The Podcast has been off for a month but we’re back with a guest who has worked for Bill Clinton, drank with John Kerry and has created what is the most unique wine club I have ever seen. Michael Evans, the CEO & Co-Founder of ‘The Vines’ is my guest on the ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast. His wine club allows you to travel to famous wine regions, purchase your own plots of land and work with top wine makers to make your own wine! We discuss all things Mendoza, ...
Aug 19, 2021•33 min•Ep. 104
On the latest podcast Matt is joined by Niagara region Black Bank Hill Winery vintner Taylor Emerson … in PERSON!! (Spaced out, both double vaxxed) Taylor has released his first vintage so we discuss how scared/excited he is, how he got into the wine world, the joy of single vineyard Niagara wines and making a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wine in Ontario.
Jul 19, 2021•53 min•Ep. 103
If you want to hear some harrowing wine tasting tales during wine competitions and for Master Somm exams this is the podcast for you! I’m joined by Master Sommelier Elyse Lambert on the Podcast. We chat about her damn impressive wine journey and her role with the Somm App.
Jun 27, 2021•29 min•Ep. 102
On Part 2 of the World Verdejo Day Special the Podcast is heading back to Rueda! I interview Celia García the CEO for Bodegas Pandora & the General Director for DO Rueda Santiago Mora Poveda.
Jun 11, 2021•59 min•Ep. 101
On Part 1 of the World Verdejo Day Special the Podcast is heading back to Rueda! I interview Directora General for Bodega Campo Elíseo winery Mathilde Bazin de Caix + Owner/CEO of Bodega Hermanos del Villar, Pablo del Villar.
Jun 11, 2021•55 min•Ep. 100
A whole lotta range with this super fun interview with wine writer and wine consultant Leah Spooner. You’ll learn about the wines of South Africa, Greece and why you need to grab more wine from Ontario. On the other side Matt and Leah chat about protecting wine glasses and the role social media plays with wine consumption.
Jun 03, 2021•41 min•Ep. 99
He is completing his 40th and final vintage, its winemaker David Sheppard from Flat Rock Cellars. David joins the podcast to discuss his 40 years in the business, the good & bad vintages, wine injuries and of course the joy that comes from being able to casually check the weather without fear.
May 20, 2021•39 min•Ep. 98
Corey Ladouceur, the General Manager at Essex Golf and Country Club is my guest on the latest episode. We discuss sneaking bottles of Savennières on golf course wine lists, what bottled got him hooked and the differences between running a wine program for a high end restaurant versus a golf country club.
May 10, 2021•42 min•Ep. 97
On the latest Pod Matt is joined by Joshua Corea, one of the owners of Archive Wine Bar. This is an in depth look at what it means to run a 40+ by the glass wine bar and what the last year has meant for the hospitality industry.
Apr 27, 2021•39 min•Ep. 96
My interview with one of the true pioneers of California wine, Bonny Doon Vineyard founder and winemaker Randall Grahm. This interview is packed!!! More important: The expression of the terroir vs. the grape? Eating a Filet-O- Fish with Jancis Robinson Failed Pinot Noir Not getting the “Oprah Bounce” Posing as a Rhone Ranger for Wine Spectator Throwing a funeral for cork
Apr 12, 2021•42 min•Ep. 95
On the latest Podcast Sommelier and wine educator Krystina Roman joins me for her second interview. We look at the state of the restaurant/hospitality industry one year into COVID, why we hate the word “pivot” but can’t help using it and why you should not ask your server to take off their mask.
Mar 27, 2021•47 min•Ep. 94
You want an interesting journey into wine, consider Drew Bledsoe! He went from Pro Bowl quarterback to making killer Cabernet and Syrah in Walla Walla. We discuss him finding his second act in life after football, making wine in Washington and what the 1961 Giacomo Conterno tastes like.
Mar 13, 2021•42 min•Ep. 93
Is 2020 the greatest vintage in Niagara in over 25 years? Wine writer and Wine Journalist of the Year award winner Rick VanSickle believes it may be the vintage of the century. The publisher of winesinniagara.com is my guest on the latest podcast.
Mar 02, 2021•38 min•Ep. 92
Comedian Matt O’Brien joins Matt to talk about his video wine series, $3.99 wine, reactions from wineries and whether or not he finishes the truly terrible bottles of wine he reviews.
Feb 16, 2021•42 min•Ep. 91
The wine podcast goes digital with Jennifer Tkachuk-Tremblay, Founder and CEO of Somm, an app that helps consumers pick the right wine for the right occasion.
Feb 02, 2021•37 min•Ep. 90
You know when the term “award winning” is thrown around & it’s totally bogus? Well not this time! I have 2-Time Canada’s Best Sommelier award winner & the first woman to make the podium at the World’s Best Sommelier competition, coming in 2nd place in 2013. Véronique Rivest is my latest guest!!!
Jan 17, 2021•44 min•Ep. 89
The final Wine Podcast for 2020 with Super Wine Girl Angela Aiello! Angela was one of the first teachers I ever had way back in 2006 with iYellow Wine Club.
Dec 30, 2020•39 min•Ep. 88
On my latest wine pod I’m joined by the owner of America’s oldest wine club, Paul Kalemkiarian. Paul goes through 75 wines every Tuesday & has tasted over 100,000 wines during his career.
Dec 15, 2020•44 min•Ep. 87
On the latest Podcast Matt is joined by Frank Ihrig, the chef/owner of Hessenland County Inn. His winery, Schatz, near the shores of Lake Huron, is home to some of Ontario’s most vibrant cool climate grape varieties. This interview is a fascinating look into wine making in one of Ontario’s newest wine regions.
Dec 03, 2020•43 min•Ep. 86
On the latest Podcast Michael Bracegirdle returns for his second interview. Last time we spoke he was the GM for L’Unita, an upscale restaurant in Yorkville. Now he’s running one of the best BBQ joints in Toronto, Cherry Street Bar-B-Que. We discuss his transition and what it’s like trying to run a restaurant in Toronto in this time of COVID-19. Also wine pairings with BBQ!
Nov 24, 2020•26 min•Ep. 85
Everything you wanted to know about wine auctions and how they are providing a huge boost for charities! Lotta fun here with Iron Gate Wine President Warren Porter
Nov 24, 2020•37 min•Ep. 84
On the 'Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People Podcast' I'm joined by Charlotte Big Canoe from The Full Plate. (thefullplate.ca) They're a non-profit organization who provides essential services for people in the service industry. We discuss a different way of looking at wine by examining the relationship between the land and the indigenous history behind the terroir. Also: “If the server says ‘Do you want to hear the specials’ just say yes.” That & other tips.
Nov 07, 2020•54 min•Ep. 83
I may have a new candidate for guest with the busiest schedule. When Theodora Lee (aka Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards) is not working as a trial lawyer she is making wine for her winery, Theopolis Vineyards located in Anderson Valley. Theo is my guest as chat about her unique journey into wine, Robert Parker and all things Petite Sirah.
Oct 17, 2020•46 min•Ep. 82
On the latest podcast I interview wine writer, educator and the founder of Black Wine Professionals Julia Coney. This is a wide ranging interview from Champagne pairings, helping wine professionals of colour gain the access they deserve, her wine epiphany moments and the crazy growth of her site Black Wine Professionals.
Oct 07, 2020•41 min•Ep. 81
On the latest episode Matt is joined by former NHLer (LA Kings) and now the owner of Patine Cellars Jim Fox. Between broadcasting Kings games Jim makes some killer single vineyards Pinot Noir. Jim’s passion for wine is so wildly apparent and his journey into pro hockey player to winery owner is such a cool story.
Sep 23, 2020•47 min•Ep. 80
Matt is back in Rueda spreading the good word about all things Verdejo. In this episode Matt speaks with three different export managers from three different wineries. Luis Eduardo García (Bodega Emina), Jorge Herreras (Bodega Reina de Castilla) and Loren Gill (Bodegas Shaya) share their stories.
Sep 13, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 79
He was a Sommelier at The French Laundry, won the Best Young Sommelier in America competition and makes killer wine. My interview with the wildly talented/accomplished winemaker André Hueston Mack is my latest guest on the ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast. Wide range of topics from how the TV show ‘Frasier’ help turn him onto wine, breaking into the wine business and his wine philosophy.
Sep 02, 2020•44 min•Ep. 78
It’s the first returning guest to the Podcast, its Sommelier Heather McDougall from sipstoronto.com . Heather’s outlines a thoughtful/passionate approach to how restaurants can improve the lives of all those who work in the service industry. This is a really smart episode.
Aug 18, 2020•49 min•Ep. 77
On the latest Wine Pod I interview Ed Madronich, the president of Flat Rock Cellars. Ed is unapologetic about how good Ontario wine is, screw-caps & his desire to stick with Chardonnay, Riesling & Pinot Noir.
Aug 01, 2020•47 min•Ep. 76
On the latest Podcast Matt is back in the Côtes du Rhône with winemaker and owner Frédéric Lavau. His family history starting with his great grandfather Rene is fascinating one as are the stories about how drinking wine during cold winters in Ottawa played such a key role in his journey into wine. You’ll learn a bunch about the wines of Southern Rhone and hear all about a village level Côtes du Rhône with plenty of depth that goes for just $17!!
Jul 23, 2020•39 min•Ep. 75
