Pour Memories Podcast

Metal. Mayhem. Wine.

In this episode of Pour Memories, we sit down with our metal-loving, community-building friend Stacy Buchanan, founder of Blood of Gods, a zine and cultural force that smashes together the worlds of wine and heavy metal in a most delightful way. We talk about Stacy’s journey from the music scene into the wine industry, the magical weirdness of Walla Walla, and how Blood of Gods started as a “social experiment” and evolved into a community-driven, culture-shifting project. Stacy shares how the annual Merrymaking event came to life, what it means to create space for wine folks who don’t fit the mold, and how ego and elitism have sucked the joy out of wine for too long. This is a warm, wide-ranging, and at times cathartic conversation about the power of storytelling, the joy of building subculture, and why wine should be fun, loud, and deeply inclusive. About Our Guest: Stacy Buchanan is the founder and editor of Blood of Gods [https://bloodofgods.bigcartel.com/category/zine], an independent print zine based in Walla Walla, WA, that blends wine, heavy metal, art, and alternative culture. He’s also the creator of Merrymaking [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blood-of-gods-2025-annual-merrymaking-tickets-1232139425189], an annual event that champions inclusivity and creativity in the wine world. Stacy is a punk at heart, a zinemaker by trade, and a champion for people who love wine but hate the pretense. He was also named one of Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Tastemakers in 2023 [https://www.wineenthusiast.com/future-40/2023-tastemakers/stacy-buchanan/?srsltid=AfmBOoo3__dzwRGdenKHsryXYqvKivD0H3wVAWOiysayf1io8guTAsEC]. Instagram: @bloodofgodszine [https://www.instagram.com/bloodofgodszine/] “Wine has been the no fun club for a while” – Stacy Awesome People, Places, Wines, & Wineries Mentioned in This Episode: * Blood of Gods Zine [https://bloodofgods.bigcartel.com/category/zine] * The Annual Merrymaking in Walla Walla [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blood-of-gods-2025-annual-merrymaking-tickets-1232139425189] * harles Smith Grenache “The Boy” * Yallerhorn Wines (featured at Blood of Gods) * Quilceda Creek * Pepper Bridge Winery * Kiona Vineyards * Foxen Vineyard & Winery — especially their Chenin Blanc * Delmas — Viognier and Syrah * Jolie-Laide Wines * Iruai * Jett Wines Support our Show: You can support us by subscribing, rating, and reviewing our podcast wherever you listen. Got a friend who’s into wine, zines, or shaking things up? Share this episode with them. If you have the means and motivation, you can support our show by purchasing from one of our sponsors or buying us a beverage [https://buymeacoffee.com/pourmemories]! * Looking for your favorite wine merch? Visit thewinoshop.com [http://www.thewinoshop.com/] and use code POURMEMORIES for 10% off your order! [Sponsor] * Support our beverage enjoyment [https://buymeacoffee.com/pourmemories]: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pourmemories.com [https://www.pourmemories.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Books, Bottles, and Building Community

In this episode of Pour Memories, we sit down with our brilliant and book-loving friend Erin Kirschenmann, longtime managing editor at Wine Business Monthly and founder of the new wine-and-literature experience: Novel Pairings. We talk about what pulled Erin into the wine industry, how she’s spent over a decade helping shape the conversation around wine business, and why she’s now building something of her own with Novel Pairings—a project that connects wine, books, and music into curated experiences. Erin shares her favorite “pour memory,” how wine can act as a time capsule, and why excitement often matters more than expertise when it comes to connecting with wine. We also dig into how books shape us, what sibling dynamics in literature can reveal about us, and how music is increasingly part of the reading experience. Of course, we had to ask her for her top book recommendations and what wines she’d pair with them. It’s a cozy, creative, and deeply thoughtful conversation about storytelling, sensory memory, and the joy of bringing people together around wine and words. About Our Guest: Erin Kirschenmann [https://www.erinkirschenmann.com/] is the managing editor of Wine Business Monthly [https://www.winebusiness.com/wbm/], where she’s worked since 2012, and the founder of Novel Pairings [https://www.novel-pairings.com/about], a new subscription and community experience pairing books, wine, and music. She’s a reader, a writer, and a fierce advocate for making wine more welcoming and accessible, especially for those still finding their way into the industry. She also really loves a good Chenin Blanc and the occasional Trader Joe’s Grüner. Listeners of Pour Memories can enjoy their first month of Novel Pairings [https://www.novel-pairings.com/become-a-member] free with code POURMEMORIES at checkout. Books and Wines Mentioned in This Episode: * The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova * The Wedding People by Alison Espach * The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald * The Three Lives of Kate K by Sharon Maas * Beach Read and Book Lovers by Emily Henry * Vineyard Rocks and Soils by Alex Maltman * Limited Addition Wines [https://www.limitedadditionwines.com/] by Bree Stock * RN Estates [https://www.rnestate.com/our-wines/] Pinot Noir from La Encantada Vineyard * Tablas Creek [https://tablascreek.com/] Vineyard Viognier * Floriana Grüner Veltliner [https://www.traderjoessommelier.com/wine-reviews/2019-floriana-gruner-veltliner] from Trader Joe’s * Literally any Chenin Blanc Support our Show: You can support us by subscribing, rating, and reviewing our podcast wherever you listen. Please also consider sharing our show with someone you know will love it. If you have the means and motivation, you can support our show by purchasing from one of our sponsors or buying us a beverage [https://buymeacoffee.com/pourmemories]! * Looking for your favorite wine merch? Visit thewinoshop.com [http://www.thewinoshop.com/] and use code POURMEMORIES for 10% off your order! [Sponsor] * Support our beverage enjoyment [https://buymeacoffee.com/pourmemories]: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pourmemories.com [https://www.pourmemories.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Legacy, Therapy, and the Joy of the Pour with Riley Slack of Foxen Vineyard and Winery

In this episode of Pour Memories, we sit down with our very good friend Riley Slack, who is the VP of Operations at Foxen Vineyard & Winery, for a wide-ranging conversation about fulfillment in life, mental health, and the realities of working in the wine industry. We unpack whether it’s good or bad to be “busy” (seems like the distinction is in the eye of the beholder), the impact of family legacy on career paths, and the importance of making intentional choices. Riley shares her personal journey in wine and how therapy, reflection, and lived experience have shaped her growth both professionally and personally. We also dive into evolving attitudes around mental health (“I love that your reaction was ‘nice!” when learning about me going to therapy”), what it takes to find the right therapist, and how we each try to manage overwhelm in our own lives. As is our way when enjoying delicious beverages with our friends, the conversation slips into some tangents about baseball, wine hospitality, and the emotional ups and downs that come with working in passion-driven industries. It’s an honest, warm, and unfiltered conversation about showing up for our work, our friends, and ourselves, exactly like how our conversations go when we aren’t recording ourselves for the world to hear. About Our Guest: Riley Wathen Slack is a second-generation wine industry professional and our dear friend. She is one of the children of one of the founders of Foxen Vineyard and Winery [https://www.foxenvineyard.com/] based in Santa Barbara Wine Country. She likes cats, her amazing husband Chuck, and Chenin Blanc. Awesome People and Wine Mentioned in this Episode: * Julia Coney [https://substack.com/profile/17953236-julia-coney], who gave us some food for thought about the term “busy.” * Alta Colina Trailer Pond [https://www.thetrailerpond.com/], where Riley & Heather stayed during WiVi [https://wivicentralcoast.com/]/Central Coast Insights [https://centralcoastinsights.com/] * Foxen Vineyard & Winery [https://www.foxenvineyard.com/] 2007 Chenin Blanc Support our Show: You can support us by subscribing, rating, and reviewing our podcast wherever you listen. Please also consider sharing our show with someone you know will love it. If you have the means and motivation, you can support our show by purchasing from one of our sponsors or buying us a beverage [https://buymeacoffee.com/pourmemories]! * Looking for your favorite wine merch? Visit thewinoshop.com [http://www.thewinoshop.com/] and use code POURMEMORIES for 10% off your order! [Sponsor] * Support our beverage enjoyment [https://buymeacoffee.com/pourmemories]: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pourmemories.com [https://www.pourmemories.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 2 | Stop Scaring The Newbies!

In this conversation, Heather and Kristin discuss the importance of accessibility in the wine industry by relating a consumer’s journey in wine to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The discussion highlights the significance of understanding different consumer mindsets before they purchase or drink wine, and the necessity of communicating effectively with all wine lovers, from novices to enthusiasts. Chapters 00:00 Understanding the Wine Journey 00:16 Maslow's Hierarchy of Wine Needs 10:16 Redefining Wine as an Everyday Beverage 11:36 The Language of Wine Marketing 20:08 Understanding Your Audience in Wine Marketing 23:51 Breaking the Rules of Wine Consumption 24:47 Celebrating Wine and Life's Moments Support our Show: You can support us by subscribing, rating, and reviewing our podcast wherever you listen. Please also consider sharing our show with someone you know will love it. If you have the means and motivation, you can support our show by purchasing from one of our sponsors or buying us a beverage! * Looking for your favorite wine merch? Visit thewinoshop.com [http://www.thewinoshop.com] and use code POURMEMORIES for 10% off your order! [Sponsor] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pourmemories.com [https://www.pourmemories.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 1 | Aha Moments in Wine

In this inaugural episode of the Pour Memories Podcast, hosts Heather Daenitz and Kristin Harris share their personal wine stories, exploring the 'aha' moments that led them into the wine industry and made them appreciate wine, for real, for real. They discuss the emotional connections formed through wine, the experiences during harvest, and the transformative wines that have impacted their lives. The conversation highlights the community aspect of wine culture, the joy of discovering unique wine experiences, and the importance of sharing these moments with others. As they wrap up, they invite listeners to join them in future discussions about wine and beverages. Chapters 00:00 Aha Wine Moments: Discovering Personal Connections to Wine 11:41 Our Journey into the Wine Industry 15:55 Emotional Connections: Wines that Transform Us 20:50 Spirits vs. Wine 22:48 Historical Context of Wine and Beer Consumption 22:58 Experiencing Unique Wines: A Personal Anecdote 26:42 Exploring Wine Bars: Noble Rot and Beyond 31:52 The Joy of Tasting: Expanding Palates 35:27 The Broader Beverage Experience 36:46 Closing Thoughts and Future Topics Support our Show: You can support us by subscribing, rating, and reviewing our podcast wherever you listen. Please also consider sharing our show with someone you know will love it. If you have the means and motivation, you can support our show by purchasing from one of our sponsors or buying us a beverage! * Looking for your favorite wine merch? Visit thewinoshop.com [http://www.thewinoshop.com] and use code POURMEMORIES for 10% off your order! [Sponsor] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pourmemories.com [https://www.pourmemories.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]