Archives: Episodes

Host Clark Wolf speaks with Jenay Hofftin, Co-Owner of Altamont General Store, about the story of Occidental, highlighting businesses in the area, her family's connection to Occidental, her educational background, The Altamont General Store, events at the yard, the Occidental Farmer's Market, the General Store experience and what to expect from them in the coming months!

In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Amy Chenowith, Winemaker & Owner of Chenoweth Wines & Charlie Chenowith, Equipment Manager in Vineyard Management Business, leading role in providing grapes for Chenoweth Wines.

Amy Chenoweth wasn’t destined to make some of Sonoma County’s most sought-after Pinot Noirs. The small-town West County girl, born and raised along the famed Russian River in the rustic hamlet of Guerneville, was less interested in Wine Country’s celebrated vineyards than its iconic river, rugged beaches and towering redwood forests. But the vineyards eventually won.

Not unlike every good wine, Amy’s path to winemaking started in the vineyard, specifically the ones tended by her husband Charlie, a grape grower and vineyard. Ever since they married more than two decades ago, Amy has worked alongside Charlie, managing the business that produces the grapes for such well-known cult brands as Patz & Hall, Kosta Browne, and Bob Cabral, among many others.

Over the years, Amy had the chance to observe the region’s best winemakers ply their craft, and she “became a sponge, learning from the masters.” Though the classroom training in oenology she received at UC Davis bolsters her knowledge, her real education came through long days on the crush pads and in the barrel rooms of the most respected Sonoma County wineries.

The winery’s first vintage was in 2010, just fifty cases or so of Pinot Noir from the Chenoweth’s own vines, planted on the family’s historic, sprawling hilltop ranch in the Green Valley appellation of the Russian River Valley AVA. Since then Amy has steadily increased production and the portfolio from just Pinot Noir to Chardonnay, Rose, and Sauvignon Blanc. When asked to describe the philosophy that underpins her winemaking, Amy sums it up this way: “start with epic grapes and then don’t screw it up.” In actual practice, that means using French oak barrels, but only 30% new ones, so the oak doesn’t mask the flavors of the fruit. “Why hide that?” she asks, answering her own question, “everything we do emphasizes the fruit.”

Charlie (CJ) is Amy & Charlie’s eldest son, he is 6th generation on the ranch and is raising the 7th. He grew up in the Chenoweth Vineyards and today he helps Charlie run the vineyard management business as the Equipment Manager. He has a lead role in providing exceptional grapes for Chenoweth Wines, and winery clients who buy Chenoweth fruit. His wife Kyra is Chenoweth’s PR & Marketing person.

Chenoweth Wines/Vineyards:

The Chenoweth family has been growing fruit of one kind or another on their sprawling ranch for more than 150 years. Rising some 750 feet above the Russian River Valley floor, the land has supported generations of the Chenoweth family, sometimes with cherry trees, sometimes with apples and briefly, before Prohibition, with grapes. Redwoods from the farm helped rebuild the city of Santa Rosa, clearly visible in the middle distance from their hilltop Treehouse Vineyard, after it was largely leveled in the 1906 earthquake. Charlie’s grandfather found the rolling high ground suitable for cherries. His father uprooted them to grow the region’s signature Gravenstein apples. But it was Charlie’s idea in 2000 to clear the land and plant it to Pinot Noir grapes.

The first vineyard, Home Ranch (also called Chenoweth Ranch), is where the family lives and where winemaking started. Grapes from this vineyard were initially sold to Patz & Hall for their vineyard-designated Pinot Noir. In 2006, the family expanded by planting Treehouse Vineyard, named after a towering redwood at the highest point of the property. The family continued to grow in 2009 with the planting of Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard in the cool, fog-drenched Green Valley sub-appellation.

Chenoweth Wines first official vintage came out in 2010 with just 50 cases of Pinot Noir from the Green Valley vineyard. Today, Amy Chenoweth leads the winemaking efforts, crafting wines that reflect both the family’s passion for the land and their commitment to high-quality, sustainable wine production.

Vineyards:

• Home Ranch
• Bootlegger’s Hill
• Treehouse

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

ROCK’nVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

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This week on the PCOR Radio Broadcast we celebrate Palm Sunday beginning with a reading from Luke 19:28-40 and conclude with "The Lord Needs You!" a sermon by Rev. Dr Cindy Alloway.

GUESTS:

Laura Rafety

Ex Director

Museum of Art and Culture-St. Helena

https://napavalleymuseum.org/

Octavia Diaz

Founder: Mitote Mexian Food Park

10 Sebastopol Road

http://www.mitotefoodpark.com/

Also...John Ash Alternative Easter Recipes

GUEST:

Michael Umehara

Owner: Momiji Nursery

2765 Stony Point Road

Santa Rosa

Momiji Nursery / Japanese Maples - Sonoma County Farm Trails

Farmers Market Update from Dennis

SANTA ROSA ORIGINAL CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET - THE SANTA ROSA ORIGINAL CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET

From 9-11 call in 1-707-636-1350

24-7 Email to get them answered on Saturday....steve@ksro.com

Host Clark Wolf speaks with Daisy Damskey (Co-Chair of the event, as well as Co-Creator of Palmeri Wines & Marketing Communications at Terroirs Inc.) about the 3rd Annual Northern California Public Media Food & Wine Awards. The two discuss how the event came to be, what she's looking forward to the most, as well as the featured wines, sponsors, honorees and the silent auction items up for grabs! Chef Dan Kedan (Owner of Backyard & Associate Professor of Culinary Arts at Culinary Institute of America) also joins the show to talk about farm to table cooking & what's on the menu for the event!

In this episode of The Good Stuff presented by the Sonoma County Winegrowers, hosts Virginie Boone and Karissa Kruse talk to Prema Kerollis, Co-founder & General Manager of Three Sticks Winery.

Prema Kerollis began working with Three Sticks Wines founder Bill Price III in 2000 at Texas Pacific Group. Working closely with Price, who co-founded the successful private equity firm, she quickly became an essential part of his team and began helping Price manage his winery operations. As co-founder of Three Sticks Wines, Prema helped expand the winery’s allocation list from Price’s friends and family members to include a growing number of discerning pinot noir and chardonnay consumers.

Known for her joyful personality and generous laugh—her name translates to “giver of love” in Sanskrit—Prema was immediately drawn to the wine business by her natural affinity for hospitality. Growing up in Marin County, she learned from her mother and stepfather—both of whom worked in the restaurant industry—that hard work and fun need not be mutually exclusive and that the pleasures of wine and food are deeply life-affirming gifts. With an MBA in Wine Business, Prema understands the importance of good people, good products, and doing good business.

Prema applied her talents to the expansive world of Three Sticks and its incredible vineyards; and assisted Price with the design and creation of his other independent wine brand: Head High Wines, a Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay brand for the newly initiated. Head High is dedicated to making attainable, delicious wines, ocean preservation, and fun. In 2012, she oversaw the preservation and design of the Vallejo Casteñada Adobe, now home to the Three Sticks tasting salon in downtown Sonoma.

Prema has served as Board Member and President of the Board on the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance, The Sonoma League for Historic Preservation and is now a member of the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation Board.

Three Sticks Wines:

Three Sticks Wines is a family-owned boutique winery in Sonoma, California, founded by William “Bill” Price III, a well-known figure in the wine industry and former owner of Chateau Montelena. Bill, nicknamed "Billy Three Sticks" due to the Roman numeral III in his name, established the winery in 2002, with Prema joining as Co-founder in 2004.

Three Sticks Wines, part of Price Family Vineyards & Estates, is dedicated to crafting small-lot, estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winery sources its grapes from renowned vineyards, including Durell, Gap’s Crown, and One Sky. Under the leadership of acclaimed winemaker Bob Cabral, the production team focuses on sustainable farming and minimal intervention to showcase each vineyard’s unique character.

The winery’s tasting room, located in the historic Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe in downtown Sonoma, provides a rich, curated experience for guests. Bill Price’s deep connection to the land is reflected in the six Grand Cru level estate vineyards he owns in Sonoma County. These vineyards, including three Heritage sites—Durell, Gap’s Crown, and Walala—and three Monopole vineyards—One Sky, Alana, and William James—are carefully tended to, producing wines that showcase the harmony between exceptional terroir and thoughtful winemaking.

Sonoma Adobe:

Three Sticks’ commitment to stewardship of the land and people is reflected in its home, the Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe. The Adobe was originally built in 1842 by Salvador Vallejo, brother to General Mariano Vallejo, and has been lovingly restored as a Sonoma landmark.

1842: Constructed by Captain Salvador Vallejo

1947: Gregory & Harriet Jones purchased the property, which they called "La Casita"

1997: Mrs. Jones' estate sold The Adobe to her dear friends, Robert & Leslie Demler

2012: Bill & Eva Price purchased The Adobe from the Demlers for Three Sticks in November 2012, 170 years after its original construction.

2014: After 2 years of archeological digs and preservation, the Adobe opened to guests.

Wines: Chardonnay, Pinot, Rosé, Red Blend

UPCOMING EVENT: Destination Durell - Saturday, April 26th : Set against the breathtaking backdrop of our Heritage Vineyard, this is more than just a spring gathering—it’s a celebration of wine, community, and the beauty of Sonoma Valley. Sip your way through a lineup of our estate wines, and enjoy a mouthwatering lunch with live music.

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