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podcast· 48:44· S1E239WTF is Valdiguié? Don't Call It Napa Gamay!
Oh wow! This wine, that you’ve probably never heard of, is a revelation! For many years this wine was known as Napa Gamay, but it was a case of mistaken identity that took several experts and eventually DNA testing to reveal the truth. And the truth is that Valdiguié is delicious and tragically little known. Nearly extinct today in France where it is originally from, it is now becoming a bit of a darling in California in the natural wine and low intervention winemaking circles. In the past, Valdiguié, which is a prolific grower, was used as blending wine, and was not appreciated as a single varietal. Today, it is finding its place among adventurous winemakers who know how to tease out its wonderful qualities. If you like Gamay or Pinot Noir and you like chilled red wines, Valdiguié needs to be on your list. One of these wines we rated a 9 out of 10! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Cruse Wine Co. Rancho Chimiles Vineyard Valdiguié, 2022 Optik French Camp Valdiguié Send us a Text Me
podcast· 51:24· S1E238Crémant de Loire: Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget!
No matter how you feel about Champagne, it’s damn expensive. So, what if we told you that there is a French sparkling wine that hits like Champagne but doesn’t have nearly the same price? We think you’d probably thank us. And that’s why we’re talking about Crémant this week. You’re welcome. And not just any old Crémant (because there are several versions which we talk about in this episode), but specifically one of our favorites: Crémant de Loire made with the grape Chenin Blanc which is very unusual for a sparkling wine, and very delicious. If you have never heard of, or never tried, Crémant, then we need to talk. Seriously. Crémant is one of the world’s great sparkling wines, and what is so fun about it is that there are so many different varieties to choose from, and they are all very reasonably priced. We also want you to know that you do not need to drink sparkling wine from wine flutes. That is over. Just use a nice white wine glass, and you will be more than fine. Plus, you can
podcast· 46:03· S1E237WTF is Sylvaner? Your Oktoberfest Wine?
If beer ain’t your jam for Oktoberfest, then maybe the great Bavarian German wine called Sylvaner (or is it Silvaner?!?) is the wine you should be enjoying with your pretzels and bratwurst this season. Yes, there are two spellings of Sylvaner, and yes it matters because the style of Silvaner spelled with an “i” is the German version, and it is a crisp, acidic wine that goes well with German foods, while the version with the “y,” most famously from Alsace, France, is a different, richer wine. The other thing to know is that there is a classic bottle shape for Silvaner from Franken, Germany that is just, frankly, odd. The bottle shape is called Bocksbeutel, and let’s just say the name is for a body part that is, well, delicate. But you have to listen to the episode to learn more. We had a lot of fun getting “exposed” to this different type of wine and wine bottle, and we think you will enjoy it, too. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Domaine Mann Vignoble des 3 Terres Mouton Bleu Sylv
podcast· 54:36· S1E236Decoy Wine: Should You Buy It, or Duck It?
We know you’ve seen Decoy wines around with their famous duck on the label, but the real question is - have you ever tried Decoy wine? Before you answer that question, we want to tell you what we think. Before we do that, we’re going to tell you a bit about the parent company that Decoy comes from called Duckhorn Wine Company started by, and this is not a joke, Margaret and Dan Duckhorn. Then we are going to tell you more about Decoy wine itself, its history, its purpose, and its winemaker. And then we are going to do a real, honest, tasting and review of two Decoy wines to let you know if you should buy it (and, as always, we bought these wines with our own money, so you know we are being real). We also have some things to say about the inevitable AI apocalypse and what wine has to do with it, wink, wink. And we even have a listener interview for our tribe name this week. So, look, it’s time to get your ducks in a row, put down your ducking phone, and listen to this episode so we can
podcast· 51:26· S1E235Cru Beaujolais: A Far Cry from Beaujolais Nouveau!
If your impression of Beaujolais is that super light fruity wine called Beaujolais Nouveau that comes out in November right around Thanksgiving, you are really missing out on what Beaujolais has to offer. Cru Beaujolais is often compared to Pinot Noir from Burgundy, and they are neighbors in the region. And, for many years, Cru Beaujolais was considered to be on par with Burgundy. So what happened? A bunch of crappy Beaujolais Nouveau flooded the market, and really hurt the reputation of Beaujolais. But, it is making a comeback! Made from the grape Gamay, Beaujolais is a medium bodied red that can be chilled, and is often called a bistro wine, meaning it is fantastic with casual meals. Cru Beaujolais comes from 10 specific villages in France, and each has its own AOC and flavor profile, and we may even have a mnemonic device to help you remember them because sometimes the labels just mention the village, not Beaujolais. Look, if you don’t know Gamay or Beaujolais, the first thing you n
podcast· 41:12· S1E234They Make Sparkling Wine in England?!?
We know what you’re thinking. There’s no way they can make wine in England. We thought the same thing too, but here’s the deal. They are making some killer wine, especially sparkling wine, in England. Don’t believe it?!? Then you must listen to this episode. Once the butt of jokes, British wine is getting a reputation for excellence that is surprising both professionals and regular drinkers all over the world. There are a few factors that play into this rise of British bubbly that we discuss, including the impact of climate change, and the common soil they share with Champagne. Yes, that Champagne! While not the cheapest option, which is why we only tasted and reviewed one wine in this episode, you may be very surprised to find what a great option it is. Plus, in our wine in the news this week, we tell you what happens when a wasp, a badger, and a goose walk into a vineyard. Wine reviewed in this episode: Henners 2018 Vintage Sparkling Blend Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in
podcast· 15:55Minisode #21: Is "Sugar-Free Wine" Even a Real Thing?
You hear claims about zero-sugar wines, low sugar wines, and clean wines and you think, hey, that sounds like a good thing. But, what does it really mean? The truth is, not much. We dig into the facts to give you the skinny. Turns out, much of that no-sugar language is just fancy marketing speak for stuff that has always been true about wine. Guess what? In the fermentation process, sugar gets turned into alcohol, and in most cases, very little residual sugar is left behind. Even more, there are no regulations or laws in the U.S. that dictate what can or cannot be stated in these claims. In other words, brands can say anything they want about low sugar or zero sugar or clean. So, what are we supposed to do now? Listen to this minisode to find out. And relax. It’s just wine. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: https://thewinepairpodcast.com/ Follo
podcast· 43:27· S1E233Aglianico Rosato: If You Love a Bold Red Wine, Try Its Rosé!
When you take a great red wine grape like Aglianico and you make a Rosé from it, do you know what you get? That’s right. A great Rosé! In this episode we explore Rosé made from Aglianico, the King of Southern Italian red wines, which also happens to make a great Rosé. If you think you don’t like Rosé, it probably just means that you haven’t had one made from a red wine grape that you love. And in Italy, they are starting to make some fantastic Rosé wines, also known as Rosato in Italian. So, if you see the term Rosato, don’t be confused. Unlike the typical Provence-style Rosé, which dominates the market, Aglianico Rosé wines have more structure and more complexity. We also talk about a study that found people who know a lot about wine tend to be of higher intelligence. We couldn’t agree more! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2024 San Salvatore Vetere Rosato, 2025 Feudi di San Gregorio San Greg Rosato Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Pod
podcast· 44:09· S1E232Italian Wine Adventure #26: Schiava! Sommeliers Love This Chillable Red!
Chillable red wines are a thing right now, and we think we may have found the perfect chillable red wine for you to not only enjoy but wow your hipster friends, family, and coworkers with. In fact, this wine is becoming a darling of in-the-know sommeliers! Schiava comes from the Alto Adige region of Italy, and it has everything you are looking for in a chillable red wine: crunchy red fruit flavors, light body, low tannins, and moderate alcohol. And while the wine is sometimes called “weightless” don’t confuse that with being bland or boring, because it is anything but that. Look, you are not going to drink this wine with a big steak, but there’s more to life than big steaks, right?!? Sometimes also called Trollinger and Vernatsch, this is the perfect wine for a summer afternoon, for appetizers and charcuterie, poultry, spicy and sweet barbecue, and, yes, even fish. Red wine and fish?!? Crazy, but true. Often called the white wine drinker’s red wine, Schiava is a wine you need to know,
podcast· 49:42· S1E231Costco Kirkland Signature Châteauneuf-du-Pape Challenge!
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the world’s great wines, but many people haven’t tried it because it can be darn expensive. So, when Costco drops their Kirkland Signature version of the wine, the natural question is “should I buy it?” Well, we are here to help you make that decision. Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a rather remarkable history, harkening back to a time when the papacy was in France, not Rome, and even a period when there were two popes for a longer period than you might expect. We talk about that history, as well as some of the rules and restrictions around Châteauneuf-du-Pape. But, what you really want to know is “should I buy it?!?” and that is what we will help you decide in this episode. And just to make sure we are giving you good advice, we compare the Costco Kirkland version to a well regarded and highly rated version of the wine just to make sure. We don’t want to spoil it, but the Kirkland version compares very well. As an extra bonus, we talk about the hot new wine tren
podcast· 37:30· S1E230Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #25: Brian and Jessica Smith from Wendelin Vines
Meet Brian and Jessica, a husband and wife winemaking team from Kansas. Yes, you heard that right - Kansas! It’s not as crazy as it sounds. In fact, did you know that in the 1800’s, Kansas was one of the top wine producing states in the country? Brian and Jessica are one of a group of winemakers bringing back winemaking in Kansas through their new winery Wendelin Vines. And, you won’t believe the story of how they got here, but you have to listen in to get the full story. All we’ll say is that their adventure started on a beach in Maui drinking Mimosas at 10 AM in the morning, and today, they are in Kansas making wine. Enough said. We had a wonderful time getting to know Brian and Jessica, and you will, too. They are what happens when curiosity, passion, and DNA combine into something pretty wonderful. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: https://
podcast· 48:58· S1E229Italian Wine Adventure #25: Vermentino! Summer Sipper Contender?
Nothing says summer like a nice, crisp white wine, and in this episode, we cover one of the greats that you may never have heard of called Vermentino. Vermentino is a fabulous wine most famously from the island of Sardinia that is a perfect summer sipper. Vermentino is also likely to be a wine that you start seeing more often because it comes from a grape that creates these crisp, high acidic wines, but can take the heat in warmer climates and keep its acidity. In addition to digging into Vermentino and tasting and reviewing a couple of great wines you should be on the lookout for, we also talk about the criteria that make a great summer sipper and we give you a short list of some other wines to look out for. Summer isn’t over yet! Enjoy it while it’s here! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2024 ColleMassari Melacce Vermentino, 2022 Tommasi Poggio al Tufo Vermentino Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! V
podcast· 33:06· S1E228Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #24: High-Altitude Excellence: Discovering PDO Amyndeon & PGI Florina with Alpha Estate.
Angelos Iatridis has a philosophy that stuck with us: if you want to be a better man, you make better wine. That's the kind of thoughtful conversation we get into in this special episode, a deep dive into PDO Amyndeon and PGI Florina, two of Greece's protected wine designations, with Angelos from Alpha Estate. He talks about Xinomavro, the region's signature red grape, which is often described as sitting somewhere between Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir, but shaped entirely by Amyndeon's high altitude, its ring of three mountains, and two nearby lakes that keep the climate in balance. He explains why the sandy, limestone soil left behind by an ancient lake gives the wine its acidity, and how that same acidity lets Xinomavro age for decades, slowly turning from red fruit into notes of dried tomato and olive paste. Angelos also opens up about how climate change has actually helped ripening in Amyndeon over the last 30 years, why he believes the best winemaking technology should be invisible in t
podcast· 50:12· S1E227Gigondas Has a Reputation for Punching You in the Face. Does It Live Up to That?
Are you a fan of powerful red wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape but don’t love the price tag? Then Gigondas may be the wine you’ve been waiting for. Gigondas is often called the “little brother” of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and shares many of the same characteristics including hailing from the southern Rhône in France and containing the same GSM or Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes in its blend. And while it is a powerful wine that is the perfect companion to steak frites, it is also extremely balanced and elegant. We’ll explore the history and techniques behind this fabulous wine, but more importantly, we’ll give you our honest review of two Gigondas wines to let you know if either or both are worth your hard-earned money. And as we do every week, we’ll round out our conversation with some “wine in the news this week” fun as well as random side conversations like the names of the two main characters in Revenue of the Nerds. It’s hard to explain. You just have to listen. Wines reviewed in
podcast· 49:26· S1E226WTF is Verdejo?
If you are stuck in a Sauvignon Blanc rut, then Verdejo is here to come to your rescue. This great white wine from Rueda Spain is very similar to Sauvignon Blanc, in fact it is sometimes called the “love child” between Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, and it combines many of the wonderful tropical fruit and citrus smells and flavors of Sauv Blanc with just a bit more mouthfeel. This is a lovely wine from Spain’s most important white wine region. Verdejo is a fantastic summer wine, great for sipping outdoors, and awesome with fish and shellfish, fried and salty foods, as well as chicken and charcuterie. It still flies a little under the radar, which is why now is the perfect time to be the one to introduce Verdejo to your family and friends and be considered the cool kid dropping wine knowledge! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2024 Marques de Riscal Rueda Verdejo, 2024 Bodegas Vatan Nisia Old Vines Verdejo Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine P
podcast· 49:42· S1E225Costco Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Wine Challenge: 2023 Pauillac and 2023 Saint-Julien!
We all know that Costco wine moment when you see a Kirkland Signature wine and you wonder, should I get it? Well, we are here to tell you that you should snatch up these two beauties if you see them. The Costco Kirkland Signature 2023 Pauillac and 2023 Saint-Julien are great Bordeaux wines that you will not be able to find at this quality at this price anywhere else. But wait, are you confused by French wine and don’t know what kinds of grapes go into Pauillac and Saint-Julien? You are not alone, and we will help decode these Left Bank red Bordeaux wines from Haut-Médoc. Did we lose you already? Don’t worry. Just know that these are going to be Cabernet Sauvignon heavy blends, and the rest we’ll tell you about in this episode. Also know that we do not usually love Cabernet Sauvignon, so we were really pleasantly surprised by how much we liked these wines. Join us for a fun learning adventure! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Costco Kirkland Signature Saint-Julien, 2023 Costco Kirkl
podcast· 54:45· S1E224Is Moscato d'Asti the Sweet Wine Serious Wine People Won't Admit They Love?
When asked, most people say they like dry wines rather than sweet wines, but is that really true? Based on the most popular wines in the United States, it doesn’t seem like it. At all. One of the most popular wine varietals in the US is Moscato, and the sweet wine Moscato d’Asti is one of the most well known, and well loved wines in the world. Just ask Costco who sells a ton of the stuff. And there are some obvious reasons why. First, it’s delicious, and second, humans are hard wired to be attracted to sweet. So, why do sweet wines get a bad rap? Some of it is for health reasons, frankly, but some of it is because wine snobs tend to look down their nose at sweet wines, and that’s not really fair. For much of the world’s history, sweet wines were the preferred wines, and based on sales of popular wines today, which we will cover in this episode, it seems quite obvious that they are still preferred by many, many consumers. So, we’ll let you know what we think, and if either of the wines
podcast· 50:20· S1E223This Ain't Chianti: Is Italian Sangiovese Better Outside Tuscany?
Sangiovese is the classic example of how a wine can taste completely different depending on where it is from and how it is made, and this episode demonstrates that fact in spades. Sangiovese is one of the great Italian wine grapes, but because of its strong association with the wine Chianti, it has a bit of a mixed reputation. In its defense, Chianti is really a food wine which is where its acidity really shines. But Sangiovese itself is an amazing wine grape that can vary from light and fruity like a Gamay to velvety and smooth like a Merlot. On that note, it may surprise you to know that about half of all of the Sangiovese grown in Italy is not grown in Tuscany, and regions like Puglia, Emilia-Romagna and Marche are making fantastic versions of it. In this episode, we taste and review two wines made from 100% Sangiovese from Umbria and tiny Molise, and without spoiling it too much, we can tell you that they are very different wines, almost hard to tell they are from the same grape, a
podcast· 49:53· S1E222Pinot Grigio Is Boring. Alsace Pinot Gris Is Its Richer, Weirder French Cousin!
You may think you know Pinot Grigio, but do you know Pinot Gris? Pinot Gris is the same grape as Pinot Grigio, but in taste, body, and just about every other way that matters, they can feel worlds apart. And, on a very interesting side note, Pinot Gris is also a color mutation of Pinot Noir, but that’s another story. In this episode, we focus specifically on Pinot Gris from Alsace, France, a region famous for its white wines. And of all the white wines made there, Pinot Gris is one of the biggest and richest, which may surprise anyone whose idea of Pinot Grigio is something light, thin, and mostly harmless. This is not your grandma’s Italian Pinot Grigio. Alsace Pinot Gris can be big, rich, and high in alcohol, and people who love a fuller-bodied Chardonnay may find a lot to like. Surprise! In our tasting, we were struck by just how different these wines were from the Pinot Grigio most people know. Same grape. Very different experience. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Pierre Sparr
podcast· 31:26· S1E220Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #23: Jun Kono President and Master Sake Brewer at Sohomare and Leo Lê Sommelier of Kappo Sono and Momoya
Sake is not a beverage we often cover on the podcast, but when we had the chance to talk to one of the great sake makers in the world, we jumped at the chance. In this episode we introduce you to Jun Kono of Sohomare, one of the world’s premier sake makers, and Leo Lê Sommelier of the great Kappo Sono in New York City and Momoya. What a treat to meet these two leaders in their respective businesses, and get to know them. As you know, sake is often called “rice wine,” but that is not the best description of it because the brewing process is so different and complex. And while many sake makers are trying to chase more accessible and fresher versions of sake, Sohomare is focused on making deep, complex, and elegant sake that is made to be eaten with food. We know you will learn a ton, like we did, in this conversation, and come away with a new appreciation for one of the most significant alcoholic beverages in human history. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Co
podcast· 51:25· S1E219Is Two Buck Chuck Actually Bad, or Is That Just Wine Snob Talk?
We KNOW you are curious! No matter what you think about Trader Joe’s Two Buck Chuck, AKA Charles Shaw wine, you want to know. If you love Two Buck Chuck or have been avoiding it like the plague. If you drank it in college but now wonder if your tastes have changed. Or, if you are trying to elevate your wine game and want to see if you should bother. We know you have questions and feelings. And we want you to work out those feelings and get those questions answered. So, on your behalf, we put together the most objective, unbiased, and honest tasting and review of Two Buck Chuck that we could. And guess what?!? We were more than a little surprised by what we found. We’re not going to spoil it for you in this description. That would be silly! But we are going to tease you with this . . . we may not have rated it what you think we would rate it. Intrigued?!? Then listen in! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Charles Shaw Chardonnay, 2023 Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon Send us a Text Mes
podcast· 48:37· S1E218WTF is Malvasia?
You may not know Malvasia wine, but it’s time to introduce you to this “kaleidoscope” white wine! Malvasia is a really interesting varietal because, depending on who you believe, there are somewhere between 80 and 290 different versions of the grape and wine, some of which are genetically distinct. Woah. The reason it is called a kaleidoscope wine is because it can be made into so many different versions depending on the region and winemaker, everything from a sweet wine to a dry wine to a sparkling wine to an Orange wine. In this episode, we tasted and reviewed two Malvasia wines, one from Crete in Greece where Malvasia is said to have originated, and one from Slovenia which is considered a completely genetically unique version. The wines were both really good, but really different from each other, which was really fun. If you are looking for a great new white wine to add to your list of great white wines, Malvasia is a perfect wine to add. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Doulouf
podcast· 48:17· S1E217Italian Wine Adventure #24: Frappato! The Chillable Red Wine!
Of course you can chill red wine! But, not just any red wine, though. There are specific fruity and juicy red wines that are amazing when they are chilled, and one of the very best is Frappato. Frappato comes from Sicily, and for a long time it was used as a cheap blending grape. But no longer! Over the past several decades, winemakers in Sicily have been making beautiful, fun, food-friendly Frappato that are perfect for a picnic or summer cookout. And people in the know are really starting to pay attention. If you want to be counted among the cool kids, and you need to get out of your red wine rut, Frappato is a perfect answer. Frappato is often compared to Gamay and Pinot Noir, although its origins link it to the great Italian wine grape Sangiovese, the grape in Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Our take? Run, don’t walk, to find yourself some Frappato, pop it in your fridge, and enjoy. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Valle Dell'Acate Il Frappato Vittoria, 2024 Gurrieri Frappa
podcast· 44:23· S1E216Viura: The Great White Wine Hiding in Rioja’s Red Wine Shadow!
It may be shocking to find out that there is such a thing as White Rioja, but what may be even more shocking is that a wine this good is hardly known outside of Spain! In this episode we focus on Rioja Blanco made solely from the grape Viura, known as the Queen of White Rioja, and we are here to tell you that while it is probably not on your radar today, it should be. Talk about an underrated wine! Often compared to White Burgundy, people in the know consider it a great value alternative to those much more expensive wines. And, trust us, if you bring this to your next dinner party, your family and friends will be wowed. We also talk about the history of white wines from Rioja, and what the blending requirements are for White Rioja - and as you can probably guess, they do allow single varietals, but only from certain grapes. If you are looking for a new white wine to add to your list, or you have just not found a white wine you love yet, this is the episode for you. Wines reviewed in th