Podcasts about northern rh

In this episode of The Vint Podcast, hosts Billy Galanko and Brady Weller welcome Sarah Heller MW, Master of Wine, wine educator, and artist. Sarah shares her deep expertise on Italian wines, particularly her work with Vinitaly International Academy, where she plays a key role in advancing Italian wine education worldwide. Sarah also provides an insider's perspective on Asian wine markets, drawing from her years in Hong Kong, where she witnessed China's rapid rise as a fine wine powerhouse and its recent shifts towards diverse wine styles and natural wine trends. In addition, Sarah discusses her Club Oenologique writing, where she covers key Italian regions , as well as her Visual Tasting Notes—a unique series of paintings that translate wine into sensory-driven artwork. She is now working on an immersive historical exhibition exploring wine's cultural journey from East to West and back.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Vint Podcast01:25 Exploring Italian Wines07:21 News in the Wine World07:30 Burgundy Vineyard Inheritance Tax Update09:09 Penfolds and Grange Collaboration15:05 Interview with Sarah Heller15:40 Sarah Heller's Journey into Wine24:57 Challenges and Opportunities in Southeast Asian Wine Trade28:21 Introduction to Vinitaly and Vinitaly International Academy30:24 Favorite Italian Wines and Their Unique Characteristics36:36 The Richness of Italian White Wines44:16 Integrating Culinary and Cultural Context in Wine Education47:16 Art and Wine: A Creative IntersectionFeatured Wine News 

Amid the steep vineyards of the Côte-Rôtie in the Northern Rhône Valley you will see signs bearing the name E. Guigal, a storied family producer founded in 1946 by Étienne Guigal. His son, Marcel, and grandson, Philippe Guigal have continued his legacy, overseeing production of E. Guigal wines in several Rhône Valley appellation including Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Philippe Guigal discusses the family history and the wines.The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).The Connected Table Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

It really feels like we are describing a real mood on this ep with our spiritual dad, Ryan Looper. We accidentally just yapped and gossiped about the decaying corpse of the fine wine industry. I guess this is cathartic? The wines are notable for being incredibly good but I think something made us use icky descriptors for nearly all of them. This is the kind of episode I'd like to put in a time capsule. ////LIST////Dard & Ribo, Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, "Les Karrieres,' 2021//Alain Voge, Saint Peray, 'Fleur de Crussol,' 2018//Nicolas Badel, Vdf, 'Intuition,' 2012//Mikael Bourg, Cornas, 'Les P'tits Bouts,' 2017////Support the Show.

Exploring the history, region and white wines of the Northern Rhône in this first of a two-part series. Part Two will cover the white wines of the Southern Rhône appellations. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013) Websites: Experi: Complete Guide to the Rhône Valley Wine Region, Greenman, M. https://experi.com/journal/rhone-valley-wine-region/ Vins Rhone: https://www.vins-rhone.com/en Vineyards.Com: Rhône Wine Region https://vineyards.com/wine-map/france/rhone-valley Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to - or Mentioned in - This Episode: S1E4: Tavel at my Memory Palace's Table https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s1e4-tavel-at-my-memory-palaces-table S1E6: Doing the Diois - Clairette de Die Sparkling Wine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/size/5/?search=diois S7E2: Wines of Anjou, the Musketeers … and a Salad to Go? https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s7e2-wines-of-anjou-the-musketeers-and-a-salad-to-go Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC. Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

#25. In this episode, we're joined by Matt Conway, the charismatic owner, operator, and sommelier of the renowned Tippling House nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina. Alongside his delightful partner-in-crime, Carissa Hernandez, Matt has created a haven for those who appreciate the finer aspects of life's libations.Under the wing of the late Chef Gray Kunz, Matt honed his craft at Café Gray in the Time Warner Center from 2004 to 2007. This eventually led him to to Restaurant Marc Forgione, where he wore multiple hats – GM, beverage director, and eventually a partner. Matt has collaborated with the world-famous cellers at Taillevent in Paris and has been bestowed the honor of being among Zagat's "30 Under 30" and a Star Chefs recognized "Rising Star Sommelier."Matthew's journey is one marked by consistent acclaim and notable presence at some of the most distinguished wine events. His finely tuned palate and comprehensive knowledge have made him a sought-after sommelier at premier gatherings like La Paulée and La Fête du Champagne. Today, Matthew Conway's legacy shines brightly as a partner at La Tablée. This establishment stands as a testament to his commitment and expertise, with a special focus on the captivating allure of the Northern Rhône Valley.Where to find Matt Conway: InstagramWhere to find host Josh Sharkey:InstagramLinkedInIn this episode, we cover:(2:26) How Matt became a sommelier(7:13) Working with Josh at Cafe Grey(11:10) Building relationships with producers(14:51) What makes a great sommelier(21:04) Empathy and inclusion when choosing wine(25:19) What's in the future for sommeliers?(31:31) Essential skills for a successful sommelier(33:13) Working at Restaurant Marc Forgione(35:19) Why Matt moved to Charleston(38:46) Building a company culture with work/life balance(44:06) Could Matt be successful with Tippling House in NYC?(49:16) New York life versus Charleston life

This time we dive into one of the three main grapes of the Northern Rhône: Marsanne. Related to Roussanne, the grape with which it is almost always blended, this grape reaches its heights in the wines of Hermitage in northern Rhône and does exceptional things around the world from Victoria and South Australia, to the US, to New Zealand and South Africa. Photo: Chante-Alouette from Chapoutier, the wine we mention in the show. Credit: Wine For Normal People   Although not a grape you will encounter as a standalone varietal that often, its contribution to the great whites of the Rhone can't be underestimated. This grape is vital to understand if you are interested in diving deeper into the world of Rhône whites (which you definitely should do!).   Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can't find locally. Go to www.wineaccess.com/normal to join my co-branded wine club with Wine Access and www.wineaccess.com/wfnp so see a page of the wines I'm loving right now from their collection.  Get 10% your first order with my special URL. Check out Wine Access today!    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes     Sources used in the show: Wines of the Rhone, Matt Walls (also listen to Episode 458 with Matt Walls) Wine Grapes, Dr. José Vouillamoz, Jancis Robinson, and Julia Harding Grapes & Wines, Oz Clarke and Margaret Rand Tablas Creek Blog (Also, episodes 162, 281, 440 with Jason Haas of Tablas Creek) Tahbilk Winery Site The Wine Cellar Insider

What do you know about the wines of the Northern Rhône Valley? Or about the climate and terroir of this region? Sarah is currently on an 8 week tour of France and she started her journey visiting Hermitage and M Chapoutier winery. In this episode, she chats with cellar door Sommelier Manager, Charlie Blache about the region and unqiue winemaking style at M Chapoutier. It's an episode you can't miss, so grab your favorite glass of Syrah and press play now! Watch this episode on my new YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/yJdT6SH1RTk ------  Sign up for The Wine CEO newsletter and get a free guide to Food & Wine Pairing: thewineceo.com Email: Sarah@thewineceo.com Instagram & TikTok: @thewineceo ------  Today's guest: Charlie Blache M Chapoutier Winery: https://www.chapoutier.com/en/ Visit M Chapoutier in Tain l'Hermitage: https://www.chapoutier.com/en/winetourism/tasting-wine-visit-vineyard/  

Matt Walls is a freelance wine expert and an award-winning wine writer and consultant. He is a contributing editor to Decanter, and writes regularly for timatkin.com and Club Oenologique. He is also the author of "Drink Me!" Which won the Fortnum & Mason ‘Best Newcomer' Award, among others, and he wrote an opus on the Rhône Valley, “Wines of the Rhône,”** which is a brilliant book that has everything you want to know about the Rhône.  Buy Matt's Book!** Photo: www.mattwalls.co.uk Matt judges wine competitions, presents amazing master classes, AND he's probably the nicest person in the entire wine industry and fun too, as I learned when I met him in the Rhone in 2022 at an industry event in the Rhône.   Photo:  Credit: Wine For Normal People Here are the show notes: Matt tells us about how meeting a French winemaker with breathtaking passion, and being outstanding at French led him to consider a career in wine.   We discuss the research that went into “Wines of the Rhône,**"the most comprehensive look at every appellation in the Côtes du Rhône and the larger Rhône Valley.     We get into a lot of dorky details about the Rhône that Matt writes about (beautifully and succinctly) in the book. We cover: The complex geological history of the Rhône and all the “ingredients” that make the terroir what it is today The biggest differences between the northern and southern Rhône How climate change needs more attention from Rhône producers and how winegrowing and winemaking practices (trellising, too much destemming, the fashion of “phenolic ripeness”) have augmented the alcohol and “bigness” in many Rhone wines Irrigation and acidification and why each have their positives and negatives The grapes of the region, the diversity of those grapes ,and which will be the winners or losers in climate change We discuss some specifics of the regions: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, specifically why there are so many different styles and why some are $20 and some are $500 Crozes-Hermitage and how to find a good one (hint: Matt's book is how you find a good one**! Matt mentions the town of Gervans as a granite area. Cave de Tain has good quality wines too) We touch on Côte Rôtie, Tavel, and Rhône whites Matt gives us a great tip: IGP Collines Rhodaniennes is for Northern Rhône wines that didn't make the cut into Côte Rôtie, Condrieu or other northern appellations because the vines may be young, regulations are odd, or the harvest was plentiful and they had enough grape to be selective and put only the top grapes into the AOP wines.     To end, Matt tells us the areas he finds are highly underrated (Costieres di Nîmes, Luberon, Ventoux, Duché d'Uzès, Vacqueryas for white are mentioned) and he tells us some great tips to consider when traveling to the Rhône.     Matt's book is a thoughtful and easy to read guide to this magnificent region, so if you want to get great wines from this area, which is packed with outstanding wines, many of them underpriced, his book needs to be on your shelf. I no longer shop for Rhône wines without consulting it.   Plus, he is such an awesome human we should all want to support his work! Buy Matt's Book!** Photo: www.mattwalls.co.uk **This is an affiliate link and I may earn a small commission if you buy through this link   _______________________________________________________________ I could not be happier to announce my partnership with Wine Access, once again. For 2023, I will be working with this outstanding company, which is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting wines you can't find locally. Every box you get from Wine Access is meticulous -- tasting notes with food and wine pairing, serving temperature suggestions, and perfectly stored wine. It's no wonder that Wine Access was rated the best wine club by New York Times Wirecutter and is the official partner and wine provider of The MICHELIN Guide. Go to www.wineaccess.com/normal to sign up for their daily emails and get 10% your first order. Wine Access is a class act -- check them out today!      If you think our podcast is worth the price of a bottle or two of wine a year, please become a member of Patreon... you'll get even more great content, live interactions and classes!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes

Have you ever dreamed of visiting France's great wine regions to meet producers, taste their wines, and enjoy local food? Melanie and David share their experience traveling with importer, Kysela Pére & Fils, throughout France for a behind-the-scenes look at how wines are selected for U.S. market. Part One of this series spotlights: Champagne, Alsace, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Bugey, Northern Rhône Valley. In all: 2 weeks, 11 regions, 32 producers, 302 wines tasted and 2000 miles covered.The Connected Table is broadcast live Wednesdays at 2PM ET.The Connected Table Radio Show is broadcast on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). The Connected Table Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

Kicking off a new season of wine stories from the Southeast, this episode features Matthew Conway - the owner, operator, and sommelier at The Tippling House in Charleston's Elliotborough neighborhood. The Tippling House is an intimate wine bar set in a Charleston Single house, and the wine list is printed and dated every day highlighting a global selection of bottles produced by families that respect the land they farm and the history of their domaines. We talk about the goals of his wine program, why he allows all of the wines to be available by the half bottle, and how he sources from his personal cellar to create a list called “Matthew's Stash”. He talks about how he strives to create a wine bar that caters to all wine lovers regardless of taste or budget. We chat about making the move to Charleston, South Carolina in March of 2020 after 17 years in New York City and 14 years as partner and beverage director at Restaurant Marc Forgione. Conway, a native Californian, moved to NYC in 2004 where he worked for the late Chef Gray Kunz at Café Gray in the Time Warner center from 2004-2007. In 2010, he took a short leave to work in the world-famous cellars of Taillevent in Paris, France. After returning in the fall of 2010, Restaurant Marc Forgione received one Michelin Star and shortly thereafter, Matthew became a certified coffee sommelier, was honored as one of Zagat's “30 Under 30” in 2012 and named one of Star Chefs “Rising Star Sommeliers” of 2015. Matthew has consistently been a featured sommelier at several of the top wine events of the year including but not limited to La Paulée and La Fête du Champagne. Matthew now holds partnership at La Tablée which focuses on the Northern Rhône Valley, so we dive into what fascinates him most about this region. Since opening The Tippling House in October 2021, his team has received glowing coverage from Wine Spectator and Charleston City Paper. The Post & Courier also just named Matthew and his fiancé Carissa Hernandez a Charleston “Food and Beverage Power Couple” in February of 2022. Add The Tippling House to your list of must-visit wine destinations for your next trip to Charleston. You can visit www.thetipplinghousechs.com for more info, and you can follow @conbeazie and @tipplinghousechs on Instagram. Recorded March 2, 2022 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/acorkintheroad/support

Build an exciting wine collection with the Collecting Series of the Vintec Club Podcast

In the tradition of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and fertility, after which aphrodisiacs are named, we give you a list of 12+ foods that inspire love and passion, and the wines to match. Date night just got more exciting!! You can let us know if any of these actually work. William Blake Richmond, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Here's the list of the top 14 aphrodisiac foods and the wines to pair with them: 1. Watermelon is rich in L-citrulline, an amino acid that helps improve blood flow. Like Viagra, L-citrulline increases blood flow to the sexual organs but without any negative side effects!  Put it in a salad with feta and arugula (rocket, also and aphrodisiac so you get a double hit of spice in your life). Wine: Spanish rosé. I like a Monastrell-based wine because it's bolder and fruitier than some other Spanish versions, and you need that fruit to stand up to the flavors in this tasty but sweet, bitter, and salty salad. You can use a California rosé too, but Pinot Noir may be too light so get something a bit bolder and made from a different grape.    2. Salmon (and other cold water fish like herring, anchovies, sardines) has lots of omega-3s, which encourage good moods, good skin, good brainpower and a good sex drive!  Since salmon can be prepared in so many different ways, we give a few wine ideas: Raw salmon (sashimi or tartare) goes well with a dry rosé (here you can use a Provence rosé) or Albariño from Rias Baixas, Spain Salmon in a butter sauce (beurre blanc): A slightly oaked Chardonnay like a white Burgundy or an Oregon Pinot Gris could work Grilled salmon: New Zealand Pinot Noir or St. Amour from Beaujolais would be fantastic Blackened salmon: Zinfandel but make sure it's not over-the-top (Here's the wine I said should be the standard for all CA Zin: Nalle Estate Old Vines Zinfandel)    3. Oysters. Both because they are thought to resemble certain female body parts and because Romans in the 2nd century AD claimed that women had much prowess after eating them, oysters have become the standard for aphrodisiac food.  Wine: If you like the magnification of salt, go for a Chablis, Muscadet, Albariño, or Champagne. If you dislike that, stick with a Bordeaux Blanc or a Côte du Rhône blanc, both of which have lower acidity so it won't make the oysters seem quite as salty.    4. Asparagus. Well M.C. Ice had ALL sorts of issues with this one, but it's on all the lists I've found, so it has to make ours too. Another food that is all about increasing and maintaining sex drive, both its intrinsic properties and its "interesting" shape contribute to its effectiveness. M.C. Ice was grossed out by the smell factor and the shape argument really made him squirm.    5. Avocado.  This one comes from the Aztecs. They called the avocado tree "ahuacuatl." That means "testicle tree", because the avocados hang in pairs off the branches, so...yeah. Wine:  Avocado is great alone or in salads, sandwiches, or with Mexican. If you are having Haas avocados, the most popular type in the U.S., you'll notice they are both creamy and nutty. What's a wine that's creamy and nutty? One of my favorite whites: Fiano di Avellino, which has a lovely almond or hazelnut finish. Arneis from Piedmont could work too.    6. Carrot and ginger soup.  Here we go again with the shape thing... but carrots also have beta carotene and lots of other good for you vitamins, which Middle Easterners believed aided in making people more attractive. Ginger is spicy and it helps get your blood flowing. It also tastes delicious when combined with carrots in a soup!  Wine: If you're having roasted carrots (and other dishes that will fit this) you can easily pair them with a red like Côtes-du-Rhône or another Grenache-based wine that will be moderate enough to stand up to char but let the carroty flavor shine through.  If you take our suggestion of the soup (and add coriander, which we mention is known to increase sexual appetite), you'll have a trifecta of goodness that will pair well with Alsace Riesling or a Viognier from California or from the northern Rhône.    7. Truffles. I'm not talking about the chocolate kind. I'm talking about the rare kind found in the Piedmont of Italy that Greeks and Romans both claimed the musky scent of truffles made people's skin more sensitive and that's a good thing for a healthy love life. Wine: Slightly older Barolo or Barbaresco (also from Piedmont) is a perfect fit for the earthy, barnyard, mushroom note of truffles. Especially if the truffles are with red meat, bolder versions of these Nebbiolo-based wines will be perfect matches.  If you are having risotto or pasta with truffles, have Fiano di Avellino from Campania, or a bold white from the Rhône. I would steer clear of fruity, young wine for this pairing.    8. Fennel. The ancient Greeks found this vegetable which is like a celery, licorice mash-up (both also alleged aphrodisiacs), to be a real labido enhancer. Maybe it's because it has plant estrogen in it!  Wine: If you are have a steak with roasted fennel or a soup or stew with a fennel base, a great Northern Rhône Syrah or a more subtle California Syrah will be an excellent pairing. The flavors of a Syrah -- the rich fruit, the black pepper, and the spice will be great with the fennel notes.  For lighter style fennel dishes like vegetarian soups with a fennel base or chicken with a fennel cream sauce, a white Rioja or a slightly oaky Chardonnay can each hold their flavor and structure against the strong celery/licorice notes well.   9. Figs. Like oysters, when cut open, figs allegedly resemble a female body part and for that reason they have always been considered a food for the amorous. Because having them on their own presents a tough wine pairing challenge we recommend having them with a little cheese -- goat, feta or especially blue with counter some of that natural sweetness.  Wine: If you take the idea of having figs with cheese for your date night appetizer or tapas, you are going to need a very fruity, bold red to pair. Zinfandel, or southern Italian wines like Nero d'Avola, Primitivo (Zinfandel), and Negro Amaro can take on both the sweetness of the figs and the salty, penicillin-like note of the blue cheese. A slightly sweet tawny or ruby Port could also do the trick quite well.   10. Pesto (the aphrodisiac trifecta). Basil produces a sense of well-being and boosts fertility. Garlic spices up your desires. Pine nuts have zinc, which increases male potency. Put them together and bam! the most love enhancing potion there is.    Wine: Pesto comes from Liguria, right near the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. Cortese di Gavi and ARneis are classic Piedmont whites that have enough flavor to stand up to the garlic, a nuttiness to go well with the pine nuts, and excellent acidity to make them stand out. If you want a light red, stick with Piedmont again -- a simple Barbera, Freisa or Grignolino will do the trick.   11. Dessert of strawberries, raspberries and vanilla cake or whipped cream. Strawberries and raspberries are said to invite love. Latin American legend tells us that the vanilla plant was created when a beautiful young girl fell in love with a boy from the wrong class, and when a god asked for her hand and she said no, he got so angry he turned her into a vanilla plant.  Wine:  The honeyed, apricot flavors and good acidity of Sauternes or Barsac from Bordeaux would be excellent dessert partners. A late harvest (Auslese) Riesling from Mosel would be great or a lighter style fizzy wine like Moscato d'Asti also work wonders with berry vanilla desserts. Each of these ideas would work but my favorite pairing for berry vanilla desserts is demi sec Champagne 12. Wine! All on it's own, is an aphrodisiac in a bottle! Whether it's because your inhibitions go away or because alcohol also increases blood flow, red wine and Champagne, specifically, have been praised for raising the libidos and amorous intentions of those who consume it (in moderation). Apart from Champagne, which is always a great wine to pair with any food, and to liven up any dinner, here are some love inspired wines to consider: Romeo and Juliet, the greatest love story of all time, lived in the city of Verona. To pay homage, drink the bold reds of the region: Valpolicella and Amarone If you want the more pious route, you could pay homage to St. Valentine, the patron of love, marriage, and relationships. His relics are in a few key spots around Europe and you can choose which you like best for your wine selection! 1. St. Valentine's remains lie in Rome. Although Lazio's wines are a bit lacking, you could get a Sagrantino di Montefalco from Umbria (it borders Lazio in the northeast) or a lovely Piedirosso or Aglianico from Campania (borders Lazio to the south). Close enough, and these are great reds!   2. Relics of St. Valentine's are also in Madrid. There are some wines coming from Madrid now, but if you can't find those, get the rich reds of Ribera del Duero to inspire love. If you prefer white, get the whites of Rueda, in the same zone as Ribera del Duero, due north of Madrid.    3. It's a little unclear whether the relics in Roquemaure in the Rhône are the real deal, but if it justifies drinking Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is across the river, I'll go with it!  **Note: there are also a ton of St. Valentine stuff in Dublin, so if you want a Guinness, that works too!  Whether its for Valen-wine, date night, or to test the properties of these aphrodisiac foods, we wish you a fun filled night!  Sources:  Gourmet Sleuth (this has many more ideas and is a great article!) Cosmopolitan The Healthy The Independent ____________________________________________________________ Thanks to our sponsors: Wine Access  Visit: www.wineaccess.com/normal and for a limited time get $20 off your first order of $50 or more!  Wine Access is a web site that has exclusive wines that overdeliver for the price (of which they have a range). They offer top quality wines by selecting diverse, interesting, quality bottles you may not have access to at local shops. Wine Access provides extensive tasting notes, stories about the wine and a really cool bottle hanger with pairings, flavor profile, and serving temps. Wines are warehoused in perfect conditions and shipped in temperature safe packs. Satisfaction is guaranteed! Check it out today! www.wineaccess.com/normal    Thanks to YOU! The podcast supporters on Patreon, who are helping us to make the podcast possible and who we give goodies in return for their help! Check it out today: https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   To sign up for classes (now for UK and Euro time zones!) please go to www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes!

Hello dear listeners -The Wine Not podcast is finally back, and we started 2021 on a high note! We are pleased and honored to bring you a fantastic interview with the great Philippe Guigal, leader of the famous maison behind the legendary La La Las from Côte Rotie.This interview is a trip to the Northern Rhône, and Philippe takes us through the terroirs of Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-pape and much more. We talked about vintages, terroirs, and about Syrah, a lot of Syrah!This is a real masterclass on Rhône wines, definitely one of the best interviews we have ever done!Before we sign off...we have also published a video version of this interview - the YouTube link is on our profile. Subscribe to our YouTube channel too, as we should be releasing video versions of future episodes as well.Please send your questions and/or suggestions to info@podcastwinenot.com or to our instagram @podcastwinenot_oficialWe hope you enjoy the interview!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Olá a todos!Estamos de volta! Acabou a moleza!Começamos 2021 com uma entrevista com o lendário Philippe Guigal, líder da famosa Maison Guigal, responsável pelos lendários La La La de Côte Rotie.Embarcamos em uma viagem ao norte do Rhône, onde aprendemos muito sobre os lendários terroirs de Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, e muito mais. Falamos sobre safras, solos e Syrah, muito Syrah!Nosso simpático convidado deu uma verdadeira "masterclass" em vinhos do Rhône - definitivamente uma das melhores entrevistas que já fizemos!Ah, um detalhe importante…essa é nossa primeira entrevista com vídeo no YouTube! O link está no nosso perfil. Aproveite e se inscreva no nosso canal - o plano é soltarmos mais episódios com vídeo nessa temporada.Mandem suas dúvidas para o info@podcastwinenot.com ou via nosso instagram @podcastwinenot_oficialUm forte abraço, e desfrutem!!

Saved from the brink of extinction just 50 years ago, Viognier (pronounced vee-ohn-yay), is a white grape that's native to the Northern Rhône in France – mainly the areas of Condrieu and Ampuis. The grape produces effusive wines with a strong aromatic character -- peaches, apricots, flowers, herbs, and ginger are common -- and when made well it has a medium body with a touch of acidity and a pleasant bitterness. This week we continue the grape mini-series (maxi series now?) by exploring this comeback kid and the pleasure it can bring when in the right hands.    History Viognier's parentage is a bit ambiguous, but it is related to Mondeuse Blanche, which makes it either a half sibling or grandparent of Syrah (as MC Ice points out, we could definitely make a word problem out of this – it’s a brain twister to think about, but possible!). The grape is also tied to Freisa and may be related to Nebbiolo, both which are native to the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy.     Viognier was once grown pretty widely in the northern Rhône but the combination of the phylloxera outbreak in the mid- and late-19th century, followed by WWI, the Depression, and WWII drove a lot of growers to cities and left vineyards abandoned. By 1965, only about 30 acres (12 hectares) of Viognier vines remained in France, and the variety was nearly extinct.   In the mid-1980s, interest started to grow both in France and from winegrowers in Australia and California. Growing interest lead to more plantings and today the grape is grown in Condrieu, Chateau Grillet, and Côte Rôtie in the Northern Rhône, all over the southern Rhône for blends, the Languedoc in southern France, as well as in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel, Japan, Switzerland, and Spain.   Climate and Vineyard Viognier needs a long, warm growing season to fully ripen, but not so hot it develops excessive levels of sugar before its aromatic notes can develop. Viognier must get ripe to allow flavor to develop and that happens late, often after sugars develop. Viognier is a small thick-skinned berry with good resistance to rot. It does well on acidic, granite soils. Older vines – more than 30 or 50 years old are best for the grape. There are at least two clones of Viognier. The older, original one from Condrieu is highly aromatic and tight clustered. The other is healthier, higher yielding and looks and tastes different according to some. This clone, likely made at the University of Montpellier, is widespread in Australia. Winemaking begins in the vineyard – picking decision is vital: Pick too early and the grape has no flavor, and makes a flat wine. Pick too late the wine is flabby and oily. Must be ripe but not overripe, with lower yields. Although it is likely best to make the wine in stainless or neutral oak with perhaps some skin contact for a few hours before fermenting, the barrel fermentations, malolactic fermentations, and aging on lees can squash the unique flavor and scent of Viognier.   Flavors and Styles Viognier is like peach, apricot, clementine, honeysuckle, chamomile, jasmine, thyme, pine, spice, ginger, crème fraiche, and honey with a full body and can be oily, or sometimes a bit bitter. It is low in acidity. When aged in oak it tastes like vanilla bean and with malolactic fermentation it is creamy and custard-like. It is almost always high in alcohol, with 14.5% ABV being common. The best Viognier from France often doesn’t age, and even loses aromas after a few years in the bottle. Some of the styles from Australia and the US, which have been aged in oak, last a few more years. The grape is often bottled as a single variety but can be blended with Roussanne, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc. We didn’t mention this in the show, but the wine can be off-dry or even late harvest and sweet. Condrieu and Château-Grillet produce sweet wines in warmer years.   Regions... France Northern Rhône: Viognier is grown as single variety in Rhône appellations Condrieu and Château Grillet on right (west) bank of Rhône River. In Côte Rôtie, winemakers can include up to 20% of Viognier though most growers add no more than 5%. Condrieu Includes seven communes along 14 miles, and makes wines that are usually dry, delicious young, and very aromatic wit structure. The area includes steep hillside vineyards, that face south-southeast to maximize morning sun, not hot evening sun. The soils are granite with a deep sandy topsoil called arzelle. This soil makes the best wine. Yields must be low, and picking must be after the grape has full aromatics. Top producers: Guigal, Rostaing, Delas, Pierre Gaillard, Vernay, Francois Villard Chateau Grillet This appellation is owned by one producer, it is a monopole. It is just 7.6 acres/3.08 ha on granite soil with mica – making the wines higher in acid. Vines are 80+ years old and although the area seems ideal, there have been problems with wine quality. Recently the owner of Château Latour of Bordeaux acquired the monopole; there’s hope for restoration of its former glory.            Côte Rôtie We did a whole podcast on this area, but north of Condrieu is Côte Rôtie, a Syrah appellation that can include up to 20% Viognier in the wine (in reality it’s more like 5%). Viognier helps darken the color of the Syrah in co-pigmentation but it takes up valuable real estate so it’s not used as much as it could be. Other French areas: The southern Rhône, where it is blended, the Languedoc and Ardeche, where it makes serviceable Vins de Pays varietal or blended wines.   Other Europe: Switzerland, Austria, Italy   New World Australia Yalumba was the pioneer producer in South Australia’s Eden Valley in 1979. The Virgilius is their top wine (aged in oak). McLaren Vale, Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Heathcote, Geelong, Central Victoria, and more grow the grape, which is a challenge to growers because it stays flavorless for much of the growing season and then transforms into something delicious – patience is a virtue! One of the best uses for Viognier in Australia is its blends with Shiraz: Clonakilla (Canberra), Yering Station (Yarra), Torbreck (Barossa)   United States California Viognier came in 1980s to California when John Alban (Alban Vineyards in Edna Valley), Josh Jensen of Calera (Central Coast), and Joseph Phelps (Napa), brought it into the United States in small quantities. The plantings and interest grew as a group of producers dedicated to growing Rhône varieties, called the Rhône Rangers, grew in numbers and popularity. Today California has more than 3,000 acres of Viognier. Yields are high compared to France, the wines can often be overblown if grown in too-hot weather but the greatest examples are full-bodied and rich. Top Producers: Tablas Creek, Crux, Qupé, Alban, Calera, Kunde Virginia Viognier is a signature grape of Virginia because the thick skins of the grape work well in the humidity and the diurnals of the mountains mean Viognier can ripen but maintain acidity over a long growing season. The typical VA Viognier has great fruit, slight bitterness, medium body and good acidity. Top producers: Barboursville, King Family, Horton Other US: Oregon, Washington (we mention ABEJA), Texas Around the World: New Zealand, South Africa, South America (Argentina has a lot, Chile some – all young plantings)   Food: The wine is great with dishes that have rosemary, thyme, saffron, and creamy sauces. Expect to spend more than $50 a bottle for good Viognier (we had the 2017 version of the Guigal below. It was US$50).   ___________________________________________________ Thanks to our sponsors this week: Thanks to YOU! The podcast supporters on Patreon, who are helping us to make the podcast possible and who we give goodies in return for their help! Check it out today: https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople And to sign up for classes, please go to www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes!  Get your copy Wine For Normal People Book today!    Wine Access  Visit: www.wineaccess.com/normal and for a limited time get $20 off your first order of $50 or more!  I’m so excited to introduce Wine Access to you. Wine Access is a web site that has exclusive wines that overdeliver for the price (of which they have a range).  They offer top quality wines by selecting diverse, interesting, quality bottles you may not have access to at local shops. Wine Access provides extensive tasting notes, stories about the wine and a really cool bottle hanger with pairings, flavor profile, and serving temps. Wines are warehoused in perfect conditions and shipped in temperature safe packs. Satisfaction is guaranteed!  Check it out today! www.wineaccess.com/normal 

In our SHORTEST EPISODE EVER, funny messages sent with champagne deliveries during lockdown come courtesy of The Finest Bubble’s Nick Baker. (Our favourite? A close call between ‘Cheer up!’ and ‘STOP MOANING’.) As the weddings, birthdays and anniversaries continue to see sparkling glasses raised via the internet, we turn to the pressing subject of where to find the best Syrah wines – made in the aromatic, elegant style of the Northern Rhône – from the New World. We touch on Chile, California, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa before alighting back in our small back room with two large glasses of red. Cheers!

In this big, bonging, New Year edition, Jason introduces David to the Rhône Septentrionale (or Northern Rhône)and the handful of rare and characterful white wines that are teased into existence alongside the ever abundant rows of generic Cotes Du Rhône AOC. While David's head is still spinning with percentages, hectares and Olympic-sized swimming pools (not to mention the vestiges of this year's flu virus), Jason has popped the cork on their first bottle; a fizzy, yet velvety smooth St. Peray from Jean Louis Thiers. It's fit for an emperor and probably was - at least when Napoleon was quaffing it as a cadet in nearby Valence. South East of Valence, Cotes Du Rhone Brézème began with just one hectare in 1962. Though it remains in a kind of classification limbo, this rare blend of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier from Julian Montagnon is in a class of its own. Further up North and up budget, Alain Graillot's Crozes Hermitage Blanc might appear under-dressed in its screwcap, but is a bright, beautifully textured, masterful offering from a master wine-maker. Only three bottles in to the podcast, any thoughts that David might have that Jason has peaked too soon are chased away by a half bottle of Georges Vernay's voluptuous, ethereal Condrieu. 'There are many occasions when half is the perfect volume,' Jason insists and David, who has barely resorted to the spittoon since the tasting began, is hardly in a position to disagree. Finally, at Hermitage, we arrive at 'le sommet' of Jason's tour of the Northern Rhone and Jean-Louis Chave's Selection Blanche 2015. 'A wine to contemplate,' says David just as Jason whips out a 2001 domain wine from the same illustrious wine maker - gothic font and all. 'I am indulging you today, David,' he says, pleonasmically.

An exploration of Clairette de Die sparkling wines of the Northern Rhône, particularly the Méthode Dioise Ancestrale. We cover the history, grapes, styles, and winemaking, as well as the appellations ... and the wearing of capes. Yes, capes. This is also the Season 1 finale. The Glass in Session® Winecast resumes September 2019. Resources from this episode: Cahier des Charges https://clairette-de-die.com/fr/syndicat-de-la-clairette/espace-documentaire/ Chemin de la Clairette (mobile app) http://clairette-de-die.mobi/en/ Clairette de Die https://clairette-de-die.com/fr/ Diois Tourism http://www.diois-tourisme.com Lacroix, “A travers l’histoire des cantons de Crest et Châtillon” https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k111635g/f74.item   Glass in Session® is a trademark of Vino With Val LLC Music: Addict Sound - Happy Acoustic - (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Jacques Seysses is the founder of Domaine Dujac, based in the Burgundy village of Morey-Saint-Denis in France. Jacques recounts how he became interested in wine, and what led him to purchase a domaine in Burgundy in the late 1960s. He describes working with Gérard Potel at Domaine de la Pousse d'Or, as well as some of his visits to other Burgundy vigneron, like Henri Gouges, Charles Rousseau, and Pierre Ramonet. Jacques talks about the Burgundy vintages of the 1960s and 1970s in this interview, and explains how the conditions in Burgundy have changed since that time, both in terms of the climate and the market for the wines. Jacques also shares his memories of some of the many people who have worked with him at Dujac over the years, including Lee Hudson, Jean-Pierre de Smet, Ted Lemon, Alain Graillot, James Halliday, and others. And Jacques talks about what he found when visiting California and the Northern Rhône Valley. There is also a discussion of how the current Dujac wines are approached and what Jacques considers the important decisions of his sons and daughter-in-law in running the domaine. Those curious about winemaking technique will find many specifics from Jacques in this interview, addressing topics like whole cluster use for Pinot Noir, cold maceration, wild yeasts, and more. This episode is sponsored by: NY Drinks NY Harvest Trips to the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley

What is a sommelier? This week we caught up Master Sommelier, Wine Merchant, and star of the Somm trilogy Dustin Wilson, to put us on about his favorite wine region, Northern Rhône. Although France is a long way from Bedstuy, they found that the Rhône essence embodies The Notorious BIG’s hardest songs to date, “Who Shot ya” (not up for debate). Learn how he’s shining light on a slept on region and what it was like to be a part of a movie that sparked a cultural revolution. The taste level on this one is 1000…. Enjoy Wine : Northern Rhone Hip Hop : Who Shot Ya - Notorious BIG

First off, we discuss Sonoma Underground, the event I'm co-producing on 24 February 2018 to showcase 15 amazing, "underground" producers in Sonoma that are hard to find, don't get the press they deserve, and make outstanding wines. Limited tickets available to you! Get yours: www.undergroundwineevents.com Then we talk Syrah! Syrah is one of tastiest grapes in the world but because it changes based on where it's grown, it can be a bit of a risk to buy. In this episode, we cover the fundamentals of Syrah, why it ranges in flavor and what to expect from the regions that make it. Here are the show notes: About the grape: Many different styles, many different faces Dark skinned, vigorous so have to tame it to get flavor Same as Shiraz NOT the same as Petit Sirah (cross of Syrah with Peloursin) Flavor depends on climate – you can’t generalize  Lots of theories about its origins - but the wine is from the Rhône. It's a cross of Dureza in Ardeche and Mondeuse Blanche from Savoie  Old World – plants based on total site (terroir, esp soil), New World = climate, soil less important   Top Places that grow Syrah: France Australia Languedoc Spain Italy Argentina South Africa CA Chile    Climate: Low tolerance for too much heat and too little heat Buds late, ripens early – short growing season Vinification: Co-fermentation – esp with Viognier (Côte Rôtie and Australia) – no more than 5%, with Marsanne and Roussanne in Hermitage (up to 15%) Stems and oak play a role Places: Rhône Northern Rhône:  General flavors – peppery when less ripe, fruity and perfumed when more ripe Côte Rôtie:  floral, roasted, bacon, lavender notes Hermitage: minerally, tannic, bacon, herbs Cornas – fruity, heavier, less nuanced Crozes –Hermitage and St-Joseph: flatter areas -- lighter, more peppery, floral, earthy, great values Southern Rhône Hot and dry, Syrah gets overripe – need cooler, north-facing sites to slow ripening, Grenache gets best sites, Syrah is part of the blend Known as an improver variety in Languedoc and Provence with Grenache and Mourvèdre  Australia Much hotter than Rhône – heavier styles Barossa: Benchmark Shiraz– chocolaty, dark fruit Best versions are dry-farmed Victoria, Canberra, Western Australia - More Rhône-like versions  McLaren Vale: Different styles often like milk chocolate Clare Valley: dark cherry Sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon  Penfolds Grange is the most famed version  Check out the podcasts with Simone Madden-Gray for more info!  United States: California: Dry Creek Valley, Paso, Central Coast areas, some Napa as GSMs or alone.   Washington State: Some are big and full of plum, cooler sites in Yakima very nice with bacon. Outstanding in Walla Walla   Chile: Colchagua – warm, fruity San Antonio Valley – Limari and Elqui – lean with some fruit but not over the top  South Africa Swartland is the best – fruity, spicy, but restrained   New Zealand Needs hotter sites: Gimlet Gravels in Hawkes Bay, some in Marlborough   Italy Sicily, versions from Planeta, Used in Super Tuscans       Thanks to this week's sponsor who makes the podcast possible! The Great Courses Plus -- who makes you smarter and more well rounded! With thousands of outstanding video lectures that you can watch or listen to any time and anywhere, The Great Courses Plus is an easy way to stimulate your brain and make you smarter! For a free  trial, go to thegreatcoursesplus.com/wine  

Jean Gonon works with his brother Pierre at Domaine Pierre Gonon in the Northern Rhône Valley of France, within the Saint-Joseph appellation. Jean speaks about the importance of farming, vine selection, and constant care in this discussion, while asserting that the winemaking that follows is quite simple. He also gives a history of Saint-Joseph as an appellation, and as a terroir. Jean explains why his wines taste as they do, in relation to where they come from and the type of vines involved. And he gives his impressions of different grape varieties, like Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Chasselas.

Matthew's World of Wine and Drink is an educational podcast dedicated to teaching you all about the world of wine - different styles, regions, grape varieties, and its history and culture. It's designed for students taking wine courses such as the WSET, as well as the wine enthusiast. This episode focuses on the northern Rhône, its great red wines made from Syrah and the less well-known white wines of the region.

Kieran Robinson is a small producer of Rhone style wines in Sonoma --and his stuff rocks. A Philadelphia native, after working in the Northern Rhône he moved to Napa & worked for cult wineries going it alone. A great story from a truly talented winemaker!   Here are the show notes:  Kieran tells us about his early life in Philadelphia, at Ithaca college, and getting his start in wineries in the Finger Lakes. He takes us on his journey from Northern Rhône to Napa to Sonoma and details what it was like to work with everyone from Michel Rolland, Aaron Potts, and Paul Hobbs before going out on his own. We address Kieran's real passion: making Viognier and Syrah. We talk about the current situation in Sonoma with grapes and more people looking at Rhône varietals as a viable and awesome option. Kieran takes us through the differences between his wines, the wines' nod to Philly, and why they are so darn great!    To learn more about Kieran, go to http://www.kieranrobinsonwines.com   And thanks to our sponsor, The Great Courses: https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/wine   

When the weather is cold, I often just want to reach for a red. It’s got higher alcohol, is served at a warmer temperature, and it’s great with hearty food.   But I’m here to tell you that there’s this underbelly of whites that few know about that you need to get on right away. They are usually a great price, often as satisfying as a red, and can pair perfectly with rich food (especially spicy food). The common theme is that they feel fuller and softer in your mouth and have good flavor. If you put them in a black glass and you’d swear they were red wines!   In the summer and with summer foods, we all want sippers that are refreshing and bright: Wines that are best colder and have high acidity are best (Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay/Chablis, Albariño or Verdejo from Spain). But as the temps go down, you need a bone-warming white. The three keys to finding one:   Lower acidity and softer, rounder textures, which mean these wines are from warmer, sunnier climates where the grapes get fully ripe and aren't as tart. 13.5% alcohol is probably the minimum you’d want for the right body.   Wines that are better served at 50˚F+ -- not ice cold. You'll need to leave these out of the fridge to warm up.    Fuller flavored wines that have enough umph to stand up to richer foods -- soups and stews, poultry with herbs, pastas with richer sauces.   For me, the genre of grapes and blends that fit the bill are those from Alsace, , the Rhône Valley, and Southern Italy, and places that have similar climates to those areas.    Alsace Whites: Take your pick! Any of the great grapes of Alsace are full, soft, rich, and great for warmer weather.  The Riesling is opulent and almost oily in texture but still dry with peach, apple, pear, and mineral (think of being near a waterfall) notes. The wine has acidity but it's fuller in body than many dry German versions. The Pinot Gris is not so aromatic, but it's spicy -- like coriander or mild ginger -- with smoke, orange, apricot, pear notes and a rich texture. Good stuff and affordable.  I’ve actually had some awesome Pinot Blanc of late. Although it can be insipid and thin, the right producer in the right year makes it fat, round, and pear-like in flavor. Great versions can be had from $18 on up to hundreds of dollars.   Rhône Whites: For Southern Rhône, Costieres di Nîmes Blanc, Côtes de Rhône Blanc, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc are my favorites. The main grapes for these wines vary -- some are Grenache Blanc, some Marsanne, some Viognier, some Roussanne or Picpoul, but good versions share the same character: soft, luxurious textures that roll around in your mouth with enough acidity to keep them from feeling heavy or imbalanced. The flavors will range from peachy to honeyed to herbal, but the textures are consistent so they fit the criteria above. Outstanding versions of Costieres de Nîmes and Côtes de Rhône Blanc can be had for US$15 to $20. I’ve even had some great Picpoul for around $15 that has this same quality.   Châteauneuf-du-Pape will set you back at least $US40, but it’s well worth it, especially with halibut in butter herb sauce (the best pairing I’ve probably ever had!). You'll find similar wines from great producers in Priorat just south of Barcelona, Spain. These wines are often a better value than CdP and have a Grenache Blanc lead (and they are awesome with Spanish tapas!). You can get a great one for around $US25.   Northern Rhône wines are similar but they are more refined and much more expensive! Viognier from Condrieu is soft, and like a bouquet of flowers or bowl of peaches or apricots, and dry but decadent in texture. The white versions of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph are made with Marsanne and Roussanne grapes and may be the fullest whites you'll find -- like eating a honey comb, but not sweet, with lots of earthy, waterfall/stream smells and flavors.   Before I go move from the Rhône to Southern Italy, I should point out that California does some great whites with Rhône grapes too. I’ve had some Viognier from Santa Barbara that’s full of fruit flavor but with a touch of acid -- great with food and delicious on its own. Our friends at Tablas Creek in Paso Robles make a few outstanding white Rhône blends in the Rhône style. And one of the tastiest Rhône wines I've had out of Lodi was a Picpoul by Acquiesce Winery -- full, rich, soft, but with enough acidity to keep it from sitting heavy in your mouth. All of these will run you more than $20, not a great value but tasty nonetheless!   And to complete our tour of cold weather whites, on to Southern Italy... The two amazing grapes of Southern Italy -- Fiano and Greco -- make rich, full, soft whites. Another warm, Mediterranean climate, these wines share a lot in common from a texture standpoint with the wines of the southern Rhône, especially. The difference is the flavors. Fiano tastes like honey with tangerine, cardamom, and hazelnut notes and floral notes-- like being outside in a garden where the bees can't get enough of the white flowers (gardenia, jasmine -- that kind of stuff). Greco is soft, but the best version is Greco di Tufo from Campania, and it tastes like pears and almonds with a ton of mineral/chalk note and a good acidity.    Don’t worry, as with all audio blogs, all this info is at winefornormalpeople.com. Bookmark the post, make your shopping list, (maybe even get a black glass to fool your buddies) and drop a comment to let me know what you thought!

Every so often I get a question about the difference between cheap wine and better wine: “What’s the real difference? Why spend $25 when I can spend $2.50? Seriously, it’s just fermented grapes. Isn’t it all the same?” No. And despite the articles and taste tests of experts where the $2 wine wins a blind tasting, there is a difference between crap wine and good stuff. Let’s remember that those tests are in pressured environments, with artificial conditions (peer pressure, no food around so European wines lose every time). I’m telling you, even if you don’t know how expensive a wine is, when you taste something that is well made, there’s a big difference between that and plonk. I’m totally willing to buy that, like everything in wine, tasting quality is something you figure out as you learn more about wine. You may be at a place now where you can’t taste the difference. It will come with time and more tasting.  Regardless of what you can or can’t taste, there are some serious, concrete differences between mass produced wine and wine that may be of interest. These are farming, winemaking, and flavor factors that distinguish wines from each other in both quality and price. So even if you can’t taste the difference today, maybe this will at least provide an explanation of the price difference between good wine and cheap wine and give you an appreciation of why some wineries charge more for their wine. There are three main factors: Since all great wine starts in the vineyard, the best vineyard sites are prized, limited and the grapes from there cost more. Let’s take wine out of the equation for a second. Let’s bring this to tomatoes. Ever been to a local farmer’s market? There are usually multiple people selling tomatoes. One week you buy tomatoes from a farmer whose wares look awesome and whose tomatoes are half the price of the vendor next to her. But when you slice the tomatoes open and taste them, they are acidic and too earthy for your liking. They lack sweetness and aren’t so juicy. So when you go back you spring for the more expensive ones. It ticked you off a little to have to pay double for a tomato, but you decide to do it anyway. When you cut open that tomato and taste it, the heavens open and angels sing. This is the best tomato you’ve ever eaten. You would pay 4 times the price of the other tomato for this experience. What’s going on here? It’s the effect of terrior and the brilliance of the farmer in picking the right fruit for the right place on her farm. Growing on the right spot, the tomatoes are heavenly. Growing on a less good spot, they suck. Grapes are the same way. So expect higher quality, better fruit to go into expensive wine. If someone grows grapes on crappy sites where grapes don’t gain maximum flavor and structure, the resulting wine is going to suck. If they grow it in a place with the right sun exposure, soil type, drainage, and slope, you get unbelievable grapes. And you can’t have great wine without great grapes. Period. So some of the expense of better wine is from the cost of growing on coveted, often hard to farm sites that make kick ass grapes.   2. Winemaking has another huge effect. If you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t use the right equipment (the right kind of barrels, the right type of maceration, fermentation) the wine isn’t going to be as good. Never is this more clear than when you’re touring around a wine region trying the wines. The wines of the area are from similar vineyards and sometimes from the exact same ones, but in the hands of different winemakers they taste completely different. The winemaker’s decisions can make or break a wine. So even if you’ve done a great job in the vineyard and you have beautiful grapes that have outstanding potential, you’re by no means done — it can still all go to pot. Trust me, I’ve seen this happen. In the hands of an overzealous, tech-loving winemaker, beautiful grapes can transform into a wine that tastes like a mouthful of vanilla and butter with no hint of the natural goodness that came from the land. Top wines have balance between acid, tannin, alcohol, and sugar (or lack thereof) and they are either reminiscent of fruit or of the land in which they grew. They aren’t oak bombs. They don’t taste like butter (although they can have the texture of velvet). They aren’t high alcohol without a balance of tannin or acid. A skilled winemaker understands the grapes s/he has to work with and uses techniques to highlight the deliciousness of the grapes, not to transform the wine into something completely different from the grapes they worked so hard to grow. Are barrels expensive? Good ones are. Is storing wine and allowing it to mature expensive? HELL YES! I’m a business dork, so I always think about inventory holding costs — not cheap. Do you sometimes have to painstakingly make a bunch of different lots form different areas of the vineyard and then blend them? If you want good wine, you may. When you pay for good wine, you’re paying for the great judgement of the winemaker.   3. Ultimately the taste, aroma, and texture of the wine are dead giveaways that you have something special. If you read the blog or listen to the podcast, you know that I’m quick to call BS on stuff in the wine industry that I think is ridiculous. But I promise you that as you have the opportunity to taste better wine, you will taste the differences between cheap and expensive glasses. The velvety feeling of high quality Pinot Noir, with just the right balance of fruit, acid, and light tannin. The ripe fruit flavors combined with a spicy earth and bright acidity of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The bacon, black pepper, and black plum notes against the bright acid and noticeable but not too rough tannin of a Northern Rhône Syrah.  These experiences stand apart from the less expensive wines that are just fine, but not memorable. The more you drink the more you realize that there is a taste difference. I’ve watched the faces of friends light up when they taste a truly great wine versus the stuff they usually drink and it’s a different animal — they get it. I remember my own experiences of tasting fine wines for the first time and knowing that there was a big difference between what’s possible and what I normally drink on a nightly basis. You have to know what to look for, but when you do, drinking great wine (on special occasions, because what normal person can afford to every night?) is so rewarding and such a wonderful treat. What do you think? Agree? Disagree that there’s a difference? Write a comment and let me know!!!

The list of wines that are underrated, overlooked, and great values! Some are mainstream, some less so but all fabulous. From Syrah to Chenin Blanc to Sherry and many in between, this should give you some great ideas of what to buy!    And here's the list!     Dessert wines of any type: Vintage Port, Ruby or Tawny Port, Muscat de Rivesaltes, Banyuls (red), stickies from Australia, sweet Riesling from Germany, Tokaji from Hungary -- all enormous values! Chenin Blanc: Aromatic, complex, high in acid, great off dry or dry. Vouvray, Saviennieres, and some South African Chenins are outstanding. Napa's Chappellet and Long Island's Paumaunok make great US versions. Blaüfrankisch (Austria)/Lemberger (Germany): Spicy with black pepper and cinnamon, it makes your mouth feel alive. Medium bodied, cherry-like, interesting, not the same old same old. GERMAN and ALSACE Riesling and all Alsace whites: Well priced versions for under $20 - $25. Thierry Thiese is always a winning importer in the US. German Riesling: Range of wines for range of cuisines – off dry, dry, semi-sweet – great with spice, great with cheese, great with fish (fuller styles). Dimension, -- floral to citrusy, peachy to minerally, petrol (gasoline) to fruit-bowl like always balanced with acidity ALSACE whites: No secret that I love them. Soft, full, flavorful, great with food. Riesling, Gewurz, Pinot Gris, Muscat – all have an unctuous quality. Portuguese reds Reds from Douro or Dão: Touriga Nacional is the main grape, they contain the grapes of Port but are dry. Complex, dark and red fruit, earthy, range from medium to full. Versatile and usually CHEAP! Bairrada (Baga):  is amazing when made well and becoming more available. An honorable mention for the Mencía grape from Bierzo, which is amazing and usually underpriced White Bordeaux Best are Semillon majority with Sauv Blanc and Muscadelle. Look for top wines from Graves or Pessac-Leognan. Loire Cabernet Franc Medium bodied, earthy, tea-like, with red and black fruit. Acidic. Lots of dimension and real depth – even though it’s lighter in style. Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Touraine are top areas (not mentioned but also one to check out: Saumur-Champigny. It can be overpriced but good versions are pleasant) Another honorable mention: Loire Muscadet, from a single vineyard or great producer is less than $20 and can be floral with a bready quality (when the bottle says sur lie) and when from a great producer.   Syrah: Full, spicy, rich, peppery, perfumed, herbal, lavender, savory Northern Rhône, South Africa, Central Coast, Washington State, Australia (Shiraz) Langhe Nebbiolo: Earthy, tar and roses, can be acidic and tannic, lots of gravitas in the right hands and great with food.  No one knows WTF it is but it can be like a baby Barbaresco or Barolo. Its unpopular because people are unaware of it. Very well priced. Sherry: A perfect aperitif, underpriced for what it is. Another one to surprise guests with – the nutty factor of an Amontillado will win friends and influence people  The range is incredible (this is just a sample of the types available -- there are many more!) Fino: dry and like olives and almonds Manzanilla: Nutty and salty -- like a richer Fino Amontillado: Aged 8+ years, almond and walnut character. Rich, dry Oloroso: Oxidized, richer, complex, like alcohol infused walnuts, dry. PX/Pedro Ximenez: sweet, raisined, nutty, full, and amazing on top of vanilla ice cream.   What do you think? Do you like the list? Have you had any of these? Will you try any? Drop a comment and let us know!

Jean-Louis Chave is the proprietor of Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and Jean-Louis Chave Selection, working within appellations of the Northern Rhône Valley of France. Also in this episode, Erin Scala outlines the hill of Hermitage.

This week we cover a bit about the Rhône Valley and then discuss specifics of the 8 communes of the Northern Rhône and what they have to offer.  From north to south, the communes are: 1. Côte Rotie 2. Condrieu 3. Château Grillet 4. St. Joseph 5. Crozes-Hermitage 6. Hermitage 7. Cornas 8. St-Peray and we throw in Clairette de Die for good measure! Some of my favorite wines are from here, so I hope you like the podcast!