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Artwork for The Taste

The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends

Doug Shafer
Napa Valley
Wine
Winemaking
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
California Wine
Heidi Barrett
California
California Wine Industry
Pursued By Bear
Bordeaux
Patz & Hall
Hospitality
Screaming Eagle
Dalle Valle
Barrett & Barrett
Spanish Grape Varietals
UC Davis
Cabernet
Wine Spectator

A Napa Valley podcast serving up stories of wine, food, and friends.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes96Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NutritionFoodHealth & FitnessArts

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Artwork for The Taste

Latest Episodes

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 cal... more

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 man... more

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.... more

Winemaker Robert Foley knows exactly when wine won him over – it was 1969 when he got the rare chance to visit the cellars at Inglenook and taste classic wines out of casks. With this inspiration, he went on to study winemaking at UC Davis with a who... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Nile Zacherle
Winemaker, brewmaster, founder of Mad Fritz
Mad Fritz Brewing, David Arthur Winery
Episode: Juggling Wine, Beer, and Coffee with Nile Zacherle of Mad Fritz and David Arthur
Andy Dempsky
Guest mentioned in intro, part of the episode discussion
Episode: Juggling Wine, Beer, and Coffee with Nile Zacherle of Mad Fritz and David Arthur
Eric LeVine
Founder of CellarTracker
CellarTracker
Episode: How Eric LeVine, Founder of CellarTracker, Created the World's Biggest Wine Community
Bob Foley
Winemaker and founder of Robert Foley Vineyards
Robert Foley Vineyards
Episode: What Robert Foley Learned From Napa's Legendary Winemakers
Paula Kornell
Sparkling wine producer; Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine founder
Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine
Episode: A Classic Episode with Paula Kornell — Fourth Gen Vintner with a Family Story Spanning Two Continents, One War, and More than 60 Years
Robin Lail
Founder of Lail Vineyards, Dominus co-founder, long-time Napa Valley vintner
Lail Vineyards, Dominus (former partner)
Episode: A Classic Episode with Robin Lail - A Fourth Generation Vintner with a 150-Year Family Legacy
Jeff Smith
Owner of Hourglass Wines, rock guitarist
Hourglass Wines
Episode: Jeff Smith - Growing up in Napa Valley, a Rock-n-Roll Career, and His Winery, Hourglass
Russ Weis
President and COO of Walsh Vineyard Management, with a long career in the Napa Valley wine industry, formerly with Mondavi and Opus One.
Walsh Vineyard Management
Episode: Russ Weis - A Career through Mondavi, Opus One, Silverado Vineyards, and Walsh Vineyard Management
Kim Stare Wallace
Second generation president of Dry Creek Vineyard Winery
Dry Creek Vineyard
Episode: Kim Stare Wallace, Vintner of Celebrated Dry Creek Vineyard

Host

Doug Shafer
Host of The Taste – a podcast about wine, food, and friends; facilitates interviews and storytelling around Napa Valley and beyond.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 324 ratings
  • Great Podcast!

    Wonderful podcast that gives such insight into Napa Valley and other wine regions and people! Doug does a great job interviewing such interesting people in the wine world!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RedDevil98#
    United States5 months ago
  • Wonderful Inside Baseball Look at Wine Country

    This is a fantastic podcast with some incredible guests. I really enjoy Doug and Andy’s work, particularly on the business side of the wine business and how it intersects with high-quality wine production.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    B Boessenecker
    United States6 months ago
  • I ❤️Napa

    I love to visit Napa and love Napa Valley wines. Unfortunately, I cannot go as often as I would like. I love this podcast as it makes me feel like I’m visiting Napa and love all the insider stories. Thanks Doug for creating this podcast!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bth1010
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast

    Refreshing candid stories about a lot of the wines we love to enjoy. Great job Doug. Keep them coming!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chipxh
    United States2 years ago
  • Great pod

    Informative, interesting, entertaining…for those who love wine and the folks involved in the wine industry, this is the podcast for you. Glad you’re back!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @finewinefan
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests consistently provide diverse perspectives, and listening feels like a curated Napa Valley visit.
Listeners appreciate how interviews reveal insider stories and personal histories behind Napa wine and its key players.
The show is informative and entertaining, with a strong focus on the business side of wine and industry dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#98
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#142
Finland/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#238
Japan/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Eric LeVine, Founder of CellarTracker, Created the World's Biggest Wine Community
Q: When did you decide to take CellarTracker from a side project to a full-time commitment?
After the beta uptake grew and press coverage accelerated signups, I left Microsoft in 2004-2005 to focus on CellarTracker full-time, transitioning from a hobby to a self-sustaining business.
How Eric LeVine, Founder of CellarTracker, Created the World's Biggest Wine Community
Q: Could you give us like a quick overview of CellarTracker, just hit the highlights of what it's all about?
It started as a personal cataloging tool, grew into a two-sided platform: a private database for individuals and a public community where people write tasting notes and reviews; it evolved into a global wine data resource with millions of reviews and a strong social layer.
Kim Stare Wallace, Vintner of Celebrated Dry Creek Vineyard
Q: What are your flagship wines that you recommend for first-time drinkers?
I recommend our Fumé Blanc, Heritage Vine Zinfandel, dry Chenin Blanc, and our signature Cabernet.
Kim Stare Wallace, Vintner of Celebrated Dry Creek Vineyard
Q: What unique practices do you employ in vineyard development?
We use variable vine spacing based on soil nutrition, which is tailored to the health of each section of the vineyard.
Kim Stare Wallace, Vintner of Celebrated Dry Creek Vineyard
Q: What was your father's vision for Dry Creek Vineyard when he started?
He wanted to create a winery focused on high-quality wines, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, which he bravely planted against local advice.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Taste

What is The Taste about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Napa Valley-focused series that blends wine industry history, winemaking storytelling, and hospitality ethos with personable, conversation-driven interviews. Episodes frequently center on family legacies, vineyard development, regional terroir, and the business side of wine, often touching on branding, sustainability, and notable Napa personalities. The show stands out for its corridor of intimate anecdotes, strong host interview skills, and access to a wide network of winemakers, restaurateurs, and wine enthusiasts, making it appealing to listeners who crave context on how regions, brands, and people shape the wine world. Potential listeners should expect insightful, easy-to-follow discussions that balance history, craft, and personal st... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Taste?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Taste:

1. SOMM TV wine & food
2. GuildSomm Podcast
3. Wine Enthusiast Podcast
4. VinePair Podcast
5. Wine 101

How many episodes of The Taste are there?

The Taste launched 8 years ago and published 96 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Taste?

Recent guests on The Taste include:

1. Nile Zacherle
2. Andy Dempsky
3. Eric LeVine
4. Bob Foley
5. Paula Kornell
6. Robin Lail
7. Jeff Smith
8. Russ Weis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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