Kingsview CIO Scott Martin On Fox Weather Live – 9.11.25
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BOB VAN DILLEN: Alright, let’s get to this right now. I love talking to this guy—Scott Martin, Chief Investment Officer for Kingsview Partners. Scott, it’s always a pleasure to have you on the big broadcast. You’re out there in Chicago right now, and it’s actually going to warm up for you. Definitely not pumpkin spice latte weather for you guys, at least not for the next couple of days, right?
SCOTT MARTIN: No, not at all. In fact, this kind of weather could go all year round if we wanted. Forget about the lattes, Bob—though I know you love those, BVD, and probably you too, Jane. But I tend to think this weather is a great reminder of how nice Chicago can be, even late in the season. We’ve had a couple of weekends of great weather after that cool spell when a couple of cold fronts made everyone think fall was here and winter was on the doorstep. Turns out, that’s still a few months away—thankfully.
BOB VAN DILLEN: A false front, a false fall—absolutely. Scott, we’re talking about pumpkin spice lattes. I didn’t realize they actually drive consumer spending for the entire fall season. That’s wild.
SCOTT MARTIN: Consumers get really excited about promotions, gimmicks, and seasonal tie-ins. People shift out of that summer haze into fall, and they need something to get excited about. So when places like Starbucks and local coffee shops bring out these seasonal flavors, it lines up with fall colors—especially in the Midwest—and people spend more. They buy the lattes, and then they spend money around those coffee shops, both inside and nearby, because the whole vibe just pulls them in.
JANE MINAR: I do like pumpkin.
SCOTT MARTIN: Coffee’s your thing? Pumpkin?
JANE MINAR: Spice is a little too sweet for me, but pumpkin anything will get me. The décor has to look homey, festive.
BOB VAN DILLEN: So you’re susceptible to the advertising campaign.
JANE MINAR: I am. I’m one of the targets.
BOB VAN DILLEN: Target hit!
JANE MINAR: That’s me, I fell for it. But Scott, it’s interesting. Speaking of fall—pumpkins are obviously top of mind as we move through September into October, with Halloween around the corner. Pumpkin patches are gearing up, but depending on summer droughts, cooler temps, or early frosts, how do you see the pumpkin outlook for the next couple of months?
SCOTT MARTIN: It looks pretty good. Maybe this is a reprieve in the weather pattern. Like you mentioned, the tropics have been calm—which reminds me of Hurricane Ian showing up in late October three years ago and wiping out memories of fall. But calmer, more temperate weather this year means fewer flooding rains, which is good for crops. And Jane, here’s the big thing—as a dad of a 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son, I remember those pumpkin patch days. The prices at these places—whether in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, or Iowa—aren’t cheap. Once families commit to going, they spend a lot. So no matter how many corn mazes or pumpkin-throwing contests they have, the patches are going to do just fine.
BOB VAN DILLEN: Yeah, those are my favorite—the catapults and slingshots. I’ll pay money for that, no question. So pumpkins look good. Let’s head to California. We’ve seen reports about the grape harvest for Napa wines—some say good, some say not so good. What are you seeing this year?
SCOTT MARTIN: There’s a lot of chatter about the grape harvest, and challenges are real. Beyond the weather, California’s politics can make things difficult for wineries. At the same time, states like Pennsylvania and Michigan are starting to grow their own wine industries. They’re not going to threaten California’s dominance any time soon, but over the long run, you may see more wine in grocery stores coming from other states. Still, California remains the leader, with about 80–85% of U.S. wineries.
BOB VAN DILLEN: I was in Virginia last spring—those wineries are good too. Pennsylvania, Virginia, even Trump’s winery out there.
JANE MINAR: Don’t forget the Finger Lakes. They’ve got some wonderful wineries. California will be interesting, though. Cooler temps in the valleys might help the harvest, but they’re also dealing with smoke and drought. And then there’s the trend of lower alcohol consumption overall, which has an impact.
BOB VAN DILLEN: Yeah, Scott, what do you think about that? Kids these days—they’re not drinking enough! What have we taught them?
SCOTT MARTIN: Haven’t they seen me on TV? Let’s go! It’s funny, Jane—just a year ago nobody was really talking about it. Now it’s everywhere. People brag, “I haven’t had a drink in five days.” Then you see them at home on FaceTime with a glass of wine in hand. I think it’s just trendy right now to say you don’t drink, even if you still do privately. I expect it to swing back. Personally, I can’t stay away from daiquiris or margaritas—especially frozen.
BOB VAN DILLEN: That’s how to win Scott over if you see him on the street!
JANE MINAR: For me, it’s red wine season.
BOB VAN DILLEN: For me too. Watching the Giants or the Vikings—you need a little whiskey to get through those games. These kids don’t know how to cope! Totally kidding. Scott, we’ll check back in with you around Christmas and talk about holiday spending.
SCOTT MARTIN: Sounds good—gingerbread houses should be year-round anyway.
BOB VAN DILLEN: Alright, buddy. Always great to talk to you.
