Two Guys Talking Wine

There have been many jokes about Chardonnay over the years on this podcast. But André got a chance to make the pilgrimage to the mother land in Bourgogne. He traveled from the Maconnais up to Cote des Nuits - and did learn something along the way. With thanks to: Pascal Marchand - http://www.marchand-tawse.com/en/ Veronique Drouhin - https://www.drouhin.com/en_US/ Sylvain Pataille Domaine Pavelot - https://www.domainepavelot.com/en/ Domaine Patrick Javillier - http://www.patrickjavillier.com/#!en/ Vins de Bourgogne - https://www.vins-bourgogne.fr/ You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon at www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

So Michael and André have both been to Abruzzo. They both tried to learn something - did it finally stick? Michael is fevereshly working on his Rosé report so tasted a lot of cerasuolo while away. Highlights from his trip include Torre dei Beati - www.torredeibeati.it Masciarelli - http://www.masciarelliwine.com Nic Tartaglia - www.nictartaglia.com Pasetti - www.pasettivini.it You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon at www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Michael went to France - André decides (once again) to try to learn something from him. Anything that is learned is by accident. You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon at www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Michael recently spent some time in Italy - so André decides to try to learn something from him. Rest assured anything learned is purely by accident. You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon at www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Michael and André recorded this before Michael took off to Italy and France for a month. André is getting ready to take off to Burgundy. They decided to taste through some wines from Kacaba, Chateau des Charmes, and 16 Mile to get ready for summer.

We are joined by Corrie Krehbiel the winemaker from Mission Hill. Michael recently had a chance to taste these wines at an event in Toronto. He was so impressed that he thought this would be a great opportunity to talk to the winemaker from Mission Hill about what's going on there. We asked if they would provide some wines to taste - and they did not disappoint by delivering bottles of Perpetua, Oculus, and Quatrain. You can order the wines tasted directly from - https://www.missionhillwinery.com/ With thanks to Mission Hill Winery. for providing samples. You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon at www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Today Michael and André are joined by Gabriele Fasan of Ponte. This winery has a large portfolio including more than a few bottles of Prosecco that are tasted on this podcast. You can learn about Ponte here: https://www.ponte1948.it/ You can order these wines by contacting J Cipelli - https://www.jcipelli.ca/ You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Today we are joined by Melanie Young & David Ransom of the Connected Table. Longtime members of the wine community you can listen to their radio show and connect with them by visiting - https://theconnectedtable.com/ Melanie also hosts Fearless Fabulous You - Where you can hear her share the stories of women entrepreneurs. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/209-fearless-fabulous-you-27073519/ Today we unpack the difference between earned and paid media. What is the state of wine media in 2023? While this is a topic Michael and André have been unpacking recently we are thrilled to get a new perspective on this. You can support Two Guys Talking Wine through Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Michael was kind enough to procure a bottle of 2009 Ridge Monte Bello for André this year. After enjoyin the bottle together they thought they should reach out to the source to unpack what makes this wine so damned good - and why it's such an icon. Ridge Vineyards responded the call by sending head winemaker John Olney to put up with the guys this week while they sipped on the current vintage for sale - 2019. Let's dive into the philosophy of what goes on behind the scenes at this iconic Californian winery. This podcast was not sponsored however the 2019 Monte Bello was gratefully provided for sample to Michael and André You can follow Ridge Vineyards here: https://www.ridgewine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ridgevineyards/ You can order Ridge wines in Ontario from Rogers and Company - https://rogcowines.com/winery/ridge-vineyards/ You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Today Michael and André are joined by Paul K of the Original Wine Of The Month Club. We discuss the current state of wine journalism and how important wine scores are when it comes to selling wine in 2023. We definitely make mention of James Suckling, Luca Maroni, and Carolyn Evans Hammond as people who's scores are regularly flagged as being out to lunch. You can subscribe to Paul K's Podcast at: https://www.winetalkspodcast.com/ You can listen to our appearance coming up on his show shortly! Support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Are yeast strains interesting? Michael and André unpack this question when they taste through a trio of wines from Ontario's Flat Rock Cellars. They bottled two incarnations specificlly by the yeast strain used to ferment these wines. What impact does yeast have on wine? You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon at www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Michael and André set the table on what to expect in the 2023 season of Two Guys Talking Wine. After taking a much needed month off to refocus. You can support Two Guys Talking Wine on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine

Michael and André run the longest running podcast based in Ontario. Terry David Mulligan has the longest running podcast about wine in Canada. They all sit down together to talk about Terry David's newest project - a Bordeaux style blend made with Jason Priestly and Michal Mosny.

Michael and André run through the highlights from their Toronto Life columns for Christmas and New Years. These columns were written after tasting through 269 wines!

We sit down with Jessica Chester one of the founders of Laneway Gin. We talk about some great bottles to score for the holidays - but end up taking a look at branding and marketing in general for the beverage industry.

Earlier this year Michael and André declared they were going to put Appassimento from Ontario on trial. The year got away from them - and here we are in the month of December where we sit down with René Van Ede, winemaker - and Ed Haddon, sommelier - both from the Foreign Affair.

We are joined by longtime listener and supporter Ken Little. When he pledged to support 2 Guys Talking Wine - I'm not sure he had this in mind. We stump the chump! You can check out Ken's work at the following links: https://www.instagram.com/resonanttransitions/ https://soundhealinginstruments.com/ https://abbeyretreatcentre.ca

Were you missing Beaujolais Nouveau from the shelves of the LCBO this year? What happened? We take a look at whether or not these wines were missed.

Zonte's Footsteps is a label that stands out on the shelves of your local wine shop. André and Michael both included one of their wines in their Toronto Life column in 2021. They had an opportunity to sit down with Brad Rey of this winery to catch up their wines - and a bit about the state of Australian wine.

André has admitted that Italy is his blind spot in wine knowledge. However Michael and André have the opportunity to unpack some more from what André learned in Abruzzo. They sit down with Marianna Velenosi from her eponymous winery and talk about "Super Marche" - Will Montepulciano make great dance partners with Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah?

Today André gets Michael to flip through one of his favourite books about Ontario wine. Spectacular Wineries of Ontario was published in 2012, and was put together by photographer Steven Elphick. How many of these wineries are still in existence after ten years?

There have been many changes taking place at how journalists can access product during the pandemic. There have also been some changes about how some journalists behave during the pandemic. However, is the LCBO actively trying to kill local wine journalistm?

André and Michael have both mentioned that they find cocktails too fussy to make. They got a package featuring fancy mixes and gins from Laneway Distillers and Slurp. What did they think?

We learn that André still doesn't know much about Italian wine. Michael still can't pronounce things in other languages. We also take a look at what might happen when you have a trio of wines ready to drink being sold in one box.

André and Michael have spent quite a bit of time talking about Gamay, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc on this podcast. But have they been unfairly overlooking Merlot? Michael digs a handful of bottles from his cellar from the hot 2010 and 2012 vintages to take a look at in today's episode.

Michael was at a Wakefield tasting recently - he had a chance to taste through some of their top tier wines. Has his mood on expensive wines been changed by this tasting?

Michael and André sit down with the general manager of Monte Creek, Erik Fisher. They get a bit of a crash course on the Thompson Valley in British Columbia - did the guys get into these wines?

André was recently gifted some wines from 1983. These were wines that were served on Pacific Western Airlines, as well as Air Canada. Including a trio of Canadian wines that pre-date VQA were any of these wines drinkable?

Michael and André taste through some of the new Red Wines from Culmina. This was done live to tape - how did this go?

We play Stump the Chump for the first time a long time. This was a fun episode as Michael raided his cellar with a bunch of Gamay. How did special guest Shiraz Mottiar do in nailing down region, vintage, and producer on each of these bottles? Better yet - did André embarrass himself again... probably.

In our 300th episode we discuss who André thinks is the most underrated winemaker in Ontario - Michael disagrees with him.

In this weeks episode Michael and André unpack a recent visit to Burgundy. We talk about where Ontario is situated in the market - and what the future holds for the province.

Michael and André sit down for their favourite game - Stump the Chump. What bottles climbed their way out of Michael's cellar? We are joined today by Jordan Armitage (@rescuingtrappedwine) and Christine Campbell (@girlsgograpedotcom).

Michael went to the loire valley earlier this year - André went in July. Both were hoping for some more insight on Cabernet Franc. What did they learn?

André and Michael are once again joined by Christina Campbell of girlsgonegrape.com. This time they take a look at Chardonnay across vintages 2014-2018 in Ontario.

We are joined by Christine Campbell - Vancouver based wine writer, podcast host, and Chardonnay love. She shares her love of BC Chardonnay with the guys and teaches them a new hashtag.

Ryan Oldrige from CREW took up the challenge when he made a fumé blanc. We catch up with him today to taste through a few of his current lineup of wines.

André was a judge at the Ontario Wine Awards. Michael was a judge at the All Canadian Wine Championships. How did things go down?

André spent a week in Abruzzo - a region he doesn't know much about. Did he learn anything? Michael and André break it down.

Michael and André recap after their missing week. They talk about the Campari Negroni product recently released at the LCBO ... and their taste in cocktails in general.

Two Guys Talking Wine are taking a bit of a break as they are doing some traveling.

Michael went to Italy ... André did not. We break down some of the wines that Michael experienced in Montefalco.

Michael and André often get asked how did they meet. Here is a deep look at the origin of Michael and André's love of wine ... and tolerance of each other.

On May 19th it is national caesar day. Michael and André take a departure from talking about wine to talk about Vodka with CEO and Founder of Zirkova Vodka Katherine Vellinga.

Michael and André got their hands on the latest wine from 19 crimes. Martha's Chard features Martha Stewart. Does this sub twenty dollar Californian Chard deliver the goods?

Michael has just returned from his first trip to France. What did Michael think of the land of many cheeses, bread, and butter?

Michael and André had a chance to attend a masterclass with Gerard Bertrand. Thank you to Family Wine Merchants for the Invitation. We had a chance to taste through the portfolio from top to bottom, from white, to orange, to red. What were our take-aways?

Michael and André discuss - What do they look for in a good rosé? Also, what is going on in Niagara with these wines this year.

Michael and André take a moment to continue down the Riesling rabbit hole. This time they take a look at some Riesling from BC.

André and Michael do not talk about Gewürztraminer very often... why is that? They take a look at two bottles from Alsace and one from Ontario.

This week we take a look at Gamay ... but not from Ontario. We are joined by Nicolas Mielly from Chateau de la Chaize in Beaujolais. We have a chance to discuss the future of the region, the impact of Georges DuBoeuf and Nouveau. Is Beaujolais on the cusp of greatness?