“It was just a fascinating time, I was learning so much, and then my eyes were opened to the international side of it when I was working during the harvest in ‘97 at Kendall Jackson. I found out they had a winery in Tuscany and said, that's where I'm going, I'm going to have to try and go there.” Alyson Morgan  This week’s special, full-length episode features Alyson Morgan, winemaker and manager at Podere Capaccia, a 13th century wine estate perched high upon a steep slope in a magical corner of Tuscany’s enchanting Chianti Classico.  Join me and Alyson as she takes us on her journey into the wine industry, which began in a tiny town in Northern California, that, notwithstanding its population of a mere 100, drew to it a steady stream of interesting and illustrious visitors that became key players in her narrative.   Alyson speaks of her passion for science, her studies in agricultural genetics, enology, and viticulture, takes us through the ins and outs of winemaking today, tells us more about the intricacies of her work, and lets us in on what’s coming up in 2025 for her and at Podere Capaccia. As she tells her story, she highlights the importance of great teachers and mentors, dispenses excellent advice for those interested in going into the field, and shares with us her invaluable knowledge about winemaking and wine culture in general. While her tale is certainly full of serendipitous encounters, it is also about putting yourself out there, making connections, taking initiative, and forging your own path.  Biography  Mendocino County native Alyson Morgan graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1999 with degrees in Genetics and Viticulture & Enology.  Days after graduation she moved across the globe to work at the Kendall-Jackson estate of Tenuta di Arceno in Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena. When her research project and harvest experience were completed at Arceno, she moved to Florence. Over the past two decades, she has worked throughout the Chianti Classico region making wine and managing estates in San Casciano Val di Pesa, Panzano in Chianti, and currently Radda in Chianti. Since 2012, Alyson has been leading Podere Capaccia to become one of the most well-respected wine producers in the area.  Alyson lives in Florence with her husband and two children. Podere Capaccia rests high on the hills of Radda in Chianti creating stellar wines and olive oil in the heart of Chianti Classico. The estate is experiencing another renaissance with newly renovated vineyards and a state-of-the-art winery. The future of Podere Capaccia is in the hands of the Belgian owner Herman de Bode and winemaker and manager Alyson Morgan.  Links  Alyson Morgan  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyson-morgan-90143bb4/ https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/wine/female-international-winemakers-in-italy/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY84XdkGrxr3gebrMhIA8-4HVHfWQToc9qiFb69_OHJyFl0BPvLE32Z5I0_aem_HqQKfz8qZdpNuj3FYtwpTw https://vignaiolidiradda.it/en/alyson-morgan/ https://www.facebook.com/alyson.morgan.395 Podere Capaccia  www.poderecapaccia.com https://www.instagram.com/podere.capaccia/ https://www.facebook.com/poderecapaccia https://www.chianti.com/radda-in-chianti/intro-to-radda.html https://vignaiolidiradda.it/en/ https://www.chianticlassico.com/en/estates/podere-capaccia/ Recorded at Musikalmente Firenze  Podcast Editor: Andrew Niklas Curtis  Production Intern: Ava Lees