Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Doug Shafer
A Napa Valley podcast serving up stories of wine, food, and friends.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days ago1h 3m
Ghost Block vintner Andy Hoxsey's Family is Still Leading Innovation in Napa Valley After 120 Years
Andy Hoxsey has Napa Valley in his DNA. His great-grandfather bought the family's first Napa Valley vineyard in 1903 with a $10 gold coin. His grandfather helped usher in the 1968 Ag Preserve, which has protected the Valley from development. Andy created the modern version of custom crush at Napa Wine Company and established Ghost Block Wine Estates with vines planted in the footprint of George Yount's 1839 vineyard that was Napa's first vineyard. His children are, today, continuing to define what it means to produce wine here.This episode is a true celebration of Napa Valley. It's a look at how the generations of one family remain in conversation with each other and how the past shapes the present and plants the seeds for the future.We hope you enjoy this special episode as much as much as we enjoyed spending time with Andy.To learn more, visit:Ghost Block Wine EstatesNapa Wine Company
- 2 weeks ago1h 9m
Believing in Her Own Instincts Helped Karen Cakebread Start Ziata, Her Napa Wine Brand
Had you met Karen Cakebread in the 1980s, when she worked in an accounting role at Hewlett-Packard, you might be forgiven for not predicting she'd go on to have a long career in Napa Valley wine. But within a few years, she married Steve Cakebread and began representing Cakebread Cellars in markets across Asia.Back in Napa Valley, she worked in a variety of roles at Cakebread, including tasks in the cellar and vineyard, while also focusing on international marketing and culinary programs.In the late 1990s, Karen helped organize a women-led philanthropic foundation to raise funds for breast cancer research. The group supported the cause by taking on challenges together, including summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.In 2008, following her instincts, Karen moved on from Cakebread to launch Ziata, her own Napa Valley wine brand, enlisting the help of winemaker (and former podcast guest) Nile Zacherle. When Nile moved on to David Arthur Vineyards, Karen received a strong recommendation for a new winemaker from her friend Heidi Barrett.Today, Ziata is a partnership between Karen and her friends at Trinchero Family Estates. She also continues to support the vitality of the wine industry as president of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers.For more visit:ZiataNapa Valley Grapegrowers"Grown in Napa Valley" - the Grapegrowers podcast
- Jun 30, 202658 min
A 70-year Family Legacy in Vineyards and Winemaking, With a Few Rose Bowls Thrown In | David Ilsley
In this episode, we welcome our longtime friend David Ilsley, whose family has been part of Napa Valley's grape-growing and winemaking community for more than 70 years.David's grandfather purchased the family's first vineyard in 1954. Since then they have expanded their acreage and moved into vineyard management and winemaking along the way.David grew up in the heart of Napa Valley and attended local schools where he earned a reputation as a top football player. He went on to play at the University of Washington during one of the program's greatest eras, eventually competing in three Rose Bowls.When he returned to Napa, David followed two previous generations of the Ilsley family into vineyard work and in 1998 became director of vineyard operations at Shafer Vineyards, a position he's held ever since.We had a great time catching up with David and learning how vineyard work has evolved over his lifetime, becoming both more of an art and a science, and ultimately helping to capture Napa Valley's poetry in a bottle.To learn more, visit Ilsley Vineyards and Shafer Vineyards.Enjoy!
- Jun 16, 20261h 7m
From Escaping Post-War Vietnam to Creating Red Boat Fish Sauce to Becoming a Napa Valley Vintner | Cuong Pham
Cuong Pham has one of the most remarkable stories we've ever heard on the podcast. He escaped Vietnam in 1979 and lived in a refugee camp in Malaysia before making it to the U.S. Here he became an engineer at Apple in its early days where he built a long, successful career.In the early 2000s, with a longing for the flavors of his mother's cooking, he began the work of creating Red Boat Fish Sauce company, which has become a global phenomenon.Cuong's most recent adventure began when he and his wife, Ann, purchased a hillside property on Soda Canyon Road in Napa Valley. With his new vineyard established, Cuong has launched a winery called Doi Da, which is Vietnamese for "Rocky Hill." We learned about the wines both from him and his highly regarded winemaker Nova Cadamatre.We also learned a host of surprising similarities between making fish sauce and producing wine, involving terroir, harvest, fermentation, aging, and more.We were riveted by this one.Learn more at:redboatfishsauce.comdoidawine.com
- Jun 2, 202646 min
The Future of Wine Sales Is Already Here | Blake Van Treese
Blake Van Treese has one of the best vantage points in the wine business. As president of Last Bottle, First Bottle, Last Bubbles, and several other online wine retail brands, he sees firsthand how consumers are discovering, purchasing, and talking about wine.Growing up in Napa Valley, Blake's connection to wine runs deep. After first pursuing his love of music in college, he returned to Napa and discovered his path in the retail wine business. Along the way, he also became Doug's son-in-law, marking the first time we've had a family member on the podcast.We had a great time discussing wine trends and technology, the importance of producer relationships, and how the Last Bottle and First Bottle business models are changing the way people discover and buy wine.In another first on the podcast, Blake is offering a promo code that can be used on Last Bottle, Last Bubbles, and First Bottle. It is good for $15 off $100 or more for new customers only and expires on September 1, 2026.The code is: TASTE15Learn more at:LastBottleWines.comFirstBottleWines.comLastBubbles.comInvino.comCAWineClub.comGoldMedalWineClub.comWineOfTheMonthClub.comWineScout.com
- May 19, 20261h 23m
How Greg Cole Changed Napa Food History with Celadon and Cole's Chop House
The city of Napa was once better known for its car dealerships and dive bars than for top-tier dining. That changed in the late 1990s when a young chef named Greg Cole, against the advice of others, rolled the dice on launching a small restaurant called Celadon. When Celadon became a sensation, he followed it up by opening the now-legendary Cole’s Chop House.Chef Cole’s path to helping reinvent Napa’s food scene started in a Southern California diner and included stops at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, the restaurant at Chandon, a brewery, a stint as a cellar worker, and more.What he started in the 1990s has become a full-blown food renaissance in Napa.Cole is an incredible storyteller, and we had an absolutely unforgettable hour with him. Enjoy!For more on the restaurants he founded, visit Celadon Napa and Cole's Chop House.
- May 5, 20261h 25m
Juggling Wine, Beer, and Coffee with Nile Zacherle of Mad Fritz and David Arthur
Nile Zacherle was once advised he needed to choose between making wine and brewing beer. Fortunately he didn't take that advice.Instead, he takes a winemaker's approach to producing an array of phenomenal beers under the Mad Fritz brand that he manages with his wife, Whitney Fisher.At the same time, Nile crafts gorgeous wines for David Arthur Vineyards, located in Napa's renowned Pritchard Hill area.We had a great time learning how Nile first fell in love with wine and beer at a young age and went on to work at wineries and breweries for many years after earning his degree at U.C. Davis. These included stints at Chateau Montelena and Barnett Vineyards.Recently, the Mad Fritz brand welcomed a new world of flavor by introducing single origin coffee.We get into all of it in an episode that we absolutely loved recording.For more on the beer, visit: MadFritz.comTo learn about David Arthur: DavidArthur.comCheck out Whitney Fisher's family winery: FisherVineyards.com
- Apr 21, 20261h 15m
How Eric LeVine, Founder of CellarTracker, Created the World's Biggest Wine Community
Where wine, community, and technology converge, you'll find the phenomenon of CellarTracker and its founder Eric LeVine.The numbers are staggering: 1.1 million registered users have tracked 200 million wines and posted more than 12 million reviews.Eric takes us through the story of CellarTracker's beginning with his years at Microsoft, which coincided with his growing love of wine. As his personal cellar expanded, he grew frustrated trying to manage it using a spreadsheet. Putting his coding skills to work, in March 2003 Eric created CellarTracker in a rudimentary form.Within months he opened the website up, at no cost, to other users. And In a move that pre-dated Facebook and the coming social media boom, CellarTracker incorporated a sense of community with its shared tasting notes.Collectors flocked to the site and by 2018 CellarTracker had racked up more than 7 million tasting notes and had tracked 100 million bottles.Over the past 23 years the site has evolved, offering collectors greater freedom to share their wine impressions with each other and more ways to enjoy their cellar holdings. Eric lays out what's coming for the site, including exciting new features powered by AI.Learn more: cellartracker.com
About The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends
A Napa Valley podcast serving up stories of wine, food, and friends.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Doug Shafer.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends release new episodes?
The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends cover?
The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends covers topics including Leisure, Arts, Food, Nutrition, Fitness, Health & Fitness, Home & Garden. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.