In this episode, we discuss managing a vineyard from the perspective of two winemakers. Bryce Wiatrak interviews Morgan Twain-Peterson of Bedrock Wine Co. about the benefits and challenges of working with old vines, and Christopher Tanghe speaks with Matt Crafton of Chateau Montelena about the technical, environmental, and financial considerations behind replanting a vineyard to new vines.
This month’s blind tasting segment with Emily Nixon features sommelier and wine consultant Wanda Cole-Nicholson. Can you guess what they're drinking based on Wanda’s description of the wine’s appearance, nose, palate, and structure?
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Matt Crafton first joined Chateau Montelena in 2008 and has been the winery’s head winemaker since 2014, overseeing production and operations. He is dedicated to innovation and sustainability at the property and is currently spearheading the largest vineyard replant and redesign in the winery’s history. Before moving to California, Matt got his start in the wine industry in cellars and vineyards throughout the east coast. Matt holds an Economics degree from the University of Virginia and a Viticulture and Enology degree from UC Davis.
Wanda Cole-Nicholson's wine and spirits career began in Chicago’s fine dining restaurants and institutions, including ¡Salpicón!, Mercat a la Planxa, NaHa, Blue Water Grill, Kendall College, and Triton College. She is the founder and principal of VinBev, which provides a host of wine consulting services, and is also a wine specialist for Grapevine Wines and Spirits in Kirkwood, Missouri.
Wanda’s formal education includes the Advanced Sommelier certification from The Court of Master Sommeliers and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri. She has received the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator, an Award of Distinction from Wine Enthusiast, and a DiRoNA Award of Excellent, among other awards.
Wanda resides in Chesterfield, Missouri with her husband and twin five-year-olds.
Early in the episode, Ivonne Nill returns to reveal the wine she tasted with Emily in the Soju & Sake episode in June. If you haven't heard Ivonne's tasting description yet, avoid the spoiler and listen to the final 11 minutes of that episode. You can find the wine here.
A native of Paraguay, Ivonne Nill is a public relations consultant and the trade liaison for Hispanics in Wine. She has worked in roles throughout the wine industry, including in retail, wholesale, production, and education. She holds the DipWSET and the CSW from the Society of Wine Educators, and she was awarded the 2021 SommFoundation Master of Wine Scholarship. She plans to sit the Master of Wine examination in 2022.
Hispanics in Wine is a social organization that aims to amplify and empower Hispanic and Latinx professionals in the wine and hospitality industries. Founded in September 2020 by Lydia Richards and Maria Calvert, it consists of a social media platform and website in English and Spanish designed to serve the Hispanic and Latinx communities. Learn more about Hispanics in Wine's scholarship and job resources and find them on Instagram at @hispanicsinwine.