Podcasts about acan media

Jeff Lefevere and I return to review the top wine stories of the past month including tongue-twisting wine names, a disturbing wine manifesto, trends in wine marketing, the stellar 2009 Bordeaux vintage and much more. Hosts: Tim Elliott and Jeff Lefevere Topics - If the wine is hard to pronounce, is it worth more? - Has wine lost it’s romance? - The Slow Wine movement - 2009 Bordeaux: vintage of the century? - Will drinking too much wine give you cancer? - Million Dollar Day for WinesTilSoldOut.com - Wine’s 2011 Report Card - Moet Hennessy aims for super-premium red wine from China - Are Americans’ Tastes Changing? - Wine discounting trends - Randall Grahm and The State of the Modest Winery - Follow-up on QR codes from last month Events - 2012 New York Wine Expo: March 2-4, New York City - 2012 World of Pinot Noir Tasting: March 2-3, Shell Beach, CA - Paso Robles Wine Country’s 2012 Zinfandel Festival, March 17, 2012 - Wine Blogging Wednesday 75, Single Vineyard, March 21st - Rhone Rangers, San Francisco, March 24-25 - For events near you check out Local Wine Events: http://www.localwineevents.com This podcast is brought to you by audible.com – get a FREE audiobook download at www.audibletrial.com/winecast Feedback: thismonthinwine@gmail.com Copyright 2012 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed under Creative Commons.

This is the premier episode of This Month in Wine, a monthly discussion about what is going on within the wine world from a consumer and insider perspective. Hosts: Tim Elliott and Jeff Lefevere Topics: What’s up with Good Grape? Is wine blogging on the decline? Wine Trends & Predictions for 2012 Value Replaces Cheap Wine Regulation Reform Continues Sweet Wines Continue Growth Blends Come Back in Vogue Green Packaging Booms Chinese Wine Market Continues To Show Influence Recovery of Wine Market Low Alcohol Wines Natural Wines Events: Wine Blogging Wednesday 74, Feb. 15th, Value Sparkling Wine Dark & Delicious, February 17, 2012, Alameda, CA San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting, February 18, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco For wine events near you check out: http://www.localwineevents.com This podcast is brought to you by audible.com - get a FREE audiobook download at www.audibletrial.com/winecast Feedback: thismonthinwine@gmail.com Copyright 2012 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed under Creative Commons: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Five years and one day after I started this blog and podcast I get back behind the mic and restart regular podcasting. This episode features an interview with Rudy McClain, the filmmaker of the documentary Merlove. I also pick three Merlot wines from my tasting log for review. Show Notes: 00:30 – Welcome and show theme 02:22 – Interview with Merlove filmmaker Rudy McClain 15:25 – My review of the documentary Merlove (Buy DVD at Amazon: http://bit.ly/8BCTau) 17:35 – Review of Bodegas Osborne, “Solaz”, Merlot-Tempranillo 2006 18:43 – Review of Blackstone, Merlot, Sonoma Reserve 2007 19:18 – Review of Raphael, Merlot 2001 21:37 – Feedback & call for new theme music 22:13 – Next show theme Tasting Notes: Bodegas Osborne, “Solaz”, Merlot (65%) Tempranillo (35%), 2006 ($9) – Garnet in color with aromas of black cherry, white pepper, licorice and vanilla. Bold plum and black cherry fruit with black pepper finishing with just a hint of bell pepper and moderate tannins. A very nice table wine for under $10. 13.5% ABV Synthetic cork closure Rating: ★★★☆☆ Buy this wine online: http://bit.ly/57N3Bo Blackstone, Merlot, Sonoma Reserve 2007 ($20/sample) – Dark purple with aromas of black cherry, dark current and sage. Rich plum and dark cherry fruit with some mint finishing with supple tannins. 14.5% ABV Natural cork closure Rating: ★★★½☆ Buy this wine online: http://bit.ly/5kjSFZ Raphael, Merlot, North Fork of Long Island 2001 ($25/750 ml/won in Menu for Hope raffle; tasted from 3L) – Deep garnet in color with aromas of black cherry, currant and mint. Rich black current and black cherry fruit with white pepper, bell pepper flavors finishing with moderate but well integrated tannins. Has structure for another 10 years in the cellar in this format. Outstanding Long Island Merlot that I would guess was from Bordeaux in a blind tasting. 12.5% ABV Natural cork closure Rating: ★★★★☆ Buy this wine online: http://bit.ly/6EXF5w Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Voicemail: +1-646-495-9244 x 60514 http://drop.io/winecast Copyright 2009 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Jeff Lefevere and I are back with another edition of the Unfiltered podcast after nearly a year in hiatus. We are joined by Tina Caputo, the Editor-in-Chief of Vineyard & Winery Management magazine, Joel Vincent, Executive Director of the OpenWine Consortium and co-founder of VinTank, and Tom Wark from Wark Communications and FERMENTATION. Show Notes: 00:26 - Welcome & Introductions 01:18 - Wine Bloggers Conference 07:31 - American Wine Blog Awards 15:55 - Social Media & Wine 23:27 - “Robert Parker’s Bitch” video 48:58 - Tina’s Blog, The Wine Broad’s Board 49:35 - Tom’s Blog, FERMENTATION 49:51 - Jeff’s Blog, Good Grape Production note: My recording levels were not set correctly and attempts at adjusting this in post-production introduced a lot of noise. This has been corrected for the next episode. These things happen when you don’t podcast for several months ;-) Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Voicemail: +1-646-495-9203 ext. 19765 http://drop.io/winecast Copyright 2009 Acan Media, Inc. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Another Quick Picks sharing a wine I enjoyed over the Holidays, an aged Bordeaux blend from Pomerol. Château Clos René 2000 ($30-60) - Deep crimson-purple in color with aromas of black cherry, dark currant, pencil lead, fennel and mint. Rich black cherry fruit with black pepper and dark chocolate finishing with moderate, but plush, tannins. A delicious Bordeaux blend that has more years ahead of it. 13% ABV Natural cork Rating: ★★★★☆ Buy this wine online Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Voicemail: +1-646-495-9203 ext. 19765 http://drop.io/winecast Copyright 2008 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under Creative Commons.

I’m back in action on the 4th anniversary of my first podcast with a high-end Carmenere-led blend from Chile. Vina Santa Ema, “Rivalta” 2003 - ($68/sample) Dark purple in color with aromas of black currant, plum, blueberry, fennel, mint and vanilla. Rich and concentrated dark currant and blackberry fruit with black pepper and dark chocolate finishing with firm tannins. A delicious Carmenere-led blend that will age at least 4-6 more years. Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Voicemail: +1-646-495-9203 ext. 19765 http://drop.io/winecast Copyright 2008 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

I'm back with an interview with Etienne Hugel of Hugel & Fils. This family winery has been passed from father to son for 12 generations and makes some of the best wines from France’s Alsace region. We also talk about a virtual tasting over Twitter organized by Bin Ends Wines later this month. Show Notes: 00:25 - Introduction and background on Hugel & Fils 01:49 - Interview with Etienne Hugel 31:31 - Details of Bin Ends Wines Twitter Tasting 38:57 - Contact Details 39:08 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Voicemail: +1-646-495-9203 ext. 19765 http://drop.io/winecast Copyright 2008 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

The first of several shows recorded last year, this podcast focuses on the wines of Israel with an interview with blogger & retailer Richard Shaffer from Israeli Wine Direct and winemaker Zeev Smilansky from Meishar Winery. Show Notes: 00:27 - Welcome & Background on Israeli Wine 02:10 - Israeli Wines Today 32:10 - Get Your Free Audible Book 35:44 - Feedback and Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Voicemail: +1-646-495-9203 ext. 19765 http://drop.io/winecast Copyright 2008 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ Sponsor: Audible: Get a 14-Day FREE Trial of AudibleListener® Gold And 1 Free Download by clicking here: http://www.audiblepodcast.com/winecast/

Jeff Lefevere and I start our second season of Unfiltered with a panel of wine bloggers, podcasters, winery owners and retailers. We welcome Ryan from Catavino, Jeff Stai a.k.a. El Jefe from Twisted Oak, Craig Camp from Anne Amie Vineyards, Kaz & Randy from Wine Biz Radio and Jill from domaine547.com Show Notes: 00:25 - Welcome & Introductions 01:28 - American Wine Blog Awards 15:50 - Twitter: Waste of time or valuable tool? 23:14 - Amazon enters wine biz? 33:10 - Are high alcohol wines not such a bad thing? 39:17 - Who writes Wine-ing 2.0? 42:39 - Blog URL’s and Feedback Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Voicemail: +1-646-495-9203 ext. 19765 http://drop.io/winecast Copyright 2008 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

I am back behind the mic for another podcast and this time I'm reading a post from last week and reflecting about the comments. Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2008 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

As I begin my 4th year of podcasting I present the final Unfiltered show of it's first season. Jeff and I welcome a panel of some of the top wine bloggers today: Alder Yarrow, Dr. Debs and Gabriella & Ryan Opaz. We talk about the state of wine blogging, where it is going and share some wine picks. Show Notes: 00:25 - Introduction 01:40 - Question for Alder 04:21 - Question for Dr. Debs 05:46 - Question for Gabriella & Ryan 08:10 - Question for Jeff 09:19 - Are Wine Bloggers Having An Impact? 15:04 - Where Is Wine Blogging Going? 36:53 - Will Wine Bloggers Adopt A Common Rating Scale? 55:13 - Gabriella & Ryan's Wine Pick 57:17 - Dr. Debs' Wine Pick 59:13 - Alder's Wine Pick 60:00 - Tim's Wine Pick 62:30 - Everyone Plugs Their Blogs 64:00 - Jeff's Wine Pick 67:00 - Feedback Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

Another Quick Picks just in time for the Thanksgiving table featuring two Roussanne-based wines from Tablas Creek Vineyard. Tablas Creek Vineyard, Roussanne 2005 ($27) - Light straw in color with aromas of pear, pineapple and orange blossom. Crisp pear and pineapple flavors with nice minerality on the finish. Wow. Score: 91 Rating: 4/5 stars Tablas Creek Vineyard, Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc, Roussanne/Grenache Blanc/Picpoul Blanc blend 2005 ($35) - Light yellow in color with aromas of pear, honey and spice. Pear, citrus and pineapple flavors finish long with refreshing acidity. A delicious Rhone blend that shows what can be done with these grapes in California. I will cellar a few bottles to see what happens with 5, 10 and 15 years of bottle age. Score: 92 Rating: 4/5 stars Join my Crushpad Group! http://tinyurl.com/27y8df Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

The first of several podcasts from the archives, this one recorded in late May and mid-June but not edited and released until now. I spent about an hour with Cameron Hughes in his San Francisco offices and captured an interesting portrait of what makes this New World négociant tick. Unfortunately most of these tasting notes are for wines now sold out but Lot 25 is still available and now on sale, along with Lots 42 and 26. All of which are recommended. Show Notes: 00:23 - Introduction 01:53 - Interview with Cameron Hughes 26:53 - Tasting notes 27:04 - Lot 25, Carneros Sparking Wine NV ($19) 27:32 - Lot 26, Sauvignon Blanc 2006 ($12) 28:00 - Lot 29, Lake County Meritage 2005 ($11) 28:28 - Lot 30, Chardonnay 2005 ($12) 28:57 - Lot 31, Syrah 2005 ($12) 29:23 - Lot 38, Shiraz 2005 ($20) 30:10 - Lot 42, Shiraz 2005 ($18) 30:42 - Best of Tasting: Lot 38, Shiraz 2005 ($20) 31:03 - Best Value: Lot 26, Sauvignon Blanc 2006 ($12) 31:21 - Feedback 31:36 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

Another Wine Blogging Wednesday and this time I’m podcasting for the first time since WBW 23. Neil from Brooklynguy’s Wine and Food Blog came up with a great theme this month: ‘Silver’ Burgundy. Instead of investing in a Côte d’Or (’gold coast’) wine, we are drinking affordable Burgundy from the Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais. Since I favor red wines this time of year, I selected a village wine from Mercurey made by the well known Faiveley family. Listen to the podcast for more details but here are my tasting notes: J. Faiveley, Domaine de la Croix Jacquelet, Mercurey 2003 ($20) - Deep ruby color with aromas of dark cherry, fennel and sage. Rich black cherry and raspberry fruit with a touch of earth finishing with firm tannins and good acidity. The bold fruit balances the tannins so I expect this wine to improve with a year or two more in the cellar. Alternatively, you could give it a couple hours in the decanter to open up before enjoying. A very good value in Pinot Noir. 13% ABV Natural cork closure Score: 88 Rating: 3.5/5 stars Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

Jeff Lefevere and I return for another podcast after a hiatus of 6 months. We welcome Alyssa Rapp, founder and CEO of Bottlenotes and Mary Baker, owner of Dover Canyon Winery. 00:25 - Welcome and Introductions 01:09 - Background of Bottlenotes 16:28 - Dover Canyon overview 17:44 - Harvest 2007 discussion 25:06 - Is Bigger Better? 46:45 - To Cork or Not to Cork? 53:38 - Links and show conclusion Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

I’m clearing the decks this week of podcasts recorded earlier this year. I’m starting with a live show recorded on Talkshoe in April. Bill Wilson from Wine for Newbies podcast and blog joined me to talk about how he got into podcasting and share a few wine picks. Unfortunately nobody called with a live question but we’ll get to that next time ;-) 00:26 - Introduction 00:55 - Interview with Bill Wilson from Wine for Newbies 11: 24 - Most interesting listener questions 24:11 - Restaurants in Santa Ynez area 26:24 - Tasting Notes 26:31 - Kenneth Crawford Rose, Larner Vineyard 2006 29:09 - Laura Aschero, Pigato 31:07 - Tin Star, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2002 33:02 - Ladera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain 2003 37:02 - Ballentine Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 40:40 - Contact Details 42.18 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/

Another Unfiltered podcast recorded two weeks ago with co-host Jeff Lefevere and I welcoming guest Paul Mabray from Inertia Beverage Group and panelist Mark Fisher from the Dayton Daily News and Uncorked blog. 00:23 - Welcome and Introductions 01:15 - Inertia Beverage Q&A 07:33 - Florida may close direct shipping of wine 11:56 - Wine drinkers think more clearly than teetotalers 18:04 - Food bloggers free for all 26:46 - Sales of pinot, sparkling, rose & screwcaps up 36:42 - Freeze in east, midwest effects grape crops 41:36 - Everyone plugs their blogs & we sign off Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/

The third outing for the Unfiltered podcast with Jeff Lefevere and I welcoming guest Josh Hermsmeyer from Capozzi Family Winery & Pinotblogger.com and panelist Andrew Barrow from Spittoon & Wine Sediments. 00:23 - Welcome and introductions 01:04 - Capozzi Family Winery Q&A 05:52 - Wine collectors, "buyer beware" 07:54 - Bait and switch on Winesearcher? 15:35 - 100-point ratings and wine writing 27:05 - Twitter and wine 32:36 - U.S. Wine Exports Jump 30 Percent 36:56 - Contact details 37:10 - Next show guest and panelists Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under Creative Commons.

Quick Picks rolls into 2007 with a look at the standout Zinfandels from Chase Family Cellars tasted at last month's ZAP tasting in San Francisco. Tasting notes: Chase Family Cellars, Zinfandel, Hayne Vineyard 2004 ($45) - Ruby-purple in color with aromas of raspberry, blackberry and spice. Ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors with black pepper finishing elegant and very balanced with medium-firm tannins. A real fruit bomb but has enough structure for further aging. Score: 91 Chase Family Cellars, Zinfandel, Hayne Vineyard "Reserve" 2004 ($75) - Dark purple in color with intense aromas of blackberry jam, raspberry and licorice. In the mouth, there is rich blackberry and black cherry fruit along with white pepper and spices finishing very smooth and long with well integrated tannins. Perhaps the best Zinfandel I've ever had. Only 100 cases produced. Score: 95 Show Notes: 00:04 - Welcome and winery background 01:30 - Chase Family Cellars, Zinfandel, Hayne Vineyard 2004 02:12 - Chase Family Cellars, Zinfandel, Hayne Vineyard "Reserve" 2004 03:29 - Contact details Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under Creative Commons.

My second podcast with co-host Jeff Lefevere of Good Grape joined by Jason Korman from Stormhoek winery, Tyler Colman, a.k.a. Dr. Vino and Alan Baker, the Cellar Rat. Show Notes: 00:23 - Welcome and introductions 01:15 - Stormhoek Q&A 21:10 - Why are NASCAR, NFL and LPGA fans drinking more wine? 29:33 - Regarding wine becoming mainstream in American culture… 35:23 - Is Costco, et. al. changing the 3-tier wine distribution system? 47:22 - Plugs for each participants’ blog 50:15 - Contact details 50:24 - Next month’s theme and participants Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

A new monthly podcast featuring a panel of wine bloggers and an industry guest. Co-host Jeff Lefevere of Good Grape and I welcome Tom Wark from FERMENTATION and Jeff Stai from the Twisted Oak Winery. Show notes: 00:24 - Welcome and introductions 01:53 - Show format 02:16 - Twisted Oak Winery background 08:04 - Direct to consumer shipping trends 14:28 - Do wine blogs create demand? 15:47 - Tom's new role as Exec. Dir. of SWRA 22:35 - Current state of wine distribution 31:07 - Balanced, "Old World-styled" wines 39:07 - The "hot wines" of 2007? 45:36 - Round of plugs for participant blogs 47:32 - Contact details and next show participants Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/

I'm back and starting my third year of podcasting with the longest Winecast yet, a discussion and tasting of four wines from the Iberian peninsula with Ryan Opaz of Catavino. Show Notes: 00:21 - Welcome and introduction 01:10 - Your Iberian wine questions with Ryan Opaz 26:17 - Don Olegario, Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain 2004 ($19) 30:27 - Sociedade Agrícola Casal do Tojo, "Lisa", Terras do Sado, Portugal 2004 ($11) + 36:07 - Bodegas 3 Suenos, "Sexto", Terra Alta, Spain 2004 ($10) 41:39 - Caves do Salgueiral, "Andreza", Douro, Portugal 2003 ($14) * 46:22 - Save The Duero and wrap-up 51:49 - Contact Details 52:04 - Next show theme * = Best of Tasting + = Best Value (Production Note: Unfortunately I set the gain too high on this recording and could not filter out this background noise out due to GarageBand's ducking feature. I recommend listening on speakers and not headphones as a result. Lesson learned; my apologies.) Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2007 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Another Quick Picks podcast highlighting two outstanding values from Spain’s Bodegas Borsao. Show Notes: 00:13 - Bodegas Borsao background 00:51 - Bodegas Borsao, “Red Wine” 2005 ($8) 01:29 - Bodegas Borsao, “Tres Picos“, Garnacha (Grenache) 2004 ($15) 02:01 - Next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Another look at the Gamay Noir grape, this time focusing mostly on New World examples from Napa Valley and Oregon. I interview Drew Dickson from the Andrew Lane Winery and announce my raffle prize in the Menu For Hope III Campaign. Show Notes: 00:21 - Introduction and show theme 00:39 - Gamay Noir background 01:20 - Interview with Drew Dickson from Andrew Lane 08:22 - Tasting Notes 08:53 - Andrew Lane, Gamay Noir, Napa Valley 2004 ($18/sample) 09:15 - Amity Vineyards, Gamay Noir, "Anden Vineyards" 2004 ($17) * 10:07 - Laboure-Roi, Beaujolais-Villages, Saint-Armand 2004 ($11)+ 11:17 - Best of Tasting * 11:22 - Best Value + 11:29 - Menu for Hope III Campaign 13:23 - Contact Details 13:40 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Another Quick Picks podcast celebrating both my birthday and the release of Beaujolais Nouveau today. My favorite from my tasting today is featured. Louis Tete, Beaujolais Nouveau 2006 ($13) - Clear ruby/purple in color with aromas of strawberry, cherry and banana. In the mouth the wine is juicy with wild cherry and strawberry jam flavors finishing with good acidity and soft tannins. Textbook Nouveau from a reliable shipper. Drink with your Thanksgiving turkey and fixings. 12.5% ABV Natural cork closure Score: 82 If you want to hear more about Beaujolais Nouveau, be sure to check out Winecast 47 from last year. Show Notes: 00:05 - Welcome and show theme 01:18 - Louis Tete, Beaujolais Nouveau 2006 02:18 - Shout out to Joseph Drouhin Nouveau 02:31 - Contact Details and next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

I return to try to answer a listener question from 2005 and talk about Semillon, the great grape of Bordeaux. I also review three wines from the New World. 00:21 - Welcome and show theme 00:32 - Listener question 02:11 - Semillon background 04:56 - Tasting Notes 05:04 - Kaesler, Semillon, “Old Vines”, Barossa Valley 2004 ($14) * + 05:41 - Chateau Ste. Michelle, Semillon, Columbia Valley 2003 ($9) 06:33 - Stormhoek, “The Sixteen Barrel”, Semillon 2004 ($20/sample) 07:50 - Best of tasting * and best value + 08:23 - Contact Details 08:43 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

A return to the Quick Picks format last seen almost a year ago with a review of a value-price Zinfandel. Tasting Notes: Castle Rock, Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2004 ($10) - Dark purple in color with aromas of blackberry, sage and a touch of vanilla. Round and soft in the mouth with boysenberry and blackberry flavors, some spice and silky, sweet tannins. An excellent value drinking as well as wines more than twice it’s price. 13.9% ABV Composite cork closure Score: 88 Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today's show is a return to podcasting after seven weeks off this time focusing on Pinotage, the red varetial from South Africa. I also play a podsafe song about wine and make a couple of announcements. Show Notes: 00:22 - Welcome and show theme 01:06 - Pinotage background 04:00 - Tasting Notes 04:50 - Zonnebloem, Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2003 ($12) *+ 05:14 - Robertson Winery, Pinotage, Robertson, South Africa 2003 ($9) 05:39 - Fleur du Cap, Pinotage, Coastal Region, South Africa 2004 ($12) 06:19 - Best of tasting (*) and best value (+) 06:51 - Show announcements 07:58 - Clip from Evil Genius Chronicles podcast 11:21 - Podsafe song from Mark Mallman 12:10 - Pandora's Bottle from "Between the Devil and Middle C" (buy on Amazon or eMusic) 15:18 - markmallman.com and tour dates 15:56 - Contact Details/Sign my listener map! 16:28 - Next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today's podcast is a return to my vintner profile format with an interview with Jason Korman and Hugh Macleod of the Stormhoek Winery. Show Notes: 00:22 - Welcome 01:07 - Introduction of Stormhoek Winery 02:32 - Interview with Hugh Macleod and Jason Korman 29:16 - Tasting Notes 29:28 - Stormhoek, Pinot Grigio 2005 ($10) 29:46 - Stormhoek, Semillon, "The Sixteen Barrel" 2004 ($20) * 30:26 - Stormhoek, Pinotage 2005 ($10) + 30:51 - Best of Tasting * 30:56 - Best Value + 31:06 - Contact Details 31:45 - Next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today's podcast is something completely different than I have ever attempted, a live recording from a podcast event held in Minneapolis on June 12, 2006. Although I am flying a bit by the seat of my pants before a live audience, I do talk about wine tasting tips, feature a virtual tasting of a wine and answer a few wine related questions from the audience. Back to a more normal podcast format later this week, I promise ;-) Show Notes: 00:22 - Introduction 01:13 - Soundboard recording from "Live to HD" event 25:00 - Contact Details Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

This month Wine Blogging Wednesday returns to it's normal first Wednesday of the month and host Vivi's Wine Journal has picked a very appropriate theme for July: Barbecue Wines (or is it BBQ, or Bar-B-Que?). The history of BBQ appears to be an American invention, but there seems to be some debate on this if you look closer. Whatever the derivation, today the term means either the slow cooked meats prepared across the southern U.S. from pork, beef or chicken or grilled meats in general. I took the latter definition for the purposes of this post and podcast and chose three wines I think would pair well with summer grilling. Different than in the other months I have participated in this event, my three wines will be a white, a rose and a red. All quite dry and loaded with fruit flavors to stand up to the heartiest summer fare. Since yesterday was Independence Day here in the U.S., my grilling choice was classic Wisconsin brats and traditional side-dishes, potato and macaroni salad. Whatever wines I select, they would need enough acidity to cut through the mayonnaise in the salads and brown mustard on the brats. I selected two different kinds of brats, the common “beer brats” and a new-age chicken with bacon and swiss cheese. Both presented an interesting flavor profile to deal with in matching wines, where in past years I’ve just reached for an IPA or dark beer. Of course, the best wine for Bar-B-Que or grilled meats depends upon the type of meat roasted. If I made steaks, for instance, I would have probably selected three red wines to match here. But since I had foods that were not overpowering in their flavors, I had a pretty open spectrum of wines to choose from. My strategy was to find wines with enough flavor to stand up to the food, but also enough acidity to enhance the flavors and not overpower the food. The rule of thumb at this time of year is to choose a dry rose, so my first match was a Wolffer Rosé 2005 the winery sent me recently as a sample. You probably remember Wolffer from my interview with winemaker Roman Roth in Winecast 56. Their rosé is made from 48% Merlot, 39% Chardonnay, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with the red grapes given a short time on the skins to minimize the color. The wine was totally made in stainless steel to accentuate the freshness of the fruit and retails for a reasonable $14 a bottle. This rosé is salmon in color with aromas of peach and fresh flowers. Rich and crisp in the mouth, showing cherry and citrus with a bit of white pepper on the dry finish. A very nice rosé for a hot summer’s day and nice accompaniment to my grilling yesterday. In fact, this might be the most versatile wine for grilled meats in the round-up. 11.5% ABV. Finished with natural cork. Score: 8.5/10 I usually don’t think of white wine and grilling, but I do think about white wines on hot summer days so I thought I would pick one from my cellar to see how it might work here. I’ve always liked the aggressiveness of Sauvignon Blanc, particularly from New Zealand, but I didn’t have any bottles handy from that country. What I did have was the 2005 vintage of Veramonte’s Sauvignon Blanc from the Casablanca Valley of Chile. I first tried this brand in my round-up on Winecast 12 last year and it has made it into my cellar ever since as a great value for hot summer days selling for $8-9 a bottle. The wine is light straw with a slight green hue. Fresh hay, lime and pineapple aromas with some gooseberry reminiscent of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. On the palate, there is tart grapefruit flavors with nice acidity to match with food. The match was especially good with the chicken brats adding an nice counter-point to the bacon and swiss cheese flavors. I’d recommend this one for grilled pork too, as long as there is not spicy BBQ sauce involved in the preperation. 13.5% ABV. Stelvin closure. Score: 8/10 Finally, I wanted to try a fruit forward red wine. After considering Syrah/Shiraz, I fell back on my old favorite Zinfandel, selecting a 2003 Chiarello Family Vineyards, Zinfandel, "Giana," which sells for $28 a bottle. I first tasted Chiarello Zin at ZAP this past January and was very impressed with all their wines. You might recognize the family name from owner Michael Chiarello’s Napa Style TV show, book and website. If anyone knows how to make food-friendly wines, it’s Mr. Chiarello, but I have to say that you need a steak or, better yet, Mexican food to match with this Zin. The wine is garnet-purple in color with powerful aromas of blackberry, plum and licorice. In the mouth it is substantial with blackberry jam, black pepper, spices and silky tannins. A hedonists Zin that somehow balances the substantial alcohol with fruit. Delicious, but overpowering to my 4th of July brats. 16.1% ABV. Finished with natural cork. Score: 9/10 So what did I learn this month? That a range of wines go well with grilled meats. If I had some true Bar-B-Que to match here, I think only the Chiarello Zin and Wolffer Rosé would have made the cut. For best wine, it easily goes to Chiarello Family Vineyards, Zinfandel, "Giana" 2003 and best value to the versatile Wolffer Rosé 2005. Thank to Joel over at Vivi’s Wine Journal for hosting this month and a great theme. I’m looking forward to seeing what founder Lenn has in store for the two-year anniversary of WBW next month. Show Notes: 00:21 - Welcome and show theme 01:10 - Matching wine with Bar-B-Que or grilled meats 03:56 - Veramonte, Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile 2005 ($9) 04:58 - Wolffer Estate Vineyards, Rosé, Long Island, New York 2005 ($14/sample) + 06:20 - Chiarello Family Vineyards, Zinfandel, "Giana" 2003 ($28) * 07:50 - Best of tasting 07:58 - Best value 08:15 - Wrap-up and contact details 08:50 - Next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

The podcast today is another dispatch from Beau Jarvis of Basic Juice on his Live Austrian Wine Adventure. Show Notes: 00:22 - Welcome and introduction 01:09 - Beau's interview with Domäne Müller 14:25 - A conversation with the Neumeister winery 25:09 - New poll on the blog and contact details 27:06 - Next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today's podcast is another vintner profile interviewing Willamette Valley Vineyards founder and President Jim Bernau. I also play a podcast promo and talk about a new poll on Winecast. Show Notes: 00:21 - Welcome, show theme and sponsor message 03:07 - Interview with Jim Bernau 19:44 - Tasting Notes 19:58 - Willamette Valley Vineyards, Riesling 2005 ($12) 20:56 - Willamette Valley Vineyards, Pinot Gris 2005 ($16) + 21:15 - Willamette Valley Vineyards, Pinot Noir, "Whole Cluster" 2005 ($18) 21:45 - Willamette Valley Vineyards, Pinot Noir, "Vintage Selection" 2003 ($22) 22:06 - Willamette Valley Vineyards, Pinot Noir, "Estate" 2003 ($40) * 23:04 - Willamette Valley Vineyards, Pinot Noir, "Freedom Hill" 2002 (~$45) 23:38 - Willamette Valley Vineyards, Frizzante 2002 ($12/half bottle) 24:19 - Best of Tasting * 24:55 - Best Value + 25:25 - The Frank Truth promo 27:15 - New poll on the blog 29:02 - Contact details 29:31 - Next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today's show is the first special edition from Beau Jarvis' Live Austrian Wine Adventure featuring interviews with Weingut Wohlmuth and Weingut Gross. You can find more information and stay up-to-the-minute at Beau's blog. Show Notes: 00:22 - Welcome and Introduction 01:12 - Beau's interview with Weingut Wohlmuth 12:50 - Interview with Weingut Gross 21:49 - Wrap-up and contact details 22:23 - Next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

This month, Wine Blogging Wednesday is on a Friday because founder Lenn Thompson of the Lenndevours wine blog has teamed up with Alberto from Il Forno a premier food blog and founder of Is My Blog Burning. So for IMBB 26 and WBW 21 the rules are fairly simple. For us wine bloggers, pick a bottle from your cellar and find a recipe to pair with it; for food bloggers it’s the other way round choosing one of their favorite recipes and then finding a wine. So when I read about this theme last month, I immediately thought of a food podcaster, Anne Bramley of Eat Feed, to give me some recipe ideas for the wine I chose. I spoke with Anne earlier today and she gave me several recipe ideas that might match with the White Rose Estate, Pinot Noir I selected from my cellar. After considering all of Anne’s suggestions, I picked the pork with apples and brandy cream we spoke about and cooked it for dinner this evening. Anne suggested a couple other recipes that can be found online here: - Pork Chops with Quinoa Pilaf and Dried Fruit - Pork Tenderloin with Gorgonzola and Figs Here are my tasting notes for the wine and match with the meal. Much more detail is available on the podcast: White Rose Estate, Pinot Noir, White Rose Estate Vineyard 2002 ($65/gift from Jay Selman from Grape Radio) - Ruby in color with powerful aromas of earth, black cherry and spice. Some people might be put off by the gamy, earthiness of the aromas of this wine, but I rather like this aspect. In the mouth its concentrated raspberry, black cherry and a little earth, finishing with supple tannins and good acidity to match with food. I really found this wine to be delicious, but I can see why others might not like this style at all. Score: 9/10 As for the match with the dish, I thought that the shallot cream sauce and the mild gaminess of the pork tenderloin matched almost perfectly with this wine, really enhancing the fruit. But when tasted with the sautéed apples, it really didn’t work too well. I think the next time I make this dish I’ll omit the apples or at least reduce the quantity down to a single apple. Thanks for Alberto and Lenn for a great idea to merge the two leading wine and food blogging events and to Anne Bramley for some great recipe ideas. I’ll see you next month for WBW 22, where I most likely will not have to cook ;-) Show Notes: 00:22 - Welcome and show theme 01:12 - Conversation with Anne Bramley of Eat Feed 15:03 - Selected recipe 16:58 - White Rose Estate, Pinot Noir, White Rose Estate Vineyard 2002 ($65) 18:14 - Wine and food match 20:12 - Contact Details 20:31 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

This edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday (WBW for short) is a bit different than normal for me as I’m the host wine blog this time. The theme I picked was also a bit of a change for both WBW and my podcast. I asked participants to pick a red wine with an alcohol content of 12.5% by volume or less. Sounds easy enough. No specific varietal or wine region; no fancy label or food matching required. This was a bit more of a challenge than even I expected, however, in this day and age of powerful, fruit driven wines that average 13.5% ABV and up. Tastes and technology in modern winemaking has changed quite a bit over the past 20 years or so. Most of this change has been for the good. No more are there thin, marginal wines with green flavors on the shelf and most red wines these days have concentrated fruit flavors and aromas. But this has also encouraged vineyard practices of leaving the grapes on the vine as long as possible to extract the most flavor possible. This long “hang time” also increases the sugar levels which is converted to alcohol during fermentation. There are things winemakers can do to deal with this such as watering back the wine or even removing alcohol from the finished wine but the most common approach is to release the wine with a higher level of alcohol that was thought excessive not so many years ago. So why is this a big deal? The first reason is the obvious public safety issue of drunk driving. These wines can start to cause impairment in the normal half bottle serving which commonly is the portion consumed by wine lovers at a restaurant. Even the old "2 glass" rule of thumb can go out the window with a 16.5% Zinfandel. The second reason is the deadening of the taste buds caused by the attack of alcohol and how it intensifies the wines flavors. Many of these high alcohol wines do not match well with food as a result, which for me is at least half the fun of enjoying wine in the first place. The final reason is the most basic from a winemaking point of view: balance. All the elements in a wine need to be in harmony; the fruit, acidity, tannins and, yes, alcohol level should be balanced in order to produce a fine wine that will stand the test of time and be enjoyable in it’s youth. I thought this would be an interesting challenge because when I first got into wine, back in the early 1980’s, it was rare that a wine got up to 13% ABV. I remember Sonoma Zinfandels that were 12.8% and even some Napa Valley Cabs right at or slightly under 12%. Yes, there were some green, vegetal aromas and flavors in some of them, but there were also plenty of great wines that never got out of the 12% range. Would there be any out there today? The first thing to do was look over my cellar. Right away I went for the cold climate wines, including a Frontenac from Minnesota that clocked in at 11.5% ABV. This was taking the easy way out and not something I thought would make for a compelling post or podcast (I’ve already covered local wines a couple of times here in the past). So I found some Bordeaux from the mid 1990’s that were 12 to 12.5% ABV. Again, nice to see, but how about some of the 2000’s or later? All my Zinfandels and Syrah’s were off the charts with the most moderate example at a "sensible" 14.4%; most were in the 16% range including one that was labeled 16.8%! So I began my search of the local wine stores reading the fine print and talking with the staff to find some acceptable wines. My goal was not to pick a cold climate appellation, but regions more typical of these high octane wines. This meant California, Australia, Spain, Italy and France’s Southern Rhone. Could I find a Zinfandel, Shiraz or Grenache that would come in under the limit? I guess the first thing that somewhat surprised me is there are quite a few wines in the stores these days that are labeled 12.5% from Bordeaux and the Northern Rhone. I also found some reds from cool climates that easily came in under 12%, including one from Germany that checked in at just 9.5% ABV! But I was after a more illusive prey; a hot climate region that produces a lite (alcohol) red wine. Sadly, I had to cross off my beloved Zinfandel off the list early with the lowest octane version coming in at 13.4%. Ditto for Cabs and Merlots, although some of these were closer to the mark. What follows are the three wines I picked up for tasting this month that I think meet both of my criteria. Here are my tasting notes: Viña Albali, "Altos de Tamaron", Tinto, Ribera del Duero 2002 ($10) – At 12.5% ABV, this bottle is at the limit, but I was intrigued to see what might be missing from this 100% Tempranillo at lower than normal alcohol levels. This wine is bright ruby in color with pleasant, but restrained, aromas of cherry, strawberry and a touch of violets. In the mouth, it has medium body with tart bing cherry and strawberry fruit flavors finishing smooth without noticeable tannins. Overall, a nice food wine but a little light in the aroma department. Score: 7.5/10 Vinum Cerbaia, "Il Valore", Toscana, IGT 2002 ($6) – I found this one on the shelf next to the $4 Primitivo from the same producer at the new Trader Joe’s market here. It was surprising to see that this 100% Sangiovese clocks in at only 12% ABV, so I thought it would be worth the chance for $5.99 (your price might even be lower). I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised here, since I did later find several Chianti that would also qualify that come from the same area and grape. The wine is medium ruby in color and has the classic Tuscan Sangio aromas of strawberry and violets. The flavors are typical of an inexpensive Chianti (think straw covered bottle), with plums and strawberry dancing over nicely high acidity and medium tannins. Not complex, but a perfect foil for tomato sauces and the kind of wine you drink from a water glass in Italy. This is also a nice value for six bucks a bottle. Score: 7.5/10 J. Lohr, "Wildflower", Valdiguié, Monterey 2004 ($10) – Finding a red from my native state of California proved most difficult, but I did notice this wine online and was pleased to see it in a store near my home I sometimes visit for their eclectic selection. Seeing that this vintage produced a 12% wine also piqued my interest here that outweighed my concern that this wine might be a little long in the tooth. If you are not familiar with Valdiguié, it’s a grape with a long tradition in California. For many years, wines made from this grape were labeled Gamay Beaujolais, Napa Gamay or Gamay Noir, the true grape of Beaujolais. These sometimes made for light, fruity and enjoyable wines but they never reached the quality level of most Beaujolais. Recent DNA testing shows that only a few acres of these vines were actually Gamay Noir and that most was actually Valdiguié or a lesser clone of Pinot Noir. This wine had a deeper color and a lot more aromas than the first two wines tasted. The rich ruby color and fruity strawberry aromas made me think of Cru Beaujolais. Bright flavors of strawberry and cranberry fills the mouth finishing with wild cherry cough drop flavors and tart acidity. No tannins are present to slow you down and the wine almost has too much fruit for it’s own good. Would be nice served chilled, a la Beaujolais Nouveaux. Score: 8/10 So the best of tasting will go to the J. Lohr, "Wildflower", Valdiguié 2004 and best value to the Vinum Cerbaia, "Il Valore", Toscana 2002. So what did I learn from this experience? It seems that most low octane wines available in the Twin Cities market are on the low end of the price scale, although I did see some $50 and $60 Northern Rhone wines I could have picked up labeled at 12.5% ABV. I also didn’t note any green flavors or lack of flavor concentration in any of the wines. The first two tasted were a bit shy on the aromas, so perhaps the alcohol does intensify that aspect a bit. Lastly, all three wines had pleasantly high acidity, which bodes well for a good food match. One note on the U.S. wine labeling laws. According to a great piece by Blake Gray of the San Francisco Chronicle, there is a 1.5% loophole in U.S. labeling that means that wines marked 12.5% ABV might actually be between 11 and 14%. Over 14% ABV, there is a higher tax rate so some wineries, particularly from France, label all their wines 12.5% regardless of the actual alcohol content as long as it’s under 14%. As I write this post entries are pouring in from around the globe. We even have some Shiraz that passes the low octane limit and several other surprises. I’ll be posting a summary of all entries on Friday, so if you are a day or two late in posting, you will still make it in my write-up. Thanks to Lenn for a great idea and for allowing me to direct the proceedings this month. I’m very much looking forward to the next installment in July and the two-year anniversary of WBW in August. Show Notes: 00:21 – Welcome and show theme 01:20 - Alcohol and wine styles 09:07 - Wine ratings and tasting notes 09:15 - Viña Albali, “Altos de Tamaron”, Tinto, Ribera del Duero 2002 ($10) 10:15 - Vinum Cerbaia, “Il Valore”, Toscana, IGT 2002 ($6) 11:59 - J. Lohr, “Wildflower”, Valdiguié, Monterey 2004 ($10) 14:04 - Best of tasting 14:09 - Best Value 14:15 - Wrap-up and contact details 17:26 - Next show theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today’s super-sized podcast is an overview of the wines of Austria, featuring an interview with Beau Jarvis of Basic Juice as he kicks off this Live Austrian Wine Adventure. Show Notes: 00:21 - Welcome and show theme 00:36 - Wines of Austria 03:13 - Interview with Beau Jarvis of Basic Juice 14:50 - Beau’s first LAWA 06 interview - Hotel Rathaus Wien & Design 25:58 - Tasting Notes 26:31 - Schloss Gobelsburg, Riesling 2004 ($14/provided by listener Tony) 27:08 - Weingut Stadt Krems, Grüner Veltliner, “Sandgrube” 2004 ($14/Solo Vino sample) *+ 27:39 - Weingut Glatzer, Blaufränkisch 2004 ($14/provided by listener Tony) 28:05 - Best of tasting and best value *+ 28:24 - Contact Details 28:44 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today’s podcast is based upon last month’s WBW post that featured the Spainish white grape Verdejo, and I also welcome my first show sponsor, iBank 2 from IGG Software. Show Notes: 00:22 - Welcome 00:33 - iBank 2 Sponsorship 01:41 - Verdejo Background 03:42 - Tasting Notes 03:50 - Marqués de Riscal, Verdejo, Rueda D.O. 2004 ($8/provided by listener Tony) + 04:29 - Vina Sanzo, Verdejo, Rueda, Spain 2004 ($15/sample) * 05:26 - Garcia Arevalo, “Casamaro”, Rueda, Spain 2005 ($9/sample) 05:55 - Woop Woop, “V 2005″, Verdelho (Verdejo), Southern Australia 2005 ($9/sample) 06:43 - Best of Tasting * 06:48 - Best Value + 07:35 - Contact Details 08:32 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today’s podcast is a return after more than a month away from the mic with a look at Sonoma’s Russian River Valley AVA. Show Notes: 00:22 - Welcome 01:01 - Russian River Valley Background 02:20 - Tasting Notes 02:40 - Papapietro Perry Winery, Pinot Noir, Elsbree Vineyards 2004 ($45) 03:06 - Papapietro Perry Winery, Pinot Noir, Leras Family Vineyards 2003 ($45) * 03:41 - De La Montanya Winery, Pinot Noir, Tina’s Vineyard 2004 ($38) 04:23 - De La Montanya Winery, Pinot Noir, Christine’s Vineyard 2004 ($38) 04:51 - De La Montanya Winery, Syrah, Estate Vineyard 2004 ($30) 05:05 - De La Montanya Winery, Pin-up Series, “Cabaret - Series II”, Cabernet / Zinfandel / Syrah 2003 ($38) 05:59 - Felda Creek, “Pinot Squared” 2004 ($32) 06:36 - Moshin Vineyards, Pinot Noir, “Barrel Select” 2003 ($22) + 07:18 - Moshin Vineyards, Pinot Noir, “Lot 4”, 2003 ($35) 07:37 - Davis Bynum, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2002 ($28) 08:28 - Davis Bynum, Pinot Noir, Lindleys Knoll Vineyard 2002 ($55) 08:46 - Davis Bynum, Pinot Noir, “Le Pinot”, Rochioli Vineyard 2002 ($80) 09:23 - Davis Bynum, Cabernet Sauvignon, Laureles Estate Vineyard 1999 ($50) 09:48 - J Vineyards, J Vintage Brut 2000 ($30) 10:24 - J Vineyards, J Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2003 ($32) 10:47 - J Vineyards, J Pinot Noir, Nicole’s Vineyard 1997 ($40) 11:12 - J Vineyards, J Pinot Noir, Nicole’s Vineyard 1998 ($40) 11:30 – Best of Tasting * 11:43 – Best Value + 12:05 – Full Disclosure 12:44 – Contact Details 13:13 – Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com | Audio comments: +01-206-33-WINE-9 (+01-206-339-4639) Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today’s podcast is another vintner profile show with a discussion with Wolffer Estate Vineyards winemaker Roman Roth. Show Notes: 00:23 - Welcome and show theme 00:35 - Wolffer Estate Background 01:24 - Discussion with winemaker Roman Roth 25:03 - Tasting Notes 25:15 - Wolffer, La Ferme Martin, Chardonnay 2003 ($13.50) 25:39 - Wolffer, Chardonnay, “Reserve” 2002 ($19.50) + 26:06 - Wolffer, Chardonnay, “Estate Selection” 2001 ($29) 26:33 - Wolffer, La Ferme Martin, Merlot 2002 ($13.50) 26:54 - Wolffer, Merlot, “Reserve” 2002 ($22) 27:12 - Wolffer, Merlot, “Estate Selection” 2001 ($35) * 27:41 - Best of Tasting * 27:46 - Best Value + 28:20 - Contact Details 28:48 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com | Audio comments: +01-206-33-WINE-9 (+01-206-339-4639) Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Today’s show is a bit different from my normal format of talking about a wine varietal or region, into what I hope will be a monthly feature I’m calling vintner profile. The idea is to give you the back-story directly from the people in the business, both winery owners and winemakers. In this first outing, I talk with one of the great gentlemen of the California wine business, Jim Concannon from Concannon Vineyard in Livermore, CA. With St. Patrick’s Day later this week, I though Concannon, America’s first Irish winery, would be a great place to start this series. Show Notes: 00:22 - Welcome and Show Theme 01:22 - Jim Concannon Interview 16:28 - Tasting Notes 16:53 - Concannon Vineyard, Chardonnay, Central Coast, “Selected Vineyards” 2004 ($10) 17:53 - Concannon Vineyard, “Stampmaker’s White”, Livermore Valley 2004 ($15) 17:56 - Concannon Vineyard, Heritage Petite Sirah 2001 ($50) 18:26 - Best of Tasting 18:47 - Best Value 19:11 - Second winner of QPR Wines drawing (congrats, Greg) 20:19 - Contact Details 20:47 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com | Audio comments: +01-206-33-WINE-9 (+01-206-339-4639) Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

This month’s theme for Wine Blogging Wednesday, our monthly, global wine tasting event, is provided by Jathan from the Winexpression blog. He encouraged us to find wines made from Rhône varietals no matter where in the world they came from for his “When in Rhône” theme. Listed in his announcement were some 22 varietals common to France’s Rhône Valley, known for their blends of mostly red, and occasionally, white wines. Outside of relative well known varietals such as Syrah, Grenache and increasingly Viognier, most of the other 20 are rare outside the region. Longtime readers and listeners of my podcast will recall I have covered those more common Rhône varietals in the past, so I eschewed the “easy way out” and visited Chuck at Solo Vino in St. Paul for some recommendations. After all, they were the store that I found the bottling of Counoise for WBW 18 last month. After a bit of discussion and consideration of some of their many Rhône blends, and some other obscure varietals, we selected two blends for tasting this time; one white and one red. The first wine selected is a white from Domaine de Piaugier, their Sablet Blanc 2004, a blend of 40% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 20% Viognier, and 10% Roussanne. The vineyard is located in the southern Rhône, where Sablet is one of the 16 villages that comprises the Côtes du Rhône appellation. Although 90% of the wines made here are red or rose, whites like Domaine de Piaugier can be found in many wine stores around the world. Grenache Blanc is the white version of the popular red variety while Clairette and Roussanne are common blending grapes of the northern Rhône where they are used in both red and white wines. Domaine de Piaugier, Sablet Blanc, Côtes du Rhône Villages 2004 ($22) - Clear light straw in color with a tinge of green; peach, apricot and spice aromas. Stone fruit and honey flavors combine with a rich mouthfeel and lively acidity, finishing with just a touch of lychee. A big, dry white that will stand up to more substantial food matches than most whites. Don’t drink this one too cold or you will miss the considerable nuances of aroma and flavor. Score: 9/10. The second blend, this time a red from the southern Rhône, is from Domaine du Trapadis, their Côtes du Rhône from the 2001 vintage. The grapes used in this blend are 60% Grenache, 13% Carignan, 10% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 7% Mourvedre. While Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre are well known in the Rhône, Carignan and Cinsault are somewhat below the radar. In fact, Carignan is the most widely grown wine grape in France, mostly appearing in blends for its spice, deep color and full body or in vin ordinaire from carafes at bistros throughout the country. Cinsault is also grown in quantity in France where it is almost always used in blends for it’s high acidity and soft tannins. Cinsault was also crossed with Pinot Noir to create Pinotage, a varietal popular in South Africa. Domaine du Trapadis, Côtes du Rhône 2001 ($15) - Ruby color with pronounced aromas of black cherry and earth; raspberry fruit flavors with dusty tannins and nice acidity make this a good food wine. The nose may be too funky for some tasters, but I found this added to the overall experience. Score: 8.5/10. So the best wine of the two, is the Domaine de Piaugier, Sablet Blanc, Côtes du Rhône Villages 2004, which I also found to be a nice value. The Domaine du Trapadis, Côtes du Rhône 2001 is another fine value for those looking for a red. Thanks again to Jathan from Winexpression.com for a great theme and for Solo Vino for providing the wines for tasting this month. See you all in April for a post and podcast actually appearing on Wednesday, if not before. Show Notes: 00:24 - Welcome 00:35 - Wine Blogging Wednesday background 01:15 - “When in Rhone” Theme 02:44 - Domaine de Piaugier, Sablet Blanc, Côtes du Rhône Villages 2004 ($22) 04:30 - Domaine du Trapadis, Côtes du Rhône 2001 ($15) 06:21 - Best of tasting/best value 06:54 - Getting back to weekly podcasts 07:54 - First winner of QPR Wines subscription (congrats, Sandy!) 08:42 - Listener survey for chance to win iPod Nano 09:06 - Contact Details 09:30 - To sponsor Winecast contact Backbeat Media 09:35 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com | Audio comments: +01-206-33-WINE-9 (+01-206-339-4639) Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

On today’s podcast, I focus on the wines of France’s Alsace region and review, “The Emperor of Wine”, by Elin McCoy. Show Notes: 00:21 - Welcome 00:33 - Alsace Overview 03:19 - Tasting Notes 03:34 - Pierre Sparr, Pinot Blanc “Reserve”, Alsace 2003 ($12) # 03:53 - Trimbach, Riesling, Alsace 2003 ($17) 04:20 - Hugel, Gewurztraminer, Alsace 2003 ($18/gift) * 04:54 - Best Tasting * 04:59 - Best Value # 05:05 - Review of The Emperor of WIne 08:31 - QPR Wines Drawing 09:21 - Contact Details 09:57 - Next Show Theme Feedback: winecast@gmail.com | Audio comments: +01-206-33-WINE-9 (+01-206-339-4639) Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

The theme this month was suggested by Tyler a.k.a. Dr. Vino who didn’t suggest a wine grape variety or region, but to buy wines suggested by the staff at wine stores “that feel the love”. This being February, it seems like a great pre-Valentine’s day theme for WBW. After this theme was posted, I immediately thought of Solo Vino, my current favorite Twin Cities wine store. The store is located in St. Paul conveniently near the university where I teach part-time, so when I am on campus, I generally stop by to pick up some wines. What I like about the store is the wine selection, which is hand selected by the owners. Many selections are only locally available at Solo Vino and they are always open to bring in new selections based upon customer demand. For example, I asked for Trinitas, Bigalow Vineyard, Zinfandel and it was in the rack a couple of weeks later. Solo Vino was founded and is run by three wine geeks: Dana, Robert and Chuck who are almost always in the store to speak with. I stopped by yesterday and chatted with Dana who provided me with a list of the top 9 values they have chosen from their current stock. She also suggested the Alsatian Pinot Noir from WBW 14, so I picked Dana’s suggested Rhone wine made from 100% Counoise. This grape is one of several that usually gets blended into the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape where it adds a bit of aromatics, fruit, acidity and soft tannins. It’s quite rare to see this bottled on its own, so I had to give this one a taste. Domaine Monpertuis, Cuvee Counoise, Vignoble de la Ramiere, Vin de Pays du Gard 2003 ($13) – Medium ruby in color with aromas of violets, earth, fennel and other spices; plum, earth and spice flavors with a silky mouthfeel and nice acidity to match well with food. A delicious wine that balances the earthy characteristics and fruit perfectly. Also an awesome value. Score: 9/10 The second wine is one of Chuck’s picks and is a Spanish wine made from Tempranillo, Mazuelo (Carignan) and Garnacha (Grenache) grapes. It’s from Bodegas Ostatu, a small family winery from Samaniego, one of the fifteen villages of the Rioja region. Bodegas Ostatu, Crianza, Rioja 2002 ($18.50) - Deep purple color with ripe raspberry, black cherry and spice on the nose; black cherry fruit flavors with white pepper, minerals, a thick mouthfeel and fine tannins. Nice concentration and great balance make this a delicious wine in the fruit forward model I favor. Score: 9/10 So the best wine and best value go to Domaine Monpertuis, Cuvee Counoise 2003 the most complex wine of the tasting. Thanks again to Dr Vino from a great theme and for Dana and Chuck for picking some killer values this time out. Feedback: winecast@gmail.com | Audio comments: +01-206-33-WINE-9 (+01-206-339-4639) Copyright 2006 Acan Media, Inc. Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/