Send us a text

In Mid May of this year I had the pleasure of releasing a short chat with Jackson Family winemaker Chris Carpenter in which we spoke about the magic of the Hickinbotham Vineyard, the Hickenbotham label and the wider magic of Clarendon. To get that one in full Check out episode 25 of Season 5. Chris and I discussed a great many things during my time in Clarendon, that we did not include in that initial chat, so we recently caught up for a riveting part two. In this conversation we take a focussed dive into Chris’s background and what makes him a truly unique specimen in the wine world. We talk about Jackson Family Wines, the role large wine operations play in the modern commercial ecosystem and we also talk about the opportunity Chris and the wider Jackson Family see in working in and with the Australian wine community and the genuine excitement that generates. Chris says it as he sees it and accordingly, when he shares his perspectives it's a true pleasure to sit back and listen. A massive thanks to Chris Carpenter for joining me.

Support the show

Send us a text

In this episode Professor Gerald McDermott and I continue our discussion on systems and innovation. With the background and context to Gerald’s Mendoza case study established, we start to go deeper into the foundational concepts, and what a healthy system might look like, along with its different component parts. To start part 2 of our conversation, I ask Gerald whether it's possible to spot telltale signs that a system is ripe, ready for or in need of innovation. We will pick the conversion up with his answer.

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome to CDP Insights, a Cellar Door Podcast initiative where we stay up to date with market trends and get sharp industry insights. My guest is Joe Fattorini and in this episode we discuss the fundamental of nailing your sales pitch.

Support the show

Send us a text

This episode began with a curious email landing in my inbox. Not that the sender — my good friend Priscilla Hennekem — was mysterious, but rather the contents of her message were. It was brief and enclosed an attachment: a paper by Professor Gerald McDermott, titled “Public-Private Institutions as Catalysts for Upgrading in Emerging Market Societies.”

I scratched my head, opened the file, and started reading.

Now, Professor Gerald A. McDermott is the department chair and professor of international business at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Earlier in his career, he focused on how industrial networks shaped economic governance in post-communist countries. But what does any of that have to do with wine?

At first glance, nothing — until Gerald married a wonderful Argentine woman, which eventually led him to take a systems-deep dive into the Argentine wine industry. His paper charts how Argentina’s wine sector evolved from a state of chaos to one of cohesion and success. For Gerald, that success was no accident: it was a slow, transformation powered by the right systems and inputs. In other words, an industry thrives when it develops the right networks — diverse knowledge networks, diverse resource networks, and the right kinds of actions within those networks that encourage innovation and disruption when necessary. In Argentina, this emerged through effective public-private institutions.

I encourage you to read the paper yourself when you have time (seriously, make the time!). But for now, enjoy this fascinating two-part interview, which offers a completely fresh way to think about the health and development of an industry.

A huge thanks to Professor Gerald McDermott for joining me.

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome to CDP Insights, a Cellar Door Podcast initiative where we stay up to date with market trends and get sharp industry insights. My guest is Joe Fattorini and in this episode we discuss the most fundamental aspects of a business sales plan.

Support the show

Send us a text

In mid-2024, I found myself in the heart of Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley—an enchanting sub-AVA that has quietly, but confidently, shaped America’s wine identity. With a history that stretches from pre-Prohibition endurance to present-day renaissance, Dry Creek is a place where multigenerational family wineries continue to define what authenticity in American wine really means.

At the core of this region’s soul is Zinfandel—a grape often celebrated for its bold fruit and generous spirit, but in the hands of Dry Creek’s best, it becomes something more nuanced, expressive, and site-driven. For the families who’ve worked this land for generations—the Rafanellis, the Mauritsons, and today’s guests, the Nalles—Zinfandel isn’t just a heritage grape. It’s a medium for elegance and for storytelling.

Andrew Nalle, winemaker and steward of the Nalle family legacy, describes Zinfandel as one of the most rewarding grapes to work with. It’s sensitive, demanding, and characterful—and when treated with respect, it produces wines that are both layered and profoundly expressive of character.

On this visit, I had the great pleasure of experiencing Nalle Winery’s hospitality firsthand, thanks to my Bostonian friend Brandon Farrell, and to April Nalle—educated in South Australia and now back in California, continuing a legacy that bridges continents and generations.

In this episode, I sit down with Andrew to talk about Zinfandel’s journey—from its pre-Prohibition roots to its evolving role in today’s fine wine conversation. We dive into Dry Creek Valley’s unique position in American wine and what it means to craft wines that are both timeless and forward-thinking.

A huge thanks to Andrew for joining me.

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome to CDP Insights, a Cellar Door Podcast initiative where we stay up to date with market trends and get sharp industry insights. My guest is Joe Fattorini and in this episode we discuss CRM's, what they are and why they are an integral aspect of any wine business chasing success.

Support the show

Send us a text

YouTube launched in 2005, founded by three former PayPal employees—one of whom uploaded the platform’s first video, Me at the Zoo. Just a year later, Google acquired it for $1.65 billion. Today, YouTube is the world’s largest video platform, reaching 2.5 billion users every month and shaping how we consume content.

While written media still holds value, there’s been a clear shift toward digital platforms like YouTube and social media. These spaces offer creators the chance to reach millions—but they’re fiercely competitive. Only the most consistent, compelling content rises to the top, and that takes skill, grit, and a clear sense of purpose.

Wine media has been slow to fully embrace this shift, but there are pioneers trying to change that—among them is today’s guest, Dr. Matthew Horkey. An American wine personality who recently pivoted to YouTube, Matthew brings the mindset of an entrepreneur chasing something meaningful.

This episode is less about wine itself and more about ambition, creative risk, and building something from the ground up—though, fittingly, wine is the thread that ties it all together. I found myself opening up more than usual in this conversation, and I’m grateful to Matthew for making space for that.

Support the show