🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two people who represent both sides of the bottle: Janell Dusi, owner and winemaker of J Dusi Wines, and Octavio “Tavo” García Martínez, founder of Martínez Farming. Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, the conversation celebrates Janell being named the 2026 Winemaker of the Year and Tavo being named the 2026 Wine Grape Grower of the Year. The honors recognize two very different journeys. One is rooted in a century of Paso family history. The other was built through decades of vineyard work, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Janell grew up in the Dante Dusi Vineyard, where grapevines surrounded her childhood home and her grandfather Dante taught her old-world Italian winemaking. After making her first Zinfandel as a kid, she launched J Dusi Wines in 2006 and built a winery that carries her family’s legacy forward with her own perspective. This appearance is also a full-circle moment. Janell was the very first guest on Where Wine Takes You. Six years later, she returns with 20 years of J Dusi wine in the bottle and a Winemaker of the Year belt buckle around her waist. Tavo was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, came to the United States as a teenager, and built his career from the ground up in California’s vineyards. He founded Martínez Farming in 2010 and now provides vineyard development, farming, and management services while using social media to show the work, people, and knowledge behind every grape. Janell has seen Tavo’s leadership firsthand, including overnight harvests when he arrives with dozens of Double-Doubles, donuts, ice, and whatever else his crew needs. His style of leadership is built not just on managing vineyards, but on taking care of the people working inside them. They also talk about an extraordinarily early 2026 harvest, Janell’s expanding partnership with Maker Wine, her canned wine headed to United Airlines, Tavo’s enormous online following, and what it feels like when years of quiet work are finally recognized out loud. Later, the Travel Paso Spotlight fires up the grill for the 27th annual Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff, happening Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center. Local wineries serve their wine alongside competition-worthy food while battling for People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice honors. More importantly, the event supports scholarships for local high-school seniors through the Harlow Ford Scholarship Fund. Guests + Featured Brands J Dusi Wines jdusiwines.com Instagram: @jdusiwines Martínez Farming martinez-farming.com Instagram: @martinez_farming Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff winemakerscookoff.com Travel Paso travelpaso.com 🌐 Paso Wine Wire 🏆 Toast Tours earns major national recognition Paso-based Toast Tours was named California’s highest-ranked wine tour company and the number-two wine tour company in the United States in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Founded by Kristina Horton and Lars Bruinink, the company is known for personalized itineraries, local guides, and experiences built around each guest. 🔗 Read more: https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/321273 🥃 Paso Robles Distillery Trail Weekend The annual Distillery Trail Weekend runs August 7 to 9, 2026, with special tastings, tours, demonstrations, live music, food, and experiences at 12 boutique distilleries. Visitors who collect stamps from at least six locations can earn a limited-edition Paso Robles Distillers shot glass. 🔗 Event details: pasodistillerytrail.com 🥂 Paso Robles White Wine Invitational The third annual Paso Robles White Wine Invitational takes place Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rava Winery. More than 20 producers will pour quality-driven white wines in a walk-around tasting designed to show that Paso’s range goes far beyond big reds. Advance tickets are required. 🔗 Event details: pasorobleswhitewineguild.com 🌅 Travel Paso Spotlight The 27th annual Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff takes place Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center. Enjoy wine, food, live music, and friendly competition while supporting scholarships for local students. 🔗 Information and tickets: winemakerscookoff.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California. SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush. For turns well taken: https://slocal.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.