The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends

Ghost Block vintner Andy Hoxsey's Family is Still Leading Innovation in Napa Valley After 120 Years

The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends

Show Notes

Andy Hoxsey has Napa Valley in his DNA.

His great-grandfather bought the family's first Napa Valley vineyard in 1903 with a $10 gold coin. His grandfather helped usher in the 1968 Ag Preserve, which has protected the Valley from development.

Andy created the modern version of custom crush at Napa Wine Company and established Ghost Block Wine Estates with vines planted in the footprint of George Yount's 1839 vineyard that was Napa's first vineyard. His children are, today, continuing to define what it means to produce wine here.

This episode is a true celebration of Napa Valley. It's a look at how the generations of one family remain in conversation with each other and how the past shapes the present and plants the seeds for the future.

We hope you enjoy this special episode as much as much as we enjoyed spending time with Andy.

To learn more, visit: Ghost Block Wine Estates Napa Wine Company

More from The Taste with Doug Shafer – a Podcast About Wine, Food, and Friends

Oct 20, 2026

Todd Ricard's one-of-a-kind journey to Napa Valley winemaking started in rural Ohio and took him through a stint as an Army satellite operator in Japan. He discovered wine while later stationed near Paso Robles. What started as a way to celebrate weekends quickly turned into a vision for a career.

Oct 6, 2026

Davie Piña grew up in a long Napa Valley tradition of vineyards and winemaking. He and his brothers ran one of the Valley's first vineyard management companies, helping to drive the enormous changes in Napa's reputation from the 1960s to today. They eventually launched their own family winery, Piña Napa Valley.

Sep 22, 2026

Meghan Zobeck grew up in a Colorado cow town, graduated valedictorian of her senior class, studied for a career in medicine, and after college pivoted to a high-energy job with the Denver Broncos, negotiating player contracts — not your average pathway to Napa Valley winemaking.

Sep 16, 2026

It's hard to believe that we recently lost Tom Rinaldi. He had a big impact on Napa wine and beyond that was a great friend and a fantastic human being.

Sep 8, 2026

Long before Joe Czerwinski reviewed Napa Valley wines for Robert Parker Wine Advocate, he spent two hours a day reading about wine, visiting local wine shops, and making decades-long friendships on first-generation wine forums in the early 2000s.

See all episodes →