In our host Coly Den Haan’s words: “My favorite part about my conversations with Emily Towe is how chill and easy-going she seems then out of nowhere she will inevitably drop some crazy wine knowledge bomb or the perfect zinger when you least expect it. Emily along with her high school sweetheart and now husband Jody, truly are J. Brix. It has been said their motto in wine, and in life in general, is “Only Love.” And you truly can taste that love in every wine they make. So, I encourage you to pop open one of their bottles while you’re listening to this interview – unless you’re driving then please wait until later to taste the love.” http://winesplainingpodcast.com

Courtney Kaplan has not only worked in multiple facets of the hospitality industry, at the hottest places on both our costs but she has also spent time working and studying in Japan. She’s fluent in Japanese and has become this city’s honorary, sake go to guru. Her and her partner have what seems to be a perfect back of the house, front of the house synergy and her unpretentious style of sharing her wealth of knowledge immediately pulls you in. http://winesplainingpodcast.com

Megan Bells’ methods are steeped in ancient traditions yet she continues to trail blaze, break barriers and march to the beat of her own drum. She adapts to what nature gives us while at the same time advocating for change, especially in farming practices to make this planet better and possibly fix some of the damage the commercial wine industry has inflicted. http://winesplainingpodcast.com

Isabelle is a living legend in living wine and it seems nearly impossible to try and summarize Isabelle’s incredible career. She’s hosted a tv show, run a wine program at a two Michelin star restaurant, as well as other wine programs around the world including in the Caribbean! She started the internationally renowned RAW wine festival, founded a wine school, published a best selling book on natural wine and was the first French woman to become a Master of Wine, a qualification that is generally regarded in the wine industry as one of the highest standards of professional knowledge with only around 400 Masters world wide (less than 150 of which are women…) So, basically, she is idol worthy and totally winning in all things wine!  Sponsored by Hedley & Bennett http://winesplainingpodcast.com

In our host Coly Den Haan’s words: “Maria is the owner and winemaker of the cult favorite brand Duckman wines. Maria hails from a Portuguese winemaking family of legends – dating all the way back to the eighteenth century, that have been referred to as Portuguese wine royalty. Even though Maria’s history is steeped in rich tradition she has carved out a path distinctly her own – with a unique history, style and flare that clearly sets her apart. A rebel in her own right with a one of a kind sense of humor and true talent to back it up, Maria’s story is definitely one worth hearing.” http://winesplainingpodcast.com

In our host Coly Den Haan’s words: “Krista Scruggs is an American natural wine and cider maker and, I dare say, an exciting and experimental one at that. Since coming on the wine scene Krista has made a name for herself very quickly. It turns out, being a black, queer woman who farms and makes wine in Vermont garners a lot of interest. This has been a double-edged sword for Krista. With some incredible highs and very tough lows, Krista has had a whirlwind career in a short amount of time. We happened to catch her in our Los Angeles studio while she visited from Vermont. She spoke candidly about her journey including her dreams, challenges, triumphs, and one really crappy year.” http://winesplainingpodcast.com

In our host Coly Den Haan’s words: “Joy Kull is the owner and winemaker of the extremely tasty and very sought after, La Villana wines. Her story reads somewhat like a real life fairy tale of an American in Italy who found not one but two true loves - winemaking and her growing family. Joy’s an inspiration for us to follow our dreams and let ourselves be led down life’s path.” Sponsored by Dreams Los Angeles, Coucou French Classes, and Vinovore. http://winesplainingpodcast.com

In our host Coly Den Haan’s words: “Kristie Tacey is making natural wines inspired by her background in microbiology, her passion for French winemaking styles and a deep love for music, all while representing the beauty and community California has to offer. I’ve been lucky enough to be drinking and buying her elegant and downright tasty wines for years now and not one vintage has disappointed. Her expression of Riesling is one of my favorites in California and her story is just as captivating as her wine.” Hosted by Coly Den Haan, our Executive Producer is Angelica Luna, and our Senior Producer is Amelie Rousseaux. Sponsored by Dreams Los Angeles, Coucou French Classes, and Vinovore. http://winesplainingpodcast.com

In our host Coly Den Haan’s words: “Ntsiki Biyela is the owner and winemaker of the revolutionary brand, Aslina wines. Ntsiki is famously known as the first Black female winemaker in South Africa. This is an incredible feat on its own but hearing her story of how she has gotten to this place, the glass ceilings she has broken, her resilience and drive to continually inspire the people following in her footsteps is beyond inspiring, it’s truly magnificent. She has won multiple awards, is involved in ground breaking programs all while continuing to make fantastic wines. Despite all she has come up against and continues to fight for, Ntsiki is an absolute delight to talk to - with a wicked sense of humor, the most vibrant smile on her face and a unique insight into a wine world that isn’t always talked about.” Hosted by Coly Den Haan, our Executive Producer is Angelica Luna, and our Senior Producer is Amelie Rousseaux. http://winesplainingpodcast.com

In our host Coly Den Haan’s words: “Amy Atwood, wine importer and distributor extraordinaire is all around one of my favorite people. Not only do I consider her a truly close friend but also a fierce businesswoman, a mentor and ally to many, and one of the main forces in the natural wine world. So often people talk about sommeliers, restaurateurs, and even wine buyers being the stars and tastemakers driving what’s new and hot in the market. I happen to disagree with this to an extent that it’s really the importers and distributors that are giving us buyers our options to bring to you consumers. I often refer to importers and wine reps as the unsung heroes of the industry, so I’m excited for everyone to hear us peel back some of the layers of Amy’s life, how she has gotten to where she is now and where she is going.” This episode is sponsored by Canyon Coffee (go to canyoncoffee.co and enter ‘winesplaining’ at checkout for 15% off your first order). This episode was produced by Amelie Rousseaux and Angelica Luna. For more information or comments check out winesplainingpodcast.com