The Wine Situation - podcast cover

The Wine Situation

Ellen Clifford
The Wine Situation is a show where host Ellen Clifford is here for you, whether you want to be the friend at dinner everyone trusts to pick a bottle, or just want a virtual drinking buddy. Every episode she cracks a bottle teaches you something new! No matter what your wine situation is--Elle Clifford is here to help!
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Episodes

Wine Solo

It’s week two of the solo pod and woooo-eeee is Ellen happy to have you listen because she is still so very alone. In this episode there is another game of WhoWhatWhenWhereWhyWine with a small twist at the “When”. There’s a wine story, a reminder to take part in the poll on Instagram, and of course, a nice drunk dial with fellow wine writer Carrie Dykes. On tap is Jules Taylor OTQ Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé and my but it’s a sexy pull. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Mar 31, 202046 min

The Solo Season

It really is a new time but Ellen is here to entertain you. Alone. Until she drunk dials someone. But she has decided it is literally her season and...she has a ton of fun planned. The beverage accompanying this episode is 2016 J Vineyards Canfield Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and YAS please join in. The segments this week include the the new WhoWhatWhenWhereWhyWine game—listen for clues throughout the episode! A poll: what are you stocking for end times? And the (hopefully every wee...

Mar 24, 202040 min

Punam Patel & Exploring Wines!

This week Ellen is joined by Punam Patel, an Emmy nominated actor for her work in “Special”! First, Ellen and David give their hip sip tip: Ellen has been enjoying Tasmanian Pinot Noir and David is loving Malbec from Mendoza. Next everyone gets into this week’s wine: Barbolini “Lancellotto” Lambrusco di Grasparossa di Castelvetro! It’s a dry bubbly red from Italy and everyone agrees, a total winner. From their the conversation goes all over the map. Punam loves to travel for food and she has had...

Feb 04, 20201 hr 3 min

Ronnie Pessin & Cronut Wines!

This week Ellen sits down with pastry guru Ronnie Pessin, who has presided over Republique and currently manages a restaurant by Dominique Ansel, aka the man who invented the Cronut! She brought back up (sensible seeing as she and Ellen met in an uber) in the form of Candace Rubens, who weighs in with her own hospitality expertise. First, David and Ellen make their 2020 wine resolutions. Ellen is going to pay more attention to vintages and David is going to actually drink the wine he has at home...

Jan 21, 20201 hr

Dana Farner & Learning Wines

The episode kicks off with hip sip tips! Ellen has been getting into aged sparkling wine—a 2004 bottle of Roederer Estates l’Ermitage recently took her fancy! David, meanwhile has come to embrace the greatness of pineapple, particularly in the kombucha he makes. The guest is Dana Farner, who works for Massanois, an importer/distributor and carries an advanced sommelier pin! She brought two sparkling rosé wines—one a dry Lambrusco and the other from the Marché made of the Lacrima grape. The conve...

Dec 03, 20191 hr 2 min

Caroline Liem & Wines!

Ellen goes it solo today—but with David Zwick’s help! She reviews what people buy when they want to splurge. Burgundy and Champagne are big! Next they welcome casting director and acting coach extraordinaire Caroline Liem! She’s a vegan so they are drinking a bottle of Gothic Winery’s “Maelstrom” Pinot Noir. They cheers to Caroline’s new acting studio The Village! They talk about being vegan versus vegetarian and how that works for them. To wit, Caroline prepared an amazing vegan cheese plate an...

Oct 08, 20191 hr

Adam Roberts and Therapeutic Wines!

Episode 3.3 starts with a hip hip hurray because it’s hip sip tip from the team. It took him some time but Shaughn is coming around to carbonic maceration reds! Ellen, meanwhile is enjoying Palo Cortado sherry. Then, they welcome Adam Roberts, author of the Amateur Gourmet blog and host of the Lunch Therapy to the podcast! Shaughn and Ellen both agree the Amateur Gourmet Instagram is a favorite. Adam’s wine situation started with getting to judge a wine writing contest for the James Beard awards...

Sep 10, 201958 min

J Ryan Stradal and Not-Lager Wines!

Episode two of season 3 kicks off with a high five and a hearty welcome to J Ryan Stradal, author of "Kitchens of the Great Midwest" and "The Lager Queen Of Minnesota". Shaughn and Ellen have an assignment for you: What's your splurge wine? We are up for the Barolo and Burgundy but we wanna hear more or...which producers? And the timer is on for producer David Zwick to chime in as much as possible. Everyone starts off by taking J Ryan off-brand from his latest book with a rosato from Spain! Then...

Aug 27, 20191 hr 5 min

Prairie Rose and Cocktail Wines

Welcome to season three! Shaughn and Ellen decide that if their spin-off podcast (#sola) was on season three they should be too! They kick off the pod with a Grape of Thrones, which they need a new name for. Grape of the Week? This week it’s Semillon! Their guest this week is Prairie Rosé, author/host of the Bit by a Fox blog and podcast! They crack open a Mondeuse by Domaine d’Idylle, a chillable red from Savoie. Prairie specializes in cocktails but she actually got her start in the wine world—...

Aug 13, 20191 hr 9 min

Jim Clarke & South African Wine!

A slightly loopy Ellen and Shaughn kick the episode off with the replies they got from their “what’s your pool party wine?” question. They got some good responses! They then welcome Jim Clarke, representative of Wines of South Africa and wine writer at large to the show. He pours them a bottle of Treinspoor from Swartland made of a grape traditionally used in Port: Tinta Barroca! They then get into Jim’s situation. He started in music, and even used it to take wine notes at one point. What wine ...

Jun 04, 20191 hr 3 min

The Wine Situation: Boyfriend Edition

For the 69th episode of the show, Shaughn and Ellen welcome their boyfriends: Preston A. Wilson and Brennen Hernandez! But first the hip sip tip! Ellen is recommending mixing up a Vieux Carré. Shaughn has been drinking Hendricks gin—his martini has just a whisper of vermouth. They crack open a bottle of Sancerre rosé and introduce the world to their significant others. Brennen is a writer who is absorbing wine knowledge by osmosis, whereas Preston is a sommelier running a wine program. They get ...

May 14, 20191 hr 14 min

Coly Den Haan & Wines by Women!

This week Shaughn and Ellen are joined by Coly Den Haan, owner of wine shop Vinovore, where all the wines are made by women! But first they reveal the Grape of Thrones. This week it’s Vermentino, aka Favorita, aka Pigato, aka Rolle...it’s delicious! Coly Den Haan brought them a gem from her shop, a Petillant Naturel made by Margins Wine. It takes a little while to open without spilling but in the meantime Coly tells them the tale behind her journey to store ownership. It all started with bartend...

Apr 30, 201957 min

Family Catch Up and Very Special Wines!

It’s a very special family catch-up episode! Shaughn, Ellen and David are catching up on their busy busy year while taking down a bottle of Furmint...then later a surprise guest shows up and they crack open a second bottle. But first! They have new wine homework: what’s your pool party wine of choice? Shaughn wants a chilled Gamay or rosé while Ellen is contemplating cans. David has a sangria-mojito hybrid recipe they are all craving. Ellen catches everyone up on her writing and studying shenani...

Apr 15, 20191 hr 5 min

Cristie Norman & Take Two Wines!

She’s back! Cristie Norman, sommelier at Spago and creator of the Online Wine Course is back to wine without whining! Also returning is Grape of Thrones and Grapes of Thrones. This week is a Nebbiolo! Learn all about this fickle Italian variety. Cristie jumps in the conversation to talk about running a blind tasting group and her marvelous team at Spago. And then they discuss Wolfgang Puck’s very interesting snack... Plus all the details about her upcoming class! It’s all online and will be avai...

Apr 02, 20191 hr 3 min

Alain Jeu and Truly French Wines!

This week the pod comes to you from the French onion soup scented air of Oriel, their guest Alain Jeu’s restaurant in Chinatown. Before jumping into the interview Shaughn and Ellen read the results of their first boozey homework assignment. Find out what bizarre drinks the other listeners are drinking! Alain’s wine situation starts very differently, and much later than many. He rebelled by not drinking which worked in his favor when dating the ladies: parents loved him. He started drinking not u...

Mar 19, 20191 hr 1 min

Candy Washington and Powerful Wines!

There's booze homework this week! Shaughn and Ellen want to know what the weirdest/most obscure thing you've ever had to drink. Tag us on instagram @thewinesituation or email what it was to winesituation@gmail.com! This week Candy Washington (Sugar Pills) joins Shaughn and Ellen to share some spirit fingers, day-drink a nice Schiava, talk about seizing the day and kicking ass! Candy recalls her first wine being a Pinot Grigio but is digging a buttery Chard these days. She also shares her vodka c...

Feb 19, 201956 min

Andrew Ti and Enlightened Wines!

This week Shaughn and Ellen welcome Andrew Ti of the "Yo, Is This Racist?" podcast! First they tackle the Grape of Thrones: Gruner Veltliner. Learn all about this Austrian grape. Andrew recalls that his first wine was probably a wine his friends stole from their parents—and was probably pretty good! He didn’t drink so much in high school though. These days he likes a beer, or a light white or rosé wine. Or whiskey and weed. They get deep with a discussion of tiki culture and just how racist it i...

Feb 05, 20191 hr 11 min

David DeLuca and California Wine!

It’s the first podcast of the year and Shaughn and Ellen are starting with some wine resolutions! Shaughn resolves to drink more mead and Ellen is going to drink more Chenin Blanc. They record the episode from the LA Wine Bar, owned by their guest David DeLuca. David also tastes them on the wines he makes. He aims to show people all the different terroir of California wine. He talks about how working in a wine shop in New York and a Ridge Montebello first entranced him, leading to working harves...

Jan 22, 201951 min

Richard Hill Parks III & the Best Wine Podcast Episode Ever!

It's the last and best episode of the year! Shaughn and Ellen kick it off with their latest hip sip tips. Shaughn has been enjoying TJ’s Newton’s Aged cider, and Ellen is shaking up New York Sour cocktails. They then welcome Richard Hill Parks III (host of Richard's Famous Food Podcast, co-author of Guerrilla Tacos) to the show. Ellen first met Richard at the RAW Fair, so they drink a wine that was served there: 2017 Isabelle and Bruno Perraud Saint-Amour, a cru Beaujolais. They quickly get into...

Dec 18, 20181 hr 3 min

Domaine Anderson & Wine Making Wine!

This week Shaughn and Ellen welcome Darrin Low, the winemaker behind Domaine Anderson to learn his situation with wine and taste his wines! Waiting for Darrin to arrive they contemplate sabering Champagne and how they are someday going to lose their saber virginity. Once Darrin arrives they dive into a bevy of beverages beginning with the 2011 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut. Cheers-ing out of the way, Darrin talks about growing up in a family with a wine shop in wine country, working harvest an...

Dec 04, 20181 hr 9 min

Diana Dinerman & Detour Wine!

Diana Dinerman (comedian, writer) joins Shaughn and Ellen to get into her journey from dance to writer to comedian and all the wine that came along the way. The hip sip tip from Shaughn is bottle-fermented Glera from McLaren Vale! Ellen's is Grappa...or is it? The group cracks open a bottle of Chilean Cinsault called GLUP! An unusual style to see out of the Valle de Itata. Diana got a solid foundation in wine when she was living in Alsace. She went on to discover Grenache Blanc once back in the ...

Nov 20, 20181 hr 1 min

Carl Tart and White (Women) Wines!

This week Carl Tart (Brooklyn 99, White Women, UCB Comedy) joins the pod to talk about his journey from Carlo Rossi to holding winedown evenings at Covell. First, Shaughn and Ellen tackle a mailbag question about how to try a lot of wine affordably! Carl was in the mood for rosé so they crack open a Sangiovese rosé from La Spinetta, the perfect thing for 85 degree autumn days, and an example of why they all love Bar Covell. They also talk baking, wine pairing and why they all need to lick more r...

Nov 06, 201857 min

Matthew Kaner & Restauranteur Wines!

This week Shaughn and Ellen are recording at Good Measure, just one of the many restaurants owned by Matthew Kaner! Before getting into this Los Angeles wine icons' situation they discuss the Grape of Thrones: Xinomavro. Its a Greek grape that Ellen needs to try and Shaughn can endorse. They then dig into how Matthew's love of wine led to Covell, Augustine, Good Measure, his own wine line (AM/FM) and more. To keep the conversation flowing they crack open the 2017 Dragonette Happy Canyon Rosé. Be...

Oct 16, 201859 min

Stu the Wine Guru and Skype-ing Wines!

We got online to talk to fellow podcaster Stu the Wine Guru! Before dialing him up we go through the week's hip sip tip: Ellen is loving a Highlands Scotch: Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or and Shaughn is getting into Cremant de Jura! Listen into our episode with Karl Hess if you want to hear us tasting one in action. Once we connect we get into Stu's life in wine and we answer some Instagram questions from 7Springswine and Bexster319. Tune in if you wanna know some underwear and baseball facts. Super i...

Oct 02, 20181 hr 1 min

Episode 2.5 with David Zwick and Winston Carter!

Ellen and Shaughn are broadcasting from the quarters of David Zwick and Winston Carter aka the guys behind the Try It You'll Like It podcast! Before welcoming their guests they tackle a mailbag question about orange wine aka skin contact wine. They explain it and unpack the name. Ellen suggests it rebrand as touché blanc. Shaughn's vote is to call it rust. They then crack open an unusual wine from San Benito: Harrington Siletto Vineyard Corvina! It is a red...or is it a rosé? It is an unusual gr...

Sep 18, 20181 hr 6 min

Scheherezade Daftery and Cooking Up Wine!

Scheherezade Daftery, writer/owner of The Delightful Table blog and cooking school joins Shaughn and Ellen to get into her food and wine situation! But first, the Grape of Thrones is Riesling. Don't turn it down because you "don't like sweet wine". Because a) there are a lot of good sweet wines and b) Riesling is not always sweet! Shaughn and Ellen brought Scheherezade the 2015 Alvaro Palacios Priorat 'Les Terrasses' Laderas de Pizarra in homage to Scheherezade's Spanish heritage! Her heritage i...

Sep 04, 20181 hr

Morgan Fox and Sacred Wines!

Live from Shaughn's living room! Mixups at UCB led to a home-brewed podcast. This week Shaughn and Ellen welcome Morgan Fox who reps wines from Mosaic and Sacred Thirst. But first Shaughn's hip sip tip is Italian rosé! There is light rosé beyond Provence! Ellen's hip sip tip is about where to find good natural wine--look to producers from Burgundy--they've been making great wines for centuries and know that good wine just happens to be organic and/or biodynamic. Do your producer research! Morgan...

Aug 21, 201852 min

The Wine Situation Ep. 2.1 with Elena Martinez!

Welcome to the first of our winemaker episodes! This week Elena Martinez of TOP Winery joins Shaughn and Ellen to share the wine she and her husband Stanley Barrios make in Paso Robles. Before getting into her wine, its the return of Grape of Thrones! This week it is Blaufrankisch. Learn about this grape that excels in Austria. Elena kicks the drinking off with their 2015 Syrah, "Exert". It is ever so juicilicious, as is the story of how Elena and Stanley got started in wine. It was a major swit...

Aug 07, 201851 min

The Wine Situation with Farley Elliott!

It's season 2--now with more wine! Shaughn and Ellen are back for wine wins, and no more whines! Ellen's Hip Sip Tip is the Penfolds "Grandfather" Tawny Fortified Wine. Shaughn's tip is Chenin Blanc from South Africa. This week's guest is Farley Elliott, editor of Eater LA! Shaughn and Ellen brought a skin-contact natural wine, since that is what Farley is getting into: 2015 Hatton-Daniels Malvasia Bianco from Contra Costa, California! The crew get into the ups and downs of being a food writer--...

Jul 24, 201853 min

Dustin Lancaster & Tardy Wines!

It's the year-end finale episode! The Whine Situation is headed to spring break in Cabo!! Foam parties!! But first Dustin Lancaster (owner of Bar Covell, Augustine, Hermosillo and more!) joins Shaughn and Ellen to whine about people who are chronically late. The Grape of Thrones is Mourvèdre, aka Mataro aka Monastrell. Get a bottle of Bandol (the place for classic Mourvedre) and give it a try! They pair Dustin's whine about tardiness with a wine that is from a region that was late to the party: ...

May 15, 20181 hr
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