Probably too difficult to do but I would like to see two individuals from opposite ends of the wine making spectrum to answer the same questions. Just as an example; Steve Edmunds and Justin Smith.
I’d prefer to skip the somms, bloviating critics, etc. They get enough opportunities to market themselves. My vote goes to:
Maria Teresa Mascarello
Gary Vaynerchuk would be a great guest.
Assuming we could arrange for musical silence… what about Jasper Morris and James Suckling, as their video piece seems to have been well-received.
Alternatively another interesting pair, especially where they might approach the questions from differing backgrounds/preferences.
For a discussion on Italian wine:
Bill Klapp
Rico Thompson
Gary York
I just posted the same suggestion on that thread. Or rather half of the suggestion. Suckling is simply annoying. His inflections and lack of anything specific to say also grates.
But if you’re mentioning guys like Morris, I’d also suggest someone like John Livingstone-Learmonth.
For winemakers, guys like Ben Smith from Cadence, or Mike Januik who knows a lot about the various regions in Washington, or someone like Ehren Jordan, who went from Turley to his own winery, Failla, which makes wines in a completely different style, with a stop at Neyers along the way.
There’s also Pam Starr, who makes one of the better Cab Francs in Napa and who can talk about the dif btw that and the Loire.
I would skip anyone involved with California winemaking. Harvest has already begun and a big heat wave is coming next week.
I tried reaching out to Raj Parr via Facebook (message) but since I’m not Facebook friends with him, it says it is routed to the ‘other’ inbox or something. I know quite a few of you know him, so if you feel he’d be a good guest for a week, let’s reach out. I really like the idea of Maria Jose Lopez de Heredia as well.
Remember, there needs to be enough fodder for a week’s worth of Q/A as a Special Guest here. We’ve already had James Suckling, years ago.
How about Carg?
I bet he could keep things going for at least a week ![[wink.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/04707e6a7bbb03e0153e349d8a9270d30e1e9525.gif "wink"){kind=small}
but you’d likely have to wait until after harvest.
One more vote for Jasper Morris.
Late in the game, I’ll suggest Laurent Charvin. I don’t know how he’d work as a guest here, but in person, he’s charming, knowlegeable and simultaneously open-minded and cantankerous–no easy mixture. I learn a lot from him every time I visit.
Jeremy Holmes.
How about someone like Tony La Russa? I believe he has a wine gig going and does a fair amount of talk radio here locally in the Bay Area. Maybe he’d be up for some PR outreach?
Blair Pethel (Domaine Dublere in Burgundy). American making fabulous wines in Burgundy
let’s get Keyshawn Johnson back
Some people want pairs? How about:
Tom Seaver and Thomas Rivers Brown (his winemaker)
Nick Mangold (Center for the Jets and a reported wine collector) and Gary Vaynerchuk (Jets Fanatic)
Greg Norman and Andrew Hales (his winemaker)
Donald Trump and Patricia Kluge (former porn star!) BAD IDEA, But we needed some humor.
Kevin Harvey
We’re really collecting names here, and many listed are participating members from time to time, so obviously that’s not a good ‘Special Guest’. Any chance we can narrow this down a bit, and find someone who would be interesting to field questions for a week?
(Raj Parr never got back to me, but I don’t know if he ever got my message as it was to some mass mailbox on Facebook messenger)
Emmerich Knoll
John Thomas
Clive Paton/Helen Masters
Might be able to get someone like Jason Haas, the Manager of Tablas Creek to participate. I realize Paso Robles is of smaller interest on the board, but there’s certainly insight into Rhone varieties in California (pre-Tablas and nursery business) and Beaucastel as well.