Special Guest

BETH NOVAK MILLIKEN

SPOTTSWOODE ESTATE VINEYARD & WINERY, NAPA, USA

SPECIAL GUEST, SEPTEMBER 30

BETH NOVAK MILLIKEN

Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, Napa, USA

Beth Novak Milliken

Beth Novak Milliken is the President & CEO of Spottswoode Estate Vineyard &Winery.
In 1987, Beth Novak Milliken joined her mother, Mary Novak at Spottswoode, becoming the first second-generation family member to become actively involved in guiding Spottswoode Estate Vineyard &Winery. In the more than three decades since, Beth has played a key role in establishing Spottswoode Estate Vineyard as one of the world’s great winegrowing sites, and Spottswoode as one of Napa Valley’s most iconic and respected wineries. She has also quietly built a reputation as a leader in the Napa Valley community, advocating on behalf of the wine industry and the social and environmental causes she holds dear.

Beth has been a strong and effective voice for the Napa Valley wine community. Reflecting the high regard she is held in by her peers, in 1998 Beth was elected the youngest president ever of the Napa Valley Vintners, the first woman to hold the position. Believers in leading by example, Beth and Mary worked with four women winemakers in a row at Spottswoode, before promoting current winemaker Aron Weinkauf to that position. Beth also spearheaded the restoration of Spring Creek, which defines the southern boundary of the estate vineyard. In 2010, Beth and Mary were honorary chairs of Auction Napa Valley, a hugely successful event that raised more than $8,500,000 for Napa Valley nonprofits, and in 2007, Spottswoode joined 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of Spottswoode’s gross revenues each year to nonprofits that support a healthier world.

MEET OUR WINE DREAM TEAM!

Jaime Araujo The Wine Hour

JAIME ARAUJO, UNCORKED

Founder and CEO of Trois Noix, Napa Valley.
As a 2nd generation winemaker, Jaime initially spent 24 years in Europe before returning to Napa. Moving to Europe, she didn’t work in Wine directly. Only after a career as a London theatreland actress, and earning her MBA from INSEAD, did she return to the World of Wine. First, she taught the French how to sell their wines. Then upon returning to Napa, she continued carving her own path. She created Trois Noix a wine that she wants to use as a platform for change.

Akos Forczek The Wine Hour

AKOS FORCZEK, UNCORKED

Founder and Chairman of Top Selection Wines and 9elmswines, London.
Akos’s life reads like a John Le Carré novel. Hungarian born under the Soviet occupation, raised in Algeria in the ’70s, and trained as a special force he witnessed the Fall of the Berlin Wall from inside. Then he left for Western Europe and started working in Wine and Spirits. After earning his MBA from INSEAD, he moved to London where he founded Top Selection Wines. Since 2018, Top Selection has been the recipient of the UK Fine Wine Merchant of the Year award given byUK sommeliers. A first.

Tanisha Townsend The Wine Hour

TANISHA TOWNSEND, LICENSED TO TASTE

Chief Wine Officer of Girl Meets Glass, Paris.
Born and raised in South Side Chicago, Tanisha was not predestined to the World of Wine. In fact, she started studying cyber forensic. Then serendipity struck twice. The first time was at a Wine Festival in Washington where she asked all the wrong questions possible (so she can relate if you are new to Wine) but was still fascinated by this beverage. The second time was to move to her dream city of Paris. Going to the “Old World” and fulfilling her Wine dream, she pursues her mission to teach and educate about wine.

The Wine Hour Ray Isle Food & Wine

RAY ISLE, HONORARY MEMBER OF THE WINE DREAM TEAM

Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine Magazine.
Ray Isle is the Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine and the Wine & Spirits Editor for Travel + Leisure. He writes Food & Wine’s monthly “Bottle Service” column, and contributes regular print and online features about wine, spirits, and wine-related travel to both brands. His articles about wine, beer, food and spirits have appeared in a wide range of national publications, he has been nominated three times for a James Beard Award, and has twice won the IACP Award for Narrative Beverage Writing. He speaks regularly on wine at live events and is a frequent guest on national media, having appeared on programs such as Today, CNBC’s On the Money & Squawk Box, NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and American Public Media’s “Splendid Table,” among others.

Antoine Abou-Samra The Wine Hour

ANTOINE ABOU-SAMRA, HOST

Founder of A Table For Two / Creator The Wine Hour
After a long and diverse career as an entrepreneur, former athlete, radio host, and 3-time CEO, Antoine decided to go back to what he enjoyed most: Food & Wine and Media. He created A Table For Two a multi-format content creation house. Using the thread of Food & Wine, he not only helps the audience discover and understand other cultures but also engages them in related issues such as the Environment, Climate Change, Sustainability, or Diversity.

The Talk-Show that removes your wine anxiety.

WHAT IS THE SHOW ABOUT?

Running every 3 weeks, The Wine Hour is a show on the Wine World. Built around 3 segments, the show offers an entertaining yet insightful approach on wine-related topics and issues. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy it. Though it is broadcast on Zoom, the show is made to be listened to. So grab a glass of wine, sit back, relax and enjoy!

WHO IS THE SHOW FOR?

If you love or are interested in Wine but you are not necessarily an expert, then this show is for you! The main idea is that you can enjoy Wine whatever level of knowledge you have. So, if you are curious and want to discover more about Wine, tune in.

THE THREE SHOW SEGMENTS

UNCORKED

In our first segment, Uncorked, our team of Wine Experts, Jaime Araujo, Akos Forczek and Ray Isle (from time to time), deliver comments on current trends from the Wine industry, market and personalities.

LICENSED TO TASTE

In Licensed To Taste, our second segment, Tanisha Townsend will talk about Wine in a friendly, introducing wine regions, or grapes among other topics. She will also answer your wine questions (not necessarily related to the show’s topics).

HAVE A DRINK WITH ME

In our last segment, Have A Drink With Me, your host, Antoine Abou-Samra, has a relaxed conversation with the show special guest(s).

SCHEDULE

The Wine Hour will run every three weeks on Thursday at the following time:
20:30 UK / 12:30 PST / 15:30 EST / 21:30 CET

WHERE TO LISTEN

The Live Podcast will be aired on Zoom. Registration is mandatory.

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Listen to the Previous Shows
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