Pam, James and (introducing for the 1st time as a host) German , who has been a guest, fan and supporter of Inside the Bunghole since the very beginning, are off to Paso Robles.  Our first stop is Tooth & Nail.  Join us as we sit down with Jeremy Leffert, Director of Winemaking.  We find out how Jeremy got in to wine making and about his history with Tooth & Nail.  We also talk about the history of Paso Robles as a leading AVA ( JARGON ALERT 🛎️ ding ding ding...AVA is American Viticultural Area, also known as a  grape growing region).  FUN FACT:  There are some very cool things that Tooth & Nail is doing with their wine labels, just download the Tooth & Nail AR app in the App Store or in Google Play, shoot your camera at the label to watch them come to life!Tooth & Nail has some pretty impressive distribution, so you should be able to find their wines on a shelf near you, but if you haven't been able to find it, join the wine club and have them shipped to you!Cheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Welcome to our 4th season!  This year we kick it off with a field trip to Grape Expectations, where James and I and a few other bungholers took the winemaking class and ended up with a lot of knowledge and a few cases of our very own, and if I do say so myself, very delicious wine!  We made a Super Tuscan made with grapes sourced just outside of Napa; 67% Sangiovese, 14% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Syrah.  WOW is all I can say!  The wine was fantastic, and the experience was just as special!Cheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

James and I are on a field trip to Stockton and caught up with Astronaut  turned wine maker, Jose Hernandez.  We first tried his wines at a wine tasting at La Fe, our regular haunt in Palm Desert, and decided we needed a re-visit.  His story is fascinating...so fascinating that Amazon decided to produce a feature film on his life.  Just released on Amazon Prime, titled A Million Miles Away, is his out of this world journey.We talk to Jose about his journey and how he ended up coming full circle back to "the earth",  growing and making Tierra Luna wines!  Its a fun, inspirational podcast that will launch your motivation, and the power of the mantra "never give up"!!www.tierralunacellars.com@astronautjosehernandez@tierralunacellars#amillionmilesawayCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

If you are around the Palm Springs area on Veteran's Day come join Pam, James, Don, German, Lisa Wherry and Jeff Hocker at Palm Springs Food and Wine Festival – Saturday, Nov 11!Explore the finest international cuisine from world renown food purveyors and award-winning chef owned restaurants, watch LIVE celebrity and emerging chef and mixology demonstrations, experience elevated wine and spirits tastings, talented musicians throughout the Pavilion amid a breathtaking backdrop.Must be 21+ to attendIn this episode of Inside the Bunghole find out about this great event and how you can get tickets!  Also, what it takes to put on an event of this caliber.  Jeff Hocker is well versed in putting on amazing events and Lisa Wherry has amazing connections in the wine industry to make this event one NOT TO BE MISSED!!  You know we'll be there and we hope to see YOU!!For more information on which high profile chefs, wines, and restaurants will be serving and demonstrating visit palmspringsfoodandwine.orgCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Oh BOY!  What happens when 3 great friends, and several bottles of wine meet in one crazy evening?  Well, this episode of Inside the Bunghole is what happens!Don gifted Pam a bottle of wine with the explicit instructions NOT TO DRINK for 5 years, and Pam actually listened!  Listen, if you dare, as they uncork a 2011 French Bordeaux  to see if this bottle of wine aged well, and if these clowns are even sober enough to judge it!  It was a fun filled evening, culminating in frivolity, laughter and maybe a little bit of wine knowledge...but we promise, not much!This is not our usual, but it was a fun experiment, that went off the rails before we even began our journey Inside the Bunghole!Cheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Today we interview Sandra Gomes-Rocha of Diniz Cellars,  whose missions is to bring wines from her homeland of Portugal to the US.  Diniz Cellars is a passion project as Sandra's goal is to expose the talent and history of Portuguese winemaking to the palates of Americans!  In Portugal, wine is part of the family, part of everyday life, and something always to be shared.  They are beautiful and unusual wines from an undiscovered, but up and coming wine region.  The weather and the terroir is very conducive to growing great grapes for delicious wines, and Sandra has quite a portfolio of amazing wines from all over Portugal.And let's talk about VALUE!  You really can't beat these wines especially for the price.  Some amazing wines you simply must try.  It will make you curious for more!  www.dinizcellars.com#portuguesewinegirlCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

WOW!!  What an interview with the incomparable Jon Simmons of Hugo's Cellar restaurant in the 4 Queens, downtown Freemont Street in Las Vegas.  Jon shares not only his knowledge and approach to wine, but boy, oh boy, does he have some amazing stories of Las Vegas, the mob, Sinatra...just to name drop a few!  This episode is longer than most, but you will be captivated by his amazing career, and his no-nonsense, down to earth approach on wine!  I just wish we could keep on going.  We definitely left the door open for another visit...plus we LOVE going to Hugo's Cellar, so any excuse is a good excuse, but this is the BEST excuse ever!From great historical perspective, to sensible advice on ordering the "right" wine, this is a don't miss episode.www.fourqueens.com/diningFB/Insta: @hugoscellar@4queenshotelandcasinoCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Place your seatbacks up and put your trays in the upright position as we taxi the runway to one of the most unique destinations for wine tasting around, Bouschet wine bar!  In a retro strip mall in South Palm Springs, CA there is a little wine bar with big surprises inside!  Join us as we chat it up with the owners Dennis Costa and Tom Beatty, each bringing their passion and knowledge to wow their customers!Dennis has an extensive winemaking background.  His family actually had a farm and grew wine grapes.  Early in his career Dennis worked for Mondavi wines, personally farming 200 acres from planting to harvesting, before they sold the farm to Sebastian Vineyards.Tom was an international flight attendant for 33 years, traveling to every continent except for Antartica (which has limited capacity for growing good grapes for wines 😆).  During his travels he enjoyed many different cultures, largely through the food and wine!These 2 together have developed such an amazing venue, you really need to see it to believe it!  The wine shop offers beautiful boutique wines from around the world, value priced, and each with a great story.  You can also find everything to make a tasty charcuterie board, or lovely, unique hostess gifts.  But just you wait til your boarding gate is announced and you walk in to the "other side" to enjoy a glass of wine and something to nibble on from their menu, or enjoy one of their famous wine tasting events...when I say this place will take you worlds away, I mean it!  You enter what is an astonishing replica of a commercial airliner fuselage complete with fun and funny iconic airplane themed scenes out each of the windows.  Whether you are sitting in first class or coach, you will surely enjoy your trip!Find out what made these two guys take off on this amazing adventure as we go on a trip Inside the Bunghole with Bouschet's owners Dennis and Tom.  And if you are in Palm Springs, make sure to make this one of your destinations!www.bouschet.cominfo@bouschet.comFB: psairbar and bouschetInsta: bouschetps and psairbarCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

You can enjoy a nice bottle of wine, but once you know what REALLY goes in to making wine, you can truly appreciate all of its nuances.  Well, we couldn't call ourselves true students of wine without exploring what it takes to make our own now, could we?  Although we believed that anything we made would likely be barely drinkable, at best, we still felt the need to pursue this noble craft!  How surprised and delighted were we to find Grape Expectations in Henderson, NV, a wine making school with genuine winemakers from Vegas Valley Winery professionally caring for your barrel! Throughout the process Patty Peters and her team make sure that all of the steps are adhered to, to make a great tasting wine! So the gist is you and 20 of your closest friends get together 4 times over the process and choose the grapes you want to blend.  Class 1 is crushing the grapes.  Once crushed we add the yeast and some other goodies for fermentation.  Exactly one week later, in the 2nd class, we press the grapes and barrel the wine.  Now we wait for about 3 months to meet our barrel mates again and for class 3, we rack our wine, which means we pump our wine into a stainless steel vat (all with the help of the Grape Expectations team), rinse the barrel of all the sediment and yeast, so the wine has better contact with the barrel, then pump the wine back in.  We taste the wine in each step and can tell that it is coming along nicely and starting to develop a very nice flavor!  Then sit back and wait a few more months for our last official class where we bottle and label (with labels that we design) our wine.  Each barrel produces about 20 cases of wine, so for the price of our class we take home a case of our very own wine!  What an amazing way to learn!  Now after our wine is bottled, Grape Expectations has an amazing "release" party, called the Bacchus Awards, which is also a competition amongst our peers and fellow wine makers who made their own barrels.  We are judged on the wines and the labels at an enormous, rowdy party typically held annually at the Orleans hotel.We give this adventure a huge thumbs up!  If you can't come up with a team of 20 (or enough people to buy all of your cases), Patty will get you on a Social barrel team, so there is fun for ALL!  So much fun and so much knowledge and appreciation gained!  To get a hold of Patty and to learn more visit the website grapeexpectationslasvegas.com or email her at umakeadawine@grapexlv.com.FB: GrapeExpectationsLasVegasInsta: grapeexnvCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Welcome to 2023!  Inside the Bunghole's Pam, Don and James visit their favorite local wine bar in the Coachella Valley, La Fe on the World famous El Paseo!  We interview one of the owners, German to find out how and why Richard and he decided to go into unchartered territory and open a wine bar!  We'll talk about the pitfalls and challenges of a pandemic and growing a business in a trying economy, to new and exciting partnerships with winemaker Brandon Alvarez of Camden Wines.Find out more about these guys on their social media:Instagram and Facebook for La Fe: @lafewinebarInstagram for Camden Wines:  @camdencellars_Cheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Imagine drinking wine for a grape cause...your cause!  We are joined by winemaker, Mari Wells Coyle from One Hope Wines, which has a totally unique and fun way to learn about wines, while making money for your favorite charity!Think Tupperware party, but MUCH, MUCH more fun!  One Hope has set up a business model where you throw a wine tasting party, sampling the amazing wines of One Hope, and proceeds go to your favorite charity...talk about a win/win (or should we say wine/wine).  One Hope has donated over $8,000,000 to local and global causes.  The mission of One Hope is to share wine and give hope.  Their wine is fantastic and their business model makes you feel great about drinking it!They are excited to announce their new tasting room in the heart of Napa Valley.  You can purchase their wines on line and join the wine club, you can support your favorite non-profit, and you can even earn money becoming a cause entrepreneur.  Sometimes  thinking "outside the bunghole", while listening to Inside the Bunghole can make this world a better place.  CHEERS!Find out more about them at www.onehopewine.comOn the YouTube Channel - OneHopeWineInstagram @onehopeTwitter @onehopewineFB OneHope WineCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

We had a fantastic adventure in Valle de Guadalupe in Baja Norte, less than an hour east of Ensenada.  We had the absolute pleasure of staying at the beautiful airbnb Nativo, which, unbeknownst to us, had such a wonderful winery, and winemaker Benjamin Peña Guerrero,  with a unique story of how he changed careers mid-life from being a successful architect, who designed many of the wine cellars in Valle and caught the winemaking bug...and boy did he make a good decision.  Honestly, some of the most unique, beautiful wines we have ever tasted.  Valle de Guadalupe has outstanding wines that take on the taste of the terrior with some salinity and a climate perfectly suited for growing amazing grapes, some of which we were unfamiliar with, and WOW are they delicious.  The food scene in Valle is impressive and at Nativo there is an outdoor restaurant serving delicious steaks and fresh seafood that pairs beautifully with their boutique wines.Do yourself a favor and plan a trip down Mexico way to visit our friends at Nativo and enjoy some beautiful wines and great food!https://www.facebook.com/Nativo-Vinicola-103944153020545/@nativo.vinicola on Instagramhttps://www.airbnb.com/rooms/16616981 for airbnbCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

We are so excited to sit down with Dave Fraschetti, who puts on several wine events in California including Vin Diego in San Diego, Rancho Mirage Food and Wine Festival, and the Palm Springs Pinot Noir Fest.  He gives us some insight on what it takes to put on such an event and why his events have been so successful!Dave's philosophy is really about educating.  He is very selective about which wineries are invited to participate in his upcoming Passion 4 Pinot (Palm Springs Pinot Noir Fest), to be held on January 8, 2022 at the JW Marriott's Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, CA.  At this event you will find 60 top-tier, world-renowned wine makers from Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Napa, Lodi, Willamette Valley...all who are known for their amazing Pinot Noirs, and the perfect growing conditions for this fickle grape.A true food wine, Pinot Noir is a very special grape that is enhanced by a great meal, and a great meal makes this delicious, soft bodied wine even more magical!  Palm Springs Pinot Noir Fest is taking place in Palm Desert, CA at the beautiful JW Marriott's Desert Springs resort on January 8, 2022.  This event was a sell out in its 1st year and is sure to be a sell out in January!Want to join us?  Buy tickets at palmspringspinotfest.com and as a listener of Inside the Bunghole you will receive $10 off the ticket price!  Just add promo code BUNG when you check out!  We'd LOVE to see you there and share a glass of Pinot with you!https://palmspringspinotfest.comDuCyBXoNk5Ove3ekVccMCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

WOW is all I can say about Valle de Guadalupe, the wine region that we recently visited just east of Ensenada in Baja Mexico!  Quite possibly THE BEST WINES we have ever tasted...and believe me, we have tasted ALOT of wine!  This episode we were so lucky to meet Kristen at Lechuza Wines, and taste what truly is a passion project for her and her family, and you can taste the love in every drop!  The winery, which was named for the little owls that occupy the land, was started by Ray and Patty Magnussen in 2005, and released its first vintage in 2007.  Kristen, Ray's daughter, has carried on his vision of creating a unique selection of wines.  We tasted an amazing Sav. Blanc/Chardonnay blend, Vuelo.  Usually If you are a fan of either one of these grapes, you are pretty loyal, but this wine will make a believer out of you!Kristen's story of what it is like to start and run a family business, a winery, in a small town south of the border, raising a family and being an entrepreneur is fascinating and WE hope will make you want to visit one of the most untapped wine regions IN THE WORLD!  Easy to get to, beautiful, safe, some of the most amazing people you'll find anywhere, and the wines (over 300 wineries)are PHENOMENAL...put this one on your bucket list!www.vinoslechuza.com#elvalledeguadalupe#larutadelvino#vinoslechuzaCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

We had the amazing opportunity to sit down in the backyard of renowned winemaker Paul Warson to discuss his newest venture...his own label, Warson Wine.  With the support of his many contacts in the wine community, and a (strong) nudge from his wife, he was able to launch his own brand.  We talk about his background, being the winemaker and general manager of Firestone, in the Santa Ynez Valley for Bill Foley.  We ask him about some of the challenges he's faced launching his own brand.  We hear about his education at UC Davis, where at the 11th hour he switched his major to Fermentation Science, and how his parents took that news!  And how he is becoming involved with the #lawinemovement, sourcing more and more of his grapes from the LA County wine region.  We know you'll be hearing more about Warson Wine.  They are some of the best wines we've had!www.warsonwine.comFB/Instagram @warsonwineCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Kingman, AZ...one thinks of the wild west, cowboys and indians, historic Route 66, certainly not lush vineyards, a beautiful event venue AND great wines.  Well let us introduce you to Stetson Winery!  A beautiful vineyard nestled in the high desert valley surrounded by mountains.  Magnificent views, stunning sunsets and a great Italian style wines...the things dreams, AND dream weddings are made of!Don and Jo Stetson are gracious hosts and wildly creative entrepreneurs, with the trailblazing spirit to catapult a new wine region in an area that very few knew had great soil for viticulture...in 2012 there were literally a couple of wineries in Kingman.  Now in 2021, the area is getting noticed more and more by serious oenophiles.  With the soil composition and climate very similar to their neighbor to the west, the world renowned California wine regions, we think this area is an up and coming and a wine region to watch!  And Stetson Winery are some damn good wines to taste!Cheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Love the movie Sideways?  Who could forget the misadventures in the Santa Barbara wine country of Miles and Jack?  Well, interestingly enough, much of the movie was shot on location at the now famous Hitching Post 2 steakhouse in Buellton, CA.  We sit down with the owner and chef  AND winemaker, Mr. Frank Ostini about how all of that Hollywood hi jinx came to be.  It is a pretty cool story.We also talk about how Frank came from a restaurant family background.   To enhance the experience of your visit to wine country and his restaurant, he makes wines specifically for his steakhouse menu.  We find out how he and his partner, Gray Hartly, decided to become wine makers (another great story) and how he fell in love with making delicious  food friendly wines.So join us as we learn some tips of the trade of making a great steak better and how great wine enhances that experience...without going completely sideways.Cheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Sitting in the beautiful front yard of Stolpman Vineyard's tasting rooms in Los Olivos, CA with Pete Stolpman, we take some time to learn about the beautiful wines grown in Ballard Canyon and what makes this a perfect location.  Stolpman knows that he could never pull off his huge success without the absolute dedication of his farming family lead by pioneer and rock star vignerons Ruben Solorzano and his wife Maria.  Ruben and Maria hold a very special place in the Stolpman family, and the Stolpman's have a very special collaboration dedicated to the success of the Solorzanos and the success of all of their farmers.We talk about the importance of dry farming in Southerns California, where water is a precious commodity, and how Ruben has actually trained the roots of his vines to go incredibly deep in the limestone for the precious water.  These winemakers are incredibly attentive to organic farming and the natural fermentation process.  Even the stories behind their labels is fantastic!No visit to Stolpman's tasting rooms would be complete without the parade of four legged friends whom accompany Pete from morning to night, shadowing his every move from living room to fields to tasting room!So join us for an informative interview about some incredibly innovative winemaking and a look into what it takes to harvest great wines and great familial relationships with those that help you produce them!www.stolpmanvineyards.comFB and Insta: @stolpmanvineyardsTwitter: @stolpman_winesCheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Walla Walla, Washington.  Home to sweet onions and now a booming wine economy!  We sit down with Joanne Dunham, founder of Dunham Cellars, one of the regions pioneers, blazing the trail for Washington wine makers.  We talk about the founding of her winery with her husband, Mike and son, Eric.  We talk about how this farmer's daughter, who never saw herself growing into the life of a vintner,  became founder of one of Walla Walla's most trusted and celebrated wineries.Dunham Cellars has been family owned and operated for over 25 years, with 2 estate vineyards that provide the foundation for their acclaimed wines.  We talk to Joanne about the growing wine scene in Walla Walla, her portfolio of delicious wines, some of their pet (and I mean pet) projects and how the vineyard has grown over the years.  We also talk about how important the wine club members are to Dunham Cellars and what benefits the members receive for their loyalty!Come join Pam, James and Don as they find out more about Dunham Cellars and Walla Walla, WA in this fun episode.Cheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com

Join us Inside the Bunghole as we visit the beautiful Brick Barn Wine Estates on the outskirts of Santa Barbara, in the Santa Ynez wine region.  We sit down with Moldovan wine maker Adrian Bolshoi and share some great wines and hear his fascinating story!  Adrian's journey begins in Moldova, a small country sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine with a rich history of wine making,  working the family vineyard with his grandparents.  He shares his adventure to the US and how he ends up in Buellton, CA with only two suitcases and a dream.He shares with us a beautiful Chardonnay, casked in a concrete egg, a late harvest Viognier and an amazing estate grown 2017 Cabernet Franc, Fatalist, which right down to the bottle defines elegance.  If you'd like to find out more about these stunning wines visit the website and follow their social media! www.brickbarnwineestate.comFB: Brick Barn Wine EstateInsta: brickbarnwineestateTwitter: @brickbarnwinee1Cheers! Please like, follow, subscribe and rate us! We LOVE to hear your comments! Reach out to us on our social media: Facebook and Instagram @insidethebungholeTwitter @bungholepodcastOur webpage is insidethebunghole.buzzsprout.comOR email us at insidethebunghole@gmail.com