Brenae Royal didn’t dream of a career in wine. Growing up in California’s Central Valley, agriculture was her world, from her grandmother’s vegetable and flower garden to Future Farmers of America and eventually studying crops and horticulture at Chico State University. Her wine epiphany was a popular red blend, one that helped her realize there was another way to use her agricultural background. “Oh wait, wait, wait, wait. I can farm this. I can farm this. I've never been on a vineyard, but please hire me,” she says.

That enthusiasm helped Brenae land an internship with Gallo and launched a career that eventually put her in charge of the historic Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma’s Moon Mountain District. Brenae also talks candidly about being a young Black woman in agriculture and how being “the only” became a source of strength. “I never really used that to shy away. It was like well I'm in the room for something so you're gonna hear what I have to say,” she says.

Today Brenae is putting that experience into her own wine label, Violet’s Paradise. What she originally envisioned as a one-time collection has grown into six wines, including five Monte Rosso Vineyard wines and a sparkling wine that helps support scholarships. She also explains why she doesn’t call herself a winemaker even though her farming decisions shape what ends up in the bottle.

Brenae’s ambitions go well beyond her own bottles. Through the Violet’s Paradise agriculture scholarship, she hopes to help more young people build careers in agriculture, while proceeds from her sparkling wine also benefit The Veraison Project. We also dig into how changing weather is reshaping vineyard management and why she sees farming as far more than growing grapes.

“My dying wish is to see Paso Robles be a household name.” - Austin Hope

What does it take to help build a wine region?

Austin Hope knows. His family moved to Paso Robles in 1978, when the area was still dominated by grain fields and cattle. Decades later, Hope Family Wines is making wine for consumers around the world—and Austin is still pushing Paso Robles forward.

The Marys chat with Austin about the family’s journey from farming to winemaking, the evolution of Paso Robles wine and its 11 sub-AVAs, and why he believes the region’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths.

We also dig into regenerative farming, soil health, biodiversity, the One Block Challenge, baby doll sheep, alpacas, bees and the family’s new provisions project that includes growing truffles. Plus, Austin tells the story behind his childhood nickname— and how Troublemaker eventually became a wine brand.

And then there’s Hope on Park, the family’s downtown Paso Robles newest tasting experience, where wine is meant to be fun, approachable and experiential. Don’t miss the gorgeous sidewalk tasting bar and infinite Instagram worthy backdrops.

As Austin says, “It’s about bringing people together and sharing stories, laughs, cries, love.”

What do guitar strings, ambient music, and one of Italy’s most exciting white wine regions have in common?

Meet Luca Formentini of Podere Selva Capuzza, the fourth-generation winemaker helping preserve the identity of Lugana DOC on the shores of Lake Garda in northern Italy. In this episode, Luca shares how music influences his winemaking, why sustainability became central to his philosophy, and what makes Turbiana one of Italy’s most captivating white grapes.