Stephy Terrizzi is a Californian viticulturist and a remarkable figure with her experience and knowledge in the vineyard as well as being highly regarded within her hometown of Paso Robles. She manages the vineyard operations for Giornata, a boutique winery run out of "Tin City". There, they make wine only from native Italian grape varieties. We discussed the history and issues of Italian grape varieties in California, in particular looking at their 2023 Fiano. We talked about organic viticulture and get in depth examples. Finally we discuss irrigation and water use with regards to plant physiology and sustainability. In 2025 Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance named Stephy and her husband Brian as Wine Industry Persons of the Year winners, as recognition for the success of their wines and contribution to their community.

Dr Dylan Grigg is one of today’s most high profile viticulturists.

He offers accessible and digestible information on viticulture and has become a rare person in the wine world, able to offer engaging stories that help open the often opaque world of vineyard management.
We discussed key concepts in understanding old vines and attempted to answer if old vines do indeed make better wine. We asked him to explain layering in the vineyard and what is important to do to get it right. Finally we asked him how he makes his social media presence bring what he does to life – particularly key when so few details make it out of the vineyard.

We tasted the Vinya Vella 2022 Barossa Grenache. A pure and delicate style made, of course, from old vines.

Josko Gravner was once known as one of Italy’s greatest producers of white wine. Then, at the end of the 1990s, he embarked on a radical new journey, experimenting with skin-contact techniques inspired by Georgia and becoming a leading figure in the orange wine movement.

In this episode we speak with Mateja Gravner about the specifics of Qvevri fermentation, the challenges of bringing Josko’s first orange wines to market, and how top grafting is implemented in the vineyard.