🎙️ Go With Your Palate: Harvest Update 2025 | Inside the Crush With JLO & Nick Reinell

It’s that time of year, folks—Harvest Update 2025—and we brought in the heavy hitters. This week, Joe sits down with Copper Cane’s own winemaking rockstars: John “JLO” Lopez, Director of Winemaking, and Nick Reinell, Winemaker, resident crusher of grapes and egos (mostly Fat Mario’s).

If you’re a cork dork, buckle up. We dig into everything from this year’s Napa Valley harvest conditions to the never-ending dance between Old World vs. New World wine culture, the curveballs Mother Nature throws at winemakers, and the art of turning chaos into something beautiful in a bottle. These guys live the grind—late nights, early mornings, sticky boots, and the kind of craftsmanship you only get from people who truly love (and obsess over) the process.

But because this is Go With Your Palate, we also wander into “whatever the F else”: hilarious cellar stories, friendly jabs, existential winemaker questions, and a few tangents that only happen when Joe, JLO, and Nick share a mic. Consider it a behind-the-scenes peek at the chemistry that makes Copper Cane tick—equal parts passion, precision, and pure shenanigans.

Whether you’re in the industry, wine-curious, or just here for the laughs, this episode pours out knowledge, chaos, and camaraderie in one delicious blend. Grab a glass and come hang with the guys who make the magic happen in every harvest.

Go With Your Palate: Warner | Snob-Free Wine, Real Talk & Confidence in Every Pour

This week, we’re joined by Warner, the fearless, funny, totally snob-free sommelier and wine educator behind @confidenceuncorked—the creator shaking up the wine world with honesty, humor, and a mission to make wine actually accessible.

From her unconventional leap from Texas advertising to California vineyards, Warner shares how a simple Manchego-and-wine pairing sent her down a rabbit hole that ultimately led to sommelier studies, community-building, and a full-blown movement to remove intimidation from wine culture.

We dig into everything from her Graze Craze collaboration to the art of trolling trolls with grace, creating inclusive wine spaces, and why she refuses to gatekeep anything—from education to enjoyment. And because this is Go With Your Palate, we can’t resist a little friendly chaos: In-N-Out vs. Whataburger battles, unexpected food pairings, and a teaser about a… let’s call it a hairy experiment from our host Joe that you’ll have to hear to believe.

If you love wine, hate pretension, and appreciate people who show up 100% themselves, Warner’s story is pure inspiration—with a whole lot of laughs along the way. Grab a glass and come hang!

Go With Your Palate: Warner | Snob-Free Wine, Real Talk & Confidence in Every Pour

This week, we’re joined by Warner, the fearless, funny, totally snob-free sommelier and wine educator behind @confidenceuncorked—the creator shaking up the wine world with honesty, humor, and a mission to make wine actually accessible.

From her unconventional leap from Texas advertising to California vineyards, Warner shares how a simple Manchego-and-wine pairing sent her down a rabbit hole that ultimately led to sommelier studies, community-building, and a full-blown movement to remove intimidation from wine culture.

We dig into everything from her Graze Craze collaboration to the art of trolling trolls with grace, creating inclusive wine spaces, and why she refuses to gatekeep anything—from education to enjoyment. And because this is Go With Your Palate, we can’t resist a little friendly chaos: In-N-Out vs. Whataburger battles, unexpected food pairings, and a teaser about a… let’s call it a hairy experiment from our host Joe that you’ll have to hear to believe.

If you love wine, hate pretension, and appreciate people who show up 100% themselves, Warner’s story is pure inspiration—with a whole lot of laughs along the way. Grab a glass and come hang!