, including Tokyo and Copenhagen. by The Grape Nation

83 min listen

Chiara Pepe: Chiara Pepe is a third-generation winemaker in Abruzzo Italy. Her grandfather’s grandfather made home wine in the basement dating back to the late 1800’s, eventually becoming Emidio Pepe in 1964, one of the most highly regarded and sought-after wines in the world. Chiara, along with her mom and sister run the winery with Chiara overseeing the land, vines, grapes, and cellar. She farms biodynamically with no intervention in the cellar and is a magician with Trebbiano and Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo. She is in NYC to pour at the Karakterre and other events. by The Grape Nation

94 min listen

Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon: Champagne runs through Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon’s veins. A native of Reims, in Champagne, he received his degree in viticulture and oenology from the University of Montpellier. He joined the Louis Roederer Champagne House in 1989 working in Tasmania and the Anderson Valley before returning to France, eventually overseeing all vineyard and winery operations. Jean Baptiste is the Chef du Cave and EVP of Champagne at Louis Roederer. He is one of Champagne’s most pioneering winemakers with his holistic approach to the vines and wines. by The Grape Nation

94 min listen

Daniel Johnnes and Raj Vaidya: Daniel Johnnes is a true wine hero. He spent four decades in wine and hospitality with Daniel Boulud and Drew Nieporent at New York’s finest restaurants. A true Francophile, Daniel has shared and promoted his love of French wine to all of us. He has received two awards from the French Government and is also James Beard Award winner. At The Grape Nation, we like to say “We Bring Wine to the People”. Well, Daniel Johnnes has become the greatest example of that by way of his wine fetes or festivals, La Paulee, La Fete du Champagne, La Tablee, his Pressoir Wine Experiences, and as an importer. Jersey born, Bombay raised, Raj Vaidya’s love of Burgundy, Champagne and Rhone wines eventually brought him together with Daniel Johnnes. Raj is a highly accomplished Sommelier and Director of Operations for Pressoir. Before Pressoir, Raj worked at the finest wine restaurants in the country including the Ryland Inn, Cru, Gary Danko, and ran the wine program for a doze by The Grape Nation

93 min listen

Byron Bates: Texas born Byron Bates has been a part of the NY wine scene for almost 30 years. He is truly one of the champions of natural wines. After bringing in and introducing his restaurant customers to smaller, family, artisanal producers, he went on to start his own NY based wine importation company, Goatboy Selections. To help further promote these producers, Byron founded the Wild World Wine Festival in 2019 with events in NY and Texas. This year Wild World is in Red Hook, Brooklyn, on Oct. 30th, including dinners, seminars, and a walk around tasting. by The Grape Nation

94 min listen

Shelley Lindgren: Bay Area native, Shelley Lindgren never strayed far from home. She attended cooking school and cut her teeth in hospitality in SF, further pursuing her passion for wine. Since 2004 she is the Co-Owner and Wine Director of SF legend A16. Shelley is a leading voice on Italian wine and is responsible for exposing her customers and the rest of us to the new wines from the “other” regions, grapes, and winemakers of Italy. She has won the James Beard Award for her Outstanding Wine Program at A16, has written two cookbooks, makes wine at Tansy, and most importantly is a mom. Her new book “Italian Wine; The History, Regions, and Grapes of an Iconic Wine Country”, is now available everywhere. Because of Shelley, you will eventually taste Fiano, Falanghina, Aglianico, Taurasi, Coda di Volpe, Gragnano, and more. by The Grape Nation

92 min listen

Roscioli NYC: Ariel Arce is no stranger to The Grape Nation. She has joined us to talk about Air’s Champagne Parlor, Tokyo Record Bar, the opening of her concept restaurant Niche Niche, her Champagne book, “Better with Bubbles”, and now the new outpost of beloved Roman restaurant Roscioli. Alessandro Pepe comes to Roscioli NY via Rome with a varied background including comedy, acting, waiting tables, Somm, and is the founder of wine bar Rimessa Roscioli in Rome and NYC. Roscioli is now open at 43 MacDougal St. in NYC. by The Grape Nation

101 min listen

The Alto Adige, N. Italy, Part 2: The Alto Adige is one of the smallest wine growing regions and also has become one of the country’s TOP white wine regions. This unique Alpine landscape is ironically kissed by the hot Mediterranean sun in the Summer. Many of the vineyards are planted on hills and steep mountainside altitudes, producing fresh and aromatic wines. Along with the wine estates, there are over a dozen cooperatives successfully representing thousands of small winegrowers in the region. The focus is towards quality, not quantity, working with over 20 varietals including some of the best Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Schiava and Lagrein you will ever taste. We were based out of Bolzano, the largest city of South Tyrol and the Capital. We visited, dined and tasted wine with over a dozen wineries and Cooperatives. I will let the wine people of the Alto Adige tell their story. This is part-two of a two-part series. On this episode, we will be talki by The Grape Nation

118 min listen

The Alto Adige, N. Italy, Part 1: I recently traveled to Northern Italy to visit the Alto Adige wine region, also known as Sudtirol or South Tyrol, near the Swiss and Austrian borders at the foothills of the Dolomites. The Alto Adige is one of the smallest wine growing regions and has become one of the country’s TOP white wine regions. This unique Alpine landscape is ironically kissed by the hot Mediterranean sun in the Summer. Many of the vineyards are planted on hills and steep mountainsides, producing high altitude, fresh and aromatic wines. Along with the wine estates, there are over a dozen cooperatives successfully representing thousands of small winegrowers in the region. The focus here is towards quality, not quantity, working with over 20 varietals including some of the best Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Schiava, and Lagrein you will ever taste. We were based out of Bolzano, the largest city of South Tyrol and the Capital. We visited, dined an by The Grape Nation

106 min listen

Dan Petroski & ChatGPT: This will be the first Artificial Intelligence wine podcast with ChatGPT, and we will use the platform to help us conduct the interview with Dan Petroski. Brooklyn’s own Dan Petroski made his way west to settle in California. In between, he attended Columbia, NYU Biz School, had a career in marketing, finance and advertising, spent time learning wine in Sicily, and more. Once in Napa, he made his way to Larkmead Vineyards in 2006. At one point, Dan was juggling two wine brands; He left Larkmead to focus on his Massican wines, a true devotion to Italian white wines made in California. by The Grape Nation

85 min listen

Raj Parr: Raj Parr no longer needs an introduction. He is one of the most prolific wine people in the world. His legendary palate, his instinctive winemaking, and his commitment to regenerative farming have steered him to his passion, Phelan Farm in Cambria, California. Raj has traded his nomadic global lifestyle for that of a resident farmer, making soulful, spiritual wines. by The Grape Nation

81 min listen

Nick Gizuk, Inniskillin: Ontario’s own Nicholas Gizuk grew up around a wine-loving family. With an interest in fermentation and chemistry, Nick graduated from the Niagara College Wine and Viticulture program. He went on to intern at wineries in Canada, eventually working harvests in the Barossa Valley in Australia and Marlborough, New Zealand. He returned to Canada to work at Inniskillin, Niagara in 2013, working under winemaker Bruce Nicholson and becoming head winemaker in 2021. Nick stresses “We must respect the fruit and terroir, as that is the foundation of every great wine. Our job, as winemakers, is to guide those grapes with as little intervention as possible into the bottle.” Nick and Inniskillin are most recognized for their world-class Icewine. by The Grape Nation

78 min listen

Jon Bonne, "The New French Wine": Jon Bonne is no stranger to The Grape Nation. This is his third appearance on the podcast, and he's here to discuss his new and third book “The New French Wine”. Jon is an award-winning author and journalist; his background includes MSNBC, Decanter, a decade as Wine Editor and Chief Critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, author of “The New California Wine, and “The New Wine Rules". Jon is currently Managing Editor at Resy covering dining, restaurants, and wine pretty much everywhere it’s served! by The Grape Nation

102 min listen

Eli Zabar: What’s in a name, well, if you are a Zabar, that’s about as ubiquitous as pizza in NYC. Born and raised in the city, Eli Zabar is part of the legendary family synonymous with food…and now wine. Eli separated from his brothers and family to follow his own vision in the ‘70’s: creating a food and wine empire. He is a tireless innovator and has created some of the most unique food and wine concepts in the country. Eli’s Table just reopened with seasonal fare and one of the largest old world wine collections in New York. So, the question begs to be asked, how does a guy approaching 80 have so much energy? by The Grape Nation

85 min listen

Russell Bevan: Fifth Generation Sonoman, Russel Bevan left town to study Philosophy at Gonzaga University, logically leading him to a job in the dental field in the Midwest. A fortuitous transfer sent him back west where wine things started happening for him. Russell became a prolific wine forum nerd and columnist for Wine Spectator Magazine before settling into his own wine gig in N. California. Russell is the proprietor of Bevan Cellars and a sought-after wine consultant stacking up numerous 100-point wines. He recently started Adversity Cellars with his wife Heidi. So, the questions begs to be asked, how the hell did a native Californian with a Masters in Philosophy from a Jesuit University wind up in the Midwest in the dental field, only to return back west and make some of the highest scoring and most prestigious wines? We’ll find out! by The Grape Nation

102 min listen

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Episode 112: John Raytek, Winemaker and Co-Owner, Ceritas Wine, CA.

Episode 112: John Raytek, Winemaker and Co-Owner, Ceritas Wine, CA.

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