What does good/proper service look like at a restaurant? What does it mean to have a sustainable model at a restaurant where profit margins are so razor thin? I sit down with the Head Sommelier for Don Alfonso 1890, Nathan Hooper. He also goes into detail about being a finalist at the Best Ontario Sommelier Competition … and this was his FIRST wine competition!
Dec 31, 2022•49 min•Ep. 134
On the latest ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast I sit down with the winner of the most recent winner of the CAPS Best Ontario Sommelier Competition, Justin Madol. A fascinating look at just what is required to becoming a Master Somm (Justin is so close!) and all the work leading up to such a fierce wine competition.
Dec 23, 2022•43 min•Ep. 133
The ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast is finally heading to Okanagan! From premium underwear to high end Riesling and Chardonnay Ria Kitsch and her husband have already blazed an impressive entrepreneurial trail. Had a blast sitting down with Ria Kitsch the Founder/Co-Owner of Kitsch Winery. Her line of Riesling’s are all stunners. What an impressive boutique winery in the heart of the Okanagan.
Dec 09, 2022•31 min•Ep. 132
You wanna hear a cool story? Over a decade ago winemaker Josep d'Anguera and his brother decided to overhaul the winemaking philosophy at Cellar Joan d'Anguera, their families famed vineyard. The wines were ALREADY successful and wildly popular, but the brothers wanted to make a radical transformation. So, what happened and why?
Nov 30, 2022•44 min•Ep. 131
For the first time EVER … A wine podcast will talk about the joy of Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch & St Laurent and NOT come across as 100% wine hipster! Yeah, I know people will drop their love of these Austrian wines for street cred at the local cool person wine party, but I swear this Pod is just about how I discovered these fantastic red wines of Austria. My interview is with Wolfgang Hamm, the winery director for Stift Klosterneuburg, the oldest winery in Austria.
Nov 28, 2022•30 min•Ep. 130
My guest is Stephen Ranger, Canada’s foremost wine auctioneer, a Senior Advisor at Iron Gate Auctions and the owner of Ranger Wine. This podcast has everything! Encounters with Rudy Kurniawan How Stephen got into the wine auction world Okanagan wines A cameo from Stephen’s dog Teddy
Nov 09, 2022•52 min•Ep. 129
Isabelle Clendenen from Au Bon Climat joins the podcast to discuss her role within the winery, growing up in a wine family and the classic conversation about what makes for a proper Burgundian wine in California?
Oct 28, 2022•55 min•Ep. 128
It’s my final (for now!) South African podcast. I’m joined by the multi-award-winning winemaker and cellarmaster for Rustenberg Wine Estate, Murray Barlow. We discuss his journey into winemaking, the history of his family and Rustenberg and what exactly is the “style” of a bottle of wine from Rustenberg?
Oct 12, 2022•35 min•Ep. 127
The Podcast is back in style with James Peden, director of operations for Liberty Entertainment Group and one of the leaders of the Michelin Star awarded restaurant, Don Alfonso: 1890. Really cool conversation about the hospitality industry, what leads to a Michelin Star and how James went from being in the military to running some of the most high-profile restaurants in Toronto
Sep 23, 2022•47 min•Ep. 126
The final ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast interview from the German wine region of Mosel is with oh so impressive Nik Weis, the winemaker and owner of St Urbans-Hof Nik Weis. A wide-ranging interview from the impact the Second World War had on the local wine industry to “the Margarita effect” that comes with a great off-dry Riesling. Speaking of great the people in my party (shout out to @winebottletravels) were practically swooning over the lineup of wines we were ...
Aug 09, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 125
The podcast goes back to Mosel, Germany with Axel Pauly, the winemaker and owner of Weingut Axel Pauly. Axel has gone from “rising star” in Mosel to just “star” as his portfolio of Rieslings and Pinot Blanc were damn impressive from bone dry to off-dry to everything in between. Conversation spans from the hardships that comes from making wine in this region of the world (Shoes melting!!!!), how the accidental production of “Rose” between Axel and his father would soon lead to his transition as h...
Jul 26, 2022•43 min•Ep. 124
The ‘Matt Talks Wine and Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast is back in South Africa! This time with Dawie Botha, the Head Winemaker for Anthonij Rupert Wyne in beautiful Stellenbosch.
Jul 10, 2022•32 min•Ep. 123
Had an epic afternoon with Matt Giedraitis, the Export Director for Dr. Loosen. The ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast continues its tour in the German wine region of Mosel. This podcast is a great one for people who want to dip their toes into what Riesling in the land it came from. Think of it as a Coles Notes lesson into German wine led by the wildly energetic and passionate Matt Giedraitis. Our visit with Matt and Loosen really gave me a deeper understanding of thi...
Jun 25, 2022•59 min•Ep. 122
My guest is Stefan Pauly, the owner and winemaker for the iconic Dr. Pauly Bergweiler. I was a little intimidated right before meeting Stefan considering this was my first interview in the Mosel and the winery has been around since 1556. Those feelings were gone in five seconds as Stefan opened his doors with a big warm welcome and moments later brought out this crazy lineup of his wines including two that were over 40+ years old. If you still have those lingering fears that German Riesling is j...
Jun 15, 2022•58 min•Ep. 121
Matt gives a brief summary of his trip to Germany, the people he interviewed and a shameful admission. Wine Hot Take: Mosel over Mimosa’s at brunch Wine Hot Take: Grosses Gewächs over Premier Cru Burgundy
Jun 15, 2022•23 min•Ep. 120
The podcast is back in Niagara with a winery I’m shocked it took me so long to discover. I’m joined by Kevin Panagapka, winemaker, and co-founder of 2027 Cellars. A true boutique winery Kevin’s portfolio has no weak links just high-end wine making. We chat about what led to Kevin and his wife Jodie’s decision to start up their own winery back in 2007. Kevin shares a funny story about the biggest winemaking mistake he has ever made and yes there is a couple minutes of Hot Oak Talk (HOT)....
May 15, 2022•45 min•Ep. 119
Moving from Niagara to back to South Africa for the latest podcast. In this edition I interview the head winemaker for Spier Winery, Johan Jordann. Beyond talking about his journey to making wine in Stellenbosch we get just how important charity, giving back and making a real difference into the community is to Spier. Some companies attempt to do good for the positive press, some dip their toe into altruistic endeavours but the lengths this company goes to is quite remarkable. A great conversati...
May 04, 2022•35 min•Ep. 118
Trust me when I tell ya you’re going to love my interview with winemaker (Domaine Queylus & Mason Vineyard) Kelly Mason. I ask her what she loves the most and hates the most about Pinot Noir, her answer is hilarious and would not be allowed on terrestrial radio. Kelly is one of the most talented winemakers in Ontario … she has a cult following! Also, the wines of Domaine Queylus should dispel the idea that paying $40 for a bottle of Ontario wine is too much. These are wildly high-quality win...
Apr 27, 2022•54 min•Ep. 117
The Podcast is back after a min hiatus! I sat down with the Head Winemaker for Kacaba Vineyards, Vadim Chelekhov. For my money Vadim makes Ontario’s best Syrah. We chat about his journey as a four-year-old child in Kazakhstan nosing his way through Icewine to switching from a life in medicine to wine to the pressures that come at harvest. Also, a hilarious story about trying to buy wine at the age of 14 from the LCBO. Bonus: Podcast is in person!!
Apr 13, 2022•43 min•Ep. 116
Part II of my Kanonkop Wine Estate podcast! This time with the person who does just about everything for Kanonkop beyond crushing the grapes, Heidi Kritzinger. We talk about kicking ass in World Tasting Championships, the joy of Pinotage and changing the narrative of the global perception of South African wine.
Mar 20, 2022•39 min•Ep. 115
It’s a Kanonkop Wine Estate two-pack this week on the ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast! First up is iconic winemaker for Kanonkop, Abrie Beeslaar.
Mar 14, 2022•35 min•Ep. 114
On the latest ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast I’m joined by wine consultant, educator and entrepreneur. Love Beverly’s goal of brining the joy of wine to under-represented communities. We discuss her work in this area, pairing wine with Caribbean food and can chocolate go with wine? Tons of range in our conversation from racism in the wine industry to eavesdropping on people shopping at the LCBO.
Mar 08, 2022•43 min•Ep. 113
The Podcast is heading to Alsace to chat with the head winemaker for Pierre Sparr, Corinne Perez! We discuss how she fell in love with wine, the joy of Gewurztraminer and the pros and cons of the Ka-Billion rules that surround making wine in France. A great look into the wines of Alsace.
Feb 18, 2022•30 min•Ep. 112
On the latest episode Matt is joined by the wildly impressive Rudger van Vyk, the winemaker for Stark-Conde in Stellenbosch South Africa. The man has more awards than Meryl Streep. We discuss his journey from dreaming to be a professional rugby player to running his own winery.
Feb 03, 2022•37 min•Ep. 111
One of the highlights of our trip to South Africa was an incredible lunch with South African wine legend Ken Forrester. In the middle of the chaos of trying to find a new route home this lunch was the perfect antidote to any travel stress. The theme of this trip was to expand my knowledge of South African wine and Ken certainly helped pouring a wide variety of wines including a 100% Roussanne and an assortment of Southern Rhone varietals. First time trying Grenache based wines from Stellenbosch!...
Jan 07, 2022•39 min•Ep. 110
The ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast is back! I spent two weeks in South Africa including four full days touring the gorgeous wine region of Stellenbosch. My first interview is with Nicolas Bureau the Chief Executive for Glenelly Wine Estate, We discuss his remarkable grandmother May-Eliane de Lencquesaing (She was the managing director for Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande for over 30 years) and her decision to start making wine in South Africa. Warning...
Dec 15, 2021•48 min•Ep. 109
Michael Juergens may just be the most interesting man in wine. He’s building from scratch vineyards in the Kingdom of Bhutan, dealing with monkeys in the vineyards and overcoming the trickiest supply chain issues you’ll ever come across!
Oct 29, 2021•49 min•Ep. 108
I go to the furthest corner of the globe for the latest ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with People’ Podcast episode with MS Cameron Douglas from New Zealand. My guest was not only the first individual from New Zealand to become a Master Sommelier but at the time he was the first person in the whole Southern Hemisphere to earn the highest distinction in the wine world. We discuss the Court of Master Sommeliers, the blessing/curse of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and highlight so many of the amazing w...
Oct 05, 2021•53 min•Ep. 107
On the ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast I’m joined with Founder & wine maker for Cloudsley Cellars (@cloudsleycellars) Adam Lowy! So great going to visit Adam and try all his single vineyard wines with the background for our tasting being the specific vineyards the grapes come from. We chat about his passion for all things Chardonnay & Pinot Noir, how hard is it to live up to their Mission Statement: “unmotivated by consumer trends” and how he went from selli...
Sep 15, 2021•52 min•Ep. 106
On the latest ‘Matt Talks Wine n& Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast it’s the triumphant return of “Virtual Winery Guy”/Winemaker André Proulx. A super fun time just shooting the shit about all things wine, his new Rosé and how walking through Wismer Vineyards can both tickle ya in all places and give you a religious experience. Can’t wait to try his Pinot!!!
Sep 04, 2021•58 min•Ep. 105
