November 2024: Issue 47
Notes from the Cellar Televised Tasting Community Table Sound Jedi Snap to It
by Joey Wolosz | Published December 2, 2024
A Note from Joey Wolosz
The holidays have taken hold, and recent days have been a cheerful whirlwind of celebrations, creativity, and connection.
November kicked off with a trip to a television studio in San Francisco, where Jeff and I had the pleasure of sharing Gentleman Farmer Wines with daytime Bay Area viewers.
Thanksgiving was a double feature this year—Jeff’s community service event followed by our own gathering with family and friends.
The holiday spirit took hold early, with three trees to decorate, wreaths to hang, garlands to swag, lights to string, cookies to bake, and even popcorn to thread.
Mark your calendars for December 20 and 21! Jeff and I are hosting a holiday open house from 1 pm to 5 pm each day. Wine club members are invited to pick up the December club shipment and everyone can join us for some holiday cheer.
In this issue: lights-camera-action, two festive feasts, the iconic hum of a lightsaber, and edible ginger ornaments perfect for dressing up your holiday tree.
Joey Wolosz
Vintner, Cook, Camera Ready
Jeff and I had the pleasure of joining Rachael Maurer and Jessica Wills at the KRON4 studio in San Francisco for a lively segment on LIVE! in the Bay. We shared our story, our wines, and a few Thanksgiving-inspired bites for the holiday table.
When we arrived, one of the studio staff couldn’t help but comment on our impressive setup—four bus tubs filled with food, a case of wine, and a collection of personal and family pieces to style the table.
Our afternoon segment stretched over six minutes—plenty of time to showcase Jeff’s signature Cracker Jeff and his Castelvetrano olives stuffed with anchovy herb butter. I brought along my pâté en croûte, silky chicken liver mousse, and homemade brioche. Together, we brought a taste of Gentleman Farmer made to the greater Bay Area.
It was a fun afternoon sharing a bit of Napa in the City. You can watch it here
Jeff outdid himself again this year, hosting 150 people for the annual Yountville Community Thanksgiving. He now holds bona fide butcher street-cred, having broken down twenty-two 20-pound turkeys in a single day. With the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, generous donations from local businesses, and music courtesy of Mary Spalding, they delivered over 50 Thanksgiving meals (leftovers included!) to homebound residents and served over 100 more at the Yountville Community Center.
Afterward, we gathered 25 of our closest family and friends for our own Thanksgiving dinner at our downtown space. I handled the turkeys, ham, stuffing, and gravy, while our guests filled the placfe with hors d’œuvres, sides, desserts, and some incredible wines.
It was a day filled with food, wine, laughter, and plenty to be thankful for.
Star Wars Sound
I first met David Acord a few years ago and was fascinated by the incredible work he’s done creating the sounds and languages of the Star Wars universe.
David is not only a friend but also a Supervising Sound Editor whose remarkable career spans the Star Wars galaxy, the Marvel universe—including the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy—and the films of Paul Thomas Anderson. His recent projects include The Mandalorian, Loki, and Andor, each showcasing his unparalleled ability to bring stories to life through sound.
A two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Achievement in Sound Editing (Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker), David has also earned two BAFTA nominations and an impressive fourteen Emmy nods, including two wins. Beyond his work behind the scenes, David has lent his voice to several iconic characters, including stormtrooper FN-2199 (“TR-8R”) from The Force Awakens, Two Tubes from Andor and Rogue One, and even Grogu from The Mandalorian.
I had the chance to sit down with David to explore his creative journey, the art of sound, how he continues to shape the worlds we love, and his deep love for food, wine, and connection.
Joey Wołosz: Could you share a bit about your background and the journey that brought you to the Star Wars Universe, Marvel, and your current career?
David Acord: I think I was pretty curious about film editorial, fairly early on, but I didn’t have an avenue for it, living in rural Delaware. So, I started sending resumes and cold-calling productions and studios. In 1994, I was an intern in the Art Department on Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys. I answered an ad in a film newsgroup online (this is pre-social media, early internet). I was interviewed and hired. On set, I hit it off with the production Sound Department mixer, Jay Meagher, and he hired me as a part of the production sound team. A production sound person is responsible for recording the dialog on set, typically with a boom mic or wireless mics.
In 1999, after getting engaged, I moved to San Francisco. By this time, I wanted to continue my pursuit of post-production work. After a couple of years of interviews and phone calls I was hired as an apprentice on Star Wars: Attack of the Clones in 2001, at Skywalker Ranch. I was working with Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood, two titans in that field. Ben is a Hollywood legend.
In 2007 Matthew gave me my first big break as Sound Designer for the new Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series. A Sound Designer is a fancy term meaning you are in charge of sound effects. You are responsible for recording, creating, selecting, and otherwise setting the aural tone of the project through sound effects.
On the strength of that show, I built a sound design career, eventually supervising shows with Matthew and on my own. A Supervising Sound Editor is essentially the “key” or the boss/manager of the sound department. A lot of times, as with me, Sound Designers are also Supervisors. Your responsibilities include communicating with the clients (the director, producers, etc.), managing your crew of editors, and budgeting.
JW: What does a perfect day look like, from morning rituals to your evening unwind?
DA: On a workday, typically, it’s a shower, then coffee and news. Breakfast tends to be simple, like toast or yogurt or something. My drive from San Francisco to the Ranch is a 45-minute counter commute, during which I’ll usually listen to podcasts. Work is usually a 9 to 10-hour day. I’m in a dark room with a lot of screens, keyboards, controllers, consoles, buttons, and sliders. I make a lot of noise in that room all day long (and field calls, emails, etc). Lunch is always a nice break at the Ranch, the food is good, and there are plenty of trails to walk for some exercise. For the drive home, I’m usually listening to music. Dinner in the evening with Barbara and maybe a glass of Gentleman Farmer Red.
JW: Do you have a favorite artist, composer, or creator who has influenced your work or perspective?
DA: This is a tough question, really. There are several people I could point to as influences and favorites and I’m lucky enough to work alongside a lot of them. Ben Burtt, whom I mentioned earlier, is one. He is the original Star Wars sound designer and one of the originators of that term. I’ve learned a lot from Ben over the years.
JW: When did wine and food become meaningful parts of your life?
DA: I think I really didn’t start to fully appreciate good wine and food until my 30s. I’m sure I thought I did before that, but once I moved to San Francisco and really started indulging in the restaurant scene there, my eyes opened. San Francisco is probably one of the greatest restaurant towns in the world. With its proximity to wine country, exploring wineries in Napa, Sonoma, and the Central Valley has become a regular occurrence.
JW: What are other creative outlets or pursuits outside of your work?
DA: I play guitar, not very well. I draw, not very well. My work tends to absorb a great deal of my time, so until I retire, I’m afraid my hobbies will be treading water.
JW: Who are two people you’d love to share a long, lingering meal with, and what would you serve?
DA: That’s an interesting question, especially from the menu angle. I think I’d like to have a crab feast, bushels of Maryland Blue Crabs, loads of Old Bay, and newspapers and hammers on the table with both of my grandfathers, who have passed. My dad’s dad was hilarious and warm; my mom’s dad was whip-smart and always had great stories. They were actually friends, as well, to add to the dynamic.
JW: Do you have a motto or guiding principle that shapes how you live and create?
DA: Don’t be afraid to fail. You can learn as much from failures as from successes, which makes them invaluable.
Gingerbread cookies evoke the magic of winter fairytales and folklore, with their spiced aroma and whimsical shapes. At our Gentleman Farmer Bungalow, two of our trees are dedicated entirely to gingerbread cookies—each one decorated with royal icing and hung with red-and-white butcher’s twine, like candy cane stripes weaving through the branches.
This recipe is a multitasker: delightfully spiced and sturdy enough to hold its own on the tree all season—though you might find yourself nibbling a few before they make it there.
Enjoy decorating with a glass of 2021 Gentleman Farmer Napa Valley Chardonnay.
