Straight Talk Episode 33: Memento Mori and Vida Valiente Winemaker Sam Kaplan

Winemaker Sam Kaplan is rapidly becoming one of the biggest names in the California wine world, as his Memento Mori, Vida Valiente, Arkenstone and Maxem projects are enjoying a level of success despite the industry’s current headwinds. His collaborator, vintner Hayes Drumwright, just announced that he and investors have bought the historic Edge Hill Estate in St. Helena, which will provide Kaplan with another winemaking challenge.

Kaplan joined host James Molesworth in Wine Spectator’s Napa studio to talk about his path to wine, including a childhood spent with some grapevines planted on the red clay of Oklahoma, through a mentorship with Pine Ridge’s Gary Andrus and eventually to his multiple winemaker roles today.

“From day one, I’ve made wine the way that, you know, I think wine is best and the way I like to drink it,” says Kaplan.

Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank is back as well, for a deep dive into how the wine industry is adapting to the challenging economic climate, all on the newest episode of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast.

Kaplan has taken the winemaking reins at multiple top names in Napa Valley. (Alexander Rubin)

Now available on Apple, Google, Spotify and more, including at WineSpectator.com/podcast, Straight Talk debuted in October 2022 and has attracted some of the wine industry's biggest stars for honest, probing, revelatory and sometimes hilarious conversations.

Guests have included winemakers Aubert de Villaine, Tim Mondavi, Tony Soter, Mark Aubert, Helen Keplinger, Thomas Rivers Brown, Greg Brewer and many more, as well as chefs Thomas Keller and Marcus Samuelsson, NBA Hall of Famer and winery investor Tony Parker and film, TV and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc star Sarah Jessica Parker.

“The fun with these interviews is that everyone’s journey to wine has unique differences, which in turn inform the present and future of wine,” says Molesworth. “And Kaplan’s story is a prime example of that.”

Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast is available for free on all major podcasting platforms, as well as at WineSpectator.com/podcast, and listeners can email their questions and comments to StraightTalk@WineSpectator.com.