Women Who Make Us Wine

Most Recent Podcast

May 2 2021

Women Who Make Us Wine
Women Who Make Us Wine
Learn why Alison Doran, one of America's first female winemakers, believes: "If you want to dream in color, drink wine"
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A Note from the Wine Guy Jim Morris and Hope Katz Gibbs, co-hosts, Women Who Make Us Wine Show — Hello and welcome to our bi-monthly podcast and video series that shines a light on the ladies who put the magic into our glasses.

We are thrilled to introduce you to today’s guest Alison Doran, a veteran of the wine industry and one of the first female winemakers in California.

Alison has decades of winemaking experience that started in 1973 when she began studying under “the dean of American winemakers,” André Tchelistcheff, who helped define the style of California‘s best wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon.

“I was a harvest intern and cellar rat in Alsace and learned about all of the stages of the winemaking process under André,” shares Alison, who had been studying animal husbandry at the University of California, Davis before switching to fermentation science after working with her mentor.

In 1976, she landed a job as a lab technician at Firestone Vineyard and worked her way up to becoming a winemaker in 1981.

After marrying her husband Mark and having two sons, Alison moved to her family’s ranch in Alexander Valley in 2000. For the last two decades, she has consulted for many wineries in Sonoma and Napa Valley — including Romeo Vineyards and Cellars. And, she also started her own family label, Hoot Owl Creek Vineyards.

In today’s interview, you’ll learn:

  • About Alison’s wine journey
  • Her time spent training under one of the wine industry’s most popular winemakers, Andre Tchelistcheff.
  • The moment she knew: “I must be in the wine business.”
  • Her coolest memory as a winemaker
  • The challenges of getting into the wine business—and being successful in it
  • The best wine she has tasted
  • The one project that’s still on her bucket list
  • And, of course, her experience being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated business and advice she’d give to other women hoping to work in the wine industry.

Click here to check out all of our interviews on the Women Who Make Us Wine Radio Show and WomenWhoMakeUsWine.tv.

Your Hosts: Jim Morris, VP, Charles Krug Winery and Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Inkandescent Women magazine

About the show: From winemakers and sommeliers to winery owners and master chefs, tune in to meet the truly amazing women who have long made an impact in the wine industry. This show co-hosted by long-time winery exec Jim Morris not only educates and stimulates your taste buds — it offers insight into what’s behind every perfect sip.

Pour yourself a glass and tune in every Friday at 8 pm, California time, for another episode of the “Women Who Make Us Wine Radio Show.”

Previous Episodes
Sunday, March 14th, 2021

Social media specialist Jessyca Lewis brings wine to the Twitter zone

A Note from Jim Morris, co-host, Women Who Make Us Wine — We are excited to share brunch with you today our interview with today’s guest Jessyca Lewis, founder of the Savvy Social Vine and the Twitter show #Timetowine. About Jessyca: A marketing and communications executive with 20 years of demonstrated success in advertising sales, marketing, community relations event planning, and project management, Jessyca is currently the founder of Savvy Social Vine, a wine marketing and social media agency and teaches wine andClick here to listen to the podcast!

Sunday, February 28th, 2021

How did Ana Keller help create one of the most popular wines in America?

February 28, 2021: A Note from Jim Morris, the Napa Valley Wine Guy, and Hope Katz Gibbs, hosts, the Women Who Make Us Wine show — We celebrate brunch today talking with Ana Keller, owner of the Keller Estate Winery in Petaluma, CA. Born and raised in Mexico City, where her love for plants drove her to study biopharmaceutical chemistry. In the ’80s, the family relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area and eventually purchased land in Petaluma. True pioneers toClick here to listen to the podcast!

Sunday, February 14th, 2021

Spend Valentine’s Day in Greater Adelaide: Learn from the Master — Robin Shaw founder of Wine Tourism Australia

Welcome to the Women Who Make Us Wine Radio Show: A note from co-hosts Hope Katz Gibbs — Australian entrepreneur Robin Shaw is on a mission to help wineries sell more wine to more people, more often, for more profit. With that goal in mind, she founded Wine Tourism Australia (WTA) in 2012. “We help regions maximize their tourism potential through the development of effective direct sales strategies, world-class cellar door venues, and innovative visitor experiences,” explains Robin, who has developed tailored workshop and enterpriseClick here to listen to the podcast!

Sunday, January 31st, 2021

Have Bubbles with Brunch — Prepare to be Breathless on this episode of Women Who Make Us Wine

A Note from Jim Morris and Hope Katz Gibbs, hosts, Women Who Make Us Wine Radio Show — We were thrilled to launch our new show by interviewing two women who are taking the wine industry by storm — Sharon Cohn, who with her sisters own Breathless Wines, and their masterful winemaker Penelope Gadd-Coster. “We started this winery to honor our mother, Martha, who taught us to live large and dream big,” explains Sharon. We know you’ll be inspired! Watch ourClick here to listen to the podcast!

Tuesday, January 5th, 2021

Welcome to the “Women Who Make Us Wine” Radio Show: Meet your host, Jim Morris, the Wine Guy

January 2021: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, founder, Inkandescent Radio Network — It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Jim Morris — my co-host on the “Women Who Make Us Wine Radio Show.” Known by thousands who have met or follow him on social media, “the wine guy” has spent the past 20 years mastered just about every facet of the wine business. Starting this month, we’ll be hosting regular shows starring women winemakers, winery owners, sommeliers, wine influencers,Click here to listen to the podcast!

Friday, November 13th, 2015

History Lesson: Gabriele Rausse teaches us about the first winery in America

Pour yourself a lovely glass of Burgundy or Bordeaux (known to be Thomas Jefferson’s favorites), and sit back and relax as you listen to this Grateful American™ podcast starring Gabriele Rausse, who has been dubbed “The Father of the Modern Virginia Wine Industry.” It is with good reason. Rausse has been involved in the start-up of numerous wineries, including his own, since he first came to Virginia from his native Valdagno, Italy. Today he is Monticello’s director of Gardens andClick here to listen to the podcast!