I wanted to add a quick note on this episode to provide some context for our conversation. Partway through the live recording, I mentioned a rumor I had heard about a vineyard manager being “disappeared” by ICE that week. It took the conversation in a very important direction, but at the time we were recording, we still didn’t know much. Now we know his name: Moises Sotelo. This episode was recorded the night before the “No Kings” protests across the country, and this horrifying story is in large part exactly what those protests were all about. It’s a scary and uncertain world out there. The rich (including our President and his billionaire sycophants) are hoarding abundance from The People … you and me and your friends and family and neighbors, and allowing cruel bigots like Stephen Miller to make immigrants the scapegoat and thereby execute inhumane policies that allow this kind of thing to happen. If they can “disappear” a man like Moises Sotelo, there’s no telling what they will justify doing next. We need to be angry about this, and we need to be loud. The link to the Guardian article with more information is in the show notes.

I also want to give a heartfelt thank you to the guests on this panel, who were open and real throughout this conversation. To the winemakers, Evan and Hardy, it can often feel like our job is being a mascot for a good time, but I think this conversation is evidence that the “big” questions apply just as much to the wine industry as anything else. To Chaise, I’m so glad we got to have your insight from outside the industry, and thanks for going on the journey with us. Your inspired explorations of the soul of California and the consciousness-raising effects of wine on culture were the thread that wove this conversational tapestry together. Check the show notes for how you can connect with Chaise for some magic making of your own.

Also, big thanks to Emily and Nina of Big West Wine Fest for coming up with this idea in the first place, and putting on such a singular and fun festival. Thanks to DC and Lisa of The Punchdown for sharing your amazing space with us, and thank you to Offset for helping get this event off the ground.

LINKS:

The article about Moises Sotelo: The Guardian

Hardy and Kate’s Winery: Wine Co Yeah!

Hardy & Kate’s Podcast: The Extradimensional Life

Evan’s Winery: Ruth Lewandowski Wine

Chaise’s Services: ChaiseLevy

Chaise’s Substack & Podcast: The Northern Spirit House

The Wine Fest: Big West

Offset: Offset Partners

The Punchdown - Sebastopol: Bottle Shop