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Where we selectively recap on the wine headlines in recent months (informative - but also fun) and respond to various questions, comments...and grumbles.We gaze into deep space in search of booze. We consider how global wine can be in the doldrums...but Essex is on the up. We hear a sad tale of vandals destroying scientific research, and a heartening story of how ancient Pompeii wine is set to be revived. Above all, we revel in the wise words of the recently deceased Pope Francis, who declared wine to be a 'gift from God', a 'healthy consumer habit' and, 'a true joy for the heart of man'. Apparently he told winemaker Ricardo Cotarella: 'You can't party without wine.' Our kind of Pope.We play our globally popular Guess the Missing Word in the Wine Headline game, this time featuring Bridget Jones, Bhutan, a wrestling superstar and various forms of wildlife. Just a trigger warning for anyone traumatised by the mention of Peter's pants from our previous episode on fake wine - Peter's pants feature again. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E18 - News and Views 2025Instagram: @susieandpeter
Why is Rosé the go-to wine for celebrity-owned brands rather than Chardonnay or Cabernet? Why are the younger generations of wine drinkers choosing Rosé over red? Is the Rosé boom just a trend, or is its popularity here to stay? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Rasmus Emborg & Jens Honoré, who co-published the Rose Revolution. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights What are the main differences between wines from Domaine Tempier and Domaine Ott? What makes some Rosé wines better for aging than others? How did Gerard Bertrand's background influence his winemaking style? Which Provençal cuisine dishes pair best with the Rosé wines? Why do so many celebrities who come to the wine world choose to make Rosé? Which celebrity wines are worth buying? How has social media impacted the Rosé Revolution? What does the future look like for Rosé's popularity? Why have more men started drinking Rosé? Which wine regions should wine lovers visit to immerse themselves in the world of Rosé? Key Takeaways Why is Rosé the go-to wine for celebrity-owned brands rather than Chardonnay or Cabernet? As Rasmus and Jens explain, Rosé is much easier to embrace for a broad audience. Rosé has a lot of lovers, but they don't have any enemies. So you can be a serious musician, a rocker, a pop star, and embrace Rosé. When you're just a celebrity and not a winemaker it's way more bankable and easier to market. We tried a lot of those wines and I'll tell you, some of them are pretty good, big bang for the buck. Brad Pitt, John Legend, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jon Bon Jovi, Cameron Diaz and Kylie Minogue Why are the younger generations of wine drinkers choosing Rosé over red? Rasmus and Jens observe that young people don't drink much red wine, but they drink a lot of white wine and Rosé because it's kind of like a celebratory wine. It's become a wine you kind of gather around. You don't disagree about it. You can't be talked down to if you don't know the terroir, the grapes etc. If it's endorsed by a rapper or rock music or whatever, it enhances that experience. Is the Rosé boom just a trend or is its popularity here to stay? Rasmus and Jens believe that Rosé has established itself as a third wine category. We'll still see the quality improve and higher price points. In France, 3 out of 10 bottles are Rosé, globally, it's about one out of 10. They are seeing a trend of Rosé taking market share from red wine whereas white wine is stable. About Rasmus Emborg & Jens Honoré Rasmus Emborg is a journalist who has worked in the media industry for over 25 years. He is the author of Beer Brothers (2019), about twin beer brewers Mikkel Borg-Bjergsø and Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø. He and his wife own a small vineyard in Provence. The grapes are mainly used for rosé wine, and the production takes place at a local cooperative. Jens Honoré is a photographer who has worked in the advertising industry for 30 years. In 2018, he published A Place to Dream for SOS Children's Villages, and in partnership with Jens Vilstrup, he published the book, Farewell to a Black/White World about the UN's 2015 Sustainable Development Goals. He has also contributed to Building a Dream about LEGO owner Kjeld Kirks Kristiansen's realization of LEGO House. In 2021, he published The Right to Food about homeless people's relationship with food. Jens lives in New York and as a wine enthusiast, has followed the trend of increasing enthusiasm for rosé wine with great interest. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/337.
Kicking off Season 19 with classic method sparkling wine from Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol: a brief history, style summary and some extras. Quick, dirty, and delicious. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Tom Stevenson's Champagne and Sparkling Wine Guide 2015, 6th Edition, [Kindle Edition], Stevenson, T. (2014) Websites: Britannica: Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol https://www.britannica.com/place/Trentino-Alto-Adige-Sudtirol Disciplinare: Trento Doc (26 December 2020) https://www.disciplinare.it/trento-doc.html Glass in Session®: Bubbly to take us into the new year, Caruso, V. (18 December 2023) https://www.glassinsession.com/2023/12/18/bubbly-to-take-us-into-the-new-year/ La Cucina Italiana: A Trentodoc Primer - What to know about the sparkling wine from Trentino, Vercelli, V. (16 April 2021) https://www.lacucinaitaliana.com/italian-food/italian-dishes/trentodoc-the-italian-sparkling-wine-from-trentino?refresh_ce= Trento DOC: https://www.trentodoc.com/ Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode: S9E1: Franciacorta DOCG https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s9e1-franciacorta-docg S15E2: Champagne Part 2 - Grape to Glass https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/champagne-part-2-grape-to-glass S18E5: Lake Garda - Surrounded by Wine regions https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/lake-garda-surrounded-by-wine-regions-s18e5 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.)
Paso Robles, celebrating 100 years, Zinfandel, a teenage winemaker and interview w Janell Dusi, owner & winemaker of J Dusi Wines in Paso Robles. ON THE ROAD with mrCAwine is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and its awesome wines hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of European & Asian sales & marketing, Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in the business of California wine, chatting along the way with the people who work in wine, and make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Janell Dusi of J Dusi Wines.
How did Rosé get a bad reputation as not being a “real” wine? How did Marcel Ott revolutionize the world of Rosé wine? Why is Grenache a popular grape for making trendy pale Rosés? How do Rosé's beautiful bottles both help and hurt its reputation? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Rasmus Emborg and Jens Honoré, the author and photographer, respectively, who have published Rosé Revolution. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights How did Jens and Rasmus develop a love for Rosé? What does Rasmus find most satisfying about owning a vineyard? Why did Jens and Rasmus want to produce their book independently? Why did Jens choose to photograph the winemakers in black and white, using an analog camera? What was the most challenging aspect of writing Rosé Revolution? Why was Marcel Ott's pioneering decision to treat Rosé as a wine in its own right so radical in 1912? Why did Rosé have such a bad reputation? What makes Grenache such a good grape to make Rosé? Are there benefits to the shape of the iconic Domain Ott bottles? What are some of the wildest bottle Rosé designs Jens found in researching Rosé Revolution? Why does Rasmus believe we'll see more Rosé being sold in brown bottles in the future? What role do ultra-premium Rosés play in the market? Beyond great quality, what factors have made Whispering Angel so successful? Key Takeaways Rosé wine is made from red wine grapes, and it's the skin that gives color and tannin to the wine. If you let the wine ferment with the skin, you end up with a red wine. Rosé wine was produced as an afterthought, rather than with the intention to make it. This is part of why Rosé has had a bad reputation because it's been considered a byproduct. Marcel Ott was fascinated by Rosé wine because he thought that this was a wine that had the taste of the grapes most precisely. Marcel Ott was the first one to choose the variety of grapes that gave the best Rosé, to position the vineyards in the best possible way to make good Rosé and to choose the harvest time with the ambition to make the best possible Rosé. Grenache is a grape with thin skins and very little pigment so it brings little color to the wine. This is the kind of Rosé wine that is the most trendy these years. It's pale, dry, crisp wine, what we call the Provence style. But also, Grenache has this natural sweetness that applies well to the Rosé wine category as well. Rosé, with its beautiful colour in a transparent, creatively designed bottle, looks great on the shelves in the liquor store. It looks good on Instagram. And I think this is a part of the popularity of Rosé. At the same time, it's also a reason why the bad reputation of Rosé wine remains with some of the wine establishment. At the same time, it's much easier to recycle brown glass than clear glass. About Rasmus Emborg & Jens Honoré Rasmus Emborg is a journalist who has worked in the media industry for over 25 years. He is the author of Beer Brothers (2019), about twin beer brewers Mikkel Borg-Bjergsø and Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø. He and his wife own a small vineyard in Provence. The grapes are mainly used for rosé wine, and the production takes place at a local cooperative. Jens Honoré is a photographer who has worked in the advertising industry for 30 years. In 2018, he published A Place to Dream for SOS Children's Villages, and in partnership with Jens Vilstrup, he published the book, Farewell to a Black/White World about the UN's 2015 Sustainable Development Goals. He has also contributed to Building a Dream about LEGO owner Kjeld Kirks Kristiansen's realization of LEGO House. In 2021, he published The Right to Food about homeless people's relationship with food. Jens lives in New York and as a wine enthusiast, has followed the trend of increasing enthusiasm for rosé wine with great interest. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/336.
Thibault Legrand, Domaine Legrand-Latour, Fleury-la-Rivière, ChampagneChers auditeurs, chères auditirces,Je vous invite aujourd'hui à un voyage singulier. Un voyage en Champagne sous l'angle oenologique évidemment, et sous l'angle géologique. Pour cela, j'ai rencontré Thibault Legrand du domaine Legrand-Latour à Fleury-la-Rivière. J'avais été prévenu. On m'avait parlé de la démesure de la cave aux coquillages. Mais c'était encore plus impressionnant que ce que je pensais. Imaginez donc : depuis 26 ans, le père de Thibault creuse la colline, mettant au jour des milliers de fossiles et coquillages. Sur place, c'est un véritable voyage dans le temps qui se lit sur les parois des galeries. Un voyage qui se compte en dizaines de millions d'années. Et dans ces galeries, une cave a été creusée pour accueillir la production du domaine. Une histoire un peu folle que Thibault est très heureux de vous raconter.Réalisation : Romain BeckerPost-production : Emmanuel NappeyMusique originale : Emmanuel DoréGraphismes : Léna MaziluPhoto : Clémence Danon BoileauOn se retrouve très vite pour de nouvelles aventures viticoles. D'ici-là éclatez-vous et buvez bon !Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Brilliant rogues counterfeit unicorn wine, fool the establishment and laugh their way to the bank. It's good story - so good that even The Simpsons have released an episode dedicated to wine fraud. But is this just a laughing matter?This is without doubt one of our FAVOURITE EVER Wine Blast episodes. It stars no less than Homer and Marge Simpson, Mr Burns, Waylon Smithers and Professor Frink. Together with The Simpsons co-writer Johnny LaZebnik and wine fraud expert Maureen Downey.Fraud is an ever-bigger issue for the wine world. It's nothing new (Pliny the Elder grumbled about it in Roman times). But in the wake of notorious fraudsters like Hardy Rodenstock and Rudy Kurniawan, it has become more professional and widespread, with organised crime moving into a profitable and low-risk venture. The implications are profound, as Maureen Downey explains.But that doesn't mean we can't have a laugh about it. So we get exclusive access to the hilarious animated world of The Simpsons to experience how they explore the theme of fake wine. Along the way we talk Robin Hood, queue-jumping, Jesus, 'cover-up' sex, how radioactivity helps detect fakes, and Peter's pants.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E17 - Fake Wine: A Laughing Matter?Instagram: @susieandpeter
One of the more intriguing elements of wine is that it can appeal to a wide range of people. In wide range, I mean it has appeal on so many different levels; a novice can just enjoy their favorite wines from the supermarket and delve into the history when inclined; a collector can peel each wine back and learn of its origin and take it a step deeper, the wine enthusiast that wants to put their toe in the water of wine knowledge can enroll in one the wine certification organizations and earn a certification and then there's a couple of levels of wine knowledge until you basically stop at Charles Ludington. With two bachelor degrees, one masters and a Phd. One might say he has reached a level few, if any, other academians have reached. And because of his time in front of students in a class room, Charles can articulate this knowledge in an understandable and intriguing way. If you think the world of wine is all swirling glasses and sniffing bouquets, wait until you've heard Charles Ludington—Chad, to his friends—uncork a few bottles of historical truth. Armed with not just one, but four degrees in history (and a résumé that includes playing basketball in Paris and working on the New York wine retail frontlines), Chad isn't your typical wine academic; he's something of a one-man bridge between eras, cultures, and even social classes. Dive into this episode, and you'll learn how wine is far more than a drink—it is a lens onto everything from class warfare to international politics, from covert Irish merchants shaping Bordeaux's legacy to NBA stars dueling over Grand Crus in LA bistros. Chad traces the surprising paths that led Bordeaux's cellars to be filled by Irish hands and explores why today's elite collectors find meaning in a dusty bottle—sometimes as a symbol of status, sometimes a sensory revelation, but always as a marker of time and place. You'll unpeel the layered tales of how wine moved from scandalous blends—once the height of fashion—to the hyper-strict appellations, and discover the very modern decline in wine's appeal among young people, who instead find excitement in natural wines or, oddly enough, craft beer and cocktails. Along the way, you'll reconsider the meaning of terroir, discovering just how blurred the boundaries of authenticity, tradition, and marketing really are. By the end, not only will you be able to spot the politics in your glass and the shifting gender codes of rosé, you'll also taste the romantic—and sometimes subversive—human stories that echo through every sip. This episode braids together centuries of intrigue, innovation, and, yes, a fair bit of competitive one-upmanship—pulling back the curtain on how wine tells the story of us all. #WineHistory #WineCulture #Bordeaux #NBAWine #WinePolitics #Terroir #WineEducation #WinePodcast
Why are major Champagne houses, like Taittinger and Pommery, spending millions of dollars to buy and plant vineyards in England? How did Brexit reshape the English wine industry, from barrels to picking grapes? Why does visiting the English wine country feel like uncovering a hidden secret? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Henry Jeffreys, author of Vines in a Cold Climate. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of his terrific book, Vines in a Cold Climate. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights Is England's greatest wine yet to be discovered? What makes Peter Hall of Breaky Bottom such a memorable and inspirational person? What is it like to visit English wine regions as a tourist? How can you make the most out of a trip to London as a wine lover? What was the most surprising historical tidbit about English wine that Henry uncovered while researching? Which significant milestones have signalled the improved quality of English wine in the past 20 years? What makes English winemakers different from those from other regions? If English wine is such a precarious venture, why have champagne houses like Tattinger and Pommery chosen to plant in England? How did Brexit impact English winemakers? What's the biggest risk to the English wine industry? Key Takeaways Henry observes that Champagne is warming up and the concern is that eventually the grapes might not have enough acidity, so they're hedging their bets. He also thinks they are entrepreneurial. If you could bring your expertise and get it to work and make a great, great wine - which is what they're interested in - then, why not? Brexit had a big impact on the English wine industry. There was a hell of a lot of upheaval, but I think generally the industry has adjusted and worked out how they can bring things in. The cost, obviously, has gone into the wines, and we probably have to pay more. But I think all the problems have already been dealt with. It's all kind of factored in. Southern England, especially in the spring and summer, Henry says, is breathtakingly beautiful in a way that no other country is. There are beautiful little villages and hills and churches. It can be quite incongruous sometimes seeing the vines, especially if on a cold day when you'd expect to see horses and apple trees. Wine tourism is quite in its infancy at the moment, but it's coming on strongly. A lot of wineries have realized that you can sell tourists wine without anyone taking a cut. So they're beginning to take it a lot more seriously… have restaurants on site, really good tour guides. The potential is massive because most of the vineyards are within an hour and a half of London. About Henry Jeffreys Henry Jeffreys worked in the wine trade and publishing before becoming a writer. He's a contributor to Good Food, The Guardian, Harpers Wine & Spirit, and The Spectator, wine columnist for The Critic magazine, and has appeared on radio, TV, and The Rest is History podcast. He won Fortnum & Mason Drink Writer of the Year in 2022 and is the author of four books, including Empire of Booze and Vines in a Cold Climate, which was shortlisted for the James Beard awards and won Fortnum & Mason drink book of the year. Along with Tom Parker Bowles, he hosts the Intoxicating History podcast. He lives in Faversham, Kent, with his wife and two daughters. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/335.
Sino nga ba?
Sonoma County, destiny, the 3 Rs, dogs in the vineyards and interview with Mauricio Soto, CEO of Vine Pro Vineyard Management in Sonoma County. ON THE ROAD with mrCAwine is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and awesome wines hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of European & Asia sales & marketing, Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in the business of California wine, chatting along the way with the people who work in wine, and make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Duff Bevill, the founder & partner, Bevill Vineyard Management.
Is chalky soil really the secret to great English wine—or just clever marketing? What makes it so difficult for English wine to break into the North American market? Is it time for a classified system of English wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Henry Jeffreys, author of the award-winning book Vines in a Cold Climate. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of his terrific book, Vines in a Cold Climate. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights How did Henry become a wine critic for The Lady, a women's magazine? What was it light to interview wine pioneer Stuart Moss? How did Henry's skepticism about biodynamics nearly cause a problem with Gérard Bertrand? What inspired Henry to write Empire of Booze? What was the most surprising thing Henry learned while researching the book? How did Henry's first experience of English wine go? What unusual vineyard experience totally changed his perception? How much wine does England produce? Where are the main wine regions in England? Are the benefits of the chalky soils in certain parts of England overrated? Is it time for a classified system of English wine? Key Takeaways We always hear about the chalk or the White Cliffs of Dover. Do you think that has an influence or is it overrated? Henry thinks it is overrated and it was the story that sold. It was a good marketing angle, and they thought that it was the best place. He thinks almost everything else is more important than whether it's chalk or clay, and once you've got everything else right, then you can argue about that. Henry observes that selling to Canada and the US is quite complicated. If you sell to Japan, you can get just one person to import it. Whereas in North America you have complicated systems by state and province. You need somebody on the ground selling. Plus, Nova Scotia makes a similar style of sparkling wines. California has some pretty good sparkling wines. And then once the English bubblies land in the market, the price is pretty much the same as Champagne. Why would you unless you wanted something quite unusual, right? Henry says that there is now a PDO, or Protected Designation of Origin, a European geographical indication for one county, which is Sussex. But it's really too early for it, because they've only been making quality wine there for 30 years. The appellation contrôlée is, ideally, codifying hundreds of years of tradition. Plus, a lot of producers buy from different counties. So Nyetimber will have vineyards in Kent and Sussex and Hampshire. So that makes a nonsense of it. And also, there's sort of bits of Sussex that are very much like Kent, so you so there's no point drawing a line where the old county barrier is. It's like, it'd be like, sort of cutting the Médoc in half. It doesn't really make any sense. I think the only place where it makes sense is Essex, because you've got the soil. About Henry Jeffreys Henry Jeffreys worked in the wine trade and publishing before becoming a writer. He's a contributor to Good Food, The Guardian, Harpers Wine & Spirit, and The Spectator, wine columnist for The Critic magazine, and has appeared on radio, TV, and The Rest is History podcast. He won Fortnum & Mason Drink Writer of the Year in 2022 and is the author of four books, including Empire of Booze and Vines in a Cold Climate, which was shortlisted for the James Beard awards and won Fortnum & Mason drink book of the year. Along with Tom Parker Bowles, he hosts the Intoxicating History podcast. He lives in Faversham, Kent, with his wife and two daughters. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/334.
Some people say you need loads of different wine glasses. Others say you need just one kind (known as 'universals'). There's money, reputation, even relationships on the line here. So what's the answer?!In this episode we share significant new research by Jackie Ang MW, hot off the press, that answers two key questions. Firstly, do different wine glasses make you taste and rate a wine differently? Secondly, which work better: 'universal' wine glasses, or grape-variety-specific glasses?We also hear strong views from two big hitters in the wine glass world: 11th-generation Austrian glassmaker Maximilian Riedel and renowned wine writer Jancis Robinson MW, co-creator of the 'Jancis' glass.Of course we also share our views on the matter, to help guide you through a subject that can be as complex and headache-inducing as a night on the fine wine. Along the way we touch on golf clubs, blindfolds, jet engines, shoe collections, Marie Kondo - and how a measuring tape could help save you money...Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E16 - Do You Need More than One Wine Glass in Your Life?Instagram: @susieandpeter
How can a vineyard disaster become an unexpected opportunity to innovate? How does storytelling transform wine marketing? What innovative pairings go beyond red wine and red meat? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sally Evans, author of the new memoir, Make The Midlife Move: A Practical Guide to Flourish after Fifty. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of her terrific new memoir, Make The Midlife Move: A Practical Guide to Flourish after Fifty. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights Are you ever too old to start over? How do we build resilience as we get older? How did Sally's harsh initiation with the 2017 frost in Bordeaux shape her approach to winemaking? Why did Sally decide not to pursue organic certification? How did it feel to present Sally's first wine in 2018 at Bordeaux's En Primeur? Which aspects of the story does Sally hope critics understand beyond what's in the glass? Beyond scores and medals, what forms of recognition have been most meaningful to Sally as a winemaker? What was it like to be sworn into the Confrérie des Gentilshommes de Fronsac? What was the steepest learning curve in selling a physical product like wine? How has Sally found creative ways to market and sell Château George 7? Why should you incorporate storytelling in marketing wine? How did Sally pivot to minimize the negative impact of COVID on the winery? What are some unusual pairings between vegetarian dishes and red wines? How do you know when it's time to move on from something you've built? What goals would Sally like to accomplish before selling the winery? Key Takeaways As Sally shares, she was still living in the southeast of France when the previous owner of her vineyard rang to tell her that the frost had destroyed everything. While now we have barrel rooms and we have thermoregulation, we made a decent wine and that proved the process. That was a good example of how in midlife we can look at something that looks really bad, something that's happened, and actually turn around and make something good out of it. Sally says that when she hosts wine tastings, she always talks about the occasions when they're going to drink the wine: I think there's one thing in marketing where you profile the customer but I think with wine, often it's around the occasion and what you're eating and who's over and so on. That's how we drink wine. We drink it for occasions. Sally observes that when we look at the back of most red wine bottles, especially from Bordeaux, it says drink with red meat: I thought, well, that's not really helpful. I have a very close friend, Wendy Narby, she and I sat down and said, red wine goes fabulously with veggie dishes and so we've done it as a passion project where we talk about how to pair plant-based food with different Bordeaux wines. About Sally Evans After an international corporate career based in Paris and the South of France, Sally Evans completely changed her life in her fifties. She created an independent winery in Bordeaux, completely on her own with no prior experience or knowledge of wine. She threw herself into wine studies, bought a parcel of mature vines with some dilapidated buildings and created a brand-new wine chateau. She now has a boutique winery, Château George 7, in Fronsac on the right bank of Bordeaux. Her wines win high critical acclaim from leading wine critics and publications and are listed in Michelin-starred restaurants and top venues across Europe and the US. Sally has also created a wine tourism destination for tastings and events, winning accolades for its exceptional wine experience. Alongside wine, her other passion is supporting women to follow their dreams. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/333.
Over the past few decades, the wine industry in China has experienced remarkable growth and transformation. From being a relatively new player in the global market, China has emerged as a significant and influential force in the industry. Today we'll be exploring this dynamic wine region, which remains relatively unknown to most wine lovers.In this episode, we'll be diving into the world of Chinese wine—exploring key regions, the curated selection on Cathay Pacific's wine list, and how you can create a first-class experience at home. Joining us is Ronald Khoo, Wine & Spirit Assistant Manager at Cathay PacificWould like to sip the Chinese wine served in Cathay Pacific First Class and Business from the comfort of your home? Visit Cathay Shop and enjoy up to HKD5=1 Asia miles with your wine purchase! Since 2016, Bottled in China brings you into the food and drink scene through conversations with the some of the most happening personalities. Hosted by Emilie Steckenborn, the show is your one spot for all things food, beer, wine and spirits from across the world. Connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram @bottled.in.china Podcast available on iTunes, Spotify , online or wherever you listen to your episodes! Subscribe to Bottled in China to follow the journey!Check out our new website & find out more at https://www.thebottledshow.com
A feel-good story, share wine & give hope, campbell soup and interview w Jake Kloberdanz, CEO, One Hope Winery in the Napa Valley. ON THE ROAD with MR CA WINE is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and its awesome wines hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of European & Asian sales & marketing, Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in CA wine, chatting along the way with the experts who make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Jake Kloberdanz, CEO, One Hope Winery in the Napa Valley.
We began with Chef Anthony Bonett from @Moshulu, who's about to enter into his new role as the Chef at Triple Crown, located in the Radnor Hotel in Wayne, PA. Chef Bonett has been working inside restaurants in Philadelphia for most of his career, landing a job with Fearless Restaurant's Marty Grims 15 years ago, and has worked for the family-owned business ever since. His career has long since focused on seafood-heavy cuisines where he offers creative meals to entice everyone's palates. Today, he joined us while getting ready for the FR Restaurant Week, Easter Brunches, and his interesting twists on foods that we all love for the new Spring menu at Moshulu! https://www.fearlessrestaurants.comhttps://www.fearlessrestaurants.com/moshuluhttps://www.triplecrownradnor.comNext, our host was joined by Keith Wallace who's name is synonymous with all things wine, including Founding a top-tier school for budding sommeliers and wine makers. His career stemmed from working inside kitchens to wine making, from penning the book, "Corked & Forked" to contributing to different publications. As a person who looks for new and exciting ways to expand his career...he started a program for sommeliers and winemakers at 31 years old which offers a wider accessibility for everyone to learn the industry. His expertise and craft is finely-tuned so that he can ascertain what your taste in wine might be, and judge so accurately that his choices end up obtaining 90+ ratings from Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator.Wine School: https://www.vinology.comPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/after-wine-school/id1787586745Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/corked-forked-keith-wallace/1102622248Our final guest set her sights on business ownership within the culinary community early on, first trying her hand with interesting twists as a baker, then as a caterer, she started a ghost kitchen as well, and finally landed on her brand: Chubby Chicks. Shakiera Turner, aka Chef Kiera has been turning up the levels on comfort food in the heart of Philadelphia. Although Chef Kiera has faced some issues after opening the doors for her new location at 1111 Walnut St in Philadelphia, she's finding a way to keep the upbeat and fun atmosphere going. She just launched her new Party Boat, happening once a month through September which leaves from Atlantic City, NJ. If you want to find out ALL the events/happenings that Chef Kiera has in the works, stay tuned in till the end of Food Farms And Chefs Radio Show, episode 318!Website: https://chubby-chicks-cafe.square.site/menuBook: https://www.amazon.com/Recipes-Chubby-Chick-Chef-Keira/dp/B0CMF5HB4NYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzGuJujcZ7xaKLpiGzGlYjQ
What's one of the most challenging aspects of being a new winemaker in Bordeaux, especially if you're a middle-aged foreigner who is making wine for the first time? How did the Bordeaux sub-region of Fronsac lose its fame after being a region favoured by French royalty? What if the only thing holding you back from a fresh start, a new project or a major life change is you? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sally Evans, author of the new memoir, Make The Midlife Move: A Practical Guide to Flourish after Fifty. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Three of you are going to win a copy of her terrific new memoir, Make The Midlife Move: A Practical Guide to Flourish after Fifty. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights Which pivotal moment sparked Sally's interest in learning more about wine? What was Sally's career before wine? Why did she decide to transition into a wine career at 52? How is Make The Midlife Move different from other books of the genre? What was the most surprising insight Sally discovered while writing her book? What was the most challenging part of writing Make The Midlife Move? Where is Bordeaux, and specifically Fronsac, geographically located? Why has Fronsac often been overlooked in favour of more well-known regions? What made Sally choose Fronsac when deciding to start winemaking? What's the story behind Sally's winery's name, Château George 7? How did Sally overcome the issue of magnum bottles with no capsules to fit? What was Sally's most humbling moment in her winemaking career? Which unexpected challenges does Sally wish someone had warned her about in the early days? Why did Sally decide to expand into making white wine? What can you do to manage feelings of impostor syndrome? Key Takeaways What's one of the most challenging aspects of being a new winemaker in Bordeaux, especially if you're a middle-aged foreigner who is making wine for the first time? Sally notes that she didn't realize just how much bureaucracy there was in France with the customs system and appellation rules around winemaking. There's a lot of rules which are good, but, there were so many rules. She also didn't really think through how long it takes to make a wine. So it's quite a long time that you're financing everything before you can actually start earning money. How did the Bordeaux sub-region of Fronsac lose its fame after being a region favoured by French royalty? Fronsac had the first wines that were produced and went up to the Royal Court of Versailles, but as time went by, areas like Saint-Émilion overtook Fronsac in terms of notoriety. When the climate was a little bit cooler as well, some of the wines tended to be a little bit more rustic, maybe not quite as ripe or as elegant as they could be. About Sally Evans After an international corporate career based in Paris and the South of France, Sally Evans completely changed her life in her fifties. She created an independent winery in Bordeaux, completely on her own with no prior experience or knowledge of wine. She threw herself into wine studies, bought a parcel of mature vines with some dilapidated buildings and created a brand-new wine chateau. She now has a boutique winery, Château George 7, in Fronsac on the right bank of Bordeaux. Her wines win high critical acclaim from leading wine critics and publications and are listed in Michelin-starred restaurants and top venues across Europe and the US. Sally has also created a wine tourism destination for tastings and events, winning accolades for its exceptional wine experience. Alongside wine, her other passion is supporting women to follow their dreams. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/332.
Once called “the wine of kings and the king of wines,” Tokaji wine has been sipped by emperors, popes, and power-hungry nobility for centuries. In this episode, we uncork the story behind Tokaji Aszú, Hungary's iconic dessert wine—why it was once Europe's most sought-after bottle, how it nearly disappeared, and why it's making a comeback today.We also taste the real thing and dive into its legacy, its unique production process, and whether it still lives up to its royal reputation.
Ridge is an iconic wine producer - not just in its homeland California, but in global terms too.But how and why did it attain this status in just 70 years? Is it really true their policy has been never to hire a trained winemaker? What is this 'pre-industrial winemaking' they champion? How have they managed to successfully buck the trend for opulence in California Cabernet? Which of their wines (whisper it) don't we like? And can you really be great at both Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, two grapes seemingly at opposite ends of the red wine spectrum?Answers to all these questions and more feature in this treat of a show to mark Wine Blast's fifth birthday (yay!) We hear fascinating insights and stories from Ridge Chairman Paul Draper as well as head winemaker John Olney before diving into Ridge's wines, including a vertical tasting of Lytton Springs Zinfandel back to 1976. (A Monte Bello Cab from 1977 pops up too...)These are wines that make you smile - then make you think. We hope Wine Blast performs a similar kind of magic! Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E15 - RIDGE: The Insider's GuideInstagram: @susieandpeter
How does oak aging change wine and whisky flavour, colour and texture? What do glass, gears, and automatons have to do with the invention of distillation? Why is yeast such an essential tool in scientific research and wine production, especially in the face of climate change? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Adam Rogers, author of the New York Times bestseller Proof: The Science of Booze. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of his terrific new book, Full Spectrum: How the Science of Color Made Us Modern. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights What are some of the traits that new yeasts are being developed for? Why does sugar deserve the title of most important molecule in the world? How is human saliva used in the production of Chicha, one of the oldest types of alcoholic beverage? What is microbial terroir and how does it affect the flavour profile of fermented drinks? Why does Adam describe distillation as the apotheosis of human life on Earth? How does the process of distillation work? What is the most important thing we can learn from the alchemists? Is the shape of a distillation still important to the process? What's happening to spirits while they're aging in barrels? Have there been successful innovations to age wine and spirits more quickly? Why do some people lose their sense of smell after a concussion? Key Takeaways When you're drinking whisky, and it's that beautiful amber color, that's all from the wood. It's completely clear when it goes into a barrel and it's brown when it comes out. So color is part of what changes, and all those flavours. In the process of aging, as the temperature goes up and down, the pores in the wood open and close. As they open, the liquid gets drawn into that layer inside of the wood, and then gets pushed back out. So there's this kind of back-and-forth process, which is why so many of the experimental attempts to accelerate the aging process use heat to try to cycle it faster. Distillation was developed in the first two to 300 years of the Common Era. People were starting to transform naturally occurring phenomena into a technology that could exist in a temple or in the home. Distillation is one of those technologies, along with a lot of automatons and the simple machines, gears, screws and the steam engines. Yeasts are a workhorse organism in laboratories because it's very easy to change their traits and genetics. They share DNA with each other, and when they grow, they mutate very quickly. Generation to generation change. So you can use classic animal or microbial husbandry techniques to change them as well. This can become especially important as climate change changes the regions that are important to wine. About Adam Rogers Adam Rogers is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, where he writes about technology, culture, and the ways they overlap. Prior to joining BI, Adam was a longtime editor and writer at WIRED, where his article “The Science of Why No One Agrees on the Color of This Dress” was the second-most-read thing on the entire internet in 2015. Adam's WIRED feature story on a mysterious fungus that grows on whisky warehouses won a AAAS/Kavli science journalism award — and led to his 2014 New York Times bestseller Proof: The Science of Booze. Adam is also the author of the 2021 book Full Spectrum: How the Science of Color Made Us Modern. He has also written for Alta, the Atlantic, National Geographic, the New York Times, Slate, and Smithsonian, and may be the only journalist to attend both San Diego Comic-Con and the White House Correspondents Dinner. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/331.
Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, Maison Louis Roederer, ChampagneAujourd'hui, je vous propose de rencontrer l'une des personnalités les plus respectées du vignoble champenois. Directeur général adjoint et chef de caves de la Maison Roederer, Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon a bâti sa réputation sur une approche scientifique, sensible et rigoureuse. Nous nous sommes retrouvés un lundi matin, aux premières heures de la journée pour une discussion passionnante et surtout à coeur ouvert. Un grand moment que je suis très heureux de partager avec vous.Réalisation : Romain BeckerPost-production : Emmanuel NappeyMusique originale : Emmanuel DoréGraphismes : Léna MaziluOn se retrouve très vite pour de nouvelles aventures viticoles. D'ici-là éclatez-vous et buvez bon !Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
In this final episode of this series about wine regions near lakes, we sail to the southern hemisphere to visit Nagambie Lakes in Australia. This lake region is quite different than the others we have explored in this season and in the past; click play to learn more in this short but punchy episode. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle 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: Australian Wine: Goulburn Valley, Natural Advantage https://www.australianwine.com/en-AU/our-places/victoria/goulburn-valley-wine-region/ Britannica: Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Livingstone-Mitchell Goulburn-Murray Water: Goulburn Wier: https://www.g-mwater.com.au/water-operations/storages/goulburn/goulburnweir Halliday: Nagambie Lakes, Victoria https://winecompanion.com.au/wineries/victoria/nagambie-lakes Mitchelton: The Mitchelton History https://www.mitchelton.com.au/pages/about-mitchelton Nagambie: Nagambie Lakes History https://www.nagambie.com.au/128-history-2/ Tahbilk: Our Story https://www.tahbilk.com.au/tahbilk-estate-story Walking Maps: Lake Nagambie Waterfront Walk, Mathews, S. (N.D.) https://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/5073 Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode: S6E3: A Sweet, Sticky Story - Rutherglen Fortified Wines https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s6e3-a-sweet-sticky-story-rurtherglen-fortified-wines S18E1: Finger Lakes Wine Fun https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s18e1-finger-lakes-wine-fun S18E2: Michigan Wine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/michigan-wine-s18e2 S18E3: Wine from Lake Neusidl -https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/wine-from-lake-neusiedl-s18e3 S18E4: Lake Constance - One Lake, Wine from Three Countries https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/lake-constance-one-lake-wine-from-three-countries-s18e4 S18E5: Lake Garda - Surrounded by Wine regions https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/lake-garda-surrounded-by-wine-regions-s18e5 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.)
Paso Robles, Hands On, another dog friendly winery, anaesthesiologist and interview with Jordan Collins, winemaker, Lone Madrone Winery in Paso Robles. ON THE ROAD with mrCAwine is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and awesome wines hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of European & Asian sales & marketing, Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in the business of California wine, chatting along the way with the people who work in wine, and make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Jordan Collins, winemaker at Lone Madrone Winery.
How does language about wine impact the way we experience and enjoy wine? How does reporting on alcohol science compare to other scientific topics? Why can yeast be described as a nano-technological machine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Adam Rogers, author of the New York Times bestseller Proof: The Science of Booze. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway One of you is going to win a copy of his terrific new book, Full Spectrum: How the Science of Color Made Us Modern. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights What was Adam's experience at a fancy restaurant in Chicago where food critic Jeffrey Steingarten was a fellow patron? How did a New York restaurant experience expose Adam to the wild science of winemaking? Why did Adam nearly have an existential moment while writing about the science of grapes? How does reporting on alcohol science compare to other scientific topics? Which moments did Adam want to capture in the book? What were the most surprising insights Adam uncovered while writing Proof and what was the most difficult part of writing it? Why does Adam describe yeast as a nano-technological machine? Which facts about yeast did Adam find fascinating? What have archaeologists discovered about the role of alcohol in early human civilization? Which cultural approach to alcohol consumption did Adam find most interesting? How do modern brewers and distillers safeguard their yeast? Key Takeaways Adam recounts the story of the couple sitting next to him ordering a dessert wine. The diner asked, “Is that a Vin du Glacier or a noble rot?” The two different ways to make a sweet wine. Just the fact that the diner was informed enough to know that there were these two methods would have a bearing on what he would be tasting. Here was this person operationalizing that interest to make his meal better. He wanted to have more fun. If you're reporting on science, you have the scientists trying to understand something new or reinterpret understanding and then there are people who that's going to affect. With winemaking, you have practitioners who are often not themselves, scientists. So they are craftspeople in a stakeholder role too. Louis Pasteur said I think there is an impossibly small, invisible, living creature that eats sugar and poops alcohol, and so the best chemists in the world at that time looked at that as a hypothesis and said, You're nuts. Nobody knew how inert chemicals could be alive. Nobody knew what the connection was. Those things are enzymes and understanding what enzymes do in a living body, that's what gave rise to biochemistry, and ultimately gave rise to biotechnology. That one insight. About Adam Rogers Adam Rogers is a senior correspondent at Business Insider, where he writes about technology, culture, and the ways they overlap. Prior to joining BI, Adam was a longtime editor and writer at WIRED, where his article “The Science of Why No One Agrees on the Color of This Dress” was the second-most-read thing on the entire internet in 2015. Adam's WIRED feature story on a mysterious fungus that grows on whisky warehouses won a AAAS/Kavli science journalism award — and led to his 2014 New York Times bestseller Proof: The Science of Booze. Adam is also the author of the 2021 book Full Spectrum: How the Science of Color Made Us Modern. He has also written for Alta, the Atlantic, National Geographic, the New York Times, Slate, and Smithsonian, and may be the only journalist to attend both San Diego Comic-Con and the White House Correspondents Dinner. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/330.
Wine. In a can. A hellish reality of tinny plonk? Or a convenient, eco-friendly, fun new format that's the future for wine? This is fun one, because our adventure starts with comedy legend (and proud French snob) Marcel Lucont. We're not only treated to an epic live rendition of his scabrous poem 'Wine in a Can' (compulsory listening for any wine lover) but also his delicious musings on wine and life more generally - including Beaujolais for breakfast.After picking ourselves up off the floor, we try to regain some dignity as we ask three questions: Is canned wine any good? Why should we buy it, if at all? And which ones are best?We exclusively reveal the results of a blind taste test by two Masters of Wine (ie us) to see if we can spot the difference between the same wine from a bottle and a can. And we report the highlights from a mega-tasting of 77 canned wines, giving a definitive verdict on this fast-moving scene.Along the way we hear from fellow Master of Wine Richard Kelley (The Liberator), Brixton Wine Club founder Louisa Payne and Morris Carr of 'craft winery' Attimo. And don't worry, we do ask the BIG questions. Like: is it OK to swig wine straight from the can? And is there a place for straws in this equation?!Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E14 - Wine in a CanInstagram: @susieandpeter
Comme en 2024, je fais un pas de côté avec cet épisode dans le cadre du Podcasthon. Le Podcasthon c'est cette opération qui réunit des centaines de podcasteurs en France ainsi qu'à l'étranger et qui permet de mettre en avant des associations.Cette année, je mets à l'honneur l'association Les Invincibles. Créée en juin 2023, ses membres mènent des actions pour aider des malades atteints de SLA. SLA pour Sclérose latérale amyotrophique ou encore maladie de Charcot. En plus du soutien aux personnes atteintes, ils financent directement la recherche pour comprendre la maladie et développer des traitements.Pour mieux comprendre tout ça, j'ai rencontré le président de l'association et sa femme, Ludovic et Clarisse Besombes. Ludovic est lui-même atteint de la maladie (ayant perdu l'usage de la parole, il communique maintenant grâce à un ordinateur) et avec Clarisse ils font un travail de titan que je suis très heureux de partager avec vous aujourd'hui. J'ai également rencontré Sévérine Boillée, chercheuse à l'Institut du Cerveau qui va nous permettre de lever le voile sur cette maladie et d'en saisir les mécanismes.Et comme un Podcasthon ne serait rien sans une aide concrète, je vous invite à cliquer sur le lien suivant pour contribuer à la collecte de dons en faveur des Invincibles :
What makes Sangiovese a difficult wine to grow and make? Why should you pay attention to the white wines of Tuscany? What do you need to know about Tuscany's Vin Santo? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Susan Keevil You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, On Tuscany: From Brunello to Bolgheri, Tales from the Heart of Italy. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights What are some common mistakes people make when comparing Tuscan wines to those from other regions? What are Super Tuscans and how did they come to be? Why did these rebel wines capture the imagination of the world in the 70s and 80s? What's the new Super Tuscan counter culture about? Why did Brunello di Montalcino achieve icon status? What makes Sangiovese difficult to grow and why doesn't it tend to thrive in North America? What motivated Susan to include sections on Tuscan white wines and Vin Santo in the book? How is Vin Santo made and why is there so much variety? What makes Tuscan olive oil so special? How can you best pair Tuscan wines with food? Why would Susan love to be able to share a bottle of wine with Queen Elizabeth II? Key Takeaways Susan notes that Sangiovese is like Pinot Noir in that it likes certain terroir, particular soils, the winds of Tuscany, and it is quite a sensitive grape. You can't overproduce it. It responds differently to different sites and it's not good in every vintage. It has so many parallels with Pinot Noir. They don't taste the same, but they behave the same. Susan likes an underdog story like the white wines of Tuscany, because they're only like 10% of the wines produced, though she believes that the Trebbiano grape is like the evil twin. In the book, Emily O'Hare writes about grapes like Vernaccia, Vermentino and Ansonica that are producing some great wines so we should watch out for them. There's another lovely story about wines of the small island called Giglio. It was raided by the pirate Barbarossa, and he sent all the inhabitants away to be slaves in Constantinople. But he brought back people from a village in Greece, and they bought the grape called Ansonica with them and so those vines are still on the island today. Susan thinks white wines are going to be more important for Tuscany. If you're going to find a comparison, Susan says that Tokaji is a really good one, because it has that bracing acidity that the Italians love as well. But also, you can't generalize with it. It's a 3,000 year-old-wine, and every farm makes a different version. In the past, they used to collect these grapes because they couldn't handle all the olives and all the grapes all at once. So they would leave some of the grapes in the drying lofts, up in the roofs. They would dry, and concentrate, and the sugars would get sweeter. When everything settled in November or March or February, they would make a wine from these beautiful sweet grapes. And they all have their own natural yeast from the air. And they would seed that yeast into the wine, ferment, and then they would lock it up in its barrel and leave it for seven to eight years. It would shrink, it would ferment. It would stop fermenting. And then at the end of that time, they would open the barrel very carefully, and it was something magnificent, but very, very different. Each producer would have their own. About Susan Keevil Susan Keevil is the Editorial Director of Académie du Vin Library, where she has played a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing this esteemed wine publishing house. A former editor of Decanter magazine, she has dedicated her career to the world of wine, from editorial leadership to in-depth exploration of the industry. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/329.
Italy's largest lake is surrounded by vines and three different wine regions. The variety of wine styles, grapes, and scenery - paired with fascinating history - is where we are quenching our thirst this week as we embark on the penultimate episode of Glass in Session®'s season dedicated to wine from regions impacted by lakes. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle 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: Britannica: Lake Garda (27 February 2025) https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Garda Decanter: Garda DOC - Wineries to visit and wines to seek out, Lane, S. (9 August 2022) https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/garda-doc-wineries-to-visit-and-wines-to-seek-out-484506/ Decanter: Lake Garda for Wine Lovers, Finetti, M. (4 July 2019) https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/italy/lake-garda-travel-wine-lovers-419712/ Italian Wine Central: https://italianwinecentral.com/region-province/ Italian Wine Guide: Region - Trentino Alto Adige https://italianwine.guide/regions-en-gb/trentino-alto-adige-en-gb/ Italy Magazine: In Italy's Val di Non, Saving a Rare Mountain Wine, Donati, S. (3 September 2021) https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/italys-val-di-non-saving-rare-mountain-wine Lago di Garda Tourism: History of Lake Garda https://www.lago-di-garda-tourism.com/en/history-of-lake-garda.html Lake Garda Travel: Lake Garda Wine and Vineyards - A centuries old tradition (n.d.) https://lakegardatravel.net/lake-garda-wine-and-vineyards/ Live Lago de Garda: Lake Garda Wines - The most famous, area by area, Michele (8 January 2023) https://www.livelagodigarda.it/en/lake-garda-wines/ Quattro Calici: Groppello Gentile https://www.quattrocalici.com/wine-grapes/groppello-gentile/ Trento Doc: Wines from Trentino, the Mark of the Territory https://www.trentodoc.com/en/territory-and-denomination/ Wine Enthusiast: Discover Lugana, Italy's Lesser Known White Wine, O'Keefe, K. (5 May 2023) https://lakegardatravel.net/lake-garda-wine-and-vineyards/ Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode: S1E3: Rosato - Wading into the (Italian) Pink https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s1e3-rosato-wading-into-the-italian-pink S2E2: Behind Botrytis - Beautiful Wines from Ugly Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e2-behind-botrytis-beautiful-wines-from-ugly-grapes S2E5: Hello Vino Novello https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e5-hello-vino-novello S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes S4E2: Valpolicella-Palooza https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s4e2-valpolicella-palooza S9E5: Swiss Wine, Sweet Stories https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e5-swiss-wine-sweet-stories S18E4: Lake Constance: One Lake, Wine from Three Countries https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/lake-constance-one-lake-wine-from-three-countries-s18e4 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.)
A dog friendly winery, Paso Robles, Malbec and interview with Damian Grindley, Owner & Founding winemaker of Brecon Estate in Paso Robles. ON THE ROAD with mrCAwine is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and awesome wines hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of European & Asia sales & marketing, Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in the business of California wine, chatting along the way with the people who work in wine, and make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Damian Grindley, Brecon Estate in Paso Robles.
Lucie Morton is the World's most preeminent Ampelographer, if not the only one still living that practices this art in the wine industry. I know, you are asking yourself what is Ampelography? Well, Lucie will explain that in some detail in this episode. In fact, this interview was filled with so many insights that I have chosen to break it up into 2 parts. In Part 1 we touch on many areas of winegrowing with a focus on American Heritage grapes and their demise and rediscovering. One of which, the Cunningham Grape, another Virginia native grape Lucie is in the process of recovering, it is going through the quarantine requirements, and her nephew plans to plant it on their original family farm on the banks of the Potomac River in King George County, Virginia.Lucie is also in the process of producing a film called the Odessey of Forbidden Wines, Exile and return of American grapes. We will discuss that in detail in Part 2. I could go on about Lucie's many accomplishments, but I will let the Episode speak to it instead. Enjoy the listening. You will be as fascinated as I am every time I engage Lucie in a discussion about winegrowing. Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com
How was Brunello discovered? How did the medieval sharecropping system help to shape Tuscany's wine landscape? What's the origin of the iconic black rooster symbol of Chianti Classico? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Susan Keevil, editor of the beautiful hardcover On Tuscany: From Brunello to Bolgheri, Tales from the Heart of Italy. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, On Tuscany: From Brunello to Bolgheri, Tales from the Heart of Italy. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights What inspired Susan to take on the monumental task of compiling and editing On Tuscany? How is On Tuscany different from other books about the region? What was the most captivating wine story Susan uncovered while working on the book? What was the most surprising insight about Tuscany that Susan discovered while putting together On Tuscany? Why did the timeframe pose the biggest challenge in compiling the book? How did Susan discover and select literary gems about Tuscany from historic writers? Why was it important to Susan to write about the Etruscans? What surprised Susan about the ancient Etruscans' relationship with wine? How did the medieval sharecropping system help to shape Tuscany's wine landscape? What role did the Medici family play in shaping the wine culture in Tuscany? What was the crisis of Chianti Classico in the 70s and 80s and how did it redefine the future of Tuscan wines? What's the origin of the iconic black rooster symbol of Chianti Classico? Why does Tuscany continue to dominate media and culture when it comes to wine? What's the history behind the Chianti fiasco? Key Takeaways How was Brunello discovered? Susan says that from 1875 to 1930, the Biondi Santi family hid bottles of brunello bricked up behind a wall. So after the war, they had these wonderful vintages, and they could say, look how it's aged because they didn't know it aged so well at that stage. That was how the discovery of Brunello came about because they brought these cellared wines to feasts and grand occasions with politicians and monarchs. How did the medieval sharecropping system help to shape Tuscany's wine landscape? Susan observes that it made it beautiful to start with, because we're talking about small holdings. Small farmers gave 40% of what they produced to the owner, the feudal lord, but they had to eke out a living too. So they had their plot of vines, their plot of olive groves, and they put up their cypress trees to defend them from the winds. That gave the beauty to the countryside, because it makes it a jigsaw, it gives it texture when you look at the hills. That way of farming has set up the beauty of Tuscany that we know today. But of course, there was a lot of poverty that went alongside it. What's the origin of the iconic black rooster symbol of Chianti Classico? Susan explains that it came from the 14th century when Siena and Florence were warring as to who was going to be the most powerful of those two towns. They had an agreement that they would send out a horse rider - a knight - early one morning, and wherever those two knights met, would be the boundary between Florence and Siena. The Florentine horse rider set off really early, and they got to within 12 miles of Siena. So the black cockerel is all about strength and having the biggest area. About Susan Keevil Susan Keevil is the Editorial Director of Académie du Vin Library, where she has played a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing this esteemed wine publishing house. A former editor of Decanter magazine, she has dedicated her career to the world of wine, from editorial leadership to in-depth exploration of the industry. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/328.
Appellations are wine regions with rules, normally associated with Europe. So how come an enviably free-wheeling, super successful region like New Zealand's Marlborough has felt the need to develop Appellation Marlborough Wine?We put this question and more to Ben Glover, renowned winemaker and proud Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) member. He talks about, 'ripping the beige quilt off Marlborough' and his distaste for 'mediocrity'. We also have fun playing around with AMW's jazzy new interactive wine map, tasting along to bring the geography to life through a set of delicious Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. (You can do the same too!) Thanks to Appellation Marlborough Wine for sponsoring this episode and once again allowing us to taste and talk about one of our all-time favourite wine regions. We also touch on things as diverse as pastoral shows, the Model T Ford in black, springtime fireworks, scripture, swamps, growing pains, snow peas, 'corrupt acidity' and dancing a merry jig...Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E13 - Appellation Marlborough WineInstagram: @susieandpeter
What if your daily glass of wine, previously celebrated for its health benefits, is now viewed through a critical lens that labels it a health risk and labelling it as cancerous? Today, we unpack the complexities of this narrative with Felicity Carter, exploring the science, media influence, and industry responses that shape our understanding of wine's place in a healthy lifestyle.Today, we are excited to welcome Felicity Carter, a distinguished journalist and editor based in Europe. As the Editorial Director of ARENI Global and co-founder of Business of Drinks, Felicity's expertise is unmatched. She formerly served as Editor-in-Chief of Meininger's Wine Business International, transforming it into an essential resource for wine professionals worldwide. Felicity's insights have graced major media platforms, including CNN and The New York Times, positioning her at the forefront of key discussions within the wine industry.In today's episode, we will dive into the changing narratives surrounding wine and health. We'll examine how these perceptions are evolving and their implications for both consumers and the industry. We'll tackle common myths about wine, including the contentious idea that "there's no safe level of alcohol," and scrutinize the French Paradox.Additionally, Felicity will share her insights on the recent anti-alcohol messaging from the World Health Organization, including the motivations behind this movement and what the wine industry can do to advocate for itself. Finally, we'll discuss the rise of non-alcoholic options and whether this trend is here to stay, particularly in the contrasting markets of Europe and Asia. Make sure to tune into Felicity's podcast Drinks Insider and find out more her expertise here. Since 2016, Bottled in China brings you into the food and drink scene through conversations with the some of the most happening personalities. Hosted by Emilie Steckenborn, the show is your one spot for all things food, beer, wine and spirits from across the world. Connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram @bottled.in.china Podcast available on iTunes, Spotify , online or wherever you listen to your episodes! Subscribe to Bottled in China to follow the journey!Check out our new website & find out more at https://www.thebottledshow.com
What is unique about Famille Perrin in France's approach to running their family wine business? How do traditional wine families differentiate their brands and market their wines in a crowded marketplace? How has the Gaja family of Italy made significant contributions to winemaking and the Piemonte community? What is unique about Famille Perrin in France's approach to running their family wine business? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Fiona Morrison. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, 10 Great Wine Families: A Tour Through Europe. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights How did the Frescobaldi family make a massive impact on the arts in their transition from banking to wine? What were the Frescobaldi family's connections to famous figures like Dante Alighieri and Galileo? How has Angelo Gaja and the Gaja family made significant contributions to winemaking and the Piemonte community? Why is the Liger-Belair family's vineyard often known as the greatest in the world? What is unique about the Famille Perrin's approach to running their family wine business? How has Álvaro Palacios proven Garnacha's place as the climate change grape? How do traditional wine families differentiate their brands and market their wines in a crowded marketplace? Do these families view their wines as luxury goods? Key Takeaways How do traditional wine families differentiate their brands and market their wines in a crowded marketplace? Simplicity and being true to their roots are two key factors Fiona points out. The labels have become much cleaner and are much more sober these days than they were in the past. The Torres family of Spain have done huge amounts on climate change and carbon neutrality and regeneration. In fact, they are, once again, this year, the most admired wine brand. I think it's very important to show that you're paying your dues and you're doing research. It shows how much they are rooted in their heritage and their history. How has the Gaja family of Italy made significant contributions to winemaking and the Piemonte community? If you want to go and taste a Gaja, you need to make a contribution of 300 euros to their various charities they support. Piemonte is still quite a poor region, and so they want to give back to the community and to the area what they can. Of course, people who drink Gaya wines, which are very expensive, can afford to give a charity donation. It's quite unusual, but I think it's a good solution for them. What is unique about Famille Perrin in France's approach to running their family wine business? There are seven or eight children from the two brothers, Francois and Jean Pierre. Every single one of them has a job in the winery, with each handling a different aspect of the business. This solidarity between so many children, working together, laughing together, tasting together. This is a blueprint for how to run a family business. About Fiona Morrison MW Fiona Morrison is an international Master of Wine, author, writer and wine merchant who lives in Belgium and Bordeaux and holds both British and Belgian nationalities. She became a Master of Wine in 1994 after studying in America and France. Fiona is married to Jacques Thienpont of Le Pin and currently runs the Thienpont family wine merchant business in Belgium and France. The family owns three estates on Bordeaux's right bank: Le Pin (Pomerol), L'IF (St Emilion) and L'Hêtre (Castillon). Winner of several awards for her writing, including the James Beard Award, her latest book, "10 Great Wine Families", has been published internationally. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/327.
Exploring the wine regions around Lake Constance in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We find grapes on an island, and wine aged under the lake. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle 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: Austrian Wine: The Bergland Winegrowing Area https://www.austrianwine.com/our-wine/winegrowing-regions/the-bergland-winegrowing-area#c22248 Britannica: Lake Constance https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Constance Lindau Bodensee: Wine from Lindau Lake Constance https://www.lindau.de/en/experience-lindau/culinary-delights/wine/#/ Moëth: Projekt Tiefenrausch - Eine Einzigartige Weingeschichte https://www.moeth.at/projekt-tiefenrausch Radurlaub-Bodensee: Wine on Lake Constance https://www.radurlaub-bodensee.de/en/wine-lake-constance?language=en Reichenau: https://www.reichenau.de/willkommen Swiss Wine: Sankt Gallen https://www.swisswine.com/en/swiss-wine-regions/german-speaking-switzerland-wine-region/sankt-gallen-en Swiss Wine: Schaffhausen Wine Region https://www.swisswine.com/en/swiss-wine-regions/german-speaking-switzerland-wine-region/schaffhausen-en Swiss Wine: Thurgau Wine Region https://www.swisswine.com/en/swiss-wine-regions/german-speaking-switzerland-wine-region/thurgau-en Vitis International Variety Catalog (VIVC): Pinotin https://www.vivc.de/index.php?id=19994&r=passport/view Vorarlberg: Weinkultur in Vorarlberg https://www.vorarlberg.travel/aktivitaet/wein-souvenir/ Wein.Plus: Bavarian Lake Constance, Tischelmeyer, N.F.J. (5 July 2023) https://glossary.wein.plus/bavarian-lake-constance Wines of Germany: Our Regions https://www.winesofgermany.com/our-regions/growing-area/65/baden Wines of Germany: The Wine Island of Reichenau https://www.winesofgermany.com/our-regions/highlight-of-wine-culture/261/the-wine-island-of-reichenau World Atlas: Lake Constance https://www.worldatlas.com/lakes/lake-constance.html Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode: S9E5 Swiss Wine, Sweet Stories https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e5-swiss-wine-sweet-stories S16E1 Austrian and German Sekt https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/austrian-and-german-sekt-s16e1 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.)
Nearly every facet of American life has been thrown into uncertainty since Donald Trump took office last month. Undocumented immigrants and their communities are perhaps the most impacted. Searching for some understanding for how these unprecedented times may impact the wine world, we turn to Amelia Morán Ceja of Ceja Vineyards Winery for her perspective. Tune in to hear her words of wisdom.
Back to school, the jacuzzi effect and a lost art and interview w Zoran Ljepovic, a UC Davis lecturer and consulting winemaker. ON THE ROAD with MR CA WINE is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and awesome wines hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of sales & marketing, Europe & Asia for Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in CA wine, chatting along the way with the experts who make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Zoran Ljepovic.
How do you tame a grape like Merlot which actually has higher sugar and alcohol levels than Cabernet Sauvignon? What's the little-known history behind the cult wines of Le Pin in Bordeaux that sell for as much as $10,000 a bottle when first released and then go up from there at auction? Why is it an advantage to have many stakeholders in family-owned estates? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Fiona Morrison, author of the terrific book 10 Great Wine Families: A Tour Through Europe. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, 10 Great Wine Families: A Tour Through Europe. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights How did studying literature at the University of Exeter spark Fiona's interest in the wine industry? How did Fiona meet her husband, Jacques Thienpont of Le Pin? What's the history behind the renowned Le Pin wines? How would Fiona characterize the 2023 and 2024 vintages of Le Pin? What is it like managing the limited production and high prices of Le Pin? How Le Pin tames Merlot grapes into its highly sought-after wines? What were the challenges Fiona faced in writing about the Thienpont family of which she is a part? How does Fiona's book, 10 Great Wine Families, differ from other books on similar topics? Which aspects of Maurice Healy's book, Stay With Me Flagons, inspired Fiona's writing? What are some of the elements that characterize successful multi-generational wine businesses? How did Fiona choose which ten families to profile in her book? Key Takeaways How do you tame a grape like Merlot which actually has higher sugar and alcohol levels than Cabernet Sauvignon? Merlot is a grape that can be very fleshy, Fiona observes. It doesn't like hot weather. It likes to keep its feet wet. If you shade the fruit a bit and let the grapes ripen, this dappled light effect, then you get a lovely balance, and elegant wine. But if you crop strongly and take off the leaves, the wine can get quite vulgar quickly, very sugary, much more jammy. There's much more sugar and alcohol in Merlot than there is in Cabernet, which may surprise some people. So when we tame Merlot, what we do in the cellar is very little pumping over. We use infusions rather than pumping over and soaking the grapes to get the maceration, like when you've got your tea bag in your tea. You have to wet the cap so that it doesn't get dry and tannic. But you're just doing that. You're not punching down or anything like that. What's the little-known history behind the cult wines of Le Pin in Bordeaux that sell for as much as $10,000 a bottle when first released, then go up from there at auction? As Fiona explains, Le Pin means pine tree. The estate was called Chateau du Pin before Jacques bought it in 1979. It's a fairy tale story. He had heard from his uncle, who had their sister estate, Vieux Chateau Certan, that a magical one hectare of land was coming up for sale. And the family thought it was too expensive to buy, so Jacques, who wasn't married at the time, said, well, one hectare, it's a vegetable garden, I think I can manage that myself. He started off very modestly with a barrel borrowed here, a tank borrowed there, and very artisanal winemaking. Then all hell broke loose in a good way with the release of the 1982 vintage which was tasted by top US expert Robert Parker and it became one of Parker's first 100 point wines. And the rest is history. Why is it an advantage to have many stakeholders in family-owned estates? Fiona notes that much of the book is about how you resolve family conflicts in a business and how you prepare the next generation to take over. She says that having lots of shareholders is actually easier than having just one or two heirs, who face a lot of pressure to take over in the business when in fact they may not want to. Whereas, if you've got 120 shareholders, chances are there's at least a few that are actually interested in wine, and will go into it. Lamberto Frescobaldi, who is 30th generation of his family, has instituted a very strict qualifying process for anyone who wants to come into the business. They have to be wine lovers, university-educated and have some business and wine experience. So you can't just be to the manor born. You really do need to have paid your dues before you get into this business. It's not a privileged business. It's probably one of the most complicated businesses, and it's very easy to lose money and it's quite difficult to make money. About Fiona Morrison MW Fiona Morrison is an international Master of Wine, author, writer and wine merchant who lives in Belgium and Bordeaux and holds both British and Belgian nationalities. She became a Master of Wine in 1994 after studying in America and France. Fiona is married to Jacques Thienpont of Le Pin and currently runs the Thienpont family wine merchant business in Belgium and France. The family owns three estates on Bordeaux's right bank: Le Pin (Pomerol), L'IF (St Emilion) and L'Hêtre (Castillon). Winner of several awards for her writing, including the James Beard Award, her latest book, "10 Great Wine Families", has been published internationally. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/326.
Wine and other booze are under attack like seldom before, from many sides: moralists, the media, health authorities citing dubious studies... So it's high time we reminded ourselves why wine is important, the many values and benefits it has, and what we can all do to challenge these pernicious narratives.Don't worry. This isn't some dry treatise or frothy-mouthed rant. We are privileged to have acclaimed authority Karen MacNeil (author of The Wine Bible, no less) making the case for wine eloquently and persuasively. But Karen doesn't stop there. She's letting her actions speak louder than words by launching two global wine advocacy campaigns - Come Over October and Share & Pair Sundays - aimed at encouraging people to come together over a glass of wine and promoting conviviality, sociability and fun. For wine lovers, it's time to stand up and be counted. In this show we explore why, and also touch on things as diverse as jugs of vodka, joyful companions, The Simpsons, and just how useless Masters of Wine can be. French nun Sister André crops up - and we have some great pairing suggestions involving cheese on toast and fried chicken.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E12 - Why Wine MattersInstagram: @susieandpeterThe Profitable CreativeHey, Creative! Are you ready to discuss profits, the money, the ways to make it...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Introduction Why is the Languedoc a hotbed of experimentation, and what does that mean for the wines you drink? What role have white and rosé wines played in the transformation of the Languedoc wine scene? What prompted the shift from mass-produced table wines to higher-quality appellation wines in Languedoc? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with author Rosemary George. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Giveaway Two of you are going to win a copy of her terrific book, Wines of the Languedoc. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose two people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck! Highlights How did the Languedoc's appellations come to be and why were they relatively late to the game? Why is the Languedoc a hotbed of experimentation, and what does that mean for the wines you drink? How did the monastic houses contribute to winemaking in the Languedoc region? What is the historical significance of the Canal du Midi? Which Languedoc food and wine pairings should you try? What role have white and Rosé wines played in the transformation of the Languedoc wine scene? What prompted the shift from mass-produced table wines to higher-quality appellation wines in Languedoc? How has the introduction of clay amphorae and concrete eggs influenced Languedoc winemaking? What changes does Rosemary expect to see in the region over the next 5-10 years? How can you make the most out of a visit to the Languedoc region? Which Languedoc wine would Rosemary pair with her favourite childhood food, baked beans? Why would Rosemary love to be able to share a bottle of wine with author Jane Austen? Key Takeaways As Rosemary explains, the Languedoc has far fewer rules and higher yields than other appellations or regions in France. People who don't want to conform to the rules can try different grape varieties. They also have the broad designation of Vin de France that allows for just about anything you want to do. It's the reputation of your name that sells your wine. She believes that Vin de France in the Languedoc from a grove with a certain reputation is going to be interesting. You may not like it, but there will be a reason why it's not conforming, for whatever reason. So that's interesting. Rosemary observes that the Languedoc produces twice as much Rosé as Provence. It's a large area, whereas Provence is quite small in comparison. Provence tends to produce very pale roses, and those specializing in rosé are quite special. White wines originally weren't important in the Languedoc, and the early appellations were red. But regions like Saint-Chinian and Faugères now produce white white wines in designated areas that weren't recognized until 2004. Rosemary believes that it was probably the falling consumption of wine in France that prompted higher quality wines. When France used to drink a phenomenal amount of wine per capita, wine was produced by cooperatives aiming at bulk production. However, growers leaving the cooperatives want to do something more individual. They recognized they had some really good vineyard land. Some of the pioneers of quality included Gerard Bertrand, who started aging wine in barrels. That sort of snowballed. Newcomers are attracted to the area because land prices are not that expensive so you can buy vineyards. You can't do that in Chablis. About Rosemary George MW Rosemary George has been in the wine industry for 52 years. She passed the prestigious Master of Wine exam in 1979, making her one of the first female MWs in the world. In 1981, she started writing about wine as a freelancer and has subsequently authored fourteen books, including those on New Zealand, Tuscany, Chablis, Faugeres, the Languedoc and Roussillon. To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/325.
Exploring the wines & region of Lake Neusiedl, Austria. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Websites: Austrian Wine: https://www.austrianwine.com Austrian Vineyards [wine maps]: https://www.austrianvineyards.com Burgenland:UNESCO World Heritage Site: Lake Neusiedl, https://www.burgenland.info/en/dc/detail/POI/neusiedler-see-seewinkel-national-park-2 New York Times: Scandal Over Poisoned Wine Embitters Village in Austria, Tagliabue, J. (2 August 1985) https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/02/world/scandal-over-poisoned-wine-embitters-village-in-austria.html Show Caves: Kellergasse Purbach, (2023) https://www.showcaves.com/english/at/subterranea/Purbach.html Wine Searcher: Neusiedlersee DAC Wine, Editorial (20 March 2024) https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-neusiedlersee Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode: S2E2: Behind Botrytis - Beautiful Wines from Ugly Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e2-behind-botrytis-beautiful-wines-from-ugly-grapes S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes S9E3 Ice Wine/Icewine/Eiswein (Baby?) https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e3-ice-wineicewineeiswein-baby S13E5 Bourbon https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/bourbon-the-distinctly-american-spirit 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.)
A magical winery in the Napa Valley, Walt Disney, a Solo Cabernet Sauvignon and interview with Alison Rodriguez, winemaker at Silverado Vineyards in the Napa Valley. ON THE ROAD with mr CA wine is about California's cool, aspirational lifestyle and its awesome wines. Hosted by Chuck Cramer, a California native, living in London and is the Director of European & Asian sales & marketing for Terlato Wines. This is a wine journey covering the hottest topics in the world of California wine, chatting along the way with the experts who make it all happen. This week's episode includes an interview with Alison Rodriguez, winemaker, Silverado Vineyards.
Western Australia's Margaret River is renowned as one of the world's foremost fine wine hotspots. But it only got started in 1967, so how has it built that reputation so fast? What makes this place unique? Why is it called, 'wine utopia' as well as, 'the best hangover cure known to man'?!Join us as we go behind the scenes with a star-studded list of Margaret River wine royalty, from Cape Mentelle to Cloudburst via Vasse Felix, Cullen, Moss Wood, Xanadu, Voyager, McHenry Hohnen and Larry Cherubino. We talk elegant Cabernet and savoury Chardonnay (plus the odd bit of Savagnin), also touching on things as diverse as Alfred Hitchcock, space invaders, Formula One, Tall Poppy syndrome, kangaroos, transparency, margaritas, radiometrics, raucous birds and short shorts. We even take a moment to appreciate a bit of opera...This is a sponsored episode in conjunction with Western Australian government and industry - the second in a two-parter mini series (check out our episode on the Great Southern to get the first instalment).Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode including full wine recommendations, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E11 - Margaret River Finds its VoiceInstagram: @susieandpeter
What does it take to turn a humble date into a game-changing, delicious spirit? Celebrity chef Elizabeth Falkner reveals her recipe. Renowned for her diverse culinary skills and TV appearances, Chef Elizabeth shares her latest venture: creating a sustainable line of spirits using California dates. In this week's episode of Wine Talks, Paul K sits down with Chef Elizabeth to explore the challenges of modern hospitality, the rise of bittersweet flavors in cocktail culture, the creative process behind crafting sustainable, terroir-driven products, and more. Ready to discover the future of spirits? Tune in to hear how Chef Elizabeth is transforming the culinary and beverage landscapes—one date at a time. Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Chef Elizabeth Falkner (00:33) Shifting trends in the food industry (02:08) Post-COVID challenges in hospitality (08:35) Culinary and wine culture: parallels and trends (11:37) Crafting unique date-based Amaro and spirits (15:45) From culinary delights to distilled spirits (26:08) What sets date-based spirits apart (32:20) Navigating business challenges (35:10) Sustainability in packaging and product design (39:24) Blending tradition with innovation (41:23) Mixology trends and the role of innovative spirits (57:14) Episode wrap-up (1:01:49) Additional Resources:
How would you reinvent a wine legacy that has already left its mark? In this episode of Wine Talks, Paul K sits down with Cleo Pahlmeyer, former president of Pahlmeyer and now the founder of Wayfarer Vineyard, to explore how she reimagined her family's rich wine legacy and carved a new path. Cleo takes us through her journey of building Wayfarer from the ground up. She talks about the challenges of today's competitive wine market while staying true to the artistry of winemaking. They explore innovations in the wine industry, emerging market trends, and the impact of direct-to-consumer connections. Cleo also reflects on why wine remains to be a timeless source of joy, even amidst constant changes. Don't miss this fascinating conversation filled with insights on wine, legacy, and the passion that drives it all. Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) How Cleo Pahlmeyer's father founded Pahlmeyer (00:51) The importance of hospitality in wine culture (11:08) Challenges in today's wine industry (12:34) From Pahlmeyer to Wayfarer (15:58) Cleo's take on innovation in winemaking (23:04) The ultimate metric of success in the wine industry (24:53) Staying true to brand authenticity amidst trends (31:11) Legacy winemaking vs. modern business strategies (42:23) Additional Resources:
Are you struggling to keep up with the demands of marketing and operations in the wine industry? In the competitive world of wine, keeping up with the ever-evolving marketing and operational challenges can feel overwhelming. But what if generative AI could be the game-changing tool your winery needs? In this week's episode of Wine Talks, Paul K sits down with Stephen Mok, founder of New Vintage Labs, to discuss the rise of vertical AI agents, how these tools can automate your tasks, and why AI is a must-have for staying competitive in today's market. Discover how AI can help wineries tell better brand stories, improve sales, and create unforgettable customer experiences. Tune in now to learn why embracing AI is no longer optional for modern wineries! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Stephen Mok's journey into AI solutions (00:35) An overview of generative AI (07:17) Exploring vertical AI agents and their potential (12:52) Navigating content overload in the AI era (21:17) What every winery must know about AI (26:13) Overcoming AI adoption challenges (31:01) Boosting efficiency gains for small wineries with AI (42:48) The crucial role of experiential innovation in wine marketing (48:05) Additional Resources: