I have known the Levys for years. I've known them as restauranteurs and gracious people. They fell in to the restaurant business and it was sink of swim; swim they did, creating an iconic establishment in heart of Southern California. From the restaurant came what one would consider the first of its kind in the San Gabriel Valley...a craft cocktail lounge. No one had heard of such falderall out of downtown Los Angeles, a craft cocktail bar...the idea.

Well, it turns out to be a brilliant idea and the bar 1886 became a destination in itself for lovers of hand made, exotic cocktails.

Enter the RTD market. I mean, they enter the RTD market. At the time of the success of 1886, the Levys brainstormed a premium, in the bottle, cocktail. Focusing on the classics and nothing but the best ingredients, Knox and Dobson was born.

Rob and Leslie Levy never intended to become restaurateurs, much less champions of craft cocktails in a bottle—but as you’ll discover, some of the best ideas come when you’re busy doing something else. In this episode of Wine Talks, you’ll find out how a couple just trying to buy a Pasadena apartment building accidentally inherited an iconic restaurant, survived the baptism-by-fire of the food business, and spun that hard-earned wisdom into revolutionizing the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail world with Knox & Dobson. You’ll hear tales of kitchen crises, the quirky genius of naming a brand after a childhood Chicago street corner, and what it really means to translate the heart of a five-minute, hand-crafted drink into a shelf-stable bottle that still surprises—and delights—even the most jaded bartender. Paul and the Levys dig into the gritty, exhilarating reality behind building something new: wrangling with distillers for barrels, battling the sneaky complexities of upscaling classic recipes, and learning the hard way that shelf space is gold and distributors want more than just a good story. Along the way, you’ll pick up rare insight into why most canned cocktails are disappointments, the secret advantages of a deep purple apothecary bottle, and the surprisingly emotional connection people make when you pour—literally and figuratively—your passion into a public tasting. Whether you’re dreaming of your own food and beverage business, fascinated by the science and soul of the perfect martini, or just want to know whether you could actually run a bar without losing your hair, this is the episode that will pull back the velvet curtain on both the chaos and the romance of bringing real cocktails to a thirsty world.

✅ Ever wonder how a legendary restaurant sparks a craft cocktail revolution?

✅ Rob & Leslie Levy share their wild journey from owning Pasadena’s iconic Raymond restaurant to launching their own high-end ready-to-drink cocktail brand—on the latest episode of Wine Talks with Paul Kalemkiarian.

✅ Hear how a real estate deal gone sideways led to 18 years in hospitality, and later, to breaking new ground in the premium RTD (Ready-To-Drink) cocktail market with Knox & Dobson.

✅ Takeaway: Want to know how to turn setbacks and industry surprises into flavorful success? Tune in for lessons on innovation, grit, and the secret to a perfect bottled Manhattan. You’ll never look at your next cocktail the same way! 🍸✨

Listen now to Wine Talks!

#ReadyToDrinkCocktails

#CraftCocktails

#DrinkEntrepreneurs

#KnoxAndDobson

#RestaurantStories

#BottledCocktails

#BarInnovation

#WineTalksPodcast

I am halfway through Gerard Bertrands new book: "Multidimensional Wine" and realize it is a must read for wine professionals and novices alike..get it here:

https://academieduvinlibrary.com/products/multidimensional-wine

Gerard Bertrand had not been in Los Angeles for a few years. He comes every 4-5 years to put on a Master Class of the wines of the Provence. You see, he has been a major force in bring the wines from the area to the notice of the wine world. He forms biodynamicaly but keeps his ear to the ground as to what the market place is asking for. I was fortunate enough to catch him with a spare 40 minutes before he was on-stage exposing the virtues of his families heritage.

Who knew that a winemaker could wax poetic about geology, spirituality, and diplomacy all in the time it takes to swirl a glass? Listeners tuning in to this episode of Wine Talks will discover that Monsieur Gérard Bertrand is no ordinary figure in the wine world—he’s a philosopher in vintner’s clothing, a passionate steward of the land, and a tireless advocate for capturing the "footprint of the vintage" in every bottle. Step into an illuminating conversation where you’ll learn how wine is so much more than fermented grapes; it's an evolving tapestry of soil health, family tradition, and a vehicle for cross-cultural connection. Bertrand shares generational wisdom gleaned from his father, delves into the radical promises of biodynamic farming (think 47,000 links of underground life, not just a vineyard full of grapes), and reveals why wine’s emotional resonance surpasses any other beverage—anchored, perhaps, in what he calls “the grace of God.” You’ll hear why true excellence in winemaking isn’t an accident, but the convergence of balance, intent, terroir, and soul, shaped over years of patience and experimentation. Beyond the vineyard, Bertrand explores wine’s role in diplomacy and spirituality, reflecting on its unique ability to bring people together across religions, continents, and centuries. If you’re curious about what it takes to move from an entry-level “good” to an “exceptional” glass, how the moon and microbial life can change the soul of a vineyard, or why pouring a bottle becomes a kind of ceremony, this episode offers a rare, intimate look. Prepare to have your notions of wine expanded, your sense of ritual deepened, and your next bottle charged with new meaning.

🍷 Wine is a Full-Contact Sport: It isn’t a hobby—it’s a philosophy, a vocation, and apparently, a spiritual journey. You’re not just sipping; you’re entering a ceremony (so maybe stop drinking from that chipped mug).

🍷 Soil is the Real MVP: Want to impress your snobby wine friend? Drop this fact: biodynamic soil has 47 times(!) more life than standard soil. That’s more buzz than a wine-stained karaoke night!

🍷 Wine Brings World Peace (Kind of): Forget political negotiations—bring out the Petrus! From churches to diplomatic tables, wine literally fosters love… or at the very least, makes everyone friendlier. Warning: results may vary with your weird uncle.

Bottom line? Raise a glass, share a vibe, protect some bugs, and remember—no one’s ever waxed poetic over a vodka soda.

#WineTalks
#GerardBertrand
#BiodynamicWine
#WinePhilosophy
#SustainableWine
#SouthOfFranceWines
#WineCulture
#WinemakingJourney

Gary Brooks doesn’t just make wine—he turns the whole idea of winemaking on its head and brings it back down to earth, reminding us that, after all, it’s just “rotting fruit.” But don’t be fooled by the humility. In this episode of Wine Talks, you’ll discover how a man raised in Annapolis, guided by a career that veered from the Navy to IT management, ended up chasing Pinot Noir dreams in California’s Petaluma Gap. As Paul Kalemkiarian digs in, you’ll learn how Gary navigated the split between wine academia and hands-on “cellar rat” labor, why starting Brooks Note Winery took more grit and capital than sanity, and what it’s like to pour your soul—and your bottles—out of the back of your truck just to make ends meet. Gary shares candid stories about the hard business realities behind artisan winemaking, how texture and mouthfeel outshine flavor notes in the true art of blending, and why he thinks the grandest moments in wine come down to honest connections, not pedigreed grapes. You’ll come away with a new appreciation for the world of small-batch winemakers—their struggles to sell every bottle DTC, the tactical parties in living rooms far from California, and the ever-present quest to avoid pretentiousness in a trade often accused of it. Above all, you’ll grasp why a genuinely great wine experience is often about memory, friendship, and the joy of pure discovery, not just what’s in the glass.

✅ Wine: Just rotting fruit… or the ultimate art form?
✅ Hear Garry Brooks and host Paul Kalemkiarian tear down wine’s pretensions while sharing the REAL journey from the cellar to your glass.
✅ On this episode of Wine Talks, dive into stories of risk, resilience, and why Pinot Noir is the grape that changed everything for Brooks Note Winery.
✅ You’ll never look at a bottle the same way again—tune in and discover why wine’s magic goes way beyond what’s in your glass.

#WineTalksPodcast

#BrooksNoteWinery

#PetalumaGap

#WinemakingJourney

#PinotNoirLove

#WineLessPretentious

#DTCSuccess

#WineAndStory