Wine Guide with Cork & Fizz - Wine education for beginners and enthusiasts

Ep 143

Wine school can teach you the theory, but it cannot teach you what actually happens once the grapes hit the cellar.

Today on the podcast I have Katie Truscott from 1 Mill Road Winery in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada back on the podcast. She talks about the shift from studying wine to making it, and what changes once that knowledge has to be put into practice. From learning cellar basics the hard way to realiz...

Ep 142

What makes wine from the Okanagan Valley so different from anywhere else?

In today’s episode I’m chatting with Katie Truscott from 1 Mill Road where we explore her journey into wine. It began unexpectedly with Chenin Blanc in South Africa and evolved into building a small, family-run winery in the heart of Naramata, British Columbia, Canada with her life (and business) partner, Ben. Katie shares her unconventional path into th...

Ep 141

What if the most common belief about wine headaches is actually one of the biggest myths in the entire wine world?

This is the first episode in a new mini series where I unpack some of the biggest wine myths and separate fact from fiction. In this episode, I’m breaking down the long-standing assumption that sulfites in wine cause headaches and uncover why this claim doesn’t hold up. You’ll learn where the belief started, ...

Ep 140

Being pregnant forced me into a real-world test of non-alcoholic wine, and the results were not what you might expect.

When I announced I was pregnant, the constant question that followed once wine was off the table was: are there any good non-alcoholic wine options? That curiosity turned into a deep dive for me where I tasted more than 40 non-alcoholic wines, all while continuing to taste traditional wine for comparison.

You’l...

Ep 139

Would you believe me if I said one of the most soulful and historic wine regions in France is also the one most people barely know anything about?

This conversation, with Ioana from Princess & Bear Wine, goes deeper into the French regions of Languedoc and Roussillon through the perspective of someone who’s actually walked the vineyards, met the winemakers, and watched small family estates bring these wines to life. You’ll...

Ep 138

What if one of the oldest wine regions in the world is also the one most wine lovers overlook?

This conversation with Ioana Bucur, new co-owner of Princess and Bear Wines, dives deep into the heart of Languedoc and Roussillon, the southern French wine regions known for authenticity, history, and an unmatched sense of place. You’ll hear how centuries of tradition, diverse terroir, and small artisanal domaines shape wines that a...

Ep 137

If you're ready to feel more confident about wine but have no idea where to start, this episode breaks the entire process down into five simple steps.

You’ll learn my simple five step framework that makes learning about wine feel doable and not overwhelming. From building a consistent tasting habit to knowing which basics actually matter, this roadmap gives you an easy way to try new wines with more intention and a lot le...

Ep 136

Staring at a wall of wine and wishing someone would just hand you a curated list of bottles actually worth drinking?

In this episode I’m sharing my 12 standout wines from 2025 in honor of the 12 days of Christmas. Wines from Washington Chardonnay to Idaho Mourvedre to canned Albariño, Soave from Italy, and a wild, nutty Vin Jaune from France. You’ll hear why each bottle earned a spot on the list, how it tastes, and the stories...

Ep 135

What if the easiest way to pick better wine has been sitting on the bottle this whole time?

Learning how to read a wine label doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In my conversation with Marie, she breaks down her approachable, beginner-friendly system that she teaches in her new book “How to Read a Wine Label.” It’s a method built around three core concepts that can help anyone predict how a wine will taste before ever pul...

Ep 134

What if blind tasting isn’t actually about guessing the wine at all but about learning to trust your palate?

In this conversation, author, sommelier, and content creator Marie Cheslik shares an unfiltered look at blind tasting, wine education, and the confidence-building process behind learning what you like. She explains the original purpose of blind tasting, why it’s rooted in regional typicity, and how she now uses the...

Ep 133

What if one of wine’s most recognizable symbols, the oak barrel, was never meant to be used for aging wine at all?

In this episode, we’re diving into the history and science of oak in winemaking. From the Roman Empire’s accidental discovery of oak barrels to how modern winemakers use them intentionally today, you’ll learn why oak has become one of the most powerful tools for shaping a wine’s flavor, texture, and aroma.

We’...

Ep 132

Do you ever feel lost when people start throwing around fancy wine terms like “tannin” or “terroir”? You’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re going back to the basics with 15 essential wine words that will instantly boost your confidence when talking about wine. You’ll learn how to describe what you’re tasting, from acidity to body, and finally understand what those mysterious words like “minerality,” “dry,” and “complex”...

Ep 131

What happens when a winemaker challenges tradition, one barrel at a time?

In this second part of my interview with South African winemaker Duncan Savage, he shares how he transformed his approach from crafting white wines at Cape Point Vineyards to creating expressive, terroir-driven reds under his own label. He shares how his time crafting white wines at Cape Point Vineyards shaped the philosophy he now brings to his expressi...

Ep 130

You may have heard of Napa and Bordeaux…but the next great wine region might just surprise you. Welcome to South Africa!

In this episode, winemaker Duncan Savage joins from Cape Town to share his journey from head winemaker at Cape Point Vineyards to founder of Savage Wines, one of the most exciting and celebrated names in South Africa’s new wave movement.

Duncan’s story is filled with humility, humor, and hard-won insight from...

Ep 129

Washington may be known for its big-name wineries, but some of the best bottles are coming from the small, family-run spots you’ve never heard of.

In this episode, we’re exploring four boutique wineries that capture the creativity and community behind Washington wine. Discover how a chef’s background in flavor inspires the balanced, aromatic wines at Kinhaven Winery. Learn how Cedergreen Cellars pivoted from restaurant-only sa...

Ep 128

Would you believe that one of the world’s favorite red wines comes from one of the most temperamental grapes on earth?

Today’s episode is a fan request and we’re taking a deep dive into Pinot Noir! This grape is known for being both a challenge to grow but also how it reflects where it’s grown. We’ll talk about where Pinot Noir got its start and how it’s now grown everywhere from Burgundy to Oregon. You'll discover why Pi...

Ep 127

What if the future of wine wasn’t about choosing between tradition and technology, but finding a way to let both thrive together?

In this episode, you’ll hear from John Tan, founder of CorkVision, an AI-powered copilot for wineries. After years in the tech world, John found himself in Napa Valley, blending his expertise with a deep passion for wine. The result? A platform designed to help wineries sell smarter, protect tr...

Ep 126

Can artificial intelligence (AI) really change the way you enjoy wine?

In this episode, you’ll meet John Tan, founder of CorkVision, an AI-powered platform designed to help wineries sell smarter, connect with customers, and streamline operations. John’s story takes us from high-powered client dinners in New York to an unplanned move to Napa Valley after a fateful night of wine tasting and, eventually, to harvest work...

Ep 125

What if the secret to understanding wine wasn’t memorizing grapes or regions but unlocking just three key components?

In this episode, I’m breaking down the building blocks that shape every glass of wine: tannin, acidity, and body. By learning how to identify these elements, you’ll not only know what you like (and don’t like), but also have the words to describe it with confidence.

You’ll discover why tannins create t...