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What happens when three celebrated West Coast wine regions stop thinking of each other as competitors and start thinking about what they can accomplish together? On this episode of Where Wine Takes You, host Adam Montiel brings together three influential wine country leaders for a conversation about collaboration, competition, regional identity, and the people who make these places worth discovering.

Joining Adam are Joel Peterson, CEO of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance; Morgen McLaughlin, Executive Director of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association in Oregon; and Heather Scott, Executive Director of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, representing a unique wine region spanning Washington and Oregon. Together, they explore West Coast Wine Discovery, an effort to connect their regions, share ideas, and introduce more people to the wines and communities of the West Coast.

The conversation gets personal, too. Heather shares how a career working with major global brands eventually brought her back to her agricultural roots. Morgen reveals how her background as a competitive collegiate athlete influences her leadership, and Joel reflects on growing up in eight different states and learning the relationship-building skills that serve him today. They also discuss the pioneers who established their wine regions, the next generation of winemakers, the challenge of bringing fiercely independent personalities together, and why the industry’s greatest competition may not be another wine region at all.

From Oregon’s early winemakers traveling together and sharing hotel rooms to the challenges of introducing new grapes, attracting visitors, and supporting wine country communities, this episode offers a revealing look at the people working behind the scenes to keep these regions moving forward. There’s plenty of humor, a little friendly regional rivalry, and a shared belief that great wine country gets stronger when its people work together.

🍷 Guests & Wine Region Links

Joel Peterson | Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance

CEO, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance

Website: https://pasowine.com

Morgen McLaughlin | Willamette Valley Wineries Association

Executive Director

Website: https://www.willamettewines.com

Heather Scott | Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance

Executive Director

Website: https://www.wallawallawine.com

Heather’s personal winery, Tripwire Winery: https://www.tripwire-winery.com

🌅 Travel Paso Spotlight: Paso Robles Golf Club

This week’s Travel Paso Spotlight takes us to the historic Paso Robles Golf Club, where an unexpected truck breakdown helped introduce future owner Mike Rawitser to the hospitality of Paso Robles. Originally established as a private country club in 1961, the property is now a public, 18-hole golf course just minutes from downtown. Adam shares its history, its connection to Barney Schwartz and baseball great Sandy Koufax, and the story of its transformation. Plus, there’s Deeds Bar & Grill, a local favorite with a beautiful course-view veranda, great food, and no golf clubs required.

Whether you’re exploring California, Oregon, or Washington wine country, this episode is a reminder that the people behind the places are often the best part of discovering them.

🌅 Travel Paso Spotlight Links

Paso Robles Golf Club

Official Website: https://www.pasoroblesgolfclub.com

Golf Course, Rates & Tee Times: https://www.pasoroblesgolfclub.com/golf-course

Deeds Bar & Grill

Official Website: https://www.deedsbarandgrill.com

Travel Paso

Paso Robles Golf Guide: https://www.travelpaso.com/things-to-do/outdoors/golf/

Plan Your Visit: https://www.travelpaso.com

📰 Paso Wine Wire

No Paso Wine Wire this episode. We’re dedicating the extra time to our three guests and the West Coast Wine Discovery conversation.

🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com

📲 Where Wine Takes You now has its own Instagram. Follow us at @wherewinetakesyou for new episodes, behind-the-scenes pours, guest highlights, and more from Paso wine country.

🎙️ 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

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🎙️ 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

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