Archives: Episodes

At The Table – Jennifer Giambroni

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Host Clark Wolf talks with Jennifer Giambroni from the California Milk Advisory Board, about the CMAB, dairy consumption in general, cheese production education, cheese programs, cheese trends, her background, the state of cow's milk dairy in California today and upcoming CMAB promotional campaigns.

 

The Good Stuff – Senses Wines

In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Christopher Strieter, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Senses Wines.

Christopher focuses on strategic planning and business development for Senses Wines. He oversees day-to-day operations, including global distribution, wholesale and direct sales, while also leading and managing the team. As a founder of Senses, Christopher has fulfilled his dream of launching a business paired with his love for science, art, and people.

Prior to forming a partnership with childhood friends Max and Myles in 2011, Christopher served as business manager for the noteworthy Russian River Pinot Noir producer Williams-Selyem. Earlier in his career, Christopher worked closely with Jess Jackson at Jackson Family Wines in business-planning and corporate strategy followed by a harvest at Red Car Winery. He later joined VinFillment as operations manager overseeing product launches, a vast warehouse and fulfillment, and most recently managed sales for Uproot Wines. He also founded a restaurant called Duchess (now closed) in the Bay Area and briefly worked on self-driving car at Cruise Automation (GM).

In addition to Senses, Christopher has served on the boards of the California Wine Institute, West Sonoma Coast Vintners, Russian River Valley Winegrowers, and directed non-profit work at Rebuild Wine Country after the devastating 2017 wildfires. He also served as chair for the Harvey Mudd Alumni Association, a member of Claremont Mckenna’s Alumni Association, and mentors participants in the Harvey Mudd Incubator, HMC INQ. His interests in space exploration, renewable energies and artificial intelligence keep him busy when he’s not thinking about wine. Christopher has been recognized as one of Wine Enthusiast’s “40 under 40,” at just 30 years old in the class of 2018, Diablo Magazine’s “40 Under 40,” class of 2017, as well as one of Wine Folly’s “Coolest Wine People to Follow.”

He graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a Master of Arts in Finance and received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics and Physics from Harvey Mudd College.

The Story of the Brand:

Senses Wines is the vision of three childhood friends—Christopher Strieter, Max Thieriot, and Myles Lawrence-Briggs—who partnered with renowned winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown to craft world-class wines from vineyards planted by their families. Founded in 2011, Senses has grown to include prestigious vineyard sites across Northern California. The estate vineyards are located in the West Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley regions of Sonoma County, specifically near Occidental, where the three founders grew up. Senses specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Although their families had deep roots in wine country, each of the three founders initially followed a different path. Chris was studying English and pre-law but felt unsure about continuing to law school. Around that time, he became acquainted with Jess Jackson of Jackson Family Wines, which sparked his passion for the wine industry.

While visiting Australia with Myles and his family, Chris and Myles had the idea to take over Hillcrest Vineyard—owned by Myles’s parents and recognized as the first vineyard site on the Sonoma Coast—and start making wine. Chris even drafted a business plan to raise several million dollars to plant 100 acres and build a winery, though the plan never came to fruition.

Later, Chris and Max reconnected and discovered they both had an interest in starting a wine brand. Max’s parents had planted the Thieriot Vineyard in the late 1980s. The three friends joined forces, pooled their savings to purchase grapes, and produced 100 cases of wine in 2011—the debut vintage of Senses Wines.

At just 22 years old, they divided responsibilities according to their strengths: Chris led business development and operations, Myles oversaw farming and production, and Max directed marketing and branding. Today, Senses Wines produces several thousand cases annually, continuing to grow while remaining grounded in their shared hometown roots and collaborative spirit.

And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks!

 

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The Good Stuff – Ca’Bianca Ristorante Italiano

In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Nico Diana, Co-Owner of Ca'Bianca Ristorante Italiano.

Nico Diana, co-owner of Ca'Bianca, was born in San Francisco and lived there until his family moved to Sonoma County to open Ca'Bianca in 1996. He attended elementary and high school in Sonoma County, graduating from Cardinal Newman. Nico later earned degrees in finance and international business from San Diego State University. After living in Germany and working in banking for several years, Nico returned to his roots in the restaurant industry.

Nico’s mother immigrated from Munich, Germany, and opened a bakery in San Francisco. His father, originally from the Milan area in Italy, entered the restaurant business, opening restaurants in California for Larry Mindel (Il Fornaio) of Spectrum Foods. He then managed the Fairmont in San Francisco before leaving to open several restaurants in and around SF with friends. When Nico was born, his parents decided to move to the North Bay to raise their family. They found the Marshall House, fell in love with it, and spent a year living in and restoring the building with a crew of four.

Ca'Bianca opened in March 1996, and Nico has been involved since a young age, helping as a little busboy at Mother’s Day brunches from the age of 7. Growing up, he spent countless holidays—NYE, Christmas, and others—at the restaurant, doing homework at the bar. After years away from Sonoma County, and with his parents' careers winding down, Nico returned to help run the family business. Now a co-owner of Ca'Bianca, he works alongside his parents, who spend more time in Europe while he manages the restaurant. He deeply values the long-standing relationships with his employees, many of whom have been with the team for over 25 years, with one staff member marking 30 years in March—since day one. His cousin, originally from Italy, lived with them while he was growing up. She is a sommelier who worked in Tuscany for eight years and sparked his interest in wine, further fueling his passion for the industry.

At 31 years old, Nico is committed to staying in Sonoma County, where he plans to continue raising his son with his wife. He takes great pride in his family’s legacy in the area and the community ties they've built over nearly 30 years of business.

Ca’Bianca History:

Ca'Bianca Ristorante Italiano is a family-owned Italian restaurant located at 835 Second Street in Santa Rosa, California, within the historic Marshall House—a Victorian mansion built in 1876 by pioneer James Marshall. Throughout the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries, the home was a noted gathering place of prominent Santa Rosa residents. The Marshall family owned and maintained the home until 1963 when family friend Harriet Watson purchased the property. Harriet made sure that the house maintained its structural and design integrity, retaining many of its original fixtures such as its ceramic fireplaces, stained glass, and crystal chandeliers.

In the mid to late 1990’s, after discovering and falling in love with the property, Marco Diana and his wife, Karin Hoehne, relocated to Sonoma County to restore the home. With a small team, they transformed it into Ca'Bianca Ristorante Italiano, launching the restaurant in March of 1996.

Ca'Bianca's cuisine blends flavors from multiple regions of Italy, from Milano in the north to Sicilia in the south. The restaurant is open for lunch on weekdays and dinner nightly. It also offers private dining areas and hosts events.

And finally, Virginie and Karissa share their Tuesday Night wine picks!

 

At The Table – Talking Cheese

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Host Clark Wolf talks with Gary Edwards, Owner of Monterey Cheese Company, about how he got into cheese, Ig Vella stories, the history of dry jack, raw milk cheddar, Gary's career path, the cheese community, New Zealand & why local cheese companies sell. Later in the show, Clark tells a Balducci backstory, Gary shares his best cheese adventures and reveals what Monterey Cheese Company is up to nowadays.