Welcome back to Vino Frankel: A Taste of Sculpterra!
In Episode #11, Paul sits down with Donna Wolfe and Brian Kusko for a dynamic, behind-the-scenes conversation about wine, creativity, events, and everything happening at Sculpterra.
Brian joins the show for the first time — he’s the creative engine behind Sculpterra’s graphics, photography, video, social media, and IT, and he brings a fresh perspective to this episode.
Donna returns as co-host to recap major events, including Black Friday, Author’s Showcase prep, and two new vintages of Viognier on the tasting table.
This episode is packed with winery operations, post-harvest chaos, French terroir breakdowns, raccoon vineyard drama, and Paul’s unapologetic take on whether he drinks other people’s wine (spoiler: rarely).
🕰 Episode Highlights
• Black Friday Recap & Holiday Rush
1,185 cases sold
Biggest movers: Viognier, Pinot Noir, Primitivo, Héroe Cabernet
Taste of the Backroads Thanksgiving Dinner
“PORT saved the day!”
• Harvest & Cellar Update
Post-harvest equipment teardown
Tartrate scraping, bin stacking, reorganizing, filtration
Upcoming bottlings:
1,500 cases — 2024 Héroe Cabernet Sauvignon
225 cases — 2024 Mourvèdre
250 cases — 2023 Tree Frog Wild Hogge Bermuda Wine
• Donna Spotlight Q&A
Her biggest Black Friday order
Why she loves Viognier
How her palate has changed
Her go-to Sculpterra wine
• Brian Kusko Joins the Show
• The World of Wine
A deep dive into French terroir — climate, soil, elevation, tradition, and how place shapes flavor.
• Sculpterra Event Calendar
Author’s Showcase — December 6
Musical Christmas — December 18
Christmas Eve + New Year’s schedule
Manny’s Winemaker Pizza Pairing
Wine Club Open House
Blending Party
Zin Fest
• TMI with Paul
Does Paul drink other people’s wine?
How he uses new wines to decide release dates
“My wife wants me to go wine tasting — she’s right.”
• Animals in the Vineyard — Raccoons
Smart, dexterous, persistent
How they behave in vineyards
How the team protects the fruit
• Nerd Out on Wine
Viognier — how it’s made, how it changes year to year, and how Jason Bushong contributes.
• Mailbag
Can Viognier age, and what changes in the bottle?
How many more Christmas lights does Paul need to hang?
🍷 Wine Tasting
2023 Viognier vs. 2024 Viognier
A full vintage-to-vintage comparison.