At year's end we like to compile some of the year's outtakes, bloopers, and goof-ups that were swept into a wine-stained pile on the cutting room floor. This year the theme seems to be "quick and dirty." We thank you all for a super fun 2017, and look forward to a 2018 filled with more learning, laughs and love. Cheers ~ Val & Steph
Steph & Val took a break from their end-of-year planning session at the Curtis Hotel in Denver, Colorado to stroll down to the lobby and record this little ditty. This is our original rendition of "'Twas the Night Before Podcast." The video can be seen on the Wine Two Five YouTube channel under "Holiday" videos. Happy Holidays to our listeners around the world!
Sparkling wine, just in time, to celebrate the holidays – and we mean any holiday, all year round. In this episode we decode some superior sparkling wines from the Veneto region of Italy known as Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG. This episode covers the grape(s) found in the wines and a discussion of styles. We hope you’ll enjoy the information with a sparkling sip nearby. [Ad] Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Sparkling Wine, Education, Italian, Italy, Veneto, Prosecco...
The W25 ladies mix up some pisco-based cocktails this week, and unpack the 411 on the national spirit of Peru. Also produced in Chile, pisco has a long history, and we’re diving into the grapes, styles, and its versatility. We hope you pick up a pisco nugget to add to your brandy or cocktail repertoire. Show notes at WineTwoFive.com
One of the most influential personalities in many facets of the wine industry is Master of Wine, James Cluer. He's the owner of Fine Vintage LTD, but there's so much more to his story. From wine education to luxury tours, wine jobs to wine making - and let's not forget those super fun videos - James enlightens us on the many roads that led to not only his wine lifestyle, but also how he's opening doors for others. Wine, Wine Education, Master of Wine, James Cluer, California Wine, Wildfires, Win...
How does one tackle learning all 21 wine regions of Italy? Italian Wine Scholar (IWS) program creator and Wine Scholar Guild's (WSG) Education Director - Italy, Maurizio Broggi, DWS, FWS, breaks it down over a glass of vino. He also chats with us about splitting his life between Las Vegas and Milano, shares a funny wine story, and inspires us to learn - and taste - more from Italy's varied wine and food regions. Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Wine Education, Wine Scholar Guild, Italian Wine, Wine...
We're back with a recap of the 2017 Wine Bloggers Conference in Santa Rosa, CA. From nuggets of knowledge to tasting and tours, and ... did they say, "wine made with weed?" Yes, yes they did ... we're all abuzz (ha ha) with new friends from the wonderful world of wine blogging. Also on deck are so many shout-outs, as well as a tease of interviews to come. Since this episode will air on Thanksgiving Day, we're sending out holiday wishes and a nod to favorite dishes. Happy Turkey Day and we hope t...
The Wine Scholar Guild's Education Director, Lisa Airey, CWE, FWS, joins us for an afternoon of cocktails, tea, wine and conversation. We're talking about credentials, certifications, wine courses, careers, immersion trips, and education tips. Lisa also lets us in on her success as a novelist. Wine Education, Wine Scholar Guild, Lisa Airey CWE, Wine, French Wine Scholar, Wine Podcasts, A Toast to Friendship, Drink the Good Bottles, Wine People Rock
Part 2 of our Austrian wine region rap we explore labels, laws, special designations, and bubbles. We just can’t get enough of Austria. Let's talk about sekt, baybee! Austrian wine, DACs, sekt quality pyramid, South African Pinot, Hamilton Russel, Hemel-en-aarde valley, wine podcasts
The hills are alive with the sound of Steph & Val rapping Austrian wine - or wien. Part one gives an overview of the where, the who, and the when, as well as a quick grape gab and Austrian crystal factoid. Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Wine Education, Language, Wine, Austria, Austrian Wine, Austrian Crystal, Wine Education Podcasts, Wine & Spirits Podcast
This week we’re exploring cider, its history, how it’s made, styles, and varieties. There’s so much more to this alcoholic beverage than we ever imagined. Val has five glasses in front of her, and Steph discovers “Dances with Squirrels.” Also on deck: our monthly Patreon winner, the next #W25BookClub title, and shoutouts galore. Show notes at WineTwoFive.com cider, apples, pears, sparkling, beverages, education, tasting, fall, hard cider, cidre, sidra...
October's grape gab is about the Marselan, a red grape only slightly older than Val. We're celebrating Steph's wedding anniversary, sipping 2006 California wines, talking tastevins, and bringing National Pork Month full circle. It's all happening in this episode, and we hope you'll pour a glass and drink along with us. More on this week's shownotes on blog website. Marselan, Tastevin, Wine, Wine, California
"Doctor, doctor give us the news, we got a bad case of pumpkin booze!" The cure? Cocktails! We're looking for new ways to stay warm and cozy via the crock pot or the mug. This week's episode explores fall flavors, celebrations, and some unexpected things we hope you'll enjoy.
Look, kids, a chicken hat! We're recapping Steph's European vacation. The term, "Go big or stay home" certainly applies here, as we get to relive some fun and delicious moments in Bordeaux, Prague and Oktoberfest fun. Sip-along to original field recordings featuring factoids about Becherovka and Burcak. Oh, there's more, but you'll have to listen to believe it. Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Travel, Burcak, Becherovka, Jordan Winery's genius, wine, whisky...
Join us in celebrating International Podcast Day on 30 September. First, we toast. Then we lay down a little 411 on the history and motivation behind podcasting and International Podcast Day. This is what we call a 30-hour podcast happy hour celebrating the voices, stories, and communities that have emerged from behind the mics all over the world. Finally, some juicy wino radar bits, shoutouts and our monthly Patreon winner bring it all home. Grab your wine glass, beer mug, or a cocktail and rai...
Master of Wine Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan joins the ladies for a mid-morning happy hour to talk everything from changing careers to creating apps, courses, & writing books. The Jedi Wine Master also shares some funny stories & even chats a little "wine in space." There is something here for every wine lover. Pour, click, learn, & giggle. Cheers ~ Show notes & blog here.
Author and Cheese Expert, Janet Fletcher, joins the ladies for a most delightful and drool-worthy afternoon of cheese chatter. We’ve decided Janet is a true cheese goddess, and we think you’ll find her just as enchanting as she enlightens us on so many aspects of wine’s favorite sidekick. Grab your favorite beverage, and perhaps a wedge of something new, and explore the wonderful world of cheese along with us! Author, Cheese Aficionado, Janet Fletcher, World Cheese Tour, Planet Cheese, Wine, Vod...
Live from Livermore Valley (pre-recorded with Steph, Val, & three wines), Director of Winemaking Robbie Meyer brings a generous pour of winemaking knowledge – & charm – to the show this week. This is our first episode about the Livermore Valley, and we learned a lot. The history of the region is fascinating, and were absolutely blown away by the wines of Murrieta’s Well! We hope you enjoy this chat with Robbie as much as we did! Cheers ~ Show notes at WineTwoFive.com [ad] Robbie Meyer of...
We have our sassy pants on, per usual, but in this episode Sebastian Sassi of Sassi Italy Tours shares some breakfast wine with us. We’re talking wine, travel, experiential education, and connecting to and preserving wine culture. After a little lingering in bell’Italia , the factoid takes us to Martinique – oh what a week! Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Sassi Italy Tours, Sebastian Sassi, Wine, Martinique, Rhum Agricole...
This month’s grape gab is about the chenin blanc grape and its contribution to a fascinating variety of wine styles; we also engage in a little “who’s the grape daddy” and a little more chenin chatter. Finally, the factoid is all about the sharbat. The shar-what? We think you’ll love it as much as we did! Cheers ~ Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Chenin Blanc, Grape Gab, Sharbat, Wine Education, Wine Podcasts
We’re winding down from wine camp and rewinding our wine-soaked memories to replay our favorites. Also on deck: silly alcohol cures from a sillier time; someone gets a little too excited about kale; we ate everything on the menu. Also, we chatter about our first ever W25 Happy Hour with our listener community at Vault Martini! This is an all-out shout-out-palooza! Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Wine Camp 2017 Recap
This episode is an audio review of New York Times Bestselling book, Cork Dork: A wine-fueled adventure among the obsessive sommeliers, big bottle hunters, and rogue scientists who taught me to live for taste, by Bianca Bosker. We also, ironically, open a couple of screw cap wines, drop a factoid, and serve up some shoutouts. (Previously recorded, as the ladies are attending the Society of Wine Educators Conference in Portland this week). Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Cork Dork Book Review, Bianc...
We’re in the moment this week with Jordan Cowe, CWE. He teaches us about being wineful, updates us on Canadian wine, and extends an invitation for the 30-day winefulness challenge. Full disclosure, Val is double barrel “bourbonful” while Steph gets “ginful” up in the pod. The factoid strays into “who’s umami” and “oleogustus for the rest of us” territory. All of this happens before lunch, so raise your breakfast cocktails to a wineful, educational, and fun-filled show. Namaste and Cheers ~...
An interview this week that is straight with no chaser. We’re talking with Jordan Winery’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Lisa Mattson. She is the creative genius behind the latest “Despacito Embotellado” video as well as many award-winning films and videos. Lisa talks to us about the impact of video storytelling in the wine world, her book, “The Exes in My Glass: How I Refined My Taste in Men and Alcohol,” and the grape-squeezing moment in Miami that turned her world around and steer...
This month’s Grape Gab is all about Albarossa. We were fortunate to have a conversation earlier this month with Andrea Costa from the Marenco family winery in Piemonte, Italy. He was one of the first handful of producers to experiment with it, and he generously shares some of his experiences with us. We also tried a traditional May Wine – in July, because that’s how we roll – and have shoutouts and announcements to wrap up this week’s fun. Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Albarossa, May Wine, W25 H...
When wine label monsters attack – or just stare back – do you still buy the wine? The ladies engage in a little wine label bottle babble this week, keeping it light while exploring the – um – darker or sillier side of wine labels. We also mange to jam in a factoid about a California appellation, launch our new book club, draw a Patreon winner, and announce our first ever W25 Happy Hour next month in Portland at Vault Martini. Lots to cover, so pour a glass, click play, and join the fun! Cheers ~...
Kala Maxym joins the W25 ladies for remarkable stories, laughs and insight into Five Senses Tastings. Five Senses tastings has emerged as a unique and extremely successful wine tasting concept that provides elevated, multi-sensory experiences that can change the way we see, taste – and experience – wine. Show notes at WineTwoFive.com
This week we discuss limoncello: what it is, where it comes from, and how to make it. Also on deck are Podcast Awards, a new book from Exotic Wine Travel, #SparklingWineWeek, limoncello bottles you wouldn’t take home to mom, and a lot of fun. All of this happened with Steph stuffed in a closet while sipping a limoncello buffet from a step stool. Val's trying out a new mic and slurping a PLB (Pallini limoncello, lemon, & bitters) cocktail. We hope you have just as much fun listening as we did...
Steph has a crazy dream, Val plays the diva card, and then we have an enlightening chat about another side of the wine biz. While we all do what we do out of passion, we concede that many aspects are not as fabulous as some may infer from what they see in magazines or on social media. In this episode we talk everything from health to hangovers, cost to credentials, travel to time, and what’s normally missing from the discussion. Is it all worth it? We’d like to hear what you think! Wine, Wine Po...
This week we’re all about the versatile Grenache grape and its various styles. Steph and Val get back to our podcasting roots, share lovely wines and a Mezcal factoid. You may hear some thunder in the background, but these gray days are the days made brighter by sharing wine with friends. Show notes at WineTwoFive.com Wine, Wine Grapes, Mezcal, Wine Education, Wine Entertainment, Wine Podcasts
