Sure, the vines do most of the work, but people are a huge part of vineyard management, grape growing, and wine production. We took some time to chat with Santa Barbara County wine farmers, winemakers, and other viticulture experts to get their candid take on challenges, the things close to their hearts, and sometimes even their secret thoughts.
What’s a wine farmer to do when Mother Nature wreaks havoc? What goes through his or her mind when alone in the vineyard? Get the inside scoop and enjoy light-hearted, unfiltered discussions on all things viticulture.
Getting juicy information like this requires someone in the know, so we lucked out by finding podcast host, Gabe Saglie. Gabe has been part of the local wine scene for years and is the perfect person to get these vineyard folk talking. Take a listen and discover the blood, sweat, and tears that go into creating the perfect cluster of grapes that results in that smashing bottle of wine.
Everything you ever wanted to learn about viticulture could be asked of Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe Vineyard and Winery. Our loquacious guest shares a myriad of thoughts on topics ranging from Socrates to Russian ballerinas to Robert Parker.
The ubiquitous “Foxen Boys,” Bill Wathen and Dick Doré of Foxen Winery & Vineyard share their extensive history, perspectives on the diversity of grape growing in Santa Barbara County, and some of that great personality that comes out after being partners for a few decades.
No other winemaker is quite as jovial as Byron’s Jonathan Nagy.
Listen as he gives a straightforward lowdown on what it’s like to be married to another winemaker and how he makes the Santa Maria Valley’s principal varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, distinctly different.
Ryan Carr of Carr Vineyards and Winery admits to some early mistakes he made when planting wine grapes in Santa Barbara County and the one grape that best describes who he is.
Michael Larner of Larner Vineyard and Winery tells us about how he deals with Nazi gophers and how the new Ballard Canyon AVA is like giving birth to a third child.
Karen Steinwachs, winemaker at Buttonwood Farm Vineyard & Winery, speaks candidly about her winemaking philosophy and what it’s like being a female winemaker in Santa Barbara County.