Stephen Cronk is the environmentalist who can see a future where regenerative viticulture is the norm, not the exception. Through Maison Mirabeau and his foundation, he is making the vision a reality. The only regenerative certified Côtes de Provence Rosé in the world, Mirabeau One Day, is available in the US! 

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Maison Mirabeau

Regenerative Viticulture Foundation

Heidi Bridenhagen has banked more than 365 ninety-plus scores since taking the reins at Macrosite Winery and Vineyards. She is precise and exploratory, oozing a passion for the land. The cherry on top is that she has a joyous giggle, which she shares throughout the conversation.

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Macrostie

Nightwing Vineyard

Wine Smart Petaluma Gap AVA Podcast

Abeja Winery is tucked into a 19th-century wheat farmstead that has evolved into an acclaimed winery, luxury inn, and restaurant. Ken and Ginger Harrison embraced the history but had a vision of greatness that would last into the future. Their vision is now guided by my guests, Dan and Amy Wampfler, who have blended their lives into Abeja.

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Abeja Winery

Rob Alstrin, CEO, and Gina Hennen, Director of Winemaking and Viticulture, offer their perspective on the culture and drive of this wonderful winery. At Adelsheim Vineyard, you will find curiosity, community, and excellence wrapped in humility.

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Adelsheim

Dr. Bob Gross and his wife Corrine were among the first pioneering families to plant vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Barbara Gross, their daughter, joins me to reflect on being the second generation, a rebellious past, and what it means to her to "be there" in the future.

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Cooper Mountain Vineyards

Understanding the federal, state, and municipal regulations around selling alcoholic beverages is a complex and tangled web. Our compliance department navigates these issues for Winebow, and today we’re benefitting from a little compliance tutoring and storytelling from two volleyball stars and a former law enforcement officer.

Valle Reale is a marvelous property tucked into the mountains of Abruzzo, Italy. Leonardo Pizzolo is the visionary founder, and he attributes the beauty of his wines to something spontaneous. Listen in to find out more.

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Valle Reale

Italy: Abruzzo, Wide Spectrum 

Virginia Willcock chats with me about all the reasons Vasse Felix is a natural, true expression of Margaret River. The West Australian native is one of Australia's most lauded winemakers, and her wines are highly acclaimed nationally and internationally. 

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Vasse Felix Winery

This episode is a rebroadcast of a very special interview with two winemaking legends, Paul Hobbs and Ernst Loosen. The subject was Riesling within the context of the US market and their projects: Hillick and Hobbs in New York and Appassionata in Oregon. Originally broadcast as a video meeting with wine journalists on May 13, 2025.

Ernst (Erni) Loosen is the owner of Dr. Loosen in the Mosel Valley of Germany, Villa Wolf in the Pfalz, Perron de Mypont in Burgundy, J. Christopher / Appassionata in the Willamette Valley, and Loosen Bros Imports. 

Paul Hobbs owns or co-owns seven wineries across the globe: Paul Hobbs Winery and Crossbarn in Sebastopol, California, Hillick & Hobbs in the Finger Lakes, New York, Viña Cobos in Mendoza, Argentina, Crocus in Cahors, France, Yacoubian-Hobbs in Armenia, and Alvaredos-Hobbs in Galicia, Spain. 

Jo Moak solo backpacked across Southeast Asia and India with a wanderlust that drove her life. Her experiences there shaped her world perspective while she tried to figure out a career. She chose law, which led her to Winebow. Her experience with the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America made her an expert on the three-tier system of the United States. Her life story is guaranteed to keep you intrigued, and her explanation of the three-tier system is fabulous.

Quality, Innovation, Environment, and People are the pillars on which Familia Zuccardi built its multi-generational business. The second generation, Jose, and the third generation, Julia and Sebastian, share how everything they do comes back to these four foundational concepts.

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Familia Zuccardi

Bodega Garzón Albariño is now the top-selling Garzón option for Winebow. Few thought it possible to make quality wine in the heavily Atlantic-influenced area of eastern Uruguay, but Argentine billionaire Alejandro Bulgheroni and legendary oenologist Alberto Antonini took the risk. The delicious results speak for themselves. This episode captures the story as told by Managing Director, Christian Wylie, and Winemaker Viticulturalist, German Bruzzone.

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Bodega Garzón

Sandra Tavares da Silva and her husband Jorge Serôdio Borges love the Douro deep into their souls. Their mission is to save old vineyards and bring them back to the glory of making fine wine. Their story is about love, restoration, and great wine.

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Wine and Soul

The Tavares sisters are living out the family dream to own a farm that honors nature, makes great wine, and offers refuge for their entire family. Bring your heart to this conversation and be touched by their authenticity and family devotion.

Want to learn about the region of Lisboa and learn how to pronounce the important grapes and terms?
Full Course on Lisboa

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Chocapalha

Grapes Mentioned by Andrea:
Arinto
Viosinho
Verdelho
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Castelao
Touriga Nacional
Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
Touriga Franca
Alicante Bouschet
Cabernet Sauvignon

For Alicia Lini, it is simple: Lini 910 is about family, quality, and authenticity. These principles drive the fourth-generation family business and our conversation. Alicia is the brand's charming, energetic persona, and understanding Lini 910 means seeing it through her eyes.

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Lini 910
Wine Smart Episode Lambrusco

Keeping personal connection and compassion in their work is at the forefront of our Human Resources team. Kristy Heady, SVP Human Resources, Shawna Harvey, Director of Human Resources, Danielle Younes, Director of Benefits, and Angelica Carr, HR Business Partner, joined me to offer insight into their roles and mindset. 

Thirty-five percent of the Gran Reserva Rioja opened worldwide is Faustino I Gran Reserva because four generations and 160 years have been invested in Bodegas Faustino's reputation. Director General Francisco Honrubia joins me to discuss the multi-generational commitment to elevating Rioja.

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Bodegas Faustino

Delve into the life and leadership of Silvano Brescianini, the CEO of Barone Pizzini Winery. Born in Franciacorta and groomed professionally by the restaurant business, Silvano is a passionate quality-centric leader who adopted organic viticulture before anyone else in Franciacorta.

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Franciacorta Episode of Wine Smart: The Power to Buy and Sell
Barone Pizzini
Franciacorta Consorzio

The Otis family values doing your best, putting in full effort and improvement over completion. Bryan Otis, Proprietor of Avallé, applies this philosophy to Matthews, Blackboard, and Jaine wines. Click play to get to know Bryan and their WHY.

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Matthews
Blackboard
Jaine

Andrew Januik is the son of legendary Columbia Valley winemaker, Mike Januik and the second generation to craft the wines of Januik and Novelty Hill. We chat about growing up in a winemaking family and where he and his dad differ just enough.

Stephen and Jeany Cronk, owners of Maison Mirabeau in Provence, are my guests in this episode. They have a sometimes tenuous, sometimes joyous story about chasing a dream to own a vineyard, moving a young family to Provence,  and creating a top rosé brand.

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Maison Mirabeau
CIVP Website

If you wonder how an importer works or what roles inside our Heritage Division do, this episode is for you.  We hear from Senior Vice President, Ted Campbell, Vice President of Portfolio Specialist, Salvatore Galati, Regional Manager, Paul Dietz, and Fine Wine Specialist, Hayley Black. Not only do we find out more about their roles but we delve into some very interesting personal backstories.

In this episode, Louis Barruol and I discuss the multigenerational mindset of an estate begun in 1490, preserving genetic diversity, and why trends are irrelevant to wine growers. Louis Barruol is the owner and winemaker of Château de Saint Cosme, Château de Rouanne, and Forge Cellars.

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Château de Saint Cosme
Château de Rouanne
Forge Cellars

Rory Williams, Vice President of Viticulture & Enology and the second generation in the family winery joins me for a frank conversation.  We talk about picking your path,  avoiding trends, having a multigenerational mindset, making wine he wants to drink, and tacos vs brisket.

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Frog's Leap Winery 

Wölffer Estate is a prime example of why Long Island wines deserve your attention. The family winery even spread its branches into Provence and Argentina. Roman Roth, Partner & Winemaker, and Max Rohn, CEO, join me to talk about laying the foundation of greatness locally, their spirit of experimentation, and the boldness to expand globally.

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Wölffer Estate

Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider. Dean talks about growing up in Virginia, the importance of music, vinyl vs. digital, and the history and direction of Winebow Fine Wine + Spirits. 

Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, I explore the strong community connection that drives the wines of Bodegas Borsao. Guillermo Rodriguez, Export Manager, Marta Chicote,  Winemaker for 22 years, Eduardo Ibanez, Winegrower and community leader, and Maria Sancho, Marketing and Communication all join forces to help tell the story of community and Garnacha.

Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, I have a conversation with John Stirling. One of three visionary brothers who grew up farming the Highlands of Scotland. They pursued other careers but were drawn back to the land of their birth.  The trio shared a vision of a field-to-bottle, environmentally responsible Scottish distillery. Since then it has been a courageous journey of charting the future by finding inspiration in the past.

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Arbikie Highland Estate

Our spirits team has doubled our spirits business using passion, tenacity, and great distilleries.  In this episode, Ron gets to know Richard Driscoll, EVP of Spirits, Monique Huston, VP of Wholesale Spirits Portfolio, Jessica Partington, VP of Wholesale Spirits Sales, and Pablo Madrigal Valdes, Spirits Specialist. Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider on how we excel in spirits.

Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron is interviewed while he chats with his Learning Department Co-Director and teammates about their diverse backgrounds and professional experiences.  Joining him in the conversation is the Director of Corporate Development, Sonja Moore, Applications Trainer, Sharon Brozowksi, Instructional Designer, Emily O'Day, and Corporate Wine Educator, TJ Griffin. 

Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron is joined by Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt, Grand Siecle Ambassador and fourth-generation family member of the Laurent-Perrier Champagne ownership. Lucie shares the inspiring history of the house, their innovations, and their focus on precision.

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Laurent-Perrier
Laurent-Perrier IG
Lucie Pereyre IG

Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron chats with Nadia Zenato co-owner of Zenato Winery. She shares her memories of growing up in a family building a wine business from scratch, her passion for art, and the dreams she is still working on.

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Zenato Winery

Join us behind the curtain and Become a Winebow Insider. This is a conversation about offering world-class service and the realities of this essential department. Ron is joined by Diane Marlow SVP, Customer Service, Linda Anderson VP, Administration, Valerie Colon-Moore, Manager, Caitlin Duffy, Imports Customer Service, and Jackie Scarola, Wholesale Customer Service. It was recorded in January of 2023. Listen in to learn about the roles and goals of our Customer Service team at Winebow Fine Wine + Spirits.

Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron chats with Patrick Materman, Director of Wine Growing for Villa Maria about sustainability, authenticity, consistency, and how Villa Maria brings New Zealand to you in each wine.

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Villa Maria
Esk Valley

Join us behind the curtain and become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron explores how the Catena Family works to elevate Argentina through its brands. The conversation with Dr. Laura Catena is fast-paced and authentic so you may want to pause and rewind occasionally.

Join us behind the curtain and Become a Winebow Insider. This is a conversation with Theo Koebel, EVP of Portfolio Management, Liz Mathews, SVP of Imports Portfolio Management, Chad Watkins, Director of Portfolio Governance,  Michelle Spencer, Imports Portfolio Manager, Ian Senecal, Portfolio Manager, and Katie Schneider, Portfolio Manager. It was recorded in October 2022. Listen in to learn about the essential role that our Portfolio Management team plays in the success of Winebow Fine Wine + Spirits.

Join us behind the curtain and Become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron chats with leaders in our operations team that make sure the right items get on our trucks for each and every delivery. Ron is joined by: Roy Combs, Senior Vice President of Operations, Kyle Rebstock, Vice President of Distribution Center Management, Bryan Cole, Regional Operations Director, Bob Molle, Operations Manager.

Join us behind the curtain and Become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron discusses the generations of experience that guide Lapostolle and Clos Apalta wineries in the Apalta region of Chile. His guest is Lapostolle General Manager, Charles de Bournet.

Join us behind the curtain and Become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron has conversations about our Upper Left Campaign which highlights the wines of Washington and Oregon. Ron is joined by: Winebow CEO and President, Dean Ferrell and L'Ecole 41 Managing Winemaker and Co-Owner, Marty Clubb.

Join us behind the curtain and Become a Winebow Insider. This conversation with Erle Martin, EVP of Business Development, and Marty Collins, VP of E-commerce and Digital Marketing, was recorded in March of 2022. Listen in to learn about the e-commerce path Winebow is following.

Join us behind the curtain and Become a Winebow Insider. In this episode, Ron chats with Jessica Hill Smith about Yalumba's intersection of family and business.