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1: I am a second-generation wine grape grower in Sonoma County, California. I currently manage my family’s Sauvignon Blanc vineyard in Kenwood CA.

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2: The rapid decline in sales since 2020, the ballistic increase of fire insurance and the new threat of tariffs.

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3: Admiration of differing viticulture areas does not make sense to me. You deal with what you have. Every place has their challenges & characteristics. I love the area we live, even with the prior devastation of frost or other challenges. It’s like every relationship, sometimes it produces something sensational, other times it gives you experience to build upon. I applaud any grower that gets that perfect “roll of the dice” that mother nature occasionally gives you.

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4: Pass.

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5: Something that you or your friends have never had, because that’s where it would most likely go to. Pinot? Prob, Rochioli. Bubbles? Prob, Iron Horse. 

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6: People. People who don’t care, don’t have the time, are there for other reasons.

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7: Absolutely! 100%, and it has nothing to do with with grapes! Just the love, time, care and willingness to share. Just look at Picket Fence.

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8: Chardonnay. Because it was the first I was exposed to. It is/was the varietal that the East Coast gobbled up and declared wine drinkable in the ‘90s. And it’s the most over produced in Sonoma County. Oak, no Oak, Stainless… who cares.. give me a Sauvignon Blanc please. Have you ever heard of Berger?  It’s basically water disguised as a grape and used for California sparkling, if they ever made it into wine, I’d rather have that.

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9: RED? With all due respects to Paul Giamatti, Merlot. Why? Mouthfeel. Yeah, it’s generally blended with a Cabernet Sauvignon, or Franc, but in the hands of a thoughtful winemaker, you can create a sweet symphony that can last for years. WHITE? Sauvignon Blanc. Why? It’s a “porch pounder” Refreshing in the evening whilst going with just about anything you want to consume, be it a sunset or crab cakes.

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10: By far and away, the rating of wine by price, not taste. 

The wine Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition did not account for the price point of wine, just quality. At some point after the San Francisco Chronicle acquired the competition, they changed the judging to be separated by price. (2014ish?) and since, the all mighty dollar has again shown its influence upon fair competition.

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11: Buy land.

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12: Embrace wind, solar or move further North.

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13: Garden, grow things, fix things, keep things going.

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14: View? I’m not sure exactly what aspect of “view” you may be referring to but I have enjoyed Germany, France and California, I’d imagine any of the Mediterranean, New Zealand & South African would also be incredible.  

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15: Where do you think Cannabis fits in during the current decline of the consumption & production of wine?

 I think if the wine producers (& marketing managers) don’t get off their butts, they will not be able to pay the labor that will be harvesting cannabis at the same time as wine grapes.

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