Wine Road Podcast – Episode 246 – Janae Franicevic / Sunce Winery Click to LISTEN Welcome to Wine Road with hosts Marci Gordon and Beth Costa. Thanks to Ron Rubin for supporting the podcast. (0:24 – 0:48) Special thanks to River Road Family Vineyards and Winery for their support. Explore their wines at RiverRoadVineyards.com. (0:49 – 0:57) Episode 246 features Janae Franicevic from Sunce Winery. (1:03 – 1:16) Janae introduces Sunce’s 2021 Pinot Noir, made from estate-grown clone 777. (1:30 – 1:48) Sunce Winery is a backyard winery on Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, with a vineyard planted in 1998. (2:16 – 2:29) Janae shares the story of buying and transforming the property into a winery. (3:06 – 3:17) Starting a winery required risk, passion, and resourcefulness. (5:00 – 5:10) Janae emphasizes her role in building the business, pioneering direct-to-consumer sales and wine clubs. (6:16 – 6:37) Sunce produces small-lot wines, including single-clone Pinots and diverse varietals. (9:02 – 9:18) The tasting room offers a global wine experience, featuring unique varietals like Dornfelder and Teran. (11:00 – 11:09) Sunce’s adaptability allows them to thrive in a challenging wine economy. (15:37 – 15:42) Wine remains a comforting tradition, especially in changing times. (22:18 – 22:29) Janae highlights the importance of barrel tasting as a tradition and business cornerstone. (24:05 – 24:09) Sunce offers flexible futures purchases, starting at three bottles. (27:00 – 27:22) Barrel tasting supports wineries and growers while offering customers exclusive wines at a discount. (32:01 – 32:23) Barrel tasting allows customers to experience wine’s development and connect with its story. (36:42 – 36:57) Janae stresses the importance of wineries supporting each other during challenging times. (37:35 – 37:40) Visit Sunce for barrel tasting, charcuterie, and a welcoming atmosphere. (37:50 – 37:53) Barrel tasting is March 7-8. Don’t miss it! Links from today: