When I developed this season of California and Central Coast legends, I came across an article about sommelier and farmer Rajat Parr. It was written by Esther Mobley, the senior wine critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. She called him one of the wine industry’s biggest celebrities and California’s most influential sommelier—and she’s certainly not the only one. Rajat Parr is an absolute giant of the wine world, having worked as a sommelier for restaurateur Michael Mina for many years in San Francisco, and co-authoring two very important books: Secrets of the Sommeliers and The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste. So imagine my surprise when he instantly accepted my email request for an interview. Since moving away from the sommelier and restaurant world, he has taken up as a farmer and winemaker in Cambria at Phelan Farm, Stolo Vineyard, Domaine de la Cote, and Sandhi Wines. We talked about his upbringing in Calcutta, his original goal to become a chef, the way he risked it all to move to San Francisco, and his legendary and well-documented blind-tasting abilities.
Website: phelanfarm.com / sandhiwines.com / domainedelacote.com / stolofamilyvineyards.com
Instagram: @rajatparr
Olive oil tasting with Marisa Bloch Gaytan of Pasolivo Olive Oil, Paso Robles
Gardening (and free popcorn) with Miner’s Ace Hardware president Paul Filice, Arroyo Grande
Quick pickling with Andrea Wasko and Meaghan Gilbert, Los Osos
“Nature-positive” winemaking with Matt Trevisan at Linne Calodo Winery, Paso Robles
Peasant’s Feast and Peasant’s Deli chef/owners Michael and Sarah Cherney, Solvang
Bonus episode: Chris Lambert of Your Own Backyard talks creativity
Bonus episode: CONSUMED Live x At Her Table | Mothers in the Hospitality Industry
Healing from eating disorders with Sara Garofalo, Love Holistic Living in SLO
Growing winemaking wings with Janie Willheim, Lumina Wines in Paso Robles
A life in produce with Andrea Chavez of Talley Farms Fresh Harvest, Arroyo Grande
Going Rhône with Vicki Carroll, Hospice du Rhône, Paso Robles
Soupgangsta and Little Red Hen Bread, aka Stephanie Nye and Kirsten Finberg
Employing former inmates in the kitchen with Sister Theresa Harpin of Restorative Partners and The Bridge Cafe in SLO
Taking tea time with Kirstin Sherritt of The Secret Garden in SLO
What is good service? A chat with Giuseppe’s SLO server Chloe Lane
Food writing, gumbo, and big transitions with Sara Roahen in SLO
High cuisine and high praise with Chef Rachel Haggstrom at JUSTIN Winery in Paso Robles
Bonus episode: CONSUMED Live with Harmony and Brian Collins, Ember + Brooke and Jacob Town, The Spoon Trade
Bread, bikes, and community with Sam DeNicola and Matt Gamarra of Bread Bike, SLO
Talking trash with Peter Cron of SLO County Integrated Waste Management Authority, SLO
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
50 Tastes Of Gray
The Recipe with Kenji and Deb
Be My Guest with Ina Garten
The Federalist Papers
The Count of Monte Cristo
Gastropod
Walk-In Talk Podcast