Wine for Normal People
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This week I explore one of my favorite grapes of all time, Fiano! The grape makes some of the most exquisite wines you could imagine -- whites with layered complexity, age-ability, and unadulterated deliciousness. I discuss all aspects of the grape: __ __ I hope I convince you to try the grape if you haven't had it before. It is truly one of my "desert island wines" -- it's very hard not to love it! ______________________________________________________ https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
I welcome to the show my friend Giulio Abrigo of Abrigo Giovanni Azienda Agricola https://www.abrigo.it/en/, who focuses on the exquisite Dolcetto in Diano d'Alba in the Barolo zone of Piemonte. Abrigo Giovanni is a small family operation, operating on just 13 ha or 32 acres mainly in Diano d’Alba -- the site of the winery and the family home. Dolcetto Diano d’Alba is one of a handful of DOCG zones for the grape – stricter controls and the top Dolcetto wines are made in this area. Here, the elevation, the soils, and the exposition are ideal for this highly underrated grape. Abrigo Giovanni focuses on Dolcetto but for the past 11 years they also make a highly rated and awarded Barolo from the site of “Ravello” which has caught the attention of many wine critics, and, although not available in the US, they make the single best nocciole (hazelnut spread) I have ever had in my life. This is a fascinating look at the passion behind making a wine that is part of a long legacy and tradition, but frequently flies under the radar...for no apparent reason. After this show, you will want to run out and get Giulio's Abrigo Giovanni Dolcetto wines https://www.abrigo.it/en/, and maybe even move to Diano d'Alba (his descriptions of it sound like paradise to me!). ______________________________________________________ https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
In recent years, there has been a lot of buzz around “volcanic wines.” The term makes it sound as if these are wines that are spawned from a volcano, but in reality these are wines that many people believe have special qualities because they grow on volcanic soils. In this show, I define the types of volcanoes before discussing the ecosystems they form. I then talk about the specific regions known to have volcanic wines, but I also point out that these areas have other factors that may create similarities in the wine – proximity to oceans, old vines (unaffected by phylloxera), and high elevations and cooling breezes. These must be considered, despite the fact that many of the volcanic wine groupies say flavor is purely from the soils. Here is the list of wines/places I discuss in the show: ITALY MOUNT ETNA, SICILY: Reds (Rosso of the Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio grapes), whites (Bianco, mainly of the Carricante grape) SOAVE, VENETO: Whites grown on specific hillsides (Garganega, Trebbiano di Soave grapes) CAMPANIA VESUVIUS: of Coda di Volpe, Caprettone, Falanghina, Greco. of Piedirosso, Aglianico, Sciacinoso IRPINIA: __ __ BASILICATA: Aglianico del Vulture. Reds of Aglianico PIEDMONT: Alto Piemonte. Red blends in Gattinara, Boca, Bramaterra UMBRIA/LAZIO: Orvieto. Whites of Grechetto, Trebbiano Toscano ______________ GREECE: Santorini - White of Assyrtiko. Lemnos -Red of Limnio SPAIN: The Canary Islands/Las Canarias - Whites of Malvasîa Volcánica, Malvasîa Aromática, Listán Blanco. Reds of Listán Negro PORTUGAL: Açores islands (the Azores). Whites: Arinto, Verdelho, Fernão Pires, Terrantez HUNGARY: __ __ US: __ __ __________________________________________________________ https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople WINE ACCESS http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp HAS AN AMAZING SELECTION -- ONCE YOU GET HOOKED ON THEIR WINES, THEY WILL BE YOUR GO-TO! GET 10% YOUR FIRST ORDER WITH MY SPECIAL URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp TO REGISTER FOR AN AWESOME, LIVE WFNP CLASS GO TO: WWW.WINEFORNORMALPEOPLE.COM/CLASSES https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Hunter Valley is the OG -- the first place where Australian grape growing took place. For 200 years there has been continuous winegrowing and winemaking among the rolling hills and green valleys, which are peppered with iconic wineries, many of which have been around for more than 100 years. Although other types of wines are made, the Hunter has one crown jewel -- Semillon. In this show I give detail on the history, background and terroir of the Hunter before discussing the Semillon and why it is so special and is truly a GREAT!! I give an overview of the Hunter Valley, which is one of Australia’s most popular wine destinations. __ __ The I discuss the subtropical climate, the varied land and what works best for Semillon, and the GIs I spend the rest of the time talking about the alchemy involved in making a living wine like Hunter Valley Semillon -- truly one of "the greats" of the wine world! _______________________________________________________________________ Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club https://www.wineaccess.com/wine-for-normal-people/ in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is a quick special announcement show with two news items: 1. AFTER MANY YEARS OF BEING ON THE SHOW, MC ICE HAS LEFT THE BUILDING! This was not his main business and he has chosen to focus on his work and other pursuits! We thank him for his contributions. Going forward, educational shows will be with Elizabeth only, with occasional guest appearances from Patrons to mix things up! 2. PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT IS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING: Many of you have noticed that the back catalog of the podcast is no longer available on public podcast feed. IT’S NOT GONE BUT THE ACCESS IS RESTRICTED. You can still access the past 13 years ofepisodes by joining Patreon /www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople. As soon as you sign up, you will receive instructions on how to access the back episodes. It’s a very simple process and you can sign up at patreon.com/winefornormalpeople /www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople The decision to do this was based on the fact that the podcast takes 20 hours or more a week to produce. Although content seems free because it just pops up in your player, there is a big cost to produce it. Research, writing, editing, scheduling guests, etc. – all of which I do myself – takes a lot of time and effort. Those who provide financial support to the show through Patreon /www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople, the most committed listeners, have kept the podcast going since 2018 and now they will have exclusive rights to the previous shows. I would love for you to join that group, or you can access the current year’s shows, which are made free by my parternship with Wine Access, /www.wineaccess.com/normal whom I hope you will support at wineaccess.com/normal /www.wineaccess.com/normal Thanks for understanding and I'll see you on the next show!! Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
I welcome to the show, again, and this time for a much longer and more thorough conversation, Luca Paschina, the head winemaker and GM of Barboursville, the historic property in the Monticello AVA of Virginia. Luca was on the show in 2016, originally on episode 162. Barboursville has a long history, which starts around the same time as its current owners’ wine history -- the Zonin family of Veneto (found 1821). We discuss Thomas Jefferson and his role in trying to get Virginia wine started. Luca tells us about Gianni Zonin, who purchased Barboursville in 1976 and created the first world class winery in Virginia. He is still the owner today. Luca has been the head winemaker of Barboursville since 1990. He gives us an excellent retrospective on what he has learned in these decades and the key terroir points about the Monticello AVA. tell us the . We also touch on some of the challenges and the advantages of the region and we are pretty honest about separating the wheat from the chaff. This is a very honest look at Virginia, and frankly a great way to tell if a winery you visit knows what they are talking about. If they don’t follow Luca’s advice, likely the wine isn’t going to be very good! This is a great show and I hope it motivates you to look more into the excellent wines of Virginia! _______________________________________________________________________ Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club https://www.wineaccess.com/wine-for-normal-people/ in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
As a follow up to Felicity Carter's show last week, in which we mentioned referenced the work of Christopher Snowdon often, I am re-releasing Episode 274 to give another perspective. This was originally released April 29, 2019. We raised all sorts of red flags in this show and Christopher has been consistent on his blog https://snowdon.substack.comabout how moderate drinking is still good for you and why wine is NOT the new tobacco...This is a great supplement and another viewpoint on this subject and dovetails perfectly with last week's show. The show notes are simple this week: his two articles -- __ __ More on Chris: Snowdon is author of five books: 'Polemics' (2020) 'Killjoys' (2017), 'Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism' (2015), 'The Art of Suppression' (2011), 'The Spirit Level Delusion' (2010) and 'Velvet Glove, Iron Fist' (2009). He has also written more than a dozen reports for the Institute of Economic Affairs including ‘Drinking, Fast and Slow’, ‘and ‘Closing Time: Who’s killing the British pub?’. He blogs at The Snowdon Substack https://snowdon.substack.com Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________ THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!! WINE ACCESS http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club https://www.wineaccess.com/wine-for-normal-people/ in time for the first quarter shipment. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP CLASS with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
My guest, Felicity Carter, is probably the most brilliant journalist in wine, and certainly one of the only ones doing vital investigative work in the field of wine, health, and the neo prohibitionist movement. From 2008 to 2021, she was editor-in-chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International https://www.meininger.de/en/wine-business-international, a global, English-language magazine, one of Germany’s oldest publishing houses. She reported from 22 countries in that position. She writes for Decanter, The Guardian, and pretty much every major prestigious wine publication out there. Felicity is the foremost authority on wine and health and has information about what is ACTUALLY going on with the “new” data on wine and health…talk about a malevolent hand. HOLY SH&T when you find out what is behind the WHO’s recommendation. Your jaw will drop when she reveals what is actually happening...mine did. Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp has Armenian wines before they even made a splash in the wine magazines! They have their finger on the pulse and connect with wineries and regions you need to know about! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club https://www.wineaccess.com/wine-for-normal-people/ in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding AND one of the shipments is likely to have an Armenian wine...hint, hint! ). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this show we explore the world of Armenian wine, which has roots in the ancient world and may be the oldest winemaking region in Europe. To tell us about these wines, the terroir, and the regions, I welcome Keush Managing Director & Zulal Founder, Aimee Keushguerian. Aimee educates us on Armenian wine and tells us about the projects she and her family are undertaking to shape the modern Armenian wine industry, which is definitely getting noticed for its high quality and interesting grape varieties. Aimee Keushguerian, founder of Zulal, Managing Director of Keush Armenia is located in the Caucasus region bordering Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. Vineyards are in the mountains with very high elevations -- some of the highest in Europe. Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Armenia#/media/1/35178/208378 As a guide, here are some of the grapes we mention: __ __ From geopolitical concerns to terroir studies, this podcast has it all! Take a listen -- you will learn a TON! Photo: Zulal. Credit: Wine For Normal People Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp has Armenian wines before they even made a splash in the wine magazines! They have their finger on the pulse and connect with wineries and regions you need to know about! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding AND one of the shipments is likely to have an Armenian wine...hint, hint! ). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
In this show we explore the world of Armenian wine, which has roots in the ancient world and may be the oldest winemaking region in Europe. To tell us about these wines, the terroir, and the regions, I welcome Keush https://keush.com/ Managing Director & Zulal https://www.storicawines.com/our-wines/zulal/ Founder, Aimee Keushguerian. Aimee educates us on Armenian wine and tells us about the projects she and her family are undertaking to shape the modern Armenian wine industry, which is definitely getting noticed for its high quality and interesting grape varieties. Armenia is located in the Caucasus region bordering Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. Vineyards are in the mountains with very high elevations -- some of the highest in Europe. For a map see: https://www.britannica.com/place/Armenia#/media/1/35178/208378 As a guide, here are some of the grapes we mention: __ __ From geopolitical concerns to terroir studies, this podcast has it all! Take a listen -- you will learn a TON! Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople __________________________________________________________________ Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp has Armenian wines before they even made a splash in the wine magazines! They have their finger on the pulse and connect with wineries and regions you need to know about! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club https://www.wineaccess.com/wine-for-normal-people/ in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding AND one of the shipments is likely to have an Armenian wine...hint, hint! ). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes https://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! https://open.acast.com/public/patreon/fanSubscribe/1529852 * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.
Food and wine pairing is complex. But as many of us are trying to eat healthier, more plant-based diets it becomes an exercise in frustration. Traditional outlets barely ever talk about how to pair red wine with vegetarian dishes, beyond eggplant and mushrooms. https://www.wineand2veg.com Wendy Narby, a wine educator and writer in Bordeaux and Sally Evans, a winemaker and owner of Château George 7 https://www.chateaugeorge7.com (sette) aim to change that. This week they talk about their new site, which helps us learn to pair the wines of Bordeaux and wines like them with vegetarian dishes. This podcast and their site, Wineand2veg.com, gives great ideas for pairings that prove you don't have to give up bold wine if you decide to eat a plant-based meal. Knowing you can have a meatless day and still have a great wine pairing makes it a little more appealing to try it, no? Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
This time we explore the hidden gems of Bordeaux -- the Côtes de Bordeaux -- which make superb wines that few people know about. With an easy-drinking style, the Côtes de Bordeaux are the hidden, affordable wines of Bordeaux. These historic vineyards are a collection of AOCs around eastern Bordeaux on sunny hillside slopes that grow a majority of Merlot and have similar soil types. These are not second or bulk wines – rather family-owned, often sustainable wines that are always a good value for money. This group of appellations under the marketing umbrella of Côtes de Bordeaux covers 9 - 10% of the total production of Bordeaux. Faced with lots of competition from the named communes of Bordeaux (Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, etc), and the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur AOCs, efforts started in 2004 to create the Union des Côtes de Bordeaux (UCB) to create a collective “brand” of recognition: the AOC Côtes de Bordeaux with 6 terroir: __ __ http://www.bordeaux-cotes.com/en/home/ In 2009, the AOC “Côtes de Bordeaux” http://www.bordeaux-cotes.com/en/home/ went into effect. They must all use the logo below on the bottle to reinforce the association: http://www.bordeaux-cotes.com/en/home/ This is the wine we were drinking... I hope this opens your eyes to some new, fantastic, affordable Bordeaux wines! Take a listen and put this to use -- there is a lot of goodness to discover here (and it won't hurt your wallet)! Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Sources: __ __
It's another edition of the "Alternatives to a Fave" series! This time: Grenache/Garnacha. As an extension of the Grape Mini-series, we come up with lists of wines that lovers of a specific grape can try as alternatives. Grenache/Garnacha comes in many different forms -- as a juicy, cherry-berry standalone grape in Spain, as lighter blender in the Rhône and Rioja, in rosé and fortified wines, and as full, serious wine in places like Priorat (Spain), Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France), and Australia, where old vines make very intense wines. Photo: Grenache grapes in California. Credit: Getty Images via Canva This one was a challenge, but we came up with a good list of ideas and most won't burn a hole in your wallet! This show focuses only on the red wines (not rosé or sweet wines) and our list includes everything from Zinfandel to Nero d'Avola, to Valpolicella and Alentejo blends (Portugal), on the lighter side to Syrah, Amarone, and Aglianico on the heavy side. We hope, as usual, that this show opens some new doors and gives you new ideas of wines to add to your repertoire! Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
For the first time, we have a Wine For Normal People Patron on the show to share her passion and expertise! * * This week is a follow-up to last week’s weedier podcast on Greece. This time, long time listener and friend, Lindsey Miller, joins as our first Patron https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople guest, to talk about her passion for and knowledge of Greek wine. She helps bring this topic to life, giving us background on how she fell in love with Greece, got to know its wines, and developed some expertise on the subject. * * * Lindsey shares tips and tricks on how to get the best Greek wine, talks about the challenges for the country’s wines in English-speaking markets, and makes helpful suggestions on where to start – from a grape AND region perspective – with Greece. * * * I had so much fun with Lindsey and she did a great job “humanizing” the topic and getting me motivated to explore even more of Greece! Let’s raise a glass (of Greek wine) to her for being the first brave soul to come on the show and share her passion and smarts with us! As we mentioned in the last show, here is a list of places and grapes we mention: NOTABLE APPELLATIONS AND GRAPES WE COVER... XINOMAVRO PDO APPELLATIONS: Naoussa, Amyndeo AGIORGITIKO APPELLATION: Nemea PDO MOSCHOFILERO: Mantinia PDO/Peloponnese ASSYRTIKO APPELLATION: Santorini Liatiko, Vidiano, Vilana, Kotsifali: CRETE Store shelf Lindsey mentions in the show. Greek wines with Hungarian wines thrown in. Credit: Lindsey Miller Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeoplewww.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
This show is an update to our previous shows on Greece. We hope to get you (re)started on your exploration of this ancient winemaking nation that has been reborn in recent years. Greek wines are unique, terroir-driven, and they harken back to the nation's ancient past and the very foundations of wine as a major part of the history in western civilization. With recent investments and modernization, the wines are better than ever and are worth exploring. Although the places and grapes can be hard to pronounce (we did our best 🤷🏻♀️), they are easy to love. Take a listen and then seek these out -- you won't regret it! Here is a list of places and grapes we mention: NOTABLE APPELLATIONS XINOMAVRO PDO APPELLATIONS: Naoussa, Amynteo, Rapsani, Goumenissa AGIORGITIKO APPELLATION: Nemea PDO MAVRODAPHNE APPELLATION: Patras/Peloponnese MOSCHOFILERO: Mantinia PDO/Peloponnese ASSYRTIKO APPELLATION: Santorini Liatiko, Vidiano, Vilana, Kotsifali: CRETE WHITE GRAPES: Assyrtiko, Aidani, Moschofilero, Vidinao, Villana, Malagouzia, Roditis, Debina, Malvasia, Muscat of Alexandria, Savatiano, Sauvignon Blanc RED GRAPES: Xinomavro, Agiorgitko (St. George), Mavrodaphne, Stavroto, Krasato, Limnio, Liatiko, Kotsifali, Mandelaria, Negoska, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc XINOMAVRO. CREDIT: WINES OF GREECE Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.Patreon.com/winefornormalpeoplewww.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!). Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes ______________________________ MAIN SOURCES: "The Wines of Greece", Konstantinos Lazarakis. Infinite Ideas; January 22, 2018. https://winesofgreece.org/
This is a baffling story that includes a Napa history lesson, an idea of how the Valley has grown and then a jaunt into intrigue, sting operations, and what appears to be an effort to kill the goose that laid the golden egg by the Napa County government. It seems that the County is going after small wineries in an attempt to bankrupt them out of business. Friend of the pod, Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone https://www.smithmadrone.com joins to discuss and explain the situation -- at least the parts that have an explanation! If you want background on Smith-Madrone, check out... EP 253: STU SMITH OF SMITH-MADRONE VINEYARDS TALKS ABOUT 48 YEARS IN NAPA VALLEY Please support small wineries! Now, more than ever they need our help!! Stu Smith, Smith-Madrone Vineyard https://www.smithmadrone.com Lindsay Hoopes, Hoopes Vineyard https://www.hoopesvineyard.com https://www.summitlakevineyards.com Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
Thomas Bianciardi is the winemaker for the exceptional AZIENDA AGRICOLA SAN FILIPPO IN MONTALCINO https://www.sanfilippomontalcino.com, the famed enclave of Tuscany. I had the honor of meeting him while on the Patron trip to Tuscany this spring and loved the philosophy, the wines, and the way that Thomas explained the region. Thomas joins to discuss Montalcino, educate us about the region and tell us about how he and owner Roberto Gianneli make these exceptional wines that recently made #3 on Wine Spectators 2023 list of top wines. These wines are a great reflection of the terroir and the people who make them. For info on the Agriturissmo, where you can stay on the property, click here! Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/normal Wine Access http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
This show is listener driven, which makes sense since we have always had a listener focus at Wine For Normal People! We take some amazing questions about the podcast from listeners and reveal some fun facts about the show that you may not know. We cover things like: __ __ And much more. Lots of laughs and good fun, with some wine education and entrepreneurial advice to boot! Thank you to all listeners for being so loyal, kind, and all around awesome over the years -- especially the Patrons! And thank you to Wine Access for its continued support of the show!! Here’s to 500 more episodes! Episodes referenced: __ __ Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp We couldn't have gotten to 500 episodes without my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, http://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST UPON US -- DON'T FORGET TO STOCK UP FOR YOUR HOLIDAY FEASTS AND GET A WINE ACCESS GIFT CARD FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE! Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
Professor Thomas Collins (yes, his name is Tom Collins) is a foremost authority in the US on smoke in the vineyards. After a long career in research and enology at large wineries in New York and California, and a Ph.D. at UC-Davis, Dr. Collins became an assistant professor of grape and wine chemistry in the Viticulture and Enology Program at Washington State University in 2015. He manages a research program in grape, wine and spirits aroma and flavor chemistry, and teaches courses in grape and wine chemistry and winery operations. In this show we talk all about wine and fire -- topics like: __ __ A great show with a really smart and easy to understand guest -- important when it's such a complex topic! Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST UPON US -- DON'T FORGET TO STOCK UP FOR YOUR HOLIDAY FEASTS AND GET A WINE ACCESS GIFT CARD FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE! Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
This is a special update and recap of Episode 327 with Barnaby Eales on Wine ingredient & nutrition labeling. I refreshed and edited that (very short) episode and then MC Ice and I added the details of the new law. We did the original episode in 2020 and at that time it was unclear whether or not Europe would go through with the plan, but they executed it and now we may be seeing back labels with a WHOLE lot more info about the wine! Listen to the update to learn what you NEED to know! This new system goes live on December 8, 2023. There are still a lot of uncertainties, but all European wine lovers should know what the changes are so this is a must listen! Here are a few useful links for further reading... https://wineinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Wine-Institute-EU-Nutrition-Ingredient-Labeling-FAQ.pdf https://www.decanter.com/learn/eu-wine-labelling-the-changes-explained-507553/ Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST UPON US -- DON'T FORGET TO STOCK UP FOR YOUR HOLIDAY FEASTS AND GET A WINE ACCESS GIFT CARD FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE! Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
Thanksgiving is a hard meal to pair wine with but we've got you covered. After a little bit of wine advice about glassware, serving temps, and my annual "Aunt Gertrude" warning, we get into the pairings for traditional (and some variations on traditional) Thanksgiving fare. We begin with suggestions for wines to welcome your guests, and then move on to: __ __ From the traditional suggestions of rosé and Riesling to more adventurous things like Amontillado Sherry and Xinomavro, we give you plenty to think about when picking wines for your holiday gathering! Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST UPON US -- DON'T FORGET TO STOCK UP FOR YOUR HOLIDAY FEASTS AND GET A WINE ACCESS GIFT CARD FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE! Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
This week we cover the unsung red of Central European wine – Blaufränkisch. This Central European red grape was planted widely in throughout the Habsburg Empire, and today the biggest plantings aren’t too far from its birthplace – right on the Austria-Hungary border. Photo: Blaufränkisch. Credit: Austrian Wine Blaufränkisch translates to ‘blue wine of the Franks’, and it is known as Lemberger in Germany and the US, Kékrankos in Hungary, Franconia in Italy, and various Burgundy-related names elsewhere in Central Europe. We discuss the origins of all these names, how the grape performs in the vineyard, its flavors, food pairings, and more. Whether it’s from Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Finger Lakes of New York, Washington State, Italy or Spain, this grape is versatile, multifacted and a perfect medium bodied red that’s perfect for many foods and all sorts of weather -- it can be chilled in the summer in one version and warm your bones by a fire in another. © Austrian Wine / Austrian Wine Go get yourself a bottle and you’ll see what we mean! Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST HERE -- don't forget to stock up for your holiday feasts and get a Wine Access gift card for everyone in your life! Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
Sherry is a complex wine with lots of terroir, tradition, and winemaking possibilities. In episode 495, we go over the stats on the region, the history, the terroir, and details on winemaking, including the solera system. We then describe the biologically aged wines – Fino and Manzanilla. This show is a continuation of episode 495 but after listening to the show I did with MC Ice, I realized it was too meandering, so I recorded this version on my own. This second part of the Sherry refresh has many aspects to it, and I do my best to be as clear as possible with it all. Here are the topics we cover: __ __ Photo: Different types of Sherry. Source: Vinos de Jerez I talk about the three categories of Sherry styles: __ __ I discuss the aging categories, which have been effect since 2000: __ __ PHOTO: Legal age statements in sticker format from the Consejo Regulador I wrap with some small changes to the DO that happened this year, sent to me by Patron Chaim G (thanks to Chaim!). I give a thanks to the mixologists for keeping Sherry alive and then sign off! Here is the show with Tio Pepe I mentioned... EP 249: REVISITING SHERRY WITH ANDREW SINCLAIR OF TIO PEPE Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST UPON US -- don't forget to stock up for your holiday feasts and get a Wine Access gift card for everyone in your life! Get 10% your first order with my special URL. https://www.%20wineaccess.com/wfnp To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
It's been 11 years since we discussed Sherry, so it's time to do a refreshed show. This time, Sherry is much more mainstream and we're revisiting this fascinating wine that has so much history, and has experienced a renaissance in recent times. We discuss: __ __ Part 2 will include all the other types of Sherries from sweet to the numerous oxidative styles. Here's a link to the show with Grammar Girl we referenced... Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople Most information for the show from the Jerez DO https://www.sherryacademy.org/en/home _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. You HAVE to check out our Halloween pack at https://wineaccess.com/wfnp-halloween/ -- Spooky wines for my favorite holiday! GREAT Wines and a ton of fun. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
After a very, very hot summer where we live, the weather has broken and we are ready for wines that can warm us up and pair with the smells of crisp fall air and falling leaves, as well as heartier food. In this show, we talk about wines for fall from around the world and why they are going on our wine shopping list this season. We break it down country by country (and give some special attention to Piedmont and Champagne, where I just visited) and hopefully give you some great ideas of new wines you can try out this fall to enjoy the season. Photo: Old Champagne. Credit: Wine For Normal People Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. You HAVE to check out our Halloween pack at https://wineaccess.com/wfnp-halloween/ -- Spooky wines for my favorite holiday! GREAT Wines and a ton of fun. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
I first spoke to Marina Marcarino of Punset in 2017 and I was fascinated by her story and loved her wines. We became friends and I’ve visited her over the years and keep in touch with her for a pulse on what is happening in the vineyards and wineries of Barbaresco, where Punset is located. https://en.punset.com As a recap of the first show, when Marina Marcarino was in her early 20s, she took over the family vineyard in Neive, Barbaresco (Piedmont, Italy) and named it Punset. She had a revolutionary idea for the 1980s: to turn the vineyard organic. Marina became the first organic producer in Barbaresco. Her vineyards look different, her practices were strange to most back then and when she started using biodynamic in the 1990s, her reputation as “la pazza” – the crazy, was cemented. Fast forward to today, and everyone has followed Marina and she has become one of the thought leaders in environmental stewardship of vineyards in Barbaresco. Those who once mocked her, now use the very same practices she pioneered and she has gained the respect of them all. https://en.punset.com https://en.punset.com When I was visiting Piedmont recently, I was able to catch up with Marina https://en.punset.com and ask her for an update about the region and about Punset https://en.punset.com. We discuss controversial topics and general ones, and her insightful answers will have you thinking more deeply about the entire region and about farming, winemaking, and a little of life philosophy thrown in. She is the president of Albeisa, a consortium of quality producers who seek to educate and properly market the wines of the Langhe, and she shares some of the things she's done and is doing in that role as well. I hope you find her passion and intelligence as awesome as I do! Enjoy this one – you’ll learn so much! DON'T FORGET TO LISTEN TO EP 182, THE OG WITH MARINA THAT GOES OVER HER STORY...LINK Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. You HAVE to check out our Halloween pack at https://wineaccess.com/wfnp-halloween/ -- Spooky wines for my favorite holiday! GREAT Wines and a ton of fun. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
This week, my close friend, web guru, and the best digital marketer in the wine biz -- Polly Hammond of 5Forests -- discusses some fascinating topics in wine. We have a great conversation about the state of wine marketing, it's disconnection with normal people (and reasons for it), and how there is more to some trends than clickbait would have you believe! https://www.5forests.com Polly is very different in the world of wine. She is actually a regular person, who understands how normal people think about and drink wine. She is the Founder and CEO of 5forests, where she works with wineries around the world to help them understand how to reach normal people, and bridge the gap between the wine industry and the people it’s supposed to serve. If you love winefornormalpeople.com, it’s Polly’s work (and if you need help with a company web site, she doesn’t just do wine stuff, so contact her to help you). She is launching “Head Training” this month, her third podcast/web series on wine to help educate winery owners and others in the wine business on good marketing practices. It’s a weekly YouTube Series that is focusing on in depth topics, some are interviews, and some are recaps. Check it out on the 5Forests YouTube channel! https://www.5forests.com Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Go to www.wineaccess.com/normal http://www.wineaccess.com/normal to join my co-branded wine club with Wine Access and www.wineaccess.com/wfnp so see a page of the wines I'm loving right now from their collection. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
Pinot Noir is a challenging grape. It’s hard to grow, hard to work with in the cellar, and the style varies drastically based on where it’s made, who is making it, and when it was grown (vintage). We haven’t covered Pinot in a decade, so we decided to do a reboot on the grape mini-series and add all the new information and insights I’ve gathered over the last 10+ years since the last one. From clones to climate change, we give the full story on Pinot and talk about how no two wines are alike and the many reasons they differ. We cover the main growing regions in the Old World – Burgundy, Germany, Italy, etc – and the New World – California, Oregon, New Zealand, Chile, Australia and more – and discuss the style differences between the major regions. This show is packed with information (and it’s got my opinions too, which may not be yours…don’t be offended!). If you love Pinot, check regularly on winefornormalpeople.com/classes for the Pinot Noir Around the World class, taught twice a year, and the Wines of Burgundy class, which is an intensive look at the birthplace of Pinot. Enjoy! EP 296: BOUNDARY BREAKS OF THE FINGER LAKES, WHERE TERROIR REIGNS SUPREME EP 269: FROM DOCTOR TO ONE WOMAN WINERY--KERITH OVERSTREET OF BRULIAM EP 464: THE CÔTE DE NUITS OF BOURGOGNE (BURGUNDY), PART 1 EP 465: THE CÔTE DE NUITS OF BOURGOGNE (BURGUNDY) PART 2 EP 445: CÔTE DE BEAUNE OF BOURGOGNE (BURGUNDY), PART 1 EP 446: CÔTE DE BEAUNE OF BOURGOGNE (BURGUNDY), PART 2 https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeopleFull show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Go to www.wineaccess.com/normal http://www.wineaccess.com/normal to join my co-branded wine club with Wine Access and www.wineaccess.com/wfnp so see a page of the wines I'm loving right now from their collection. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. The holidays will be here before you know it -- plan ahead and order great wines for the season today! To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
This week we cover Australia’s coolest and most southerly region, Tasmania. This island, which is 240 km/150 off the mainland has had some starts and stops in wine, but the recent past has seen it on an upward trajectory for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling made of those grapes, plus Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Syrah, and Pinot Gris, among others. We give an overview of this very distinct Australian region, discuss terroir and climate, the sub areas, and then talk about the bright future of these high-acidity, elegant wines. Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Go to www.wineaccess.com/normal http://www.wineaccess.com/normal to join my co-branded wine club with Wine Access and www.wineaccess.com/wfnp so see a page of the wines I'm loving right now from their collection. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. The holidays will be here before you know it -- plan ahead and order great wines for the season today! To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Main Sources: https://winetasmania.com.au https://winecompanion.com.au/wineries/tasmania#:~:text=Tasmania%27s%20sparkling%20wines%20are%20globally,make%20it%20across%20the%20strait. https://winecompanion.com.au/wineries/tasmania#:~:text=Tasmania%27s%20sparkling%20wines%20are%20globally,make%20it%20across%20the%20strait. https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/wine/australia-tasmanian-wine/ https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/c5183d77-1006-4028-9744-9d6dbd99e2a1/AWD_Tasmania_FacilitatorGuide.pdf?ext=.pdf
As suggested by PATRON KEITH S, this week we take a detailed look at Madeira, the Portuguese island that makes a unique and delicious fortified wine! We discuss the very important history (it’s why the wine is made the way it is, so even if you hate history, don’t skip that part!), the geography and climate of this far-flung island, the grapes that thrive here, and the unbelievable way this fortified wine has been made for centuries. From the single varieties, to dryness levels, to aging levels, we give a broad overview of this complex wine. We share the facts about the wine and sprinkle in commentary about why we love it so much. There is always a bottle around here for a reason (and part of that reason: you can open it and it won’t spoil for months and months…!). Ditch your idea of cheap cooking versions, this is the real Madeira and we hope this inspires you to try it! As promised here is a list of the Madeira brands: __ __ https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ https://www.wineaccess.com/wfnp I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Go to www.wineaccess.com/normal http://www.wineaccess.com/normal to join my co-branded wine club with Wine Access and www.wineaccess.com/wfnp so see a page of the wines I'm loving right now from their collection. Get 10% your first order with my special URL. The holidays will be here before you know it -- plan ahead and order great wines for the season today! To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
