Major Crush Wine Cast: Recent Episodes
Lou & Meredith
Major Crush is the wine podcast about the perfect kind of love affair with all things wine…
A crush isn’t hot and heavy, and, we’re not talking about being on the hunt for a “type” or a “fantasy” found inside a bottle. We’re simply talking about the joy of flirting with and experiencing the most delicious wines this world has to offer. There’s no big commitment when it comes to a crush, and that’s what makes a wine podcast called Major Crush so much fun!
It's finally time to share our full-length interview with director Jason Wise of SOMM TV! We've waited so long to share this interview, so we're extra excited about adding this episode to our collection. Jason is one of the best storytellers the wine world has to offer. So we want to invite you to dive into this episode head-first with Meredith and Lou and discover for yourself how delicious a conversation with Jason Wise can be!New episodes of Major Crush will begin dropping later this summer, so be on the look out!CONTACT US: If you have any questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can contact us directly through the app. If you’re listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast // Be sure to check out all six seasons of Major Crush, plus get the latest episodes of Season Seven wherever you’re listening now!
It’s been a minute since we’ve shared an episode, but we’re glad you’re still here! We are excited to tell you about a full-length Major Crush episode that drops on Thursday, April 6th — it’s our latest interview with director Jason Wise of SOMM TV. It’s long overdue, but just like a well-made wine, a good story changes with time and when you finally open it up, there are so many beautiful layers to discover.Technically, this interview launches us into our seventh season, but the remaining episodes won’t be out until later this summer. We’ve decided to be extra choosy this season and part of that means that we be recording most of our interviews LIVE with our guests instead of remotely. But we will still be posting updates, fun facts, and helpful food and wine information on social media, so if you haven’t started following us yet, find us @majorcrushwinecast
Boy, do we have a fun little tease for you as our last episode of Season Six! Have you ever heard of the film SOMM? Or maybe you've heard of SOMM TV? We got to do a remote interview with Jason Wise, an American filmmaker known for his wine documentaries, Wait for Your Laugh featuring Rose Marie, The Delicacy about sea urchin divers, and the streaming service SOMM TV. This is just a short intro interview for now, but this summer, we plan to drop a full-length interview with Jason after the premiere of his latest film project for SOMM called The Whole Animal. So be sure you've subscribed to our show so the interview will be waiting for you in your episode queue! www.sommtv.com
CONTACT US: If you have any questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can contact us directly through the app. If you’re listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast // Be sure to check out all five seasons of Major Crush, plus get the latest episodes of Season Six wherever you’re listening now!
One of our most popular episodes of all time was when Meredith & Lou gave our listeners some tips on coming to the Wine Country. So we thought it was time to do a reboot of that show in this post-pandemic world to give you all a few more pointers on how to make the most of your time exploring the glorious world of wine!! So please enjoy this fun episode and then be sure and let us know how we can answer any of your questions or help you build your itinerary for YOUR visit to the California Wine Country!
CONTACT US: If you have any questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can contact us directly through the app. If you’re listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast // Be sure to check out all five seasons of Major Crush, plus get the latest episodes of Season Six wherever you’re listening now!
One of our favorite things to do on the show is to take our listeners to a tasting room in the middle of Wine Country and invite them into our experience! That’s exactly what we did for this sit-down with James Frost, the winemaker from Auburn James Winery in Napa. He’s a soft-spoken gentleman with an amazing talent for making wine, and a genius way of explaining everything he does! If you want to learn more about his wines — including his stunning Auburn James Artist series — check out his website: www.auburnjames.com CONTACT US: If you have any questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can contact us directly through the app. If you’re listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast // Be sure to check out all five seasons of Major Crush, plus get the latest episodes of Season Six wherever you’re listening now!
We are always thrilled when we have access to a winemaker we hear about all the time in the California Wine Country, and so when we were formally introduced to Ross Cobb, for us, the crush had started long ago! Ross Cobb is a humble and passionate person who arguably makes some of the most famous Pinot Noirs in all of Northern California. His story starts with joining the family tradition of making wine in the basement, but his love of the soil and his curious and open mind guide him into a career as one of the most noteworthy curators of wine we've met to date. If you want to learn more about Cobb Wines, be sure to visit the website (www.cobbwines.com) CONTACT US: If you have any questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can contact us directly through the app. If you’re listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast // Be sure to check out all five seasons of Major Crush, plus get the latest episodes of Season Six wherever you’re listening now!
We’re keeping things international in this episode of Major Crush, but the amazing part is that our friend, Mary Taylor of Mary Taylor Wines thinks like an American through and through! It was such a blast to sit down with Mary in New Orleans earlier this year to hear all about her (quite literally) crazy journey into the world of wine! In her own words, Mary’s approach to wine is completely informed by her "broke 24-year-old self" — which makes this one of the purest and most authentic discussions we’ve ever had about wine. If you want to find a local shop in your area that carries Mary Taylor Wine, use the zip code finder on her website: mt.wines You’ll thank us for the hook-up because Mary Taylor Wine is absolutely crush-worthy in every possible way! CONTACT US: If you have any questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can contact us directly through the app. If you’re listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast // Be sure to check out all five seasons of Major Crush, plus get the latest episodes of Season Six wherever you’re listening now!
In honor of Easter, we wanted to share a different kind of episode with you - one where our producer, Sonja Zant, turns the tables on Mere & Lou by putting them in the "hot seat" with a challenge she already knows they'll find difficult: pairing wine and chocolate! But when you source the chocolates from the very best place, and you intentionally pair each bite with wines you already know you love, an adventure like this was certain to be fun! We'd like to thank The Chocolate Cow in Sonoma for helping us pick out the most mind-blowingly delicious chocolates (thechocolatecow.com) and Three Fat Guys Wines (threefatguyswines.com) for contributing so much to this experience! Additionally, special thanks to Pere Pons for introducing us to our favorite Cava ever: Miquel Pons! (Talk about a major crush!!) If you'd like to learn more from Meredith on how to go about pairing chocolate with wine, check out this YouTube (https://youtu.be/kCiHgrUS_Po) we created for our Crush Collection members -- it's full of surprises and a lot of tips on how to approach the pairing process! Enjoy! CONTACT US: If you have any questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can contact us directly through the app. If you’re listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast // Be sure to check out all five seasons of Major Crush, plus get the latest episodes of Season Six wherever you’re listening now!
It was an incredible honor for us to interview Pere Pons -- a beautifully spoken and kind-hearted winemaker from Spain! He is our very first international winemaker interview, and boy was he fabulous and fun to get to know! Join Meredith and Lou as they learn all about Cava and the DO of Penedès. Be sure to check out our Instagram feed this week, too, because we will be posting pictures that Pere shared with us so you can have a visual insight into how this family of winemakers has been making their Cava and still wines for 250 years! And unlike many of the wines that we feature on the show, you might be able to find Miquel Ponz wines at your local wine shop -- as Pere's wines are imported by Winebridge Imports and have a presence in 48 states! For more information: www.wbimports.com/miquel-pons // Music featured in this episode: As I Figure - Latinesque by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100323Artist: http://incompetech.com/
CONTACT US: If you have any questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can contact us directly through the app. If you’re listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast // Be sure to check out all five seasons of Major Crush, plus get the latest episodes of Season Six wherever you’re listening now!
There are a lot of winemakers to admire in the Napa Valley, but for us, there's this one person in particular who makes us stop in our tracks: Cathy Corison. She's been making wine since the 1970s when things really started to take off in the Valley, and so adding her story to the mix of interviews feels like more than just an honor. It feels like a privilege. Cathy's passion for Cabernet Sauvignon is something you can taste in her wines, but listening to her recollections and perspectives is a totally valuable use of time -- especially if you consider yourself to be a "Cab person." We recorded this interview when Meredith was in NOLA, Lou was in Monterey, CA, and Cathy was at her winery in St. Helena, proving, once again, that wine connects people no matter where they are! To learn more about Corison Winery and all of Cathy's wines, visit her website: www.corison.com CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Six -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It's our first episode of a brand new season and we really wanted to kick things off with an interview that helps us define the reason we do this show. Our sit-down interview with Dan Fishman, Vice President of Vineyards & Winemaking at Donum Estate is just such an interview. When a winemaker goes out of his or her way to express something poignant and finite from the soil, the vines, the grapes, and the wine itself, that's the making of a story we're gonna want to help them tell! After listening, if you want to learn more about Donum Estate, visit their website at www.thedonumestate.com / CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Six -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
A brand new season of the Major Crush Winecast starts next Thursday! So be sure to like and subscribe so you won't miss a thing! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Six -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
This might be the biggest interview we’ve ever had on Major Crush — and, it might also be the most major Major Crush we’ve ever had! Getting to interview Karen MacNeil was such a privilege because without her book, The Wine Bible, so many people in this world would still have no idea how to even get started with wine. In this very charming and inviting interview, Karen walks Lou & Mere through her origin story and shares so many details about her experiences, and she definitively proves to anyone who listens to this episode how wonderfully she welcomes people into the world of wine. This is our final episode of Season Five and to end on such a high note is so much fun! And as Karen shares her perspectives and life experiences with us, we’ve gained even more passion for what we’re doing and for all of the ways wine simply makes life better! So we will see you in early 2022 for Season Six, but until then, Cheers! And thanks for listening! You can follow Karen MacNeil on Instagram @karenmacneilco, and the Third Edition of The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil will be out in October of 2022. Be sure to join her weekly dose of wine platform, WineSpeed at www.winespeed.com CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It's a pretty rare thing to meet a winemaker who has made THREE 100 POINT WINES, but that's how we roll! (Just kidding!!) But seriously? We were so honored to sit down to interview Phil Steinschriber of WaterMark Wine for our final winemaker interview of the season. In addition to making fantastic wine, Phil and his wife, Diane, are two of the kindest people you'll ever meet. They opened up their home to us and shared their wine, the story of Phil's journey into his career as a premier winemaker, the origin story of their relationship, and their mountain top estate as well. We always want you to experience the wines we feature on the show, but Phil's style of winemaking takes Cabernet Sauvignon to another level! So for listeners of our show, if you go to www.watermarkwine.com and tell Diane you heard about WaterMark on Major Crush, you'll get an extra 10% off! But we also have a very exclusive collection of wine that Meredith & Lou curated for our good friends Billy & Nick from Vint (Season Five, Episode Two) called the Napa Valley Winemakers Box, which features two of Phil's 2016 Mt. Veeder Cabs. This is an extremely limited collection so act fast if you want a chance of getting one of these rare collections for yourself. Go to www.majorcrushwines.com/pages/vint-companion-box-collections to get your six-pack today! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Hey Everyone and welcome back to another episode of Major Crush! If you’ve been a long-time listener of the show, then you know that the motivation behind the Major Crush Winecast is a genuine love of all things wine, and so as we’ve moved through five seasons, we’ve interviewed all kinds of crush-worthy people who have added so much to our show, and who have constantly reminded us why we love the world of wine so much! But this episode represents something brand new for us — it’s an interview with Christian Fitzgerald, the creator and founder of the Orion Cooker, the best backyard bar-b-que smoker, and a new Major Crush partner. Now without this intro, you might wonder if Mere and Lou have taken a detour away from their focus on wine, but nothing could be further from the truth. For us, one of the best parts about crushing on wine comes into focus when we start talking about food. And that, of course, leads to how to pair food with wine, which eventually leads us to the best part of all: how to transform wine into a memorable and totally crush-worthy experience. We think we might’ve hit the cover off the ball this time when it comes to setting you up with innovative and super fun food and wine experience. And…we’ve had the chance to personally use the Orion Cooker to create several meals that we’ve then paired with a selection of wines that we’re calling the Orion Entertaining Collection. Orion Cooker: www.theorioncooker.com / The Orion Entertaining Collection: www.majorcrushwines.com/pages/orion-partnership / Lou's Naughty Meat & Potatoes Video: https://youtu.be/MfnrSQ1Nik0 / Mere's Nice Smoked Pumpkin, Squash & Beet Salad: https://youtu.be/PZ3W0yhiAn8 CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
We'll be celebrating Thanksgiving this week but we will be back NEXT Thursday with a brand new episode! Until then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We are so thankful for our listeners! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
We were so honored to be able to sit down with Executive Chef Luis Alvarez from Folk Table Catering in Sonoma, CA. He's a beautifully kind "friend of the pod" who has a pretty impressive origin story that starts with work in the kitchen pantry that quickly transitioned into being a highly sought after chef working for some of the most well-known celebrity chefs in their restaurants and behind the scenes on some reality chef shows we're sure you've watched! But it is his passion for food that makes him such a wonderful person to interview, and some of his ideas for how to approach cooking for the people you love this holiday season are guaranteed to inspire you (and make you very, very hungry, too!) So it is our pleasure to offer up this episode just before Thanksgiving -- and one thing we are sure thankful for this year is a new friend who really knows how to share his love in his amazing dishes! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It was such a pleasure to be able to interview a fellow podcaster like Sarah Malouf on our show! Sarah is the host of the Well Being, Well Said podcast and is an up-and-coming recipe developer who is relatively new to wine. After a visit to the Wine Country to visit her "affection uncle" -- our very own Lou Zant -- Sarah and her husband, Matt, left with a whole new appreciation for wine and all of the ways it can be added to life. In this interview, Meredith, Lou, and Sarah talk about the art of Southern hospitality, her impressions of the CA Wine Country, wine pairings, and one of Sarah's most popular recipes and how to pair it. To follow Sarah and to find her recipes, follower her on Instagram @sarahmalouf__ CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It was such a pleasure for Lou & Mere to interview Gracie Peter, Director of Operations, Kentucky LouVino locations and a Level 2 Certified Sommelier. Gracie is also the co-host of her own wine podcast called Better With Wine (Season One available now wherever you listen to your favorite shows). Chatting things up with Gracie added a unique perspective to the second half of Season Five because right now, we are all about wine and hospitality! And what better resource to find out exactly how it's done than the person who is in charge of making every moment of your time at her busy wine bar and restaurant, LouVino, her number one priority! We invite you to check out the LouVino website and peruse their incredible menu and wine list after you listen to our interview -- we promise you won't be disappointed! https://louvino.com/ CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
We're heading into the second half of our fifth season, and we're excited to be shifting our focus to how to pair wine with people and festivities! Be sure to subscribe to the show! New episodes drop on Thursdays, and you don't want to miss a thing! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
We have something different to share with you this week — it’s a re-run of an interview Meredith gave to our good friend Amy Kathleen of the Collective Light Podcast earlier this year. You might remember AK from a few bonus episodes of Major Crush that dropped this summer. She’s this remarkably kind and insightful friend of the podcast, but she’s also a terrific interviewer in her own right. Throughout the five seasons of our show, we’ve done our best to help you get to know Mere & Lou, but there’s just something that happens when someone else turns the tables on us and puts Mere & Lou in the hot seat to share more about their lives. Last season, we re-ran an interview Lou gave about his background on The Law of Relevancy podcast with Cordes Owen (S4/EP 8), but this time, Amy Kathleen helps us dig a little deeper into what makes Meredith tick, and so we wanted to share this interview with you this week. To learn more about AK and The Collective Light Podcast, visit the website: https://insidethecollective.com/ CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Each season when we’re working on our line-up, we make a pretty big list of wines we’re currently crushing on, and then we start pursuing the winemakers to see how we can fit an interview into their busy schedules. Caddis wines was on Lou’s list big time, and so it was pretty awesome to be able to have this one-on-one time with Chris so he could introduce Mere — and all of you — to his delicious collection of wines. At the time that we sat down for this interview, it was late August and Chris was mere days away from starting his 2021 harvest, so we felt incredibly lucky that he found a way to make time for us. And as you’re about to hear, Chris’s story is super unique because he started his journey with wine in earnest before he was even legally allowed to drink! But his ability to stay the course in a notoriously difficult industry — and then grow into a true artisan winemaker to keep on your radar — makes his story exactly the kind of tale Mere & Lou love to share with you the most! To learn more about the wines -- or to purchase some for yourself, go to www.caddiswine.com and place an order! It's absolutely crush-worthy in every way! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Episode three of season five is a different kind of episode -- not just because Mere & Lou are tasting tequila with their cheese instead of wine! But the fact is, there’s always something interesting going on in the Wine Country and we love sharing our experiences with our listeners. So we want to thank James Ayers from the Sonoma Cheese Factory for inviting Major Crush to partake in such a fascinating pairing experience. Even though we typically keep our focus on wine and wine pairings, one thing we’ve learned from our times with James is how to experiment with different types of cheeses! So if you follow us on social media, this week we’ll be showcasing all of the cheeses discussed in this episode and then offering up some ideas for how to pair each one with wine as well! Check out this series of posts on Instagram @majorcrushwinecast Then, to round out this day-in-the-life episode, we’re letting you tag along as Mere & Lou check in on one of the wineries in Sonoma that’s near and dear to our hearts: Christopher Creek Winery. In life, relationships are so important, but in the Wine Country, everything winemakers do is built on taking care of their vines and one another! So with the 2021 harvest season fully underway, Mere and Lou wanted to stop in to talk to Joe Fopolli to talk about this upcoming vintage and to share a few glasses of his wine! NOTE: Be sure to check out our interview with James Ayers in S4/EP 3 and with Joe Fopolli of Christopher Creek Winery in S2/EP 3. CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Hey guys! It’s Sonja Zant, the producer of the Major Crush Winecast. As I was editing the final cut of Ep 3, I saved a few little gems in an outtakes file because I found them to be so charming. It’s an opportunity for me to share the side of Mere & Lou that only I get to see. The thoughtful asides and the tiny pivots they make when seeking ways to invite new experiences into our own little Crush Culture are what always help me know we’re on the right track with the show. It’s the fact that Mere & Lou would be having the same conversations if the recording equipment wasn’t on that makes me smile, and it’s the reason I wanted to share this very quick bonus episode with you! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
This is one of those interviews that just gave us one more reason to adore the world of wine! We got a chance to sit down with Nick King & Billy Galanko of Vint - the first fully transparent platform for anyone to invest in fine wine and spirits. To put it in their terms, Vint has the right approach to democratize this high-returning asset class with SEC-qualified collections. Meredith & Lou had a great time chatting with Nick & Billy on the back porch overlooking the vines while sipping on some incredible wines from Tasmania and a 1971 Madeira from Portugal. This is a unique interview to add to our line-up for Season Five, and we are so excited for our listeners to learn more about Vint! Check out their website www.vint.co for more details, and be sure to listen to our Bonus episode where Nick explains their upcoming offer that goes live on October 13, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST / 9:00 AM PST. CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Do you want to learn more about the very latest offering from Vint? Well then check out this quick recap from Nick & Billy and then make sure to set your reminder messages for October 13th at 12:00 EST so you can get in on all the action! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It’s our first episode of the new season and we can’t believe how blessed we are to have had a sit-down interview with Michael Muscardini of Muscardini Cellars! It’s a huge score for us — and for our listeners — because there is just something pretty amazing about a winery that keeps the focus on Italian varietals. Drinking Michael’s wines and having an easy-going conversation gives our listeners a peek inside this super fun tasting experience. If you want to learn more about Muscardini Cellars — and to keep track of Michael on his six-month Italian adventure — be sure to check out their website (www.muscardinicellars.com) CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It's crazy how often we reference the movie Sideways in our interviews, but it really was a pivotal movie for wine varietals like Pinot Noir & Merlot. Every winemaker talks about it, but in our interview with Michael Muscardini of Muscardini Cellars, he brought up another part of this movie that is pretty meaningful. There is a monologue in the film where actress Virginia Masden (who played "Maya") sums up this poignant reality about wine and its ability to mark time. Just so you never feel left out, we had Lou share the quote with you in this short little bonus episode! But we also have a suggestion for you in this bonus - so listen in and then post your thoughts on our social media! We'd love to hear what YOU have to say! You can follow us @majorcrurshwinecast CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Welcome to another Summer Bonus episode! In this fly-on-the-wall, Lou & Mere are reunited, and a good friend of our show, Morgan Fouss, joins them, too! Listen in as Mere & Morgan share the key differences between Champagne and Sparkling wine while roaming around the California Wine Country on their way to sip on something new! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five when they drop later this year -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
The fly-on-the-wall experience continues as Lou and Amy Kathleen of the Collective Light Podcast roll up to Calistoga -- the northernmost AVA in the Napa Valley -- to do a tasting at Madrigal Family Winery. Winemaker and winery owner, Chris Madrigal is an important friend to our show as he was the very first full-length winemaker interview we ever did! You can hear his full story in S1/EP2 any time, but for now, we hope you enjoy learning more about Madrigal's story, AND, we hope you gain a few new insights into how things roll here in the California Wine Country! Be sure to check out Amy Kathleen's series, The Collective Light Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Season Five is in the works, and we can't wait to introduce you to a whole new crop of winemakers, wine influencers, and the people and the wines we're crushing on next!
Our Summer Bonus Series continues this week with more from Lou's private wine tour with Amy Kathleen from the Collective Light Podcast. In this short episode, AK asks Lou a frequently asked question about grapes, but ends up with AK sharing something personal about her own wine journey that only recently dawned on her! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts when our season cranks up again this fall. New episodes drop every Thursday!
It's another fly-on-the-wall mini-episode with Lou Zant and our good friend, Amy Kathleen of the Collective Light Podcast! This is a continuation of AK and her husband, Mike's, wine tour earlier this summer, and in this bonus installment, the topic of why boutique wines are so different from wines you can find in your local grocery store. Here, Lou has taken AK and Mike to one of our hands-down-favorite wineries, Madrigal Family Winery. Listen in as Lou starts to unpack some of the reasons why the wine industry has been so slow to embrace the realities of the new world of online sales, and then discover one of the main reasons why discovering a new wine in the actual Wine Country can be so very special! NOTE: Be sure to check out Amy Kathleen's show, The Collective Light Podcast as she kicks off her new season on July 15 with her interview with our very own, Meredith Griffin! You can find and subscribe to Collective Light wherever you listen to your favorite shows! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of our upcoming Season Five -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this bonus episode, you really are listening in like a fly-on-the-wall -- or maybe, safely on the window!! Lou is taking Amy Kathleen of the Collective Light Podcast and her husband, Mike, on a two-day wine tour! Listen in as Lou and AK, as her fans and followers call her, start up the conversation as they motor through the Dry Creek AVA of Sonoma County! Please be sure to check out Amy Kathleen's podcast, Collective Light Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows! We will let you know when AK's interview with Meredith is available, too, as supporting one another in our podcast endeavors is such a huge privilege! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush available now!
Hey Everyone! Even tho we're on a break, we still have wine stories to share! Tune in on Thursdays throughout the summer to find out what Meredith Griffin & Lou Zant are up to! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- and Season Five will be here before you know it! You can learn more about us, our wine club, and find some of our awesome blog posts and pairing on our website at www.majorcrushwines.com
It's our final episode of Season Four and we couldn't be more honored by our final guest -- Angelina Mondavi. She is carrying a pretty big legacy on her shoulders, but there's just something so original and wonderful about this talented winemaker that seems to carry her above and beyond what you might expect from the granddaughter of arguably the most famous California winemaker. Angelina is her own person and her story is as fascinating as the contributions she's making to the world of wine. We felt so lucky to get some of her time, and as you listen to this remote recording, you'll understand just how busy she is! But she was present, kind, and so authentic -- and that's the perfect combination of traits that come together to give us a big old crush on the winemakers we are privileged to interview each season! We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did -- and thanks for being faithful listeners for yet another season of our little show! (To find out more about all of the wines Angelina is currently making, check out her website: https://www.amondaviconsulting.com/) We'll be taking a break from full-length interviews for the summer, but we will do have some plans to stay connected to our listeners with some bonus episodes all summer long! Our desire is to teach other people how to crush on wines, so we'll be popping in from time to time to share a hint or two, or to give you a chance to enter a few giveaways we've got planned. Speaking of giveaways, we're so excited that Wilna Wheeler is the winner of our Coravin Winecast Giveaway!! (Go Wilna!) But don't worry -- we will drop in to let you know about our next one as soon as we're ready to rock and roll! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Thankful doesn't begin to describe how our chat with winemaker Erich Bradley made us feel! The man behind some of the most elegant and expressive wines in all of the California Wine Country is a truly unique and gifted person. We were already in love with so many of the wines he makes -- including Sojourn Cellars, Repris, and Pangloss -- but once we had a chance to interview him and understand the thought behind his winemaking style, we were hooked all over again. Even though we've had to do most of our interviews for the last part of Season Four using a remote recording platform, the passion and attention to detail that Erich brings to the world of wine seemed to close the physical distance between us with his incredible ability to share from his heart! We hope you enjoy this interview -- and if you can, we highly recommend seeking out some of his totally crush-worthy wines! https://www.sojourncellars.com/ https://repriswines.com/ https://panglosscellars.com/ TO REGISTER FOR OUR CORAVIN GIVEAWAY, GO TO www.majorcrushwineclub.com/winecastgiveaway CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It’s always better when Mere & Lou record these episodes in the same location, but we decided Earth Day is such an important day for those of us in the wine industry that no matter what, we needed to stop and reflect on the amazing world we live in and then remind ourselves of the responsibility we have to take care of it. We’ll be back next week with a brand new winemaker interview, plus, Mere and Lou have a little something extra planned just fans, followers, subscribers of the show. Have you ever heard of a Coravin? Well, if you have, then you already know how this rather pricey but highly valuable tool can change the way you drink wine. Next week, at the end of episode 12, we’re gonna tell you how you could win a Coravin compliments of Major Crush! So stay tuned, and be sure to subscribe to the show so you never miss a beat! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It's WORLD MALBEC DAY today, so Mere & Lou had to drop what they were doing and create a little bonus episode to get the celebration started! But here's the thing: Just talking about Malbec didn't seem like enough of a way to truly honor one of the best wines you can possibly pick as we're heading into the Spring & Summer grilling season. So as a part of the Crush Collection & The Major Crush Wine Club, Mere & Lou decided to put together a special deal on two Malbecs from Argentina that they have been crushin' on for a while now. If you're in our wine club, then you may have experienced the La Puerta Alta Malbec, but we've never offered up the "sister wine," The Classico! We've bundled these two wines into two mind-blowing offers -- that both includes shipping!!!! A mixed case of this wine would retail for $504.00, but for YOU, it's only $165.00 (and that INCLUDES THE SHIPPING)! And a half mixed case is only $90.00 (INCLUDING SHIPPING!!) So hurry up and place your order because we are promoting this offer outside of our listening audience, but we always want YOU to feel the love first! To place your order go to: www.majorcrushwineclub./malbecspecial There is a limit of 5 cases per customer, and believe us when we tell you, with the start of grilling season, five cases will be gone before you know it! HAPPY MALBEC DAY EVERYONE, from your friends at Major Crush! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
When it comes to food and wine pairings, for most people, there's one obvious choice: steak and Cab! But for our own Lou Zant, almost all of his favorite food and wine pairings involve the grill, but that doesn't mean he's only about steaks or all about Cabs. In this episode, Lou is joined by good friends and grill aficionados Warren Hoover, head of our new SmokeMasters Wine Club, and Josh Martin, of Blank Wines and Rollin Blue BBQ. With the upcoming launch of our quarterly Smoke Masters BBQ Wine Club, we decided it would be fitting to sit down and discuss the world of smoking and grilling and how wine is the perfect compliment. LINKS: To find out more about the Smoke Masters Wine Club, and to get on the waitlist for the club, check out our landing page: SmokeMasterwineclub.com We also want to feature our own Josh Martin's BBQ accessory site called Rollin' Blue: https://www.rollinblue.com As Lou mentions in the interview, his grill brush is hands-down the best investment Lou's made for keeping his grill in tip-top shape! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
We had the best time with our good buddy, Jay Rooke, host of the podcast series "KNOW PAIN KNOW GAIN." He's an entrepreneur coach and fellow wine lover and when we sat down to chat with him over a picnic lunch and a few glasses of wine, it's safe to say we absolutely gained something from the experience! Listen in to learn more about how Jay approaches "failures" and "mistakes," and how easily he connected to Meredith and Lou because there was a common admiration for wine that always ties everything together! Jay Rooke's website is: www.jayrooke.com CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
This season, Lou and Mere have been expanding their horizons and using wine as a way to connect with other people who have podcasts that are totally worth listening to! So in keeping with this idea, this week we’re re-airing a podcast that my buddy Lou had the opportunity to be on. It’s called The Law of Relevancy with Cordes Owen. It’s not our typical kind of interview, but for the first time since the start of the show, you’re going to get to really learn all about Lou and his past, as well as all of the things we’re working on right now at Major Crush!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
We're back this week and what an incredible interview we have to share with you this time around! Mere & Lou had the chance to sit down with one of the very best winemakers in Sonoma: Peter Mathis. Sometimes it's our relationship with the winemaker that leads us to the people we interview, but most of the time, it's their wine -- and when it comes to Peter, his wines introduced us to someone we are thrilled to call a friend of the show! Peter is a charming storyteller who happens to make the most beautiful wine you'll likely ever have. His ingenious mind and sincere passion for making wine make him a one-of-a-kind person and one you will want to know better. You can start to get to know him by listening to this episode, but you'll most certainly fall in love with him after you taste his wine! The tire of this episode says it all: we've got a Major Crush on Peter Mathis! You can find all of Peter's wines on his website: www.mathiswine.com CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
We'll be back next week with Episode 7 -- See you then!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Hey everyone! We're kind of excited because WE GOT NEW RECORDING EQUIPMENT for our show! It's been a long-time coming, but we finally found a system we can take with us on-location that we do hope will improve your listening experience! It's a lot more complicated than our old setup, so we thought it would be smart to do a simple Mere & Lou exchange to get the hang of things, but we also wanted to invite you into our world, too. Mere is going for her Level 4 Certification with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and so she decided to share some of the things she's learning with you, and talk out the realities of the wine industry with her buddy, Lou. We want everything we do at Major Crush to invite people in, not make people feel left out or excluded, and the truth is, the wine industry can be so tricky at times it can seem exclusive. But the more you know, the better, so this episode is all about how anyone can set their gauges for "grapeness!" As promised in the final bumper of the show, we've got lots of ways for you to stay in touch. Feel free to drop us a line at info@majorcrushwines.com, or you can even directly email Mere (Meredith@majorcrushwines.com) or Lou (lou@majorcrushwines.com)! To find out more about the four-bottle-a-month wine club Meredith & Lou have created, just go to www.majorcrushwineclub.com and sign up! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It was such an honor for us to be guests on the Texas Wine & True Crime podcast, and we’re so excited that we get to share this interview with our fans, too! Brandy Diamond & Jaimee Hardwidge are such fun hosts, and the content of the podcast was already a topic we thought about a lot — the greatest wine crime in history! We want to thank Brandy & Jaimee for having us on their show, but we also want to give a shout-out to Frances Dinkelspiel, author of Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California. We interview Frances in Season Two, but if you haven’t heard her speak on this case, you might want to go back and check it out. But even better, read her book — it is one of the best reads about wine and their twisty side of the industry you’ll ever get your hands on. We promise: This story is absolutely worth repeating! By the way, if you enjoyed our interview on Texas Wine & True Crime, they have loads of other fun episodes that span two seasons! You can find Brandy & Jamiee on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or where you listen to your favorite shows! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
For us, it was an incredible pleasure to sit down and chat with Olga Fernandez & Martin Guerrero about their family winery. Their story is heartwarming and deeply inspiring -- and their wines are some of the best we've tasted on the show. Following their dreams has certainly paid off and each wine in their collection has so much heart and a kind of devotion that you can taste in every sip. Lou has been personally crushing on Guerrero Fernandez wines for a couple of years, so to be able to feature Martin's wines on the podcast is something we feel more than just a little excited about! You can learn more about the wines they have to offer on their website: www.gfwines.com or you can call them at 707-953-7956.
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
When we say WINE, the next that comes up for us is CHEESE! So we thought it might be fun to interview a real-life cheesemonger for our show! We couldn't be more proud to present this interview with James Ayers from the historic Sonoma Cheese Factory. We set up our recording equipment right in the middle of the shop, surrounded by a dozen or so refrigerated cases of cheese from all over the world. Listen in as James guides us into this amazing world. Be sure to check out our website for a couple of blog entries inspired by James and his expert knowledge of cheese -- it might change your wine experience like never before! As promised, James gave us the perfect cheese pairing for just about any wine. It's called Foggy Morning, and you can find it here: https://nicasiocheese.com/pages/foggy-morning If you have questions for James, feel free to email them to us at info@majorcrushwines.com. We also have plans to do more with James and The Sonoma Cheese Factory -- including virtual experiences and interactive pairings, so make sure you follow us on social media for details! But you can also contact James Ayers & The Sonoma Cheese Factory directly by calling (707) 996-1931 to find out more or to place a cheese order with James. The shop is open Thursday - Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm PST. CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Welcome to the first interview of Season Four! We feel so fortunate to have had a chance to interview Laura Donadoni, AKA, The Italian Wine Girl! Her passion for Italian wine and teaching other people how to “crush on it” in her own way is absolutely beautiful to us, and we hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did. As Lou promised in the episode, we’ve got some details in these show notes to help you personally connect to the content Laura has to offer, and we do encourage you to dig into her blog. In addition, we've got some fun posts on our social media that tie-in to this interview and help you keep track of all of the amazing wines Laura talked about. We have already learned so much from our own time with Laura, and now we’re excited to give you all of the ways you can stay connected to her! Subscribe to The Italian Wine Girl: www.theitalianwinegirl.com Follow Laura on Instagram: @theitalianwinegirl CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush -- plus get the latest episodes of Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Welcome Back to the Wine Country, and, Welcome Back to Major Crush! It feels amazing to be starting up our fourth season of the show! We decided to kick things off with an episode that eases us back into the swing by offering you an update on the state of the wine industry, as well as how Major Crush has started to expand to bring that Wine Country Experience to you at home! We love wine, and for us, the only way to express that love is to come up with new ways to invite you into our experiences in every way we can. To that end, we've launched a few new projects that we want to make sure you know all about: The Crush Collection: After receiving a lot of requests from listeners for the wines we feature on the podcast, Lou & Mere decided to launch the Crush Collection -- our four-bottle-a-month wine club featuring wines made by the winemakers we crush on the most! For more information about joining this club, go to www.majorcrushwines.com. Additionally, we've created a simple referral program where club members who refer others to the Crush Collection can earn $20 per month for every new member they introduce -- which makes it fun and a little extra rewarding to help us share these wines with others. To learn more about that, visit our referral website at www.majorcrushwineclub.com The Major Crush Wine App: We are in the very early stages of launching this app-based platform that will help us expand the Wine Country Experience into a virtual realm where wine and wine stories become even more personal. We've only just begun, but things are happening quickly! But we'll always keep our listeners posted on the progress, and we just want to thank you in advance for your support! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines. // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of our show -- plus the latest episodes in Season Four -- on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com or send us a message on our website at www.majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It's finally time to let you in on something Mere & Lou have been dreaming of since the end of Season One! We're finally ready to launch our very first Crush Collection wine club! Every time we put out another episode of this podcast, we get feedback from our listeners that our show tends to make people thirsty! So we decided we needed to come up with a way to get the wines they're crushin' on to our listeners -- and the rest of the world -- because when a wine is crush-worthy, it's so much fun to share it! In this episode, Meredith & Lou talk about how the club came into being, and then they tell you all about the first four wines they've come up with for the FIRST LOVES COLLECTION. We were so lucky to get our hands on each of these bottles of wine, and we're excited that we can offer them at such an insane price: Just $89.00! This first club collection is the start of something much bigger, and so every month, we'll be bringing our club members another collection of killer wines to crush on! For more information - or to get your hands on our First Loves Collection -- go to www.mymajorcrush.com/club and join the club today! The first 100 people to sign up will be one of our "Founding Members" which will ensure you get special perks and access to exclusive wines for the duration of our membership! AND, THE FIRST 100 PEOPLE TO JOIN GET 20% OFF THEIR ORDER!! So act fast! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com or send us a message on our website at www.majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Welcome to another bonus episode of the Major Crush Winecast called WHAT THE BLANK! All season long, Mere & Lou have been teaming up with Josh Martin & Lars Williamson of Blank Wines to explore topics that apply to the "Millennial & Gen Z" population of wine consumers. It's added so much to our season, and we can't tell you how much fun we've had getting to know these guys. So it seemed only fitting that we should do our best to help launch the Blank Wines Club by featuring their very first shipment of wines, too! Mere & Lou have spent hours tasting and talking with Josh & Lars about the wines they've curated for their club, and it's finally time to let you in on the plans. So be sure to check out this bonus episode to find out what the guys from Blank Wines have in store! To get your hands on the wines featured in this episode, go to www.blankwines.com and order now! For just $89.00 you can taste and learn more about these four exciting varietals as you sip! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com or send us a message on our website at www.majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Season Three is drawing to an end, but we had to put together an episode about one of the biggest controversies in the wine industry: Corks Vs. Screw Caps. Winemakers have strong and very specific reasons for picking a side in this internal battle, and throughout this season, the winemakers we've interviewed have openly shared their thoughts with us! So we pulled together outtakes of several of our interviews and bundled them up in a stand-alone episode so we can explore this topic with our listeners. Hear how some of the most storied winemakers in the California Wine Country have decided to enclose their wines. One thing's for certain: The people we interviewed make delicious wines, and so it's very clear to us that a screw cap absolutely doesn't mean the wine in the bottle will be of lesser quality -- in fact, in many ways, it might be a sign that the winemaker is open to change and willing to see how technology can add something beautiful to the artistic nature of wine! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing! —
If you've been following the Major Crush Winecast for any length of time, then you already know the name, David Griffin -- the Pinot Noir-loving husband of co-host Meredith Griffin. And, if you follow professional basketball, then you know this same David Griffin as the genius NBA executive who has a knack for putting together winning teams and fostering a sense of camaraderie wherever he goes! We thought it would be fun for us to put David in our very own "hot seat" to talk about wine culture inside the NBA, and to share a few other insights with our listeners about how wine helps connect and build strong communities inside of a competitive world where elite athletes are always looking for new expressions of perfection! David opens up about his recent experience inside the NBA bubble, how coaches and players he's worked with have embraced the world of wine, and how he sees his new role as the top executive at the New Orleans Pelicans playing out in the future. Of course, we had plenty of wine to share with our special guest -- and he had some pretty funny stories to share with us that prove the most competitive person on the Major Crush Team might just be our very own Miss Bubbles! Josh Martin & Lars Williamson of Blank Wines join us in this light-hearted interview that proves how perfectly wine pairs with just about everything! NOTE: Meredith mentions a couple of articles about wine and the NBA at the start of this interview, and so we've provided the links here in case you want to read more: The NBA's Secret Wine Society // Inside the NBA's Bubble's Unofficial Wine Club CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
Welcome to another episode of Major Crush! Meredith and Lou had such a great time down in Santa Barbara County, and the people they interviewed along the way are making some truly crush-worthy wines! So it’s no surprise that our last winemaker interview kind of blew us away. There’s this gorgeous place tucked away in the Santa Rita Hills called Peake Ranch. It’s one of the most beautiful settings we discovered on our road trip, and…the new friends we met at Peake Ranch make this a winery we’re sure to be visiting again! When we recorded this episode, we were still in the days of social distancing and extra acts of mindfulness when gathering with others. And, we also conducted this interview in a room overlooking the stunning Peake Ranch Barrel room — so I guess you could the sound quality reflects a sense of place, albeit not quite as beautifully as Peake Ranch’s owner John Wagner, and winemaker Wynne Solomon do in every bottle of their wine! As you know, Lou insisted that you check out these wines, so here's a link to the Peake Ranch website [https://www.peakeranch.com/]. We can't wait for you to experience what we did during this interview! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
You already know that Meredith & Lou love to crush on wine, but this time around, the crush is personal. For several years now, Lou has had a sincere adoration for the wines made by Lane Tanner of Lumen Wines, so when we reached out to her for an interview, and she said "Yes!" it was a pretty big deal! Before they even entered her winery, Meredith and Lou were starstruck! From her taste in music (she was rocking out to Lou's favorite band, Little Feet) to her disarming approach to winemaking, everything about Lane Tanner just feels right. She has one of the best origin stories we've ever heard, and her easy-going manner and ability to weave a tale that's as delicious as her wines make this interview a true highlight of the season. We are thrilled that we got to meet Lane, and we can't wait for you to get to know her, too! To find Lumen Wines, you can visit Lane's website [https://www.lumenwines.com/] and her tasting room is called the Lumen Lounge at Pico located at 458 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA 93440 CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
It's always so much fun for Meredith & Lou to sit down with their buddies from Blank Wines to talk about one of their latest discoveries from Major Crush. Lou, of course, was pumped to tell the guys all about his big crush on Lane Tanner, but there was so much more than that to talk about! In this episode, we talk about a unique wine Lane is experimenting with; the movie Sideways and its profound impact on the wine industry; and, the value of having a mentor when you’re following your passion in life. As always, this WHAT THE BLANK bonus episode is just a relaxed conversation between friends, and so we hope you enjoy "eavesdropping" on Mere, Lou, Josh, & Lars! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
The Santa Barbara County Road Trip starts off with a huge win when we spent time with the one-and-only Greg Brewer of Brewer Clifton Wines. If you've been a fan of our show, then you already know that our absolute motto is this: wine connects people. And so when we met with Greg Brewer, of Brewer Clifton Wines, it shouldn't have surprised us to feel so drawn into his world, but somehow, it did! His ability to tell a story that carries you forward into a true understanding of his wines and the Santa Barbara County growing region is profound, and we feel so thankful we can share a bit of this experience with you in the podcast. Everything about this podcast is delicious -- from the stories to the four incredible wines he shared with us! So we hope you enjoy! To access any of the wines we experienced in this episode, or to learn more about Brewer Clifton Wines, check out their website: https://www.brewerclifton.com/ CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
Every so often in life, you meet someone for the first time, and you just know you're going to be life-long friends. Such is the case for Lou when he first met Jack Galante of Galante Vineyards — and we think it's safe to say, Meredith had the same experience! Jack is undeniably one of the most generous and kind winemakers you're ever going to meet, and his cowboy hospitality means you can leave your worries at the door and relax with a good story and a delicious glass of his wine! This interview only scratches the surface of Jack's story, but it's certainly a start. We do hope to bring you a future episode with Jack and his wonderful wife, Dawn, so we can continue to unfold the stories these two have to offer the world while we sip on more of their award-winning wines. If you'd like to connect with the wine community Jack & Dawn have created, we've provided the links to their websites so you can get on their email list and start spending your time with these two amazing people and their winery teams during one of their unique virtual experiences. Galante Vineyards: https://www.galantevineyards.com/Wine-Club // Dawn's Dream Winery: https://www.dawnsdreamwinery.com/ CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
We almost can't believe we landed an interview with THE Chef John Ash -- the Father of Wine Country Cuisine! But somehow, we did, and it turned out to be one of the most informative interviews we've done that brings the world of food and wine together in perfect harmony! In this episode, Meredith & Lou get to learn about Chef John's past experiences, but they also learn about one of the most fascinating topics for wine lovers: pairing wine and cheese! John was so generous to us as he walks us through some really valuable tips, and, he also provided some great connections for us -- and our listeners -- to source some incredible cheeses. To help out, we've provided the names and links to all of the places Chef John mentioned in this interview. For an INCREDIBLE cheese selection, look no further than Cowgirl Creamery! Chef John mentions how well they do seasonal cheeses — and, this is the kind of place that sources specialty cheeses you’re gonna want to try! Click here to visit the site. Gioia Cheese Company is the place where Chef John told Meredith to go for the best burrata cheese ever! Click here to visit the site. If you’re looking for vegan cheese and butter that tastes like the real thing, Meredith, Lou and Chef John can all testify that Miyokos absolutely delivers the goods! Click here to visit the site. Chef John gave us a great tip for the upcoming holidays: Keep things simple by ordering beautiful favorites online. And for Chef John, Zingerman’s is a great place to get the ball rolling! Click here to visit the site. For more information on Chef John Ash and all of the many ways he keeps adding beautiful things to the world of food and wine, visit his website www.chefjohnash.com CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing! —
We had so much fun discussing some of the things we learned from our interview with Chef John Ask with our buddies Josh Martin and Lars Williamson of Blank Wines. In this special bonus episode, Meredith set up a taste experiment inspired by Chef John Ash -- which turned out to be pretty enlightening -- and we advanced our discussion of how much more fun it is to enjoy wine (and food) when you keep things simple! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
The last stop on our Paso Robles road trip was a bonding experience for Meredith, Lou, and Josh Martin of Blank Wines. Meeting Raymond Smith, winemaker, and owner of Indigené Cellars added so much to this journey, and after you listen to this interview, we know it will be easy to understand why this new friend of the podcast means so much to us! In this interview, you'll learn how humility, hard work, dedication, and generosity come together to create an inspiring winemaker story, which in turn, offers up the world some of the most delicious wines we've EVER experienced!! We hope you enjoy this episode - and someday soon, some of Raymond's wines!! Now for some promised links: The charity Raymond Smith mentioned in this interview called The Old Skool Cafe - and it is one of the very best Bay Area non-profits! Our mutual friend, Teresa Goines, is the Founder/CEO of Old Skool, and our team has plans to shed more light on what this "youth-run, jazz-themed supper club" is doing in the lives of others! For more information, or to find out how you can donate, check out the website: https://www.oldskoolcafe.org/ SPECIAL WINE OFFER!! Every now and then, one of the people we interview for our show understands how thirsty our podcasts make people! So to help you whet your appetite and give you another reason to try the Indigené Cellars Collection, Raymond has set up a special offer on two of the wines we tasted in this episode: Get an extra 10% off on the Ambiente Blend & The Parenthesis Syrah! Use the Promo Code MAJOR CRUSH at check out. We just know you're going to fall in love with these wines, as well as the beautiful human being who makes them!! https://www.indigenecellars.com/ CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
Our road trip through Paso Robles continues this week with a visit to War Room Cellars in Santa Margarita! This is not one of our typical winemaker interviews, mostly because there's nothing "typical" about Andrew & Evan Nelson! These two brothers are a couple of the most enjoyable people to spend an afternoon with, and they are truly living up to their motto: Wine for All, All for Wine!! The focus of War Room Cellars is marketing, distribution, and sales, and everything these two brothers do centers around creating the best value and easiest access to the wines they procure. Their two major wine brands -- Bonny Doon and Lapis Luna -- are wines that are priced around $20 or less per bottle, and these wines end up on the shelves in specialty retailers all throughout the country. When we met the Nelson brothers, they were just about to launch their new luxury wine seltzer called Bubble Butt -- and we were lucky enough to get a special delivery after our interview with two cases of this absolutely delightful Rosé in a can! So be sure to check out our WHAT THE BLANK bonus episode where we talk about our impressions of this clever new way to enjoy a wine seltzer with our friends Josh & Lars from Blank Wines. ONE MORE LINK: Lou and Andrew discuss a fascinating NYT interview with the famous Andy Beckstoffer. To read it for yourself, we've got the link right here! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
We had so much fun tasting Bubble Butt! Every now and then, you come across a wine offering that combines kitsch with class, and that's exactly what you've got with this wine seltzer in a can! Listen in as Meredith & Lou talk to Josh Martin & Lars Williamson of Blank Wines about this happy sparkling rosé, and then learn how these four wine geeks help to round out their own understanding of the term "value wines." If you're interested in finding Bubble Butt, check your local retailer and ask for it by name at your local Trader Joe's! Or, you can visit the War Room Cellars website by clicking here! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
The Major Crush Paso Robles Road Trip continues, and boy did we have fun at Denner Vineyards! Have you ever heard that saying, "I'd rather be lucky than good?" Well, in the case of this episode of Major Crush, we were able to experience both! Our good fortune started with access to the winemaker, Anthony Yount, and the winery owner, Ron Denner, but the tasty wine, the delicious stories, and the genuine camaraderie we experienced made everything about our time at Denner Vineyards truly special! Josh Martin of Blank Wines joins us again in this episode and together, Meredith and Lou learn more about the Paso Robles Wine Country and how the soils, the freedom, and the passion for wine all come together. Denner is one of the most welcoming wineries we've visited and that spirit of hospitality is always available to people like you when you order wines from the Denner website. A special "shout out" to Autumn Cone for organizing our interview (on super short notice!) and for providing our listeners with details on accessing these delicious wines. For more information on how you can get Denner Wines, please visit their website: https://www.dennervineyards.com/ CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
Welcome to the first Major Crush Road Trip episode of the new season! We decided to branch out this time around and explore a different California Wine Country with our listeners, and our first stop was Paso Robles! We brought along Josh Martin from Blank Wines to serve as our tour guide — since he graduated from Cal Poly and knows so much about this unique growing region! Paso Robles is filled with terrific wines and the stories behind each one made this trip so much fun for us! And because of the constant comparisons that are made between Paso and the Rhône growing region in France, it made perfect sense for us to start our tour at L'Aventure Winery. We had a wonderful experience there as one of the best hospitality guides we've ever met (Leanne) took us through the whole story and showcased the amazing wines of Stephan Asseo — a true shining star of the Paso Robles Wine Country! Click here to learn more about L'Aventure Winery. BONUS ALERT: Be sure to check out the BONUS episode we've created to go along with this episode of Major Crush! Meredith & Lou are creating a spin-off series to support our friends, Lars Williamson & Josh Martin of Blank Wines called WHAT THE BLANK. In this bonus, Meredith & Lou sit down with these two Millennial/Gen Z guys to experience a new wine to Mere & Lou (Elbling), and to talk a little more about Paso Robles, L'Aventure Winery, and what the future generation of wine drinkers need to move from "Wine Interested to Wine Informed." CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
This is a new bonus series spin-off where Lou & Mere start the conversation with Josh Martin and Lars Williamson from Blank Wines about how differently the Millennial & Gen Z generations approach all things wine. This first episode reaches back to our Summer Series where Lou interviewed Josh & Lars about their new company, Blank Wines. In that episode, these two winery guys spoke very highly of a wine varietal called Elbling, so it seemed fitting that the first time Mere & Lou tasted this wine, they should do it with Josh & Lars. Then, the four open up and talk about our trip down to Paso Robles and the first winery we encountered: L'Aventure Winery, and then wrap up the episode with more details about Blank. CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
Welcome back to a brand new season of Major Crush! Boy do we have a great first interview to share with you — it's with Adam Lee, a total rock star of the winemaking world, and one of the most sincere people you'll ever meet. He has an incredible story to tell, and the wines he makes are some of the most well-made we've featured in any of our seasons. Adam is considered by many people in the industry to be a Pinot Noir expert — and in fact, he is the Pinot Noir Advocate for Jackson Family Wines. So when he talked to us about how he makes his wines, we couldn't help but develop our very first "major crush" of the season! Adam Lee Bio: The Southern Baptist boy from Austin, TX developed a love affair with wine in college, and even though he never studied it, his mind and soul were divinely created to make it. Like many winemakers, when Adam moved to California he started his journey in a tasting room, but the calling to make his own wine was too strong to ignore. So in 1994, he took a leap of faith and founded Siduri Wines. Twenty-five-years later, Sidirui has a cult-like following, and Adam’s winemaking style has truly put him on the map as one of California’s top Pinot Noir experts. Adam’s passion for wine is very personal, which is beautifully reflected in his passion brand, Clarice. The wine that was inspired by Adam’s grandmother — who he referred to as “one of his closest friends” as a child — is one of his most brilliant expressions of his love for Pinot, and he’s even created an inclusive community called “Clarice Wine Community.” For more information about Adam and to find out how you can become a part of the Clarice Wine Community, visit: Clarice Wine Company (https://claricewinecompany.com/) CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Three drop every Thursday but make sure to subscribe to our show so you never miss a thing!
One thing everyone who knows anything about wine can agree on: it always pairs well with others! So in the final episode of our Summer Series, Meredith sits down with two of her favorite people -- her mom and dad, Jan & John Hale -- and Lou takes some time in the park with Ethan Glago, one of our favorite people, and, a bit of a Millennial wine expert! In this breezy and light episode, Meredith and Lou simply want to invite our listeners to see how easily people open up when you pair them with a good bottle of wine! By the way, if you want to find out how to get your hands on the wines Ethan represents, feel free to email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com and we will get you connected! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of our Summer Series drop every Thursday.
Not everyone gets to hang out in the Wine Country -- and right now, that even includes Meredith! She's been sheltering in place in her new hometown of New Orleans, and so we decided it might be fun for her to interview someone "in the know" in NOLA about all things wine. We feel so honored to have an episode featuring Morgan Fouss, Director of Wine and Spirits for Langenstein's and Prytania Wine and Spirits. This interview is for anyone who has questions about retail wine buying, and it's packed full of terrific advice! Morgan Fouss, Director of Wine and Spirits for Langenstein's and Prytania Wine and Spirits // Certified Sommelier/ WSET III Advanced. Here is a link for more information: https://www.langensteins.com/prytania-wine-spirits/ CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of our Summer Series drop every Thursday.
Meredith is the first one to have a "summer fling!" After listening to the BLANK Interview with Lou and his friends Josh Martin and Lars Williamson, she couldn't resist trying the unusual white wine they raved about from Luxembourg called Elbling! In this episode, eavesdrop on a call between Mere and Lou and hear a little bit more about this amazing summer white! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of our Summer Series drop every Thursday.
Welcome to our first full episode of the Major Crush Summer Series! We're excited for you to meet Lars Williamson & Josh Martin, two up-and-coming entrepreneurs who, we believe, are about to change the wine industry for the better! In this episode, Lou interviews these two down-to-earth and totally switched on guys to talk about the future of wine, and their unique wine brand, Blank Wines. One of the biggest mystery in the wine business today is how to attract more millennials to wine, and it just might be that Josh & Lars have the answer! We'll be inviting these two back for a Season 3 episode once the Blank Wine brand launches, but for now, you can go to www.blankwines.com for more information. CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of this short Summer Series drop every Thursday.
The Major Crush Summer Series starts this month! So get yourself ready to have a summer crush — on all things wine!!
It's shocking to us that we've just finished our second season of the Major Crush Podcast! But it's true, and this season was so much fun! In this final episode of the season, Meredith and Lou reminisce about all of the great people they met and recall all of the great topics they unpacked together. If you haven't listened to this season of Major Crush, this episode might be a fun way to get started -- because it gives you a glimpse into the season while wetting your whistle for more!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! We will be back for Season 3 of Major Crush before you know it, so keep in touch on social media for Major Crush announcements.
It was such a huge pleasure to be able to spend time with one of the most notable young winemakers Meredith & Lou have ever interviewed: Jesse Katz. His resume reads like someone who should be much older than 36, and his wines are so spectacular that it's only reasonable to assume this man is truly gifted. In this interview, Meredith and Lou are two of the first people to do a tasting with Jesse in his brand new tasting facility which is perfectly situated in a spot where three famed Sonoma County AVAs come together: Russian River, Dry Creek & Chalk Hill. Jesse's honest passion for Sonoma County comes through in this interview, and his wines were more than just a little "crush-worthy!" LISTENER NOTE: The new Aperture Tasting Room will be open as soon as it's safe for people to come back to the Wine Country, so please check out the website (www.aperature-cellars.com) for updates and to purchase wines from their collection. CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
If the name of this episode makes you wonder if Meredith & Lou have suddenly gone pretentious on you, well...think again! There's absolutely nothing snobby or unapproachable about Lindsey Blanchard & Ryan Kuhlmann — the husband and wife duo behind Wine Snob! In this charming installment of Major Crush, you're going to get to meet two of the most sincere people who truly love wine and the journey it is taking them on. For two lawyers who have just started their own label, Lindsey & Ryan have an authentic talent for knowing how to make wines that are delicious, easy to drink, and so much fun to talk about! In this episode, Meredith, and our producer, Sonja Zant, give Lindsey & Ryan the chance to tell their story and present their wines in the most delightful way. The inspired pairings and the freshness of their wines make this one of the sweetest episodes of the season! Featured Wines & Pairings: Wine Snob 2016 Chardonnay — paired with cheddar cheese popcorn // Wine Snob 2015 Tempranillo — paired with jalapeno potato chips to bring out the savory, and dark chocolate covered figs to bring out the sweet // Wine Snob 2016 (T)rebelrouser — paired with bourbon bbq potato chips and locally sourced blue cheese // Wine Snob 2018 Pinot Noir — paired with truffle-covered brie. To order wines from Wine Snob go to: www.snobbyowl.com // SPECIAL OFFER: Buy any 3 bottles and get 1 free Chardonnay! Enter code MAJORCRUSH at checkout. (Just be sure to also put the extra Chardonnay in your cart before applying the code.) CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
VIRTUAL TASTING ALERT: You are invited to a Major Crush Zoom webinar! When: Apr 3, 2020, 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: A Virtual Wine Tasting at Christopher Creek Winery / Hosted by Lou Zant & Meredith Griffin and Joe & Dominic Foppoli Register in advance for this webinar: https://us04web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GnmRxqHHQUyjt1JhkJ2HBA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. EPISODE SHOW NOTES: It's our second trip out to Christopher Creek Winery, and while this episode of Major Crush is still all about wine, it's also about so much more than that. It's about family...and heritage and discovering the stories and the legacy of one family inside of a bottle. We had so much fun spending a sunny afternoon with Joe Foppoli and his brother, Dominic. Dominic takes the lead in this interview and spills a few family secrets (which could also be classified as "Family Blackmail") and takes us on a virtual journey to visit the Italian side of this beautiful winemaking family! This interview was recorded in February of 2020, and at the time, life was very different. But everything changed in March, and so the plans Meredith & Lou were making with the Foppoli Brothers at the end of this episode were put on hold. But don't worry! With the help and guidance of Domnic & Joe Foppoli, we hope to bring you "Major Crush Italy" sometime very soon! But for now, the horizontal of Pinot Noir wines featured in this episode: 2017 Bacigalupi Vineyard; 2017 Eastside; 2017 Kasim Family Vineyard; and 2017 Foppoli Family Vineyard. Other wines Meredith & Lou enjoyed: 2014 Foppoli Russian River Chardonnay; 2016 Christopher Creek Nebiolo; and 2016 Christopher Creek Deux Barriques (50% Zin/50% Petite Syrah). CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
In this Bonus episode of Major Crush, Dominic & Joe Foppoli, owners of Christopher Creek Winery, talk about the 2019 fires. As the mayor of the Wine Country city of Windsor, Dominic's experience during that harrowing time is truly something, but his love for his family, his community, and the wines Christopher Creek Winery can share with others makes this sidebar episode so worth the listen! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
Welcome to a one-on-one chat between Meredith and Lou about wine varietals that are making a comeback in the US. Throughout the season so far, many of the winemakers we've interviewed are showcasing wines that are not so typical. Wines like Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec -- three wines that Meredith and Lou are absolutely loving, but perhaps people don't know all that much about. So sit back and have a listen as we explore these "come-back" wines that give you something new and exciting to taste, and ultimately, help you mix things up a little! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
Meredith and Lou have this amazing friend named Monica Stevens. She and her husband, David, own 750 Wines -- a totally unique tasting studio located in St. Helena, CA. As you'll discover in this episode, when Monica curates a tasting for her guests, her attention to detail and her authentic desire to pick the perfect wines for her guests creates this extraordinary Wine Country experience very few people know how to orchestrate! As Meredith and Lou interview Monica in this podcast, it becomes apparent right away that the way people come together over a glass of wine brings out the best in all of us, and when we are our best, we often "do our best," too! As promised in the episode, we've added some specific details to our show notes for you below: Monica's Crush-Worthy Wines (for today, at least!): In the interview, Monica Stevens mentions two grape varietals making a comeback these days: Grenache and Cabernet Franc. But she even goes a step further to mention some specific labels that she's really crushing on these days, and they include: Russell Bevan and Victoria De Crescenzo of Bevan Cellars; Band of Vintners (which Monica loves for her "everyday drinkers"; Helen Keplinger (winemaker) created a wine for the golfer, Cristie Kerr called Curvature; and Delisio Wines -- which is one of Philip Rothschild's latest projects. To find out more about Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch and how you can get involved, go to www.jamesonanimalrescueranch.org for complete details. CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
When host, Lou Zant, first moved to the California Wine Country, he came across a book called, Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California. Lou absolutely devoured the book because Frances Dinkelspiel is a marvelous storyteller, but also, this book mixes the history of winemaking in California — and, one of the most outrageous wine crimes ever — with a very personal quest to find out if the loss of a priceless family heirloom can ever be truly reconciled. Then, after Meredith Griffin read the book, it was obvious that these two were going to need to talk about it with their listeners! And when Frances accepted our invitation to be on the Major Crush Podcast, it felt like one of the most incredible "gets" we've had so far! If you're looking for a book to immerse yourself in, or, if you are in a book club and searching for a story that will pair well with friends and the perfect glass of wine, Tangled Vines (https://francesdinkelspiel.com/) IS the book for you! We hope to share more stories from this fantastic author — and friend of the podcast — but for now, plan to lose yourself in a truly fascinating interview! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
To join or not to join...?? That is the question of the day when people come out to the Wine Country! The whole "wine club culture" is actually pretty awesome, and the benefits to the winemaker and the wine drinker are mutually important. But since nearly every winemaker interview Meredith and Lou have done in Season 1 and Season 2 features a brand of wine you can't find on a shelf in a local wine shop or supermarket outside of Napa or Sonoma, we've been getting a lot of questions about the concept of joining a club to access these wines. So Meredith and Lou decided it would be good to take a time out to discuss this topic for their listeners. So we hope this episode is useful to you as you start to dive deeper into the world of artisan and boutique wines. By the way: Keep your questions coming because we're listening! We love hearing from our listeners and learning more about the topics, thoughts, and questions you have about wine. So ping us any time! You're such a huge part of the reason we do this podcast, and we're thankful for how wine is already connecting us to you! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
You gotta love a winery that leads with love and devotion, right? Well... Let's just say that's how things worked out for Meredith and Lou when they sat down to interview Bruce Lawton, owner of Pech Merle Winery. The attention to detail when it comes to how winemaker, John Pepe, approaches every wine he makes for Pech Merle starts in the vineyard and ends up in your glass. Like most of the winemakers and wineries featured in the Major Crush podcast, you can't get these wines in your local stores, and for the most part, you have to be a part of the club to access the very best vintages. But after you listen to this interview, be sure to check out the Pech Merle website (https://www.pechmerlewinery.com/) for more information, and, if you find yourself in Sonoma County California, it's absolutely worth the trip to Geyserville to spend a little time with "Jenna" and Bruce at the totally hip and unique Pech Merle Tasting Lounge! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
The real world of wine is full of some truly incredible people, but two of the very best are Ryan and Crystal Waugh of Waugh Family Wines. Meredith has a very personal connection to this couple and their famous wine club, and so it was really important to her and to Lou to introduce all of our Major Crush podcast listeners to this very unique winery. Waugh wines are only distributed Direct to Consumer, so you will definitely want to check out their website to learn more about their VERY unique wine club, and to find out how you can partake in one of their super inclusive wine events scheduled for some time this coming November. But there is so much to love about Crystal and Ryan -- and we can't wait for you to become friends of the Waughs! (For more information, visit www.waughfamilywines.com) CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
As you may have already noticed in the feature interview with Ryan and Crystal Waugh, this winemaking family is all about connecting to others -- and that even means helping others in need. In this special bonus episode, Ryan and Crystal tell Meredith and Lou about their incredibly beautiful charity wine program called Relief Wines. The way the Waugh's set up this charity ensures that 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the Relief Wine labels go directly to the charities they have designated. You won't want to miss this extra time with Crystal and Ryan. To find out how to order from this collection of award-winning wines, be sure to visit their website (www.reliefwines.com). CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! In this episode of Major Crush, Lou and Meredith talk about wine and love. There's just something about the way a bottle of wine connects people -- no matter how you'll be spending time together on this special day! As promised in the episode, we've added a couple of varietal picks to help you zero in on some "sure things" to share with someone special this year! Lou's Picks: If you're spending a cozy evening in, and you really want a red wine that pairs well with just about every yummy food you can think of, Lou's top pick is a Zinfandel. They call Zinfandel "the winemaker's wine" because it is so food-friendly, and it expresses so many things to so many people in every sip. If you're up for trying a Zin, you don't have to spend a lot to get a good one. Right now, 2013 and 2014 California Zinfandels are drinking pretty darn well, so if you're dining out this year, keep an eye out for Zinfandels of those vintages. And one more tip: One of Lou's all-time favorite Zin brands is Ravenswood! Meredith's Pick: You'll never go wrong if you pick an Italian varietal! Meredith's biggest crush right now is on the Italian varietal called Dolcetto -- which, in Italian means, "little sweet one." (How could that be a bad pick for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day?!) But this wine pairs so well with Italian foods -- as well as roasted meats and vegetarian dishes, too. But the best part about a Dolcetto is the price. You really don't have to spend a lot of money to get an amazingly drinkable wine that will truly elevate the mood and add a whole bunch of love! However, if you're dining out and specifically if you're eating Italian, you might also consider a traditional Chianti. It's usually one of the better choices on an Italian wine list because it is such an every-day part of the way Italian people express the love baked into their favorite dishes! By the way, we were SO LUCKY to get a quick "guided interview" with Christian Parks of EARTH & SKY CHOCOLATES, located in Calistoga, CA! As one of the premiere Wine Country chocolatiers, it was so kind of Christian to take time out of his demanding schedule to offer up a few tips about how to pair wine and chocolate. We hope to treat you to a full-length episode this season about the art of pairing wine with chocolate, but if you liked what you heard in Christian's "pop-in," feel free to check out his website: https://www.earthandskychocolates.com/ or directly contact Earth & Sky at 707-227-6116 to place a custom wholesale order.
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
It's the first winemaker interview of the new season, and boy this one is good! In this episode, Meredith and Lou interview Joe Foppoli, one of the owners of this family-run winery in the Russian River AVA of Sonoma County. Joe's Italian heritage and passion for family and wine make this one of the most personal interviews Meredith and Lou have ever done. Most of the wines that Meredith and Lou tasted in this episode are pretty exclusive, and all of the wines offered by Christopher Creek are sold directly to their wine club members. But if you happen to be in the California Wine Country, you really need to stop in to meet Joe and his family - you'll have an unforgettable experience! Be sure to check out their website: www.christophercreek.com CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
We had to create a couple of bonus podcasts to go along with the Christopher Creek Winey episode of Major Crush because Meredith and Lou couldn't stop talking about the wines they tasted! There's just something about a well-made wine that pulls you in deeper, and when it comes to wines Joe Foppoli shared with us, Meredith and Lou still had more to say! Be sure to check out the winery website to discover their collection of wines. // www.christophercreek.com // CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
One of the many things that make Christopher Creek Winery such a standout in the world of wine is their commitment to charity and giving back. In this bonus episode, Meredith, Lou, and Christopher Creek's owner, Joe Foppoli, talk about how wine and philanthropy go hand-in-hand while sipping on a beautiful Malbec under the winery's Benevolo label. Be sure to visit www.christophercreek.com to learn all about their wines and their truly amazing family! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
Sometimes people overcomplicate the world of wine, and along with these overcomplications come some very useless myths. For Meredith and Lou, wine should always be fun, but getting hung up on the details often keeps people from freely enjoying and experiencing everything a great wine has to offer. So in this episode, these two wine geeks debunk some of the most common misconceptions. CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
There's a pretty common saying in the California Wine Country called "ABC" -- Anything But Chard. People got a little burned out on the buttery Chardonnays that started to come out of Napa in particular, and wine drinkers seem to have long memories! But things have changed a lot over the years, and so in this episode, Meredith and Lou want to explore Chardonnays with listeners in a different way, and, they also want to help wine drinkers who think Cab is the only "C" word in the wine alphabet that's worth tasting! NOTES: If you want to explore Chard's but you're sure the buttery ones aren't working for you, Meredith and Lou suggested that you explore the newer trends in the CA Wine Country where winemakers are fermenting in steel, concrete, and 50/50 or Zero malolactic fermentation! It's amazing how this winemaking techniques are reintroducing wine drinkers to the best qualities in such a classic varietal like Chardonnay. Also, it might be fun for you to enjoy exploring Chards from other countries - like New Zealand or Australia. And if you're really done with Chards, our top pick is definitely a Chablis! If you're ready to bust out of your comfort zone when it comes to your love of big jammy Cabs, then this is the episode for you! Meredith and Lou talk about the incredible value and dynamically delicious taste of a Tempranillo with a classic steak! Other great wines to try instead of a Cab include a Malbec, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, and if you're feeling extra groovy, a food-friendly Zinfandel never disappoints! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
It's time for another season of Major Crush, and we're excited to be back! This season we're letting the experiences take us where we need to go, so we hope you'll join us! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts! Episodes of Season Two drop every Thursday.
So you're coming to the Wine Country and you're excited, but you also have some questions. That's normal. Everyone does the first time they visit! So Meredith and Lou wanted to do their part to help elevate the wine tasting experience for all of their listeners! In this episode of Major Crush, Meredith and Lou talk about the most basic questions they get asked all the time -- such as, What should I wear? How do I taste wine? How many wineries should I visit each day? These are all great questions, and they all have more than one good answer! So listen in as Meredith and Lou unpack their own answers to these very common questions -- because once you get some of these out of the way, you'll have no problem discovering your own MAJOR CRUSH in the Wine Country! //
NOTE: If you want to book a custom tour with Lou Zant, you can reach out to him by email at louzant@gmail.com or call 707-348-2307 and leave him a detailed message with your dates and the number of people in your group. // Rememberer: there's only one Lou Zant! So book your tour dates early! // Meredith also mentions her "wine and wellness seminars" in this episode. For more information on how Meredith pairs her passion for wine with her passion for a life well-lived, check out her websites: www.decantU.com //
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It's always interesting to learn how other wine enthusiasts add the wine experience to their healthy lifestyles. Of all the people Meredith and Lou have interviewed so far for Major Crush, Claire Lurton of Acaibo Winery has one of the most storied perspectives on wine and wine culture. As a member of a multi-generational French "winemaking family," Claire's point of view was truly appreciated and quite unique. So listen in as Meredith briefly explores this topic with a new friend of Major Crush! // For more information on Meredith's passion for pairing wine with a healthy lifestyle, be sure to check out her websites: www.decantU.com //
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this episode of Major Crush, Meredith and Lou sit down with Claire Lurton of Aciabo. It was an incredible “get” to spend time with Claire at her winery on Chalk Hill in Sonoma County. She and her husband, Gonzague, have a deeply fascinating history as a part of two of the most storied wine families in all of Bordeaux, France, which added so many new layers to the conversations Meredith and Lou started in three previous episodes of Major Crush where they discuss the various wine-growing regions in France. The personal details and perspectives Claire offers up in this episode are beyond interesting, and the way she approaches winemaking in California is truly unique. // If you’d like to taste the Aciabo wines — or any of the wines Claire and Gonzague import from one of their family chateaus in France, you can visit them at their tasting room located at 422 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA — to make a reservation, please call: 707-791-0943 or email pascal@acaibo.com // You can also check out all of the wines they currently sell on their website at www.acaibo.com
Featured Wines: The Acaibo approach to California winemaking is truly French in every way! So the two wines Meredith and Lou tasted in this episode were quite special and left both of these wine lovers with an intense kind of crush. The first wine was a 2014 Aciabo Merlot (insert varietal percentages) and the 2014 Acaibo Cabernet Sauvignon insert varietal percentages).
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It might not be the tradition to start a podcast with an episode that recaps the entire season, but that's the thing about Major Crush -- it's all about discovering new things in the wine world, and that includes being new to the world of podcasting, too! In this introduction episode, Meredith and Lou look back on Season 1 of Major Crush to help whet your appetite for the stories they will uncover when you journey with them throughout the nine full episodes -- plus some bonus content, too!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this episode, Meredith and Lou explore the French wine regions of Burgundy -- which is more accurately named, Bourguignon. Meredith and Lou unpack this influential French region that is exclusively all about Chardonnay and Pinot.
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
This is a very special bonus episode of Major Crush. It doesn’t get much better than spending an afternoon with good friends and a good bottle of wine at a picnic table in the heart of the Sonoma Square!
SPECIAL THANKS: We want to thank our friend, Ethan Glago for picking out an amazing aged Chardonnay for us to taste — the 2009 Auteur Chardonnay // Auteur Wines is located just off the Sonoma Square in the beautiful Wine Country city of Sonoma, but you can find them at www.auteurwines.com
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this episode, Meredith and Lou visit the gorgeous town of Yountville located in the Napa Valley to sit down with Philip O'Connor of Handwritten Wines. Everything about a tasting at Handwritten is an experience -- and that's what makes this one of the most crush-worthy wineries you can find in the Napa Valley. The attention to detail and the way they wrap their story inside of every bottle is fascinating and truly special. //Rob Lloyd is the amazing winemaker behind the Handwritten label, and he is truly an artisan winemaker in every sense of the word. You can read all about the winery and the winemaker at www.handwrittenwines.com/our-story
To find out more about Handwritten Wines, and to make an appointment on your next visit out to the Napa Valley, go to www.handwrittenwines.com and be sure to tell them you have a MAJOR CRUSH on Handwritten Wines! // All Handwritten Wines are sold direct-to-consumer, which means you won't find these wines in your local store or wine shop -- so be sure to check out their collection on the website. // By the way...there is a BONUS episode that we created where Philip shares more about his life and background, and where he tells you a bit about his wife's interesting life as a cheesemonger!
Featured Wines: The wine Philip shared with Meredith and Lou is the 2014 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon //
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this episode of Major Crush, Meredith and Lou talk about Bordeaux! This might be a wine region in France, but Bordeaux has a massive influence on how wine is made in the California Wine Country. Meredith and Lou tackle this influential Old World region and help to draw some direct comparisons between this region in France and California -- specifically when it relates to the Right Bank/Left Bank and Sonoma/Napa Valley conversation. //
SPECIAL THANKS: We want to thank The Panel Wine Club in Sonoma (www.panelwines.com) for allowing us to record this episode of Major Crush in their beautiful tasting studio! // Be on the lookout for a Major Crush follow-up episode from Meredith and Lou as they help to explain the French AOC system and how this organization structure influences how Old World Wines versus New World Wines get their classifications.
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you’re listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this special bonus episode, Meredith and Lou get personal with Philip O'Connor about his background and life, and we also get to learn a little bit more about his daughter (soon-to-be-2-year-old, Edith), and his wife -- who has a fascinating career as a cheesemonger!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this episode of Major Crush, Meredith and Lou spend a little time with one of the most interesting and storied winemakers in all of Napa Valley: Ron Fenolio. One of the many things that make this interview so interesting for Meredith, Lou, and all of our listeners is that the first commercial vintage Ron ever produced was entered into the 1976 Judgement of Paris, and it won "The Most French Like Chardonnay!" Ron tells Meredith and Lou his story as well as gives these two some unique insight into the early days of winemaking in the Napa Valley, his personal philosophies on food and wine, and he also details his journey as the owner of one of the original wineries established in the Napa Valley in the early 1970s: Veedercrest. //www.veedercrestwines.com //
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this special Major Crush Bonus Episode, Meredith kicks things off by sharing a few more thoughts about her passion for "wine and wellness," and then leads us into a fascinating discussion with Ridgely Evers about growing Italian varietals in the California Wine Country. To hear the full-length interview with the DeVero team, be sure to check out Episode 5 of Season One of Major Crush!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this episode of Major Crush, Meredith and Lou take some time out to talk about one of the biggest influences in the California Wine Country: Rhône varietals. It's amazing to discover how influential this region of France is when you take a closer look at what the winemakers these two are meeting have chosen to grow and make. So it seemed right to take a full episode to unpack this region that is so rich in heritage, but also so storied in how the French curate their vintages. // We want to thank The Panel Wine Bar in Sonoma for allowing us to record this episode of Major Crush in their beautiful tasting studio! // Some of the California wineries that were mentioned in this episode include //Judge Palmer Winery // Williamson Wines // Roger Roessler //Winery Sixteen 600// Thanks for listening to this episode of Major Crush!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and your listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
An afternoon with Ridgely Evers is something Lou and Meredith will never forget! And in order to give you the full experience, we've created this BONUS episode that features our tour around the DaVero Winery property. Learning all about Ridgely's past and the details of his approach to farming and curating biodynamically balanced wines were just some of the highlights of our visit, and so we hope you'll enjoy this additional podcast episode! To learn more about Ridgely and his team, go to www.davero.com // To hear the complete Major Crush interview with Ridgley, be sure to check out Episode 5!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Spending an afternoon with Ridgely Evers, founder of DaVero Winery, was one of the most interesting and informative sit-downs Meredith and Lou have had so far, and one thing’s for certain: these two have a Major Crush on DaVero Winery! Ridgely is a tech-guy by trade, but a farmer by instinct, and so his passion for biodynamic farming combines almost poetically with his understanding of science and the movement of nature. This episode was so full of great information that we’ve had to create two bonus episodes just to share everything we learned! DaVero’s focus on Italian varietals is a reflection of this winery’s commitment to growing grapes in the climate they were meant to grow in, and the Dry Creek AVA of Sonoma County is the mirror image of the Mediterranean. DaVero Winery is a club-only, direct-to-consumer winery, so in order to access their wines, you’ll want to join their club. But if you’re ever in the Wine Country, you’ll definitely want to make an appointment and experience this winery for yourself! /// Call 707-431-8000 ex 1 to make a reservation /// www.davero.com //
Featured Wines: The wines Meredith and Lou tasted in this episode are as follows: 2015 Altobasso /// 2015 Sagrantino /// 2016 Malvasia Bianca
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this special bonus episode, Lou leads us into a conversation with Bill Williamson on his leadership concepts and how he's applied his vast knowledge to the world of wine. It's just a sneak peek into how interesting the Williamson Wines brand truly is, and it will give you another taste of how great Meredith and Lou's time with Bill was. Just as a reminder, if you haven't listened to the full-length interview with Bill Williamson, it's Episode 4, and it's available wherever you access the Major Crush podcast series!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this special bonus episode of Major Crush, Meredith briefly touches on how diet and food concerns factor into a person's wine-drinking choices. She also discusses how a wine's alcohol content fits into healthy decision-making, and then she turns it over to Bill Williamson of Williamson Wines to give his thoughts on how alcohol impacts the flavor and balanced enjoyment of his wines. To hear the full-length interview with Bill Williamson, be sure to check out Episode 4 of Major Crush -- it was one of Meredith and Lou's favorite interviews so far!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Meredith and Lou had the best time with Bill Williamson of Williamson Wines, and we know you’re going to want to source these show notes for all of the information you’ll need to experience Williamson Wines for yourself. Because Williamson uses a club-only, direct-to-consumer business model, you can’t get any of his amazing wines at your local retailer — you have to go direct! But joining the Williamson Wines Club will not disappoint! They have come up with so many ways for you to experience their collection of more than 40 different wines — all with their own unique story and pairing suggestions. Plus, Williamson has a cheese club and Bill’s Cellar Club, too, which allows you to get some of Bill’s favorite picks created by other winemakers from around the world. In addition, Williamson’s incredible team of chefs have posted the most stunning recipes for you to explore — all based on Bill’s belief that a recipe should create the most delicious dishes to go with his wines, but also, these recipes should be able to be prepared in your own kitchen with simple and easy to find ingredients. You can find everything you need at Williamson wines (www.williamsonwines.com) /// Visit the Williamson Wines Tasting Room at 134 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448 // Call 707-433-1500 or email info@williamsonwines.com to make a reservation // When you contact this winery, be sure to tell them you have a MAJOR CRUSH on Williamson Wines!
Featured Wines: The wines featured in this episode include the Ravish Mélange /// Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon /// Fizz Sparkling White Wine.
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
In this bonus episode, we do something we probably should've done right off that bat -- introduce you to Meredith Griffin and Lou Zant, that is! But it's never too late to get to know someone, and so in this installment of Major Crush, Meredith and Lou take some time to talk about themselves!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
It's pretty clear that Lou and Meredith have a MAJOR CRUSH on Judge Palmer Wines! So in this BONUS episode, they go back and meet with Palmer Emmitt, the co-owner of this amazing winery, but this time, dessert wines are the main focus! Palmer walks Meredith and Lou through a beautiful sweet wine tasting, featuring three of their most unique offerings! Palmer also teaches these two crushers how Solera wines are made, and they get to taste two Solera wines that aren't even in the bottle yet! It's a gorgeous afternoon to be sipping wine with great friends, and we hope you enjoy this experience of learning along with Meredith and Lou!
Featured Wines: The wines featured in this episode include the following: Judge Palmer Quarante Deux "40 Deuce" Sauvignon Blanc Single Barrel Reserve White Wine / 2017 Domenica Amato Appiccicoso / Gavel 1 & Gavel 2 Solera (pre-orders only). Visit Judge Palmer Wines (www.judgepalmer.com) to order any of the wines from the spectacular winery, and be sure and tell them you have a MAJOR CRUSH on Judge Palmer wines!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!
Welcome to our third episode of Season 1: The Dirty Crush! This time, Meredith & Lou visit Judge Palmer Winery in the heart of the Dry Creek AVA in Sonoma County, CA. Micheal Scorsone, one of the owners and winemakers at this boutique winery is such a pleasure to be around, and his laid-back style and incredible passion for wine (and food) make this episode educational but so very entertaining! NOTES: Judge Palmer Winery has two labels: Domenica Amato and Judge Palmer -- and both are featured and talked about in this episode.
Featured Wines: You can purchase any of the wines Meredith and Lou discussed with Michael on the Judge Palmer Website, but to help you keep track, here is a list of the wines Michael showcased in this episode: 2017 Domenica Amato Granche Blanc -- 2017 Domenica Amato Viognier -- 2016 Domenica Amato Roussanne -- 2017 Domenica Amato Grenache -- Domenica Amato Gusto Rousso -- 2015 Judge Palmer Cabernet Sauvignon. The tasting room for these wines is located at 1830 Jameson Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448 // The website for this winery is www.judgepalmer.com // When you call to make a tasting appointment or to place an order, tell them you've got a MAJOR CRUSH on Judge Palmer wines!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Be sure to follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast
Welcome to Season 1 of Major Crush (The Dirty Crush). This is Episode 2, and it's all about the Napa Valley growing region known as Calistoga. This episode features a very personal interview with a premier winemaker and winery owner, Chris Madrigal of Madrigal Family Winery. Chris is from one of the most storied families in the Valley, and his philosophy on wine growing, winemaking, and living a life in harmony and balance with nature makes him one of Meredith and Lou's favorite people in the California Wine Country!
FEATURED WINES: 2018 Madrigal Dry Rose / 2017 Madrigal Tempranillo | To order these or any of the other outstanding vintages this winery has to offer, please visit the official website (http://www.madrigalfamilywinery.com/) If you happen to find yourself in the Napa Valley and want to stop in for a tasting, the tasting room is located at 3718 North Saint Helena Highway, Calistoga, CA 94515 // It's always best to set up an appointment by calling: 707.942.8619 Or book online at tastingroom@madrigalfamilywinery.com // And when you make a connection, BE SURE AND MENTION THAT YOU'VE GOT A MAJOR CRUSH ON MADRIGAL!
ADDITIONAL NOTES: This episode of Major Crush was recorded in the car, and on location at Madrigal Family Winery outside among the vines, so the audio production does have some flaws. We are brand new at producing our own podcast, so we want to thank you in advance for your patience as we learn and hopefully continually improve our process. But we can't apologize for the content, because this episode was as fun to make as we hope it will be to listen to! So Cheers to growing and learning together, and we look forward to featuring more great quality content in future episodes!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!