The Cork & Fizz Guide to Wine

From bartender and manager to wine shop owner, Desirae Ballard is on a mission to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all wine lovers at The Grape Choice in Kirkland, WA.

Desirae is the owner of The Grape Choice Wine Store and Wine Bar in Kirkland, Washington. Since purchasing The Grape Choice in 2023, Desirae has taken this 40 year old wine store and made it her own! She expanded the food menu to include incredible char...

So, you want to host a wine tasting party at home but you have a lot of questions? And the biggest question is where do you even begin!? Plus:

How many people should you invite?

What kind of wine should you have and what order should you sample it in?

I’m answering all of these questions and more on today’s episode! We’ll dive into how to choose a theme, how to set the scene for your party, how to select ...

Why do I love Santa Barbara wine country so much?

Aside from Walla Walla, which you know I love so much, Santa Barbara is my second favorite wine region in the US.

It’s not pretentious at all. It’s just a bunch of wine lovers making wine that they love that they then want to share with other people who love wine. 

Santa Barbara has lots of smaller amazing wineries, top notch restaurants and it’s next to t...

When we think of wine, countries like France, Italy, and Spain often come to mind as the leading producers of the world's finest vintages.



However, tucked away in the heart of Europe lies a hidden gem waiting to be explored - Croatia.



We are talking about ancient vineyards, indigenous grapes, unique flavor profiles, the history of winemaking in Croatia and so much more.

I’m back with another wine grape deep dive and this time it’s Merlot! 

If I’m being honest, I tend to skip right over Merlot when I see it on the menu. However, after a lot of research, I think I’ve changed my own mind about this grape!

Join me as we dive into the rise and fall of the Merlot grape! 

We’ll get into how Merlot went from being a superstar to shunned, how it is often mistaken f...

The clouds have started to break. The sun stays out longer. And the weather is getting warmer, which means that summer is finally here!

And with summer here, I feel like a lot of people lean towards Rosé and White wines but there is another style of wine that you are not going to want to miss out on…and that is chillable red wines!

Chillable red wines typically have higher acidity,  are lighter bodied, low in tann...

When you think of a winemaker you typically think of wines being produced in a winery, right?

Well Esja wines are doing things a bit differently and crafting Washington wines that are funky, fresh, and fun and doing so out of their garage!

Today, I’m joined by Tanya Bjornsson, an Icelandic-American winemaker who is the owner of Esja wines, a small batch winery making wines with a light touch that result in lean, e...

It’s time to raise our wine glasses and celebrate!! The Cork & Fizz Guide to Wine Podcast is one year old!!!!

This episode means so much to me and I’m reflecting on my favorite moments, challenges I’ve encountered along the way, your top 5 favorite episodes to listen to, and my top 5 favorite episodes to record.

I’m giving a behind the scenes peek into what the future holds for The Cork & Fizz Gu...

Even as a wine enthusiast myself, I sometimes find myself drinking the same wines all the time. 

Lately it’s been a lot of California and Washington wine and while they are absolutely delicious, when Mr. Cork & Fizz suggested going wine shopping for something new, I didn't hesitate to say yes!

So, it was that conversation that inspired me to dig deep into Greek wine and to share this inspiration with you,...

The Chalmers family’s wine business is nothing short of extraordinary.

They place an emphasis on sustainable practices and family-owned values as well as being advocates for broadening perspectives on Australian wine.

Australian wine is more than Shiraz or Sémillon. Chalmers is leading the way with their unique flavor profiles.

However, those unique flavor profiles come with their challenge...

As a wine educator I hold a lot of private tastings, virtually and in person, and I’ve noticed the same questions tend to pop up over and over. 

So, I thought it would be fun to answer the most common wine questions I’m asked because you may have some of these very same questions!

Some of the questions I’m asking in this episode include: the connection between smell, taste, and memory in wine perception;...

As the sun starts to shine brighter and the weather warms up, there's no better way to embrace the beauty of spring than by enjoying a delightful picnic with friends and family. 

And what better way to elevate your outdoor gathering than by pairing it with the perfect wines?

I may not be super outdoorsy but I can definitely appreciate a great picnic and today, I’m sharing 5 of my favorite wines to t...

What would you do if you were asked to leave your college and your punishment was to work in your parent’s restaurant and go to Italy for 28 days to visit wineries. 

Would you go? 

You better believe that is what today’s guest Paul Greico did and it set a chain of events into motion that would ultimately culminate in Paul becoming the founder and owner of the punk inspired wine bar, Terroir Tribeca in Ne...

Does price matter when it comes to a bottle of wine? 

Is a $10 bottle really that different from a $50 bottle of wine? What about a $50 bottle versus a $500 bottle? And what goes into the cost of wine anyway?

I’m breaking it all down in today’s episode! From costs involved in grape production and harvesting…to the markups added by distributors, wine shops and restaurants. I’m sharing the many pieces involved that make up th...

I’m so excited for today’s episode on 4 up and coming wine regions!

And what I love most about this topic is that a listener proposed this idea! I love chatting about anything you’re interested in hearing about!

Now, these regions may not necessarily be new in making wine (in fact some are quite old) but they ARE rising in popularity.

Join me as we explore four regions that each have a unique story and di...

Located in the heart of France is the renowned region of Burgundy. 

Burgundy is famed for its vineyards and diverse terroir. From Cote d’Or which is dominated by the Pinot Noir grape to the Cote de Beaune characterized by an abundance of Chardonnay, each sub region holds its own allure and unique varietals. 

And with such a large region it’s easy to get confused by all the Burgundy has to offer! (Even if it’s most...

I’m back with another grape deep dive and this time it’s Barbera! 

I first fell in love with this grape at my local wine shop and now it’s my go-to for pizza night since they pair so well together!

I just love how approachable and fruity this grape is and the fact that you can get an amazing bottle of wine for only $15!

Today, I’ll share with you the mysterious origins and scandalous past of the beloved B...

Did you know that one of my very favorite styles of wine is sparkling wine?!

It’s absolutely delicious and I find the history behind sparkling wine so intriguing….especially since it started as an accident, or more accurately, a HAPPY accident!

Today’s episode is essentially my Sparkling Wine 101 Tasting that you would get if you booked a private tasting with me but you are getting exclusive access to this on the podcast!

Does a beautiful hand-blown wine glass make a difference when it comes to drinking wine?

Are different glasses good for different kinds of wine? 

Or is it just all a marketing strategy?

Today, I have David Kong, founder of Glasvin Stemware, with me. David is changing the game for wine and cocktail lovers everywhere! And he is giving us all the details on those questions. 

David dives into how a wine glass can or can...