The women in wine movement is in full swing. The influx of women to the various enology schools throughout the world is prolific. But Susana Balbo had to forge her own way. Not only is Argentina a patriarchal society, the wine industry was that much more. It was a natural that Jose, her son, would enter into the family fray but he too needed to make his own mark. After attending UC Davis for viticulture and enology, he returned to Argentina to refine his craft. A short stint at another family ow...
Aug 23, 2022•55 min•Season 12Ep. 9
You should hear his reaction when I mentioned the tasting glass we use at the Wine of the Month Club! Riedel, The Wine Glass Company, is synergistic with fine wine and the proper glassware to enhance the experience. Wine is experiential and the glass matters. Listen to the passion of Maximilian Riedel, 11th generation glass maker and CEO of Riedel Glassware. The glass matters, and he will tell you why. It is fairly obvious to sense that drinking a fine wine from a plastic amber tumbler in a dine...
Aug 18, 2022•52 min•Season 12Ep. 8
The kind of story you only read about; when she started receiving more emails regarding her passion (wine) than her job, the clues were obvious: Quite your day job. Georgie Jenn taught me a new term; drink out of your comfort zone. I supposed one could take that as a quasi insult..."who is she to tell me what I am drinking" but in reality. it is great approach and descriptor of most wine drinking habits.: We drink what we know and are reluctant to try other things. It is so true. I see it everyd...
Aug 16, 2022•53 min•Season 12Ep. 7
You are going to be intrigued by her personality and wit. Meet Ryan Kemp of Adelaida Vineyards. Adelaida Vineyards is set a vineyard one might consider historical in Paso Robles. HMR was an early force in getting Paso on the radar and the Adelaida has proudly accepted the torch. It is no wonder they are gaining traction with the likes of Ryan Kemp in the winery. Once dreaming of coming to California to be in the film industry, Ryan quickly found her calling in wine. After working a harvest at Eb...
Aug 11, 2022•44 min•Season 12Ep. 8
Learn about the world of wine influencers; it is fascinating. Listen as we peel path this unusual path to the wine world with a stop in Chemical Engineering, soft drink sales and mechanical apparatus design. Georgia is eloquent and articulate as she walks us through her career and what lies ahead in this post pandemic world. I couldn't help but set myself on the shores of a Greek island as she describes her nurtured drive to be involved with wine and the lifestyle that it surrounds. Have a liste...
Aug 09, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 12Ep. 6
Obvious wines was founded on, well, some obvious principles. Selling and labeling wines by their character seems like an obvious idea...but it had not been done. Enter Brice Baillie, a native of Champagne, France with the idea to source great valued wines by the expressed character driven by the terroir. You have probably seen their wines on the shelf with names like "Dark and Bold" or " Light and Lively." An interesting take on a congested market, have a listen to Brice from Champagne....
Aug 05, 2022•43 min•Season 12Ep. 5
Though I was unaware of the sales milestone Chile's Concha y Toro winery attained, the conversation I had with winemaker Isabel Mitarakis was thoroughly fascinating. You will learn the extraordinary history of the famed winery and the path to becoming a winemaker for Ms. Mitarakis. Making wine all over the world including a stint in Bordeaux, Ms. Mitarakis goes back to her roots to make wine for the famed Don Melchor and Concha y Toro. Hear her humble opinion of the career and the winery. Salut....
Aug 02, 2022•58 min•Season 12Ep. 4
Buscado Vivo O Muerto makes serious wine in Argentina. You will learn the story direct from the ex-pats mouth! Jeff Mausbach fell in love with his now Argentine wife and ran back to Argentina and found his passion for wine. These are the most interesting wines I have tasted from Argentina in years. The "experiment" to literally plant and compare by elevation is fascinating. Each wine carries its own signature character based on the elevation as the vineyards head towards the base of the Andes. J...
Jul 28, 2022•55 min•Season 12Ep. 3
Rosé is the mainstay wine in the Cotes de Provence; more accurately on the Saint Tropez peninsula. I learned something new about Rosé and the crazy differences that can be derived from various vinification methods. Family owned and operated, the Matton-Farnet family produces 4 different versions of this sophisticated wine. Each with a different approach to winemaking and each with characteristics of its own. Listen as we tour the region of Provence and learn the differences between Provence and ...
Jul 26, 2022•46 min•Season 12Ep. 2
The grape of Austria if Gruner Veltliner. A noble white grape that can produce crisp sparkling wine and botrytis dessert wine and everything in-between. The primary growing region of this noble grape is Austria and it is grown around such famed locations as Vienna. I was fascinated to learn from Dieter Heubler the nuances of this fantastic grape and the refined wine it can make. Laurenz V is the winery just east of Vienna making approachable layered Gruner. Have a listen, he is quite compelling....
Jul 21, 2022•48 min•Season 12Ep. 1
Franz Leth tells us why Austrian wines deserve a seat at the table of world class wines. A family owned winery with generations of experience that continues to press the virtues of the Austrian noble grape; Gruner Veltliner. Gruner (as we call it in the trade) can produce wines of great variety and style. Much like Riesling, it can produce wines of great acidity and backbone, wines of elegance and finesse, sparkling wines and dessert wines. Come on an audio journey with Franz to the vineyards ou...
Jul 07, 2022•50 min•Season 11Ep. 19
Sicilian wines are a regular fascination of mine. Though a small island, the variety of terroir and grapes is vast and the indigenous grapes there are unique. When you taste the wines of Cantine Ermes, you are taken to the island. And that is the point, to provide and share wines that make you emote. to make you feel something, to just ask you to taste it again. I have been a fan of Cantine Ermes and often find myself ordering the wines off the menu at restaurants that carry them. New world vers...
Jul 05, 2022•45 min•Season 11Ep. 18
Why are wineries taken during the war? The Germans invaded France and held up in Bordeaux and other places. The Romans did the same. And in modern history, Azerbaijan did it to Armenia. History repeats itself. This is the second story we have heard on Wine Talks of the very taking of a winery in the region. This one is a bit different, it was taken by force rather than through political boundary changes. The Kaprelian family is resilient. They will not allow the spirit of their ancestors to be s...
Jun 28, 2022•35 min•Season 11Ep. 18
Lake County is an important part of the California wine legacy. Pietro Buttitta will teach you the nuances of the area and charm you with his character. A chef, winemaker and promoter, Pietro does what it takes to make premium wine in a premium wine district. Prima Materia Winery grows grapes and crafts wine with an Old World voice that celebrates uncommon vines and their unique histories here in California and abroad. The production is small, but the diversity is large, and all the wines respec...
Jun 21, 2022•50 min•Season 11Ep. 16
The wines of Sardinia have always fascinated me. The savory character from the Mediterranean Sea, the wild varietals and the neighboring islands all combine to create unusual wines of character that cannot be duplicated anywhere on earth. Antonella Mancini and Claudio Salvador, a husband and wife team, have combined their talents to bring to the US a line up of Sardinian wines that make you stop and think after each taste. The conversation takes many turns to stitch together an inspiring story o...
Jun 20, 2022•54 min•Season 11Ep. 15
Wine in itself represents history. And wine from the caucus states have had wine for 1000’s of years…and Bulgaria is no exception. I taste 100’s of wine each month and I went back to see how many Bulgarian wines I had tasted since I started using a database to keep track…..8 prior to these Rough Day versions. Roberto Hayk had a vision and a dream to bring a new world version of an old world place to America…and Rough Day wines are here! Such an interesting story and true thought and passion have...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr•Season 11Ep. 14
Learning about Burgundy wines feels like rocket science...but the more you hear from people like David Stephan who live it everyday, the more you begin to decipher the code. Having worked in New York for over 16 years, David has a unique perspective on wine in America and Burgundy France. Maison Louis Jadot is one of the great negociants of Burgundy wine and has also acquired Chateau along the way to make a balanced approach to representing wines of the region. M My personal fascination in the w...
Jun 09, 2022•48 min•Season 11Ep. 13
Understanding the wine of Sicily are not as complicated as Italian wines in general. They are fascinating non the same and my intrigue is always around the grapes most associated with Sicily; Cattarato, Inzolia, Nero d'avola, Grillo and my favorite Nerello Mascalese. In my opinion, the intrigue of Sicilian wines comes from two primary sources. The soil and the Mediterranean sea. The soils are diverse but the volcanic soil of Mount Etna adds such a complexity to the wines that they keep you askin...
Jun 07, 2022•47 min•Season 11Ep. 12
Wine is about the story. And this is one interesting story. In 1981, my father featured the 1977 Pio Cesare Dolcetto d'Alba. 41 years later, the great nephew of the founder visited with the current line-up from Pio Cesare...and did he get emotional when I presented him with an original copy of my fathers newsletter from 1980. These an other stories is what separates wine from all other beverages. It is like history in a glass that is waiting to be explored through the senses. Piemonte in the nor...
Jun 03, 2022•42 min•Season 11Ep. 11
The Albert Bichot winery in Beaune France dates back to the 13th Century. I would consider that a fair amount of experience in what one might consider the most coveted wine region in the world. Burgundy is complicated on the surface. It seems to require some semblance of the french language and certainly a resaonable understanding of the concept of terroir. But what does simplify it a bit, and the difference between Burgundy and Bordeaux is only one red grape is allowed to be grown there....Pino...
Jun 01, 2022•50 min•Season 11Ep. 10
Want to learn about Piemonte and the home of Nebbiolo? Pull up a chair and have a listen. Piemonte is in the top two appellations for wine production in Italy…naturally, there is Tuscany and its darling grape Sangiovese and then there is Piemonte. To me, Piemonte is bit more complicated than Tuscany, but the Piedmontese are just as proud and stubborn as the Tuscans. It has taken awhile for me to appreciate the complexities of Nebbiolo, particularly with the nuances of the appellations buried dee...
May 19, 2022•47 min•Season 11Ep. 9
You will learn that sometimes that who you know can help....like that is a stretch. I always tell my kids..."after what you know, it is who you know" and the reason I say that is evident in this podcast with Jamie Whetstone. As if coming from South Carolina to be in hospitality in the Napa Valley wasn't taking enough of a life risk, Jamie Whetstone found the lifestyle of wine so intriguing, he switched gears to venture into wine making. His latest venture is Fresh Vine wines....wines of celebrit...
May 18, 2022•47 min•Season 11Ep. 8
Virtually every response that Nicole gave during this podcast, taught me something. She is the human expression of the moment we all decide that we want to spend the rest of our lives pursuing the knowledge of wine. And I don't mean this to be a "wine geek" moment. The motivation to do what she does comes from passion and no matter what endeavors you take on in life, you can learn from this conversation. As she sat in cafe with a frenchman who was describing his dream to be in the wine business ...
May 12, 2022•56 min•Season 11Ep. 7
Learn from Ed. Ed Masciana is one of the great wine personalities in Los Angeles. Author of the book Shortcuts on Wine, lecturer, taster, winemaker and disrupter, Ed has worked in all aspects of this great industry. You will find satisfactorily annoying, truly entertaining, and mostly really knowledgeable about wine. When I was working in my fathers wine shop in the '70's, I met Ed as he was trying to sell my father space in the local newspaper. A novice to wine, Ed got the wine bug hanging out ...
May 10, 2022•53 min•Season 11Ep. 6
If you were to call a company in the San Luis Obispo area to drill and new water well or repair an old one, most likely you will call Doug Filliponi. A grass roots type of guy, Dougs experience drilling wells for all industries but particulary the wine industry, brought him to the love of the grape. Though still the lead well driller in SLO, Doug now not only speaks of his love of geology but his latest love of wine. Down to earth, wearing his cowboy hat, Doug and I laugh through the conversatio...
May 05, 2022•49 min•Season 11Ep. 5
I was interested to hear this story. Matt came to me through the regular channels and I had not tasted his wine until the podcast recording. And the more we spoke, the more I was intrigued. Matts parents thought the Pacific Northwest was the place to be. They moved to Walla Walla to venture into a new path of their life. At the time Matt was interested in golf and set out find a job in the industry near Walla Walla. He landed work at the local country club and through a unusual set of circumstan...
May 03, 2022•40 min•Season 11Ep. 4
Vingo Verde is one of the hottest wine categories in America right now. The quality coming from this important region of Portugal is creating consumer awareness of this slightly bubbly wine. The wine regions of Portugal are plenty and anchored by the infamous Port wines. Most American consumers are not aware of the plethora of still wines being produced there, let alone the variety of styles and complexities. In 1993, my father and I visited Vin Expo and to our surprise, because the show was so ...
Apr 28, 2022•45 min•Season 11Ep. 3
A unique combination of education and experience brought Rachel Martin to launch Oceano Wines with husband and co-proprietor, Kurt Deutsch in 2016. A Virginia native, Martin was present at the inception of what is now considered one of that state’s premier wine producers, Boxwood Estate Winery, in 2005. As Executive Vice President of Winery Operations, Martin’s job was to oversee all facets of production, sales and marketing of Boxwood’s award-winning whites, rosés and Bordeaux-style red blends....
Apr 26, 2022•57 min•Season 11Ep. 2
For the past few years, I have been keeping up with all things Kim Lewis, some might say I am a social media stalker… Maybe! But can you blame me? Kim Lewis is an inspiring entrepreneur to look out for! She brought a winery to the heart of New Orleans. A concept that seemed a bit unusual, but it turns out there is actual wine history in Louisiana. Kim Lewis’ story is unique and fun like she is. Tune in to hear more about her life journey that brought her to the Wine Industry from leaving college...
Apr 21, 2022•52 min•Season 11Ep. 1
When you think of the wines of South America, you primarily think of the wines from Chile and Aregentina. Both countries with a rich history in wine and both can create world class examples. I searched my tasting database and found have only tasted 35 Urguan wines over that past 20 or so years. And i had my doubts...because typically wines that come here for tasting from newer lessor know districts, don't fair that well against their established competitors. Well, did the wines of Bodega Garzon ...
Apr 19, 2022•49 min•Season 10Ep. 20
