Champagne maker Jérôme Dehours brings a rare blend of tradition and rebellion, redefining what Champagne can be through a lens of integrity, terroir, and deep-rooted family legacy.

After the early loss of his father and the forced sale of the Dehours estate, Jérôme and his sisters reclaimed their family’s land in 1996. From that moment, he began reshaping the estate’s identity, challenging Champagne’s prestige-driven norms and choosing authenticity over convention.

Influenced by Burgundy’s philosophy of place, Jérôme creates “wines that happen to sparkle,” guided not by lab metrics but by instinct, observation, and the expressive character of each vineyard. His commitment to Pinot Meunier, a grape often overshadowed, and his early decision to list lieux-dits on his labels positioned him as a revolutionary voice within Champagne.

Joined by Troy Revell, Wine Director at Fearrington House, this episode also features a rare on-camera tasting, offering a front-row view into how a top sommelier experiences these unapologetically terroir-driven wines.

Jérôme’s approach is both minimalist and intentional: a Coquard basket press, natural fermentation, and malolactic in bottle all contribute to wines that speak clearly of origin, season, and soil.

📍 What You’ll Learn:

• Jerome's journey into winemaking began after his father's passing.
• The Vallée de la Marne is known for its unique terroir.
• Pinot Meunier is often underestimated but has great potential.
• Transitioning from grape grower to winemaker was a significant challenge.
• Single vineyard labeling was a bold move in Champagne.
• Understanding yields is crucial for quality production.
• Traditional pressing techniques impact the final wine quality.
• Aging in large wooden vats adds complexity to the wine.
• The influence of terroir is evident in the wine's character.
• Jerome emphasizes the importance of natural winemaking practices.

🎧 Listen now on YouTube + all podcast platforms
🔗 Full episode and show notes at winecentricshow.com

We’re grateful for the support of our episode partners, including Fearrington House and Heather Donovan Real Estate.

Backend Tags:

jerome dehours, champagne dehours, grower champagne, pinot meunier champagne, vallée de la marne champagne, lieux dits champagne, natural winemaking, terroir driven wines, burgundian style champagne, champagne wine podcast, wine centric show, artisan champagne, champagne terroir, french wine documentary, independent winemaker, champagne tasting, sommelier interview, wine podcast 2025, champagne with troy revell, champagne philosophy

How does Chateau Musar create a wine so instantly recognizable—vibrant, soulful, unmistakably Musar? In this episode, Marc Hochar takes us inside the family’s collaborative blending process, revealing how each member’s unique palate shapes the final wine. From generational taste differences to the guiding hand of Gaston, the Musar blend is crafted through shared vision, spirited debate, and a reverence for the winery’s heritage.

Unlike wines polished to perfection, Musar embraces vibrancy, quirk, and character—the very traits that define its identity. The result is a blend that reflects continuity, lineage, and the soulful imperfections that make Musar one of Lebanon’s most iconic wineries.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the Hochar family maintains consistency while honoring individuality, ensuring every vintage carries forward Musar’s legacy.

📍 What You’ll Learn

• Why Gaston has the final say in the blending process
• How each family member’s palate contributes to the final wine
• How Musar achieves continuity without sacrificing character
• Why vibrancy and quirk are essential to Musar’s style
• How family opinions and collaboration drive blend decisions
• Why “too perfect” is not Musar

🔑 Keywords

Chateau Musar, wine blending, signature style, family tradition, wine tasting, Lebanese wine, Marc Hochar

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into global wine culture
🎧 Listen on YouTube + all podcast platforms
🔗 Full episode + show notes: winecentricshow.com

🙏 Episode Partners

▪️ Fearrington House – https://fearrington.com/
▪️ Heather Donovan Real Estate – https://heatherdhomes.com/
▪️ Conscious Strong – https://go.consciousstrong.com/

LA Dodgers’ Manager, Dave Roberts, a three-time World Series champion and co-owner of Red Stitch Wine, shares how the intensity of a playoff run mirrors the precision of winemaking. From his first unforgettable glass of Jordan Cabernet to launching a boutique label with fellow athletes, Dave opens up about the journey from the dugout to the vineyard.

This candid conversation explores the parallels between baseball and wine, from the art of timing to the value of patience, and touches on evolving wine trends, the influence of his sommelier wife, and why younger generations are key to the future of wine culture. Red Stitch Wine isn’t just a brand; it’s a reflection of friendship, family, and a love for the craft.

📍 What You’ll Learn:

• Clever parallels between ballplayers and wine styles, from bold Cabs to elegant Pinots.
• How wine became part of Dave’s personal and family life.
• The story behind Red Stitch Wine and its roots in friendship and shared passions.
• Why timing matters, whether chasing a playoff berth or picking grapes at peak ripeness.
• The influence of Dave’s wife, a trained sommelier, on their wine journey.
• A shift toward more balanced, lower-alcohol wines with nuance.
• Insights on how the wine world can better connect with younger audiences.

Chapters:
00:00 Dave Roberts and His Journey
04:24 The Intersection of Baseball and Wine
09:10 First Wine Experiences and Discoveries
13:46 The Birth of Red Stitch Wine
18:20 Involvement in Wine Production and Marketing
23:33 The Young Pitcher and Wine Pairing
25:34 Shohei Ohtani: The Two-Way Player
27:40 Wine Culture in the NBA
28:48 Dave Roberts: The Wine Guy of MLB
31:32 Red Stitch Winery: A Shift in Wine Philosophy
36:15 Connecting Baseball and Wine for Younger Generations
37:50 Quickfire Questions and Future Aspirations

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into wine culture.
🎧 Listen now on YouTube + all podcast platforms
🔗 Full episode and show notes at winecentricshow.com

We’re grateful for the support of our episode partners, including Fearrington House, Heather Donovan Real Estate, and Conscious Strong.