FROM MINOT TO SONOMA: CLINT SEVERSON’S JOURNEY FROM NORTH DAKOTA ROOTS TO CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY

In this inspiring episode of Open Range with Gary Emineth, Gary sits down with Clint Severson, owner of Hook & Ladder Winery in Sonoma Valley, California. Clint shares his remarkable story of growing up in Minot, North Dakota, and how his search for opportunity led him to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he began his career with Dow Chemical. Despite having no background in winemaking or grape growing, Clint took a leap of faith into the wine industry—facing initial setbacks like being denied a loan—but his persistence paid off. He explains how he built Hook & Ladder Winery from the ground up, from purchasing the land to planting the vines and securing the right equipment. Clint also gives insight into why California’s Russian River Valley is one of the most ideal regions in the world for producing high-quality wines, thanks to its perfect blend of climate, soil, and tradition.