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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 Wine Industry
California
Pursued By Bear
Bordeaux
Hospitality
Patz & Hall
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 monthlyEpisodes109Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FoodArtsHealth & FitnessNutrition

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Artwork for The Taste

Latest Episodes

Please join us in celebrating the podcast's 100th episode! For this milestone we thought it was finally time to bring on our most-requested guest, Doug Shafer.

Today, Doug talks about how his father, John Shafer, went from flying B-24 bombers in Wor... more

Todd Ricard's one-of-a-kind journey to Napa Valley winemaking started in rural Ohio and took him through a stint as an Army satellite operator in Japan. He discovered wine while later stationed near Paso Robles. What started as a way to celebrate wee... more

Davie Piña grew up in a long Napa Valley tradition of vineyards and winemaking. He and his brothers ran one of the Valley's first vineyard management companies, helping to drive the enormous changes in Napa's reputation from the 1960s to today. They ... more

Meghan Zobeck grew up in a Colorado cow town, graduated valedictorian of her senior class, studied for a career in medicine, and after college pivoted to a high-energy job with the Denver Broncos, negotiating player contracts — not your average pathw... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Todd Ricard
Director of winemaking at The Prisoner Wine Company
The Prisoner Wine Company
Episode: Todd Ricard's Winemaking Career at 'The Prisoner' Has Its Roots in Paso Robles and Satellites
Davie Piña
Vineyard manager and founder of Piña Vineyard Management
Piña Vineyard Management
Episode: Davie Piña | A Quiet Force in Napa Valley Vineyards and Cellars
Meghan Zobeck
Director of Winemaking at Opus One
Opus One Winery
Episode: Opus One's New Director of Winemaking, Meghan Zobeck, Came to Wine Through the NFL
Tom Rinaldi
Longtime winemaker; founder of Round Hill and Duckhorn connections
Duckhorn, Round Hill, Provenance
Episode: Remembering Great Winemaker and True Friend Tom Rinaldi | A Classic Episode
Joe Czerwinski
Reviewer for Wine Enthusiast and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, covering Napa Valley, Canada, and New York State
Wine Enthusiast; Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Episode: From Wine Forums to Robert Parker Wine Advocate | Joe Czerwinski
Violet Grgich
Winemaker and owner of Grgich-Hills Winery
Grgich-Hills Winery
Episode: Violet Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate in a Classic Episode of 'The Taste'
Bo Barrett
Winemaker and winery owner of Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena
Episode: Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena in a Classic Episode of 'The Taste'
Andy Hoxsey
Ghost Block vintner, fourth-generation Napa Valley grower, managing partner of Napa Wine Company
Ghost Block Estate Wines; Napa Wine Company
Episode: Ghost Block vintner Andy Hoxsey's Family is Still Leading Innovation in Napa Valley After 120 Years
Karen Cakebread
Winemaker and founder of Ziata Wines
Ziata Wines
Episode: Believing in Her Own Instincts Helped Karen Cakebread Start Ziata, Her Napa Wine Brand

Host

Doug Shafer
Host of The Taste – podcast about wine, food, and friends; longtime Napa winemaker and leader of Shafer Vineyards

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 342 ratings
  • Makes you feel part of the “Family!”

    I love this podcast so much! It’s so great to learn of the history and people who made (and continue to make) Napa Valley the jewel of American wine. Loved the conversations with Violet Grgich and Meghan Zobeck.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Xsearnold
    United Statesa month ago
  • 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 States10 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 Statesa year 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

Listeners Say

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

Great balance of business insights and personal storytelling.
Listeners praise Doug's interviewing style and guest lineup.
High-quality conversations that go beyond tasting notes to story and strategy.
Engaging deep dives into Napa history and wine personalities.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#58
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#169
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#222
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#65
Mexico/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#94
Sweden/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#151
Denmark/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Todd Ricard's Winemaking Career at 'The Prisoner' Has Its Roots in Paso Robles and Satellites
Q: How did you decide this is the direction you wanted to go?
Ricard said Cab and Syrah had long been important components in The Prisoner's red wines and that the varieties work well together. Syrah softens Cabernet's firm tannins while helping the wine remain fresh.
Todd Ricard's Winemaking Career at 'The Prisoner' Has Its Roots in Paso Robles and Satellites
Q: So what happened down there? In your spare time.
While stationed near Paso Robles, Ricard began wine tasting with friends, grew fascinated by fermentation and winemaking, and volunteered at Le Cuvier to learn cellar work.
Davie Piña | A Quiet Force in Napa Valley Vineyards and Cellars
Q: How did your family first get involved in farming and winemaking in Napa?
Davie Piña describes a multigenerational shift from truck farming to vineyard management, starting with his father's transition from farming to building a vineyard service business, and later expanding into a winery model that emphasized controlling every step from planting to bottling.
Believing in Her Own Instincts Helped Karen Cakebread Start Ziata, Her Napa Wine Brand
Q: Where were you born and how did your early life shape your path?
Karen explains she was born in Oklahoma, grew up in Silicon Valley, and reflects on the mobility from there to California wine regions, highlighting how diverse experiences formed her adaptable mindset.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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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 show that blends wine history, business strategy, and personal storytelling. Episodes frequently explore winery legacies, family dynamics, vineyard management, and the intersections of hospitality, dining, and branding within the wine industry. The format often features veteran winemakers, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurial leaders who share origin stories, mentorship, and lessons learned while navigating growth, crises, and innovation. Unique strengths include deep regional context, first-hand industry insights, and candid conversations that connect terroir to business and culture, making it compelling for listeners who want both practical wine industry takeaways and human-interest narratives.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Taste?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Taste. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Taste and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Taste get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Taste?

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How many subscribers and views does The Taste have?

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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. VinePair Podcast
3. GuildSomm Podcast
4. Wine Enthusiast Podcast
5. Wine 101

How many episodes of The Taste are there?

The Taste launched 9 years ago and published 109 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Taste?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Taste?

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What guests have appeared on The Taste?

Recent guests on The Taste include:

1. Todd Ricard
2. Davie Piña
3. Meghan Zobeck
4. Tom Rinaldi
5. Joe Czerwinski
6. Violet Grgich
7. Bo Barrett
8. Andy Hoxsey

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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