Another Bottle Down- Wine Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mark Rashap
On today's show, Jessica meets up with Simon Kelly, export manager of te Pā winery in Marlborough, New Zealand. Te Pā means "at home" or "the home" in Māori, and the owner and founder Haysley MacDonald can trace his family history to the early Māori settlers who landed on Wairau Bar 800 years ago. Simon explains how Haysley went from selling most of the fruit from the his land to larger wineries and then the path to make and bottle all estate wine.
Simon has extensive experience in the wine industry and really breaks down the state of the Kiwi wine industry from the meteoric rise of Sauvignon Blanc to perhaps a lack of recognizing individual regions within the broad category. Enjoy this episode with a plate of briny oysters and, of course, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Links:
Te Pā winery website: here.
Banville Wine Merchants (importer of te Pā): here.
Recent Wine Enthusiast coverage of Māori owned wineries: here.
Alessandro Marini is head winemaker at Tenuta Luce in Montalcino. Originally coming from the Marche, Alessandro spent time working at wineries in California and then Bordeaux, where he also obtained his Enology degree. Tenuta Luce was originally conceived as a partnership between the Frescobaldi family and Robert Mondavi and was the first winery in Montalcino to produce a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot.
Jessica and Alessandro explore Montalcino in depth and how Luce occupies a special place in the winemaking landscape.
Links:
www.tenutaluce.com
Importer to the US: Vintus.com
On today's bonus show, Mark and Jessica chat with Denise Silverman, the Executive Director of the Wine and Food Foundation, based in Austin, TX. Mark and Jessica will be on stage providing color commentary on many auction lots during the gala evening on November 2nd. Denise explains all of the ins and outs of the auction from its origins, to the featured winemaker Kathryn Walt Hall, to the festivities the evening of the event.
With over 70 live auction lots, this is one of Texas's premiere wine events. There is still a few days left to get tickets:
https://winefoodfoundation.org/events/2024rfw/
On today's show, Jessica catches up with Laura Rhys, MS from Gusbourne Estate in Kent, England. Laura has long been an advocate of promoting traditional method English sparkling wine and now works as Global Brand Ambassador for Gusbourne. She also is part of the winemaking team involved with blending of the base wines for the assemblage as well as the final disgorgement blends. Jessica and Laura dig into all things Brittish bubbles from the history of English wine to the various terroirs of southwest England and the future of the industry.
https://www.gusbourne.com/
Also, there are just a few days left to get tickets for the Wine and Food Foundation's Rare and Fine Wine Auction. Tickets here.
On today's show, Jessica visits the icon property of Ornellaia, situated on the Tuscan coast in Bolgheri. She tastes through their beautiful wines with the new Director of Winemaking, Marco Balsimelli. Marco joined the executive team at Ornellaia and Maseto in January 2024 and comes from a rich background that spans various wineries in Tuscany and Bordeaux, and most recently he worked for Eric Boissenot's oenological consultancy that advised on winemaking for more than 150 properties in various countries.
More on the wines of Ornellaia here.
US Importer Vintus's producer profile with Marco's full Bio here.
Tickets for the Wine and Food Foundation's Rare and Fine Wine Auction here.
Pietro Russo is the third Master of Wine in Italy and part of the group of Italian MW's who are now being referred to as the "Three Muscateers" (coined by Stevie Kim of VinItaly). He grew up in the region of Marsala and after travelling the world and making wine in other countries returned to Sicily to make wine at Donnafugata. In 2024, he transitioned from official winemaker of Donnafugata to consultant and started a project based on old vine Grillo called Officina del Vento. Jessica digs into all facets of passing the MW exam along with the genesis of this new project all about high-quality and camaraderie.
Donnafugata website: https://www.donnafugata.it
Pietro Russo on the Master of Wine website: https://www.mastersofwine.org/pietro-russo-mw
Announcement of Officina del Vento: here.
On today's show, Mark catches up with Jeremy Hart, co-founder of Somm.ai.
Jeremy Hart is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, specializing in sales, brand management, and strategic marketing. He managed over 400 SKUs from 56 brands across six states while covering national accounts for a renowned importer for seven years.
He co-founded Inknowlogy Marketing Agency, created his wine brand Explicit Content, and holds the significant role as the Chief Strategic Marketing and Co-Founder at Somm.ai. Jeremy is dedicated to pushing the beverage industry's growth and promotion through data-enhanced methods.
Somm.ai website: https://www.somm.ai/
On today's show, Jessica catches up with PIerangelo Tommasi who is the Managing Director of Tomassi Family Estates and one of nine family members who make up the 4th generation of the wine company. Pierangelo delves into the family history, how their roots are planted in the Valpolicella, and the family's need and desire to expand to other regions across Italy. Currently, there are 8 different estates across Italy with 800 hectares (close to 2,000 acres) of vineyards and various partnerships in other regions.
Pierangelo is such an advocate for the region and what he calls the 'contemporary' style of Amarone, which focuses more of freshness and elegance. He also believes the message of Amarone should the emphasis of vineyards and terroirs over the process of appassimento (the drying of the grapes).
References:
Tommasi Family Estates Website
Famiglie Storiche Website
Antica Bottega del Vino
Jessica and Mark follow up the last episode on Piedmont with a more in depth discussion of Alta Langa while focusing on one of the pioneers of sparkling wine in Piedmont, Enrico Serafino. Our guest, Erika Abate, is the export manager of Serafino and has spent her entire life steeped in the wines of Piedmont. We dig into the origins of the Alta Langa apellation, the particulars of growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in this non-continguous and high-elevation region, and the how these sparkling wines are positioned to be some of the most prestigious in Italy. We cap off the conversation with Serafino's work with the unique biotype of Nebbiolo, Picotener.
More info on Enrico Serafino here: https://www.enricoserafino.it/en/
On today's show, Jessica digs into Piedmont with wine writer and educator David Way. David spent the last 4 years traveling to Piedmont and researching the widest array of topics including the famous icons of the Langhe, the more obscure regions and varieties further afield, various winemaking technologies, and the fascinating story of the sparkling wines of Alta Langa. With various anecdotes from the book writing process and some travel tips, David and Jessica bring the piedmont with all of its complexities alive.
David is also one of the people responsible for writing and editing the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) reference books. Jessica and David chat about the book writing process and the need to stay on top of this ever changing and evolving industry.
More information and useful links:
The Wines of Piedmont. Published by the Académie du Vin Library
Wine Friend by David Way- David's personal website and blog
WSET Reference Books
Matt Dees is the winemaker for sister properties Jonata and the Hilt. Matt and Jessica catch up about all things Santa Barbara from soils and geography to the more philosophical approach to wine.
Useful links referenced in the episode:
www.jonata.com
www.thehiltestate.com/
AVA's of Santa Barbara
Manfred has been the winemaker at Querciabella since 2010. He comes to Italia via his home country of South Africa, to New Zealand, California and beyond. Based on his passion, he has clearly found a home in Chianti Classico.
Jessica and Manfred dig into the history of his winemaking path along with that of Querciabella and the new laws governing the new premium category of Gran Selezione. We can't wait to try the several Gran Selezione designated as Greve, Lamole, Radda, etc.
Links referenced in the episode:
https://www.chianticlassico.com/en/consortium/
https://querciabella.com/wine/querciabella-chianti-classico/
Chris Brundrett is co-founder and CEO of William Chris Wine Company and William Chris Vineyards. Chris and Jessica catch up on the state of the Texas industry and the origins of William Chris Vineyards.
https://www.williamchriswines.com/
This is Texas Wine Podcast with Shelly Wilfong: https://thisistexaswine.com/
The book that Mark forgot that Jessica wrote: https://www.jessicadupuy.com/shop/p/winessouthwestusa
On today's show, we have Patrick Olds, wine director of MML Hospitality based in Austin, TX. Patrick digs into the roll of a wine director as mentor and educator, as well as his passion of blind tasting. He feels that blind tasting is not just a parlor trick, but a way to understand the world of wine and the experience of the guest to a greater degree.
Links from the show:
MML Hospitality website: https://mmlhospitality.com/
Patrick on Instagram: here
Jessica's article on the Renaissance of Cava
On today's show, Jessica and Mark take a deep dive into buy and collecting wine with Brandon Kerne MS, chief of operations at the AOC Wine Group. This is a multi-faceted organization that includes the Art of Cellaring (wine storage), AOC Selections (retail), and the Texas Wine School. Brandon cut his teeth at the Houston institution Pappa's Bros Steakhouse, and after passing his Master Sommelier Diploma and the pandemic hitting, changed courses into the retail and collecting sphere. He brings great perspective on a host of subjects in this discussion from the value of reading wine reviews to the vast differences of buying wine for a restaurant program vs for retail and AOC Selections.
Links for the show:
https://aocwines.com/
Wines by BK on Instagram
Referenced: Legends Portfolio
Molly Austad is wine director at one of our favorite spots in Houston: Bludorn, Navy Blue, and the upcoming Bar Bludorn. She digs into the process of being a wine director for a multi-location restaurant group and talks about her 'guest-driven' approach. Additionally, she breaks down why Sicily and Mt. Etna are some of her favorite wines. Pass the pavlova please!
Bludorn Houston
Navy Blue
Molly on Instagram
On today's show, we have on Steven McDonald Master Sommelier and Executive Wine Director of Pappa's Bros. Steakhouse in Houston and Dallas. We dig into so many topics from learning wine from a music backround, crafting a wine list and cellar that is ever-evolving, and to a couple of Steven's favorite wine regions, Piedmont and Madeira.
Some useful links from the conversation:
Pappa's Bros. Steakhouse website
Steven's video on Nebbiolo
Ian D'Agata's book on Barolo terroirs
Another Bottle Down is proud to be media sponsor for the upcoming Big Reds and Bubbles event on March 1 from 7:15-9:45 pm at the Skybox in Austin, TX. Listeners get $20 off with code: ABDPOD. Visit winefoodfoundation.com for tickets.
We cap off our holiday book series (and what an incredible guest to end on!) with Ray Isle, the long time Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine magazine and Wine and Spirits editor of Travel and Leisure magazine. Ray and Jessica talk about his recently published book, World in a Wine Glass: The Indsider's Guide to Artisinal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now.
This our last episode of 2023, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year's to all of our listeners!
Links:
Purchase World in a Wine Glass on Book Shop
Purchase World in a Wine Glass on Amazon
Food and Wine Magazine
Travel and Leisure Magazine
As a special pre-holiday series, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite new wine books - perfect gifts for the holiday season… On today’s episode, Jessica catches up with Mark Davidson about his recent book, The Wines of Australia.
Purchase The Wines of Australia
Born in London, raised in Sydney, Mark has over 40 years of experience in the hotel, restaurant and wine business, fifteen of those as a Sommelier. In 2001, he was named Sommelier of the Year at the Vancouver Wine Festival- also won the Spirited Industry Professional award in 2014.
As a Department Head and instructor with the International Sommelier Guild he was instrumental in the on-going development of the curriculum and has taught classes in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas.
Since 2008, he has served as Head of Education Development with Wine Australia.
Wine Australia Website
Mathieu Roland-Billecart left a 14-year career as a financial analyst in London to become the 7th generation CEO of his family's 200-year-old Champagne house, Champagne Billecart-Salmon, in January 2019. Though not originally groomed to take over the business, he was invited to return to Epernay, France several years ago to work with his family. With his background in finance and strategy, Roland-Billecart now leads the renowned champagne company, known for its focus on quality and gastronomy, into the future while honoring its legacy as one of the few remaining family-owned and operated houses.
On this episode, Jessica and Mathieu talk all things Billecart Salmon during her visit to the historic Champagne House this past fall. Find out how Billecart sees his place with the brand and where the brand makes special points of differentiation in the market.
Useful links:
Champagne Billecart-Salmon
Comité Champagne
As a special pre-holiday series, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite new wine books - perfect gifts for the holiday season… On today’s episode we catch up with Jane Lopes about her recent book, How to Drink Australian: An Essential Modern Wine Book.
"The landscape of Australian wine is cracking with new energy and historic traditions that make it one of the most exciting wine-producing countries in the world right now. But the scholarship on Australian wine hasn't always matched the output. How to Drink Australian corrects that. It takes readers on a journey around the country, state by state, region by region. Each state has an introduction. And the most significant regions have their own separate chapters within each state.
Purchase How to Drink Australian
Purchase Jane's first book, Vignettes
More about Jane Lopes
As a special pre-holiday series, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite new wine books - perfect gifts for the holiday season… On today’s episode we catch up with Tim Gaiser about his recent book, Message in the Bottle: A Guide to Tasting Wine.
Purchase the Book Here.
Tim Gaiser is an internationally renowned wine expert, educator, and blogger, and one of less than 300 individuals worldwide to ever attain the Master Sommelier title. He is the former Director of Education and Education chair for the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.
You can find more information on Tim at www.timgaiser.com
And, you can subscribe to his substack newsletter: https://tgaiser.substack.com/about
Earlier this fall, Jessica had a chance to explore a few Italian wine regions including Piedmont, Tuscany, and Sannio. Joining her on these trips was the every charming and loquacious Brian Freedman, a fellow wine writer, educator, and author of Crushed: How a Changing Climate is Altering the Way We Think.
In this episode, Brian and Jessica rehash their time with the renowned Gaja family who shared their properties with them in Barbaresco, Barolo, Alta Langa, Bolgheri, and Montalcino. Not only were the wines impressive, but undertanding the method behind how the family operates was a crucial part to understanding the Gaja brand.
They also talk about the historic Sannio DOC, a lesser known region in the U.S., but one worth exploring for excellent wines made of Fallenghina, Fiano, Aglianico, and more.
Tune in to this travelogue of these amazing wine regions and be sure to check out the wines of Gaja and Sannio in the near future.
Eugenio Jardim is the US ambassador for Wines of Portugal and wears several additional hats in his private companies WiFi Wine Time and My Private Somm. He is also Brand Ambassador for Ernest Vineyards in the West Sonoma Coast and Loco Tequila. Jessica describes Eugenio as the "one man party," and this conversation couldn't be more fun and informative. Eugenio brings an overall expertise of the entire world of wine to his stories and descriptions of Portugal, the diversity of styles, and the incredible value the wines offer. It's a good life when "on a bad day you're talking about wine, and on a great day, you're talking about Champagne!"
Wines of Portugal
https://www.wifiwinetime.com/
Ernest Vineyards
Loco Tequila
Thanksgiving Wine Pairings. It doesn’t have to be that complicated. The easy go-to options include Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay are pretty safe bets. But what about Etna Rosso for Smoked Turkey or White Lambrusco to kick off the meal? I’m this special episode, we’re joined by Austin sommelier Ali Schmidt who serves as the wine director for Emmer & Rye Hospitality who has all sorts of hints and tips for how to select some of the best wines for Thanksgiving Dinner.
Tune in to hear some of our picks including the aforementioned Etna Rosso and White Lambrusco along with a South African Chenin Blanc, French Cider, and a Texas Syrah!
As a special pre-holiday series, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite new wine books - perfect gifts for the holiday season… On today’s episode we catch up with Shelley Lindgren about her latest book, Italian Wine.
Purchase a copy of Italian Wine here.
Shelley Lindgren is the wine director and owner of San Francisco’s beloved Italian restaurant, A16. She has received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program and has been knighted by the Italian government, receiving the prestigious "Cavaliere dell'Ordine Della Stella Italia" (Dott.ssa) distinction for her work promoting Italian wine. Shelley’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, Punch, San Francisco Chronicle, and many other publications. She served on the board of La Cocina, the Guild of Sommeliers, and Slide Ranch and is a member of Les Dames d’ Escoffier. A16 is also located in Oakland and 2 locations in Japan. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, two sons, and a border collie.
We already had a chance to hear from Andrea Lonardi last winter regarding the wines of Vino Nobile de Montepulciano. As the COO and director of winemaking for Angelini Wines and Estates, Andrea balances business sense with his viticulture and winemaking expertise to drive marketing and sales for the company while also innovating production in numerous Italian wine regions where Angelini holds estates, namely Valpolicella (Bertani), Brunello di Montalcino (Val di Suga), Chianti Classico (San Leonino), Vino Nobile di Montalpulciano (Tenuta Trerose), Friuli (Cantina Puiatti), and Castelli de Jesi (Fazi Battaglia and Tenute San Sisto).
In September, Jessica had a chance to attend Bertani's Amarone Academy, gaining in-depth exposure to the vineyards, soils, grape varieties, harvesting, and process of making Amarone della Valpolicella. While there, she sat down with Andrea, who had recently earned the esteemed credential of Master of Wine. In this discussion, Jessica and Andrea talk about Amarone, his work ethic, and a particular unique identity for Italian wine.
Expanded Bio:
Since joining the company in 2012, Andrea has been instrumental in orchestrating a relaunch for the historic brand Bertani, reinstating a strong stylistic identity to Amarone and Valpolicella, zoning Montalcino through distinctive vineyard selection, shaping new labeling guidelines in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti Classico, and connecting with key international fine wine distributors.
Andrea started his career in marketing and sales for the largest Italian wine group (GIV), expanding indigenous southern Italian grape varieties to the US market, and was promoted to viticulture director, responsible for more than 1,000 hectares and 13 estates from the Alps to Sicily.
On today's show, we delve into all things Lambrusco with Alicia Lini, 4th generation of Lini 1910. We highlight why Emilia Romagna is so special, what makes quality Lambrusco, and the pleasures of enjoying this style of wine with food. I particularly enjoyed hearing Alicia talk about how the various varieties of Lambrusco lend different characteristics to the final blend. Coming out of a dark age of sweet and poorly made 'beverage' as Alicia calls it, Lambrusco is now in a veritable renaissance of artisanal sparkling wine.
Lini 1910 website
Follow Alicia Lini on Instagram: here
On today's show, Jessica welcomes back wine industry veteran Matt Dulle . Matt was on the show a couple months ago but has since taken up the post of Wine Director at Wolfgang Puck's Spago, Beverly Hills. Matt and Jessica tackle a variety of subjects from the interplay of wine and cocktails in fine dining to the challenges and joys of taking over an iconic wine program. We can't wait to dine with Matt at Spago!
Spago Beverly Hills
Matt Dulle on Instagram
On today's show, Jessica connects with Kyle Stewart, co-owner of the specialty tea shop in Dallas, the Cultured Cup. They discuss all things tea, from the mythology around the origins in ancient China to the various styles and methods of processing. Throughout the conversation, they draw very fascinating links to the wine industry in terms of terroir, human intervenion, and various modes of appreciation.
Visit the Cultured Cup website here.
On today's bonus show, Mark and Jessica reflect on the one year anniversary of their partnership and the reboot of Another Bottle Down. They revist some of their favorite shows from the past year, reveal some intriguing statistics, and chat about what they'll be exploring in the year to come. Thank you for listening!
As always follow along: Instagram: Anotherbottledowncast
On today's show, Jessica and Mark dig into the rich culture, history, and production of traditional Spanish Cider, particularly from the region of Asturias. Jessica interviews Pepin Diaz Sanchez, a cider producer, followed by Eduardo Coto, a cider critic and judge, and David Menendez, the owner of La Tabla, a cider-focused restaurant.
We discuss all aspects surrounding the cider industry from the different types of apples used for production, how cider differs from wine, and all the cultural aspects around cidrerías, or traditional cider bars, pouring cider and so much more.
Sample video of pouring cider from the World Championship of Cider Pouring, in Spanish the specific word for this act is escanciar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HamCokfRzV8
Pepín's Cider Route: https://pepin.es/en/home/
La Table Restaurant: https://www.restaurantelatabla.com/
On today's show, we catch up with Ryan Cooper, owner and operator of Every Wine, a wine education and entertainment company in Houston, TX. Ryan is an innovative thinker in the world of wine and has developed unique protocol on how to connect with wine lovers of all levels. It starts by recoginizing we all know nothing, and from there can be free to like what we like and not alienate ourselves from other wine lovers of differing opinions.
Check out Ryan at https://everywine.co/
In the second of a two part series on South African wine, Mark and Jessica catch up with Sebastian Beaumont of Beaumont Family Wines in the Bot River, which is part of Walker Bay in the South of the Western Cape. Located very close to the coast and benefiting from the cooling affect of the 'Cape Doctor' winds, Sebastian's family farm has been a beacon of wines in the area, perhaps most famous for their 'wooden' chenin called Hope Marguerite (named after Sebastian's Grandmother). Sebastian talks of the time when he doubled down on Chenin Blanc and some of the new varieties, such as Mourvedre, that are turning winemakers' heads in the area. Don't miss the new icon blends, Vitruvian and New Baby, that are just starting to come into the US.
Before our conversation with Sebastian, Mark connects with Jessica via zoom to get an update on her month long journey in Spain. She's been steeped in Cider and day trips to various wine regions including Alsace.
Useful links:
Wine Spectator article on South African wine cited by Mark: https://www.winespectator.com/articles/the-promise-of-south-africa-073123
Beaumont Family Wines
On today's show and the first in a 2 part series on South Africa, Mark and Jessica start off with a quick conversation with Danya Declusin, owner of Cape Bottle Room, a wine shop and tasting room dedicated to 100% South African wine. They get into what the US consuming public is gravitating to in the South African Category.
Next, they dig into the De Wetshof Estate in Robertson with Johann De Wet. The De Wetshof family has been making wine in the Cape since 1693. And, after making wine in a variety of other regions, they settled in Robertson to focus predominantly on Chardonnay. Johann's father was the first to bring Chardonnay cuttings into the country at first illegally, but a landmark court case that ruled in the De Wetshof favor actually spurred a renaissance of new varieties being brought into South Africa.
As a disclaimer, De Wetshof is imported to the US by Broadbent Selections, the company with which Mark is employed.
Links:
De Wetshof Estate: https://dewetshof.com/
Cape Bottle Room: https://www.capebottleroom.com/
The Wines of South Africa by Jim Clark (One of the most comprehensive resources for South African Wine today)
Jessica Dupuy kicks off her month long stay in Spain with visiting the wineries of Gonzalez Byass in Rioja and Jerez with fellow writer Brian Freedman. They share all the super fun stories of eating and drinking their way through the countryside.
Mark stays back in Austin not jealous at all!
Thanks to Gonzalez Byass, parent company of Tio Pepe and Beronia: https://www.gonzalezbyassusa.com
Brian Freedman's book: Crushed 'How a Changing Climate is Altering the Way We Drink.'
With over 25yrs in the hospitality industry, Matt Dulle's hospitality career ranges from St. Louis to Chicago to SF/Northern California. Matt has been, most notably, part of the opening team at SingleThread in Healdsberg, CA, and Beverage Director at Lazy Bear in San Francisco. He's an Anvanced Sommelier and has been involved as part of the mentoring and leadership team at Texsom for the past 6 years.
Jessica and Matt catch up at the Texsom wine awards and talk about the role as a beverage director and his journey in the hospitality industry.
Apologies to listeners, we cannot yet announce Matt's next step/ restaurant
Links:
Single Thread- https://www.singlethreadfarms.com/restaurant
Lazy Bear- https://www.lazybearsf.com/
Rhys Vineyards- https://rhysvineyards.com/
In this episode, Jessica catches up with Monica Samuels, VP of Sake and Spirits for Vine Connections, just after the Texsom International Wine Awards judging wrapped up. The two had just completed a flight of award-winning Saké selections that prompted an informative and thought-provoking discussion. Find out the basics of what you need to know about Saké, how to approach the category in general, and what foods pair well with this diverse, and deliciously complex style beverage. Monica’s 15+ years of experience in the sake industry include working as a restaurant beverage director, overseeing the category for one of the country’s largest wholesalers, and now directly importing sake and spirits from Japan. She has been recognized for her efforts in sales and education in Wine Spectator’s “Sake’s True Believers (2013),” Wine Enthusiast’s “40 Tastemakers Under 40 (2014),” received the title of “Sake Samurai” in 2017, and as part of the IWSC and WSET’s “Future 50 Awards (2019).” Monica’s education in sake includes studying under John Gauntner and his Sake Education Council, where she received both Certified and Advanced Sake Professional distinctions; she is also a WSET certified Educator for the L3 Award in Sake. She has assessed saké for different competitions internationally and is currently a Panel Chair for the International Wine Challenge sake category. https://www.vineconnections.com/japanese-sake/
Jean Trimbach is one of the icons of Alsace and the 12th generation at the helm this benchmark family winery with his brother Pierre. Jessica catches up with Jean before an epic dinner at Jeffrey's and chats about all things Alsace. Hailing from Ribeauvillé, Trimbach is making glorious Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewurtztraminer amongst other things. Jean delves into the soils of Alsace, the balance of the wines even in warm vintages, and how beautifuly these wines are with Asian cuisine, well, really any cuisine. Plus, he reveals where the winery is going in the future and the 13th and 14th generations that will soon be custodian of their land.
https://www.trimbach.fr/vins-alsace
In this episode of Another Bottle Down, Jessica shares a conversation over lunch with Friulian winemaker Daniele Veurich of Attems winery in Collio and Master Sommelier Craig Collins of Vintus wine importers. The two share about the unique elements of the region and the elegant wines it produces. Located in the far northeastern corner of Italy, the hills of the Collio DOC are home to some of Northern Italy’s most prestigious vineyards and distinctive grape varieties. The region stretches from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region along the Slovenian border in the east, to the southern mountains close to Corno di Rosazzo and Buttrio. Defined by the Colli Orientali mountains and mineral-rich soils resulting from shifting alpine tectonics, the region is known for a particular rock, Ponca, which is a unique marl-standstone formed by repeated sedimentary processes. Vineyards are generally at higher altitudes along rolling hills with the Julian Pre-Alps that protect the vineyards from the cold winds of the north and are also influenced by the warmer sea breezes of the Adriatic Sea. Attems is a name rooted in the history of wine in Friuli Venezia Giulia with documentation confirming ownership of land dedicated to viticulture in Collio by the Attems dynasty dating as far back as 1106. Production of Ribolla Gialla and Refosco can be seen listed in the 1764 general ledgers. The estate extends over 44 hectares of south-facing terraced slopes to the west of Gorizia, protected both from the cold northern winds and the characteristic “bora” wind of Trieste. Attems promotes both native grapes such as Ribolla Gialla and Friulano, as well as other noble varieties including Sauvignon Banc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Merlot. Given the particularly idyllic environmental conditions, the vineyards flourish and yield their fruits in an ecosystem in which biodiversity reigns. Attems website.
In this episode, Jessica catches up with Pádraig Ó Graillais of Micil Distillery in Galway, Ireland. A classic story of Irish heritage, Micil is the creation of two brothers, Pádraig and Jimín Ó Graillais, who named the brand in honor of their great-great-great grandfather, Micil Mac Chearra. In the 1840s, he used to make poitín (unofficially) in the Connemara countryside. Six generations later, the family continues the tradition, making beautiful Irish spirits in Galway, For the record, poitín is the predecessor to whiskey. Both were distilled from malted barley and other grains, and both were known as fuisce in the Irish language. The word fuisce (pronounced ‘fwishka’) derives from the Irish uisce beatha, meaning ‘water of life’. This was later Anglicised to become ‘whiskey’.) Jessica had a chance to check out the distillery while living in Ireland last summer. At Micil, Pádraig offers a dynamic tasting of Micil spirits, including a heritage poitín made with peat-malted barley and oats, a small-batch peated whiskey blend with a triple cask, a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey and aged partially in Bordeaux casks, a delicious gin distilled with Connemara bog myrtle, heather, hawberry, and bogbean, and a dreamy Irish cream made with a special family recipe. In this interview, Ó Graillais shares the story of Micil and how it fits into the heritage behind Irish Whiskey. The big takeaway was seeing the next generation of Irish distillers committed to sharing the unique heritage of the Irish west. These guys are making everything in this small urban distillery and the hard work shines through in the glass. Can’t wait to share with friends. For more on Irish Whiskey, you can check out a story Jessica published through Food & Wine here. 'Sláinte Mhaith' - To good health! Micil Distillery - https://micildistillery.com/our-spirits/micil-irish-whiskey/ Food & Wine article - https://www.foodandwine.com/irish-whiskey-7110616
On today's show, Mark and Jessica interview two prominent winemaker's in the Chianti Classico zone. Federica Mascheroni Stianti is part of the family that owns the historic hamlet and winery of Volpaia which dates back to 1172 AD. Their vineyards lie in the Radda UGA at higher elevations and rocky soils. Alessandra Cascini Bindi Sergardi is current owner of Bindi Sergardi, with their top Chianti Classico estate in the Vagliali UGA.
Mark and Jessica delve into the reasons for this breakup and the unique vineyard sites that both Federica and Alessandra showcase in their wines.
More information on the rules of Chianti Classico here.
More about Alessandro Masnaghetti here.
To purchase the Chianti Classico book, here.
Kelli White is a wine writer and educator, currently serving as Director of Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood in Napa Valley. She also has written one of the most important books on the Napa Valley, Napa Valley Then and Now. Jessica and Mark could think of no better person to come on the show and break down the ins and outs of Napa Cab. Kelli digs into the history and emphasizes understanding the diversity when we think of this topic.
Big thanks to Jeffrey's of Austin for providing us with the most elegant of recording spaces!
Other resources:
Meadowood Napa Valley
Elaine Chukan Brown on Instagram
Wines of Napa Valley
On today's show, Mark and Jessica catch up with two very important producers making Vino Nobile around the historic town of Montepulciano in south Tuscany. Alessandra Cascini Bindi Sergardi (https://www.bindisergardi.it/en/)is the 23rd generation custodian of her family vineyards in Chianti Classic as well as the Tenuta Marcianella in Montepulciano which is a relatively new project for her. (Located in Pieve Argiano).
Andrea Lonardi is Director of Operations for Angelini Wines and Estates with the property Tenuta Trerose in Montepulciano.
Remember, don't confuse Vino Nobile which is made in Montepulciano with the Sangiovese grape with the grape Montepulciano which is grown in a completely different area on the east coast of Italy.
We dig into the unique growing conditions of this fantastic Tuscan area and really dig into the new Pieve classification, which Mr. Lonardi was directly involved with spearheading.
On today's show, Jessica catches up with Nic Van Aarde, winemaker of Oldenburg Vineyards in the Banghoek Ward of Stellebosch, South Africa. Nic has made wine all over the world (even in India), and has been head winemaker for several South African wineries, and now, he calls Oldenburg home. He breaks down the '8 Elements' that make Banghoek and Oldenburg a special place for growing grapes.
We also hear from Denise Silverman, Executive Director of the Wine and Food Foundation, on their upcoming event Big Reds and Bubbles, taking place on Feb 9th at Fair Market in Austin TX. Listeners of Another Bottle Down get $20 off per ticket with code: ABDP23. Also, Mark and Jessica will be giving away 2 tickets on Feb 1st, follow them on Instagram @anotherbottledowncast for details. Come say hi to Mark and Jessica at the event!
Links:
Oldenburg Vineyards
https://winefoodfoundation.org/
Wines of South Africa: https://www.wosa.co.za/home/
Map of South African Wards here
Book on South African wine by Jim Clark: here
Last episode, we took a look at the sparkling wine regions of Champagne and Trento… This episode, we continue our focus on traditional-method sparkling wines with a look at Spanish Cava.
More than 90% of these wines come from the Penèdes region of the country, a place Jessica had the chance to visit last May. Along with her was our guest today, Chris Tanghe MS. Chris is the Director of Education for the Guild of Sommeliers. Based in Seattle, WA, he began his career in restaurants in his native New England at the age of 13, as a dishwasher for a country club in Pocasset, MA. After graduating, Christopher attended the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York, where he was first exposed to wine.
Following his time at the CIA, Christopher worked in restaurants all around the country, eventually settling in Seattle where he began to take classes with the International Sommelier Guild. He passed the Certified Sommelier exam in 2008 while working as the Wine Director and General Manager for Crush restaurant in Seattle, followed by the Advanced exam in 2009 while Wine Director for Matt’s in the Market. In preparation for the Master’s exam, Christopher spent time working with Canlis, an icon of fine dining for 64 years with a 2,400 bottle list, followed by working with Rajat Parr to open Seattle’s RN74 where he specialized in Burgundy & Bordeaux with vintages dating back to the 1940’s. He earned the title of Master Sommelier in May of 2013.
Tanghe and Jessica talk about their experience in Cava, the new regulations set in place in early 2022, and the impressive quality the region is exhibiting in its range of sparkling wines.
*Another Bottle Down is proud to be the exclusive Media Sponsor for Big Reds and Bubbles Get $20 off by using code: ABDP23, Purchase tickets here. Info on The Wine and Food Foundation here.
As we say farewell to 2022, we thought it fitting to discuss the bottles of wine most likely to be popped to welcome the New Year: Champagne / Sparkling wine.
This week, Mark catches up with chef, restaurateur, sommelier, and consultant, Alan Tardi on a bit of the history and current trends in the region of Champagne. A long time student of wine who shares his knowledge through education and writing, Tardi is the author of Champagne, Uncorked: The House of Krug and the Timeless Allure of the World's Most Celebrated Drink. (Hachette, 2016)
But Champagne isn't the only sparkling wine used for celebration. From Crémant to Cava, Processo to Franciacorta, and more, there are endless options for glimmering bubbles. Jessica caught up with Matteo Lunelli, CEO and President of Ferrari Trento, a third-generation producer of sparkling wine from the TrentoDOC region of the Italian Dolomites. Lunelli shares the 120-year history of this mountain sparkling wine and how this lesser known region has catupulted to more widespread recognition as the official sponsor of the Formula 1 racing circuit.
Lunelli shares suggestions of a few Ferrari Trento selections including:
Ferrari Brut - The classic wine of Ferrari Trento made from 100% Chardonnay.
Ferrari Perlé - A selection of vintage wines from Blanc de Blancs to Blanc de Noir
Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore - A special riserva Chardonnay named in honor of founder, Giulio Ferrari
Alan Tardi also shared a few suggestions of interesting, delicious wines that demonstrate a new identity of Champagne that goes beyond bubbles to reflect region, grape variety, and production technique:
Champagne Producers Showcasing 100% Meunier:
Appollonis
Tarlant - “La Vigne d’Or”
Christophe Mignon
Champagne Geoffroy
Laherte Freres - “Les Vignes d’Autrefois”(old-vine meunier), plus two different Meunier Rosé champagnes.
Coteaux Champenois -Though Champagne is known throughout the world as sparkling wine, it began as still wine which can still be found in the region as Coteaux Champenois. Though harder to find, they are worth exploring for their complexity and reflection of terroir.
Pierre Gerbais (Aube) - 100% Vrai Blanc
Laherte Freres - 100% Petit Meslier
Champagne Bollinger - “Les Côtes des Enfants”
Louis Roederer Champagne - “Camille”
Champagne Drappier - Three different coteaux bottlings.
“Lost Vines” - While Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier are by far the biggest player in Champagne, there are four other approved varieties: Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Arbanne and Petit Meslier. Some growers have worked to bring these to the foerfront, offering a different perspective on the region.
Tarlant - BAM! (Pinot Blanc, Petit meslier, Arbanne)
Laherte Freres - “Les 7” (includes all 7 grapes)
The Aube - The Aube is the southernmost area of Champagne, bordering Burgundy, is an important winegrowing area that has been looked down upon by many of the bigger producers in the north. In recent years, the Aube has come into its own and is proudly celebrating its unique identity. A few key producers include:
Champagne Drappier
Jacques Lassaigne
Olivier Horiot
Alexandre Bonnet
In this bonus episode, Mark and Jessica catch up with four winemakers in various countries in the Southern Hemisphere to see how everybody celebrates Christmas in warm weather. So many interesting traditions are revealed in this fun episode: barbecues and brai's, bubbles, and Santa gets a can of beer in NZ! Merry Christmas and happy holidays from us at Another Bottle Down!
Notes:
30 degrees Celcius = 86 Farenheit
Big thanks to our guests:
Niels Verburg of Luddite Wines in Bot River, South Africa
Sebastian De Martino of De Martino in Isla de Maipo and Itata, Chile
Laura Catena of Catena Zapata and Luca in Mendoza, Argentina
Rosie Finn of Neudorf Vineyards in Nelson, New Zealand
*Another Bottle Down is proud to be the exclusive Media Sponsor for Big Reds and Bubbles Get $20 off by using code: ABDP23, Purchase tickets here. Info on The Wine and Food Foundation here.
On today's show, Mark and Jessica catch up with Marc Hochar, 3rd generation of Chateau Musar. Marc touches on the history of winemaking in Lebanon and digs into how his family winery has become an icon in the wine world and a model for non-intervention winemaking . Lebanon boasts fantastic growing conditions, perfect winemaking soils, and high elevation viticulture in the Bekka Valley, which all add to the character of Musar. Plus, Marc elaborates on how the family keeps the wine 'alive' through the winemaking process and catches us up on where the winery is headed in the years to come with the 4th generation.
https://chateaumusar.com/
Book on Chateau Musar: The Story of a Wine Icon
Another Bottle Down is proud to be the exclusive Media Sponsor for Big Reds and Bubbles
Get $20 off by using code: ABDP23, Purchase tickets here.
Info on The Wine and Food Foundation here.
On today's show, Mark and Jessica take a deep dive into all things Beaujolais. Instead of spending too much time on Nouveau, they focus on the various Cru (the 10 villages in the north of the appellation) and all the other points that make Beaujolais serious yet approachable and fun wine.
Additional commentary from Erik Siegelbaum and Stephane Lardet (audio compliments of Sopexa)
Erik Siegelbaum is founder of the consulting firm Somlyay.
Stephane Lardet is partner of Maison Le Nid.
Discover the 12 sub-appellations of Beaujolais
More on the 10 year study of the soils of Beaujolais
Public Service announcement by Justin Vann: Barbera Baby!
Thanksgiving can be one of the most intimidating holidays when it comes to selecting and pairing wines. Join Mark and Jessica for a discussion of their favorite picks for the holidays along with 6 other notable Sommeliers from around the US. Tune in to learn all the secrets and bring this year's Thanksgiving to the next level!
Commentary by:
Dan Pilkey- Scoperta! Wine
June Rodil- Goodnight Hospitality and June's Rose
Ray Sholes- Royal Vines
Paul Ozbirn- Neighborhood Vintner
Vilma Mazaite- Donnachadh Winery
And, of course, Public Service Announcement by Justin Vann, Nancy's Hustle
For Menu inspirations: United Tastes of Texas, by Jessica Dupuy, and Franklin Barbecue: A Meat Smoking Manifesto
by Aaron Franklin and Jordan Mackay
In this episode, Mark and Jessica discuss the results for the Texas Vintner's Cup, an evaluation of more than 200 Texas wines organized for the Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas Monthly magazine.
The goal: Narrow down a case of 12 Top Texas Wines for 2022.
Joining Jessica for the evaluation were Master Sommeliers Craig Collins of Vintus wine imports and Jack Mason of RNDC. They'll discuss their impressions of the evaluation and some of their thoughts on Texas Wine in general.
Below are the winners of the 2022 Texas Vintner's Cup:
2019 Adelphos Cellars Chenin Blanc 2019 C.L. Butaud Blanc de Noir 2021 Lost Draw Cellars Picpoul Blanc Rising Sun Vineyard Morning Dew White (Non Vintage) 2021 Hilmy Cellars Rosé 2019 Château Wright Liévre Red Blend 2019 Longhorn Cellars Petit Verdot 2019 Pebble Rock Cellars Sagrantino 2019 Llano Estacado Winery Sangiovese 2019 McPherson Cellars Petite Sirah 2019 Pedernales Cellars Texas Tempranillo Reserve 2019 Pedernales Cellars Touriga Nacional Honorable Mention: Hilmy Cellars, 2020 Tempranillo Reserve, Kubacek Vineyards McPherson Cellars, 2019 Syrah, Lahey Vineyards Newsom Vineyards, 2019 Malbec Pedernales Cellars, 2018 Valhalla Peters Prairie Vineyards, 2019 Barbera Ron Yates Winery, 2019 Tempranillo, Friesen Vineyards Spicewood Vineyards, 2019 Tempranillo William Chris Vineyards 2018 Mourvèdre, La Pradera Vineyards William Chris Vineyards 2018 Syrah, High Cross Vineyard Wine For the People, 2020 La Valentia Dolcetto Rosé Arché Winery, 2021 Rosé Becker Vineyards, 2021 Provençal Rosé Adega Vinho, 2020 Chardonnay, Texas Hills Vineyard English Newsom Cellars, 2021 Moscato Duchman Family Winery, 2020 Roussanne, Oswald Vineyard Llano Estacado Winery, 2020 Chardonnay, Dell Valley Vineyards Llano Estacado Winery, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Signature Series Pebble Rock Cellars, 2020 Roussanne
On today's show, Jessica and Mark break down all facets of wine education, from the three major certification organizations to self-study and everything in between.
*Note: since the recording of this episode, Jessica has passed WSET Level 4 and now holds the WSET Diploma, yay!!!
The top 3 organizations for wine certifications:
The Court of Master Sommeliers
The Wine and Spirits Education Trust
Society of Wine Educators
Links and suggestions for learning more:
GuildSomm.com
Peter Liem- Champagne Guide and Sherry
In this episode, Jessica and Mark talk a bit about climate change in the wine and spirits industry. For more insight, Jessica catches up with Brian Freedman, the author of the new book “Crushed: How A Changing Climate Is Altering The Way We Drink.”
Freedman is a wine, spirits, travel, and food writer, restaurant beverage consultant and event speaker based in Philadelphia. He is a contributing editor at Food & Wine digital, contributes to SevenFifty Daily, writes the Wines of the Week column at Forbes.com and also covers spirits there, has had pieces at Travel + Leisure online, Departures online, Whisky Advocate Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, The Bourbon Review, and more.
He has traveled to more than 50 countries experiencing the food, drink, and culture for his work. Today we’ll be talking with Freedman about how climate change has affected regions throughout the wine and spirits industries.
Crushed: How A Changing Climate Is Altering The Way We Drink is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
Follow Brian on Instagram @freedmanreports, Twitter @fdtreport, or through his website, https://www.briandfreedman.com/
As the 2022 Texas Harvest begins to wind down, Jessica revisits a trip she took to West Texas at the beginning of the growing season with William Chris Vineyards owner, Chris Brundrett.
Just along for the ride in a tiny Cirrus Sr22 plane, Jessica shares about visits with grape growers in the Texas High Plains, Sotol producer, Marfa Spirit Company in Marfa, and Dell City, home to one of the state’s most unique vineyards.
Note: During the podcast, we mention Jay Hill, a partner in the Dell Valley Vineyards in Dell City and his far-reaching Instagram presence. Since recording this podcast, Hill has removed his accounts from social media to focus on family and has stepped back from his central role at the operation. However, his influence within the broader farming industry remains impactful. The Dell Valley Vineyard continues to be a key site for Texas viticulture.
Handy Links:
GuildSomm Podcast: with Jessica Dupuy
William Chris Vineyards
The Marfa Spirit Company
Cibolo Creek Ranch
Visual Viti on Instagram
Dr. Dylan Grigg (gdylla) on Instagram
Make sure to like and follow the podcast on your favorite podcast platform!
Justin Vann has been selling wine and spirits in his native Houston for more than 11 years. He started around the age of 22, on the floor at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse as well as in retail and as a wine consultant for Houston-area liquor stores and restaurants. He was the owner and wine buyer for Public Services Wine & Whisky in the city’s Downtown area, as well as the wine buyer for James Beard Award–winning chef Justin Yu’s Better Luck Tomorrow and Theodore Rex. Today, he is the beverage director for Nancy's Hustle on Houston's east side.
With a sharp wit and an encyclopedic mind for wine, Vann helps break down the white wines of Spain from Rias Baixas and Rioja, to Txakoli, Sherry, and Cava.
A conversation wine professionals can sink their teeth into, this episode may have an “inside baseball” feel, but it’s a perfect primer for understanding the white wines of Spain.
Notable producers mentioned:
Rias Baixas, Albariño
Bodegas Zarate
Nanclares y Prieto
Do Ferreiro
White Rioja
R. Lopez de Heredia
Cvne Blanco
Txakoli
Ameztoi Bodega
Sherry
Bodegas Alvear
Toro Albala
Cota 45
Catalunya Cava
Recaredo
Gramona
Clos Lentiscus
Godello
Val de Sil
Canary Islands
Las Bermejos
Mallorca
Cati Ribot
Public Service Announcement: Moscato
Bera
Paolo Saracco
Vietti
Revived from a previous iteration in 2022, Another Bottle Down explores the when, what, why, and how of the wine and spirits world.
Get to know hosts Mark Rashap and Jessica Dupuy as they share a little about their backgrounds and what you can look forward to with Another Bottle Down.
Follow along:
www.anotherbottledown.com
Instagram: @anotherbottledowncast
Rania Zayyat comes on the show to talk about the Wonder Women of Wine Conference to be held March 2nd & 3rd in Austin, Texas. Rania came up with the concept of an event that explored gender equality a year ago and has worked tirelessly to put together a program that celebrates women role models and many gender topics in the wine industry. We talk about the program, the speakers, #FemmeFriday, and so much more. I’ll see you there, March 2 & 3rd. More info and tickets at: www.wonderwomenofwine.com
Michel and Marla are the wonderful people behind MichelThibaultWine.com and TravelCuriousOften.com, they have an incredible selection and well-priced offerings of French wine ( really, wine from around the world) and particularly Bordeaux through their online store. Additionally, they take customers several times a year to Bordeaux to visit iconic properties that you wouldn’t be able to see without “knowing someone.” We dig into so many hot topics in the Bordeaux wine industry, from tourism to consultants and international investors and so much more. Finally, to start off the episode, I provide some thoughts on collecting wine. (Skip to 6:52 to start right at the interview).
Enjoy, and Happy New Year!
It’s been a couple months since I shut down the radio podcast, but have no fear, the podcast lives on! I give a simple preview as to Season 4 and how we’ll be tackling wine discussion moving forward. I hope you share and like, and we’ll be in touch.
Henry Crowson, owner of Crowson Wines, is new to the Hill Country of Texas in Johnson City with his tasting room being open for about 3 months. Henry is quite the dynamic personality with very strong opinions on how he wants to be making Texas wine. He is a proponent of natural fermentations, no use of sulfites, no filtration, and high acid wine-making. He's making some delicious rosé, Malbec aged in oak and concrete, and some dry Malvasia Bianca. Such great conversation about what is possible in Texas!
www.crowsonwines.com
Jennifer McInnis Fadel, from Bending Branch Winery, and Ron Yates, from Spicewood Vineyards and Ron Yates Winery, come on the show to talk about the start of the 2018 harvest in Texas. They are part of the Texas Fine Wine association and always have great perspectives on the industry. Early ripening grapes are starting to come in for the Hill Country, with the High Planes still a bit further out. Hear all about the regions of Texas, the hot grape varieties, and the madness of Harvest!
Sergio Cuadra, Winemaker of Fall Creek Vineyards, comes on the show to describe the 2018 Texas growing season so far. This episode was broadcast on KOOP Radio on July 3rd, and Sergio describes what is going on during the process of Veraison. Since then, the growing season has progressed, and some wineries are already starting to harvest early ripening grapes. It's always great to have Sergio on the show, he comes from a background of making wine in his home country Chile, and really believes in the potential of Texas to make world class wine.
You can also listen to a previous episode where he describes in detail his research on growing grapes in the Texas climate, CLICK HERE. You can also read Sergio's blog on the growing season so far, HERE.
Barnaby Tuttle is owner and winemaker of Teutonic Wine Company in Portland Oregon. He's doing some crazy stuff in Oregon with cool climate sites and a sort of fearless wine making. Inspired by Riesling from the Mosel, Barnaby became obsessed with showing off how one site could express itself differently than another, the true concept of terroir. He is super fun to talk with, constantly referencing music and how wine (or beer, or weed), can make us all appreciate life a little more.
On today's show, we're joined by Eric Boisseaux, owner of Ch. Vannières, and Laurent Michit, from the importer H. Mercer Imports. We really dig into the tiny region of Bandol, which is right on the Mediterranean coast in between Marseilles and Nice. I learned a ton and I really love these wines. Big reds with a minimum of 50% Mourvedre, structured and complex rosés, and a little white wine as well. Bandol and lamb is one of my favorite pairings, hope you can try it with a nice glass of Vannières!
Andreas Wickhoff is one of three Masters of Wine in Austria and serves as general manager of Weingut Bründlmayer. We get into such great discussion on the geography of Austria with a complete breakdown of the growing regions. Then, we focus in on the Kamptal and the 800 year old cellars of Bründlmayer. Learn about the new Erste Lagen classification, and so much more!
Note: we didn't get into it, but they make some killer traditional method sparkling wine! Enjoy!
Jessi Cape, Austin Chronicle's Food Editor, comes on the show to talk about their First Plates issue. Jessi and team have chosen and outlined the 100 restaurants that define Austin now! We get the inside scoop of all that goes into putting this out, and hear about Jessi's top picks and the trends that are going on now in Austin's dining scene. Listen in and check out the feature:
https://www.austinchronicle.com/first-plates/year:2018/
Chris Kelly and Rania Zayyat, come on to talk about the cycle of class that they have been planning and hosting. This serves as a conduit to much delicious conversation, such as the ins and outs of rosé, orange wine, transparency in wine, and the wonder women of wine. Chris and Rania are knowledgeable, fun, and an essential part of the Austin wine scene!
Cesare was born with the taste of Sangiovese in his mouth, as he says it. He's 4th generation to be making wine in Chianti Classico, and we dig into so many topics that are very relevant in today's wine world. From the introduction to the Gran Selezione tier to what is happening with the branding of Super Tuscans and how they're involving. I also always enjoy hearing how the next generation is gearing up to take over. Please note, this podcast will sound better if listening while riding a Ducati at 200 mph (actually don't do that, but listen and you'll get it)!
Tony Schlotzhauer, local Austin sommelier, just got back from a month of working harvest on the Mornington Peninsula, Australia. Tony met the owners of the winery Ten Minutes By Tractor during a diner service at Jefferies and invited him out for an invaluable experience. We get a fantastic overview of the wine regions of Australia and a behind the scenes look at the experiences garnered during the most intensive time of year for a winery.
Mike G and his podcast Show de Vie dig into the spirits world and all the colorful personalities behind the hard stuff. We cross paths on his 226th episode and my 130th-ish, to talk about so many intersections of what we do, the podcasting industry, all of our great experiences, and so much more. Plus, we kick off the show with a 10 minute discussion with Kate Shelley, organizer of the Texas Wine Revolution, a festival held out at Horseshoe Bay which focuses on 100% Texas Grown and Made rosé wine! Check it all out!
Chad Stock, winemaker and partner of the Craft Wine Company, has an obsessive drive to discover what Oregon can offer the world. He is often lumped into the natural wine movement, but he is not opposed to additions if they'll improve flavor, not just stability. He has also been the first grower and winemaker to work with many grapes in Oregon, such as Chenin Blanc, Aligoté, Gruner Veltliner, Kerner and many others. He is constantly experimenting with wine-making techniques and matching up which are suitable for each particular grape variety on each different soil type. There is so much of this conversation that we can carry over to how to live and experience the world around us!
www.craftwineco.com
On today's show, we talk with a top white Burgundy producer, Henri Boillot, about all the ins and outs of making Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Côtes de Beaune. He talks about the growing occurrence of "premox," or Premature Oxidation, where white Burgundy will be dead and oxidized after only 3-4 years in bottle. He claims this is due to over-ripe fruit, new barrels, and most of all, the common practice of lees stirring. Plus, climate change, succession planning, and so much more. Big thanks to Michel Thibault and Marla Norman for translating and providing additional commentary.
Find more info on his wine here: www.michelthibaultwine.com
Amy Milliron and her family own the Hills of Milk and Honey, an educational farm in Dripping Springs. This farm has been one of the top beneficiaries of the Austin Food and Wine Alliance's 2017 Grant Program. Over $50K were awarded to innovators in the food and beverage industry, and the Hills of Milk and Honey is epitomizing this concept of improving food understanding and community through education. I'm so excited about what Amy is doing out there! Listen in and sign up for a class:
www.hillsofmilkandhoney.com
Aviary Wine Bar and Kitchen just re-opened after a remodel and extensive over-haul with expanded kitchen and seating. Marco Fiorilo, owner, and Alex Bell, beverage director, come on the show to talk about how they are connecting with the Austin public. Their wine list tries to bring guests out of their comfort zones, experiment with new wines, and learn a little something new (wines from Macedonia?). Plus, they have just launched the Aviary Wine School which features humorous and enticing themed classes for every level, such as Skin on Skin (Orange wine class). We couldn't talk about it on the show, but their prices are really good, too! Check them out!
On today's show, I'm joined by Austin wine industry veterans, Karen Dante and John Duncan. Karen is wine buyer at King Liquors on Burnet and John is an independent distributor sales agent representing several portfolios. They have witnessed the Austin wine scene evolve since the 90s, and both have unique perspectives on how Austin is changing and what to expect for 2018! Spoiler alert: they don't think I'm going to have my wishes of desert wines explode in popularity.
Tune in and see how your tastes match up!
Steve Warner, President and CEO of the Washington State Wine Commission, comes on the show to talk about where the Washington State wine industry is at in 2018. Over 900 wineries, 55,000 acres, and a lot of high quality wine! Steve, comes from such a privileged perspective of knowing and representing the image of ALL wineries. We get into what the particular regions are all about, and how their branding themselves, comparing the uniqueness of the state's growing conditions to those of other iconic regions, and so much more!
Stuart Thomajan, owner of the Chameleon Group, and Sterling Ridings, Chef and Partner, come on the show to talk about the highly anticipated opening of Guild. The Chameleon group is responsible for the Austin dining hot spots Swift's Attic and Wu Chow, and with early March as the slated opening date, Guild will fill the niche of top-notch seafood. Chef Ridings gets to spread his wings and break boundaries, and the seafood friendly wine list and extensive cold bar will quickly become an Austin staple!
More info: www.guildaustin.com
On the first episode of 2018, we catch up with Maddie Richards, Sales Director, of Rotie Cellars in Walla Walla, Washington. We talk about what makes Washington State unique and such a good value, and the relatively new AVA (wine region) of the Rocks of Milton-Freewater. Rotie was started by geologist Sean Boyd in 2007 with the first year of fruit coming from their estate vineyard in 2013. But, they're already making waves with their Rhone blends that reference the various styles coming from the Rhone, France. Check out all the good stuff here!
Rotie Cellars' vineyard in the Rocks of Milton-Freewater
Vineyard is a hybrid of head trained but then canopy is attached to a trellis wire. Look at those galets!
Managing Editor of StarChefs, Will Blunt, and Steven Dilley, featured Sommelier and owner of Bufalina Pizzaria, come on the show to talk about the upcoming Rising Stars awards on Dec 13th. We talk all about the Cava and Caviar reception, the challenges of pairing wines with 18 different dishes from all the featured chefs and culinary innovators, and what it means for a national publication to be highlighting the food scene of Austin and San Antonio! Proceeds go to the Austin Food and Wine Alliance!
Check out more info: www.starchefs.com/risingstars
Federico Lombardo di Monte Iato runs the Sicilian winery Firriato. He comes on the show to talk about how far Sicily has from its recent history of supplying bulk wine to Northern Italy and France. I learned a ton from Federico, from the various zones of western Sicily and even the island of Favagnana to the mountain wines of Etna. If you can't bask in under the Sicilian Sun, may as well listen to this podcast and dream about it!
Olive and Anthony Hamilton Russell, owners of South African wineries Ashbourne, Hamilton Russell, and Southern Right, come on the show to talk about their little nook of the Cape South Region called Hemel-en-Aarde. They are pushing the boundaries of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, understanding their vineyards and soils, and garnering attention world-wide to put South African Pinot and Chard on the map. We also have insightful conversation around Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, and so much more. Check it out!
I welcome sommeliers Rania Zayyat and Chris Kelly on the show to field Thanksgiving wine questions from the Austin public and beyond. Rania and Chris have tons of experience in top Austin restaurants and breakdown their classic turkey pairings as well as some non-traditional ones that might bring us out of our comfort zone. How does smoking vs deep frying vs roasting a turkey change the pairing? Check out the show for their commentary, and here are some producers and wines that they recommend:
Rania and Chris's consulting company: www.vintelwine.com
Wine recommendations we talk about: Riesling- A.J. Adam, Julian Haart, Fritz Haag, Willi Schaefer.
Gewürztraminer: Domaine Ostertag and Domaine Weinbach from Alsace
Moscato d'Asti: La Spinetta 'Bricco Quaglia'
Bugey-Cerdon: Patrick Bottex, sparkling red (delish)
Piedmont: GD Vajra Rosso & Langhe Nebbiolo, Roagna Dolcetto d'Alba
Northern Rhone: Andrea Calek 'Babiole', Franck Balthazar, Hervé Souhaut Syrah and Gamay
Texas Wines: William Chris Pét-Nat, Doug Lewis Tempranillo, Cruz de Comal, Calais Roussanne
Vin de Liquor: Macvin du Jura: Jean-François Ganevat & François Rousset-Martin
On this week's show, we talk Prosecco with Alessandro Samogin from Borgoluce in the Valdobbiadene. He grew up on the property and his wife is now the winemaker; they grow all their food for the restaurant and estate as well as produce all their electricity on site. What a crazy operation! We talk about how Valdobbiadene is unique and special, how Glera is king for them, and how there is now becoming awareness of the Rive (similar to cru). And, so much more!
Messina Hof, founded in 1977, is currently making 90 different wines from 33 varieties, wow! Paul and Karen Bonarigo, second generation owners, come on the podcast to talk about the evolution of Texas wine, the history and future of Messina Hof, and so much more. Check it out!
We're continuing to interview Texas winemakers who are innovating and raising the bar in celebration of October being Texas Wine Month. Doug Lewis of Lewis Wines is certainly positioned in the vanguard and has his finger on the pulse of what is really going both in the Hill Country and the High Plains. I always enjoy chatting with Doug, and I'm sure you're enjoy listening!
Continuing to feature Texas wineries during Texas Wine Month, we welcome on Jennifer McInnis, general manager of Bending Branch Winery. We have a great conversation about some of the varieties that Bending Branch champions, Tannat and Picpoul at the top of the list. They also use some innovative winemaking techniques, such as Cryo-maceration and Flash Detente. Check out what it's all about!
As continued coverage of Texas Wine Month, we catch up with Ben Calais at his winery in the Hill Country. This was a great conversation about this year's harvest, his focus on the Bordeaux varieties, how Ben is coaxing the most flavor out of his grapes, and so much more! Ben has a cool thing going on in his underground cellar, selling only direct to consumer, and cultivating a strong following! Santé!
We kick off our coverage of October as Texas Wine Month with January Wiese, Executive Director of the Hill Country Wineries Association. Then, we hear from Lewis Dickson, and how he is producing some magical 100% Estate wines from his vineyard in Canyon Lake, just west of New Braunfels. Lewis is a staunch proponent of natural or "hands off" winemaking, never adding yeast, sulfites, enzymes, or anything. We learn about the path he's taken to focusing on the two Texas hybrid grapes, Blanc du Bois and Black Spanish, and how wine should be the whole film, not just a snapshot.
Noah Ullman, owner of Vino Z Czech (pronounced “vee-nos check”), comes on the show to talk about Czech wine and the business of importing and promoting in the US. I learned a ton from this conversation: how there is a long history of winemaking in what is today's Czech Republic, how the south facing slopes of South Moravia are special for winemaking, and how diverse the wine culture is there with many unique grapes (Cabernet Moravia, Blauer Portugueser, and Pálava). To quote Noah, quoting someone else, "somewhere between Austria and Alsace."
Kevin O'Brien, GM of Expression Wines and Prime Solum, tells the story of how Bill Hill plants vineyards that become super famous, such as Gaps Crown and Zena Crown. We dig into the Sonoma Coast, the "Deep End" of Anderson Valley, and the Eola Amity Hills of Oregon. Steve Alley from the Sorting Table chimes in to describe these wines and how the Texas Market has been receiving them. Also, we hear about Broken Rock Ranch in Napa and so much more! Pinot meets TX tacos, what could be better!
Kelly Meyer, owner of New Braunfels Brewing Co., brewer Nathan Rice, and beer expert Justin Chamberlain, come on the show to talk about their beers that blur the border of beer and wine. Their Sur Lie program, beers that they age over different sorts of wine yeast, has captured the attention of collectors and aficionados, and we taste 6 different releases aged over different wine lees. These guys are pushing the bar of what beer can do in terms of food pairings, complexity, and bringing beer to a broader wine-loving community. Proust!
Texas Wine Journal Panelists, Jon Gerber, Shawn Croft, and Julia Dixon come on the show to talk about Chardonnay from Texas and around the world. They tasted 6 chardonnay blind and this is their commentary before they knew which was which. You can see the lineup below, but overall, great discussion around the most famous and infamous white grape out there. Plus, I think the consensus was that TX did show strong. Guest appearance from Daniel Kelada at the end to give insight on the producers and regions!
Membership drive is in full swing! This is an amazing radio station that allows this podcast, I'd love the support! On this show, we have other programmers and KOOP personalities come on the show to taste and talk about what are the best wines to have ON ICE! Feel the KOOP love and the diversity of community radio!
Julia Dixon gives us her recap of Texsom, the Sommelier conference that wrapped up last week, from the volunteer's perspective. She talks about some of the seminars that made an impression as well as some special wines tasted off-program. She reads her wine description that won the Guildsom Social Media contest for "Best Tasting Note." Plus, she has many other projects coming down the pike in the next couple months!
On the second half of the show, Jeremy Wilson talks about the TX Wine Lover web page and how it serves to present tons of information and to advocate for the TX wine industry. There are interactive maps of wineries and vineyards as well as one of the best blogs in the industry and podcast. Jeremy is a great advocate for TX wine!
We're in the throws of summer, and the Texas grape harvest is in full swing. We talk with winemakers across the state to get the low down of where the harvest is and where it's going across the state. It's an early harvest, but there's high hopes for the Hill Country and High Plains; "no excuses," says Sergio Cuadra of Fall Creek Vineyards. But the Gulf Coast and other parts of Texas have other difficulties. Check out the podcast for the full story!
Giannis Tselepos has been making wine in Greece, the Mantinia in particular, since the 80s, and can be considered one of the pioneers of the grape Moscofilero. Giannis, and his importer Andreas Zinelis (Cava Spiliadas) come on the podcast to explain Greek wine in general and talk about the regions of his three wineries: Mantinia, Nemea, and Santorini. Check it out to get a modern perspective on Greek Wine and a guide to pronouncing Greek varieties and regions!
http://www.tselepos.gr
http://cavaspiliadis.com/
In 2006, Randy left Houston to carve out a life with his wife in Napa, with the 10 year plan to come back to TX to make world class wine and push the industry. An internship at Cakebread lead to a job, then to a position at Colgin, then to work under cult winemakers like Mike Hirby and Andy Erickson. All this lead to served as the foundation of his own label, Lightning Wines, focusing on Grenache. In 2014, Randy came back to TX to launch C.L Butaud to push the possibilities of Tempranillo. Check out the podcast to hear Randy tell his story. He's made a splash already!
clbutaud.com
http://lightningwines.com/
Regan and Carey Meador come into the KOOP studios to share with us their quest to first produce highly acclaimed wine on the North Fork of Long Island then their transition to Texas. We get all the juicy facts of Long Island wine as well as a strong argument for why we should all be excited about Texas as a growing region! Get the inside scoop, cause they still have some LI wines to sell, extremely interesting Lagrein and Teroldego (yeah, that's right), and everybody's getting excited about their first 2017 Texas vintage!
https://www.southoldfarmandcellar.com/
Michel and Marla are the husband-wife team behind Michel Thibault Wine, which specializes in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and some select producers from Italy and the US. We dig into French wine, the Bordeaux Futures campaign, their travel business and so much more. Incredibly knowledgeable and down to earth, Michel and Marla give may tidbits to savor.
Isabella Pelizzatti Perego is 5th generation wine producer in the Valtellina of Northern Italy, and comes on the show to talk about her amazing wines, vineyard and cru-focused Nebbiolo. She talks about the differences of Nebbiolo from her vineyards, locally called Chiavenasca, and that of Barolo and Barbaresco. We also get into some of the sub-regions and special wines they make; it's so inspiring to hear Isabella's story!
Music is performed by a local female choir for which Isabella sings, called Coro Clara Wieck, and they're coming out with an album towards the end of 2017: www.clarawieck.org
Alois Clemens Lageder, 6th generation winemaker in the Alto Adige, and Jo Pfisterer, head winemaker, tell the story of their region in the north of Italy. We dig into their histories, the experimentation they have going on, the grapes they're producing in the Alto Adige, and so much more. I bet you didn't know they grow Tannat and Assyrtiko in Italy! They clearly had a good time with traveling through Austin and spreading the good word.
Dr. Shelly Sethi has a family practice specializing in Integrative and Functional Medicine in Austin, Texas. She delves into her philosophies on wine as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle that promotes good digestion and low inflammation. We also talk about some of the lesser known health benefits of moderate consumption of wine as well as the famous anti-oxidant resveratrol. Love wine, life, friends, and good livin' with Dr. Shelly!
http://www.drshellysethi.com/
Grayson is winemaker of Arché Vineyard and Winery in Saint Jo, about an hour North of Dallas. An odd place you might guess for vineyards, but Grayson explains how the conditions are unique and perfect for grapes. Arché was the first to move into the neighborhood, but now there are a number of wineries moving into what the locals are referring to the Red River Valley. Check it out, there's even a guest appearance by Presley Whitehead, vineyard manager of neighboring Blue Ostrich and Grayson's fiancé!
Adam comes into the KOOP studios to talk all about South African wine. Since the 2011 vintage, he has been in charge of winemaking at Mulderbosch, and talks about his pride and reverence in Chenin Blanc. We also delve into the difficulties of Sauv Blanc, oxidative juice handling for Chardonnay, the lessons learned with red Bordeaux varieties, and so much more!
Nicolas joins us in the KOOP studios to talk about making wine in Burgundy. Nico is part of the new generation of excellent Burgundy winemakers and makes 13 wines from excellent vineyards in Volnay, Pommard, Savigny-les-Beaune, and Pernand Vergelesses. His passion for Pinot Noir really comes through, and he has quite the affinity for the no-nonsense Texas way of life.
For this episode, we're joined by Dr. Cristian Maddalena, export manager for Schiopetto (Friuli) and Siro Pacenti (Brunello). Cristian has a PhD in history and gives us a unique glimpse into the wine and culture of Northeast Italy. He has a wonderful way of describing the unique indigenous grapes of the region as well as the International varieties that have been there for centuries, as well as showing absolute pride to be part of the Schiopetto family. We talk history, vineyards, culture, food, and so much more! You can find more information at: http://www.schiopetto.it/en/
Bob Lindquist founded Qupé in the early 1980's and quickly made a name for himself in the Central Coast for Chardonnay and the Rhone varieties of Syrah, Grenach, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier. In this episode, Bob gives a glimpse into California in the early days as well as how the Central Coast is a special place for grapes. He's doing something right when a 10 year old Marsanne-Roussanne blend is as fresh as a button and as complex as a marriage. Enjoy!
We delve into some of the WSET courses offered in Austin, TX as well as the experience of a Diploma candidate.
Brandon Watson, Austin Chronicle Food Editor, joins us for a discussion of their annual First Plates edition, in which Brandon maps out the top 100 restaurants in Austin today. He shares some wonderful info on trends in the industry, hot spot neighborhoods, and some of his favorite spots that are provide amazing food and comfort!
Shane has been making wine all over the world: Washington State, Osoyoos of Canada, Margaret River Australia, Golan Heights Israel, and Sonoma California. In 2013, he moved to Oregon to head up the winemaking of the newly purchased Jackson Family Estates properties of Gran Moraine in the Yamhill-Carlton and Zena Crown Vineyard in the Eola Amity hills. Working in complete synergy with his vineyard manager, Ken Kupperman, Shane is seeking to produce world class wines from Pinot Noir and with a growing interest to Chardonnay. Tune in to hear an amazing break down of the Willamette Valley, and why it is indeed a special place, as well as all the daring techniques Shane's using to produce truly exceptional wines!
In the month of May 2017, you can support Divine Canines during their Barks for Beers brewery promotion
Catch an in depth description of the food and wine event happening in Austin on April 6th, Live Fire! Mariam Parker, Exec Director of the Austin Food and Wine Alliance, comes into the studio to tells us all about the amazing chefs coming from all over Texas, and the awesome idea to pair Rosé with beef, and so much more! Check it out, http://austinfoodwinealliance.org/2017-live-fire/
Managing Director, Christine Collier, and Brand Ambassador, Mikayla Pope, come on the show to talk about the unique history of the Willamette Valley Vineyards and the Oregon wine industry as a whole. They have a unique business model of being publicly traded and owned by all of their investors. They have grown to be the largest winery in the Willamette Valley; however, they still do small lot fermentations, harvest tiny parcels separately, and are growing in a very sustainable way. We talk Pinot, Rosé, their new Sparkling program, and so much more!
Steven Dilley, owner of Bufalina, and Murph Willcott, owner of Texas French Bread, come on the show to talk all things pizza and the Austin restaurant scene. These guys are lovers of vibrant wine made by real people, growers that we can get behind and support. Beaujolais, Muscadet, Burgundy, and the new wave of California producers are such highlights!
This is a terrific episode featuring owner and chef of Emmer and Rye in Austin, Kevin Fink, and general manager Rand Egbert. They're talking about the the South by Southwest food events as well how they push the bar of local cuisine on a regular basis at the restaurant. Daily menu changes depending on what fresh and delicious coming in, heirloom grains, whole animal butchery, small plates, dim sum, and so much more are at the heart of their operation. Enjoy!
Chris Brundrett (William Chris Vineyards) and Rae Wilson (Wine for the People) come on the show to talk about the proposed HB1514 that makes wine labeled as Texas to be 100% from Texas grapes. This makes the law more strict than the Federal TTB requirement of 75%. Join us for the full discussion.
To sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/support-texas-wine-industry-pass-hb-1514-truth-in-labeling-act
The 2017 Slow Wine Tour of the US stopped in Austin, TX on Jan 30th. They were also spreading the word in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York. In this show, we'll hear from the organizers Giancarlo Gariglio and Jonathan Gebser, as well as a handful of producers who are doing amazing things off the beaten path; Gavi, Dogliani, Lake Guarda, Lambrusco, and Mount Etna to name a few. We truly get the sense of "Good, Clean, and Fair!"
Wine maker Patrick Baudouin from the Loire Valley of France comes on the show to talk about his region.
In this week's episode, we meet Adam Orman, managing partner of the Italian restaurant, L'Oca D'Oro. Adam has been in the restaurant world for many years, working in some top wine spots in New York, San Fransisco, and now Austin. He tells us of the philosophy of the wine and food menus, a focus on open flame grilling, heirloom ingredients, and the restaurant's mandatory gratuity to give their employees a livable wage. Also, we hear from LaSaan Georgeson, and her upcoming music and wine pairing festival. We get a taste of the bands playing and have some fun exploring some music and wine pairings. Finally, we hear from the editors of Slow Wine about their 2017 guide and the industry event they were putting on in Austin. (we will have another episode of expanded coverage on this event!)
This week on the show we interview James Sutton from Austin Eastciders and Jeff Bell from TX Saké company. Austin Eastciders has be blowing up, they've moved to a larger facility on the South East side and will be soon opening a tap room. Jeff from TX Saké tells us all about the saké making process and how they use all American ingredients to craft a TX saké. He also shares some cocktail recipes, which I've listed below.
Mango,Habanero, Cilantro makes 6 cocktails
Muddle
4 Tbls Chopped fresh ciltantro
1.5 Tsp Chopped fresh habanero (Add to taste)
Add 1 Chopped ripe large mango
Muddle til paste
Cocktail
2 Tbls of Mango Mix
3 oz Texas Sake Junmai
1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup (add if mango is not as ripe)
Shake in cocktail glass with ice.
Serve with Cilantro garnish.
Basil, Cucumber, Ginger
Muddle
4 Tbls Fresh basil
1 Tbls Fresh ground ginger
Add 1 Whole chopped skinned and seeded cucumber
Muddle til cucumber is crushed
Cocktail
2 Tbls of Cucumber Mix
3 oz Texas Sake Junmai
1/2 oz Lime juice
1/2 oz Simple syrup
Shake in cocktail glass with ice.
Serve with lime slice or zest twist.
Sergio is head winemaker at Fall Creek Vineyards and came to TX after a career of making wine in Chile. We talk about the challenges of growing grapes in a warm climate and how the vines adapt to produce wines you wouldn't expect. Sergio talks of his experience of making wine in TX, how the soil and site make all the difference, as well as why the winemaker must stay on his or her toes during harvest.
Check out the wonderful, insightful conversation by some of Austin's top wine people about the most enigmatic of beverages. Shadd Scott, Austin Manager for Pioneer Wine Company, David Salinas, Enologist and Key Account Manager for Pioneer, and Christina Walther Mogish, Spec's Wine and Liquor dig into all the particulars of enjoying the real Champagne. Happy New Year's everyone!
Wow, we're in the thick of the holidays with everybody looking for gifts for their family members, bosses, colleagues, customers, and loved ones. I decided to put a couple of the top scoring wines with the Texas Wine Journal, up against some heavy hitting wines from around the world (thanks to Southern Glazers for providing), Listen in to hear how the Texas wines fared against their foreign counterparts. Happy holidays, y'all!
Alan spends a year at the Champagne House Krug, and gives us peak into the inner workings of a Champagne House
Wine and food writer Alan Tardi just came out with his book, Champagne, Uncorked, which chronicles a year he spent at one of the most acclaimed Champagne houses, Krug. Alan is gearing up for a dinner, five courses, at the the Driskill in Austin, with Executive Chef, Troy Knapp. The dinner will be featuring exquisite food paired with multiple vintages, Rosé, Grand Cuvee, and the acclaimed Clos du Mesnil. This is the baller event of the year! Listen in!
Tessa and Matt Halstead opened their high-end confectioner's chocolate shop in Austin two years ago. Tessa comes from a chocolate making family and Matt made wine in Argentina, perfect combo in my book! Listen to us discuss the finer points of making chocolate, tasting chocolate, and pairing wine with chocolate. We're definitely getting ready for the holidays!
I'm very proud to post an amazing discussion with Murph Willcott of Texas French Bread and Paul Ozbirn of Parkside Projects. With these amazing wine and food gurus, we take calls from the Austin wine loving public. Listen to get the full story on what to serve with your Thanksgiving dinner!
Giulia Luccioli is the resident wine expert of the Wine Lover community on the Umbria Region of Italy. She talks about the power of connecting with wine lovers all around the world. Use the hash-tag, #WineLover.
Check out this wonderful discussion with Giulia Luccioli, sales director of Sagravit, and Anthony Salazar, sommelier of Gusto Restaurant in Austin. Sagravit is the largest Agricultural company in Italy, managing the land interests of the Order of Malta. They oversee 3 really historical estates in Umbria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Prosecco. Anthony talks about Italian Restaurant Week in Austin with proceeds going to the earthquake disaster relief of Central Italy.
Miriam Parker, Exec Director of the Austin Food and Wine Alliance, talks about the up-coming Wine and Swine event in the Hill Country. Then, Marta Delfa Mediavillas comes on to talk about the 5th generation family owned winery, Torres, and the wines of the Penedés. We also delve into the other major Spanish regions and explore the Torres project of recuperating "lost" varieties! Super fun stuff.
Jasmine Hirsch comes on the show to share the history of her family's vineyard. David Hirsch, Jasmine's father, planted his vineyard in 1980 two miles from the ocean, the first on the Sonoma Coast, so he could have someplace to hear himself think. Now, Hirsch Pinot Noirs are some of the most acclaimed in all of California. Jasmine talks of the early days and growing up on the "ranch," as well as her current role and the direction of the winery. I am so happy to be able to share these stories.
Freelance food, wine, and travel writer Jessica Dupuy, has covered the Texas wine industry for Texas Monthly for many years. In 2016, she changed her highly anticipated yearly list of top Texas wines to be a quarterly endeavor. Join us to chat about her Fall 2016 list as a well as conversation around direction of the industry and her new book United Tastes of Texas.
Jeremy Fouquet, export manager with the Chateauneuf-de-Pape Producer, Maison Brotte, comes on the show to speak about the Rhone Valley and all the different properties owned by the Brotte Family. He grew up in the Southern Rhone in a family of chefs, and now travels telling the story of one of the most popular Chateauneuf producers!
We continue celebrating Texas Wine Month with a comprehensive tasting of the hybrid varieties that are most prospective in the Lone Star State. We explore the diverse styles of Blanc du Bois, from Sparkling to Sweet and Fortified, with it's bright acidity and pretty aromatics. We also tackle the historic Black Spanish, also known as, Jacquez and Lenoir, with its screaming acidity and gamey characteristics. Norton gets a few minutes at the end! Enjoy!
What better way to celebrate Texas Wine Month than with three leading producers, Ron Yates of Spicewood Vineyards, Fredrick Osterberg of Pedernales Cellars, and Dave Reilley of Duchman Family Winery. These wineries along with Brennan and Bending Branch make up the Texas Fine Wine Group which share a philosophy of producing wines made from grapes best suited to Texas. We hear what varieties they are producing and experimenting with as well as stories from the 2016 harvest!
Daniel Chavez, an economist with Texas A&M Agri-life Extension program, talks about his work helping small-acreage farms and growers link up with local restaurants.
In the second half of the program, Chris Seals presents his new Austin distillery, Still Austin. His focus will be white whiskey which explores the different terroirs and heirloom grain varieties of Texas. All 'grain to glass' and a lot of experimentation!
Virginia Willcock has been making wine for Margaret River's first winery, Vasse Felix, for 10 years. She has been making some of Australia's best Chardonnay is really pushing the bar on Cabernet Sauvignon. She tells us all about all that she is doing in this exciting region; native fermentations, focus on Malbec and Petite Verdot for blending with Cab Sauv, and so much more!
Roberta Rinaldi comes on the show to talk about the under-appreciated region in Lombardia named Oltrepò Pavese. This region is home to the largest area of Pinot Noir from which they make beautiful still and sparkling wines. Roberta and importer Giacomo Butera talk about the upcoming arrival of renowned producer Cà di Frara to the Austin market:
http://www.cadifrara.com/en/
Daniela Marcone owns the Italian restaurant Andiamo in Austin, TX. They don't prescribe to any regional cuisine in particular but more so focus on what is fresh and in season in Austin, though Daniela is from Napoli. The wine list is all Italian with a focus on small producers with organic and biodynamic philosophies. In the last 15 minutes we get an update from the Texas winery William Chris; how the 2016 harvest is shaping up, and their movement on 100% grown Texas wines called the Texas Wine Revolution. Enjoy!
Murph Wilcott, owner of Texas French Bread in Austin, comes on the show to talk about various philosophies in the world of food and wine. Heirloom varieties of grain and grape, natural vs cultivated yeast strains, and various production practices that add flavor are all heavily debated in our industry. However, when we strive for unique character and soul in our wine and food, we touch something deeper in our human experience.
Mariana and Ian McEnroe who are the creators of the acclaimed food blog Yes, More Please! come on the show to talk about food, wine, music and all things good. Food doesn't have to be a task, it can be pure pleasure. That's what the blog is about, not only veggie or gluten-free, but reflecting the way they eat. There is a story behind every recipe, and the photography, by Ian, will surely make you salivate!
www.yes-moreplease.com
Rosé is on fire in Texas! It's a favorite of the wine loving community all over Austin as well as one of the most exciting categories of the booming Texas wine industry. In this edition of TX vs the World, we put the top scoring Texas rosé from the Texas Wine Journal up against 5 other rosés from around the world. Join wine professionals Julia Dixon and Jon Gerber along with winemakers Doug Lewis and Duncan McNabb to see how Texas stacks up!
Rae Wilson has been in the Austin wine industry since 2005, made wine in California and Portugal, and currently consults for restaurants and other industry entities. She says that her quest to fully complete the circle has lead her to plant a vineyard and make wine here in Texas. She is in her second year of producing the Dandy Rosé and her vineyard will be producing viable fruit come next year. http://www.dandypink.com
David Mayfield left his desk job to start importing wine into Texas. He was first attracted by the quality of Uruguayan wine, but then that passion for the unique led him all over Europe and the world. He specializes in small production wineries, odd grape varieties, and unique flavors. He has recently opened a retail shop in Waco to even better showcase the wines.
Sarah Harshaw is National Sales Manager of Lioco Wines which specializes in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Carignan from Northern California. Matt Licklider and Kevin O'Connor started the winery about ten years ago to focus more on nuanced wines over power and high alcohol versions. Sarah travels the US spreading the word and gives a unique perspective on the new wave of California wine. www.liocowine.com
The Women for WineSense Austin Chapter leadership, Jackie Granelli, Barbi Shows, and LaSaan Georgeson tell us about their organization's goal of educations and networking around wine. They have an upcoming event on June 20th, panel discussion and happy hour. They also talk about their passion for Rosé in all incarnations! More information at https://www.facebook.com/austinwomenwinesense/
Eugenio Jardim is the Ambassador of all Wines of Portugal in the US. He travels the country inspiring the merits of the beautiful indigenous grapes of Portugal, the intense wines, and the exquisite cuisine. He says we must understand the minutiae, but then file it away and draw the greater lessons that are a little more metaphysical (my words). I hope you enjoy listening as much as being involved in the interview!
Just back from an educational trip to Spain, I dig into the wines, cultures, and foods of the very exciting regions of Bierzo, Valdeorras, and Ribeira Sacra in the Northwest of Spain. Francois Pointeau, freelance writer, poet, and 'wine drinker,' takes the reigns as guest interviewer and helps me to highlight the excitement of the long history, proud culture, and delicious foods of the area!
Brandon Watson is the Food Editor of the Austin Chronicle, and he comes on the show to talk about their anticipated First Plates Issue hitting the shelves this Thursday! Every year the Chronicle comes up with a top 100 list of the best restaurants in Austin, it's called First Plates. Listen here to get you salivating!
One of the most popular segments on the show, 2 judges from the Texas Wine Journal and 2 winemakers taste blind 6 wines made from Sangiovese from around the world. Which one is from Texas, which is the favorite? Enjoy the lively conversation!
Guests: Russell Smith (Celler Barcelona), Rob Moshin (journal judge and consultant), Penny Adams (Wedding Oak Winery), and Jesse Brantley (journal judge and Bev Director at Trattoria Lisina and Mandolas)
The 'Chef de Cave' is so much more than simply a winemaker. With so many permutations of vintages, grape varieties, and vineyards, many consider the blending of Champagne to be the most difficult in the industry (along with Port). Michel is in charge of all operations along with working with hundreds of growers in the Montaudon winery in the Côte des Bar in the South of Champagne. There's something in here for everyone, from expert to folks just starting to learn about the intricacies of this magical region!
Check out Daniel McKeever, from Glazer's Domains and Estates, talk about the interconnectedness of vineyards, the constellations, and the human body. Daniel has been delving into the subtleties of Biodynamics and teaches how to use the calendar to better enjoy your wines!