What's the Problem?

About What's the Problem?

As the wine industry is in transition, it seems that many are scrambling for solutions. Taking a step back, winemaker Adam Casto is looking to define the problem. Speaking to a wide array of different industry perspectives, he aims to get to the heart of the issue from all angles. New episodes will be published on Tuesdays at Noon PST, with bonus episodes published on Thursdays. ehlersestate.substack.com (https://ehlersestate.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Ehlers Estate

Category

arts · business

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

7 Jan 2025

Latest episode

6 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

56 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Nov 2025

   Randall Grahm

   Winegrowing, done properly, is quite unreasonable. A ballerina, spinning gracefully on their toes until they bleed, is quite unreasonable. Sailing past the horizon in a hollowed-out log with no certain aim but to go “there”, is quite unreasonable. Existence itself sometimes feels quite unreasonable. It is the varying degrees of this absurd and hazardous itch that pulled us from the Savannah and into outer space. The vast majority of us though, quite reasonably, seek stability: maximizing control to minimize risks. However, there are from time to time some strange few that seem disinhibited by prudence, cajoled by propriety and harassed by convention. They cross live wires just to make a light. Some leave little more than a mess, most leave nothing at all. But in those exceedingly rare instances where the alignment of things is just so, these sparks of innovation provide new sources of energy that fuel incalculable inspiration, pushing and pulling us out of stagnations we likely did not recognize, and opening new horizons to explore.Wine has been fortunate to attract a share of radicals and lunatics sufficient to produce relevance over millennia, but they are by no means guaranteed. Some calls go unanswered. Imagine if Punk had not existed in response to Disco. Randall Grahm’s Kantian critique of Purely Pragmatic Winegrowing has reoriented the pursuit as infinite game, effectively setting the goalpost in a dimension that will take generations to fully understand.As everything only means whatever meaning we give, looking for it is the obligation we are afforded as (mostly) self-aware beings. That Randall works so hard to articulate the purpose of his actions is evidence that he is looking for it himself, and is itself an exercise to be taken seriously. However, his work has promulgated, in an industry that often struggles under the weight of its own self-seriousness, a rare sensibility of playful yet precise intent wherein seriousness is the only fatal error. We need more Randall Grahms in the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ehlersestate.substack.com (https://ehlersestate.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   19 Sept 2025

   Matt Hardin

   Matt Hardin is a sixth-generation Napa Valley farmer whose roots in viticulture trace back to 1849, when his family first began farming in Pope Valley. After earning his degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, he joined Barbour Vineyard Management, eventually becoming a partner, before launching his own company, Hardin Vineyard Management, in 2021. Today, he oversees some of Napa Valley’s most prestigious vineyard sites, farming vine by vine with a focus on sustainability, precision, and respect for terroir. In addition to his vineyard management work, Matt is a vintner and co-founder of several acclaimed wine brands. He is a partner in Caterwaul Wines, where he collaborates with winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown on Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from carefully chosen Napa Valley vineyards. He also owns Matthew Wallace Wines, a project that allows him to showcase the character of sites he farms under his own label. His family name is also tied to Hardin Wines, a Napa Valley Cabernet project that has earned a loyal following for its quality and approachability. Balancing heritage with innovation, Matt brings a deep respect for Napa’s farming traditions while pushing forward viticultural practices that protect the land for future generations. His reputation as both a vineyard manager and vintner reflects his belief that great wine begins with meticulous farming and a dedication to place. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ehlersestate.substack.com (https://ehlersestate.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   15 Sept 2025

   Robin Lail

   Robin Daniel Lail is a name is synonymous with heritage, excellence, and innovation in American winemaking. Born and raised among the vineyards of Inglenook, founded in 1879 by her great-granduncle, Gustave Niebaum, Robin was steeped early in the traditions of fine winemaking. As founder and owner of Lail Vineyards (established in 1995), she carries forward a family legacy rooted in one of California’s most storied wine estates. After earning her degree from Stanford University in 1962, Robin’s path led her into the wine world formally in 1977, where she began working under Robert Mondavi, who became a mentor. During her tenure, she played a central role in creating the first Auction Napa Valley, an event that continues to shape the region’s philanthropic and wine culture. In the early 1980s, Robin co-founded two influential wine estates: Dominus with Christian Moueix in 1982, and Merryvale Vineyards in 1983 with Bill Harlan. She served as President of Merryvale for twelve years, helping to establish it among Napa’s foremost producers. In 1995, alongside her daughters Erin and Shannon, Robin launched Lail Vineyards, a venture that unites her family’s deep traditions with a modern vision. Beyond her winemaking, Robin is celebrated for her role in building Napa Valley’s identity — through philanthropy, sustainable practices, and fostering community among vintners. She is honored not only for preserving her family’s legacy, but for embodying the belief that quality, authenticity, and respect for the land define what Napa wine can and should be. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ehlersestate.substack.com (https://ehlersestate.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Who has been a guest on What's the Problem?

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jane Anson
• Chinedu Rita Rosa
• Michel Rolland
• Magalie Dubois
• Esther Mobley

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

88

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact What's the Problem?

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.