Travel along with Food & Wine Magazine’s Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle as he travels the back roads of Sonoma County and meets with winegrowers for a series of up close and personal interviews about the back stories of grape growing, sustainable farming, and the history of agriculture. Enjoy the ride!
Episodes
Keepers of the old vines
Travel with Ray as he visits an old vineyard in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley that was planted back in the 1880’s. Meet Bret Munselle, a 5th generation grape grower who’s family planted the vineyard and Brad Petersen who is now farming it today for Silver Oak Cellars. Hear their stories of how this heritage vineyard has continued to flourish and maintain its deep roots for close to 140 years.
the land of promise
Ray visits Charles and Diana Karren of Terra de Promissio Vineyard, located in the Sonoma Coast appellation. Hear the Karren’s story of how they met and their incredible journey to find their “Land of Promise” and become grape growers in this illustrious winegrowing region. They share their vision for keeping this land in their family for generations to come.
Farming for the next 150 years
Cameron and Clay Mauritson are the sixth generation of a family that has worked the same land since the 1860’s. Watch as they discuss their family’s history in Sonoma County over the past 150 years and how that legacy has shaped how they farm today. The two brothers also share why Rockpile AVA is such a unique winegrowing region and the back story on how their vineyard blocks were named “Cemetery” and “Jack’s Cabin” and “Buck Pasture.”
A Family that grows together
Join Ray as he visits with Steve Sangiacomo, a third generation farmer in Sonoma Valley. Hear Steve discuss his Italian family’s deep roots in Sonoma County dating back 80 years with an old fruit orchard that was eventually planted to winegrapes in 1969, and today it’s one of the most recognizable and sought after vineyard designates in the region. Steve shares stories of growing up on the farm and what it means to run the business alongside his brother and sister.