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Submit ReviewChef Gray Rollin fed rock stars around the world, before launching his restaurant Belly Left Coast Kitchen and Taproom in Santa Rosa. Listen as we chat about his path to becoming a personal chef for Linkin Park, his stories of life on the road, his passion for learning more about the cultures around the world, and much more.
In this episode we talk with Mitch Rice, winemaker at Mersenne Wines. This boutique winery chose French Renaissance monk Marin Mersenne as their namesake, to represent their approach to winemaking. Marin Mersenne discovered the formula to find Prime numbers (which is still used today!) and Mersenne Wines believes in finding the perfect, 'prime' fruit to make their wines. This Renaissance man was also one of the first to describe musical harmony, and Mitch and his partner Robin Youngdahl hope to create wines that reflect a harmonious nature. Mitch shares a bottle of his Rutherford AVA Merlot with hosts Coco and Michelle, and blows us away with the complex, inviting style from this often maligned varietal. Mersenne Wines also hosts very intimate concerts for wine club members, and the next one is on April 15th with artist Rozzi. Learn more at mersennewines.com
Hosts Michelle and Coco talk with Sam Coturri, proprietor at Winery Sixteen 600 in Sonoma. Sam's father Phil Coturri is known as the hippie grandfather of organic grape growing and his legacy is now a multi-generational practice, producing unique and delicious wines. Phil was also tuned in to the San Francisco music scene and was very close to The Grateful Dead, and artist Stanley Mouse, who provided the artwork for Winery Sixteen 600 labels.
During this episode of ROCKnVINO, learn about the family history and musical connections of the Coturri family and how wine and music pair together beautifully!ROCKnVINO is BACK... and now we've also got a radio show! Tune in on the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month for a new live episode at ksro.com!
For our introductory episode back, hosts Michelle and Coco invite Ross Cobb, owner and winemaker at Cobb Wines to chat about wine and music. Ross has a deep connection to both music and wine, playing bass and collecting records since he was a boy. He went to work helping his father and mother establish their vineyard, Coastlands, just outside of Occidental in Sonoma County before working for a variety of wineries, including Ferrari Carano, Williams Selyem, Flowers, Hirsch, and more. In 2001, Ross and his parents bottled their first wines under the Cobb Wines label, and now Ross is the owner and winemaker there.
Ross is also the winemaker for Les Claypool’s wine label, Claypool Cellars, and was even pulled onstage by Les to play bass at a show at the Hopmonk! Listen to all of the fun music and wine stories Ross shares in this episode, and learn more about his wines at cobbwines.com.
Hear more behind the scenes conversation with Ross Cobb, including a tasting of a special pinot noir dedicated to his late mother, as well as how his wine was featured in the Ralph Feinnes movie The Menu, online at ROCKnVINO.com.
And finally, we've got a Patreon!! If you would like access to exclusive content and some pretty rad experiences we would greatly appreciate your support!
Today we chatted with Jim Morris, VP of Guest Relations at Charles Krug Winery. He shares with us how they shifted their focus and persevered during the pandemic with virtual tastings, virtual comedy and many other creative and fun ideas. Now, as the world begins to reopen, they've partnered with The Blue Note in Napa on a series of outdoor concerts slated to begin in May. We're so excited to talk about the return of live music!
Today we chatted with Rene Byck, co-owner of Paradise Ridge Winery. A winery that has persevered after losing almost everything in the 2017 Kincade fire but has remained resilient with the reconstruction of their tasting room with stunning views, amazing wine and awe-inspiring art pieces.
On today's episode we chat with Dan Kosta, founder and owner of AldenAlli Winery and former co-founder of Kosta Browne Winery which he and fellow co-founder Michael Browne started with money they made from tips from their restaurant job. Moving on to their own ventures Dan started AldenAlli alongside the Legasse family to get back to his roots of winemaking focusing on the Sonoma Coast. We chat and taste his wonderful wines as he shared some amazing stories of some intimate experiences he's had with some of todays biggest rockstars.
Get his wines while you can at: www.aldenalli.com/
Today we chatted with Clark Smith, winemaker for Wine Smith wines and author of Post Modern Winemaking. He has been experimenting with how music affects your perception of the wine you are tasting for years and he walks us through an experiment he has done over a hundred times. It was fun and fascinating!
On today's episode we chatted - IN PERSON - with Megan Cline of Cline Cellars, Jacuzzi Vineyards and Gust Wine. We chat about her growing up in a large Italian family, how distancing herself from her wine heritage brought her right back into it with passion and her most memorable concert... hint, there are shark and hamburger hats involved. If you know, you know. Check out this very fun episode where we tried some amazing wines.
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Today we chat with rising country music star and foodie Kendal Conrad. We chat about blackberry wine, her time on-stage with Keith Urban, some of her favorite food dishes and about just how much she loves the snow and beer. We had a great time with her on this episode!
Today we are so excited to have Professor Charles Spence on the show. He is an experimental psychologist heading the Crossmodal Research group at Oxford University where he researches how your different senses affect the taste of your food and your drinks. Does the music you're listening to affect how what you're drinking or eating tastes? You bet it does! Tune in to hear more about his amazing experiments and how he's helping restaurants create unique dining experiences for their guests.
We sit down with Jen Janet, vocalist and songwriter for Mimesis and Novarium as well as a wine blogger. We chat with her about how she started singing as a child found her love of rock music and discovered a love of wine. Novarium's cover of Type O Negative's "Christian Woman" is currently featured on Sirius XM's Liquid Metal.
As we continue to Shelter In Place, we're looking for more things to do and to watch. So why not watch amazing documentaries about food, wine and travel?! Well, lucky for all of us you can do that easily with Somm TV, created by Jason Wise. We chatted with Jason about the Somm movies that started him down this road, his background in underwater photography and how it all led him to create The Delicacy, a documentary about Sea Urchins and the fishermen and women behind it all. It was a labor of love that took him 6 years to complete but in the end produced a fantastic film about this unique and exotic food that fishermen risk their lives for on a daily basis to harvest.
Check it out at SommTV today!
As we continue to Shelter In Place Jackson Family Wines is looking to brighten your day with their new delivery service via Your Wine Store. It's a new program they've recently launched where you have access to wines from their entire portfolio as well as curated cheese and charcuterie paired selections delivered right to your door. It's a great way to treat yourself while we're all stuck at home. Be sure to head to https://www.yourwinestore.com/ order some of their delectable wines and a cheese or charcuterie selection and enjoy a great night in!
On this weeks SIP episode of Rock'n Vino, we get the band back together (Virtually) to chat about what an epic concert year that 2020 was set to be and how we're now dealing with the cancellations or postponements of some of these shows. We also make our best predictions as to what concerts will be like in the future and when we can enjoy concerts or any live music again.
It's week two of socially-distanced Rock'N Vino and we welcome back friend of the podcast Chef Douglas Keane. The road ahead is unclear for the restaurant industry, we talk with Douglas about what the new reality is for restaurants, diners, and restaurants will have to change and adapt to survive. On the lighter side, we'll talk about chefs and winemakers taking their talents online for virtual pairings and chef demos. PLUS, we have all the juicy details on the NEW Cyrus, set to see the light of day in Geyserville.
In today's Social Distancing Episode of Rock'n Vino we chat with Sonoma Wine Executive Director, Michael Haney about how wineries are pivoting to meet their customers needs virtually via special shipment and wine specials, virtual cooking demonstrations paired with your favorite wine, virtual tastings and more. Sonoma Wine has created an excellent resource page on their website featuring all of the ways you can safely SIP from home while drinking your favorite wine that has been delivered to your door. Check it out at: https://sonomawine.com/sip-from-home/
Today we chat with the lovely Jacqueline Balletto, DTC and Tasting Room Manager of Balletto Vineyards. She shares with us how she got into the family business, her other passions besides wine as well as some music that gets her fired up for the day!
Be sure to check out their amazing wines at https://www.ballettovineyards.com/
Let't take a bit of a break from all of the crazy Covid-19 stuff going on in the world and go back to about a month ago when we had Marshall Dawson of Jardesca California Aperitiva in studio with us. Jardesca offers a red and white option of this amazing apertivia handcrafted in Sonoma offering up a variety of fun cocktail options! Add some ice, some fresh fruit and or herbs and go crazy with these delectable "botanical magic" cocktails. And don’t forget to “Slap the Mint” and Squeeze, Spank, Spritz”!!
Even though you can't leave your home right now, you can still get some Jardesca sent to you! Hit them up on their website at: https://jardesca.com/product-category/aperitiva/
Stay safe everyone!
On this special episode of Rock'n Vino we take a step back from our normal programming to discuss the global pandemic, Covid-19 which is affecting the whole world. At the time of this recording businesses are open and people have been encouraged to take precautionary measures such as social distancing, general good hygiene and practicing common courtesy when out and about. We sit down with the Mayor of Santa Rosa, Tom Schwedhelm to give us the nitty gritty of what's going on and Landon of Harvest Card joins us to talk about how the wineries, restaurants and hotels have been affected and how you can continue to support them.
Here's a link of resources to stay up to date as the situation unfolds:
http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Employee-Resources/News/Update-on-Coronavirus-COVID-19/
Season 3 is here! We're kicking it off with comedian Steve Ausburne who shares his life antidotes with us in wine and in comedy. He talks about his love of bachelorette parties that visited the tasting room he worked out and how he got tasked with naming wines that each had a song or band theme for "Rocktober"... think Bon Jovi "Bad MediZin" or "Every Rose has it's Thorn"... so fun! Check it out and let us know what you think!
Kicking of the new year with the first episode of 2020 looking at the reveal of this year's BottleRock Napa Valley 2020 line-up. Announced this morning, this year's festival features headlining performances from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus and more. Hear about this year's happenings as BottleRock curates another year mixing music, wine, and food in the Napa Valley!
Join us this week as we chat with the multi-faceted Joy Sterling of Iron Horse Vineyards. She shares her story of growing up in Paris, becoming a journalist, and then finding her way back home in Wine Country. You won't want to miss how she helped make Iron Horse the unofficial wine of the White House and helped end the Cold War. It's the time of year to celebrate! What better way than with some amazing wines from Iron Horse. Check out their website at: https://www.ironhorsevineyards.com/Shop-Wines
On today's Rock'N Vino episode we REVISIT our chat with Dan Panella, co-owner and winemaker at Oak Farm Vineyards in Lodi, California. We discuss the their wines and their beautiful property which has a stunning house you can stay in so you're never far away from a great glass of wine. He chats about the terroir in Lodi vs. Sonoma and Napa Counties, their music in the courtyard series and their upcoming Taste of Bordeaux River Cruise taking off in July.
Today we chat with Kathy Inman of Inman Family Wines! She shares her wonderful story of growing up in Napa and finding her love of wine while attending college in Santa Barbara. She discusses how she met her husband at her first winery job and how she created a passionate life filled with the things she loves and believes in... wine, music, food and the environment.
Visit them at: https://www.inmanfamilywines.com/
On today's episode we chatted with Landon Kenneth of Harvest Card to discuss his recommendations for Thanksgiving wines. Hear what Harvest Card is all about and if you don't have your own card yet, get your now at a discounted rate with the code "gather". We'll be linking to all the wines we chatted about soon.
Click here to check out all of the wines we chatted about!
On today's episode of Rock'N Vino we chat with Rob Dietrich, Master Distiller of Blackened American Whiskey, a collaboration with Bay Area icons Metallica. He talks about how his journey of being in the army, followed by working in the music industry, his passion for vintage bikes and even his time spent working at a hot springs in Colorado got him to where he is today. Rob shares how this amazing whiskey is made and then how each batch is customized with a Metallica playlist chosen by each member.
Find out more at https://blackenedwhiskey.com/
On today's episode of Rock'N Vino we take a step back from talking about Wine, Food and Music to discuss the recent Kincade Fires. The fire started around 9:30pm on the night of October 23rd and as of today is at about 80 percent containment. The fire has burned over 75 thousand acres and destroyed 374 structures, the most prominent one being Soda Rock Winery, a winery that has been around since the 1800s. We talk with owner Ken Wilson about his experience losing one of his wineries while showcasing his resilience and perseverance during this difficult time. Karissa from Sonoma County Wine Growers joins us as well sharing her personal story of losing her home in the 2017 Tubbs fire and highlighting the amazing community we live in.
On today's Rock'N Vino episode we chat with Dan Panella, co-owner and winemaker at Oak Farm Vineyards in Lodi, California. We discuss the their wines and their beautiful property which has a stunning house you can stay in so you're never far away from a great glass of wine. He chats about the terroir in Lodi vs. Sonoma and Napa Counties, their music in the courtyard series and their upcoming Taste of Bordeaux River Cruise taking off in July.
On this RNV episode we get the Aftershock crew back together to recap the epic 3-day weekend that was Aftershock held at Discovery Park in Sacramento, California. We chat about the new friends we made across the pond in Leeds, the bands we loved, some disasters we saw, and so much more. Oh... and we all are still recovering from the "festival flu" so please excuse our coughing and sniffles.
This past weekend's sold-out Aftershock Festival not only provided an eclectic array of musical offerings on the stage, it also provided an opportunity for fans to engage with some of the non-music creative rock and roll endeavors. More than ever, bands are branching out to get involved in new ventures, many of them in the beverage industry, Slipknot has their No. 9 whiskey, System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian was in town for his 22Red cannabis line, next year's headliners were in full feature with their Blackened Whiskey and Enter Night beer collaboration, while present year headliners Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan's Caduceus Cellars Wine from Arizona was also prominently featured. Rock'N Vino was on the scene to check out all of this, take in the show, as well as to catch up with some of the bands performing throughout the electric weekend.
First up, Chris 'Motionless' Ceruclli is the frontman for Scranton metal band Motionless in White. The band fuses hard rock sounds with goth and electronic influences, while still mixing melody into the mix. The band has been riding high following the release of the latest album Disguise, as well as touring the country with some of their idols. The band first toured alongside metal heroes Atreyu before jumping on the road opening for the legendary Alice Cooper and Halestorm. Motionless joked that being a member of a band and touring with your idols isn't drastically different from being a fan and having nerves about meeting your favorite artists and hoping they match up with the internal portrait you've painted of them. Luckily for Motionless, he says his tourmates could not have been more gracious. He said the opportunity to open for Cooper even allowed the band to play for a generation of fans that might not have otherwise heard the band. Motionless in White also getting set to reveal their early 2020 tour plans; while Cerulli couldn't reveal quite yet who the band plans to tour with in the new year, he did drop the hint that they were friends and shared a spot on the Aftershock bill on the same day.
While it's been three years since the release of their last album Fury, the band has not spent idle time in between projects. The band has made it a point to travel overseas and play for active duty members of the armed forces in a number of locales. The band is grateful for an opportunity to give back and have found that playing the live shows is the best avenue for them to do it. Recently the band was even dispatched to Guantanamo Bay Cuba to perform for the troops, a part of the world that few get to see at all, let alone a rock band. The trio is putting the finishing touches on their latest as-yet-untitled album to be released in the new year, a project produced by Goldfinger frontman John Feldman. The band took advantage of the Aftershock stage to premiere hard rocking Rage Against the Machine-inspired new track "There Goes the Neighborhood."
Frontman Bryan Scott says he's feeling as comfortable as ever both on the stage and in the studio as he prepares for the release of his second album as frontman with the band. He teases that fans can expect the band pushing the envelope in both directions to discover some of their heaviest sounds as well as their softer side.
Finally, newcomer Evan Konrad sits down to talk about his eclectic musical foundation of influences as well as his love of storytelling through lyricism as well as creating dramatic and creative visuals. It's been a whirlwind year for the Canadian born artist, who was signed on the spot when LAVA Records founder Jason Flom heard Konrad's music from his SoundCloud on headphones at an underground vegan restaurant in Toronto. Konrad takes a very DIY approach to his music, locking himself away to write, record, and produce his own music. He says the process can take anywhere from a couple hours to a number of weeks to figure out when a song is ready to go. Konrad also made waves for the release of a haunting piano-driven cover of Soundgarden's "Back Hole Song." A longtime fan of frontman Chris Cornell, Konrad said covering the song was in a way an homage to his own musical upbringing.
On today's episode we chat with legendary winemaker, Bob Cabral who recently celebrated his 40th vintage! He was winemaker at Williams Selyem for 17 years earning a 100 point score from Wine Enthusiast for his 2007 Litton Estate Pinot Noir, a first for North American Pinot Noir. He shares his winemaking journey with us, his love of rock'n roll music and how his amazing wine has become his all-access pass to some of the worlds biggest rock stars. His focus now is on his own brand, Bob Cabral Wines, where he allows himself to be more creative and utilizes it as a way to give back to his community by supporting local charities. It's an episode that is not to be missed! Be sure to check out his wines and schedule a tasting at https://www.bobcabralwines.com/ and don't forget to listen to his specially curated Spotify playlists!
Today's episode was a fun one! We chat with Regine Rousseau, owner and founder of Shall We Wine, a Chicago based wine, spirits and beer experiential marketing, event planning and media company. She's also the author of Searching for Cloves and Lillies: The Wine Edition where she pairs her poetry with wine. She tells us how she got started, how you can get started, what she loves about wine and she even reads us some of her amazing poerty.
Find Regine at: https://shallwewine.com/
On today's episode of Rock'N Vino, Coco and Mike chat about their recent experience at the 2nd Annual Sonoma Harvest Music Fest held at B.R. Cohn Winery. They discuss chicken sandwiches, the beautiful setting and upset lead singers, oh my!
They also had the opportunity to talk with Bobbii Jacobs, Founder of Live In The Vineyard. What was just a dream of a girls getaway to Napa focusing on wine and acoustic music 11 years ago has now turned into one of the premier events to attend... if you can get in. This year Live In The Vineyard is featuring notable acts such as Adam Lambert, Avril Lavigne, and Natasha Bedingfield as well as exciting up and coming artists, Delacey, Madison Kozak, Caitlyn Smith and more! To win your way in check out their website at https://www.liveinthevineyard.com/.
On this week's RnV we look back at one of our favorite past episodes on this week's RnV revisit! This week we go all the way back to our very first episode with Winemaker Ben Larks from Idle Cellars! Ben had a great outlook on the cross-section between music and wine, enjoy this look back at one of our favorite early episodes.
On today's RNV episode Coco and Mike chat with Dustin Brooks and Ashley Oswald about their experiences with music and with wine.
Ashley grew up in The Valley of Los Angeles which ignited her love of rock'n roll music. Living in LA gave her the opportunity to see so many of her idols perform in some of the most legendary venues of the time. When Ashley isn't rockin' out at a concert you can find her at Lancaster Estate working the Wine Clubs.
Dustin found his love of music while living in South Dakota learning how to operate the stage lights at shows. He then found himself in California working his 9 to 5 but wanting more. So he applied to become a harvest intern at a winery, he and Lancaster winemaker Dave Drake hit it off now they, along with Ashley, are hitting up as many shows together as they can. At night you can find Dustin perfecting his lighting skills The House of Rock.
On this episode of RNV we revisit a past episode! This time we're revisiting our episode with Trey Busch of Sleight of Hand Cellars. They've brought up the Huichica Festival to Walla Walla, so if you're in the area be sure to check it out!
On this week's episode we feature the new "Demi-Sode"! It's a mini episode about half the length of a regular episode. Coco and Mike taste some canned wine, Mike talks about his recent visit to the new Chase Center and they discuss the Lights acoustic show at August Hall in SF. It's a hodgepodge of fun and randomness!
On today's episode of Rock'N Vino we sit down with Adriana Duckworth, Member Relations and Sponsorship Manager of Sonoma Valley Wine. We chat about the upcoming harvest, right around the corner, their amazing wineries, some which feature music, restaurants and some tips and tricks to use when you plan your next visit.
Find out more at: https://sonomavalleywine.com/
On today's episode we chat with Jeffrey Meisel, VP Brand Development at Long Meadow Ranch. He chats with us about all of the amazing things you can do when you visit Long Meadow Ranch in St. Helena... start your day in the cafe, visit the farmer's market, eat at the Farmstead restaurant, visit the general store, taste their delectable wines and olive oils and of course don't miss their amazing events! Be sure to check out their Bluegrass-fed Live Music Series or their Live Fire Series where they bring in guest chefs who create an unforgettable meal paired with their amazing wines with a family-style feast benefitting the Timothy W. Hall Foundation.
On this week's episode of Rock'n Vino we chat with Chef Kyle Connaughten, owner of SingleThread Restaurant in downtown Healdsburg, a three-Michelin starred restaurant heavily influenced by his love of Japanese culture and cuisine. Hear about how he and his wife, Katina, followed their passions around the world to then finally settle in beautiful Healdsburg a block away from where they conceptualized their plan for their dream restaurant many years prior.
To book your dining experience at SingleThread visit: https://www.singlethreadfarms.com/restaurant
On this episode of Rock'N Vino we sit down with acclaimed super chef Douglas Keane, who gained acclaim through the Michelin star-rated Cyrus in Healdsburg as well as appearance on Top Chef Masters. Keane became disillusioned with the allure of 'celebrity chef' culture and now focuses his time on his long running Healdsburg Bar & Grill and Roadhouse 29 restaurants, places where he can focus his energy simply on feeding people. Keane's is currently working on a memoir on his career as a chef and his experience in the industry.
On this episode of Rock'n Vino we sat down with the beautiful and talented Kerry Kathleen! A fellow lover of wine and music, she is a singer / songwriter and also a Level 2 Sommelier. She put our wine tasting skills to the test, sharing a delightfully delectable bottle of Arista Chardonnay and we tested her as well with an unmarked bottle of wine. This episode is fun, educational and not to be missed. Be sure to check out Kerry's music on Spotify or live in person! Check out her website www.kerrykathleen.net for more info.
On this special 50th episode of Rock'N Vino we sit down with acclaimed Sonoma County Winemaker Jesse Katz. Even being a young winemaker, Jesse has an expansive background at Lancaster, Robert Foley, Screaming Eagle, and has studied wine across the world. His current labels include Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards. Jesse has the distinction of being the youngest (and only) winemaker ever to make the Forbes 30 Under 30, his wine set the world record for highest selling price at auction, and even made the wine for Justin Timberlake and wife Jessica Biel's wedding.
On this episode of Rock'N Vino Coco and Mike are joined by their friends to recap their experience at 3 Michelin Rated Restaurant, Singlethread in Healdsburg! We were so grateful to have won this prize in a raffle at Harvest Card's inaugural Uncorked event.
On today's RnV episode we chat with Gio Balistreri, co-founder and winemaker at Russian River Vineyards in Forestville. We chat about how Gio got started in the wine business, the history of Russian River Vineyards dating all the way back to the early 1800s, their on-site culinary gardens, pizza and wine Sundays and of course what he listens to while making wine.
If you've never visited Russian River Vineyards this holiday weekend is a great time to check it out with their Summer Celebration event happening both Saturday (sold out) and Sunday! Get your tickets here: https://www.russianrivervineyards.com/summercelebration
From bartender to winemaker, Jesse Inman is looking to change the perceptions of drinking wine. Inman created Lucky Rock Wine Co.with the goal of making wine more accessible in the mold of craft beer. Jesse joins us on this week's RnV to talk about his journey to becoming a winemaker!
On today's episode of Rock'n Vino we sat down with Tarpon Cellars winemaker, Jeremy Carter and Chef Quentin Garcia about partnering up for First Waltz... what is set to be an amazing evening pairing Tarpon Cellars and Banjo Wine Co. wine to the music of Futurebirds with dishes prepared by Chef Quentin Garcia at the Blue Note in Napa. It is sure to be an epic and unforgettable evening. We chat with Jeremy about how he made his idea become a reality and how all the individual pieces came together.
The event is being hosted at the Blue Note in Napa on Sunday, June 30th.
If you're interested in attending, please visit their website here.
On today's episode we sat down with Lorraine Barber, co-owner of Barber Cellars and Barber Lee Spirits and... founder of Petaluma Drinks! an amazing event happening June 15th and 16th in Petaluma, California showcasing all of Petaluma's craft alcohol producers. Plan your weekend route to hit as many of the amazing breweries, wineries, distilleries and spirit makers Petaluma has to offer. Get your tickets to Petaluma Drinks! at https://petalumadrinks.com/.
On this episode of Rock'N Vino, we celebrate a milestone... this is our one year anniversary of regular weekly podcasts! Also, we chat about all things BottleRock 2019! The amazing performances, the great food, some drama and some helpful tips.
On this episode of Rock'N Vino we sit down with Nolan Gasser - he's a critically acclaimed musician, musicologist, the architect of Pandora's Music Genome project and author of the recently released book Why You Like It; The Science & Culture of Musical Taste. We chat with Nolan about his love of music, the science behind matching what some would believe are unrelated songs together, his love of wine, and of course his new book!
Find out more about Why You Like It at whyyoulikeit.com
Dave 'Phoenix' Farrell found a variety of new passions in recent months. As bassist of one of the most successful rock bands of all time and one of defining bands of the millennial generation, Linkin Park, Farrell has traveled across the globe playing some of the biggest stages at the farthest reaches. In the time that's passed following the tragic death of vocalist Chester Bennington, Farrell has been able to decompress by tapping into other creative outlets, travel for pleasure, and tap into some of his non-musical passions. Farrell joined the Rock'N Vino Podcast for an exclusive wide-ranging conversation, along with longtime tour chef Gray Rollin, to talk travel, life on the road, and the future of Linkin Park.
On today's Rock'N Vino we chat with Gary Spivack, Senior Vice President of Talent at Danny Wimmer Presents! Gary is a veteran of the music industry who started out as a drummer then went on to work at a record label, eventually branching off with music promoter Danny Wimmer to create todays biggest rock festivals around the country including one of our favorites Aftershock in Sacramento!
On today's episode we chat with Mitch Rice, winemaker for micro-winery Mersenne wines. We chat about how the winery came about, how they got their name and the fun ways they incorporate music into their winery experience.
On today's episode, we chat with Kathy Magner, Director of Hospitality at Robert Mondavi Winery about their upcoming Summer Concert Series featuring St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Struts, Thievery Corporation, Rodigo y Gabriela and Matt Nathanson. We talk about how Margrit Mondavi pioneered pairing music, wine and art in the Napa Valley and how the winery is celebrating 50 years of the Summer Concert Series on their beautiful lawn under the stars. It's an unforgettable experience and if you want to go to any of the concerts get your tickets now at: RobertMondaviWinery.com
On this FUN episode we celebrated a lot of FIRSTS! It was our first holiday themed episode, our first panel discussion, our first return guest (Landon of Harvest Card) and first time guest Jim Morris of Charles Krug winery! We chatted and tasted through some wonderful wines to serve for either Easter Brunch or Easter Dinner and we went off on some fun tangents as well.
Featured in this week's episode:
- Harvest Card - Charles Krug Winery - DRNK - Taft Street - Bowman Cellars - Jardesca California Apertiva
On this episode of Rock'n Vino Mike and Coco chat about Mike's recent sports centered trip where he visited Vegas, Arizona, Anaheim and LA where the unexpected theme of the trip was falling! Some good falls but most... not so much. Some of the falling takes a dark turn. We also chat about music venues... what make them good and what make them not so good?
On today's episode of Rock'n Vino we had the pleasure of interviewing Chef / Owner of Valette Healdsburg Dustin Valette. He spoke to us about growing up in beautiful Sonoma County, his love of this beautiful and bountiful place we call home and his passion for food and showcasing the work of some amazing craftsmen and artisans who live here. Dustin also talked to us about his soon to be released wine (available at Valette) and his newest project The Matheson and Roof 106.
On today's episode of Rock'n Vino we interview Keith Wallen. Keith is currently the rhythm guitarist + backing vocals for Breaking Benjamin and is releasing his own music on the side. He chats with us about his new single "Crows", the current Breaking Benjamin tour and his new discovery of enjoying wine!
On this week's episode of Rock'n Vino we had the pleasure of interviewing David Drake, winemaker at Lancaster Estate Winery in the stunning Alexander Valley. We chat about his amazing award winning Cabernet Sauvignons, the music that gets him and his team through those long days and we find out what kind of wine he would love to make if given the chance.
On this episode of Rock'N Vino, we chat with Dylan Sheldon of Sheldon Wines, a micro-winery he runs with his wife Tobe. He shares how the two followed their passions and dreams taking them across the world to New Zealand and then returning home practically penniless, to pursue their own wine making dreams. Dylan is also a musician and lover of music who discusses the symbiotic relationship he sees within the two.
Find their wines at https://www.sheldonwines.com/
On today's episode of Rock'N Vino we interview local chef / restauranteur Josh Silvers on his 20th anniversary of being a restaurant owner. He shares with us how he got started, what kind of food he enjoys offering his customers, his favorite wines and more! We also chatted about what Jackson's is offering for Sonoma County Restaurant Week where guests get to enjoy a pre-fixed menu for just $29.
On today's episode of RnV we sat down with Matt and Brigitta of Wine Guerrilla. We chat about their fun Zin Fan Donut events where they pair donuts and zinfandel... yum, plus we discuss how they got started and fun new innovative ways they are utilizing technology to bring their tasting room experience to you! Check them out at https://wineguerrilla.com/
In this weeks episode of Rock'n Vino we have Ernest and Sarah Wuethrich as our special guests! These two are the essential Rock'n Vino couple! Sarah is the Facilities Winemaker for Siduri Winery and Ernest has been in the music industry promoting shows for years via Gather Booking and more recently with Sonoma County Metal and Hardcore. We talk how they each got into their respective positions in their industries and how music and wine have impacted their lives for the better.
On today's RNV episode we chat with Melanie and Ingrid, DTC and Hospitality Managers at Sterling Winery about the upcoming Rose Fest 2019! Take a ride in their gondola up to the winery to sip on rose from 30+ different wineries, food from some amazing food trucks and restaurants and live music from SF band Neon Velvet.
Tickets are on sell now and will sell out. Get them at: http://naparosefest.com
Plus Mike and Coco chat about the high's and lows of the 2019 Grammy Awards.
After a number of weeks of some great guests on Rock'N Vino, Coco & Mike roll solo for this week's episode to tackle a big musical topic - taking chances and fan backlash.
Maroon 5 made news this week for their performance at halftime of an otherwise uneventful Super Bowl, with the Twitterverse exploding with snark and disdain for band's performance, shredding them on every corner of the Internet. Just a month before, Imagine Dragons performed at halftime of the College Football Championship game to a similar barrage of hot takes, with Spin asking the question "Are Imagine Dragons the Worst Band Ever?" Just two weeks ago, Bring Me The Horizon released their latest album 'amo', an album that took a sharp divergence from the band's signature heavy rock sound, leaving critics and fans sharply divided. On this week's episode of Rock'N Vino, Coco & Mike take a deep dive into the way listeners react to music and how fans react to their favorite bands taking chances or exploring new sounds. How has Twitter and social media changed the way we consume and react to performances? Why does the rock genre frown on success and popularity more than others? They may not have all the answers, but they'll dive into these pressing topics and more on this week's episode of Rock'N Vino.
On today's episode of Rock'N Vino we chat with Bruce Cohn who has had a vibrant history with both music and wine. He was the manager to notable music groups for 45 years, started BR Cohn Winery and fused his love of music and wine together with his annual charity concert at the winery featuring some of the biggest acts in Rock'N Roll. He is now focusing on his newest project, Trestle Glen Vineyards focusing on a very limited production of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Find out more information about Trestle Glen Vineyards at trestleglenvineyards.com.
On this episode of Rock'N Vino we sit down with Josh Windmiller, a local music advocate and musician. Josh has worked to bring various local bands together to shut down the streets of Sonoma County to bring live music to the community with The Rivertown Revival as well as the RailRoad Music Festival. He has also started a new, intimate music venue in downtown Santa Rosa called The Lost Church, seated intimate space where local performing artists, musicians and poets can share their talents. The Lost Church is almost open and can use your help getting those doors open. If you would like to help, they've set up a go-fund me account here: https://www.gofundme.com/TheLostChurchSantaRosa?fbclid=IwAR1yLVQNzZBsGCDSOhBe5msYrlshn9AGBxw0FCOANrmYv3i_oqZZa1gS4Iw
New ep Tuesday! This week we take a trip down the Wine Road, with Debbie Osborn to talk Winter WINEland and Wine Road’s other annual signature events.
Find out more about all of their fantastic events, their amazing concierge service, maps of the valleys and more at www.wineroad.com.
It's 2019 and Rock'N Vino is back! We're excited to kick off the new year with local rockstars Kingsborough who recently took their talents overseas on their Maiden Voyage Tour. We chat about how they began as a band, some of their career highs and what to expect in the new year.
Connect with them at: kingsboroughmusic.com
The Rock'N Vino podcast sits down with BottleRock Co-Founder and Partner of BottleRock Presents Dave Graham about this year's line-up. Find out about what's new, what's happening, and what to expect from the year's festival as long as a breakdown from Coco and Mike on this year's line-up.
NAPA — BottleRock Napa Valley producers today unveiled the lineup for the seventh incarnation of their annual wine country festival, held at the Napa Valley Expo between May 24 and 26—Memorial Day weekend.
This year's lineup features a new twist with the festival featuring dual headlining sets each night. Friday includes alt-rockers Imagine Dragons and rapper Logic. Saturday has Neil Young and Promise of the Real, along with R&B superstar Pharrell Williams. Rootsy rock band Mumford & Sons and guitar virtuoso Santana will close out the festival on Sunday, May 26.
The lineup again features more than 80 artists over the three days.
"We've expanded the capability of the second stage," BottleRock CEO Dave Graham said. "We wanted to be able to attract some major acts to play the second stage at the same time the main stage was playing, and that's exactly what we did this year."
The bill is rounded out by a slate of eclectic artists, including Sylvan Esso, OneRepublic, Flogging Molly, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Cypress Hill, Tash Sultana, Lord Huron, Big Boi, Bishop Briggs, Jeff Goldbum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and others.
Graham said the addition of Young is particularly meaningful this year.
"Neil Young has not performed in the Bay Area, publicly, since the last Bridge School Benefit Concert back in 2016," he said. "What an honor for us to have a legend like him up on our stage."
BottleRock will again feature it's culinary stage pairing celebrity chefs with musicians, actors and Bay Area luminaries cooking up unique dishes for festivalgoers, along with the festival's focus on the region's best food and wine. The culinary stage lineup will be announced in April.
"This year, BottleRock is also a part of the prize offerings for [TV show] Top Chef, so the winner will get an appearance on the Culinary Stage this year," Graham said.
Last year, more than 120,000 camp out to see performances by Bruno Mars, The Killers, Muse and others.
Tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the festival's website. Prices range from $359 for a three-day general admission pass up to $1,599 for a three-day Skydeck and VIP Viewing passes. Platinum Passes for BottleRock, which cost upwards of $4,000, are sold out. One-day VIP tickets go on sale Jan. 10.
The full lineup is below:
Friday, May 24: Imagine Dragons, Logic, OneRepublic, Sylvan Esso, Flogging Molly, Jenny Lewis, AJR, Anderson East, The Dandy Warhols, lovelytheband, Paul Oakenfold (Silent Disco), Alec Benjamin, Neon Trees, Midland, Vintage Trouble, The War and Treaty, Just Loud, Shannon Shaw, flora cash, Yoke Lore, HalfNoise, The Dip, Harry Hudson, Liz Cooper & The Stampede, Valley Queen, Jack West, Forgotten Dreamers
Saturday, May 25: Neil Young (& Promise of the Real), Pharrell Williams, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Gary Clark Jr., Juanes, Cypress Hill, Marian Hill, Sir Sly, Elle King, Chevy Metal, Against Me!, Madison Beer, Pink Sweat$, Shannon & the Clams, The Regrettes, White Panda (Silent Disco), Elley Duhé, Wilderado, Magic City Hippies, Moonalice, We Banjo 3, Slothrust, Jared & The Mill, Royal Jelly Jive, Rebecca Jade & The Cold Fact, The Blue Stones, The Silverado Pickups, Napa Valley Youth Symphony
Sunday, May 26: Mumford & Sons, Santana, Tash Sultana, Lord Huron, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Citizen Cope, Big Boi, Bishop Briggs, Gang of Youths, Too $hort, Turkuaz, The Crystal Method (Silent Disco), Skylar Grey, Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Houses, Con Brio, The Soul Rebels, SHAED, Welles, The Teskey Brothers, Ocean Alley, Sweet Crude, The Dustbowl Revival, Dessa, The Alive
Three-day ticket categories:
3-Day General Admission Pass: $359. Includes in-and-out privileges.
3-Day SkyDeck pass: $1,599. Access to an exclusive, elevated and shaded viewing platform within the VIP village. Skydeck pass holders also receive all-inclusive beer, cocktails and wines at Skydeck bars.
3-Day SPG and American Express VIP Suite Pass: $1,599. Available only to Starwood Preferred Guest and American Express Card members. Elevated views of the main stage, access to the VIP Village and all VIP viewing areas. Benefits include specially curated bites, signature dishes and wine tastings within the viewing suite. Pass holders also get all-inclusive beer, specialty cocktails and wines at the Marriott VIP Viewing Suite bar, chef and sommelier meet-and-greets. There is a dedicated VIP entrance with in-and-out privileges to the festival and access to premium restrooms. Card Members must show their wristband and Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express in order to gain access.
On today's episode of Rock'N Vino we had the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Bundschu, President of Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma. We chatted with Jeff about GunBun's dynamic family history, how they incorporate his two loves of live music and wine with two music venues on site as well as their annual micro music festival, Huichica. If you haven't visited Gundlach Bundschu Winery yet, we highly suggest you visit the Donkey Bar, take a ride on the Pinzgauer and if you catch yourself there during the summer, enjoy music by their resident DJ while sipping wine in their courtyard.
Thanks Jeff for helping us close out this epic 2018 season of Rock'N Vino! Looking forward to many more fun episodes in 2019. Cheers!
In this episode of Rock'N Vino we discuss all the amazing things going on in Sonoma Valley this holiday season with the Director of Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, Tim Zahner. We talk wineries, the best places for some instagram worthy photos, cocktails, food and more! It's an episode full of useful information for anyone wanting to come to Sonoma Valley. Find out more at www.sonomavalley.com
After a quick breather for the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re back with another episode of Rock’N Vino! We cover a lot of ground this week - starting with a recap of the holiday, Coco’s Thanksgiving wines, and Mike’s leftover creation the ‘Thanksgiving Burrito”. With the year winding down, we’ll also take a look back at some of our favorite musical moments of 2018 - best concerts, new bands, concert travels - it was a busy year for live music.
Coco & Mike both went ‘out of the box’ for concerts in the past week for someone unique shows and talk about how sometimes leaving your musical comfort zone can lead to some really enjoyable concert experiences. Finally, we’ll look back on our some of favorite guests of the year, a Rock’N Vino-fueled social media media war, and a few tangents to go along with it. It was a big kick-off year for Rock’N Vino with so many fun guests and experiences to look back on.
Check out this week’s Rock’N Vino for a lively discussion on all the things we love - good music, good wine, and good times!
On today's episode of Rock'N Vino we step into the wonderful world of JaM Cellars with their Executive Vice President of Sales, Geoff Whitman. We chat about Butter, Candy, JaM Cab and Toast... yes those are all of their delicious wines! Geoff tells us about JaM Cellars partnership with BottleRock, he talks about the Wine and Music Studio inside the JaM Cellars Tasting Room in Downtown Napa, we talk about the JaM Cellars Ballroom and we discuss how we can all thank Margrit Mondavi for being the pioneer in combining music and wine in Napa Valley.
On today's episode of Rock'n Vino we were out enjoying the 20th Anniversary of Wine Road's Wine and Food Affair with a stop at Kendall-Jackson to chat with Chef / Culinary + Garden Educator Matthew Lowe followed by a stop at La Crema's SaraLee Vineyard Tasting Room. Don't forget to check out our Instagram Stories for some behind the scenes video footage of our visit!
https://www.wineroad.com/events/wine-food-affair/
On today's episode we chat with Harvest Card founder Landon McPhearson. Do you visit or live in Wine Country and want to know all of the best places to go to? The best wineries, restaurants, hotels and more? How do complimentary tastings, discounts and VIP treatment sound? Well, if that all sounds appealing to you check out Harvest Card at www.getharvestcard.com. Landon also chats with us about some fun and surprising wines to get for the holidays as well as the upcoming Zin Fan Donut event, pairing Donuts and Wine at Wine Guerrilla in Forestville on Sunday, November 11th! Tune in to hear all the juicy details!
On this week's episode of Rock'N Vino we sat down with Maggie Staines, Hospitality Manager at The Donum Estate who is an avid wine and music lover. She joined Mike and Coco at Meg Myers recent concert at the August Hall in SF and came on the show to talk all about it. Plus we discuss traveling for concerts and more!
https://www.thedonumestate.com/
In today's episode of Rock'N Vino we talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of this year's Aftershock Festival at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA with our friend Natalia. Hear about what bands had the best sets, where to get the best food, what to drink and more! Mike shares his misadventures on his way to see Red Sun Rising, Coco confuses Danny Worsnop's accent for an australian one (side note: he's from the UK) and Natalia caught the fever.
A very, very special episode of Rock'N Vino this week as we have a birthday on the team! This week's podcast is all about Coco for her birthday episode of Rock'N Vino. Joining us in the studio this week are Jayme, Micah, Danielle, and Mike D. In true Rock'N Vino fashion we'll talk about two of Coco's favorite things - wine and music!
We'll get a recap of Coco and Mike's respective trips to Red Rocks, we'll talk about traveling for concerts, we'll find out what everyone's first concert was and some of their earliest musical memories, and much more. On the wine side, we'll talk variatals, pairings, as well as when exactly the appropriate time to drink wine from a 'sucky pouch' is...more on that later.
Please join us in celebrating Coco's birthday and check out this week's special 'Coco + Friends' Edition of Rock'N Vino!
The inaugural Sonoma Harvest Music Festival kicked off at BR Cohn Winery deep in th heart of Sonoma Country in Glen Ellen, CA this past weekend. The festival featured two afternoons filled with live music from The Avett Brothers, The Head & The Heart, ZZ Ward, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and many more. The festival was orgainzed in partnership with BottleRock Presents, producers of the massive annual BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival. Orgaziners wanted to flip the script of Sonoma Harvest and make it the festival for people who don't like festivals,, one stage, all in the afternoon, fewer crowds and lines, and a more relaxed environment.
The festival went off as planned with fans getting a unique opportunity to get up close with their favorite artists in an unmatched setting, putting a backdrop of vineyards and rolling hills behind the stage. Rock'N Vino took our first field trip for a live episode from the Sonoma Harvest Music Festival. First up, we'll talk with Ziek McCarter, frontman for the San Francisco-based Con Brio, who are touring in support of their latest album, Explorer. Con Brio kicked off the festival's second day with a phenomneal performance that brought fans to their feet early in the day.
Next up, we'll speak with Michael Domer, Director of Operations for Vintage Wine Estates, who own and operate the BR Cohn Winery. We'll talk to Michael about the orgiins of the festival, all about the history of the BR Cohn property, and the possible future plans for the Sonoma Harvest Music Festival.
Canadian alt-pop superstar Lights isn't one to stay still for too long. The Juno Award-winning musician released her 4th studio album, Skin & Earth, last fall and hasn't looked back. Skin & Earth represents the birth an entire new creative songwriting world for Lights, part concept album the music was written as a companion to the comic book series of the same name, also authored by Lights. The stories characters were infused into the artist's music videos, an interactive Instagram world, as well as into the visuals for her recent tours.
The Skin & Earth world has only expanded in the months following the album's release. At this year's San Diego Comic Con, Lights announced that the comic series would be brought to life in a live action television adaptation with Andrew Lazar (American Sniper, Get Smart) already signed on as Producer. While the project is still in it's infancy, Lights looks forward to being able to further develop her Skin & Earthcharacters both on the screen as well as writing future issues of the comic book series. "We have a Producer, we have Director that we have in mind, but it's one of those things where there's so many things that still have to fall into place," says Lights of the long process in creating the TV adaptation.
Along with the comic book series, Lights has also had her hand in a number of creative projects. She recently surprised fans with the release of a complete front-to-back covers album of Drake's Scorpion Side B. After sequestering herself in her home studio for a week, Lights arranged, performed, produced, and engineered the entire effort in just five days. Lights was eager to cover the Drake album as she's not only a fan of his music, but found that Side B translated well to her style of music "I just love the way he sings out of the pocket, and the melody choices , and his lyrics" said Lights of her Canadian counterpart. The release hit a slight snag following its release to digital streaming outlets after receiving a note from a higher-up at the Canadian hip-hop star's label to remove the album. Disappointed, but not deterred, Lights complied and took down the album, but also left it in a place resourceful fans can still access the album.
Lights also reveals details about some upcoming collaborations and features, including one with a prominent Canadian electronic artist. She'll also look back on her time on tour through Northern California last October at the same time of the North Bay fires.
Plus, on this week's episode we look back on this year's Leeds Festival in the UK and how the festival experience across the pond differs from the experience we're used to here in America. Check out this can't-miss episode of Rock'N Vino!
On this week's episode of Rock 'N Vino we're excited to welcome Skillet Drummer and front woman on her own brand new solo project Ledger, Jen Ledger! The multi-talented singer and vocalist joined Skillet back in 2008 when the band attended a church service in Ledger's current hometown of Kenosha, WI, and the rest was history! Along with handling vocal and drumming duties for the platinum-selling band, Ledger has also taken a step out on her own with her eponymously named side project. The band offered their immediate support when Ledger for brought up the potential, and even helped in the writing and producing of the album. Ledger's new EP is highlighted by it's first single "Not Dead Yet", written about her recent battles with anxiety and panic attacks. We'll talk touring, recording, and the future with Jen Ledger! PLUS, coming up in October it's time again for the Monster Energy Aftershock Festival in Sacramento - we'll preview the line-up and all of this year's attractions and happenings at the festival. All that and more on this week's episode of Rock'N Vino!
This week’s Rock’N Vino guest needs no introduction, but we’ll supply one anyways. Lzzy Hale has fronted Halestorm for over 20 years, over that time the band has released four studio albums, headlined stages across the world, and even won a Grammy. The band recently released its latest studio album, Vicious, an album that lives up to its namesake. After initially getting in the studio to record the band wasn’t happy with the direction the material was going and decided to re-focus their creative energy and start over. The result is the band’s most confident, unpredictable, and ferocious performances to date. With stadium ready anthems like Uncomfortable, Do Not Disturb, and Black Vultures the album serves a rallying cry for individuality and self-empowerment. Now the band is back out on the road headlining their biggest tour to date. Lzzy Hale joins Rock’N Vino as a special guest this week, we’ll talk about the creation of the album, getting back out on the road, and the early days of being ‘the girl in the band.” Don’t miss Halestorm along with In This Moment and New Year’s Day at the Warfield in San Francisco coming up this Thursday night, tickets available at AXS.com.
On this week’s episode of RnV we dig deeper into the world of wine, music, and how to pair the two to come up with the perfect Wine Country experience. Shana Bull is a Sonoma County media maven, writing about wine and music for Sonoma Magazine as well as Sonoma County Tourism. She is also a social media and digital marketing expert, offering classes on social media marketing with a special focus on Instagram. Shana joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion on live music, wine country trends, and how to make the best use of social media to market yourself. Did you know one of the hottest shows in the North Bay is being headlined by none other than Vanilla Ice? Which wineries are setting the standard for live music in wine country? How do you construct the ultimate Wine Country experience? And what is exactly is Facetagram? Answers to all these questions, more or less, on this week’s episode of Rock’N Vino with guest Shana Bull!
Rock'N Vino Episode 7 featuring Murphy Goode Winemaker Dave Ready plus Brad Paisley & Bonnie Hunt
Murphy Goode Winemaker Dave Ready Jr. is the quintessential Rock'N Vino guest - growing up in Minneapolis, his aspired to be not just a musician, but a rock star. Fronting his band on vocals, Ready found success recording and touring with an Allman Brothers-influenced sound. Also a Dead Head, Ready followed the Grateful Dead on tour for 179 shows. Ready moved to California to continue his musical pursuits and to 'be closer to Jerry'. While in California, Ready found a new passion, his father invited him up to Healdsburg to work crush at Murphy-Goode Winery and the rest was history. Ready to moved to Australia to continue his newfound winemaking passion before returning to California in the late 90's to become Assistant Winemaker at Murphy-Goode, and eventually Winemaker in 2001. Dave still plays drums and gets out to his share of concerts when he's not busy in the vineyards. Check out this week's episode, an insightful and entertaining discussion with Murphy-Goode Winemaker Dave Ready Jr. Plus, an added bonus on this week's episode. RNV got a chance to sit down with country megastar Brad Paisley and acclaimed actress and comedienne Bonnie Hunt prior to their taking the stage at Sonoma State University's "Thicker Than Smoke" fundraising event, a benefit for north bay fire relief.A full year has passed since the death of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington from suicide. Following his death, fans worldwide showed an outpouring of support and his band staged a tribute show in Los Angeles featuring a slate of guest artists. Bennington's death also refocused attention on mental health awareness and advocacy.
Bennington's passing came as a shock to Gray Rollin, the owner chef of Santa Rosa's Belly Left Coast Kitchen. Rollin, Linkin Park's longtime personal chef, had recently gotten off the road with the band following a U.K. tour, one he said the band considered one of the best of its career.
In an interview with Rock'N Vino earlier this week, Rollin talked about welcoming Bennington after the singer walked off stage after his final performance with Linkin Park at the Birmingham Arena.
"He gave me a big hug and told me he was excited about the future," Rollin said.
Rollin began his career as a touring chef to the biggest names in music, including Prince, Mötley Crüe, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and Katy Perry. But he's spent most of his time—seven years—on the road with Linkin Park. His job was to understand the band members' preferences and not only feed them, but keep them healthy on tour. That's not easy when the band was switching hotels every night and eating at irregular times.
He was filling in at his restaurant the afternoon following Bennington's passing when his phone began to flood with texts and calls. Finally, he looked to see what was going on.
"I got a message that said, 'Did you see what happened to Chester?'," he recalled.
"'What do you mean what happened to Chester?'"
Stunned, Rollin left the restaurant to grapple with the stunning sadness.
On this episode of Rock'N Vino, you get an inside look at life on the road with Chester Bennington with someone who knew him well.
Linkin Park has yet to announce its next steps, as the members work on individual projects, including Mike Shinoda's recent solo album.
You can visit Belly Left Coast Kitchen in downtown Santa Rosa.
Bryce Dow-Williamson, promoter and booker with SOMO Concerts, and owner of Second Octave Media, works with a number of venues across the Bay Area, including SOMO, Petaluma’s Mystic Theatre and Berkeley’s Cornerstone. Dow-Williamson sits down with us on this episode of Rock’N Vino in a wide-ranging conversation about the SOMO concert space, the North Bay music scene and the challenges it faces, as well as what goes in to developing a thriving music scene.
On the heels of another massive BottleRock Napa Valley, Coco Sterzenbach and Mike DeWald recap the festival, from their favorite sets of the previous weekend to the most delectable festival food offerings and a complete rundown of their time in Napa.
We’re also including portions of their interviews with some of the top wine and beverage purveyors at the fest: Dave Miner, founder of Miner Family Winery in Napa and Hendrick’s Gin National Brand Ambassador Mark Stoddard.
Miner has been involved with BottleRock Napa Valley since the early days of the festival and is now a major partner, sponsoring the Miner Family Stage. Dave Miner spoke about getting involved with the festival, his philosophy with wine, and the relationship between wine and music.
Sterzenbach spoke with Stoddard in front of the gin maker’s three-story mobile festival bar, featuring costumed characters helping supply the festival with Hendrick’s. Stoddard spoke about the history of gin, and shared the delicious recipes for some of the cocktails served at the festival.
Coco and Mike also run down some of the other big festivals coming through NorCal this summer, and offer up some festival tips so you can optimize your experience.
Stay tuned to future episodes of Rock’N Vino for fun and interesting conversations crossing the worlds of music, food, wine and art.
BottleRock Napa Valley returns to the Napa Valley Expo Memorial Day Weekend for the fifth annual incarnation of what has quickly become one of Northern California’s preeminent music festivals.
This year’s BottleRock lineup boasts one of its strongest to date, featuring headlining sets from Muse, Bruno Mars and The Killers, along with a stacked undercard and the always unpredictable Culinary Stage, where the likes of Martha Stewart and five-star chefs like Marimoto are often upstaged by stars like Steph Curry, members of the Foo Fighters or Snoop Dogg.
The Rock’n Vino podcast, hosted by Coco Sterzenbach and Mike DeWald, sit down to talk all things BottleRock: the artists to see, how best to tackle the festival and some of the culinary highlights of this year’s festival, along with some other more common summer music festival topics. What are your music fest pet peeves? Everyone has something they can live without. Coco and Mike dish on their do’s and don’ts of festival season. BottleRock is completely sold out, but check out the podcast for some potential options to get you in to this year’s festival.
Rock’n Vino is a dive into the worlds of music and wine and how the two intersect. The duo routinely talks to musicians who make and drink wine, winemakers who make music, and all the culinary pairings and goodies that go along with it. On each episode, Coco and Mike talk to a guest mixing the worlds of food, drink and music for a fun and varied conversation.
In the second episode of Rock'N Vino Coco sits down with the awesome Lida Galka of CO5 Music. Lida has worked with bands on promoting their music for years and tells us some of her favorite stories from her years on the road. Not only do we talk music but we also talk about the ways in which wine (and sometimes whskey!) and music are increasingly going hand in hand in the way music and artists are promoted.
In the inaugural episode of Rock 'N Vino Coco sits down with Ben Larks of Idle Cellars and finds out just how much music has influenced Ben's wine making adventure with his business partner Ari Heavner. They chat about Sharon Jones, Highly Suspect, Linkin Park, Kings of Leon, trips to South Africa, music festivals and more!
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