Investing Beyond Alcohol - Noah Friedman, Top Shelf Ventures

Sparkling Wine and Modern Consumers - Kyle Altomare, Gloria Ferrer

Gloria Ferrer winemaker Kyle Altomare joins Wine Country Business to discuss why sparkling wine is resonating with a new generation of consumers. As younger drinkers look for more personal and experience-driven connections with brands, wineries are being forced to rethink hospitality, storytelling, and loyalty. Kyle also shares candid insights on blending sessions that turn guests into lifelong ambassadors, the dangers of “forced authenticity,” and what many wine brands still misunderstand about community and consumer connection.

Investing Beyond Alcohol - Noah Friedman, Top Shelf Ventures

Venture investor Noah Sanborn Friedman has built Top Shelf Ventures into one of the fastest-growing funds focused on alcohol and adjacent vice categories. In this episode, he discusses creator-led RTDs, nicotine pouches, THC regulation, DTC wine strategy, and why consumers are increasingly moving toward new alcohol alternatives and emerging category brands.

Cannabis Extracts, Terpenes, and the Future of the Industry with Jose Rivas

Jose Rivas, CEO of Premium Extracts, explains how cannabis extracts are made and how his company evolved into an ingredients supplier focused on terpenes. He shares his journey from early startup failure to building a licensed extraction facility, and discusses industry trends including price compression, THC beverages, and regulatory challenges shaping the cannabis market.

From Soil to Strategy: Running a Vineyard in Napa & Sonoma

Most conversations about wine focus on brand, marketing, or experience. This one starts in the vineyard.  Cameron Smith, co-owner of Loma Del Sol Farming, manages over 350 acres across Napa and Sonoma. He breaks down what it actually takes to run a vineyard today, from long-term planting decisions to cost pressures, labor constraints, and shifting demand. A clear look at how decisions at the source shape the entire wine business.

Inside Wine Tech - Paul Mabray, Pour Now

Survival in wine isn’t guaranteed. Paul Mabray joins Wine Country Business to break down “digital Darwinism” in alcohol. From WineDirect and VinTank to the rise and collapse of Pix, he explains how decades of wins and failures reshaped his view on what it takes to last.