Q & A with Megan Cline, Cline Cellars & Gust
Megan Cline, the daughter of Fred and Nancy Cline, owners of Cline Cellars, grew up in a large Italian family in Sonoma County. She was
Q & A with Jenny Scheid, Managing Member, Toje Wines
Jenny Scheid grew up in Northern California and began her wine journey by taking small sips of wine that her parents purchased while enjoying their
Q & A with Dan Berger, Wine Journalist
Dan Berger was born in Brooklyn and attended New York public schools as a child. Even then, he was no stranger to the sound of
Winemaker Perspectives on Petaluma Gap’s Iconic Vineyards
Great wines are made from great grapes, and just like winemakers and brands that earn renown with wine drinkers for the quality of their wines,
Q & A with Fran Leach, Director of Hospitality, Sojourn Cellars
Fran Leach is a fifth-generation California girl, who loved cooking with her dad and gardening with her mom. Family meals were always “Farm to Table”
Q & A with Semra Erden, Eloquent-U
Semra Erden, Founder of Eloquent-U, was born in Istanbul and came to the United States after earning a degree in French Literature and launching a
Q & A with Mike Scott, Owner Six Gates Vineyard and his Father, Mark Scott
Mike Scott grew up on his family’s farm in Petaluma on the Western Slope of Sonoma Mountain. His father, Mark Scott, was one of the
Q & A with Jacqueline Yoakum, Winemaker, Keller Estate
Jacqueline Yoakum attended college in NY. Her first winemaking role was at Macari Vineyards on the North Fork of Long Island, where she was introduced
Q & A with Nicolas and Sirilo Cornejo, Clendenen Vineyard Management
Nicolas Cornejo was born in Michoacan, Mexico and raised his family in Sonoma County. He worked for many years with John Clendenen at Clendenen Vineyard Management,
Q&A with Junghoon Lee, Telofarm Inc.
Junghoon Lee grew up in Seoul, South Korea. He planned to go to technical school after graduation so that he could learn how to design
Q&A with Kenneth Noren, Wonderful Nurseries
Ken Noren grew up in the Salinas Vallley, surrounded by agriculture. As a young boy, he was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA, When the
Q&A with Anne Moller-Racke, Blue Farm Wines
Anne Moller-Racke grew up in Oberwesel, Germany, a small town along the Rhine River. She came to California to work a harvest, but the plan
Q&A with Victoria De Crescenzo, Bevan Cellars
Victoria De Crescenzo was born in Southern California, surrounded by horse farms and orange groves. Wine was not a part of her world until she
Q&A with Alice van Ommeren, The Wine Data Researcher
Alice van Ommeren was born in Amsterdam, lived in Belgium and France during her early childhood years, and then, as a teenager, moved to Phoenix,
Q&A with Katie Carter, Winemaker, Boisset Collection
Katie Carter grew up in Forestville. Although her dad loved wine, she didn’t take any interest in the wine industry until she had an opportunity
Q&A with Laurence Donald, Parum Leo
Laurence Donald began his career with a degree in Business Administration and in a few roles in finance and sales but wanted something more. A
Q&A with Alexis Iaconis, brick & mortar wines
Alexis dreamed of being an artist, but the pragmatic side of her thought cooking, or possibly wine, would allow her to utilize her creativity while
Q&A with Liz Dickson, Grower Relations, Suterra
Liz Dickson grew up in California’s Central Valley; her father was an auto electrician and her mother worked for the County. She thought she wanted
Q&A with Tony Lombardi, Lombardi Wines
The Lombardi Family has lived in Petaluma for more than 75 years, passing down the love of wine from generation to generation. But it wasn’t
Q&A with Jill Giacomini Basch, Co-Owner, Point Reyes Cheese
Jill Giacomini Basch grew up in Point Reyes on a dairy farm, that was started by her father, a second-generation dairy farmer. After growing his
Q&A with Jay Sweet, Sweet Family Vineyards
While attending college in the South Bay, Jay Sweet got a job at San Martin Winery where he would host guests for winetasting and sell
Q&A with Jose Cruz, Keller Estate
Jose Cruz grew up in Argentina on his family’s sugar cane farm. Wine was present at most family gatherings, and as a child, he was
Q&A with Doug Cover, PGWA Emeritus Board Member
As PGWA celebrates its 5th Anniversary of the approval of the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area, we couldn’t think of a better person to highlight
Q&A with Johannes Scheid, Winemaker, Schug Winery
Johannes Scheid grew up beside a vineyard in Germany and always knew he wanted to work in the wine industry. He graduated from Geisenheim University,
Q&A with Emily Ash Lamb, McEvoy Ranch
Emily Ash Lamb grew up in the best kitchens in Sonoma County and learned about food and wine from great chefs like her dad, John
Q&A with Robert & Laura Schermeister, Schermeister Winery
Robert Schermeister was born in Idaho Falls and got a degree in Biochemistry. Laura Erickson was born in California, but was brought up in North
Q&A with Frank and Stacey Gambonini, Gambonini Family Ranch
Frank Gambonini grew up on his family’s ranch off Lakeville Highway in Petaluma; Stacey grew up on the south side of Chicago. They met in
Q&A with Ed Grossi, Sweet Lane Nursery & Vineyard
Ed Grossi grew up on a dairy ranch in Marin County, along with his nine siblings; while in high school, he participated in 4-H and
Q&A with Meghan Delzell, Sangiacomo Family Wines
Meghan Delzell grew up on the east coast in Londonderry, NH. She was the drum major in her high school band and had the opportunity
Q&A with Loraine Lee, Suterra
You got your degree at University of Pacific; what attracted you to attend that school? Did you grow up in California? I grew up on
Q&A with Kenny Kahn, Gapstone Vineyard
Kenny Kahn grew up in Schlater, Mississippi on a thousand-acre cotton and soybean farm. His family ate BBQ and drank Bourbon, and on special holidays
Q&A with Sarah Jump & Kevin Koch, Light of Day Wines
Kevin’s grandfather owned a vineyard; as a child, he loved to spend time there and the annual rhythm from bud-break to bottle seemed natural. Kevin
Q&A with Jesus Torres Martinez, Redwood Empire Vineyard Management
Jesus Torres Martinez, known by his friends and co-workers as “Chui,” developed his love of agriculture while working in the fields in Mexico, just as
Q&A with Kim Badenfort, Wine Industry Network
Kim Badenfort, Director of Marketing Services, Wine Industry Network and a PGWA Board Member, grew up in Denmark. After earning a degree in Rhetoric at
Q&A with Kevin Bersofsky, Winemaker-Owner, Montagne Russe Wines
Kevin Bersofsky’s dad was a “rocket scientist,” who designed control systems for ballistic missiles and spy satellites. As a kid, Kevin was challenged to “think
Q&A with Sherry Crichfield, Co-Owner, Crichfield + Black
Sherry Crichfield grew up on a tobacco farm in Southern Ohio; the farm was regulated by the US Government’s New Deal Quota System. Her family
Q&A with Randy Bennett, Winemaker & General Manager, Sojourn Cellars
Randy Bennett started his career at Accenture, a well-known international business consultancy that empowers companies to be their best. Driven by his passion for wine,
Q&A with Heidi Bridenhagen, Winemaker, MacRostie Winery and Vineyards
Heidi’s eyes were opened to the world of wine after an internship in the lab at Jackson Family Wines. Armed with a degree in biochemistry,
Q&A with Alex Guarachi, Owner, Guarachi Family Wines & Guarachi Wine Partners
Soccer was his first love. But after an athletic injury, he realized that going pro was no longer an option and he needed to find
Q&A with Garry Brooks, Brooks Note Winery
Garry started his career as a sailor in the Navy, stationed on the USS Fletcher, where he worked mostly on the bridge of the ship,
Q&A with Emma Rosenbush & Charlie Miller, Tomales Vineyard
Charlie grew up with the scent of ferments in his family’s garage in Woodside CA and has made wine for Mt Difficulty (NZ), AP Vin,
Q&A with Mike & Bea Charles, Owners, Lavio Vineyard
When Bea’s dad started talking about succession planning for his dairy ranch, she and her husband, Mike, thought they might finally make their dream of
Q&A with Mike & Lorraine Barber, Winemaker-Owners, Barber Cellars
Mike grew up in California and Lorraine is from Toronto; as a young adult, she didn’t even like wine. When Mike told Lorraine he wanted
Q&A with Mia Stornetta, Atlas Vineyard Management
Growing up, Mia Stornetta’s family almost always had wine on their dinner table, while the conversation focused on cows and grapes. During high school, she
Q&A with Gray Randolph, Gray Randolph Wines
Gray Randolph grew up in Virginia Beach in the 80’s, and started his career as a professional musician, playing drums for Locals Only, the rock
Q&A with Suzanne Farver, Panther Ridge
Suzanne Farver’s search for the perfect vineyard didn’t yield the results she was seeking; but once she found the perfect home with ten acres on
Q&A with Dr Liz Thach, MW, Emeritus Member of PGWA’s Board of Directors & Distinguished Professor of Wine, Sonoma State University
Wine is her passion. In little more than a decade, Liz Thach achieved a Master of Wine, was awarded a Fulbright to teach in Argentina
Q&A with Byron Kosuge, Winemaker, McEvoy Ranch
Byron Kosuge grew up in California’s Central Valley as a second generation Japanese American. His father was raised on a farm in Colorado and became
Q&A with Joseph Ryan, Winemaker, Ernest Vineyards
Wine was “not so much” a part of his life growing up in a small farming town in Iowa, except as an altar boy. After
Q&A with Evan Pontoriero, Co-Owner/Winemaker for Fogline Vineyards
You grew up in Pennsylvania in an Italian family and your grandparents made wine. What role did wine play in family gatherings? Did your grandfather’s
Q&A with Keri Ueberroth Owner/Grower, Ueberroth Vineyards
Welcome to the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers! You are our newest grower member. In 2017 you purchased 80 acres of unused grasslands on Adobe Road. How
Q&A with Erica Stancliff, Winemaker for Trombetta Family Wines and Pfendler Vineyards
We know you grew up in a food-centric family. What is your first recollection of tasting wine and realizing that you liked it? Do you
Q&A with Al & Lisa Brayton, Owners of Thirty-Seven Wines and Paradise Vineyard
Al, you grew up in Shasta County CA and, after getting out of high school, attended the US Air Force Academy. Did you know at
Q&A with John Flynn, Owner/Grower, Griffins Lair
You grew up in the Midwest in farm country. Your mom and dad were college professors, but your mom grew up on a ranch near
Q&A with Cody & Emily Rasmussen, Desire Lines Wine Co
You both grew up in Iowa and wine wasn’t part of your family experiences. Do you remember the first wine you tasted and whether you
Q&A with Ana Keller, Grower & Estate Director, Keller Estate
You were 18 years old, living in Mexico City and just about to enter college when your father purchased 650 acres of land in Petaluma. As a
Q&A with Kerith Overstreet, Bruliam Wines
Your dad inspired you to be a doctor and get your MD degree, which you did in 1998, yet you’ve chosen to be a winemaker.
Q&A with Ron Noble, Noble Family Vineyards
You and your wife, Yun Chu, have a 24–acre vineyard in the Petaluma Gap. How and when did you acquire the land and why did you choose this
Q&A with Tom & Ashley Darling, Co-Owners of Darling Wines
The two of you met at college while you were students. When did you first start talking about making wine? Were you both “all in”
Q&A with Hsiomei Hung & Roger Mead, Lichau Hill Vineyards
Neither of you have backgrounds in viticulture–you’re both urban professionals—but you moved to Sonoma Mountain after falling in love with a property that just happened
Q&A with Winemaker, Tom Gendall, Cline Cellars
Given your accent, we know you’re not from California. Can you tell us where you were born and what motivated you to get into the
Q&A with Grower, Scott Welch, Jackson Family Wines
Why did you choose viticulture as your profession and how did you get your first job? I grew up on a Chardonnay vineyard in Potter
Q&A with Winemaker Jake Hawkes, Carpenter Wines
You and your dad started making wine together. You’ve said he’s the smartest man you know. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from him about
Q&A with Grower, Scott Tweten, Volamus Vineyards
Your vineyard property at one time had five different grape varieties, but now it’s all Pinot Noir. Why did you make this change? When we
Q&A with Winemaker Shane Finley, Thirty-Seven Wines
You’ve said that the book, Wine for Dummies, got you hooked on the idea of becoming a winemaker. When did you first think it might
Q&A with Grower Ria D’Aversa, McEvoy Ranch
Are you farming sustainably and/or organically and what specific practices are you most proud of? McEvoy Ranch is certified organic by CCOF and it is
Q&A with Garrett Martin, Adobe Road Winemaker
Which vineyards in the Petaluma Gap do you source fruit from and what made you select these vineyard sites? I source fruit across the Petaluma