Laid Back Lush

A lot of people think that price is indicative of the quality and enjoy-ability of a wine. While we have tried to challenge this notion in the past, today we're trying the lowest priced red, white, and rose we could find at Food Lion to see what we find. The results might not surprise you, but they are still entertaining nonetheless. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bootleggers are one of the most discussed groups from the Prohibition era in the United States. These alcohol smugglers rightfully deserve a spotlight, but what about those who supplied the booze? Today we'll be looking into these suppliers, the Rum Runners, and how they fit into the criminal underworld of illegal alcohol distribution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As alcohol consumers, we normally only see the customer facing side of the industry. The simplicity of a purchase makes it easy to think that alcohol goes from production to market to sell, but the reality here in the United States is a little more complicated than that. Here we have what is called the "3-Tier System". Today we are examining how this system functions, and as usual, providing some of our own insights and opinions as to whether this system works as intended. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI has become a hot topic across the internet. One of the biggest questions being asked is will AI programs like ChatGPT be able to replace humans? While we can't speak for every job, after asking ChatGPT some questions we aren't too worried about AI taking over the wine industry. Why is that? Well, you'll have to tune in to find out... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy National Beer Day! Ok, we are a day late, but it's the thought that counts, right? Regardless, today we wanted to talk about one of the oldest and most famous beer brands around today. Guinness has an extensive history as not only a beer company, but also as a symbol of philanthropy and national identity. All these traits go back the founder of the company, Arthur Guinness, and his entrepreneurial spirit. We'll be going through his life and how he built Guinness as well as how the company came to be a behemoth of growth that is still expanding to this day. We hope you enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a common misconception among wine drinkers that all wines that are noticeably sweet can be used interchangeably with dessert wines. Although this is an understandable assumption, dessert wines are a distinct classification under sweet wines used for very specific purposes. In this episode, we're exploring the differences between the two from production methods to how they are used in food pairings. Tune in to satisfy that sweet tooth! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A wine and food pairing can make or break your dinner party, and we're here to help make sure it's a hit. The art of wine pairing does take time to perfect, but the basic principles are simpler than many people think. Today we will be examining how certain flavors profiles interact with each other in order to make sure you and your guests are satisfied! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Terroir, or a unique signature imparted to wines within a region, is a much debated term in the world of wine. What constitutes the terroir of a wine seems to vary widely, even among professionals. Is it the soil, the weather, the people making it, or something else entirely? In this episode, we're throwing our hats into the ring to clarify what forms terroir so that you can better understand the complexity and artistry that forms at the intersection of nature and human ingenuity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Often in the wine world, newcomers will encounter a lot of terms being thrown around regarding wine with no clear definition given. While often unintentional, this experience can be confusing for novice drinkers seeking to learn more. In this episode we'll be going over the terms we've seen go unexplained as well as clarifying some misconceptions regarding them. We hope this helps you to have more confidence in your discovery process! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Priorat is a highly regarding wine producing region located in Catalonia, Spain. The practice of wine making dates back to the 12th century with Carthusian monks discovering the unique terroir in this area. As the region has developed it's production techniques, it has started to produce world-class red blends. The long history of wine making combined with the dedication to high-quality wines in Priorat makes for a fascinating study, and we're excited to share our findings! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ouzo hails from the nation of Greece and is easily its most prominent liquor. This anise-heavy drink is still a prominent part of the local culture, particularly where food is concerned, but how did it come about? Tune in to find out Ouzo's history, production methods, and more in this episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is wine expertise? Well, it seems to depend on who you ask. To some it's the height of sophistication, for others it's complete nonsense. In this episode, we'll be discussing the philosophical implications of what influences wine expertise, how it manifests itself in the industry, and why the perception of this expertise matters. Perhaps both sides of the argument could learn a thing or two from each other.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are wine experts full of it? Adam Ruins Everything seems to think so, but we have some doubts about that claim. In this episode, we're diving into the science of wine tasting to see if the world of wine is really built on as shaky a foundation as many claim it is. While we do understand that yes, there are many people in and out of the industry that make claims beyond their ability, the science of wine tasting presents a much more nuanced reality to the ability of the brain to discern a wine's character. The science is fascinating, and we're very excited to share it with you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remember when we did an episode on wine tasting at the start of this podcast? We hope not because it was bad. Listen to this one instead, it's much better, we promise. This go around we'll be walking you through how we taste and analyze wine. It's not all smells and flavors, there's also structural elements in wine that greatly affect the enjoyment you'll get from it. We hope this episode gives you the tools to analyze them all and further your journey into wine discovery! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with even more analysis of the effect of social media on the perceptions and opinions of wine on the internet. In this episode, we're looking towards the trend-driven marketing that gets fueled by algorithms and how this can trick some into forming opinions on wine that don't necessarily reflect reality. From the flashy images of Instagram to the game of telephone we discovered is being played on Vivino, we discovered that social media tends to become a feedback loop between algorithms and marketing when it comes to wine information. We hope this episode helps you see past the curtain, so to speak, of the pretty language and images of social media reviews and provides you with the tools to find accurate information on the wines you're curious about! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world wide web is home to the largest collection of information man has ever known. How did man decide to utilize this? By giving controvercial opinions and clout chasing on social media, of course. In this episode, we delve into some of the hot takes on wine we're come across and try to disprove some of the myths about wine that seem to be popular on these apps. Hopefully we can make sense of this brave new frontier... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back! In today's episode we're exploring the diverse world of craft brewing here in the commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia has an extensive history of beer brewing that predates even the founding of the United States, and we're excited to share this unique story. It's a tale of trial and error, something still found in the industry today, but thankfully innovation always seems to triumph. We hope you enjoy (hopefully with a unique brew in hand) our exploration! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode has certainly been a long time coming! We have been itching to talk about the state of the rapidly growing wine industry here in our home state, Virginia, for quite a while now, and we're excited to finally broach the subject. From our challenging climate to the producers we like the most, we hope to give a comprehensive introduction of Virginia wines to any curious drinkers out there looking for something new to try. We hope this episode piques your curiosity! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our infinite wisdom, we have decided to return to our bad alcohols series. This time, we sought out the worst recommendations from our local ABC store clerks. The result was 99, a brand of 99 proof liqueurs that are sold at a frighteningly low price point. As always, this was a really bad idea. Tune in to find out just how bad it gets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us as we continue our exploration of Phylloxera, the great wine blight. In this episode, we will be delving into the history of how Phylloxera was discovered and nearly led to the eradication of the global wine industry. With the solutions hard to find and even harder to implement, this epidemic is a tragic and fascinating look at how science, collaboration, and ingenuity can overcome dire circumstances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally known as the Great Destroyer, Phylloxera has quite literally plagued the world of wine sine the 1860's. This aphid is perfectly designed to feed off of, and eventually kill, the grape vines we use for wine production in many parts of the world. But what actually is Phylloxera, and why is it such a concern for wine? In this episode, we will be diving into these questions to help explain why exactly this pest is so feared. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us today as we discuss the wines of Argentina! Argentina is famous for it's Malbec, but there's a lot more to the wine industry here than a single grape. There is an extensive wine making history in Argentina, and in this episode we'll be diving into everything from history to production regions. If you want to go beyond Mendoza, be sure to tune in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing on from our last episode, we'll be diving more into the regions that make up the wonderfully diverse wine industry of Chile. In this episode, we discuss what makes these regions distinct from the grapes to the laws that govern winemaking. We hope you discover a new place with new wines to explore! Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us today as we delve into the country of Chile. There are so many wonderful being produced here in the wide variety of climates that Chile offers, and we're very excited to discuss them from a macro-scale viewpoint. We'll be going over everything from history to grapes, and we hope you enjoy learning about this underrated country as much as we enjoy drinking their wines! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Michael and Gabe decided to have some lighthearted debate over which is the better style of beer: the IPA or the Lager. Which one will win? Honestly, probably neither. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As a follow-up to our last episode, we will now be diving into the history of the wine industry in Burgundy. From being a small country conquered by Rome to one of the most prominent wine producing regions globally, how did Burgundy become so renowned? Tune in to find out how religion, nobility, trade, and a disloyal grape crafted this fascinating history! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Burgundy is one of the most famous and expensive wine regions in the world, but why is this the case? In this episode, we're doing an overview of what makes Burgundy so special in the wine world. As the birthplace of the modern conception of terroir, this region has played an important role in the development of our understanding of viticulture and wine making. We'll be discussing a bird's-eye view of the soils, climate, grapes, and subregions of Burgundy so that you can know what's on a label should you desire to explore these wonderful wines. You can find a labeled map of Burgundy here should you be curious to find out more of the individual villages and cru vineyards: https://vineyards.com/wine-map/france/burgundy See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hailing from the nation or Portugal, Port encompasses a rich and complex variety of dessert wines. Port is one of the oldest designated wine regions in the world, so there is a lot of history, production techniques, and labeling terms to cover. Our goal in this episode is to break down the complexity and give you a straight-forward guide to finding a bottle for yourself! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A nearly forgotten style of wine, Madeira is a truly special drink and one of Gabe's personal favorites (possibly one of Michael's as well after recording). There's a long history of sea voyages, trade, and even revolution behind Madeira. Over the course of this episode, we dive into the rich history and flavors of these wines in an effort to promote one of the lesser known yet most prestigious wines we know of. We hope you enjoy listening and are inspired to seek out a Madeira of your own! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Spirits is a big heading, and the two primary distinctions within this category are liquors and liqueurs. Does this distinction matter? Actually, yes! Tune in to find out what the distinction is as well as a list of our staple liqueurs should you desire to have some on hand for an at-home cocktail bar. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

And we're back! In this episode, we'll be continuing our discussion about natural wines. This time, however, we will be discussing our own opinions and viewpoints (both positive and negative) about the movement. There's a lot to love about natural wines, but as with all things, there are things we don't love so much as well. Tune in to find out what our true thoughts are... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Natural Wine phenomenon has been a small but growing force pushing for a fundamental shift in how the wine industry operates. For a few decades now, with the onset of climate change interrupting vineyard operations combined with a desire for more diversity in the profiles of wine on the whole, enthusiasts have been calling for a more terroir-based and sustainable shift in the wine industry. Join us today as we explore what the core tennants of Natural Wine are as well as what you can (roughly) expect from the bottles of this genre that you might come across in your wine explorations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today's episode brings us back to Mexico to discuss a specific sub-type of Mezcal. Ironically enough, Tequila has dwarfed Mezcal's fame and become the most ubiquitous agave based spirit on the market. Tequila has developed its own personality as a spirit, however, and there is something to be said for how much it has been able to distinguish itself from being merely another Mezcal variety. From shots to cocktails, join us as we delve into the development and production of Tequila! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of Bordeaux! As one of the most famous wine regions (and also expensive), there is a lot of ground to cover here. We'll be going through history, sub-regions, and more to make sure you're well equipped to find and explore all the delicious options Bordeaux has to offer. Does this region still deserve it's fame? Tune in to find out... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why do so many bottles in your wine shop have that little sticker with 90 points on it? In this episode, we're looking into what makes up the wine scores given by some of the major wine reviewing publications as well as the history behind the metric. Is the 100 point scale accurate, does it communicate effectively, and are there other alternatives? Today we're seeking to dive into these questions and hopefully give you some constructive answers! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Join us today as we share some of our favorite wines at affordable price points. We do love fine wines, don't get us wrong, but sometimes you just want something easy and delicious to sip with dinner.  We hope this list helps you find a new, affordable wine that you enjoy! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today's episode, we're finishing our do-over of winemaking with red and rosé wines. While the basics are the same, there are some substantial differences between the productions of red and white wines. Tune in to find out what these differences are! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ok guys, here's the deal. Our first winemaking episode was a mess and we don't like it anymore. Therefore, we want to correct our past mistakes and give you a more thorough overview of how wines are made. In this episode, we'll be discussing the primary winemaking steps and major style choices that go into white wines. We hope this provides a better and more complete picture for you as to why certain techniques are used for white wines. These decisions will impact the final wine that ends up in your glass, and hopefully after listening you'll be able to tell what decisions were made for yourself! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're back everyone! In today's episode, we're going over the history and various production methods of rum.  With roots in the East and a storied past, we're excited to share our research with you. The world of rum contains a lot of diversity, much more than the average person has likely tried, and we hope that we can help you find a new style to try! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A whole year has passed since we launched Laid Back Lush! We wanted to sit down and talk through what we've learned, the difficulties of starting a podcast not knowing what we were doing, and what we are looking forward to in the future. None of this would have been possible without you guys and the support you have shown us: thank you all so much! We look forward to another year exploring the world of wine and spirits with you.Editor's note: you can find the link to the Wine Grapes Pedigrees diagrams Gabe mentioned in this episode below.https://winegrapes.org/perfect-pedigrees/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the final installment of our History of Wine series! In this episode we document the spread of wine through the new world by European settlers and the resulting wine industries that arose.  With the rise of these industries came both economic development as well as the issues inherent to colonialism. Join us as we seek to explore the benefits of these industries while recognizing that the history involved is complex and nuanced.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Well guys, it's that time of the year and we wanted to have a fun episode drinking some moderately bad alcohol from a strange brand. Little did we know how bad it could get. Listen at your own risk. Or perhaps sadistic entertainment...

With the advent of the Roman empire came many advancements in wine making and viticulture. Unfortunately, with the advent of the Middle Ages came many steps backwards. Join us as we examine the impact of trade, politics, and local taste in wine through the ups and downs of the Roman empire and it's subsequent fall. While the history of this time period is complex and at times inconsistent, there is still much to learn about the through lines that connect it to the wines we drink today. Tune in to find out what they are!

Welcome back, we're starting a new series! We'll be discussing the development and history of wine from our earliest records through the modern day. In this episode, we're tackling the early history of wine from the ancient world. The cultural spread and development surrounding wine was highly esteemed in the major cultural centers as well as trade, and we're excited to share our research with you!

In today's episode, we're diving into the history gin and how it's production has developed over several centuries. Originally a medicinal tonic, this aromatic liquor has become a staple in many famous cocktails. Join us as we take a journey through the juniper-ridden world of gin!We also have tastings of Boodles London Dry Gin as well a surprise gin that Gabe wanted to introduce Michael to. Tune in to find out what we thought.

Join us today as we discuss the major flaws and their causes that you might encounter on your wine journey.  From sweat to boiled cabbage, there's a lot of yuckiness out there you might encounter and we want to make sure you know when to NOT drink a wine (for once).

What's in a shape? Well, hopefully we can answer that question for you today! We'll be discussing the various kinds of glasses, what they do for beer, and what kinds of beers to drink from them. We also have a tasting of a local brew, the Midnight Brewery Rockville Red. Tune in to find out what we thought of it!

Welcome to the emerging markets of Chinese and Japanese wines! Today we're exploring the major styles, grapes, and regions coming out of East Asia and why they're been gaining some international attention. There's a lot of interesting trends coming out of these countries and we're excited to share them with you!

We're concluding out Old World Wine Laws series with Spain and Portugal! Tune in to find out how to navigate the quality and aging indicators of these countries. It might seem a little complex at first, but we both think they're some of the best wine laws in the EU for you to know what's in your bottles.

Today we are continuing our wine laws series and moving to the vast and rugged region of Italy. There's a lot of gems to find in this vast market, but there might also be some trouble in paradise...Join us as we discuss the laws and quality indicators you can find on your bottles. Hopefully you can find some pointers on how to navigate the Italy section of your local shop!

Today we're taking a break from the wine laws series to go over our favorite wine picks for autumn. We'll be discussing both the popular wines as well as our personal choices for a cozy night in (or possibly by a fire pit). Hopefully you can find a good pick for your holiday dinner!We are also tasting a Barbera d'Alba that took us in a direction we were not expecting. Tune in to find out what happened...