Sonoma a hotspot for food and wine podcasting

A local restaurateur and a group of Sonoma wine professionals are putting Sonoma on the map as a podcast hot spot.

The two shows, “The Bite Goes On” and “The Wine Makers,” are broadcast by Radio Misfits, a Chicago-based podcast network that offers food, wine, sports, comedy and lifestyle shows. Both shows are made available every Friday on the Radio Misfits website. The podcasts can also be accessed through streaming radio networks including Spotify, iTunes and Stitcher.

Sondra Bernstein, host of “The Bite Goes On” and owner of the Girl & the Fig restaurant, said that her podcast focuses on topics relating to food and food makers, from cheeses to culinary history. The idea for “The Bite Goes On” grew out of “The Sonoma Kitchen,” a radio show on KSVY that Bernstein did in 2014. “The Bite” often features local guests, but is not focused on Sonoma Valley. Five upcoming shows were taped at the 2019 Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. For now, Bernstein tapes two episodes every Monday at the Rhône Room wine tasting shop on Broadway. Her cohost is Brian Casey, a sommelier and server for Fairmont Sonoma Mission & Spa.

Bernstein said the show usually lasts about an hour and is very authentic.

“We want to tell the story behind the story. Recent episodes (have featured) Steve Sando, of Rancho Gordo beans, John Ash and the owners of Volo Chocolate. I love learning while I'm looking at the person I'm talking to,” said Bernstein.

Bernstein said she and Casey are a good match because Casey worked as a manager and wine director for the Girl & the Fig for 10 years.

“He grew up going to local butchers and bakeries in Petaluma. His family would take a whole day together to gather everything they'd need,” said Bernstein of Casey. “I'm from Philadelphia. I didn't have a real connection to how cheese was made until I moved here. Our pasts represented two opposite perspectives that have merged since (I have now) been living in Sonoma County for over 25 years.”

Bernstein said she and Casey have been taping “The Bite Goes On” since November 2018. They have gotten more than 1,000 downloads for their six episodes. The Wine Makers is a wine-focused, hour-long show consisting of an entertaining discussion between Bart Hansen, winemaker for Dane Cellars, Sam Coturri, co-operator of Winery Sixteen 600, John Myers, a local wine lover, and Casey.

“We talk every week about what's going on in the wine industry,” said Hansen. “Naturally we focus on what's happening right here in Sonoma Valley since we live and work here. Sometimes we have a guest, but it's usually a very casual interview. Once in a while we travel, like when we did a podcast in Paso Robles while attending the Hospice du Rhône, a festival of Rhône wine.”

Hansen said the conversation “flows organically,” with each host contributing their unique knowledge of wine and the wine industry.

“John is a consumer, Sam has grown up in vineyards, I'm a winemaker and Brian is a sommelier. We met through John's old show on KSVY,” said Hansen.

Hansen said recent guests have included Richard Arrowood, winemaster of Amapola Creek Vineyards, and Mike Benziger, formerly of Benziger Family Winery, now of Glentucky vegetable, fruit and cannabis farm.

“I have a list of about two arms' lengths of people I'd like to see on the podcast. Wine incites great conversation,” said Hansen.

Hansen said “The Wine Makers” has a large, loyal listener base. One audience member went so far as to plan a whole Sonoma-centered itinerary revolving around the podcasts.

“Through social media, we learned he went to three or four wineries and visited one or two restaurants we had featured on our show. He even used the driver we discussed on one episode,” said Hansen.

“The Wine Makers” has been airing for more than a year and has released 80 episodes. The podcast has about 50,000 downloads. Both podcasts currently do not have sponsors. Hansen said “The Wine Makers” has no plans to have sponsors. Bernstein said “The Bite Goes On” is open to having sponsors that match their concept for the show.

Bernstein uses the website for the podcast, email blasts to subscribers, her business cards, and blog posts to promote “The Bite.” She also employs Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr to drive listenership. Hansen and the other three hosts of “The Wine Makers” also use Twitter and Instagram to promote their show.

Hansen said “The Wine Makers” is considering filming the conversations to create a video podcast. For now, however, the podcast will remain audio-only, “an insider's view to the wine business that's uncensored and sometimes silly.”

“Often while we're taping a podcast, we take photos that we post on social media. But we don't identify who took what picture! That is a really good way to see what happens on ‘The Wine Makers,' from different angles,” said Hansen.

“The Bite Goes On” and “The Wine Makers” are released Fridays on Radio Misfits and other streaming radio outlets.