Matthew Weiss hosts a once-in-a-generation conversation with two of American wine’s most influential voices: Tim Mondavi, owner of Continuum Estate, architect of Napa Valley’s modern era, and his son Carlo Mondavi, co-owner of RAEN Winery, a visionary championing sustainable farming and fine wine’s future.

This unfiltered interview spans four generations of winemaking. Tim recounts his pivotal role as head winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery, shaping Napa’s appellation system and elevating California wines globally. He shares how the founding of Continuum Estate became a deeply personal expression of family, land, and legacy.

Carlo, co-founder of RAEN Winery, brings a dynamic perspective from Sonoma’s rugged coastline. He delves into Pinot Noir terroir, biodiversity beyond organics, and his work with Monarch Tractor to lead winegrowing into the climate-conscious age.

Together, they speak candidly about the family rift that changed the Mondavi legacy, the power of harvest season, and what’s next for California wines.

🍷 North Carolina Listeners — Don’t miss the exclusive RAEN & Continuum wine dinner at Fearrington House on September 25, 2025. Experience their wines paired with a seasonal tasting menu in an unforgettable evening of story and flavor. Reserve your seat now → [https://fearrington.com/events/raen-continuum-wine-dinner-september-25-2025/]

📍 Key Moments:

• The definitive Mondavi conversation: four generations of wine
• The family rift: what divided them—and what still binds
• Napa’s transformation through Tim’s winemaking lens
• Why Carlo farms beyond organic and believes in biodiversity
• Cabernet Franc’s rising influence in Napa blends
• The purpose behind Continuum and RAEN
• Wine as storytelling, legacy, and a way of life

Chapters:
00:00 – Opening Reflections on the Mondavi Legacy
02:52 – Harvest Realities: Timing, Tension & Triumph
05:14 – Family Rift: What Divided, and What Endures
07:53 – Napa’s Transformation Through the Mondavi Lens
10:08 – Appellations as a Benchmark for Excellence
12:22 – What's Next for California Wines
15:03 – Continuum and RAEN: Legacy Meets Innovation
17:49 – The Role of Cabernet Franc
20:26 – Tradition, Storytelling, and Wine Culture
23:17 – Harvest Meals That Became Memories
25:49 – The Next Generation: Chiara Mondavi Steps Forward
28:22 – Reflections and Future Visions

🔔 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:

▪️Fearrington House: https://fearrington.com/

▪️Heather Donovan Real Estate: https://heatherdhomes.com/

#WineCentricShow #MondaviLegacy #NapaValleyWines #WineCulture #CabernetFranc #ContinuumEstate #RAENWines #CaliforniaWine #WinePodcast #WineHistory #monarchtractor

What makes Chile one of the most captivating, and underestimated, places to make wine? Andrea Leon, Technical Director at Lapostolle and Clos Apalta, brings 20+ years of winemaking experience to the mic to answer that question and more.

In this episode, Andrea shares her remarkable journey from studying oenology and economics in Santiago to leading two of South America's most iconic wineries. She unpacks the raw beauty and extremes of Chilean terroir, the international odyssey of Carmenere, and what it really takes to craft a 100-point wine.

Whether you're a seasoned collector or simply wine-curious, this episode offers a deeply personal look into the soul of Chilean wine.

📍 What You’ll Learn:

• The historic roots and modern rise of Chilean wine
• Why Carmenere is Chile’s misunderstood signature grape
• How Andrea helped position Lapostolle as a global leader
• The patient art and science behind winemaking
• What makes the Colchagua Valley so distinctive
• How Chilean Sauvignon Blanc holds its own next to New Zealand

🎙️ Whether you're a seasoned wine lover or just getting started, this episode invites you to discover wine as a story of place, people, and passion.

🎧 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.

#AndreaLeon #Lapostolle #ClosApalta #ChileanWine #Carmenere #WinePodcast #WineCentricShow #ColchaguaValley #Terroir #SauvignonBlanc

Step into Alsace with Mélanie Pfister — an eighth-generation winemaker redefining what it means to honor tradition while forging a modern path. From the cellar to the vineyard, Mélanie shares how she blends precision, sustainability, and vision at her family domaine.

We explore everything from dry Riesling and Alsace Pinot Noir to sustainability, climate adaptation, and the rising influence of women in wine. This episode is a deep dive into terroir-driven winemaking and the personal evolution behind the label.

📌 In This Episode:

• Why Alsace Riesling isn’t sweet — myth, busted
• How Mélanie Pfister crafted her first orange wine
• Alsace Pinot Noir’s rise in a warming climate
• From family legacy to biodynamics: her sustainability journey
• Women winemakers changing the face of wine

🎧 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.

#AlsaceWine #WomenInWine #DryRiesling #WinePodcast #SustainableWine #NaturalWine #PinotNoir #WineCentricShow
Melanie Pfister, Domaine Mélanie Pfister, Alsace wine, French wine, Winemaker interview, Women in wine, Organic winemaking, Biodynamic wine, Sustainable viticulture, Natural wine, Dry Riesling, Orange wine, Pinot Noir Alsace, Climate change wine, Terroir driven wine, Wine podcast, Wine Centric Show, Wine YouTube channel, Wine education, Matt Weiss

What does it take to lead one of Napa Valley’s most iconic wineries into the future? In this episode of The Wine Centric Show, Maya Dalla Valle — second-generation winemaker at Dalla Valle Vineyards — shares her journey from growing up among Napa legends to shaping the next chapter of her family’s legacy.

We cover it all: the impact of climate change on vineyard practices, the role of Cabernet Franc in the world-class blends, and a peek into life with her husband, a Master Sommelier.

If you love Napa Cabernet Souvignon, Cabernet Franc, or stories about wine, legacy, and innovation, this conversation is for you.

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

#MayaDallaValle #NapaValley #DallaValleVineyards #CabernetFranc #Winemaking #NapaWine #WineIndustry #ClimateChangeWine #FamilyLegacyWine #WineBusiness #NapaCabernetFranc #2020VintageWine #WinePodcast #WineInterview #NapaValleyWinemaker #OrganicFarmingWine #WineStewardship #NapaWinemaking

What makes Ridge Vineyards one of the most respected wineries in America?

In this episode, Wine Centric sits down with Ridge’s Head of Winemaking & COO, John Olney, and SVP of Global Sales, Michael Torino. Together, they reveal how Ridge built a global reputation while staying deeply rooted in craft, place, and principle.

We get into:

• What “non-interventional” winemaking really means
• The role of corporate ownership—without losing authenticity
• Why vineyard practices matter more than any tech
• How Ridge builds community through the Sommelier Symposium
• Lessons from decades of aging and legacy vintages

For decades, Ridge has defined what great American wine should be. Their consistency, integrity, and deep-rooted commitment to place helped put California on the global wine map.

Whether you're a sommelier, winemaker, or just a fan of iconic American wine, this episode offers an inside look at one of the most respected names in the industry

00:00 Jumping Right In: Tough Questions for Wine Experts

00:20 Introducing the Titans of Ridge Vineyards

01:43 Debating America's Top Wineries

04:37 The Legacy and Philosophy of Ridge Vineyards

05:24 Challenges and Variations in Winemaking

08:17 Sales and Production: A Harmonious Relationship

13:22 Corporate Ownership and Quality Commitment

16:58 Exploring Ridge's Signature Wines

24:10 The Influence of French Winemaking on Ridge

27:23 Exploring Natural Winemaking

27:54 Challenges and Techniques in Fermentation

29:06 Ridge's Unique Approach to Winemaking

33:33 The Santa Cruz Mountains Project

36:41 Malolactic Fermentation Explained

38:13 The Role of American Oak in Ridge Wines

41:33 Ridge's Tasting Trials and Team Dynamics

42:47 Building Relationships with Sommeliers

51:25 Memorable Moments with Paul Draper

54:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

At just 30, Ilaria Felluga is leading not one—but two—of Friuli’s most respected wineries: Marco Felluga and Russiz Superiore. After the sudden loss of her father and grandfather, she stepped into a legacy shaped by six generations of winemakers.

In this episode of The Wine Centric Show, Ilaria shares how she’s carrying forward the family tradition, while championing Collio—Italy’s third officially recognized wine consortium after Chianti and Barolo. Despite its rich terroir and heritage, Collio remains one of the most underrated regions in Italian wine.

We talk about:

• What makes Friuli and Collio unique in Italian winemaking
• The Adriatic Sea’s influence on the region’s microclimate
• Why more people should be drinking wines from Friuli
• The cultural connection between food, family, and wine
• The pressure (and privilege) of inheriting a multigenerational legacy
• Leading two wineries as a young female in Italian wine

Whether you're a wine lover, storyteller, or legacy-builder, this is a conversation not to miss.

🎧 Listen now and follow The Wine Centric Show for more stories behind the bottle.

What happens when an NFL quarterback becomes a wine entrepreneur? Drew Bledsoe shares the wine that changed everything—the 1998 Viader—and the full-circle moment he had with its winemaker.

He discusses his focus on integrity in the cellar, the role geology plays in his approach, and the team-first mindset behind his estate-driven Washington wines.

In this episode, we cover:

• The injury that changed his career

• How family shaped his next chapter

• Building Doubleback, Bledsoe | McDaniels, and Bledsoe Family Wineries

• An idea about two very different Josh McDaniels

• What he drank at the Tom Brady roast

• Which of his wines reminds him of today’s quarterbacks

This is a candid, grounded conversation about wine, identity, and life after football. Subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.

Step inside one of the world’s top wine tastings. In this bonus episode of The Wine Centric Show, we go behind the scenes at James Suckling’s Great Wines World 2025 in New York City.

We were the only podcast interviewing winemakers live on-site, including an exclusive conversation with James Suckling himself. Hear from leading producers representing Italy, Napa, Argentina, Spain, Chile, and more.

• 6,000+ attendees
• 55 wine regions
• 380 producers
• 800 wines
• 6,000 bottles poured

Hear direct, unscripted conversations with global wine icons — and discover what sets this event apart.