Matt and Sara Licklider of LIOCO Wines

Matt and Sara Licklider of LIOCO Wines

"We're in the business of making agricultural wines, and I think we need to make a distinction right here between agricultural wine and industrial wine. A lot of these vineyards that have these really amazing histories attributed to them also have people with interesting histories. It's not selling the widgets—it's teasing out the stories about these very authentic places and these interesting people and then being able to share those stories." – Matt Licklider  Twenty years ago, LIOCO [https://www.skurnik.com/producer/lioco/] was founded to disrupt the California wine status quo of high-alcohol, oak-heavy bottles, proving instead that California soils could produce wines with the same energy, acidity, and restraint as Europe's classical regions. This week, Matt and Sara Licklider, the dynamic vintners behind LIOCO, discuss operating as a négociant producer, embracing an elastic model that prioritizes storytelling, regional transparency, and agricultural authenticity. They share behind-the-scenes stories of their legendary growers—from the late Jim McCutchen hand-planting Carignan in the early 1960s to John Balletto carving a full "Field of Dreams" baseball diamond out of his Russian River Valley Chardonnay vineyard. The conversation also tackles how climate change is forcing the industry to adapt. Matt and Sara discuss why Chardonnay and Pinot Noir may eventually migrate out of traditional regions, prompting LIOCO to explore heat-tolerant Mediterranean varieties and vibrant Albariño [https://www.skurnik.com/sku/albario-clarksburg-lioco/] from the Sacramento River Delta. Finally, they dive into what "perfection" really means in the cellar, exploring how to balance microbial loads to ensure a wine's typicity always shines through. Automatically generated transcripts often make mistakes. Find a corrected version here [https://www.skurnik.com/matt-and-sara-licklider-of-lioco/]. Skurnik Wines & Spirits [https://www.skurnik.com/skurnik/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/skurnikwines/]

Tom Jackson of Supergay Spirits

"Spirits, when they are at their best, are about facilitating joy and connection and building community. If we can be a small part of that in any way, then I think we've done our job." – Tom Jackson June is Pride Month, but Tom Jackson likes to say he's Supergay for 365 days a year. After an advertising career and founding the iconic GAYLETTER [https://gayletter.com/magazine/] magazine, Tom launched Supergay Spirits [https://www.skurnik.com/producer/supergay-spirits/] with a flagship vodka [https://www.skurnik.com/sku/vodka-supergay-spirits/]. It was a natural place to start; vodka is known as "gay water" for its popularity among the queer community. He wanted to offer an alternative to massive, impersonal brands and overly pretentious craft distilleries, proving that a spirits brand can be fun and joyful while maintaining the highest quality standards. His would be a vodka made for and by the queer community, rather than marketing toward it from the outside.    In this week's episode, Tom explains the strategic and intentional choices that define Supergay, from using a 100% corn base for a softer, slightly sweet profile to finding the sweet spot with a three-pass coconut charcoal filtration. The conversation also tracks the evolution of the brand’s lineup with the new Fire Island Dry Gin [https://www.skurnik.com/sku/fire-island-gin-supergay-strapped-3/], featuring kelp from WNBA hall-of-famer-turned-kelp-farmer Sue Wicks [https://www.globalseafood.org/advocate/meet-the-woman-whos-pioneering-commercial-kelp-farming-in-new-york/]. Tom details the unique formulation hurdles of their low-sugar "Two Fruits" ready-to-drink canned cocktails, highlighting their two newest summer flavors: a savory Black Sesame Espresso Martini [https://www.skurnik.com/sku/two-fruits-espresso-martini-250ml-cans-supergay-spirits/] and a fiery Chili Mango Spritz [https://www.skurnik.com/sku/two-fruits-chili-mango-spritz-250ml-cans-supergay-spirits/].   Finally, he talks brand identity, discussing why a bold name sometimes requires working twice as hard on a quality distillate, and what "Farm to Disco" truly means for LGBTQ+ community support during Pride Month and beyond. Supergay Spirits supports New York City's LGBT Center year round, and you can too [https://gaycenter.org/donate/]. Automatically generated transcripts often make mistakes. Find a corrected version here [https://www.skurnik.com/episode-29-tom-jackson/]. Skurnik Wines & Spirits [https://www.skurnik.com/skurnik/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/skurnikwines/]

Nicola Libelli of Dr. Bürklin-Wolf

“If you want to make exceptional wine, you have to feel at home because it’s about so many little things—little things that you have to observe and feel and catch over the season to make the wine. It’s always important to be there and to feel the place.” – Nicola Libelli Nicola Libelli feels at home in the Pfalz. Though he was born and raised in Northern Italy, a taste of 1992 Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese completely changed the course of his life, compelling him to move to Germany and learn everything about German wine. At the age of 26, he was unexpectedly thrust into the head winemaking role at one of Germany's most historic estates, Dr. Bürklin-Wolf [https://www.skurnik.com/producer/weingut-dr-burklin-wolf-e-k/], where he has since earned his reputation as one of the best Riesling winemakers in the world. In this episode, Nicola reflects on the mentors who shaped his life and how a culture of friendship and healthy competition among winemakers can move the wine industry in the right direction. Meet Nicola at FLXcursion [https://flxcursion2026.com/] in Geneva, NY June 27-29, 2026.   Automatically generated transcripts often make mistakes. Find a corrected version here [https://www.skurnik.com/episode-28-nicola-libelli/]. Skurnik Wines & Spirits [https://www.skurnik.com/skurnik/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/skurnikwines/]

Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse of Birdhorse

“I think joyful, colorful people can still make beautiful, classically-styled, serious wines.” – Corinne Rich The standard California playbook of Chardonnay and Cabernet often overshadows a rich history of alternative varieties perfectly suited for the modern climate. This week’s episode features two guests: Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse, the partners and winemakers behind Birdhorse [https://www.skurnik.com/producer/birdhorse-wines/]. Balancing their own independent label with day jobs at respected wineries, they discuss how they built a brand from scratch, choosing to champion forgotten, climate-resilient Mediterranean grapes through close grower partnerships rather than traditional landownership. The conversation centers on the unexpected potential of Valdiguié—a historic, bulletproof grape once known as “Napa Gamay.” Corinne and Katie explain how working with lesser-known varieties creates an even playing field for drinkers, stripping away the gatekeeping of traditional “wine speak.” They share their vision for making the industry more inclusive through approachable pricing, thoughtful low-intervention winemaking, and joyful, colorful labels designed to bring everyone into the conversation. Automatically generated transcripts often make mistakes. Find a corrected version here [https://www.skurnik.com/episode-27-corrine-rich-and-katie-rouse/]. Skurnik Wines & Spirits [https://www.skurnik.com/skurnik/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/skurnikwines/]

Alex Clark of Fort Hamilton Distillery

"As a brand, you have to have an identity. It's easy to just make products, but why you exist is much more important that what you produce. The "why" for us is recreating this classic New York rye style that hadn't been around for over 100 years." – Alex Clark The Battle of Brooklyn began over stolen fruit in a neighborhood watermelon patch, a piece of borough history that now inspires one of New York’s most distinctive spirits. In this week's episode, Whiskey Specialist James Pellingra talks with Alex Clark, founder of Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton Distillery [https://www.skurnik.com/producer/fort-hamilton/]. Alex traces his path from London DJ to the center of the New York classic cocktail boom, sharing how his hospitality roots and love of American Revolutionary history inform his approach to distilling. The conversation centers on Fort Hamilton’s reason for existence: bringing back the pre-Prohibition style of New York rye whiskey [https://www.skurnik.com/sku/rye-whiskey-fort-hamilton/]. Long before corn subsidies made bourbon dominant, rye was a true foundational spirit of American distilling. Alex breaks down what makes an Empire Rye Whiskey and what it means to resurrect a distillate that the US government sought to eradicate. Alex also reintroduces Fort Hamilton’s New World Gin [https://www.skurnik.com/sku/gin-new-world-dry-gin-fort-hamilton-new-package-strapped/]. Built on a New York corn base, it balances cucumber with fresh watermelon, a direct tie to that historic battlefield skirmish located just a block from the modern distillery in Industry City.   BCB is held at Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn on June 9th and 10th. The Skurnik bar will be open both days from 11am-7pm in Building 7 for you to meet our spirits specialists and visiting distillers. Register for BCB here [https://www.barconventbrooklyn.com/en-us/about/register-today.html]. Skurnik Wines & Spirits [https://www.skurnik.com/skurnik/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/skurnikwines/]