ROCKnVINO: A Pairing of Music & Wine

RNV 110: Stereophonic Wine | Jason Lefler

During this episode of ROCKnVINO, hosts Coco and Michelle talk with Jason Lefler, owner of Stereophonic Wine. Jason describes his wines as the beginning of a journey, not the conclusion of one. With more than two decades of wine industry work under his belt, Jason decided he wanted to make a wine with a grape variety from his wife’s ancestral home in Italy, near Mt.Vesuvius. This Aglianico was planted everywhere in Pompeii 2000 years ago, and archeologists have been able to pinpoint the exact spots where it grew at the time of the destructive volcano that buried the town under ash. From this journey, Jason, working with his winemaker, Aaron Jackson, has started a new journey with each bottle, searching for new ways of coaxing flavors from grapes. Stereophonic Wine also features a playlist for each bottle, which you can access through a code on the label, or through the website. Jason also works to find the right image to represent each wine.

 

Find out more and purchase Stereophonic Wine by clicking here.

 

ROCKnVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

RNV 109: Coco & Michelle chat BottleRock 2024 and more!

During this episode of ROCKnVINO, hosts Coco and Michelle talk about the just announced lineup for Bottlerock Napa Valley, May 24th through May 26th, 2024. Headliners include Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Nicks, and Maná. Pearl Jam is working on a follow up album to 2020's Gigaton, and this is their only U.S. date so far. Ed Sheeran has been selling out massive shows in 2023, and this is also his only U.S. concert date so far. Steve Nicks had been scheduled to perform at Bottlerock in 2021, but Covid-19 had other plans and now the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is finally headed to the stage in Napa. And Mexican rock bank Maná will also be headlining the La Onda Festival, happening the weekend after Bottlerock - a great excuse to stay the whole week and do some fun wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma Counties! Coco shares some insider tips about the JaM Pad, where you can watch acoustic sets on a second stage at Bottlerock, plus the skinny on aftershows at places like the Uptown Theater and JaM Cellars Balloom. Three-day tickets for Bottlerock Napa Valley go on sale Tuesday, January 9th at 10am online at bottlerocknapavalley.com

ROCKnVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

RNV 108: Bricoleur Vineyards | Mark Hanson

During this episode of ROCKnVINO, hosts Coco and Michelle talk with Mark Hanson, co-founder and CEO of Bricoleur Vineyards. Mark is a Santa Rosa native and his wife Beth is the great granddaughter of Pietro Carlo Rossi, the original oenologist at Sonoma County’s historic Italian Swiss Colony. As such, both had a strong connection to Sonoma County, and after "retiring" they decided to start their own winery in Windsor. The location had an old horse barn on site which has since been transformed into a beautiful tasting room and event space. The name Bricoleur is French and it reflects the spirit of flying by the seat of your pants. At Bricoleur Vineyards you can experience wine and food together in a variety of ways, including the Soaring and Rooted tastings, live music concerts, corporate events, wine club events, cooking classes, and even a cruise along the Seine from Normandy to Paris with Bricoleur! In fact, this Saturday, you can attend An Evening with Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir, December 16th, a benefit for Toys 4 Tots. Mark has offered KSRO listeners a discount code for 25-percent off! Use code BRICOLEURFRIEND at checkout.

 

ROCK’nVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

RNV 107: No Love Lost Wines | Jay Nunez

Hosts Michelle and Coco talk with Jay Nunez, founder and winemaker at No Love Lost Wine Co. Jay makes sustainable, natural wines, and is inspired by the unknown, challenging himself to make wines with intrigue and a unique spirit. He also wants to make approachable wines that can be enjoyed by anyone, not just the high end cab connoisseur. We chat with Jay about his tasting room in downtown Napa, and talk about how his former career in music and sound engineering helps to inform his winemaking. He also loves to cook and has worked with a neighboring business to add some delicious sandwiches to the offering at his tasting room. Visit the tasting room at 960 Clinton Street in Napa, or buy his wine online at nolovelost.wine

Hear more behind the scenes conversation with Jay Nunez, including his well-thought out desert island disc lineup and his girlfriend Canon Thomas’ picks, as well as his approach to label art, online at ROCKnVINO.com

ROCKnVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit

RNV 106: Tom Simoneau | Simoneau Wines + The Wine Guy

During this episode of ROCK’nVINO, hosts Coco and Michelle talk with The Wine Guy, Tom Simoneau! KSRO listeners are quite familiar with Tom’s voice, since he started his radio career as The Wine Guy on KSRO back in the 90s. Tom is uniquely suited for our show, since he started out as a musician and ended up a winemaker! Tom learned to play guitar with his college friends and decided to make a go of it as a band in Georgia. Their first band was named C&W Mow Company, since their landlord told them they needed to pay rent somehow and mowing lawns was a good way to earn some dough! Influenced by bands like the Allman Brothers and Little Feat, Tom and his bandmates started to play bigger shows and tour across the country. The music scene in San Francisco drew them west, and they decided they were going to head to California to get signed and become professional musicians. Luck wasn’t in the cards, but after a holiday trip home, Tom started to date a beautiful girl he knew from home in Maine, and brought her back to California. Tom and Brenda Lee bought a home in Healdsburg and Tom started working by selling wine over the phone direct to customers. He had the chance to make some wine, and won awards as an amateur winemaker. They sold their first home and bought a ranch in Alexander Valley. That sealed the deal, and Tom the bassist became Tom Simoneau, winemaker and grape grower. In the early years, Tom relied on American AgCredit to help him live from harvest to harvest, as he fleshed out his business. This episode is PACKED with great stories not only about Tom’s history, but stories of Sonoma County, Healdsburg, and the families who make this place their home.

 

Check out Tom’s wines (including the Brenda Lee Chardonnay!) online at simoneauvineyards.com and find it on the menu at Valette in Healdsburg.

ROCK’nVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

RNV 105: Wine Road | Beth Costa

During this episode of ROCK’nVINO, hosts Coco and Michelle talk with Beth Costa, Executive Director of Wine Road about the upcoming Wine & Food Affair, November 4th and 5th. More than 40 wineries are participating, each with a delicious wine pairing and great recipes you can try at home! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about pairing wine and food, and take those tips back to your own kitchen. VIP Tickets are already sold out, but you still have until Monday, October 30th to get your passes for the Weekend, Sunday Only, or Designated Driver.  Beth also shares the details of some fun additional events featuring live music that you can add on to your weekend! Coyote Sonoma has a great concert on Saturday, November 4th, and Hook & Ladder Winery is hosting a free concert on Friday, November 3rd. Check the sidebar on this page for more musical events during Wine & Food Affair.

 

 

Beth is also the co-host of a podcast called The Wine, When & Where of Sonoma County. She and Marcy Gordon share their insider stories about the places to check out when you’re exploring along the Wine Road. Listen to our conversation with Beth to find out how her podcast is connected to Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg!!

 

ROCK’nVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

RNV:104 | Rhodes Devereux

 

During this episode of ROCK’nVINO, hosts Coco and Michelle talk with Ian Devereux White and Jefferson Lee Rhodes of the band Rhodes Devereux. Ian is also the vintner and founder of Smith Devereux Wines. Ian and Jeff have recently reunited to form their new band after years spent pursuing different passions. The two met while teens and formed a band called Standing Room Only. Now their life paths have converged again, and they are creating music informed by major turning points in their lives. Ian's winery has created wines for musicians like Matt Kearney and Kenny Aronoff, as well as Cedric the Entertainer. 

Ian and Jefferson perform their new song, "Found" live on ROCK'nVINO. You can follow them on Spotify and social media. 

ROCK’nVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

RNV 103: AFTERSHOCK with Alec Graham | Foley Family Wines Executive Chef

During this episode of ROCK'nVINO, hosts Coco and Michelle head into the moshpit with our guest Alec Graham, Executive Chef of Northern California for Foley Family Wines as we preview AFTERSHOCK 2023! Since the Aftershock Festival began in 2012, it has become THE destination for fans of metal, hard rock and punk, bringing massive headliners as well as up and coming bands to Discovery Park in Sacramento each year. This year's big names include Pantara, Incubus, Godsmack, Tool, Korn, Queens of the Stone Age, and Guns 'n Roses. Tool's frontman Maynard James Keenan also has his own winery: try his wine at Aftershock and create your own ROCKnVINO experience! Coco and Alec share their tips for getting the most out of this Festival, who they are most excited to see, and moshpit etiquette. Get details and tickets at aftershockfestival.com 

 

ROCKnVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

 

RNV 102: Paradise Ridge Winery | Rene Byck

During this episode of ROCK’nVINO hosts Michelle and Coco chat with Rene Byck, Vice President and Co-Owner of Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa. Paradise Ridge really has it all! Perched above Santa Rosa in Fountaingrove with some of the most spectacular views in all of Sonoma County, the winery also boasts a beautiful sculpture garden; a museum dedicated to Nagasawa Kanaye, one of the earliest grape growers in the area; a wedding and venue space; summertime concerts with rotating food trucks; and delicious wines. Rene shares the story of how his parents started the winery and the sculpture garden, the connection to Burning Man, the fires in 2017 that destroyed parts of the property, the rebuilding journey with help from American AgCredit, and the popular Wine and Sunsets Series, which goes through mid-October. Make your reservation today by visiting prwinery.com

ROCK’nVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.

RNV 101: Jeremy Carter | Tarpon Cellars

During this episode of ROCK’nVINO hosts Michelle and Coco chat with Jeremy Carter, winemaker and founding partner of Tarpon Cellars. Jeremy shares his background growing up in Georgia and fishing for tarpon (a kind of sport fish) in Florida. That is where the winery got its name! After thinking that he might want to work in the hospitality side of wineries, an internship in Rutherford changed his mind and he was HOOKED (fishing pun intended.) Tarpon Cellars is focused on the experience of wine, food and music, all paired together to create the ultimate experience. As such, Jeremy spends a lot of time hosting winemaker dinners, concerts and other experiences to make wine more fun and accessible. And each bottle in the Cambaro line (lower price point, approachable wines) has a special Spotify playlist posted on the back label, with a curated playlist for the wine!

ROCK’nVINO is sponsored by American AgCredit.