Debbie Gioquindo, CSW, WLS the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess takes the intimidation out of wine. This podcast you will find interviews with winemakers, interesting people and my show Winephabet Street.
From Napa to Lake Champlain: A Winemaker, a Blank Canvas & the Future of New York Wine
What would make a Napa winemaker leave Cabernet country and head almost to the Canadian border to work with grapes like La Crescent, Marquette and Petite Pearl?
For Kyle Mizuno, Director of Winemaking and Head Winemaker at Rolling Hills Estate Winery, it was the opportunity to help write a wine story that is still very much in its beginning.
In this episode of Uncork Your Mind, Kyle joins me from Westport, New York, to talk about his journey from studying biochemistry at UC Davis to entering the Napa wine industry—and ultimately trading an established wine region for the possibilities of New York's Champlain Valley.
Kyle describes Napa as a place where the picture has largely been painted. You can make the blues deeper, the reds brighter and the greens bolder, but consumers often know what they expect the finished picture to look like.
The Champlain Valley gave him something different:
A brand-new palette and a blank canvas.
We talk about the challenges of growing grapes this far north, the moderating influence of Lake Champlain, dramatically higher acidity, short harvest windows and what happens when a California winemaker discovers that October really does mean the end of harvest.
We also get into some grapes you may—or may not—know: La Crescent, Marquette, Petite Pearl, Frontenac and Frontenac Gris.
Kyle shares why La Crescent reminds him of "sunshine in a bottle," what he sees in Marquette and Petite Pearl, and why his goal isn't to make hybrid grapes imitate Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay.
Instead, he's applying the attention to detail he learned making high-end Napa wines to discovering what these cold-climate grapes can become when allowed to express their own personalities.
Perhaps most exciting is the bigger picture.
Rolling Hills Estate Winery has planted 20 acres in a region that is still developing its wine identity, and Kyle sees an opportunity not just to build a winery, but to help build a wine community.
Could today's Champlain Valley be experiencing its own pioneering wine moment?
Pour yourself a glass and join us for a fascinating conversation about taking risks, rediscovering winemaking and helping write the next chapter of New York wine.
Because sometimes the most interesting wines aren't the ones whose stories have already been told.
They're the ones whose stories are just beginning.
28 May 2026
Schioppettino: Friuli's Peppery Secret and the Women Preserving It
In this episode of Uncork Your Mind, Debbie Gioquindo, the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess, travels virtually to Italy's Friuli Venezia Giulia region to speak with Francesca Mecchia of Vigna Petrussa Winery.
Together, we dive into the story of Schioppettino, one of Italy's most fascinating indigenous red grapes known for its black pepper spice, elegance, freshness, and incredible food pairing versatility.
Francesca shares the history of her family's all-female winery, how Schioppettino was brought back from near extinction, and why preserving indigenous grapes is so important for the future of wine.
The conversation also explores:
• Friuli's unique terroir and Ponca soil
• Traditional and modern winemaking practices
• Climate change in the vineyard
• The rise of quality-focused wine consumers
• Why wines with a sense of place matter more than ever
If you enjoy discovering hidden wine gems and hearing the stories behind the bottle, pour yourself a glass and join us for this fascinating conversation from northeastern Italy.
Learn more about Vigna Petrussa at:
https://www.vignapetrussa.it/
Uncork Your Mind is a podcast for curious wine lovers — the stories, the people, and the grapes worth knowing.
5 Mar 2026
🍷 Wine, Parenting & Humor | Interview with Danielle Frank
On this episode of Uncork Your Mind, Debbie Gioquindo (The Hudson Valley Wine Goddess) interviews author Danielle Frank about her book:
A Wine Lover's Guide to Parenting: The Fine Art of Wine & Whine Management.
Danielle combines wine terminology with parenting lessons to explore topics like:
• Why whining should never win
• Why kids need room to "breathe"
• Teaching manners and kindness
• Setting boundaries early
• Parenting through humor and perspective
Whether you're a wine lover, a parent, or simply enjoy thoughtful conversations, this interview is full of insight and laughs.
🍷 Grab a glass and join the conversation.
📚 Find Danielle's book:
Amazon & Barnes & Noble
🌐 Danielle Frank
daniellefrankauthor.com
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
27,796
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
74
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
27
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