Mathieu Billecart, 7th generation owner and President of Champagne Billecart Salmon, comes on the show to talk about partnering in a new non-Alc project called Jukes. Mathieu has been frustrated by a lack of options in the non-alc space. For him, wine lovers who choose to abstain for a temporary or permanent time period deserve a beverage that provides an elevated tasting experience, similar to that of wine, but dealcoholizing wine is not the best option. During a recent lunch with Matthew Jukes, a friend and British wine expert, he learned what Jukes was working on: an apple cider vinegar based product with various blended fruit and vegetable juices. Mathieu was intrigued and a partnership formed.

The second half of the show is dedicated to learning about the Billecart Salmon Prestige releases of Cuvee Nicolas Francois 2012 (Blanc), Elizabeth Salmon 2012 (Rose), and Louis Salmon 2012 (Blanc de Blancs).

Jukes Website

Champagne Billecart Salmon- Prestige Cuvees

Mathieu Billecart's first appearance on Another Bottle Down

On today's show, Jessica interviews Marcus Notaro, head of wine production at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. In 1976, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars shocked the world by winning the famed Judgement of Paris which put Napa Valley Cabernets up again the famous Bordeaux estates. It was the 1973 S.L.V. Estate Cabernet produced by Warren Winiarski that took home the price, and it was also the very fist vintage at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

Jessica and Marcus dig into all things Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, from climate of the Stag's Leap AVA to soils of the particular single vineyards. Marcus brings so much perspective having worked in Washington State at Col Solare, then moving down to Napa in 2013. Make sure to catch some of the stories towards the end of the episode that Marcus tells about his friendship with Warren Winiarski, the founder and original winemaker of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars website

Stags Leap Winegrowers Association

More info on Warren Winiarski

On today's episode, Mark chats with Matt Crafton, head winemaker at the historic Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley. Matt is the fifth winemaker at Montelena and has been at the helm since 2014 overseeing all aspects of winemaking, vineyard management, communication, and strategy. Matt and Mark delve into the history of this historic estate as well as the vineyards that go into the core Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The conversation weaves in elements of the Napa Valley terroir, creativity in winemaking, and various challenges that face the industry in today's wine-loving world.

Pertinent links:

Matt Crafton's Bio

Chateau Montelena's Website

Napa Valley Vintners

The Restaurant in San Miguel that Mark referenced: Naakary San Miguel de Allende