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In Episode 102 of Grapes & Debates, SoNapa Grille founder Adam Barringer sits down onsite in Daytona Beach Shores at the future home of the newest SoNapa Grille location. Joining Adam is SoNapa partner Joe Bates and Nick Antalek, current General Manager of SoNapa Grille in Ormond Beach and the future General Manager and business partner at this exciting new restaurant.
Recorded inside the newly leased building, the team opens an incredible lineup of wines from ZD Wines, one of Napa Valley’s most respected wineries. ZD Wines are currently being featured across all SoNapa Grille locations as the Wine Club Wines of the Month, were recently poured as the Member Monday complimentary tasting, and will host SoNapa wine club members during a special trip to Napa Valley later this year.
As the glasses fill, the conversation shifts to a powerful full-circle story. Joe Bates shares how this very building once housed a Red Lobster where he worked as a busser, years before becoming a partner in SoNapa Grille. The discussion highlights the realities of the hospitality industry — how hard work, persistence, and dedication can transform a career from the ground floor to restaurant ownership.
Listeners and viewers also get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a restaurant from scratch. After the episode wraps, Adam takes viewers on a walk-through of the property, revealing the massive demolition underway and the early stages of transforming the space into the next SoNapa Grille location.
This episode blends Napa Valley wine tasting, restaurant entrepreneurship, hospitality leadership, and an inspiring industry success story — making it a must-listen for wine lovers, restaurant professionals, and anyone interested in the journey behind building a restaurant brand.
🍷 Featured Winery: ZD Wines (Napa Valley)
🏗 Location: Future SoNapa Grille – Daytona Beach Shores
🎙 Hosts: Adam Barringer & Joe Bates
👨🍳 Guest: Nick Antalek
Topics in this episode include:
• ZD Wines Napa Valley tasting
• SoNapa Grille Wine Club wines of the month
• Restaurant expansion and opening a new location
• Joe Bates’ journey from busser to restaurant partner
• Behind-the-scenes look at restaurant demolition and development
• Hospitality leadership and career growth in the restaurant industry
• Wine culture and restaurant wine programs
About Grapes & Debates
Grapes & Debates is the podcast from SoNapa Grille, where wine, hospitality, and real-world restaurant conversations collide. Hosted by SoNapa founders and industry leaders, each episode features wine tastings with winemakers and insiders alongside honest debates about the restaurant business, leadership, and wine culture.