Vintage Salon: 2024

Join us for an engaging conversation with leading North Coast winegrowers to discuss the 2024 season.

Building on the success of last year’s Vintage Salon, we’ve decided to make this an annual event.

As we know, no two vintages are ever identical. Each vintage is dependent on the whims of Mother Nature. Join us to hear an array of perspectives on the 2024 vintage, including thoughts on navigating and adapting to an ever-shifting climate. Adam Huss, of the Beyond Organic Wine podcast, will moderate a conversation with Laura Barrett, Winemaker at Clif Family Winery (Napa), Michael Frey, Head of Operations & Regenerative Farmer at Mariah Vineyards (Mendocino), and Nicole Bacigalupi, General Manager at Bacigalupi Vineyards (Sonoma).

During the Salon you’ll get to sample 2024 and 2023 wines from the different regions.

 

speakers

Adam Huss | Creator and host Organic Wine Podcast

I’m Adam Huss. I created the Organic Wine Podcast to ask hard questions and offer examples of people working on beautiful answers in wine.

I have been writing about wine since 2004, making wine since 2007, growing wine since 2012, running a commercial winery in Los Angeles since 2019, and producing and hosting the Organic Wine Podcast since 2019. In 2023 I renamed the podcast the Beyond Organic Wine podcast,

My wine journey has led me to reconnect with the magic and mystery of the natural world, and I hope the Beyond Organic Wine podcast helps reconnect you too.

Laura Barrett | Winemaker at Clif Family Winery

For those of us who have not met, I am Laura Barrett, Winemaker for Clif Family Winery. I began this position in November of 2014, just after the last grapes of 2014 were harvested and fermented. What an interesting time to begin! I had so many exciting winemaking projects to tackle – bottling the 2014 white wines, blending and bottling the 2013 red wines, finishing and aging the 2014 red wines, sourcing fruit for 2015 and getting to know our three Estate Vineyards: Croquet, Cold Springs and the Home Vineyard – all before I actually made a drop of wine! I’ve had almost a year now to get to know this great group of people, the wines and the company’s goals… all in preparation for my very first vintage in 2015.

Michael Frey | Head of Operations & Regenerative Farmer at Mariah Vineyards

I have a proven ability to lead, motivate and build strong teams, successfully manage complex strategic projects, and develop markets while surpassing defined goals. With international experience, efficient problem-solving skills and an innovative & open-minded approach, I easily adapt to new and challenging situations. My extensive experience in the FMCG industry (B2C, B2B, retail) and hospitality combined with the operational knowledge of the wine industry & regenerative viticulture exemplifies my unique and well-rounded skillset.

My connection to the natural world and deeply rooted passion for the environment is a driving force in my life. I feel a strong responsibility to take further action and use my professional skill-set to drive positive environmental change while using business as a force for good.

Nicole Bacigalupi | General Manager at Bacigalupi Vineyards

Nicole, just like her twin sister Katey started her love for the wine industry at an early age. Growing up on the ranch and watching her father and grandfather develop their property from barren land with a few prune trees to what it is today, has been an inspiration for her to continue the family legacy. After high school she attended San Diego State receiving a Business degree with an emphasis in marketing. She gained real world experience by heading out on the road and building accounts with retail outlets and restaurants all over California.

After moving back home Nicole joined Silver Oak working with them over the course of the next 4 years from everything to tasting room sales, compliance, packaging and shipping. Once the Baciglupi Vineyard tasting room opened in mid June 2011 Nicole left Silver Oak to work full time for the family, taking all the valuable knowledge that she had learned and applying them to her new challenge.