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podcast· 56:10Megan McIver and Gym Wines!
This week Megan McIver (Cosmos in the City, bubbleologist) is in the house for whines, wines and bubble talk! Before getting into whine and wines, the Grape of Thrones is Tannat. Originally from France it is deliciously tannic and juicy! Megan's whine is about etiquette at gyms so it is paired with a wine that is lean and strong: 2016 Santo Winery Santorini Assyrtiko! This Greek wine from a volcanic island is dry and bitter but the alcohol comes out to arm wrestle. Her whines start with her hot yoga studio. Should one put up with a fire alarm and keep on tree posing? Is one riddled with enough toxins to do so? Megan recently was faced with this question. They all confess their workout styles: Megan teaches kids Zumba, Shaughn shows off lifting or runs the Grand Canyon, and Ellen either pliés at ballet or uses youtube workouts. The wine is fascinating, and the crew gets into how dangerous the Santorini climate can be and the wild way they train the grape vines to deal with the wind. The
podcast· 1h 05mAmanda Salvatore and Jackie Rae Aubel & Passive-Aggressive Wines!
Amanda Salvatore and Jackie Rae Aubel of the Guilty Pleasure podcast are in the house and here to make sure Shaughn and Ellen stay on track! Before getting into the whines, this week's Grape of Thrones is Albariño, a scrumptious white wine most known for being from Rías Baixas and Vinho Verde. This week's guests want to whine about passive aggressive notes! When you are passive aggressive you say one thing and mean another so Shaughn and Ellen went with a wine that is called one thing but signifies another--SHIRAZ AKA SYRAH! They are drinking the 2016 Yangarra PF Shiraz McLaren Vale! As for passive aggressive notes, the foursome deal with how to approach noisy neighbors, ponder whether Shaughn lived next to a serial killer, and how to deal with bullies and bad roommates. They also go deep on glassware. Martini glasses get a passive aggressive note? The lightning round covers what tree influences the taste of Australian wines, what Shiraz used to be known as in Australia and where else
podcast· 1h 08mH Michael Croner and Newborn Wines!
H Michael Croner (Groundlings, Big Bang Theory, What Would Diplo Do, commercials you've probably seen) joins Shaughn and Ellen to whine about his mom's encouragement of a future with wife and kids. The banter kicks in early but but first Shaughn and Ellen give the Hip Sip Tip. In honor of recording on Women's Day Ellen shouts out Dutcher Crossing, a winery run by a woman! Shaughn pimps a beer: Maine Beer Company! Because he DOES fuck with IPA. Then, H Michael gets into his beef. He loves his mom but dang--why does she always keep trying to inspire him to having a wife and kids? Shaughn and Ellen pair it with a wine that was started by a man who worked by himself. They are sipping the 2016 Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel. The owner started it and worked by himself for six years before taking on a partner! Shaughn and Ellen concur the H Michael needs neither the "perfect partner" nor wine knowledge. Nor a home, but the recession is coming so no worries for anyone! In between wine and kid talk
- podcast· 11:05
Il Migliore Vino di Marzo 2018: Colli dell'Etruria Centrale Vin Santo Recinaio 2005, Sangervasio
Il Vin Santo di Sangervasio, cantina di Palaia, in provincia di Pisa, conquista i cinque diamanti DiWineTaste e il titolo di migliore vino del mese di Marzo 2018 con l'eccellente Colli dell'Etruria Centrale Vin Santo Recinaio 2005. Un grandissimo vino da uve appassite, capace di esprimere eccellenza in ogni aspetto sensoriale, prodotto da Trebbiano Toscano, San Colombano e Sangiovese.
podcast· 55:17Marci Liroff & Slowed-Down Wines!
Casting Director and acting coach extraordinaire joins Shaughn and Ellen to whine about cars barreling through her neighborhood way too fast! But first: the Grape of Thrones Grenache Blanc! A frequently blended white grape, it can be full or too flabby but look for it! It can also be delightful. Marci's biggest beef is with people zooming too fast through her puppy friendly hood! A close second is people leaving their pups in hot cars! Basically dog misuse in general gets her distain and rightfully so! Shaughn an Ellen pair it with a Ripasso from Valpollicello, the slow cooker of wines! They explain the lengthy process of making this wine from the Veneto, then get deep into pet and traffic etiquette. Treat your pets how you would want to be treated! Lightning round covers what "Amarone" means, if Ripasso is a second wine and what cocktail was invented in the Veneto! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic
podcast· 57:18Cristie Norman & Guest Wines!
This week Cristie Norman (Adulting With Alcohol, sommelier at Spago) makes the trek from her Beverly Hills workplace to share her whines! The hip sip tip from Shaughn is Latitude 50 North, a trocken sekt spatburgunder rosé aka a dry sparkling pinot noir rosé! Ellen got to try some Paso Robles Roussanne and a Syrah from TOP Winery with the winemaker herself! Learn about the ethos behind these Los Angeleno winemakers! Cristie's whine is about bad guests in restaurants. As a somm who started at Spago at 21, Cristie has faced a lot of side eye from customers who can't believe that she is in charge of wine! Shaughn and Ellen pair her wine with a spirit that soothes the souls of many a restaurant industry insider: Fernet Branca! It's a bitter amaro from Italy. It turns out Fernet is an emergency beverage at Spago too! Cristie also shares how she got into the wine world at such a young age. It all started with tea. Now she pours Petrus. She gets into horror stories of condescending guests and
podcast· 49:58· Ep 224Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 224: Ana Keller of Keller Estate in the brand new Petaluma Gap AVA of Sonoma, CA
Continuing the Women in Wine series for Women's History Month 2018, I speak with Ana Keller of Keller Estate . She helped establish the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area (AVA), which is Sonoma's newest cool climate appellation making excellent Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Ana is one of the only women of Mexican heritage running a wine estate, and she is simply amazing. Here are some of the notes from our conversation: We talk about how her family got into wine. We discuss Ana's educational background -- she attended the University of Mexico and obtained a biopharmaceutical chemistry degree and then to King's College in London for a Masters in Pharma Development. We talk about how Ana got into wine as a consumer and how her dad roped her into the business as Estate Director. Ana shares her feelings about mentors in the wine industry and what it was like to be a young woman in wine in the 1990s. We dig into the Petaluma Gap AVA -- what makes it different, how the appellation
podcast· 1h 03mZora Bikangaga & Well-Mannered Wines!
This week Shaughn and Ellen welcome Zora Bikangaga (Drunk History, improv, This American Life) to whine about the lack of manners particularly in respect to elevators and hosting. The "Grape of Thrones" is Zinfandel: the group hug of wine! Learn the roots of this American variety. It's not a pink drink! To counteract Zora's mannerly whines, Ellen and Shaughn sourced a wine from England, where proper decorum is very important! They pop a 2013 Wiston Estate Cuvee, a sparkling wine from South Downs. Zora and Shaughn get into their shared northern California roots, then dive into the whine. Hot tip: wait for people to get off the elevator before barreling in, and if you are hosting people in your home, offer them something to drink! Zora also has some thoughts on how to have a good party. They also discuss how global warming is warming up England enough to grow wine grapes, particularly with its soil which is similar to Champagne's limestone. The lightning round covers what the Queen drink
podcast· 1h 07mJoel Spence & Invasive Wines!
Joel Spence (Big Little Lies, Mouth Feelings podcast) joins Shaughn and Ellen to whine about customer service reps getting to personal! Before getting into the whine they cover the Grape of Thrones/Grape of the Week: Melon de Bourgogne aka Muscadet! Everyone has had the person working at the store ask them what they are doing that day or why they need quarters; Shaughn and Ellen have to concur with Joel--it's annoying! They pair the whine with a wine no one would dare question, aka a celebrity wine: Chateau Miraval! It's a Provençal rosé from a chateau that was the summer home of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. All this leads to gossip about run-ins with Brad and Angelina, where no one dared to speak to them. More customer service gripes: inquiries into your work, laundry habits and spending habits. Also, are banks the new nightclub? Or is Gelsons? The lightning round covers facts about the Provençal appellations, garrigue,what is made in Cassis and what winds blow through France! Cheers
- podcast· 12:18
Il Migliore Vino di Febbraio 2018: 50 & 50 2013, Avignonesi - Capannelle
Nel 1988, in occasione di una delle tante cene che due amici erano soliti organizzare, nacque uno dei grandi vini iconici e di culto dell'enologia toscana e italiana. Nato dall'unione del Sangiovese dei vigneti di Capannelle e del Merlot delle tenute di Avignonesi, il 50 & 50 è un vino di spiccata eleganza e finezza, un maestoso rappresentante della cosiddetta categoria dei "Super Tuscans" e che, ancora oggi come nel 1988, continua a stupire per la sua impeccabile qualità.
podcast· 49:38· Ep 218Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 218: Nalle Winery of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA -- Elegant Zinfandel like no other
In this episode, I talk to the Zinmasters of the Dry Creek Valley, Andrew & April Nalle. Nalle has been making Zinfandel in a milder style than most other wineries -- with balance, acidity, & finesse for nearly 40 years. Andrew recently took over the winery from his dad, Zin legend Doug Nalle. The Nalle story -- it's past and future -- is a family story and one that represents the small producers of Sonoma well. A few things we discuss... Nalle's 100+ year family history in Dry Creek Valley and its history with making wine. The power of Zinfandel and how it doesn't have to be what you traditionally think of when you think of the grape. April Nalle's fascinating background in grower relations, and how she made it as one of the only women in a male dominated field Andrew's winemaking philosophy, what he's learned from his dad and how he will carry forward the Nalle Zin tradition We nerd out about Zin, about the land, and about the mother of the Zin vine, Crjlenak Kastelanski, which Andre
- podcast· 14:36
Il Migliore Vino di Gennaio 2018: Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 2015, Braida
Giacomo Bologna è stato uno dei grandi personaggi del vino italiano, uno di quelli che ha avuto il coraggio di credere nella ricchezza del proprio territorio e delle sue uve, contribuendo in modo fondamentale al rilancio dell'enologia italiana. In particolare, è riuscito a trasformare un'uva, considerata da tutti umile e capace solo di vini ordinari, in una varietà di enorme pregio e qualità. Quando nel 1982 fu presentato per la prima volta il Bricco dell'Uccellone, il destino della Barbera cambiò per sempre. Un grande e maestoso vino, la Barbera d'Asti Bricco dell'Uccellone 2015 conquista i cinque diamanti DiWineTaste e il titolo di migliore vino di gennaio 2018.
podcast· 50:21· Ep 216Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 217: Peterson Winery of Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma, CA
I recorded this podcast at the Peterson Winery tasting room while I was visiting Sonoma in support of the Sonoma Underground event I co-founded ( www.undergroundwineevents.com ). This is a fascinating conversation with the force and Dry Creek Valley icon that is Fred Peterson, his son and Peterson's winemaker Jamie, and his daughter and head of sales and marketing, Emily. As Fred discusses, following time in the military, he studied viticulture and winemaking and graduated with honors from UC Davis. After working in and around Santa Cruz for prestigious wineries as a vineyard manager, Fred came to Dry Creek Valley in 1983 to find and develop world-class vineyard properties. Fred developed vineyards all over the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, including on Bradford Mountain, where most of the fruit for Peterson's top wine hails. In 1987, Fred, launched Peterson Winery. Peterson Winery now makes an average of 8000 cases annually, all in many small lots from estate vineyards and from l
- podcast· 13:39
Il Migliore Vino di Dicembre 2017: Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Gualberto 2008, Ricci Curbastro
Ricci Curbastro è fra i nomi celebri della Franciacorta, prestigiosa terra di bollicine d'Italia, fra le prime cantine ad aderire e fondare il Consorzio del Franciacorta grazie all'opera del fondatore Gualberto Ricci Curbastro. Il migliore vino di dicembre 2017 è infatti il doveroso e giusto tributo al fondatore di questa cantina, in uno stile, complessità ed eleganza davvero unici: Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Gualberto 2008. Prodotto in prevalenza con Pinot Nero e la parte restante di Chardonnay, questo vino esprime complessità, classe ed eleganza unite alla purezza rigorosa ed esatta del dosaggio zero - o pas dosé - che porta alla creazione di un capolavoro da cinque diamanti.
- podcast· 12:37
Il Migliore Vino di Novembre 2017: Alto Adige Moscato Giallo Passito Serenade 2013, Kellerei Kaltern - Caldaro
La Cantina di Caldaro - Kellerei Kaltern - principale protagonista dei vini dell'omonimo lago, conquista i cinque diamanti DiWineTaste e il titolo di migliore vino di novembre 2017 con l'eccellente Alto Adige Moscato Giallo Passito Serenade 2013. Vino raffinatissimo e di nobile eleganza, esprime straordinaria finezza con un ricchissimo bouquet di aromi di frutta tropicale. Un grandissimo vino dolce prodotto con uve passite di Moscato Giallo, impeccabile in ogni aspetto sensoriale e organolettico.
podcast· 13:20105: Tasting Wine - The Basics
You see people in movies and TV tasting wine and think "what are they doing"? What are legs? Why do they smell hay or smoke? This class is going to help you understand how to taste so you can more deeply appreciate wines you like and wines you may not like. Again, we are fortunate to have expert guests Helen and Lisa to give us their knowledge and perspective on something some people quite daunting (but you should never let wine be intimidating).
- podcast· 16:12
104: Food and Wine - How To Maximize Your Experience
Pairing food with wine can be one of the best ways to maximize your overall experience with wine. But what's the best way to pair food with wine? We are again lucky to have Helen and Lisa joining us as informative guests to help shed some light on how to pair food with wine to create a superlative experience.
- podcast· 17:41· S1E3
Episode 3: 103: Introduction to Italian Wine - More Tricks and Guests
The US imports more wine from Italy than any other country in the world but understanding Italian wine and wine labels can be tricky. In this podcast, we are joined by Helen and Lisa who help us shed some light on some of the best wine in the world - but some of the most difficult to understand. Remember, the Italian have their own rules for everything.
- podcast· 8:41· S1E2
Episode 2: 102: Introduction to French Wine - The Trick
Understanding wines from outside the US can be challenging. This class will talk about why it can be difficult and how to approach these labels so you know what you are buying. We'll focus on French wine but the ideas discussed apply more broadly.
- podcast· 49:11
Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 195: Oded Shakked, Dynamic Winemaker & Owner of Longboard in Sonoma
This time, an outstanding interview with Oded Shakked of the small Russian River Valley producer, Longboard Vineyards . Although he's been making wine for most of his life in California, Oded is originally from Israel and has a global perspective on wine, winemaking, and wine business that's refreshing and fascinating. He's fantastic and all his wines are delicious, well-balanced, and all are made to accompany food. Here are the show notes: Oded shares his amazing story, from being a kid in Israel to discovering surfing, traveling the world, and then winding up at UC Davis in Sonoma to study winemaking. We talk about what things used to be like in Napa and Sonoma, and what a winemaking degree from UC Davis gave to Oded that was so valuable. Oded discusses his love of Sonoma and why it's so special to him. We discuss the changes that have occurred over the years in Sonoma and what Oded has seen in the food and wine scene -- for good and bad. Oded is a deep thinker. We tap into some of t
- podcast· 48:22
Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 188: Kieran Robinson, Where Sonoma Meets the Rhône
Kieran Robinson is a small producer of Rhone style wines in Sonoma --and his stuff rocks. A Philadelphia native, after working in the Northern Rhône he moved to Napa & worked for cult wineries going it alone. A great story from a truly talented winemaker! Here are the show notes: Kieran tells us about his early life in Philadelphia, at Ithaca college, and getting his start in wineries in the Finger Lakes. He takes us on his journey from Northern Rhône to Napa to Sonoma and details what it was like to work with everyone from Michel Rolland, Aaron Potts, and Paul Hobbs before going out on his own. We address Kieran's real passion: making Viognier and Syrah. We talk about the current situation in Sonoma with grapes and more people looking at Rhône varietals as a viable and awesome option. Kieran takes us through the differences between his wines, the wines' nod to Philly, and why they are so darn great! To learn more about Kieran, go to http://www.kieranrobinsonwines.com And thanks to our
- podcast· 1h 03m· Ep 181
Ep 181: Laura Catena, The Leading Lady of Argentine Wine
The first in a series for Women's History Month, I speak to Laura Catena of Bodegas Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina. We discuss her life as a doctor, a mom, and the head of a wine empire, the history of Malbec and how her family aided the meteoric rise of Argentine wine and of the comeback of the Malbec grape around the world. A fun, sharp-as-a-tack woman, you'll learn a ton about Malbec, Mendoza, and a few life lessons from this fascinating podcast! Laura's History and Background on the Catena Family Her life as a doctor and the bridge between medicine and wine Her career pivot to the wine and becoming "the wine doctor" for her country and family Historical perspective The Catena family history in wine The history with Malbec and history of Catena and Malbec Her dad and her homage to him: his pride of country and why he has been so successful Malbec and it's Rich History Malbec Studies Pre-phylloxera clippings Flavors based on altitude/studies on altitude The sides of Malbec: the
- podcast· 1h 12m
Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 162: Jason Haas of Tablas Creek in Paso Robles, CA
Jason Haas was the 2015 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year. As the GM and a partner in the Tablas Creek joint venture with the Perrin family of Rhône fame (Château de Beaucastel is one of the most famed properties in Châteauneuf du Pape and the family own several other ventures through out Rhône and Provence), Jason has had an enormous impact on the Paso Robles region and the wine style there. In addition, he is one of the most talented writers in the industry – his Tablas Creek blog has won multiple Wine Blog Awards and is up for another one in 2016. This conversation was a culmination of years of admiration from afar -- I am a huge fan of the Tablas Creek wines and style. Here are some notes from the show: First we talk about the history of Tablas Creek and how the partnership between the Haas and Perrin families happened. We talk about the factors involved in finding a perfect site for the project – soil types, microclimates, altitudes, etc. and the process they went throu
- podcast· 1h 03m
Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 139: Fred Frank of Dr. Konstantin Frank in Finger Lakes NY
As a follow up to episode 138 on the Finger Lakes wine region, we interview Fred Frank, grandson of the man who made growing premium wine grapes on the East Coast of America possible. Fred tells Konstantin's fascinating, important story & shares the ins & outs of cool climate viticulture. A must listen -- Dr. Frank is the reason viticulture exists in unorthodox regions around the US.