Podcast

The Drinking Hour podcast: Elaine Chukan Brown and The Wines of California

In episode 215 of The Drinking Hour, David Kermode sits down with Elaine Chukan Brown, author of The Wines of California, to learn more about their journey into wine and the impact this has had on their research. From discovering the indigenous contribution to winemaking, to prohibition, Chukan Brown's new book offers a fresh perspective on the history of Californian wine

Words by Club Oenologique Editors

Napa Valley
Napa Valley is just one of Elaine Chukan Brown's many areas of expertise

In episode 215 of The Drinking Hour podcast, David Kermode is joined by writer, academic and Californian wine expert, Elaine Chukan Brown, to discuss their new book The Wines of California.

Growing up in Alaska to indigenous parents, Chukan Brown’s journey into wine happened unexpectedly; their attention was piqued in their twenties when they stumbled across bottles of Chianti and Burgundy. They were taken aback by the sensory power of wine, which reminded them of time spent in Alaska on extensive runs, where the complex and differing smells of each location offered a window into Alaska’s varied ecological history. From here, Chukan Brown’s career as a full-time academic was swapped in order to pursue a career in wine.

Chukan Brown has written for multiple wine publications and now her new book, The Wines of California, was born as an alternative reading of California’s rich winemaking tradition, filled with information and stories inspired by their own experience as an indigenous person. In turn, the book often focuses on the indigenous population of California and the impact that these communities had on its winemaking.

Throughout this episode, Kermode and Chukan Brown explore Chukan Brown’s fascinating route into the industry and what it is that sets their new book apart from the rest.

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