After cutting her teeth in wine media with editorial roles at Vines and Wine Access magazines, Amanda Vranckx pivoted from writing about wine to building a winery from the ground up. Now the co-owner of Front Road Cellars in Norfolk County, she oversees retail, marketing, and sales. And designs every label herself, drawing from her love of storytelling and place.

In this episode, Amanda joins Drew to talk about the wild ride from magazine deadlines to distillation tanks, why her wines reference Taylor Swift lyrics, and how ice fishing almost became a near-death podcast recording. The two dive into Canadian oak barrels, the dream of bringing Italian aperitivo culture to Ontario, and what it means to create unforgettable guest experiences in a rural wine region still carving out its identity.

Expect laughs, deep dives, and a behind-the-scenes look at the emerging Norfolk wine scene.