I discovered MacDonald Vineyards from the auction podium — a wine I'd never heard of, with bidders going absolutely crazy. I came off the block, turned to my son Tom, and said, what is this? He gave me a look that said: Dad, how do you not know?

Alex and Graeme MacDonald are fourth-generation farmers on one of the most storied pieces of ground in American wine — 15 rocky acres in the heart of To Kalon in Oakville, planted by great-grandparents who didn't even want to buy the land. Their family grapes were the backbone of Mondavi's finest wines going back to 1966 — the Reserve, the To Kalon label, early Opus One — all on a handshake. The family didn't even know.

The brothers released their first vintage in 2010 — 92 cases — and sold the entire vintage in 25 minutes. Today it's still just the two of them. No employees. And they're waging a five-year battle, without lawyers, to protect the very concept of place in American wine.

Uncorking What's Next — because learning about wine should be just as much fun as drinking it.

Sponsors:

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A conversation with Vitalie Taittinger, President of Taittinger, on tradition, leadership, and the future of one of Champagne’s most iconic houses.

We discuss the balance between heritage and evolution, the role of family, and why the experience of visiting Champagne remains so central to understanding the wines.

A conversation with Dr. Laura Catena — physician, fourth-generation winemaker, and one of the leading voices in the discussion around wine and health.

In a space often dominated by headlines and conflicting studies, Laura brings clarity to what we actually know — and what we don’t. From the role of moderation to the challenges of studying alcohol, this is a thoughtful, nuanced look at one of the most debated topics in wine today.

Key Themes

• Why wine & health is so difficult to study
• The difference between correlation and causation
• Moderate consumption vs. extremes
• Cultural context (Mediterranean lifestyle)
• Why headlines often oversimplify the science
• The role of polyphenols and compounds in wine
• Personal responsibility and informed choice
• How the conversation around alcohol is evolving