This week we are talking about Bulgaria a country in Southeast Europe. Wine Recommendations - Big thank you to Grapes & Barley Imports for providing the wines for this episode. All but one of these wines are from the Thracian Valley. Bulgariana Rose 2017 - priced around $13. This rose wine is made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes Aromas of strawberries, raspberries, watermelon and minerality Its dry with medium acidity with flavors similar to aromas - lots of berry flavors Light in aromas...
Jun 21, 2019•14 min•Ep. 172
It's time for us to recommended so amazing wines we recently tasted. Cheers!!! Hunky Dory Tangle 2016 - priced around $15. This wine is a white blend of 58% Pinot Gris, 38% Gewurztraminer and 4% Riesling Aromas of peaches and apricots, white flowers and a hint of lychee It’s dry with medium acidity, light body and flavors similar to aromas - stonefruit, white flowers and lychee Dry aromatic, light white wine for summer with enough acidity to pair with dishes like Pad Thai, curries or seafood dis...
Jun 14, 2019•10 min•Ep. 171
This week is the final week of our Greek wine series and we are talking about the area of Central Greece. Wine Recommendation Hermes White Dry Wine - priced around $11. Light aromas of lemon, peach and minerality It’s dry with medium plus acidity and flavors of lemon rind, white peach and minerality This wine is a light crisp simple patio wine, if you are looking for something fruity and light on a hot summer day, this is your wine Pair with lighter seafood and vegetable dishes You can purchase ...
Jun 07, 2019•12 min•Ep. 170
This week we are talking about Southern Greece which is defined by its hot Mediterranean climate so most of the vineyards in these areas are grown on the sides of mountains in higher elevation. Southern Greece includes the Kefalonia, Peloponnese and Crete areas. Wine Recommendations Lyrarakis Plyto Psarades Vineyard 2017 - priced around $20. Aromas of lemon, nectarine, minerality and white lilies It’s dry with high acidity and flavors very similar to aromas This wine needs food so this is your s...
May 31, 2019•11 min•Ep. 169
This week we are continuing our series on Greek wine regions by talking about the Aegean Islands wine area. Wine Recommendations Domaine Sigalas 2017 - priced around $20. Aromas of peach, minerality and Lemon It’s dry with medium plus acidity, light body with flavors of white peaches and lemon rinds Tony thinks there is a touch of tannins but I disagree Crisp and fruity very appropriate for summer and reminds me of Verdicchio wine from Italy Food pairings: Shellfish, Crab and Lobster and of cour...
May 24, 2019•13 min•Ep. 168
This week we are talking about Northern Greece. This is week two of our Greek wine series. Part one was a general overview of Greek wine history and information so be sure to listen to that episode if you haven’t already. Check out Wine Folly's article for a great map of the Greek wine regions Wine Recommendations Alpha Estate Malagouzia Turtles Vineyard 2017 - priced around $19. Very aromatic wine with aromas of peach, honeydew, papaya, orange blossom and beeswax It’s dry with a light body, med...
May 17, 2019•12 min•Ep. 167
This week kicks off a series of episode exploring Greece. This episode is an introduction to Greece and Greek wine history. In the following weeks, we will dive into some of the major wine areas of Greece. Source for this episode: Book: The Oxford Companion to Wine
May 10, 2019•13 min•Ep. 166
This week we talk recent wines news. Below are the articles that inspired this episode's topics. California wine's new paradigm: Bright, juicy, translucent reds Esther Mobley March 21, 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Southern Oregon growers fight Willamette Valley wine purity proposals By Pete Danko – Staff Reporter, Portland Business Journal Mar 21, 2019 Texas wine group wants to keep California grapes out of their bottles Lynn Brezosky April 25, 2019 San Antonio Express News Nine Spanish producer...
May 03, 2019•26 min•Ep. 165
This week we explore of the country of Georgia and it's unique and amazing wines. Wine Recommendations Dila-o Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane 2016 - priced around $16. This is an Amber or "Orange" wine style, but made in a lighter style with only 1 month of skin contact. It is a perfect introduction to the style. Aromas of honey, tropical fruits like melon and apricots, spice and white flowers It’s dry with light body, light tannins, medium plus acidity and flavors of lemon drop, white flowers, apricots and ...
Apr 26, 2019•18 min•Ep. 146
It’s time for another four wines episode. Every couple of months we talk about four different wines that we really enjoyed and we're excited to share with all of you. Pehhcora Pecorino IGT Terre di Chieti 2015 - priced around $12. Aromas of oranges, geraniums and minerality It’s dry with medium plus acidity and flavors of orange oil, white flowers and wet rocks Really delicious, crisp, fruity and floral wine Complex but not too serious and great for lighter foods Food pairings: grilled fish, fre...
Apr 19, 2019•11 min
This week we are talking about Monterey County wine region. This area is part of the larger Central Coast AVA that stretches from San Francisco to Santa Barbara County. There are approximately 46,000 acres of wine grapes making it one of the larger growing area in California. Wine Recommendations Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay 2016 - priced around $22. Aromas of golden apples, vanilla, melon and toasted marshmallow It’s dry, fuller bodied, with medium acidity with flavor similar to aromas Like the ...
Apr 12, 2019•17 min•Ep. 162
This week we are talking about the small AVA in California call El Dorado. El Dorado is a sub-appellation of the 2,600,000-acre Sierra Foothills AVA which is one of the largest appellations in California. If you want to learn more about the Sierra Foothills, check out episode 160. Wine Recommendations RPM Wines 2014 El Dorado Gamay Noir - priced around $33. Light Garnet colored wine with aromas of dried cherries, balsamic and a hint of coriander It’s dry with light to medium body, light tannins ...
Apr 05, 2019•11 min•Ep. 161
This week we are talking about the Sierra Foothills The Sierra Foothills is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The total area of the appellation is 2.6 million acres within eight counties, making it one of the largest AVAs in the state of California. Cruse Wine Co. Rorick Vineyard Chardonnay 2016 This wine has aromas of melon, pineapple, nectarine, white flowers, beeswax and a hint of toasted nuts It’s dry with medium plus acidity, ...
Mar 29, 2019•12 min
Below are the articles referenced in this week's episode. Millennials Now Ruining Wine As Well By W. Blake Gray Posted Friday, 18-Jan-2019, Wine-Searcher Sensory tests suggest 'liking' wines made with native grapes a learned response March 6, 2019, Source: Penn State, featured in Science Daily The mysterious case of the cork-tainted carrots Esther Mobley Feb. 7, 2019, San Francisco Chronicle SAUVIGNON BLANC ‘SUFFERS FROM AN IMAGE PROBLEM’ 8th February, 2019 by Lucy Shaw, The Drink Business Const...
Mar 22, 2019•28 min•Ep. 159
The day this episode is being released, March 15, 2019, is the 3rd year anniversary of this podcast. On March 15th 2016 is when we launched the first three episodes of the podcast. We’ve tried a lot of wine and learned a ton along the way. So we thought we would take a trip down memory lane and reflect on some of our favorite moments and learning from the past three years. We did an episode similar to this way back in episode 43 if you want to go back and listen....
Mar 15, 2019•27 min•Ep. 158
This week we are talking about Alexander Valley AVA. Alexander Valley AVA is a Californian American Viticultural Area located in the northern end of Sonoma County. It is the largest and most fully planted wine region in Sonoma with 14,449 acres of vines out of 32,536 acres of land. Wine Recommendations Alexander Valley Vineyards Rose 2017 - priced around $15. Bright pink rose wine with aromas of strawberries, watermelon, raspberries and minerality It’s dry, unoaked style rose that has a light bo...
Mar 08, 2019•12 min•Ep. 157
This week we are talking about Santa Barbara County and it’s wines. We touched on this area in a couple of past episodes, specifically episode 50 on Central Coast Pinot Noir and episode 53 that featured our interview Clarissa Nagy of Nagy wines . Wine Recommendations Mer Soleil Reserve Chardonnay 2014 - priced around $28 Deep golden color with with aromas of stonefruit, melon, ripe bananas and vanilla cream This wine is dry, full bodied with medium acidity and flavors similar to aromas - tropica...
Mar 01, 2019•20 min•Ep. 156
It’s time for another four wines. Every couple of months we talk about four random wines that don’t fit in an upcoming episode. All four of the wines featured in this week’s episode were sent to us as press samples. But regardless if we purchase the wine or get it for free we always give our honest opinion and only talk about wines we really enjoyed. Valdo 1926 Cuvee NV - priced around $14. This is a sparkling wine is made from 90% Glera, 10% Chardonnay Fresh aromas of tropical fruits - starfrui...
Feb 22, 2019•11 min•Ep. 155
This week we are talking about Montefalco Sagrantino . Montefalco Sagrantino is a wine and one of two DOCGs in the Umbria region, which is located in central Italy. Wine Recommendations Raìna Campo di Raìna 2013 Hand harvested grapes Ageing: 24 months in large oak barrels, 12 months in stainless steel, 12 months in the bottle. Very ripe and juicy dark fruit aromas as well as anise and cigar It’s dry with medium plus acidity, medium plus bordering high tannins that hit in the front of your mouth ...
Feb 15, 2019•15 min•Ep. 154
This week we are featuring my interview with Alan Baker and Serena Lourie, the founders and Owners of Cartograph Wines out of Healdsburg, CA. You can check out more information about Cartograph Wines at their website Wine Recommendations - These wines were sent to us as samples. 2017 Green Ranch Riesling - priced around $29. Hands down one of the best dry Rieslings I've ever had. Very fruity with flavors and aromas of citrus and stonefruits Healthy level of acidity making it a perfect pairing pa...
Feb 08, 2019•44 min•Ep. 153
This week we are talking about Côtes du Rhône white wines and the Grenache Blanc grape. In the cold weather months we tend to focus on lots of full bodied red wines and sometime we needs a break from the reds. We love white wines and winter is the perfect time to talk about medium to full bodied whites which is why we are talking about whites from Côtes du Rhône. Check out episode 31 and episode 44 to learn more about Côtes du Rhône and for more great wine recommendations. Wine Recommendations D...
Feb 01, 2019•14 min•Ep. 152
This week we are talking about Super Tuscan wine. Super Tuscans come from as the name suggests, the Tuscany region of Italy which is located in central Italy. “Super Tuscan” is a term used to describe red wines from Tuscany that may include the use of non-indigenous grapes, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Wine Recommendations Tenuta Monteti Caburnio 2010 - priced around $21. 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Alicante Bouschet, 15 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc, 5 % Petit Verdot Nose:...
Jan 25, 2019•10 min•Ep. 151
It's time for another Wine in the News episode. Below are the news articles we feature in this episode. A new study shows that wine experts differ by geographic region Public Release from Concordia University, January 14, 2019 Organic Grape Growing Harms Vineyard Soil, Says A Consumer Advocacy Group by Thomas Pellechia, January 6, 2019 Somm Cheat Probe Going Nowhere By Liza B. Zimmerman on December 5, 2018 A New Era for U.S. Wine-Labeling Laws by Katherine Cole, November 26th, 2018...
Jan 18, 2019•30 min•Ep. 150
This week we are talking about the region of Puglia in Italy and wine from this area from the San Marzano cooperative. Puglia is a long, thin wine region in the far southeastern corner of the 'boot' of Italy. Wine Recommendations - We have four wine that were sent to us from the San Marzano Cooperative. Although these wines were given to us as samples we only give our honest opinions and talk about wine we enjoyed enough to purchase ourselves. Il Pumo Primitivo Salento I.G.P. - priced around $9....
Jan 11, 2019•13 min•Ep. 149
This week's episode, Betty interviews Jim Laughren, CWE to talk about his book; 50 Ways to Love Wine More: Adventures in Wine Appreciation . I had a chance to read Jim's book before we talked and really enjoyed it. I've been studying wine for the last couple of years and I found this book to be entertaining and informative. Also, I think this would make a great gift for someone who is just starting their wine journey. Check out Jim's website to learn more and download a free aromas wheel! You ca...
Jan 04, 2019•27 min•Ep. 148
This week we are talking about the Limoux wine region which is a part of the larger Languedoc region in southwestern France. It’s a pretty small region with only about 20,000 acres of vines and has four AOC désignations: three for sparkling wine and one for still wines. Wine Recommendations Saint-Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux Brut - priced around $14. Nose: Minerality, golden apple, hint of bready quality Dry, med+ acidity Flavors: lemon, golden apple, white flowers, hint of bread Clean, crisp, a...
Dec 28, 2018•16 min•Ep. 147
It’s time for another four wine episode! Since the holidays are right around the corner, this episode is all about sparkling wine. We are no stranger to talking about sparkling wine on the show. Sparkling wine pairs well with many different types of food so it’s the perfect wine for bring to a holiday get together. We had a sparkling wine episodes last holiday season. Wine Recommendations Paringa Sparkling Shiraz 2013 - priced around $16. It’s a dark ruby red sparkling wine Nose of dark fruit, b...
Dec 21, 2018•11 min•Ep. 146
This week we are talking about orange wine. Orange wine is made all over the world so we are going to no focus on a specific grape or region but on how it’s made, where it got its start, what to expect and some tasty recommendations. Wine Recommendations Clos Saron Carte Blanche 2016 - priced around $35. Blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and Semillon Nose of stonefruit and herbs Dry with medium - body, medium + acidity, and medium - tannins and flavors of dried herbs, jasmine, and t...
Dec 14, 2018•11 min•Ep. 145
The Canary Islands is a collection of islands and an autonomous community of Spain in the North Atlantic Ocean. It’s located 70 miles off the west coast of Morocco making it the most tropical wine region in Europe. This week we learn a little more about this wine region and talk about some unique wines from the Islands. Wine Recommendations Viñátigo Gual 2013 - priced around $30. White wine from 100% Gual grape or also know as Malvasia Fina Deep golden color wine with strong aromas of wet rock, ...
Dec 07, 2018•13 min•Ep. 144
This week we are talking about the small French wine region of Jura, located between Burgundy and Switzerland. Wine Recommendations Benedicte et Stephane TISSOT NV - priced around $35. White Wine with a nose of bread, green apple and golden pear It’s dry with medium plus acidity and flavors very similar to aromas - green apples, golden pear but more yeast flavors than bread It’s what I want and expect from a Cremant - clean, crisp and fruity. Great food wine, cleansing your palate in between eac...
Nov 30, 2018•13 min•Ep. 143
