Brice Jones, founder of Sonoma-Cutrer

Brice Jones, founder of Sonoma-Cutrer – Episode #712

July 31, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk interviews Brice Jones, a true entrepreneur a California wine legend.

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Comments on this episode(226) Leave a comment ›

“Kudos to Brice…got my T-shirt too!!…” by Drew M.
“Dittos to Wine Woman! Got mine to. Nice to know folks still stand up t…” by Drew
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Emeritus Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
2006 Emeritus Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – William Wesley Vineyard

Links mentioned in todays episode.

226 Responses

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November 19, 2009

Drew M.
Kudos to Brice…got my T-shirt too!!
October 26, 2009

Drew
Dittos to Wine Woman! Got mine to. Nice to know folks still stand up to their word. Cool shirt as well! Will wear it with pride and respect for Brice and Emeritus!!!
October 22, 2009

WineWoman
Wow! He really did send me a t-shirt. Thanks Brice.
September 18, 2009

JD in DC
AMAZING episode. Loved the guest.
September 8, 2009

John J.
Gary, remember when you asked Brice Jones if he picked up the heat on that pinot. He said it was 14%. Brice also said that part of the reason you felt that heat was because it was cold!
Did you pick up on his mistake there? I’d imagine you’re already aware that the perception of alcohol INCREASES at warmer temperatures, not cold ones. So what he’s really saying is when it gets warmer you’ll be noticing more heat.
I’m guessing you noticed that too, since you kinda stopped there when he said that and gave him a little look. Actually, that look you gave was classic, had me cracking up, I’m sure you picked up on that.
Don’t get me wrong though, seems like a great guy and anyone could learn from him, wonderful guest.
Best wine I had? I can’t remember. It was whatever sparkling the court of master sommeliers handed out during my 1st set of classes w them. I wasnt sure what to expect walking into those classes and if I had prepared enough. Finished 1st in the class and I had been worried prior to that whether I’d even pass or not, since I had much less experience in wine, {barely a couple years} up to that point then the other students. But whatever it was, best wine I’ve had. So far.
September 6, 2009

Mike C
What a great show. I wish I could buy all of Brice’s wines. He is what makes the wine world great.
August 27, 2009

Brian Kaldenberg
Where did the facebook comments feature go?
August 24, 2009

RedLoverJim
Hey Gary,

One of my favorite shows yet. If you’re going to have a guest, this is the way to go, with a guest with tons of personality, great stories, and one that’s as much fun to watch as he clearly was to visit with.

AOTD: I think I’d have to go with a 1977 Taylor Vintage Port. Not only was the wine incredible, but it was opened with some of my favorite people in the world during a college reunion getaway weekend. A good part of it was enjoyed from Riedel Port glasses, from a decanter, around 1am while sitting on foldout chairs next to a fire with one of my best friends in life out side his cabin. It’s moments like that that truly make me remember how much God has blessed me with the people in my life and the opportunities to enjoy moments like that.
August 19, 2009

Andrew D
Hi Guys

Thanks for the great show.

Can I just say that I totally disagree that restaurants are where wines are promoted. I drink a lot of wine and spend a lot of money on wine, but very rarely drink new/expensive/special wines at restaurants. The often ridicules mark-up from retail prices means why would I bother drinking something special in a restaurant when I could afford to drink two (or three, or four) of the same bottles at home. Agree with Gary the media (both conventional eg. magazines and internet), wine merchants, tasting, word or mouth and winery visits are all more important to me than restaurants.

QOTD: So difficult, but it would have to be a glass of my Granny’s homemade fruit wine, after bottling last stuff she ever made.

Cheers
Andrew
August 18, 2009

Collin Husbands
QotD – No question. Dom Perignon, 1996. A special bottle under any circumstances, but… It was my 32nd birthday and the day after my son was born. My wife and I shared it with family and friends, paired with pizza, in the infant center waiting room. Quite a bottle and quite a birthday.
August 15, 2009

Carl Schulze
Damn. Three weeks late to the party. I only just learned from an Emeritus email (I’ve been on the mailing list for 2 years) that Brice had been on with Gary, and I’ve long known of and enjoyed WLTV.

QOTD: 19?? XXXXXXX Montefalco Sagrantino drunk over dinner in the restaurant that overlooks the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi about 9 years ago. Not being into wines much back then I failed to note the vintage or the producer. I just knew from my Umbrian guidebook that the town and wines of Montefalco were little known treasures, so I made a point to order a Sagrantino. We’d come to Umbria out of a keen interest in art history, and THAT wine on THAT occasion was my first glimpse of how artistic wines can be.
August 11, 2009

Bill
Great show. Genuine human, great member of USAFA graduating class of ‘61. Emeritus is a great expression of Goldridge fine sandy loam soil, breezes from the Petaluma Gap, and Brice’s style.

QOTD: Nuit St. George in the Hotel Beaune with my wife. 5 course meal, each course and each wine better than the last. Barely edges out Batard Montrachet at Maison Blanc in Paris with foie gras and vanilla aspic, again with my wife beside me.
August 11, 2009

Pamela Ashe
I had Emeritus at the Four Seasons in Carlsbad last year. That bottle of wine was my first moment of realizing that I like red wine. Up to that point I had only enjoyed whites. Thank you Brice for that moment in time, which really was the beginning of a new journey/hobby of learning about, drinking and understanding wine. Very cool!
August 10, 2009

ZJK
This guy is awesome
August 8, 2009

Wine PT
Great show! Love listening to the “old-timer” tell tales.

QOTD: 1999 Mondavi Cab Sauv Reserve: My “ah ha” wine.
August 8, 2009

Jeff Smith
Good Episode. Guest was ok.
Keep rocking
August 8, 2009

Rick
My favorite episode in a long, long time. Brice is now on my list of “people I’d like to have dinner with before I die”.
August 7, 2009

Timinspokane
Cool show! Brice is an interesting guy. I always like going to my family reunions, where I find the oldest people there and sit and listen. The stories they can tell are always fascinating, and a bit humbling.

QOTD… 2001 Belvedere Cabernet Sauvignon. To this day, it is one of my favorite wines I have ever had in terms of taste. We had it at the tasting room on Westside Road near Healdsburg. It was my wife’s (girlfriend at that time) and my first trip to Sonoma/Napa, and I was a wine newbie. Or should I say, a wine virgin? We had drank many bottles together, most of which were grocery store wines. I had no idea that a wine could taste like anything other than a red/purplish vaguely alcoholic juice that sometimes tasted decent with a steak. And I still preferred my bourbon. We started the day heading up Westside Road from Guerneville, and Belvedere was one of the first places we stopped. The proverbial light bulb went off when I had that Belvedere cab, and I was hooked. I joined the wine club on the spot, bought a few bottles, and ended up buying about another case and a half over the next 6 months. Second place in my wine story is the 2002 Bella Big River Ranch zinfandel (same trip), which blew my mind with sheer power and intensity. Third is the 1998 Stags Leap SLV cab, which was purchased on our second trip to Sonoma/Napa. When I bought it, at $115, I told myself that it would get opened on either the day that we broke up or got married. We drank it at our wedding reception last summer. That was a bad ass wine and well worth the price.
August 7, 2009

Mauricio F
Wow Gary!! Tremendous guest!! Top 5 greatest for sure!!

Brice you are a phenomenal human being! Thanks for being on the show!
That second you talked about your dad watered my eyes, Gary go kiss Sasha now! I am going to give my dad I huge hug tonight.

QOTD: A Norton Caramagnola Cabernet Sauvignon 2000, it’s a very simple but delicious wine, I think is only sold in the Argentinean Market, but it was my first trip to Bariloche – Argentina with my brother, sisters and brothers-in-law. It was awesome. I bought a case, now a have only one in my cellar. Next year when it turns 10, I am going to drink it with the same people again!

Thanks GV for special guests like Brice.

Best wishes,

Mauricio Fernandes
(Your #1 Brazilian fan)
August 7, 2009

Jameus
I’m catching up on episodes today and I have to say, this one here was extremely enjoyable to watch. The interaction between the two of you was fascinating! One of the things I liked about Brice was how he talked about wine in relation to feeling and style rather than pinpointing flavour characteristics. Taking a look at it from afar you have Brice who started with a vineyard during the genesis of the American wine era. On the other side you have Gary working on the breaking edge of the current wine industry trying to help shape the future. What stuck out as unique was they both had very similar views on the romance of wine, or what makes wine such an amazing living, breathing thing! It brings people together and when shared with great people it can create an atmosphere 2nd to none!

QoTD: The best wine I’ve ever had would have to be a 2003 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape! There are a few reasons that this one will most likely be my top drinking experience for some time. I drank it on my birthday nearly 2yrs ago, Nov. 24th 2007. I shared it with my Aunt and Uncle and my Step-Mom while they were over visiting my newborn baby girl. She was two weeks old by then! So hands down, to date, that would have to be the best wine I’ve had!
August 7, 2009

Pete
Gary and Mott: great show! Saw this AFTER the pizza dude. This is what a guest should be! Learned a lot, was touched, laughed… One of your best!
August 6, 2009

Jeremy Kath
Best guest I’ve seen on your show yet. Brice Jones rules.
August 6, 2009

Keith Brown
Man I hate being late to the party but I just watched this episode. Awesome awesome awesome show! I flew with a lot of guys like Brice, many of them ‘Nam vets and it was actually one of them that got me into wine way back in the ’80s. The best bottle of wine I ever had was (Gary, don’t hate me) a bottle of Ruffino Chianti Clasico Reserva Ducale, don’t remember the vintage but it was probably somewhere around 1993. The wife and I had just come back from a flight from New York where we had spent a couple days at my brother’s wedding. We were still dressed up and it was dinner time so we decided to try out a local Italian place we’d never been to. It was a beautiful little grotto with a piano bar and outstanding service and what can I say, the stars were out. At the time, the Ruffino was one of the “better” wines on the menu and I’d had it before in Europe and liked it, so we splurged. The food was spectacular, the ambiance superb, and the company exceptional. What can I say? A great bottle of wine…
August 6, 2009

bigsemi
I know it is late, but my best bottle of wine was a Lorenzo Merlot from Viansa. It was my dad’s 67th birthday, and I had been sitting on the bottle for 2 years. It was a great steak dinner with friends and family, and you could see the appreciation from my dad that we had saved a special bottle for his day. And we really enjoyed the wine too.

Great show, Brice was awesome!
August 6, 2009

Jeff R
Gary – It’s been said by other posters, but this tuly was a GREAT guest to have on. From his stories and experiences to his wines, fantastic. I love to hear about the behind the scenes dealings meaning setting the winery up as a tax shelter, primarily making the brand a restaurant brand, selling the winery, etc. – to me, that’s great stuff. This episode could have continued on forever – love his style. I laughed so hard when you two first smelled the pinot and he exclaimed, “I’m in heaven!” Super stuff … loved him throwing out his web address a couple of times. Just a great guest … can’t say enough good things – really seemed genuine!

Your interviewing was o.k. also but you were getting him off track a few times (when he was referring to his Bugundy winemaker and when you brought up whether he likes sports). However, overall a decent job and it was nice to hear you business approach as a retailer trying to deal with his Sonoma-Cutrer availability and a little bit of your overall business views on establishing a business.

QTD – 1991 – Jordan chardonnay (don’t know what vintage) – had it at Jacob Horner’s restaurant in Healdsburg with a seafood fettucinni.
Current example – Carlisle Calisle Vineyard RRV ‘01 Zin – had it New Year’s eve dinner a few years ago. Both examples, really made me step back and say “wow”.