In this episode of the Vint Wine Podcast, hosts Billy Galanko and Brady Weller sit down with Nancy Irelan, the powerhouse behind Red Tail Ridge Winery in New York’s Finger Lakes. From her early days as a PhD student at UC Davis to leading R&D at E. & J. Gallo, Nancy brings unmatched technical depth to her boutique, cool-climate winery.

She shares:

🍇 How her science-driven background shapes minimalist winemaking today
🥂 Why sparkling wine is the future of the Finger Lakes—and how Red Tail Ridge is leading the charge
🌱 What makes Pinot Noir, Blaufränkisch, and Riesling thrive in her vineyard’s unique soils
⚗️ Insider stories from her time solving production issues across Gallo’s global operations
🏔 Her vision of the Finger Lakes as a world-class wine and travel destination

This is a deep dive into the intersection of science, terroir, and tradition, and an inspiring listen for any wine enthusiast curious about cool-climate winemaking in the U.S.

📍 Explore more at vintmarketplace.com
📧 Connect with Brady (brady@vint.co) or Billy (billy@vintmarketplace.com)

Cheers!

The Vint Wine Podcast is a production of the Vint Marketplace, your source for the highest quality stock of fine wines and rare whiskies. Visit www.vintmarketplace.com.

To learn more about Vint and the Vint Marketplace, visit us at Vintmarketplace.com or email Brady Weller at brady@vint.co, or Billy Galanko at Billy@vintmarketplace.com.

Cheers!

In this episode of Five Questions with a Winemaker, hosts Billy Galanko and Brady Weller sit down with Nancy Irelan, Winemaker and Owner of Red Tail Ridge Winery in New York’s Finger Lakes. Renowned for her cool-climate varietals and sparkling wines, Nancy has made Red Tail Ridge a Finger Lakes standout.

Nancy shares:

🌎 A snapshot of her 54-acre vineyard featuring Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Blaufränkisch, Dornfelder, and Cabernet Franc, all reflecting the Finger Lakes’ unique character.

🍾 Red Tail Ridge’s passion for sparkling wines, focusing on traditional methods and site expression.

🍷 Inspirations from Champagne, Austrian Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir from Baden, and emerging regions like Baja, Mexico, inspire Red Tail Ridge's style.

📆 Key takeaways from challenging vintages like 2009, 2013, 2018, and 2021, and how they’ve shaped her resilient winemaking philosophy.

🔭 Her vision for the region: positioning the Finger Lakes as America’s parallel to Crémant d’Alsace with expanded sparkling production and year-round tourism.

A must-listen for fans of cool-climate wines and those curious about the future of U.S. wine regions.

🎧 Listen to the full episode with Nancy Irelan, available now.

The Vint Wine Podcast is a production of the Vint Marketplace, your source for fine wines and rare spirits. Visit www.vintmarketplace.com.

Cheers!

The Vint Wine Podcast is a production of the Vint Marketplace, your source for the highest quality stock of fine wines and rare whiskies. Visit www.vintmarketplace.com.

To learn more about Vint and the Vint Marketplace, visit us at Vintmarketplace.com or email Brady Weller at brady@vint.co, or Billy Galanko at Billy@vintmarketplace.com.

Cheers!

In this episode of the Vint Wine Podcast, we sit down with acclaimed wine writer and researcher Elaine Chukan Brown to discuss their new book, The Wines of California is a sweeping and deeply informed look at the Golden State’s wine landscape, past and present.

With rare access, firsthand research, and a unique perspective shaped by years of work across regions and with producers, Elaine shares a compelling narrative tracing the evolution of California wine: from indigenous cultivation and early Spanish mission plantings to Prohibition-era struggles, the rise of Napa and Sonoma, and today’s cutting-edge, climate-driven viticulture.

Elaine shares:
🍇 Insights into how her Alaskan roots and early encounters with Pinot Noir sparked a lifelong passion for wine.
📚 Her journey from academic philosopher to celebrated wine writer contributing to The Oxford Companion to Wine, The World Atlas of Wine, and Decanter.
🌄 A panoramic tour of California’s wine regions—Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Lodi, Monterey, and beyond—highlighting key producers shaping the state today.
🌿 Reflections on the essential, often-overlooked role of farmworkers, indigenous histories, and immigrant labor in building California’s wine identity.
🌍 Perspectives on how climate change, sustainability, and shifting consumer tastes are transforming California’s vineyards and varietal choices for the next generation.
🔍 A behind-the-scenes look at how she selected the influential and innovative producers profiled in her book.

Whether you’re a collector, sommelier, or enthusiast, this episode offers a fascinating deep dive into the centuries-long journey of California wine and the forces shaping its future.

🎧 Listen now to explore the stories, landscapes, and people behind California’s most iconic and emerging wines.

🛒 Shop California’s top producers now at vintmarketplace.com

The Vint Wine Podcast is a production of the Vint Marketplace, your source for the highest quality stock of fine wines and rare whiskies. Visit www.vintmarketplace.com.

To learn more about Vint and the Vint Marketplace, visit us at Vintmarketplace.com or email Brady Weller at brady@vint.co, or Billy Galanko at Billy@vintmarketplace.com.

Cheers!