Season 8 - Episode 2 - Channing Frye Chosen Family Wine

In this heartfelt and entertaining episode, Heidi welcomes NBA champion Channing Frye into her cozy McMinnville studio to talk wine, healing, and connection. After losing both his parents in 2016, Frye leaned on teammates and wine culture as a form of emotional recovery. That experience inspired him to co-found Chosen Family Wines, a brand rooted in community, storytelling, and inclusivity.

Channing shares his belief that wine should be accessible to all—enjoyed not just with fine meals but even with burgers and popcorn. He champions Oregon’s Willamette Valley as a world-class wine region full of small, passionate producers, and calls for better tourism infrastructure to support its growth.

The episode also teases a new video project where Channing plans to visit Oregon wineries unannounced, tasting wines and sharing authentic stories from each stop.

Final takeaway: From championship rings to Pinot Noir, Channing’s journey is about finding purpose, building community, and embracing the family we choose—glass in hand.