Ep 37: Growing a Brand from the Ground Up while Developing a Top Tier Winemaking Program for Quintessa Winery

Welcome back to another episode of The Everyday Wine Aficionado Podcast, today let me introduce you to Rebekah Wineburg.

Rebekah’s passion for winemaking began when at the age of 16 she visited Napa Valley vineyards with her parents. The discussions from their visit left such a lasting impression that she went on to pursue a dual degree in chemistry and biology at Macalester College with the dream of becoming a winemaker. Committing wholeheartedly to her dream, she enrolled in the winemaking program at the University of California, Davis, where she earned her master’s degree in viticulture and enology. After completing her MS with a thesis on the effects of winemaking techniques on the phenolic composition of Cabernet Sauvignon, she abandoned the lab and went headfirst into a series of harvests in Italy, Oregon, and New Zealand before settling down in Napa Valley where she has worked and continued to learn winemaking at exceptional producers, such as Staglin Family, Rudd Estate and Buccella Wines before joining the Quintessa team in 2015. 

Let’s dive into her wine story!

[00:01 - 13:32] Opening Segment 

• I introduce our guest for this episode
• Rebekah tells the story of how she became interested in wine and decided to study it in Italy
• Quintessa was a dream to Rebekah until she was introduced and hired to work there

[13:33 - 23:57] Growing a Brand from the Ground Up while Developing a Top Tier Winemaking Program 

• Rebekah started Post and Vine because he was fascinated by the vineyards and wanted to learn more about winemaking herself
• Wine should be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their dining situation or table setting
• Sourcing food can be a challenge, but with experience and a good relationship with the farmer, it becomes easier.
• Organic farming is better for the environment and that biodynamics is a philosophy that guides the relationship between the farmer and their land.

[23:58 - 37:03] Old Vines and New Wines

• Old vines are the privileged terroir and you don't have to do operations or force things to happen to make great wine
• Some trends to watch out for in making wine in Napa Valley include climate change, increasing demand, and the growth of digital marketing

[37:04 - 41:11] Closing Segment 

• Learn everything you need to grow your wine, business, or brand with Wine Business Bootcamp where I help other wine producers like yourself, master the fundamentals of digital marketing, nail their customer experience, and convert more wine tasters into their wine clubs and other offers. Just send me a dm or email at [email protected] with the subject: Wine Business Bootcamp
• Rebekah plays the tasting round 

Connect with Rebekah

Website: https://www.postandvine.com/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/postandvinewines

      instagram.com/rebekahwineburg

Let’s continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.

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Tweetable Quotes:

“My philosophy is the same in every wine I make. It's just the expression of the wines are different because the vineyards are different.”  - Rebekah Wineburg

“Most of the biodynamic practices are not about the grapevine or not about the grapes at all. It's about soil health.”  - Rebekah Wineburg