These categories of "better for the earth" wines are technical, tricky, and ever-evolving, so I felt that it was time to do a comprehensive update! In this show, I do best to break it all down in as simple a way as possible…I cover: Biodynamics Organics Sustainable farming Regenerative agriculture And then, quickly, the loose ends – vegan wine and natural wine I start with an overview of the Pre- and Post- Industrial Revolution types of farming: Traditional farming is original agriculture, by th...
May 01, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is a special re-release of this very relevant and important show on Earth Day. Jason Haas, perhaps the greenest guy in in wine, joins to discuss the challenges the wine industry faces in becoming gentler on the earth. From regenerative agriculture (which is way less woo woo than biodynamics!) to sustainable transport and packaging, we cover the latest thinking of how to make the wine industry greener and better. Happy Earth Day all! Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Beco...
Apr 22, 2024•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Tax Day in the US has come and gone. Many of us are getting a refund, so if you have a little extra change, here are some great wines to consider. A few on the list are... Burgundy in red and white: Pinot and Chard Pomerol in Bordeaux Syrah from The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater in Walla Walla Washington Old Vine Zinfandel from Sonoma, Napa, and Amador County Châteauneuf-du-Pape BLANC I offer descriptions and explanations of each wine in the show. I hope you enjoy and find a way to spend yo...
Apr 16, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week friend, listener, Patron, and wine diva @wineshenanigans and the wine game show @Wineopardy Monica G. joins to talk with me about wines made by celebrities, aka Celebrity Wines. We run through what they are, how many of them are made and then we discuss specifics. We wrap with our analysis of whether or not we would recommend buying these wines. We make two caveats: 1. These are our opinions about these wines – don’t sue me! 2. Some of these brands are impossible to obtain, so we haven...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Inspired by a question from friend and Patron Amy Payton, this week I cover the history of oak barrels. I go from animal skins in Mesopatamia to modern day barrels, talking about how winemakers decided that oak was the best vessel for wine. I answer her follow up questions too -- How are barrels obtained by winemakers? What happens to them after they are used and are oak barrels sustainable? I learned so much in this show and I thank Amy for the idea. ____________________________________________...
Apr 02, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week I explore one of my favorite grapes of all time, Fiano! The grape makes some of the most exquisite wines you could imagine -- whites with layered complexity, age-ability, and unadulterated deliciousness. I discuss all aspects of the grape: The historical overview of the grape and how Mastroberardino saved it from obscurity (Check out my podcast with Piero Mastroberardino here ) A discussion of Fiano in the vineyard and how adaptable it is Some thoughts about winemaking and its effect o...
Mar 26, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast I welcome to the show my friend Giulio Abrigo of Abrigo Giovanni Azienda Agricola , who focuses on the exquisite Dolcetto in Diano d'Alba in the Barolo zone of Piemonte. Abrigo Giovanni is a small family operation, operating on just 13 ha or 32 acres mainly in Diano d’Alba -- the site of the winery and the family home. Dolcetto Diano d’Alba is one of a handful of DOCG zones for the grape – stricter controls and the top Dolcetto wines are made in this area. Here, the elevation, the soils, and the...
Mar 19, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast In recent years, there has been a lot of buzz around “volcanic wines.” The term makes it sound as if these are wines that are spawned from a volcano, but in reality these are wines that many people believe have special qualities because they grow on volcanic soils. In this show, I define the types of volcanoes before discussing the ecosystems they form.Here is the list of wines/places I discuss in the show: Italy Mount Etna, Sicily : Reds (Rosso of the Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio grapes...
Mar 12, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Hunter Valley is the OG - - the first place where Australian grape growing took place. For 200 years there has been continuous winegrowing and winemaking among the rolling hills and green valleys, which are peppered with iconic wineries, many of which have been around for more than 100 years. Although other types of wines are made, the Hunter has one crown jewel -- Semillon. In this show I give detail on the history, background and terroir of the Hunter before discussing the Semillon and why...
Mar 05, 2024•39 min•Ep 511•Transcript available on Metacast I welcome to the show, again, and this time for a much longer and more thorough conversation, Luca Paschina, the head winemaker and GM of Barboursville, the historic property in the Monticello AVA of Virginia. Luca was on the show in 2016, originally on episode 162. Barboursville has a long history, which starts around the same time as its current owners’ wine history -- the Zonin family of Veneto (found 1821). We discuss Thomas Jefferson and his role in trying to get Virginia wine started. Luca...
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep 510•Transcript available on Metacast As a follow up to Felicity Carter's show last week, in which we mentioned referenced the work of Christopher Snowdon often, I am re-releasing Episode 274 to give another perspective. This was originally released April 29, 2019. We raised all sorts of red flags in this show and Christopher has been consistent on his blog about how moderate drinking is still good for you and why wine is NOT the new tobacco...This is a great supplement and another viewpoint on this subject and dovetails perfectly w...
Feb 20, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast My guest Felicity Carter is probably the most brilliant journalist in wine, and certainly one of the only ones doing vital investigative work in the field of wine, health, and the neo prohibitionist movement. From 2008 to 2021, she was editor-in-chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International , a global, English-language magazine, one of Germany’s oldest publishing houses. She reported from 22 countries in that position. She writes for Decanter, The Guardian, and pretty much every major prestig...
Feb 14, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this show we explore the world of Armenian wine, which has roots in the ancient world and may be the oldest winemaking region in Europe. To tell us about these wines, the terroir, and the regions, I welcome Keush Managing Director & Zulal Founder, Aimee Keushguerian. Aimee educates us on Armenian wine and tells us about the projects she and her family are undertaking to shape the modern Armenian wine industry, which is definitely getting noticed for its high quality and interesting grape vari...
Feb 06, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Food and wine pairing is complex. But as many of us are trying to eat healthier, more plant-based diets it becomes an exercise in frustration. Traditional outlets barely ever talk about how to pair red wine with vegetarian dishes, beyond eggplant and mushrooms. Wendy Narby, a wine educator and writer in Bordeaux and Sally Evans, a winemaker and owner of Château George 7 (sette) aim to change that. This week they talk about their new site, which helps us learn to pair the wines of Bordeaux and wi...
Jan 30, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast This time we explore the hidden gems of Bordeaux -- the Côtes de Bordeaux -- which make superb wines that few people know about. With an easy-drinking style, the Côtes de Bordeaux are the hidden, affordable wines of Bordeaux. These historic vineyards are a collection of AOCs around eastern Bordeaux on sunny hillside slopes that grow a majority of Merlot and have similar soil types. These are not second or bulk wines – rather family-owned, often sustainable wines that are always a good value for ...
Jan 24, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's another edition of the "Alternatives to a Fave" series! This time: Grenache/Garnacha. As an extension of the Grape Mini-series, we come up with lists of wines that lovers of a specific grape can try as alternatives. Grenache/Garnacha comes in many different forms -- as a juicy, cherry-berry standalone grape in Spain, as lighter blender in the Rhône and Rioja, in rosé and fortified wines, and as full, serious wine in places like Priorat (Spain), Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France), and Australia, w...
Jan 16, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the first time, we have a Wine For Normal People Patron on the show to share her passion and expertise! This week is a follow-up to last week’s weedier podcast on Greece. This time, long time listener and friend, Lindsey Miller, joins as our first Patron guest, to talk about her passion for and knowledge of Greek wine. She helps bring this topic to life, giving us background on how she fell in love with Greece, got to know its wines, and developed some expertise on the subject. Lindsey share...
Jan 10, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast This show is an update to our previous shows on Greece. We hope to get you (re)started on your exploration of this ancient winemaking nation that has been reborn in recent years. Greek wines are unique, terroir-driven, and they harken back to the nation's ancient past and the very foundations of wine as a major part of the history in western civilization. With recent investments and modernization, the wines are better than ever and are worth exploring. Map from the Wines of Greece Although the p...
Jan 03, 2024•50 min•Ep 503•Transcript available on Metacast This is a baffling story that includes a Napa history lesson, an idea of how the Valley has grown and then a jaunt into intrigue, sting operations, and what appears to be an effort to kill the goose that laid the golden egg by the Napa County government. It seems that the County is going after small wineries in an attempt to bankrupt them out of business. Friend of the pod, Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone joins to discuss and explain the situation -- at least the parts that have an explanation! If yo...
Dec 19, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Professor Thomas Collins (yes, his name is Tom Collins) is a foremost authority in the US on smoke in the vineyards. After a long career in research and enology at large wineries in New York and California, and a Ph.D. at UC-Davis, Dr. Collins became an assistant professor of grape and wine chemistry in the Viticulture and Enology Program at Washington State University in 2015. Photo: Dr. Tom Collins, Credit: WSU He manages a research program in grape, wine and spirits aroma and flavor chemistry...
Nov 29, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is a special update and recap of Episode 327 with Barnaby Eales on Wine ingredient & nutrition labeling . I refreshed and edited that (very short) episode and then MC Ice and I added the details of the new law. We did the original episode in 2020 and at that time it was unclear whether or not Europe would go through with the plan, but they executed it and now we may be seeing back labels with a WHOLE lot more info about the wine! Listen to the update to learn what you NEED to know! This new...
Nov 21, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thanksgiving is a hard meal to pair wine with but we've got you covered. After a little bit of wine advice about glassware, serving temps, and my annual "Aunt Gertrude" warning, we get into the pairings for traditional (and some variations on traditional) Thanksgiving fare. We begin with suggestions for wines to welcome your guests, and then move on to: Wine and food pairings for Thanksgiving appetizers/ hors-d'œuvre Wine and food pairings for the meats and main courses of Thanksgiving (my favor...
Nov 13, 2023•43 min•Ep 498•Transcript available on Metacast I first spoke to Marina Marcarino of Punset in 2017 and I was fascinated by her story and loved her wines . We became friends and I’ve visited her over the years and keep in touch with her for a pulse on what is happening in the vineyards and wineries of Barbaresco, where Punset is located. Marina Marcarino of Punset Wines in Barbaresco As a recap of the first show , when Marina Marcarino was in her early 20s, she took over the family vineyard in Neive, Barbaresco (Piedmont, Italy) and named it ...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this show, I welcome my friend and wine industry guru Daniel Posner, the owner of the prestigious New York retailer, Grapes, The Wine Company . Daniel joined Grapes, The Wine Company in 2000 and was the managing partner by 2004. For the past 23 years, he has been a wine consultant, with clients from all over the globe. He travels to wine regions to meet with producers, winemakers, winery owners, especially in his favorite areas of Burgundy, Piedmont, Tuscany, and California. He knows the ins ...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Eva Martinelli is a young, innovative, and experienced winemaker from Tuscany. She has a degree in oenology, a deep understanding of terroir of Chianti Classico, and an unrivaled passion for the region. She has worked harvests in New and Old World countries, after which she returned home to follow her dream of being a winemaker in the region she loves most. Photo: Eva Martinelli, Credit:Wine For Normal People I met Eva in May 2023, while on the tour of Tuscany with a group of Patrons. She works ...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is all about the Leelanau Peninsula AVA of Michigan (a state in the midwestern US, on the Canadian border). Drew Perry, head of Production for Simpson Family Estates , a family business located on the peninsula, joins to educate us about this very unique area, which has been making wine since the 1970s. We discuss the land, the climate, and the history of this region, which is an essential part of the terroir here. Photo: Drew Perry of Good Harbor Vineyards & Aurora Cellars. Credit:...
Jul 03, 2023•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Agathe Bellanger from Le Brun de Neuville Champagne joins to discuss the Chardonnay-centric Côte de Sézanne, the role of growers and smaller co-ops, the terroir of this small sub-region, and the beautiful wines her group makes. I LOVE these wines, which focus on longer lees aging. Agathe Bellanger, Champagne Le Brun de Neuville. Here are the lines of wines from Le Brun de Neuville : The Côte : This is their house style, representing 80% of production. The goal of these wines is to express the te...
Jun 26, 2023•50 min•Ep 479•Transcript available on Metacast Campania was one of the most famous wine regions of antiquity. The pedigree of Fiano, Greco, and Aglianico are well documented in literature of the time (including Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historius)! These wines have a legacy of cultivation for more than 2000 years on this land, and since the 1700s, the Mastroberardino family have taken the lead in protecting and elevating the region and its wines. This family kept these ancient grapes alive when all others abandoned them, and have been tire...
Jun 19, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast When we were on our last day of the Patron trip in Tuscany, we had our final dinner in Bolgheri at a fairly new winery, Le Vigne di Silvia . This farm is owned by a family that was as kind as they could be. It was everything you could hope for when visiting an Italian family -- great food, welcoming hospitality, homey vibe, and great wine! Photo: Stefania Fuselli, left. Silvia Fuselli, right. Credit: Le Vigne di Silvia Le Vigne di Silvia was started by Silvia Fuselli, famed former pro footballer...
Jun 12, 2023•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alert: David is so awesome that he has offered us a discount on your purchase of GlasVin ! Use code: WINEFORNORMALPEOPLE for 10% off ( Patrons, please see Patreon for a deeper discount!) We have never before had on a glassware producer because, in the past, it has been a very limited field. One company dominated and sometimes their products made no sense because, like many things in wine, there were too many options and not enough differentiation for normal wine drinkers. https://glas.vin/ But i...
May 08, 2023•48 min•Ep 472•Transcript available on Metacast 
