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Stories From the Cellar tells the stories of the people, places, and wines in the Vine Street Imports portfolio. We import wines primarily from Australia and South Africa, plus Italy, England, New Zealand, and Slovenia. From up-and-coming producers to established legends, you’ll hear the stories of how our winemakers were propelled into this vinous universe. You’ll hear what lights them up, the raison d’être that gives meaning to their work. We'll also share short educational snippets about various wine regions, and we'll talk about wine culture and the wine business. Ultimately, the purpose of this show is to tell stories that bring wine alive. By understanding the greater context behind the bottle, it renders what’s inside it a little more… human. Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi. Special thanks to @snacktime for the music. @vsiwine vsimports.com
This episode with Vine Street Imports founder and CEO Ronnie Sanders delves into the evolution of Australian wine over the last 25 years. It explores the shift from the '90s highly manipulated, high alcohol content wines appreciated by critics like Robert Parker, to a modern appreciation for natural, lower alcohol content wines. Ronnie contrasts the older, bigger, and bolder styles with the fresher, more minimalist approach influenced by the natural wine movement. Highlighting both a historical perspective and current trends, Ronnie acknowledges the shifting spectrum of winemaking philosophies in Australia. Amidst these shifts, the episode also touches on his personal stories and connections in the wine industry, emphasizing how the personalities of Australian winemakers are reflected in their wines. The discussion brings out the diversity of Australian wine, underlining its global uniqueness and the value it offers across various styles.
01:08 Reflecting on Australian Wine: A 25-Year Journey 05:34 The Rise and Impact of Parkerization 06:21 Championing Traditional Winemaking Amidst Trends 08:22 The Shift Towards Lower Alcohol Content 12:16 Exploring the Natural Wine Movement in Australia 18:10 Generational Shifts and Future Trends 20:25 Personalities Behind Australian Wines
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
This episode with Vine Street Imports' founder and CEO, Ronnie Sanders, discusses the dynamics affecting Australian wine prices. Beginning with an overview of how market demand, rather than production cost, determines pricing, the discussion tracks the shift from the era of 'cheap and cheerful' Australian wines to today's landscape of premiumization. Key factors include the global financial downturn in 2008, supply chain challenges, rising costs of labor, expensive land and grapes, alongside environmental issues like bushfires and drought exacerbated by climate change. Ronnie reflects on the early days of Australian wine importation and the evolution of the market, emphasizing the significant increase in labor costs and other economic pressures. He advocates for strategic pricing to build and sustain wine brands, concluding with the potential of Australian wines to offer value within the global market despite higher price points. The episode argues for a reevaluation of New World biases, presenting Australian wines as competitive in quality and value against global benchmarks.
00:37 The Evolution of Australian Wine Prices 01:17 The Golden Age of Affordable Australian Wines 04:47 The Shift in Australian Wine Economics 05:13 The Rising Costs of Labor in Australia 07:20 Navigating the Complexities of Wine Pricing 10:59 Advice for Wine Producers on Pricing Strategies 12:15 Finding Value in Australian Wines Amidst Global Pricing 13:34 Concluding Thoughts on the Value of Australian Wine
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
This episode of Stories from the Cellar gets into Western Australia's wine region, with a special focus on Margaret River. With insights from Ronnie Sanders, founder and CEO of Vine Street Imports and an expert in Australian wines, the podcast uncovers the geographical isolation, diverse climates, and cultural uniqueness that make Western Australia's wine regions so special. Highlighting Margaret River for its Chardonnay and Cabernet productions, the episode explores the region's history, climate influences, and its blend of Bordeaux and California characteristics, alongside a culture that combines luxury with a casual surf atmosphere. The discussion also touches on other important wine hubs in Western Australia like Pemberton, Denmark, and Franklin River, emphasizing the variety of wines produced due to the area's vast size and varied climates.
00:29 Welcome to Stories from the Cellar: The Western Australia Wine Episode 01:23 The Geographical and Viticultural Diversity of Western Australia 03:25 Spotlight on Margaret River: A Premier Wine Region 04:34 Margaret River's Unique Climate and Culture 06:12 The Surf-Inspired Lifestyle of Margaret River 07:28 Wrapping Up: Insights and Invitations
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
This episode featuring Ronnie Sanders, the founder and CEO of Vine Street Imports, focuses on wines from South Australia. Ronnie shares his extensive knowledge on the subject, discussing the history, key regions like McLaren Vale and Barossa, notable grape varieties, the influence of climate and soils, and the pioneering of the natural wine movement in the Adelaide Hills. He also emphasizes the importance of old vine material, the diverse winemaking talent fostered by the University of Adelaide, and touches on personal relationships and stories intertwined with South Australia's wine industry. The podcast aims to provide educational insights into the complexities and distinctions of South Australian wines, celebrating its significance in the global wine landscape.
00:47 The Genesis of Vine Street Imports 01:07 Exploring Australian Wine: A Series Overview 01:33 Deep Dive into South Australia's Wine Scene 02:28 The Significance of McLaren Vale and Barossa 03:13 The Rich Diversity of South Australian Wines 08:09 Understanding the Impact of Soil on Wine 09:42 The Role of Education in South Australia's Wine Industry 10:42 Personal Connections and Closing Thoughts
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
This episode is the second half of our conversation with Johan Meyer (also known as Stompie) from Mother Rock and J.H. Meyer Signature Wines based in the Swartland, South Africa. Here, we dive into his wines and why the Cape needs to diversify beyond old vine Chenin Blanc. We also talk about the new wine of origin appellation called Picket-bo-berg that he’s created at his home estate on top of the Piketberg Mountain. Plus, we end with the story of why Stompie is called Stompie. We’ll pick up our conversation where we left off, talking about how Chenin Blanc allows him a little bit more creativity than Chardonnay, and why this desire to make something outside the box led him to become South Africa’s first producer to receive the special invite to the ‘Brutal!’ club of winemakers, a label that is very much a part of the global natural wine movement today.
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Today's episode is with Johan Meyer (also known as Stompie) from Mother Rock and J.H. Meyer Signature Wines based in the Swartland, South Africa. If you’re privy to the natural wine scene in the Cape, you’ll know these labels without a doubt. I often hear people say that there are three guys that really put natural wine on the map in South Africa and that is Johan Meyer, Jurgen Gouws of Intellego (there’s an episode with him a few back) and Craig Hawkins of Lammershoek and Testalonga.
In this episode, you’ll hear how Stompie got into natural wine, and how it wasn’t always what he did. At the beginning, he was working for a big commercial winery called Sutter Home – you might have heard of it – out in California. After another stint at a smaller winery in New Zealand, plus a transformative experience at Matassa in Southern France – a natural wine project started by Tom Lubbe, a New Zealander who grew up in South Africa South – Stompie returned home determined to do his own thing. He shares how the Swartland Revolution which took place around 2010 helped pave the way for newcomers like himself, and how at that time, there was a huge gap in the market for affordable natural wine made at scale. Enter: Mother Rock Wines.
That is all part 1 of my conversation with Stompie. In Part 2, we talk more about the wines, including his 'Brutal!' series, which is a natural wine “club” of sorts, to which Stompie was the first South African producer ever invited. You’ll also hear about the new wine of origin appellation that he has established at his high elevation home on the Piketberg Mountain, about two and a half hours north of Cape Town. Plus, stick around for the end of part 2 where you’ll hear why Stompie is called Stompie.
To begin the story, we need to go all the way back to Stompie’s childhood in the Garden Route, where the dominant type of farming was not of grapes, but of cows...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
This episode is a compilation of interviews with the Cowley brothers: Ben, the viticulturist, and Luc, the winemaker.
For some excellent context on Ben’s backstory, go back and listen to the episode just before this one. It tells the story of how he made the switch from the film industry to wine, and how, at the beginning when he moved from Auckland to his parents' new Auntsfield estate, he was living in a primitive woolshed on the property that still had the slats for manure to fall through while the sheep were being sheared. You’ll also hear about Ben’s thoughts on how Marlborough became synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc, and his take on new wave New Zealand.
Today, we’re diving into the place and the wines. You'll hear about the history of Auntsfield as Marlborough's first commercial winery. You'll hear what makes the Southern Valleys particularly well suited to Pinot Noir, and why it makes less herbaceous styles of Sauvignon Blanc. And you'll hear about the new Appellation Marlborough map that is the first of its kind to highlight the subregional differences in Marlborough.
This is an excellent episode if you're curious about the climate, soils, and history of Marlborough!
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Today's episode is with Ben Cowley, the viticulturist at Auntsfield Estate based in the southern valleys of Marlborough, New Zealand. Auntsfield is unique in Marlborough for two main reasons. First, they put a heavy focus on their Pinot Noir production in an industry that is almost entirely focused on Sauvignon Blanc. Unlike many Marlborough vineyards, Pinot Noir makes up half of Auntsfield’s vineyard area, as it’s particularly well suited to the old clay hillsides found there. Second, Auntsfield was the first commercial winery to be established in Marlborough in the late 1800s. A Scottish immigrant named David Herd planted his first vines in 1873 at a time when most agricultural work had to do with sheep, not wine.
As you’ll hear Ben explain, wine was made at Auntsfield until the 1930s when prohibition kicked in and the vineyard closed. Fast forward about 70 years, and Ben’s parents Graeme and Linda bought the property and restored the wine estate with the help of their sons, Ben, the viticulturist, and Luc, the winemaker. Before getting into wine, Graeme and Linda were movers and shakers in the New Zealand film industry, having been the first people to rent motion picture cameras, which kick started the independent filmmaker movement. Ben followed in their footsteps and was working in the film industry in Auckland before his second career in wine. As you’ll hear, an unsteady freelance paycheck and a newborn baby got Ben and his wife thinking about their futures, and then a house break in was the straw that broke the camel’s back. They packed up their car and headed to the south island on the fateful day of September 11th, 2001.
In this episode, you’ll hear all of those stories, plus we’ll get into New Zealand's wine scene – the challenges, the cool stuff happening, and the balance between old-school and next-gen. We talk about why the Cowleys are so passionate about Pinot Noir, and why Marlborough became synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc. For a deeper dive into the wines and the site, check out the episode just after this one with both Ben and Luc. But first, the story of Auntsfield as told by Ben, who could never have imagined such a dramatic switch from film to wine...
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Vine Street Imports Instagram | Website
This is the second half of ourconversation with Louis Schofield from Worlds Apart Wines. Part 1 is integral for understanding who Louis is thanks to the mentors, especially Taras Ochota, who helped shape his winemaking identity today. You should really start there if you haven’t listened already. In this episode, we go into more depth with Louis’ Worlds Apart wines. We cover the extraordinary places that they come from, why Louis believes that “in South Australia, the path to Burgundian style winemaking is not paved with Pinot but with Grenach,” as well as his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities present within the Australian wine industry today.
To jump back in, we’ll start with the meaning behind the name, Worlds Apart.
Hosted by Charlotte Alsaadi.
Special thanks to SNACKTIME for the music!
Amanda is a wife. A mother. A blogger. A Christian.
A charming, beautiful, bubbly, young woman who lives life to the fullest.
But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know.
She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration, touching and
captivating her local community as well as followers all over the world.
Until one day investigative producer Nancy gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s
blog, setting Nancy on an unimaginable road to uncover Amanda’s secret.
Award winning journalist Charlie Webster explores this unbelievable and bizarre, but
all-too-real tale, of a woman from San Jose, California whose secret ripped a family apart and
left a community in shock.
Scamanda is the true story of a woman whose own words held the key to her secret.
New episodes every Monday.
Follow Scamanda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Amanda’s blog posts are read by actor Kendall Horn.
