The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends

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A 70-year Family Legacy in Vineyards and Winemaking, With a Few Rose Bowls Thrown In | David Ilsley

June 30, 2026

In this episode, we welcome our longtime friend David Ilsley, whose family has been part of Napa Valley's grape-growing and winemaking community for more than 70 years.David's grandfather purchased the family's first vineyard in 1954. Since then they have expanded their acreage and moved into vineyard management and winemaking along the way.David grew up in the heart of Napa Valley and attended local schools where he earned a reputation as a top football player. He went on to play at the Univ...

From Escaping Post-War Vietnam to Creating Red Boat Fish Sauce to Becoming a Napa Valley Vintner | Cuong Pham

June 16, 2026

Cuong Pham has one of the most remarkable stories we've ever heard on the podcast. He escaped Vietnam in 1979 and lived in a refugee camp in Malaysia before making it to the U.S. Here he became an engineer at Apple in its early days where he built a long, successful career.In the early 2000s, with a longing for the flavors of his mother's cooking, he began the work of creating Red Boat Fish Sauce company, which has become a global phenomenon.Cuong's most recent adventure began when he and his...

The Future of Wine Sales Is Already Here | Blake Van Treese

June 02, 2026

Blake Van Treese has one of the best vantage points in the wine business. As president of Last Bottle, First Bottle, Last Bubbles, and several other online wine retail brands, he sees firsthand how consumers are discovering, purchasing, and talking about wine.Growing up in Napa Valley, Blake's connection to wine runs deep. After first pursuing his love of music in college, he returned to Napa and discovered his path in the retail wine business. Along the way, he also became Doug's son-in-law,...