Join me as I sit down with Esther Mobley, Senior Wine Critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. Esther shares her fascinating journey from an English major to a wine journalist, starting with a harvest internship in Napa Valley and subsequently working in Mendoza, Argentina. Her career path led her through Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator before landing at the Chronicle in 2015, where she has since become a prominent voice in wine journalism.

Throughout our conversation, Esther discusses her approach to wine writing, emphasizing her role as a reporter who explores wine through broader lenses of society, climate change, immigration, and culture. She explains that her job goes beyond traditional wine criticism, focusing instead on telling compelling stories about the wine industry in California. The episode offers listeners an insider's view of wine journalism, tracing her professional evolution and her unique perspective on covering the dynamic world of wine.

Resources from this Episode

• San Francisco Chronicle Wine

• Drinking with Esther Newsletter

• “The original ‘cult’ wine: How I discovered California’s strangest vineyard” Published 2018

This episode is sponsored by Harvest Pillar concrete trellis posts. Want to know why more growers are going for concrete? It’s because Harvest Pillar is the last trellis post you’ll ever need.

Rich DeScenzo, the Microbiology Group Leader at ETS Labs, came on this episode to discuss the science of wine microbiology and its impact on winemaking. We talked about the roles of yeast and bacteria, such as Brettanomyces, in wine quality and stability. The episode explores the evolution of microbial testing, highlighting advanced techniques like Scorpion PCR technology, which enhances microbial risk assessment and wine quality control.

Rich shares insights on managing microbial risks, barrel sanitation, and the challenges of controlling Brettanomyces. The episode also touches on groundbreaking research in grapevine virus detection, emphasizing the importance of understanding microbial populations and wine chemistry for winemakers.

Winemaking Class Offers and Show Notes for all episodes at https://www.insidewinemaking.com/

Resources from this Episode

Winemaking Class Offers and Show Notes for all episodes at https://www.insidewinemaking.com/

ETS Labs https://www.etslabs.com/

This episode is sponsored by Innovint.

Wineries of all sizes rely on InnoVint’s winery operating system to optimize vineyard tracking, manage wine production processes, automate compliance reporting, track costs seamlessly, and make data-driven decisions.

The best part? The software is intuitive, easy to use, and mobile and offline-friendly! And with the highest-rated customer service in the industry, you’re guaranteed to have a smooth transition, even right before harvest.

• Learn more: https://www.innovint.us/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=insidewinemaking
• Get a demo of the product: https://www.innovint.us/request-a-demo/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=insidewinemaking
• Join our free winemaking community, The Punchdown: https://www.innovint.us/join-the-punchdown/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=insidewinemaking

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

Join us today as we have a conversation with Chris Morisoli from Morisoli Vineyard. Chris is a fifth-generation farmer from Morisoli Vineyard in Napa Valley and he shares his journey from serving as a helicopter pilot and volunteer fireman to managing his family's historic vineyard.

The conversation highlights the vineyard's evolution, the challenges of maintaining old vines, and the importance of building strong relationships in the wine industry. Chris also discusses the creation of the Morisoli wine brand, the logistics of grape harvesting, and the significance of traditions like challenge coins. Throughout the episode, Chris emphasizes the importance of long-term planning in vineyard management and maintaining quality in winemaking.

Winemaking Class Offers and Show Notes for all episodes at https://www.insidewinemaking.com/

Resources from this Episode

Morisoli Vineyard https://morisolivineyard.com/

This episode is sponsored by Harvest Pillar concrete trellis posts. Want to know why more growers are going for concrete? It’s because Harvest Pillar is the last trellis post you’ll ever need: https://www.harvestpillar.com/

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.