Rick Kushman is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-wining journalist and the wine commentator for Capital Public Radio. He is also the creator and co-host of the popular national podcast “Bottle Talk with Rick and Paul,” which is featured on the CapRadio’s podcast lineup among many others.
Rick was a longtime columnist for The Sacramento Bee and his writing has appeared in newspapers across the country and in publications ranging from Time Magazine to Sommelier Journal to Daily Variety. He has worked in the wine industry as a consultant on service and communication and as a Napa Valley-based Communications Strategist for E&J Gallo Winery. Rick currently works as the manager of global media relations at the Almond Board of California.
He is the author of two books. The second, “The Barefoot Spirit,” a business book set in the wine world, spent two months on the New York Times Bestseller list and was a national 2020 Audie Award nominee for best audio business book.
He regularly conducts inventive, light-hearted, anti-winespeak programs for corporate events, regional restaurants and the public, and says self-important wine “educators” who suck the fun out of tastings should be mocked whenever possible.
Rick lives in Sacramento with his wife, Deborah Meltvedt, a high school teacher, poet and author – and the grown-up in the household – and with their rescued cat, Anchovy Jack, who they think used to be a pirate.