Our 20th episode is dedicated to Blaufränkisch, the widely acknowledged "grape of the future", and its epicentre of production in the Federal State of Burgenland on the eastern edge of Austria. Barbaresco or Côte Rôtie? Chinon or Pommard? What does Blaufränkisch remind you of? We go straight to two of the world's greatest artists of the ancient grape to get the inside story: Roland Velich (Weingut Moric) and Uwe Schiefer. From his base in Mittleburgenland, casino croupier-turned winegrower Rolan...
Feb 06, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Think you know Austria's Weinviertel (the "Wine Quarter")? Our continuing journey down the Danube may yet surprise you. We look north of Vienna and the river to this vast DAC , Austria's largest, and first protected designation of origin established in 2002. DAC Weinviertel on the label means fragrant, fresh, oak-free, dry and peppery grüner veltliner, the region's signature. Reserve and Grosses Reserve categories were were introduced in 2009 to accommodate a growing number of more powerful vers...
Jan 29, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 19
The Wine Thieves begin their cruise along the Danube exploring Neiderösterreich (Lower Austria), pausing to marvel at the magnificent, steeply terraced vineyards of the Wachau, the variegated side valleys of the Kremstal, Kamptal and the Traisental, with a pampered pitstop in Langenlois before next week's hike into the Weinviertel. Sara loses John briefly to a reverie on loess, whose thick strata are the origins for the world's greatest grüner veltliner, but brings him back in time for a convers...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Content in grüner Austria, the Wine Thieves spend this week delving into biodynamic history and practices in a virtual encounter at Austria's oldest biodynamic winery and second oldest winery to be certified in the world. We speak to Nikolaus Saahs of the Nikolaihof winery in the Wachau whose winemaking legacy dates back 2,000 years in the village of Mautern on the southern side of the Danube. Nikolaus offers a frank, insider's perspective on new green certifications, what it means to lead a bio...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 17
The Wine Thieves launch 2021 on a highly positive note: "Green Austria”, the first in a mini-series on Austrian wines. This small country in the heart of Europe has quietly been green, and getting greener for over a century, showing the way towards more responsible, earth-friendly wine production. Austria registered the first organic farm in the world in 1927, and was the first country to create national organic farming regulations. And fully 15% of Austria’s vineyards are farmed organically, 3x...
Jan 15, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 16
The Wine Thieves speak with four women at the top of their game about how to taste. We invite Elsa Macdonald (Master of Wine), Elyse Lambert (Master Sommelier), Jennifer Huether (Master Sommelier) and Véronique Rivest (Canada's Best Sommelier and International Sommelier Champion) to a round table discussion about what matters most when blind tasting but first we talk about their illustrious careers, gruelling studies and becoming masters of their domaines. Spoiler: you'll find out that blind tas...
Dec 27, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 15
If these are not words that you often associate with Bordeaux and more importantly, Médoc then this next episode should prove perspective changing. It may be a region that is damp, affected by both maritime influences and that of the Gironde Estuary, but this is a welcome challenge to environmentally minded, innovative producers of the region. The greater region of Bordeaux is the heartland of the HVE government initiative that certifies sustainability and encourages organic production in France...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 14
In this second episode of our podcast series on Médoc, we take a look at the realities of a new cohort of proprietors in the Médoc. Protecting the future of the region requires reverence for what generations of the past have built. We consider what is being done differently now, pressures created by a rapidly changing global market and how the weight of a centuries-old legacy can affect one’s outlook. We aim to peel back the facades of the Châteaux and take a look at faces and families that are ...
Dec 10, 2020•56 min•Season 1Ep. 13
The Wine Thieves are happy to introduce a new series devoted to the wine region of Médoc beginning this week. This perspective changing three-part podcast investigates the region through the lens of a new generation of family-owned estates. Forward-thinking and with commitment to sustainable and organic production, we explore the new dynamism of the Médoc. We investigate the presence of women in wine in these historically steeped appellations and listen to perspectives on the future of Bordeaux....
Dec 02, 2020•53 min•Season 1Ep. 12
The Wine Thieves' bid a fond farewell to Provence with an in-depth look at the terroir and techniques that make the rosé of the region so distinctive. We visit the Centre du Rosé in Vidauban and speak to researchers Nathalie Pouzalgues and Matthias Bougreau. Their mission? To carry out high-level scientific research and experiments on rosé wine to better understand terroir, grape varieties and to achieve greater mastery of wine-making and conservation techniques. From thiols to terpenes, experim...
Nov 25, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 10
The Wine Thieves continue their journey through lavender fields and mysterious forests up in the heart of the Provence wine region known as the Coteaux Varois en Provence. In this episode they welcome Keith Murray of Murray Family Wines, owners of Chateau Routas located on 290 hectares between Aix-en-Provence and the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Saint Tropez. They also get a chance to speak Matthieu Barrère of Estandon Vineyards a brand which unites large cooperative unions that collectively wor...
Nov 17, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 9
The Wine Thieves make their way to the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence appellation and chat with winemaker Philippe Bru of Château Vignelaure about ageworthy rosé, the importance of altitude and evidence of 2,600 years of wine history in Provence. Take a virtual stroll through quintessential Provencal town of Aix-en-Provence while picturing the landscapes of Cezanne and Hemingway's favourite watering holes. We'll talk about cabernet-syrah blends, how to properly pair Bouillabaisse with wine and the im...
Nov 07, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 8
An iconic figure in the world of rosé globally but firmly rooted in Provence, Sacha Lichine, the creator of Whispering Angel, has a frank discussion with Wine Thieves John Szabo and Sara d'Amato about branding, rosé appeal and most importantly what makes Provence such a tour de force when it comes to this historically significant style.
Oct 29, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 7
John and Sara set sail on Provence, navigating the Mediterranean coastline, sampling rosé, structured reds and coveted white wines while speaking to some of the region's top producers. It may come as no surprise that it is continental France's sunniest region but did you know that Provence is the country's oldest wine region? Together we'll discover that rosé is not a new trend but a time-honored tradition and that the appellation is far more varied than most of us imagine. This first episode ta...
Oct 19, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 6
The Mâconnais is the most southerly terroir of the Bourgogne wine growing region. Sara and John survey the region from atop the Roche de Solutré and speak to Olivier Merlin of Domaine Merlin in the village of La Roche-Vineuse. This is the final podcast in this series on Bourgogne.
Oct 09, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Our second to last episode on Bourgogne, we present you with Côte Chalonnaise. We explore this natural extension of the Côte de Beaune that is often referred to as the cradle of Crémant de Bourgogne. Remi Marlin joins us in conversation direct from the of the Cave de Buxy to speak to us about the multitude of styles produced in this dynamic region.
Sep 29, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this second to last episode on the region of Bourgogne, John and Sara venture further south into the Côte Chalonnaise. This natural extension of the Côte de Beaune is often referred to as the cradle of Crémant de Bourgogne (and you know by now how they feel about Crémant!). Remi Marlin joins the conversation direct from the Cave de Buxy to speak about the multitude of styles produced in this dynamic region.
Aug 24, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 3
John and Sara continue their journey through the Grand Auxerrois region in northern Burgundy, this time, on its eastern edge where they meet up with Dominique Gruhier at the 12th century Abbaye du Petit Quincy in Épineuil. The episode concludes with John and Sara sharing a glass of wine and few laughs and well, more wine.
Jul 25, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 2
John and Sara continue their exploration of Burgundy's (sorry "Bourgogne"'s) lesser known gems as they wax poetic about heatless sunshine, variations in limestone and the nearly extinct grape variety of César. In this episode they welcome Magali Bernard of Domaine Clos du Roi from Coulange-la-Vineuse.
Jul 24, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Our inaugural episode! Tour the newly renamed Bourgogne and Mâcon PLUS appellations in search of top value in the revered region of Burgundy (we’ll re-train you to say “Bourgogne”) where the prices are historically steeper than the slopes. Master Sommelier John Szabo and Sara d’Amato speak to Jean-Pierre Renard of the Ecole des Vins de Bourgogne. Produced in partnership with Le Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB). For more information, please visit: https://www.bourgogne-wines...
Jul 03, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 1
