Exploring ‘Promiscuous’ Farming Methods with Napa’s Meghan Zobeck – Straight Talk Episode 23

The Burgess Cellars winemaker tells us about her journey from the NFL to Chile’s Clos Apalta to Michel Rolland’s team in France to California’s Napa Valley, and the “crazy ideas” she’s implementing at Burgess

A few days after winemaker Meghan Zobeck started her new job at Napa’s historic Burgess Cellars, the winery burned down in the Glass fire. With the help of owner Gaylon Lawrence and CEO Carlton McCoy, not only did Burgess bounce back, but Zobeck’s followup 2021 Cabernets are outstanding. She tells us about the NFL career that she left to pursue winemaking, and the “crazy ideas” that McCoy has encouraged her to pursue at Burgess Cellars—including something called agricultura promiscua …

Straight Talk host James Molesworth also welcomes Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank to the newest episode, to discuss the recent sales of two California wine icons, Williams Selyem and Sea Smoke, and what those ownership transfers tell us about the California Pinot Noir industry.

Now available on Apple, Google, Spotify and more, including at WineSpectator.com/podcast, Straight Talk debuted in October 2022 and has attracted some of the wine industry’s biggest stars for honest, probing, revelatory and sometimes hilarious conversations.

Season 1 guests included winemakers Aubert de Villaine, Tim Mondavi, Tony Soter, Mark Aubert, Helen Keplinger, Thomas Rivers Brown, Greg Brewer and many more, as well as chefs Thomas Keller and Marcus Samuelsson, NBA Hall of Famer and winery investor Tony Parker and film, TV and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc star Sarah Jessica Parker.

“The Straight Talk podcast is a must-listen for anyone in the wine industry, and gives consumers a personal connection with our expert staff of tasters that no other format—or podcast—can offer,” said Wine Spectator editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken, who himself made several guest appearances in Straight Talk‘s first season.

Wine Spectator‘s Straight Talk podcast is available for free on all major podcasting platforms, as well as at WineSpectator.com/podcast, and listeners can email their questions and comments to StraightTalk@WineSpectator.com.

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!