Barra of Mendocino was founded by Charlie Barra, who began planting grapes in Mendocino in 1955. Martha joined the enterprise through marriage in 1980. Hear about the beauty of off-the-beaten path Mendocino, the cool-climate California growing region most committed to organic growing. Martha discusses the decision to convert their vineyards to organic farming in 1988. Through the family’s Redwood Valley Cellars, Barra is also a leading producer of organic wine for their own brand as well as on a custom basis for other wineries. Both the vineyards and the winery are CCOF certified (California Certified Organic Farming.) Host Carol Collison and Martha discuss the benefits of organics in general and CCOF certification in particular, and biochar makes another Small Fortune appearance.

https://www.barraofmendocino.com/

https://www.redwoodvalleycellars.com/

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions

www.thepodhouseproductions.com

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

The Small Fortune Podcast is centered on the stories of entrepreneurial and small business success in the wine industry, but the lessons from large company management can be useful too. In today’s podcast, host Carol Collison speaks with Stephen Brauer, currently an industry consultant who has senior management experience at some of the wine industry’s largest companies. The two discuss why this moment in the industry may be actually harder for larger companies to navigate, whether the wine business is suitable for public markets, and what a comprehensive “route to market” strategy looks like, including the concept Stephen calls “ways of working”, which defines how a company can optimize performance in wholesale markets.

https://vinexcel.com/

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions

www.thepodhouseproductions.com

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran

Randall Grahm is a highly creative person whose ideas have been expressed in a number of well-known and successful brands. At various times during his career his Big House, Cardinal Zin, and Bonny Doon wine labels were sold to others, and now he has turned his unique point of view to the creation of a “sense of place”, or terroir, at his estate in San Benito on the Central Coast of California. Grape growers will be fascinated by his discussion of creating new varieties, how genetic diversity in the vineyard contributes to the expression of terroir, how the use of biochar “makes soil smart” and more. For winery owners and managers, Randall discusses his lessons learned over his career such as finding and building on underappreciated varietal niches, his unique use of humor in wine branding, and why the sale of Big House affected his winery operations. Carol and Randall also discuss today’s challenges in reaching younger consumers who are more visually oriented, and so less reachable through language, where Randall’s creativity as a writer really shines.

https://www.popelouchum.com/

https://www.abebooks.com/9780520259560/Been-Doon-Long-Randall-Grahm-0520259564/plp

Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com

Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/

Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions

www.thepodhouseproductions.com

Music: Nate Collison

Logo Photography: John Corcoran