Pour Temecula: A Local Wine, Beer, and Beverage Podcast

"It's Too Hot!" Local Wine Myths with Rob Crissell

Rob Crissell is back on Pour Temecula—and this time, he’s setting the record straight. In this episode, we explore some of the biggest myths and misconceptions surrounding Temecula Valley wine. Is it too hot for quality white wine? Are the wines overpriced? Do winery owners care more about profits than passion? Rob tackles these questions and more, drawing from his recent talk to area servers and his deep experience as a local wine author and producer. We also take a quick dive into Sagrantino, one of the most underrated grapes out there. It’s a frank and refreshing conversation about Temecula’s potential, challenges, and how the narrative around this region is finally starting to shift.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

BONUS: The Short Pour - Chianti Classico

The Short Pour is your quick, approachable take on the wide world of wine and beverages—served in 15 minutes or less. Each episode explores a focused topic, from regional deep dives and grape spotlights to beverage trends, tasting tips, and food pairings. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned sipper, The Short Pour delivers smart, engaging insights without the snobbery. It's your perfect pour of knowledge, ideal for commutes, kitchen prep, or that first glass of the evening.

Today, we’re headed to the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany—winding roads, rows of cypress trees, the smell of hearty, rustic dishes and wild herbs in the air—and at the heart of it all: Chianti Classico. But don’t expect a dusty old straw-covered bottle. We’re tasting a Gran Selezione level wine with real pedigree… and it just so happens to be from Costco. That’s right—the 2020 Kirkland Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. So, let’s take a quick sip into Chianti Classico.

From Campus to Cellar: Wine Education with Stephanie Staab

Welcome back to Pour Temecula! This week, we’re following up on our recent episode about wine certifications by taking the conversation one step further—with someone who bridges both the academic and professional sides of wine education.

Today’s guest is Stephanie Staab—a Sommelier, WSET Diploma Candidate, and luxury wine consultant with over a decade of experience in winery business, marketing, and education right here in Temecula Valley. She teaches Winery Business Principles at Mount San Jacinto College, NYU graduate, holds an MBA in Luxury Brand Management from ESSEC in Paris, and runs her own consulting company, The Luxe Sip, where she brings wine to life through events, strategy, and personalized advising.

In this episode, Stephanie shares with Shannon how collegiate-level wine education differs from programs like WSET and the Court of Master Sommeliers—offering insight into how real-world experience intersects with theory. We talk about keeping non-wine students engaged, the unexpected career paths that aren’t often highlighted in traditional wine tracks, and what the next generation of wine professionals really needs to thrive.

It’s a thoughtful, informed look at what it means to teach wine today. 

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Do You Need a Wine Certification? Local Industry Perspectives

Wine certifications—are they a must-have, a nice-to-have, or just one path among many in the world of wine? This week on Pour Temecula, we dive into that question with two local industry voices who’ve taken very different but equally passionate routes. Heather Rankin, better known as HB, is a seasoned tasting room pro at Danza del Sol Winery who pursued her studies to deepen her understanding and better serve guests. Nate Rivera, co-owner of The Goat & Vine, Two Travelers Wine Bar, and Little Goat Bakery, shares how certification played a role in shaping his palate and building credibility across multiple businesses.

We explore how these certifications—from WSET to CMS—have impacted their careers, the way they talk about wine, and even the way they drink it. Whether you're considering your first wine course or just curious about what all the acronyms mean, this episode shines a light on the personal motivations behind professional wine education. And stay tuned—next week we continue the conversation with Stephanie Staab, a longtime industry veteran and wine instructor at Mount San Jacinto College, for a deeper look at wine education in the classroom.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Temecula, Provenance, and Fine Wine Auctions with Powell Yang

What makes a wine collectible? And how do you navigate a marketplace built on provenance, rarity, and trust? In this episode of Pour Temecula, we’re joined by Powell Yang, Director of Sales and Consignment for Spectrum Wine Auctions. Powell’s wine journey spans continents and decades—he’s worked in Napa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and now bridges the U.S. and Asian markets. Along the way, he’s helped build some of the world’s most serious cellars and brokered the sale of legendary bottles.

We get into the nuts and bolts of the fine wine auction world—how consignment works, what makes a wine auction-worthy, and what collectors look for beyond just age and prestige. Powell shares insights on buying vintage bottles, spotting storage issues, and what to know if you're ever tempted to sell part of your cellar. We also talk about the emotional side of collecting—why someone might want a birth-year wine, and how to balance sentiment with drinkability.

Of course, we had to bring it home to Temecula. Does Southern California wine have a place in the secondary market? Not yet—but Powell offers an honest take on what it would take for a region like Temecula to gain traction with collectors. Whether you’re a seasoned buyer or just wine-curious, this is a rare peek behind the curtain at a world where every bottle has a backstory—and every cork pulled can mean thousands of dollars on the line.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Say What? Tannin, Terroir & Other Words We Pretend to Know

Ever feel like wine lingo is its own secret language? In this episode of Pour Temecula, we’re demystifying the terms that swirl around your glass. Your hosts, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole, are joined by Sam Capaldi (@samanthasommelier), wine writer Devin Parr, and Heather Rankin of Danza del Sol to answer real listener questions about wine terminology. From the difference between “dry” and “sweet” to what makes a wine “balanced,” we’re breaking it all down in a way that’s fun, approachable, and totally judgment-free.

Whether you're a casual sipper or diving deeper into the world of wine, this episode will help you talk the talk—and sip with confidence. Plus, don’t miss our giveaway for a $25 gift card to Corbeaux Wine and Tea House! Cheers to learning something new.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Wine Without the Rules: Sam Capaldi on Everyday Pairings and Listener Questions

In this episode, Shannon chats with Phoenix-based sommelier Sam Capaldi—better known as Samantha Sommelier—about her unexpected connection to Temecula, her playful take on food and wine pairings, and answers to some of your listener questions. Sam brings a fresh, fun, and approachable perspective that makes wine feel a little less intimidating and a lot more exciting.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Wine & Tea Pairings at Corbeaux Wine and Tea House - Part 2

Ready for something a little unexpected? In this episode of Pour Temecula, your hosts Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole head to Corbeaux Wine and Tea House, where mixologist Bobby Castro and owner Regan Schneider shake up the idea of a traditional tasting with a wine and tea pairing adventure. In Part 2, Bobby paired a Pu-erh Chinese Tea with a Corbeaux Estate Merlot from some of the oldest vineyards in Temecula Valley. To cap the episode, Bobby and Regan take the "Pour Temecula" blind tasting challenge to see if they can spot the local wine. Whether you’re a sipper, a steeper, or both, this tasting flips the script on what a wine flight can be.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Wine & Tea Pairings at Corbeaux Wine and Tea House - Part 1

Ready for something a little unexpected? In this episode of Pour Temecula, your hosts Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole head to Corbeaux Wine and Tea House, where mixologist Bobby Castro and owner Regan Schneider shake up the idea of a traditional tasting with a wine and tea pairing adventure. You'll sip along as they compare tasting wine versus tea, dive into different tea styles, and even discover Verjus—a tart, ancient grape juice that's making a quiet comeback.

In Part 1 of this two-part tasting, you'll hear about three unique pairings: a White Peony Tea with a Grenache-Sauvignon Blanc blush, a Lung Ching Green Tea with Sauvignon Blanc, and a bold Oregon Pinot Noir paired with a rich Taiwanese Oolong. Plus, Regan shares the story of her family's longtime ties to Temecula, and how history, wine, and hospitality all come together at Corbeaux. It’s a pour you definitely didn’t see coming—cheers!

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Hospitality in Every Pour: Behind the Smiles and Service

In this episode of Pour Temecula: A Local Wine, Beer, and Beverage Podcast, your hosts Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole are shining a light on the heart of what makes Temecula’s tasting rooms, restaurants, and gathering spaces so memorable: hospitality. Inspired by the recent Xenia Hospitality Awards, we’re celebrating the people who don’t just serve—they connect, care, and create moments that bring guests back again and again.

You’ll hear from a few of this year’s Xenia winners and nominees, including Walter Carter and Heather Rankin from Danza del Sol, Chef Chris Gimeno, Bobby Castro, and Regan Schneider of Corbeaux Wine & Tea House, and Nate Rivera of Goat and Vine, Two Travelers, and Little Goat. Also joining us is Vito LaFata, founder of LaFata Cellars. Each shares their philosophy on hospitality, meaningful guest interactions, and how they approach creating experiences that feel personal, warm, and unforgettable.

Whether you’re in the industry or simply someone who appreciates a well-poured glass and a genuine smile, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and heart. So pour yourself something good, and join us as we explore the soul of service—Temecula style.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!