Beats Vines and Life Marvin J. Towler

Welcome to another captivating episode of Beats Vines & Life, where the rhythm of music meets the swirl of the glass. I'm your host, MJ Towler, and today we have the incredible Tegan Passalaqua, winemaker for Turley Wine Cellars and owner of Kirschenmann Vineyard, joining us to uncork a vintage conversation.
In this episode, we'll venture through the fertile grounds of Lodi, California, and beyond, sipping the rich stories that lie within each vineyard. Tegan brings her deep-rooted passion for old vine varietals and forgotten classics to the table, along with tales of a landscape changing under the pressure of progress and perception. We'll explore the delicate dance of sustainable winemaking, the challenges faced by the industry, and the push for transparency and honesty in every bottle.
Get ready to learn about the nuances that make a red table wine, the impact of sand and clay on viticulture, and how a conversation and a taste of Lodi changed Tegan's path forever. We'll also touch on family histories intertwined with the land, the dynamics of local communities, and the importance of planning for the future. 
Pour yourself a glass of your favorite blend, sit back, and let's dive into the life and times of Tegan Passalaqua, right here on Beats Vines & Life.

A Massive THANK YOU to TEGAN PASSALAQUA!!!
This episode’s wines: 2021 Sanlands Kirschenmann Cinsault
    2021 Sandlands Red Table Wine
To learn more about Sandlands Vineyards, click the link!
Follow Tegan on IG!
To learn more about Turley Wine Cellars, click the link!
Follow Turley Wine on IG!
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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! 
Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.
For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at 
blackwineguy.com
Follow MJ @blackwineguy
Follow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlife
Thank you to our sponsor, GrenacheFest. The Second Annual Grenache Festival in Walla Walla, Washington, will be held on November 8th, 2024. It will feature a seated comparative seminar, followed by live music, food, plenty of Grenache wines, and tons of fun.
For more information, go to GrenacheFest
Follow GrenacheFest on IG GrenacheFest


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to "Beats Vines & Life," where the melodies of music, the enchantment of wine, and the narratives of life converge. I'm your host, MJ Towler. Today, we uncork the essence of wisdom and wine with a very special guest: Lettie Teague, the renowned wine columnist for the Wall Street Journal and multi-time James Beard Award winner. This episode delves deep into Lettie's intriguing journey from a liquor store to the lustrous halls of wine-writing prominence. We get personal as Lettie reminisces about her early years working in her parents’ shop and the invaluable lessons learned under the mentorship of wine maven Roberta Morell. Despite a rocky start in wine wholesale, Lettie's admiration for the industry's assertive salespeople set the tone for a storied career. Our conversation turns the pages of the downward spiral magazines faced during the 2008 economic downturn, highlighting Lettie’s lament on content diversity, all while she honors the craft of journalists with a touching anecdote about her path to the Wall Street Journal. Lettie gives us a peek into her Rolodex of celebrity wine projects and the award-winning "Educating Peter" series, sprinkled with lighthearted banter about Napa extravagances and columnist budgets. We move on to the challenges and silver linings in the wine industry, from millennial accessibility to the joy of sharing a bottle regardless of prestige. Lettie shares her childhood memories, her Midwestern roots flavored with Gallo pink chablis, and her grandmother's influence on her writing dreams. We also throw in a dash about our fondest dining traditions and Coach Popovich’s unique connection to the wine world. Touching on the digital age's transformation of content consumption and the importance of informed curiosity, Lettie delivers anecdotes with a bold, robust finish – true to a fine wine’s character. Whether you're a wine aficionado or someone intrigued by the stories behind the label, there’s a pour of knowledge for you in this intimate tete-a-tete with Lettie Teague.Get ready to savor the blend of life experiences and fine wine on today's episode of "Beats Vines & Life." Cheers!
A Massive THANK YOU to LETTIE TEAGUE!!!
To learn more about Lettie, click the link!
Follow Lettie on IG!
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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! 
Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.
For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at 
blackwineguy.com
Follow MJ @blackwineguy
Follow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlife
Thank you to our sponsor, GrenacheFest. The Second Annual Grenache Festival in Walla Walla, Washington, will be held on November 8th, 2024. It will feature a seated comparative seminar, followed by live music, food, plenty of Grenache wines, and tons of fun.
For more information, go to GrenacheFest
Follow GrenacheFest on IG GrenacheFest

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another episode of Beats Vines & Life, the podcast where melodies meet Merlot, and the rhythms of life blend with the bouquet of the vine. In today's special pour, we raise our glasses to the indomitable spirit of Jenna Fields, the maven of German wine, who turned a flood of challenges into a vintage of success. 
From her unassuming beginnings in Eagan, Minnesota, to the aromatic vineyards of Germany's Ahr Valley, Jenna's journey is as complex and compelling as the Pinot Noir we'll be sipping on today with our host, MJ Towler. We'll uncork the story of how a business card and a fateful decision not to work at Target, but to dive headfirst into the intricate German wine market, paved the path for Jenna's remarkable ascent.
Join us as we swirl through her tales of resilience in the aftermath of a natural disaster that ravaged the vineyards she so dearly champions. With each sip, we'll explore Jenna's evolution from nanny to president and founder of a company that today represents over two dozen top wineries, painting the canvas of the American wine scene with German hues.
MJ and Jenna will also engage in a pairing as unique as a Riesling with Thai cuisine, delighting us with stories of Michelin star ambitions, the challenges of transportation logistics, and the warmth of familial bonds in this intoxicating world of wines. 
So find your favorite spot, pour yourself a glass, and let's delve into Jenna Fields' rich life and passionate pursuits. This episode is for those who love the stories behind the labels and the people who pour their hearts into every bottle. Uncork and tune in to the symphony of Beats Vines & Life.

A Massive THANK YOU to JENNA FIELDS!!!
This episode’s wines: 2015 Meyer-Näkel Pfarrwingert Spätburgunder Ahr
To learn more about The German Wine Collection, click the link!
Follow The German Wine Collection on IG!
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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! 
Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.
For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at 
beatsvinesandlife.com
Follow MJ @blackwineguy
Follow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlife
Thank you to our sponsor, GrenacheFest. The Second Annual Grenache Festival in Walla Walla, Washington, will be held on November 8th, 2024. It will feature a seated comparative seminar, followed by live music, food, plenty of Grenache wines, and tons of fun.
For more information, go to GrenacheFest


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another episode of "Beats Vines & Life," where the rhythm of music meets the richness of wine culture. Today's episode features a special and insightful conversation with the innovative winemaker, Aaron Jackson. 
Join us as we uncork the story behind his unique wine blend, “The Trespasser” which started in 2010, and his journey from a passionate youth to an established name in the wine industry.
Aaron shares his excitement for the ever-evolving winemaking process, the highs, the challenges, and the way climate change is stirring the pot. He invites us all for a toast and a trip down to their winery in Tin City, Paso, while relishing the deep, enduring connection between wine and its connoisseurs.
Host MJ Towler dives into Aaron's technique, philosophy, and passionate drive that led him to specialize in the Petite Sirah variety. Alongside discussions on blending artistry and winery challenges of today, Aaron's tale serves as a beacon for aspiring young entrepreneurs in the industry.
So pour yourself a glass, settle in, and let the blend of conversation and discovery flow. This is "Beats Vines & Life," and we're about to taste the stories that make wines—and life—truly extraordinary.

A Massive THANK YOU to AARON JACKSON!!!
This episode’s wines: 2021 Aequorea Pinot Noir San Luis Obispo
     2021 Aaron Wines “The Trespasser”
     2021 Aaron Wines Petite Sirah
To learn more about Aaron Wines, click the link!
Follow Aaron Wines on IG!
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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! 
Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.
For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at 
beatsvinesandlife.com
Follow MJ @blackwineguy
Follow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlife
Thank you to our sponsor, GrenacheFest. The Second Annual Grenache Festival in Walla Walla, Washington, will be held on November 8th, 2024. It will feature a seated comparative seminar, followed by live music, food, plenty of Grenache wines, and tons of fun.
For more information, go to GrenacheFest
Follow GrenacheFest on IG GrenacheFest


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to "Beats, Vines, & Life," the intersection where rhythm meets the grape and individual stories blend into the rich tapestry of life. I'm your host, MJ Towler, coaxing the culture from the creatives and the passion from the producers all over a shared bottle of the finest vintages. 
In today's episode, we're uncorking a special blend of conversation with the multifaceted Dane Curley — an artist, a designer, a man who paints the stories of wines onto the very labels that grace their bottles.
Dive in with us as Dane takes us through his personal journey — from the Southern California waves to the ivied halls of New England's educational institutions. His story is a cocktail of surfboards and fine art, mental health advocacy, and a familial lineage of ingenuity. 
He's a man whose trajectory from Orange County to a Central Coast maverick exemplifies the freedom and accountability of the entrepreneurial spirit.
We'll swirl around tales of artistic burnout, triumphant career pivots, and that unique anxiety that comes with waiting for your creations to face the world. From Dane's early days of comic book sketches to his current wine label wizardry, it's a tale of personal growth, geographical transitions, and the unrelenting pull of a creative life lived fully.
So pour yourself a glass of that Turtle Rock or Saint K and join us on this tour through the notes of Dane's palette — a story as rich and varied as the varietals we adore. Buckle up for anecdotes of football dreams that gave way to art school realities, and get an insider's peek into role of social media in Dane's vibrant career.
A Massive THANK YOU to DANE CURLEY
This episode’s wines: 2020 Turtle Rock Willow’s Cuvee
     2021 Saint K. Gravesend
     2021 Herman Story “Made” 
To learn more about Dane's Art, click the link!
Follow Dane on IG!
Follow DSC Designs on IG!
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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! 
Subscribe and give Beats Vines and Life a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.
For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at 
beatsvinesandlife.com
Follow MJ @blackwineguy
Follow Beats Vines and Life @beatsvinesandlife
Thank you to our sponsor, GrenacheFest. The Second Annual Grenache Festival in Walla Walla, Washington, will be held on November 8th, 2024. It will feature a seated comparative seminar, followed by live music, food, plenty of Grenache wines, and tons of fun.
For more information, go to GrenacheFest
Follow GrenacheFest on IG GrenacheFest


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, wine enthusiasts, and welcome back to another stirring episode of The Black Wine Guy Experience. Today's show takes us into the heart of Paso Robles as we swirl, sip, and savor the story of Jada Vineyards. 
Joining us are none other than the dynamic duo of the vineyard, General Manager Josh Messina and head winemaker Nate Hall. They share with us an intimate glimpse into their journey from Nate's mentorship under Josh to taking the bold leap into winemaking decisions that shape the landscape of the vineyard today.
In this episode, we'll uncork the anecdotes and advice they would give their younger selves, revel in the fun of our wine game, and plunge into the rich nuances of their celebrated 2021 Hell's Kitchen wine blend while also touching upon the emotionally charged decision to sell the family vineyard.
From inspiring family values to the intricacies of organic and biodynamic farming, Josh and Nate distill their experiences and aspirations into every bottle of wine, leaving us with a taste of the future of winemaking. We'll also explore the personal triumphs and tribulations along the way, including the imminent arrival of a new addition to Nate's family.
Finally, we raise a glass to the end of an era, as this episode marks the final pour for The Black Wine Guy Experience. But fear not, we'll toast to new beginnings with Beats, Vines, and Life.
So, pour yourself a glass and let's dive into the incredible saga of Jada Vineyards with your host, MJ Towler. Cheers to great wine and even greater stories on this week's The Black Wine Guy Experience!
A Massive THANK YOU to JOSH MESSINA, NATE HALL & RIBOLI FAMILY WINESI!!!
This episode’s wines: 2021 Jada Vineyards Hells Kitchen
     2021 Jada Vineyards Jersey Girl

To learn more about Jada Vineyards, click the link!
Follow Jada Vineyards on IG!
To learn more about Riboli Family Wines, click the link!
Follow Riboli Family Wines on IG!

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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! 
Subscribe and give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.
For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show, sign up at 
Blackwineguy.com
Follow MJ @blackwineguy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.