Wine for Normal People

Mount Etna is one of the most interesting wine regions of Italy. On the northeast coast of Sicily, wine grapes grow on the slopes of Europe's highest active volcano, which has been erupting for at least 500,000 years and ranks among the most active volcanoes in the world. The UN counts it among just 16 volcanoes worldwide that pose a high risk to life and property, and that's not a joke: ash, steam, and lava fl...

With the equinox behind us, it is officially fall in northern hemisphere – a return to normal routines after the lazier days of summer. The leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter, and we're taking out the jeans and sweaters for the cooler weather and that means it's also time for fall flavors in food and in wine.

Photo Credit: Valiphotos f...

This week I cover the many facets of Rías Baixas, an historic yet very new wine region (Romans farmed this region, monks perfected the winemaking, but the modern form of the D.O. didn't take shape until the 1980s!).

Rías Baixas is a fascinating but small Denominacíon de Origen (DO) in the far northwest corner of Spain. This is the Galicia region, which is so very different from the image most of us conjure when thinking about rura...

After Episode 620: The Greats -- the Wachau of Austria, I thought about re-releasing this show but I wasn't 100% sure. I decided to do it because in listening to Ep 383 again, it brought the region to life for me in a different and very useful way. I figured it would be helpful for you as well!

In this show I speak with Roman Horvath, a Master of Wine, is the Winery Director of Domaine Wachau, which is among the leading win...

Austria is a bit off the radar so you may not know its greatest region: the Wachau. This time I cover the region in detail, from its 2000 year history to its unique geological makeup. I explain the region and why it makes some of best Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. While Austria is most certainly on the rise, there is no other region that rises to "The Greats" status other than the Wachau. A truly unique gem, in the world of white ...

Liz Gabay, MW and her partner and son, Ben Bernheim, come back on the show as dynamic as ever.

This time they discuss their latest, wonderful book, "The Wines of Provence," which was recently published. 

We broaden our conversation from episode 434, to discuss not just rosé, but also Provence, which is far more complex than I ever knew. We discuss appellations, h...

In last week's show (dorkfest part 1), we discussed two components of structure, acidity and tannin, and how they are like two sides of a picture frame, structure. In this episode (dorkfest part 2),  I cover the other two sides of that frame, sugar and alcohol, to complete the picture. For me, these components are the fundamentals and although writers are always trying to add more to the frame, they all can be attributed to on...

This time it's Back to Basics -- describing two of the four main components that make up the structure of wine - Acidity & Tannin. It's both simple, and very dorky (I quote the NIH at one point, worth a listen!)

In this show I go back to basics and talk about structure. As I said in the book, I think of wine like a picture frame -- the sides have to be even for it to work. I liken the structure of wine to art and talk a little...

Although the Loire Valley is most famous for the Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé (especially after Taylor Swift drove tons of people to buy Sancerre – thank you Taylor!), there is a white grape that has a longer and more prestigious history in the Loire:  Chenin Blanc.

Map: Loire Valley Wines

A...

Felicity Carter a journalist, researcher, and analyst who's spent more than 20 years covering the global drinks industry. Not one to shy away from controversy, Felicity covers some of the thorniest issues in wine: health and alcohol policy, alcohol research and bias, the mainstream media and alcohol, the effect of GLP-1s on drinking, and global wine industry trends overall. 

She is the best writer in wine – well researc...

Although the best-known wines of Piemonte are in the south — in Alba, Roero, Cuneo, and Asti – there is a treasure trove of excellent Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo blends northeast of the famed Barolo and Barbaresco in the Langhe. These are small DOCGs and DOCs in the foothills of the Italian Alps that are collectively called Alto Piemonte  – "higher (or upper) Piemonte."

Gr...

Nebbiolo is one of the oldest and finest red grapes of Italy. Native to Piemonte (Piedmont) in the northwest of the country, it was first mentioned and described by (my boyfriend) Pliny the Elder in the first century AD. After a time of being known exclusively on its home turf, starting in the 1700s, Nebbiolo began to gain status as a wine of Piemontese royalty. When a dry version was made in the mid-1800s, the...

André Tchelistcheff is a wine legend, especially in American wine. A winemaker, viticulturist and teacher, Tchelistcheff raised the standards for California wine, making it possible for it to become a force in the modern wine world.

André Tchelistcheff. Photo: UC Davis Library

A lifetime learner, Tchelistcheff said his highest and best title would be "permane...

I said in episode 604 that if you wanted my other 6 suggestions, I would do a follow up show! You told me this is what you wanted, so this time I give you six MORE wine regions that make very expensive wines and then provide ideas of less expensive bottles that you could sub in when you don't want to splurge. From Châteauneuf to Brunello I give you some ideas that hopefully you hadn't considered! 

The wines I find alternatives...

This is part two (Ep 609 is Part 1)of a two-part series on the history of Champagne, which tells the story of how Champagne became Champagne!

Photo: Champagne Vineyards Credit: WFNP

I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole when I discovered an entire encyclopedia of the history of Champagne on the Union des Maisons de Champagne site...

This is part of a two-part series on the history of Champagne, which tells the story of how Champagne became Champagne!

 
Photo: Champagne vineyards before mechanization. Source: Union des Maisons de Champagne

I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole when I discovered an entire encyclopedia of the history of Champagne on the Uni...

Barbera is one of Italy's most widely planted red grapes and an essential part of Piemontese wine culture. It is native to the Monferrato hills, where it has been grown for centuries and important to the overall wine landscape of the region. Adaptable, drought-resistant, and capable of producing everything from bright, food-friendly, everyday wines to serious oak-aged bottles, Barbera has spread beyond its homeland — to Calif...

In this show rather than one wine legend, I talk about a team of people who saved the wine world from The Great French Wine Blight of the 1860s – 1890s, which turned out to be caused a destructive, insect called phylloxera that came to Europe on American grapevines. I discuss the contributions of eight people who worked together and across continents to collectively save the European grapevine, Vitis vini...

I couldn't get a new podcast out with my travels from Alto Adige with the patrons,  but I thought it was timely I re-released this show since I was just there. It's not ALL old hat -- I did a light edit, improved the sound quality, and recorded a quick intro to this re-release of Ep 310: Elena Walch - The Quality Revolutionary of Alto Adige, Italy.

Elena Walch is a winery with an essential role in the quality revolutio...