Episode 14: Elaine Chukan Brown on Indigenous Representation in the Wine Industry

02/16/21 • 39 min

Today, I chat with Elaine Chukan Brown about Indigenous representation in the wine industry.

Elaine is an Alaskan Native, from the Inupiaq-Unangan-Sugpiaq tribes. She started fishing commercially when she was nine years old and worked in various industries before starting her wine career. Elaine is a wine educator and writer. She is the American wine specialist at JancisRobinson.com and has contributed to the 4th edition of the Oxford Companion to Wine and the 8th edition of the World Atlas of Wine. She was voted IWSC Wine Communicator of the Year in 2020.

We discuss the history of Indigenous Americans and alcohol, misguided stereotypes, cultural appropriation, and what it means to be an Indigenous-owned winery.

Photo by Elaine, with her grandmother, an Alaskan native from the Inupiaq-Yupik tribes.

Instagram: @hawk_wakawaka

Today, I chat with Elaine Chukan Brown about Indigenous representation in the wine industry.

We discuss the history of Indigenous Americans and alcohol, misguided stereotypes, cultural appropriation, and what it means to be an Indigenous-owned winery.

Photo by Elaine, with her grandmother, an Alaskan native from the Inupiaq-Yupik tribes.

Instagram: @hawk_wakawaka

Previous Episode

Episode 13: Mimi Casteel (Hope Well Vineyard) on Tilling

We conclude Regenuary with our interview with Mimi Casteel. Mimi is one of the preeminent voices for regenerative agriculture and no till, which she practices at Hope Well Vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon.

Mimi explains the advantages and disadvantages of tilling, one of which is the release of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. She addresses what she believes are necessary changes to farming subsidies and viticultural regulations if we are to achieve a sustainable future.

Instagram: @mimicasteel

Website: hopewellwine.com

Photo by: Aubrie Legault

Next Episode

Episode 15: Cristiana Tiberio (Agricola Tiberio) on Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Biotypes

Today I interview Cristiana Tiberio from Agricola Tiberio in Abruzzo about biotypes. Cristiana discusses the difference between biotypes and clones. She also shares her journey identifying biotypes in her vineyard, including the Fonte Canale biotype of Trebbiano Abruzzese and 4 distinct biotypes of Montelpucinao d’Abruzzo which behave differently in the vines and the cellar.

Instagram: @cristianatiberio