Wines of California with Elaine Chukan Brown (aka Hawk Wakawaka)
If you’ve been listening for a while, you know that when Friend of the Pod Elaine Chukan Brown—aka the legendary Hawk Wakawaka (or “Chuckavaka,” if you're in the know)—is asked to write a book on a topic as broad as Wines of California, it’s not going to be your typical “Zinfandel was first planted in 18-blah-blah-di-blah” wine book.
In this episode, Bart and Sam sit down with Elaine to talk about their new book, Wines of California, coming next month from Académie du Vin Library. Elaine delivers a powerful, deeply researched take on the history of California wine—connecting the evolution of wine in the Golden State to larger patterns in American history, global politics, and cultural change.
With her trademark no-nonsense honesty, Elaine has written what might be called a tough-love letter to California wine—celebrating its innovation, leadership, and resilience while challenging the industry to reckon with its past and navigate the future.
We dive into:
The real history of California wine
The people, varietals, and regions that shaped it
Surprises Elaine uncovered during their research
How wine growers and producers can use history to tackle today’s challenges
Whether you're a winemaker, wine lover, or wine industry professional, this episode is packed with insights that will enrich your love of California wine.
Pre-order Wines of California now through Bookshop.org and support your local independent bookstore.
Elaine Chukan Brown Instagram: @hawk_wakawaka
Académie du Vin Library Instagram: @academieduvinlibrary
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help more people discover real conversations about wine, history, and the people shaping the future of the industry.
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1:17:25
The Wine Makers – Laurent Gomez, Domaine du Val de Rois
This week, we sit down with Laurent Gomez from Domaine du Val des Rois, a winery whose name translates to "Valley of the King," paying tribute to Valréas’ rich winemaking history, first planted in the 9th century by King Charlemagne.
Val des Rois is a 10-hectare estate in Côtes du Rhône, originally planted in 1965 by 9th-generation Burgundian winemaker Romain Bouchard. Located on the northern edge of the Southern Rhône in Valréas, the vineyard benefits from its unique altitude and southeast exposure, cooling nightly air from the Alps, and soils rich in limestone and deep clay. These natural conditions lead to wines with exceptionally high acidity, setting them apart from the typical Southern Rhône profile.
At the hands of legendary winemaker Stéphane Vedeau, Val des Rois produces truly distinctive wines. We had the pleasure of tasting:
A White Blend,
An 80-year-old vine Grenache,
A Grenache/Syrah blend,
All wines are aged in concrete, giving them purity, vibrancy, and a true homage to their varietals.
A big thanks to Bella Pearson from Vine Connections for introducing us to this incredible producer.
Val des RoisVine Connections
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56:56
The Wine Makers – Ben Gordon, Bouchon Family Wines
Our friend Bella Pearson from Vine Connections introduced us to Ben Gordon from J. Bouchon Family Winery this week, and we were immediately intrigued by their deep history of farming Pais—known as Mission here in California.
The Bouchon family’s winemaking story began in the late 19th century when young viticulturist Emile Bouchon left Bordeaux, France, for Chile. Today, Julio Bouchon and his children continue the family’s fourth-generation winemaking tradition in the Maule Valley, blending deep soil research with innovative techniques to craft distinctive, terroir-driven wines that honor the region’s rich history.
One of the most fascinating aspects of their vineyards is how Pais grows up the trees along the vineyard’s edge, creating a stunning visual that had us imagining climbing ladders to harvest the grapes—definitely not OSHA-approved here in California! [Ep361]
Check out more about their wines and history:J. Bouchon Family WinesVine Connections
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1:24:03
The Wine Makers – Podere Le Ripi Winery, Sophia Quercioli
This week, we had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Sophia Quercioli from Podere Le Ripi in Montalcino, Italy. Known for producing exceptional Sangiovese, the winery is farmed biodynamically by a team of young, passionate, and slightly crazy individuals.
Founded in 1998 by Francesco Illy, Podere Le Ripi is home to one of the most fascinating vineyards in the world—the Bonsai Vineyard, a high-density planting that defies conventional wisdom. Their gravity-fed crush facility and cellar took eight people four years and 250,000 bricks to construct, a testament to the dedication and artistry behind their winemaking.
“We don't like to define where a vineyard begins and ends, because everything we do is based on an approach that considers what surrounds us in its entirety. Vineyards, woods, olive trees, gullies, rivers, all this is our ecosystem, and we want to take care of it without separating nature on the basis of production class. We accompany 34 hectares of vineyards inserted in a setting at least 4 times larger.”
The wines were absolutely stunning, and we’d like to extend a special thanks to Heather Gordon from DarkStar Imports for making the introduction. A heartfelt shoutout also goes to Chavo and Giulia, who weren’t on this trip but hold a special place in our hearts. [Ep 360]
Podere Le Ripi@podereleripiDarkStar Imports
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1:06:33
The Wine Makers – Todd Bostock & Kent Foulker
Fresh from the DTC Conference and Unified Symposium, the guys sit down with two out-of-state winemakers who are making waves in their regions.
Todd Bostock – Dos Cabezas WineWorks, Sonoita, Arizona
Since 1995, Dos Cabezas WineWorks has been growing grapes and crafting wines in Southern Arizona. The winery and its 80 acres of vineyard were pioneered by the late visionary Al Buhl. Todd joined the team as winemaker in 2002, and by the end of 2006, the Bostock family took over operations. Dos Cabezas sources high-quality fruit from its two estate vineyards: Pronghorn Vineyard in Sonoita and Cimarron Vineyard in the Kansas Settlement. Curious about what grapes thrive in Arizona’s unique climate? Todd shares his insight on growing and making wine in the desert.
Dos Cabezas WineWorks - Website - Instagram
Kent Foulker – Cedar Ridge Winery, Swisher, Iowa
The Quint family has a long history of farming and distilling spirits, and in 2005, Jeff Quint founded Cedar Ridge with a mission to put Iowa bourbon on the map. As the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition, Cedar Ridge released its first batch of whiskey in 2010 and quickly became a leader in craft spirits. But Iowa isn’t just about corn. Kent Foulker dives into what it takes to grow grapes and produce wine in the heart of the Midwest, and how Cedar Ridge balances both wine and whiskey under one roof.
Cedar Ridge Winery - Website - Instagram
Tap your play button for a fascinating conversation about winemaking in unexpected places, the challenges and rewards of working in non-traditional wine regions, and how passion drives these winemakers to create something truly unique. [Ep 359]
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