5-ish Questions with Patrick Cappiello
Patrick Cappiello of Monte Rio Cellars and Skull Wines answers some quick questions from us this week!
Patrick has had decades of experience in the restaurant and beverage industry, spanning coast to coast. When he’s not making wine, he’s uplifting other domestic winemakers. Patrick’s Instagram is a masterclass of reaching across the aisle too his peers AND breaking down the ins and outs of producing wine.
Describe what you do in the wine industry?
My title is winemaker I guess, but between my self and my assistant winemaker Jesus Aleman, we do everything from the vineyard to bottle. As well as the unglamorous and obscene amount for admin/paperwork that no one talks about. I also do all the sales work for the winery.
What are you hopeful for/how are you trying to leave the world a little better than you found it?
Ultimately my goal is to get as many people as possible that find wine snobby or elitist (which sadly I think it is) excited about it, I will die happy if I can move the industry in that direction even a little bit. Wine should be for everyone and the last few decades we have turned a table beverage, into something far too precious and expensive.
What challenges are you facing within your industry as a small biz owner/hospitality worker/part of wine and beverage?
One of the biggest problems winemakers are facing is that people seem to be drinking less of it. There are a lot of theories out there; “seltzer boom”, a neo-Prohibitionist movement, to the legalization of cannabis, and even just thoughts that Gen Z isn’t drinking. My theory is rooted more in the fact that wine isn’t approachable, but in the end the identifying the reason isn't gone solve it. We have to make wine more approachable, which I touched on in your earlier question :)
What do you wish people knew about wine/your job?
How much love and hard work goes into it. But isn’t that what everyone wishes!
What are you reading/listening to/watching?
I watch a lot of 30 Rock and Seinfeld reruns when I need to turn my brain off.
Bonus question: Who is a peer you want to shoutout?
Loving the wines from Matt Crutchfield these days!