The Wine List

This week we talk to Ross Cobb. Ross Cobb is a second-generation West Sonoma Coast grape-grower and winemaker. Ross grew up in N. California skateboarding, playing bass and listening and collecting vinyl. He went on to study viticulture, soil science and enology at UC Santa Cruz, eventually leading him to work at Williams Selyem, Flowers, Hirsch and others. The Cobb family decided to shift from growers to making their own wine with Ross as the winemaker. Cobb makes beautiful cool-climate Pinot, Chard and Riesling.

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This week we talk to Marchese Lodovico Antinori, a winemaker and visionary never bound by tradition. He helped shape the reputation of Tuscany and transformed the global perception of Italian wines. Lodovico, along with his father Nico and brother Piero catapulted the centuries old Antinori family winery into legend. He eventually left the family winery to pursue his own vision. In the late ‘70’s he recognized the potential of the Bolgheri Coast along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and founded super Tuscans Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia and Masseto. After leaving Ornellaia, he launched Tenuta di Biserno, leaning into Cab Franc a bit more. He is now in business with his daughter Sophia with their new project Tenuta del Nicchio, continuing their love for Cab Franc with a contemporary style emphasizing finesse over power. They are making Il Nicchio and Le 2 Ville.

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This week we talk to Axel Heinz. It’s nice to be in the midst of a legendary career, right where Axel Heinz is! For over 17 years he was the winemaker and Estate Director at Tuscan icons, Ornellaia and Masseto in Bolgheri, Italy. In 2023, he went back to his roots. Axel was born in Germany but grew up, studied and worked in Bordeaux, taking over at Chateau Lascombes, a second growth in Margaux. With Merlot pumping through his veins, Axel Heinz is bringing Lascombes back to its great Bordeaux tradition.

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This week we talk to Giusto Occhipinti and his two sons, Paolo and Giovanni. 

You can’t talk about thoughtful and natural winemaking in Sicily without a discussion of Giusto’s early influence in the Vittoria region at his COS winery. Paolo and Giovanni grew up around their dad in the vineyards with an understanding and respect of the soil. They followed their father in making wine, but now at their own project, La Fontane, an exciting new winery interpreting the soils and indigenous grapes of Sicily practicing organics and Biodynamics.

We are talking to Paolo and Giovanni in NYC at their US importer, T. Edwards and a few days later with Giusto and Giovanni back in Sicily.

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This week we talk to Marco Balsimelli. Marco recently assumed the role of Production Director at two of the world’s most revered and critically acclaimed wines, Ornellaia and Masseto, Super Tuscans on the Bolgheri Coast in Italy. Marco studied oenology and viticulture in Florence and Bordeaux cutting his teeth at Gruaud Larose in St. Julien. He consulted for some of Bordeaux’s most notable Chateau and brought his expertise of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot back to his Tuscan farming roots with the Frescobaldi Family. He oversees the stylistic and technical decisions along with vineyard and cellar strategies for Ornellaia and Masseto.

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