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🌲 Wine on the Edge: Domaine Anderson’s Cool-Climate Vision

Darren Lowe, winemaker at Domaine Anderson, shares the story of crafting exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from California’s northernmost wine region—Anderson Valley. Nestled near the coast and defined by its cool maritime climate, the valley offers ideal conditions for delicate, acid-driven wines. With vineyards at elevations up to 600 feet and just 25 miles from the Pacific, Darren explains how this unique terroir, once scouted by the Louis Roederer Champagne family, provides the foundation for Domaine Anderson’s still wine program, which began in 2009 as a complement to their renowned sparkling wines.

🌿 Farming with Purpose: From France to Philo

Darren's winemaking roots trace back to his upbringing in Healdsburg and his education in Bordeaux, where he studied enology and developed a respect for Old World technique. His experience at wineries like Flowers and Grgich Hills sparked a passion for biodynamic and organic farming—principles he’s implemented at Domaine Anderson. Today, 50 acres of their estate are certified organic, with two-thirds also biodynamic. Darren discusses the impact of dry farming, cover crops, and sheep grazing, emphasizing how soil health and biodiversity create wines of elegance, complexity, and balance.

🍷 The Style and Soul of Anderson Valley Chardonnay

Darren’s winemaking philosophy focuses on restraint, terroir expression, and continuous evolution. He favors low-alcohol, lightly oaked Chardonnays and Pinots that reflect their cool-climate origins rather than chase big, bold California stereotypes. With a tasting room nestled in Philo and a growing wine club, Domaine Anderson welcomes visitors to experience a slice of Napa’s past in a quieter, more rustic setting. Darren's love for Chardonnay, combined with his humility and technical depth, paints a portrait of a winemaker rooted in tradition but always reaching for the next level.

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A Legacy Rooted in Wine and Family

The episode kicks off with lighthearted banter and a warm welcome to the first Inside the Bunghole episode of 2025, featuring Michael Keenan of Keenan Wines in Napa Valley. Michael shares the multigenerational story of his family's vineyard, which began when his father, Robert Keenan, was inspired by his father-in-law's wine collection and purchased the Spring Mountain property in 1974. At the time, Napa was far from the food and wine mecca it is today, but Robert had a vision of producing first-growth quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Spring Mountain’s ideal east-facing slopes and abundant water supply made it the perfect location. Michael reminisces about the winery’s origin, including its ghost winery roots (the property housed a winery from 1890–1930) and the early Bordeaux varietals they were the first to plant on that specific land.

From Wandering Seeker to Reluctant Winemaker

Michael’s personal journey into winemaking wasn’t direct. After high school, he traveled the world, became a vegetarian, and meditated in India before returning home in 1977. Initially working the harvest temporarily, he pursued a career in carpentry and general contracting for over 20 years. A family dispute later separated him from the winery, but after the death of his stepmother and reconciling with his father, Michael took over operations in 1998 with one condition: total control. Over time, he reestablished the winery’s reputation, embraced a restrained, old-world style of winemaking, and distanced himself from overly ripe Napa wines, aligning more with French techniques that emphasized balance, savoriness, and complexity.

Craft, Chemistry & the Keenan Identity

The conversation shifts into the mechanics of winemaking—Michael explains his preference for mostly neutral barrels and minimal oak influence, likening barrel use to salt in cooking: essential but never overpowering. He also criticizes the use of additives like MegaPurple, which mask a wine’s true characteristics and require toxic stabilizers. As the discussion continues, Michael shares stories about label design rooted in family history, his deepening pride in the winery over time, and the upcoming 50th vintage celebration. Notably, the Tribute wine—a 50/50 blend of Bordeaux clones—symbolizes both a viticultural and emotional milestone, coinciding with his father's passing and marking a profound evolution in both the vineyard and Michael’s stewardship.

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Welcome to Season 5! Who would have thunk?! We start this season off with a bang as we are interviewing Angela Mondavi...not only an accomplished 4th generation wine maker, from an iconic family in American viticulture, but she is an ass kicking entrepreneur, with several businesses under her belt, of course they pertain to the family business of making AMAZING wines. The Mondavi family has a checkered past where 1/2 the family pursued winemaking under the family name of Mondavi, while the other half stayed true to their beginnings at their historic Charles Krug winery in Napa Valley.

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