Wine for Normal People
581 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 1.3K ratingsA podcast for people who like wine but not the snobbery that goes with it. We talk about wine in a fun, straightforward, normal way to get you excited about it and help you drink better, more interesting stuff. The Wine For Normal People book is available on Amazon! Back catalog available via Patreon membership: www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople Get the back catalog on Patreon!
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Episodes
Ep 466: The Grape Miniseries -- Mencía
March 20, 2023 16:00 - 47 minutes - 61.5 MBThis week we explore the Mencía grape of northwestern Spain, and northern Portugal, where it is called Jaen. This is a grape variety that hasn’t strayed far from home, as almost all plantings of it are in this corner of the Iberian Peninsula. Although it is likely native to Portugal, Spain grows more than three times what Portugal grows and the grape has become the flagship of a number of revived regions that are building back their international reputations for exceptional wine from t...
Ep 465: The Côte de Nuits of Bourgogne (Burgundy) Part 2
March 13, 2023 16:00 - 53 minutes - 70.3 MBThis week’s show covers the southern part of the Côte de Nuits, south of Gevrey-Chambertin. In this part of the Côte de Nuits you will find some of the most famed, expensive and coveted Pinot Noir on earth. We start with a recap of episode 464 to tie these two shows together. Then we work our way through the southern half of the Côte de Nuits. Like the first show, this is quite a download and we try to provide a structure for understanding this study in terroir, and what matters most when th...
Ep 464: The Côte de Nuits of Bourgogne (Burgundy), Part 1
March 06, 2023 23:02 - 1 hour - 78.9 MBThis week’s show covers the Côte de Nuits: the northern part of Côte d’Or, the famed ‘golden slope’ of Burgundy. Map: Vins de Bourgogne The Côte de Nuits lies between the city of Dijon in the north and hamlet of Nuits-Saint-Georges in the south (from which the Côte takes its name). In this small area, you will find most famed, expensive, and best Pinot Noir on earth. Most producers make less than 1,000 cases of wine a year and the prices boggle the mind. Like the Côte de Beaune...
Ep 463: Simone Madden-Grey Returns to Discuss Emerging Australian Alternative Varietals
February 27, 2023 17:00 - 57 minutes - 75.5 MBOur antipodean correspondent, Simone Madden-Grey joins the podcast again (man, scheduling over the last few years has been hard!)! She gets us up to speed on one of the exciting trends in Australian wine right now: alternative varieties (like Fiano, Vermentino, Tempranillo, and more!) We define alternative varieties, discuss the impetus for this movement, and the proof points for the movement being more than a fad. We discuss the importance of the Australian Alternative Varieties Win...
Ep 462: Aurelien Chirat of Vignobles Chirat
February 20, 2023 17:00 - 53 minutes - 71.1 MBThis episode presents our first ever producer on from the northern Rhône – Aurelien Chirat from Vignobles Chirat. Photo: Aurelien Chirat. Credit: WFNP Located in the steep terraced slopes overlooking the Rhone, in the village of Saint Michel sur Rhône, Vignobles Chirat began in 1925 when Benoit Chirat harvested his first Syrah at the Domaine. In 1948, his son George joined and worked with Benoit until 1970. Viognier was planted on their site in Condrieu in 1980 and the real changes to the ...
Ep 461: Alternatives to A Favorite - Chardonnay
February 13, 2023 17:00 - 43 minutes - 56.6 MBHere's the of Alternatives to Chardonnay list from the show! Photo: Chardonnay grapes. Credit: Getty images via Canva Chablis-Influenced – other cool climate wines Alsace Pinot blanc or Alto Adige Pinot bianco Dry Chenin Blanc from Loire – Savennieres (more than Vouvray) Sancerre (same soils) Muscadet – lees aging Godello from Valdeorras or Ribeira Sacra Bourgogne style –More floral, fuller, neutral to medium oak, malolactic fermentation -- full or part, mineral driven,...
Ep 460: Sonoma County, CA -- The Overview
February 06, 2023 17:00 - 59 minutes - 77.7 MBMap: Sonoma County AVAs. Sonoma County Winegrowers Over the last 12 years we’ve done so much on Sonoma but I realized that we’ve never done a podcast outlining the areas of Sonoma to give form to this wine paradise that has 18 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) and covers more than a million acres of land (405,000 ha) of which more than 60,000 acres are planted to grapes. Sonoma is still full of small, family-owned vineyards. It’s estimated that at least 85% of Sonoma County’s v...
Ep 459: Château Chasse-Spleen of AOC Moulis-en-Médoc with Jean Pierre Foubet, Managing Director
January 30, 2023 17:00 - 50 minutes - 65.9 MBJean Pierre Foubet is the managing director of and chief communicator for Château Chasse-Spleen, the best estate in Moulis appellation of the Médoc. His wife, Celine Villars-Foubet is the owner of the estate, and together they have brought this château to new heights in quality and prestige. Photo: Jean Pierre Foubet. Credit: ROLAND COIFFE & ASSOCIÉS According to Jane Anson, in her book “Inside Bordeaux”: “One of the star estates of Moulis, Chasse-Spleen is one of only two that I c...
Ep 458: Matt Walls -- Author of "Wines of the Rhone," Rhone Guru, and the nicest guy in wine
January 23, 2023 17:00 - 49 minutes - 65.6 MBMatt Walls is a freelance wine expert and an award-winning wine writer and consultant. He is a contributing editor to Decanter, and writes regularly for timatkin.com and Club Oenologique. He is also the author of "Drink Me!" Which won the Fortnum & Mason ‘Best Newcomer’ Award, among others, and he wrote an opus on the Rhône Valley, “Wines of the Rhône,”** which is a brilliant book that has everything you want to know about the Rhône. Buy Matt's Book!** Photo: www.mattwalls.co.uk Matt jud...
Ep 457: Umbria, Italy
January 16, 2023 17:00 - 49 minutes - 63 MBTucked into the middle of the Italian peninsula is the verdant, hilly land of Umbria. This small province is overshadowed by its neighbor, Tuscany, for many things, but Umbria has history, culture, and wine all its own. In this show, we explore the long history of Umbrian wine, what makes the province unique in its grapes and wine styles, and why Umbrian wine is too often unfairly forgotten in the pantheon of great wines of Italy. We review the three major wine regions of Umbria – Orvieto, T...
Ep 456: The Grape Mini-Series -- Merlot Revisited
January 09, 2023 17:00 - 1 hour - 77.3 MBThis podcast is a refresher on Merlot (it’s been 12 years, so it’s time!). It’s one of the titans of the wine grapes, and yet it’s not often that we encounter it as a varietal wine. Because it is frequently blended, Merlot can often be forgotten or not given its due. Photo: Merlot. Getty Images via Canva But Merlot will not be forgotten! It is the second-most planted grape in the world, the most widely grown grape in Bordeaux, and its pedigree as part of some of the world’s most prestigi...
Ep 455: Cava (Update) and the Other Quality Sparkling Wines of Spain
December 19, 2022 23:15 - 51 minutes - 65.9 MBMuch has changed since our original 2017 episode (199) on Cava and Spanish sparkling wine. It's time for a refresh and an update! Photo: Cava cork. Credit: cava.wine In this episode we fill you in on the roller coaster the DO has been on since 2017 and where it stands today. The story shows how Spain has moved from just being ON the radar of international wine buyers to moving to a level of sophistication that demands its regions have the kind of terroir focus of the other great wine nati...
Ep 454: The Grape Miniseries -- Aglianico
December 13, 2022 02:25 - 48 minutes - 62 MBIn this show, we cover Aglianico - the best red grape you may have never heard of. Widely considered one of Italy’s top three red grapes with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, many consider the wines of Aglianico some of the world’s top bottles too. That said, because Aglianico is a grape of the more obscure regions in southern Italy (Campania and Basilicata, mainly), the wine hasn’t gotten its due. It is much less expensive than top Barolos and Barbarescos or Chiantis and Brunellos – although it is ...
Ep 453: So, You Want to Get Into the Wine industry?
December 06, 2022 01:55 - 47 minutes - 59.8 MBI welcome back Jim Morris, industry veteran, hospitality pro, and hiring manager for major wineries to help me answer the question I get frequently: “I love wine, how do I get into the industry?” We address the three main verticals for entry into the biz: the executive/business side, the production side, and the sales/hospitality side. Then we talk briefly about wine education and wine media. Jim’s first tip is a really essential one: “No matter what you do, do everything ...
Ep 452: The Soave Region of Veneto, Italy
November 29, 2022 22:33 - 42 minutes - 53.8 MBThis week’s show is about one of the most famous white wines in Italy, the region's/wine's 1000 year history, and its recent comeback in quality and stature. The region? Soave (SWAH-vay) in Veneto, Italy. Map: Consorzio Tutela Vini Soave Located just east of the famed city of Verona (Romeo and Juliet, anyone?), in the foothills of the Lessini Mountains, Soave is a tiny region that packs a punch in reputation and in flavor. Made from one of the oldest known grapes in Italy, the Garganega g...
Ep 451: Thanksgiving Wines on a Budget
November 22, 2022 01:00 - 40 minutes - 52.1 MBHappy Thanksgiving/Harvest Meal 2022. For this episode, we’re discussing wines that will give you great bang for your buck, pair perfectly with the meal, and impress your guests. Photo: Pumpkins & Pais! (c) Wine For Normal People These pairings are really for any traditional western meal – Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any sort of food that celebrates autumn flavors. Here’s the list for 2022... The Welcome Wine Sparkling options: Sekt from Germany (Riesling is best), South Afric...
Ep 450: Aldo Vacca, Managing Director of Europe's Best Co-op, The Produttori del Barbaresco
November 15, 2022 00:09 - 1 hour - 81.8 MBFor decades, Aldo Vacca has been the Managing Director of the Produttori del Barbaresco, the best and most successful wine co-op in Europe. Through his leadership and guidance, the Produttori has taken its wines, and with it, the wines of Barbaresco beyond Piedmont in northeastern Italy, to world renown. Aldo’s job at the Produttori is not just an occupation, it is his family legacy and a professional choice he made that has benefitted all who love Nebbiolo. Photo: www.rarewineco.com Aldo...
Ep 449: All About Oak Barrels with Craig Holme of Tonnellerie Radoux
November 08, 2022 04:35 - 45 minutes - 60.8 MBThis week's show is about the essential art of cooperage, or barrel making. Aussie winemaker and current US National Sales Manager for Tonnellerie Radoux, Craig Holme, takes us through how barrels are made, from forest to cellar. We discuss sustainability (Hint: the issue isn't the barrels or the trees, it's the fact that they come on container ships fully assembled, as winemakers order. Hello, carbon footprint!), how different regions look at barrels, and how barrels are a very personal thi...
Ep 448: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Terroir with Dr. Kevin Pogue, PhD, Geologist and Terroir Educator
October 31, 2022 18:03 - 59 minutes - 73.3 MBDr. Kevin Pogue, PhD, professor, geologist, and terroir expert educates us on terroir. This podcast is like taking a terroir class: it debunks so many things that people spout in reference books, at wineries, and in mainstream press about the topic! He explains things brilliantly and he is one of the first people I've ever met who actually has answers to my really dorky questions about terroir. Photo: Kevin Pogue. From Vinterra.net As more detail, Kevin is one of the most famous people ...
Ep 447: Édouard Miailhe from Château Siran Returns
October 25, 2022 03:10 - 51 minutes - 56.5 MBIn this show we welcome back Édouard Miailhe, proprietor of Château Siran in the Margaux appellation of the Médoc (he was on Episode 391, as part of our Médoc series, discussing his role as the president of the Margaux appellation and a small bit about the Château). He joins to talk about many things that we didn’t cover in the first show, and the exciting things happening now, including the fact that Château Siran’s 2018 vintage was named the #1 wine of 2021 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine! Éd...
Ep 446: Côte de Beaune of Bourgogne (Burgundy), Part 2
October 17, 2022 06:02 - 59 minutes - 75.4 MBThis week’s show covers the southern part of the Côte de Beaune, south of Meursault. In this part of the Côte de Beaune you will find some of the most famed, stunning Chardonnay on earth. We start with a recap of episode 455 to tie these two shows together. Then we work our way through the southern half of the Côte de Beaune and the most famed Chardonnays in the world from the Montrachet family of vineyards. Like the first show, this is quite a download and we try to provide a structure fo...
Ep 445: Côte de Beaune of Bourgogne (Burgundy), Part 1
October 11, 2022 01:06 - 1 hour - 77.5 MBWe don't need much in the notes besides this wonderful map from the Vins de Bourgogne site, but I'll throw a few things down here just for recap. This week’s show covers the Côte de Beaune: the southern part of Côte d’Or, the famed ‘golden slope’ of Burgundy. The Côte de Beaune lies between the villages of Ladoix-Serrigny in the north and the Maranges in the south. In the north, there is delicious Pinot Noir but, in the south, you will find some of the most famed, stunning Chardon...
Ep 444: The Wines of Lisboa, Portugal (the wine region around Lisbon)
October 04, 2022 00:42 - 32 minutes - 41.8 MBThis week’s show is short but extremely valuable! We tell you about one of the best value regions in the wine world: Lisboa, the area around Lisbon in Portugal. Although it has extensive hills and regional variation in climate, the real action is less in the smaller DOCs (Denominacão de Origem Controlada) and more within the larger Lisboa IPR (Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada or Protected Designation of Origin). Using the freedom of the larger IPR, winemakers are making spectacu...
Ep 443: French-American Hybrid Grapes -- The Lowdown
September 27, 2022 21:00 - 38 minutes - 49 MBThere are many parts of European and American cultures that have intermingled, some quite successfully, but the jury is still out on whether the vitis vinifera and the American vitis species have created something truly special and lasting. In this show, we break down European-American grapevine hybrids – what they are, why they are more important to the conversation today, their history, how they are made and what some of the more popular and more successful grapes are. We wrap with a conv...
Ep 442: The Greats -- Brunello di Montalcino
September 20, 2022 23:12 - 48 minutes - 62.3 MBIn Italy’s arsenal of great wines of the world, Brunello di Montalcino may be the most coveted of all. Its small production and terroir-driven style represents the pinnacle of Sangiovese, widely considered Italy’s most famed grape. Made in the small and historic Tuscan hilltop village of Montalcino, just south of Siena, the grapes thrive in the climate and soils of this rugged area. Although the youngest of all the Italian greats, Brunello, with its rich flavors, elegant balance of acidity a...
Ep 441: Will Henry from Lumen Wines Asks -- Are Wild Vineyards the Way of the Future?
September 13, 2022 00:40 - 34 minutes - 44 MBLumen is farming this vineyard gone wild and it's making the best Pinot Noir there is... Photo: The Wild King Vineyard, Courtesy of Lumen Be forewarned! This is a pretty dorky and technical show. Some of you say you would like to hear what wine people talk about when we’re together: here it is! Will Henry, co-proprietor at Lumen Wines in the cool climate AVAs of Santa Barbara, returns to the show (he was on Ep 259) to tell us a story about a vineyard he happened upon that is chang...
Ep 440: Jason Haas of Tablas Creek -- Regenerative agriculture, alternative packaging, & Improving the environmental footprint of wine
September 06, 2022 01:00 - 59 minutes - 78.3 MBJason Haas is a Partner and the General Manager of Tablas Creek Vineyard. His late father, Robert Haas was a renowned importer who partnered with Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to scout a perfect site to grow Rhône varieties in California. They found it in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles and built one of the best wineries in California. Jason Haas of Tablas Creek. Photo from Tablas Creek Jason doesn’t just oversee the business, winemaking, and sales and marketing o...
Ep 439: Gamay All Day with Serge Doré (AKA, Serge talks about Beaujolais!)
August 30, 2022 01:00 - 43 minutes - 55.6 MBAnother energetic, entertaining show with Serge! Serge Doré with his daughter Gabriele. Photo: JoAnn Actis-Grande Portsmouth Herald Serge Doré, importer of French wine (and American via Quebec…he’s a man of many identities and a worldliness we can only aspire to!) and popular podcast favorite, joins us to talk about Beaujolais, one of his favorite regions. Like all the French regions with which he works, Serge has seen the ups and downs of Beaujolais and has stuck around through a lot...
Ep 438: The Grape Miniseries -- País
August 23, 2022 00:30 - 42 minutes - 54.5 MBPaís, known as Criolla Chica in Argentina, and Mission in the US, was brought by the Spanish conquistadores and was South America’s most planted grape for centuries until an economic boom in Chile and waves of migration in Argentina brought new and interesting grapes to these nations. Argentina has plantings of the grape, California now barely any, so Chile is the epicenter of the grape, where it is thought of as the locals’ grape – something low quality and common that has been around fore...
Ep 437: Tom Wark on the history of US alcohol law, recent threats to wine shipping & how Prohibition altered cultural views of wine
August 16, 2022 00:00 - 53 minutes - 68 MBTom Wark is a wine writer, wine public relations company owner (Wark Communications), and our trusted resource for figuring out what is going on with the US wine industry and how it affects us, as wine drinkers. In his role as the executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers, he manages and helps direct lobbying, litigation, and membership strategy and management for the retailers in the US and in that role has really helped dissect and expose some of the logistical and r...
Ep 436: Wine Faults -- what are they, how to spot them, and what to do about them
August 02, 2022 03:18 - 52 minutes - 66.3 MBWine is a product of nature, human intervention, chemistry, and it’s subject to many outside influences – storage, transport, handling – that can do a number on what’s inside the bottle. In this episode, we cover the main things that could go wrong with wine, how they got there, and what to do about it (where possible)! Photo: Pixabay Shout out to Jamie Goode, the outstanding scientist and wine writer who makes so many complex science concepts so easy to understand. Here is the link to hi...
Ep 435: Alternatives to a Favorite -- Pinot Noir
July 26, 2022 00:20 - 40 minutes - 51.3 MBPatron Serl Z asked: What are wines other than Pinot Noir for those for whom that is the only red wine they will drink? Photo: Pinot Noir grapes, Canva photos Join the conversation: Become a Patron on Patreon Pinot has so many different faces depending on where it’s grown – terroir is everything with the grape. But if we’re talking about medium-bodied, more acidic styles that are food-friendly, then this podcast answers that question! Italy: Schiava or Teroldego from Alto Adige ...
Ep 434: The World's Foremost Authorities on Rosé -- Elizabeth Gabay, Master of Wine, & Ben Bernheim, Co-Author
July 18, 2022 03:23 - 1 hour - 90.3 MBElizabeth (Liz) Gabay, Master of Wine, is the world's foremost expert on rosé and a big part of her career has been studying, writing about, and understanding rosé. Ben Bernheim, her son, is now learning from her wisdom and and is a specialist in his own right. The two of them have just completed the excellent book “Rosés of Southern France” (which is now available on Amazon for purchase. Liz is largely responsible for shifting the tide on rosé and helping people to understand that this win...
Ep 433: Quinta da Raza -- Terroir, Family, & the Complex White Wines of the Vinho Verde Region of Portugal
July 12, 2022 03:07 - 49 minutes - 64.2 MBVinho Verde, the DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) Region, has made wine since Roman times. This region is one of the largest DOCs in Europe but within its boundaries there are vast differences between the nine sub regions. In this show, Mafalda Teixeira Coelho, co-owner of Quinta da Raza and Pedro Campos, winemaker clear up a lot of the misconceptions about Vinho Verde. We learn about the terroir of this old and complex region, the various subregions, and how serious, and sometimes a...
Ep 432: Agroforestry -- An Answer to Wine's Biggest Environmental Challenges with Jean-Baptiste Cordonnier of Château Anthonic in Moulis-en-Médoc
July 05, 2022 02:33 - 57 minutes - 69.1 MBJean-Baptiste Cordonnier of Château Anthonic in the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation on the Left Bank of Bordeaux is revolutionizing the entire Médoc with a novel approach to farming and adapting to climate change: Agroforestry. This show talks about the practice and the unbelievable results that can be achieved by farming in this way. It will inspire hope that there is a future for viticulture, even in areas where there is great climate change. Photo: Jean-Baptiste Cordonnier Château Anthon...
Ep 431: The Grape Mini-Series -- Sémillon
June 27, 2022 17:31 - 46 minutes - 59.6 MBSémillon used to be the most planted white grape in the world. From its native home in France to Australia, Chile, South Africa, Argentina, and beyond, it was planted en masse to pump out large quantities of flavorless bulk white wine. The problem was that Sémillon doesn’t cooperate when it’s forced to high yields. It loses acidity and it lacks flavor unlike some other grapes that can still muster some umph when over-cropped (Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Colombard, to name three). For thi...
Ep 430: New Insights on the Médoc from a Recent Trip
June 14, 2022 02:04 - 39 minutes - 49.4 MBAfter a recent trip to the Médoc (the left bank of Bordeaux), I came away with a whole new appreciation for the region. In this show, I share what I learned and my main takeaway is simple: when we are thinking about Médoc, never forget that there are real people behind the bottle you drink and they care what you think about the wine! It's a place of wonder, great modesty, kind people, and exceptional wine. Here is the list of SOME of the things I learned! Bordeaux is not “over”, “done”,...
Ep 429: Marchesi di Barolo - Where Modern Barolo was Created
June 07, 2022 00:00 - 52 minutes - 60.7 MBAlthough much bigger, more well-known, and a bit fancier than the people I usually speak with, I wanted to make an exception and have the family who owns Marchesi di Barolo on the show so they could explain how the modern style of Barolo was created by the winery. It's much more buttoned up, and less of the normal conversation style I usually do, but it's an essential bit of history that will help fill-in some gaps about Barolo! Marchesi di Barolo in Barolo, photo from Marchesi di Barolo's...
Ep 428: Laurent Delaunay of Maison Edouard Delaunay -- The Magnificent Story of a Family's Loss & Triumph in Burgundy
May 31, 2022 00:50 - 59 minutes - 68.5 MBCatherine & Laurent Delaunay, photo from Badet Clément Laurent Delaunay of Maison Edouard Delaunay in Bourgogne (Burgundy) as well as Badet Clément and under that many estates and DVP or Domaines et Vins de Propriété joins the show to discuss his amazing story of loss and triumph in Bourgogne (Burgundy). Laurent’s family wine ties stretch back to 1771 in the Loire, but the Delaunay name was made as one of the historic great houses of Bourgogne. The domaine began in 1893 and by the ...
Ep 427: Some Things to Consider When Traveling to Piedmont (in Person or Through the Glass)
May 24, 2022 02:07 - 53 minutes - 66.8 MBAfter a week-long trip to Piedmont, Italy with a group of 20 patrons, I give an update on the region and offer some ideas on how to explore the wines on the ground and through the glass. View from La Morra Tips and producers mentioned/that we visited or that I recommend visiting: 1. To explore Nebbiolo, first hit Roero, then Barbaresco, and finally Barolo (first La Morra and Barolo, then Castiglione Falleto, Serralunga, and Monforte). Roero producers: Matteo Correggia, Massucco Ba...
Ep 426: Giovanni Correggia of Matteo Correggia -His Exquisite Wines from Roero in Piedmont
May 16, 2022 23:42 - 1 hour - 83.2 MBGiovanni Correggia of Matteo Correggia. Photo ©Wine For Normal People This podcast was extra special for me, as I was able to record live with Giovanni Correggia of Matteo Correggia in Roero, a part of the Piedmont in Italy that I love and that I try to champion as much as possible. I met Giovanni several years ago and loved his wines and his family story. This podcast is so many things all at once: A great education on the Roero region, by the most famed producer there The story of a g...
Ep 425: Cairanne of the Southern Côtes du Rhône with Jean-Etienne Alary of Domaine Alary
May 09, 2022 07:23 - 51 minutes - 61.4 MBCairanne is an 877 ha/2,167 acre appellation in the southern Rhône Valley that has been farmed since the time of the Greeks. It is not just a regular appellation, it is a cru of elevated status in the Côtes du Rhône. It doesn’t get the credit it deserves! After tasting much of it at a wine fair in the southern Rhône, I found it unbelievably delicious. A cru with acidity and a lighter profile but still so much character? YES. And after speaking to a few of the other producers in the appellat...
Ep 424: Using data to answer our most important questions about wine with David Morrison, PhD, of The Wine Gourd
May 03, 2022 03:00 - 48 minutes - 56 MBDavid Morrison is a wine analyst and writer. He is an Australian living in Sweden. He has a PhD in plant biology, and that expertise led him to explore the wineries throughout Australia, learning about the high quality wines and vineyards there. Picture: The Wine Gourd He runs a blog called The Wine Gourd (winegourd.blogspot.com), which looks at wine from a totally different perspective – one that focuses on wine data. He seeks to take a more objective look at data, and he draws logical ...
Ep 423: Interesting things about the Rhône Valley that you won't read in books
April 26, 2022 03:31 - 59 minutes - 75.4 MBThis podcast was recorded after my trip to the Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône, a wine trade fair that I was invited to by Inter-Rhône. It was a wonderful learning experience and I stayed on for a few days afterwards to explore Hermitage, Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, St. Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and in the south, Beaumes de Venise with Claude Chabran of Rhonéa, Gigondas with Elisa Cheron from Familie Cheron of Domaine du Grand Montmirail, and a self-guided tour of vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. ...
Ep 422: Old Vines Defined, with Langmeil Winery of Barossa, Australia
April 18, 2022 22:24 - 1 hour - 70 MBIn this show, we finally define OLD VINES with James Lindner and Leigh Woodrow of Langmeil Vineyards! The background, the history, the viticulture, and the first major definition in form of the Barossa Old Vine Charter are all covered. If you ever wondered what "old vines" really means, we have answers! Langmeil Vineyards has a long and storied history. In 1843, Christian Auricht planted a mixed farm in the heart of the Barossa Valley in Australia. In 1932 Theodor Hanisch, Christian’s grand...
Ep 421: Alternatives to A Favorite - Cabernet Sauvignon
April 12, 2022 03:51 - 36 minutes - 45.6 MBInspired by a question from a Patron, we give you an original list of wines that are true alternatives to Cabernet if you love the OG and you want to branch out. We come up with 7 solid ideas that are similar but different enough to make them interesting. The original idea for this list was from Patron Serl Z. and Leigh W. gets credit for naming this series. People were so excited for these new ideas, we may just make it into a series! We begin by discussing the main characteristics ...
Ep 420: Denise Marrone of Agricola Gian Piero Marrone In Barolo
March 28, 2022 21:45 - 1 hour - 75.7 MBDenise Marrone comes from a long line of wine growers and winemakers in Barolo. Starting in 1910 when Pietro Marrone, at age 23, asked his father in if he could improve vineyard practices, the family has had a dedication to producing the highest quality grapes and wines possible from the Langhe, specifically Barolo and Barbaresco. The family’s legacy, dedication to the land, and their unbelievable hospitality at the winery in La Morra (you have to visit), is such a joy to learn about. ...
Ep 419: The Grape Miniseries -- Roussanne
March 22, 2022 03:35 - 30 minutes - 38.8 MBAlthough one of the most prestigious white grapes of the Rhône Valley, Roussanne is relatively unknown given its penchant for making aromatic, complex, full yet acidic wines. Often used as a blending partner with Marsanne or even with Syrah in its native northern Rhône, the grape shines alone in certain versions from Châteauneuf du Pape, California, Australia, and a handful of other places around the world. In this show we examine the majesty of this grape, which makes extraordinary wines th...
Ep 418: April Nalle and Whitney Hopkins on Making a Small Vineyard Eco-friendly
March 15, 2022 01:04 - 45 minutes - 55.5 MBApril Nalle from Nalle Winery, who make brilliant Zinfandel (also great Pinot noir, blends, Cabernet and more) in an old-school style, is a good friend with whom I speak often. April has had some really big moments lately, where she’s gone from just being concerned about climate change to being inspired to be a change agent. She’s at the beginning of her journey and I wanted to get her at this point to tell us how it all starts. In this show we talk about how to make a vineyard more en...
Ep 417: Oregon's Willamette Valley -- A Discussion of My Trip
March 08, 2022 04:00 - 52 minutes - 65.7 MBAfter a trip to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, M.C. Ice and I have a casual discussion on "What I learned on my school vacation" 😂 -- a few details of the region, specifics on the wineries and sub-regions, and ultimately (apologies, but Oregon super fans won't want to hear this) my opinions on the challenges I have with the Pinot Noir of the region and how I feel that Chardonnay may be Willamette's best grape. View from Beaux Frères Remember -- the show is based on my opinions with so...