Another Bottle Down (Mark Rashap and Jessica Dupuy)

As a special pre-holiday series, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite new wine books - perfect gifts for the holiday season… On today’s episode we catch up with Tim Gaiser about his recent book, Message in the Bottle: A Guide to Tasting Wine. 

Purchase the Book Here.

Tim Gaiser is an internationally renowned wine expert, educator, and blogger, and one of less than 300 individuals worldwide to ever attain the Master Sommelier title. He is the former Director of Education and Education chair for the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.

You can find more information on Tim at www.timgaiser.com

And, you can subscribe to his substack newsletter: https://tgaiser.substack.com/about

Eugenio Jardim is the US ambassador for Wines of Portugal and wears several additional hats in his private companies WiFi Wine Time and My Private Somm.  He is also Brand Ambassador for Ernest Vineyards in the West Sonoma Coast and Loco Tequila.  Jessica describes Eugenio as the "one man party," and this conversation couldn't be more fun and informative.  Eugenio brings an overall expertise of the entire world of wine to his stories and descriptions of Portugal, the diversity of styles, and the incredible value the wines offer.  It's a good life when "on a bad day you're talking about wine, and on a great day, you're talking about Champagne!"

Wines of Portugal

https://www.wifiwinetime.com/

Ernest Vineyards

Loco Tequila

Jessica Dupuy kicks off her month long stay in Spain with visiting the wineries of Gonzalez Byass in Rioja and Jerez with fellow writer Brian Freedman.  They share all the super fun stories of eating and drinking their way through the countryside. 

Mark stays back in Austin not jealous at all!

Thanks to Gonzalez Byass, parent company of Tio Pepe and Beronia: https://www.gonzalezbyassusa.com

Brian Freedman's book: Crushed 'How a Changing Climate is Altering the Way We Drink.'

On today's show, we delve into all things Lambrusco with Alicia Lini, 4th generation of Lini 1910.  We highlight why Emilia Romagna is so special, what makes quality Lambrusco, and the pleasures of enjoying this style of wine with food.  I particularly enjoyed hearing Alicia talk about how the various varieties of Lambrusco lend different characteristics to the final blend.  Coming out of a dark age of sweet and poorly made 'beverage' as Alicia calls it, Lambrusco is now in a veritable renaissance of artisanal sparkling wine.

Lini 1910 website

Follow Alicia Lini on Instagram: here

Jessica and Mark follow up the last episode on Piedmont with a more in depth discussion of Alta Langa while focusing on one of the pioneers of sparkling wine in Piedmont, Enrico Serafino.  Our guest, Erika Abate, is the export manager of Serafino and has spent her entire life steeped in the wines of Piedmont.  We dig into the origins of the Alta Langa apellation, the particulars of growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in this non-continguous and high-elevation region, and the how these sparkling wines are positioned to be some of the most prestigious in Italy.  We cap off the conversation with Serafino's work with the unique biotype of Nebbiolo, Picotener.

More info on Enrico Serafino here: https://www.enricoserafino.it/en/

On today's bonus show, Mark and Jessica reflect on the one year anniversary of their partnership and the reboot of Another Bottle Down.  They revist some of their favorite shows from the past year, reveal some intriguing statistics, and chat about what they'll be exploring in the year to come.  Thank you for listening!

As always follow along: Instagram: Anotherbottledowncast

On today's show, Mark and Jessica gear up for the big Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening event in Austin by interviewing Patrick Olds.  Patrick recently left MML Hospitality and started his own consulting firm, Sidecar Hospitality.  He's a big Barolo and Barbaresco fan and gives tons of juicy insights on the region, the grape (Nebbiolo), and how to approach a large scale tasting such as the World Opening.

Purchase tickets to Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening on March 25th:  Here

"Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them."

Last episode, we took a look at the sparkling wine regions of Champagne and Trento… This episode, we continue our focus on traditional-method sparkling wines with a look at Spanish Cava. 

More than 90% of these wines come from the Penèdes region of the country, a place Jessica had the chance to visit last May. Along with her was our guest today, Chris Tanghe MS. Chris is the Director of Education for the Guild of Sommeliers. Based in Seattle, WA, he began his career in restaurants in his native New England at the age of 13, as a dishwasher for a country club in Pocasset, MA. After graduating, Christopher attended the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York, where he was first exposed to wine. 

Following his time at the CIA, Christopher worked in restaurants all around the country, eventually settling in Seattle where he began to take classes with the International Sommelier Guild. He passed the Certified Sommelier exam in 2008 while working as the Wine Director and General Manager for Crush restaurant in Seattle, followed by the Advanced exam in 2009 while Wine Director for Matt’s in the Market. In preparation for the Master’s exam, Christopher spent time working with Canlis, an icon of fine dining for 64 years with a 2,400 bottle list, followed by working with Rajat Parr to open Seattle’s RN74 where he specialized in Burgundy & Bordeaux with vintages dating back to the 1940’s. He earned the title of Master Sommelier in May of 2013.

Tanghe and Jessica talk about their experience in Cava, the new regulations set in place in early 2022, and the impressive quality the region is exhibiting in its range of sparkling wines. 

*****Another Bottle Down is proud to be the exclusive Media Sponsor for Big Reds and Bubbles Get $20 off by using code:  ABDP23, Purchase tickets here. Info on The Wine and Food Foundation here.

On today's show, Jessica and Mark take a deep dive into buy and collecting wine with Brandon Kerne MS, chief of operations at the AOC Wine Group.  This is a multi-faceted organization that includes the Art of Cellaring (wine storage), AOC Selections (retail), and the Texas Wine School.  Brandon cut his teeth at the Houston institution Pappa's Bros Steakhouse, and after passing his Master Sommelier Diploma and the pandemic hitting, changed courses into the retail and collecting sphere.  He brings great perspective on a host of subjects in this discussion from the value of reading wine reviews to the vast differences of buying wine for a restaurant program vs for retail and AOC Selections.

Links for the show:

https://aocwines.com/

Wines by BK on Instagram

Referenced: Legends Portfolio

As a special pre-holiday series, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite new wine books - perfect gifts for the holiday season… On today’s episode we catch up with Shelley Lindgren about her latest book, Italian Wine. 

Purchase a copy of Italian Wine here.

Shelley Lindgren is the wine director and owner of San Francisco’s beloved Italian restaurant, A16. She has received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program and has been knighted by the Italian government, receiving the prestigious "Cavaliere dell'Ordine Della Stella Italia" (Dott.ssa) distinction for her work promoting Italian wine. Shelley’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, Punch, San Francisco Chronicle, and many other publications. She served on the board of La Cocina, the Guild of Sommeliers, and Slide Ranch and is a member of Les Dames d’ Escoffier. A16 is also located in Oakland and 2 locations in Japan. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, two sons, and a border collie.

On today's show, Jessica catches up with PIerangelo Tommasi who is the Managing Director of Tomassi Family Estates and one of nine family members who make up the 4th generation of the wine company.  Pierangelo delves into the family history, how their roots are planted in the Valpolicella, and the family's need and desire to expand to other regions across Italy.  Currently, there are 8 different estates across Italy with 800 hectares (close to 2,000 acres) of vineyards and various partnerships in other regions. 

Pierangelo is such an advocate for the region and what he calls the 'contemporary' style of Amarone, which focuses more of freshness and elegance.  He also believes the message of Amarone should the emphasis of vineyards and terroirs over the process of appassimento (the drying of the grapes).

References:

Tommasi Family Estates Website

Famiglie Storiche Website

Antica Bottega del Vino

In this episode, Jessica and Mark talk a bit about climate change in the wine and spirits industry. For more insight, Jessica catches up with Brian Freedman, the author of the new book “Crushed: How A Changing Climate Is Altering The Way We Drink.”

Freedman is a wine, spirits, travel, and food writer, restaurant beverage consultant and event speaker based in Philadelphia. He is a contributing editor at Food & Wine digital, contributes to SevenFifty Daily, writes the Wines of the Week column at Forbes.com and also covers spirits there, has had pieces at Travel + Leisure online, Departures online, Whisky Advocate Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, The Bourbon Review, and more. 

He has traveled to more than 50 countries experiencing the food, drink, and culture for his work. Today we’ll be talking with Freedman about how climate change has affected regions throughout the wine and spirits industries.

Crushed: How A Changing Climate Is Altering The Way We Drink is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. 

Follow Brian on Instagram @freedmanreports, Twitter @fdtreport, or through his website, https://www.briandfreedman.com/ 

As a special pre-holiday series, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite new wine books - perfect gifts for the holiday season… On today’s episode we catch up with Jane Lopes about her recent book, How to Drink Australian: An Essential Modern Wine Book. 

"The landscape of Australian wine is cracking with new energy and historic traditions that make it one of the most exciting wine-producing countries in the world right now. But the scholarship on Australian wine hasn't always matched the output.

How to Drink Australian corrects that. It takes readers on a journey around the country, state by state, region by region. Each state has an introduction. And the most significant regions have their own separate chapters within each state.

Purchase How to Drink Australian

Purchase Jane's first book, Vignettes

More about Jane Lopes

On today's show, Jessica digs into Piedmont with wine writer and educator David Way.  David spent the last 4 years traveling to Piedmont and researching the widest array of topics including the famous icons of the Langhe, the more obscure regions and varieties further afield, various winemaking technologies, and the fascinating story of the sparkling wines of Alta Langa.  With various anecdotes from the book writing process and some travel tips, David and Jessica bring the piedmont with all of its complexities alive.

David is also one of the people responsible for writing and editing the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) reference books.  Jessica and David chat about the book writing process and the need to stay on top of this ever changing and evolving industry.

More information and useful links:

The Wines of Piedmont.  Published by the Académie du Vin Library

Wine Friend by David Way- David's personal website and blog

WSET Reference Books

We cap off our holiday book series (and what an incredible guest to end on!) with Ray Isle, the long time Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine magazine and Wine and Spirits editor of Travel and Leisure magazine.  Ray and Jessica talk about his recently published book, World in a Wine Glass: The Indsider's Guide to Artisinal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now. 

This our last episode of 2023, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year's to all of our listeners!

Links:

Purchase World in a Wine Glass on Book Shop

Purchase World in a Wine Glass on Amazon

Food and Wine Magazine

Travel and Leisure Magazine

Earlier this fall, Jessica had a chance to explore a few Italian wine regions including Piedmont, Tuscany, and Sannio. Joining her on these trips was the every charming and loquacious Brian Freedman, a fellow wine writer, educator, and author of Crushed: How a Changing Climate is Altering the Way We Think.

In this episode, Brian and Jessica rehash their time with the renowned Gaja family who shared their properties with them in Barbaresco, Barolo, Alta Langa, Bolgheri, and Montalcino. Not only were the wines impressive, but undertanding the method behind how the family operates was a crucial part to understanding the Gaja brand. 

They also talk about the historic Sannio DOC, a lesser known region in the U.S., but one worth exploring for excellent wines made of Fallenghina, Fiano, Aglianico, and more. 

Tune in to this travelogue of these amazing wine regions and be sure to check out the wines of Gaja and Sannio in the near future. 

Kelli White is a wine writer and educator, currently serving as Director of Education for the Wine Center at Meadowood in Napa Valley.  She also has written one of the most important books on the Napa Valley, Napa Valley Then and Now.  Jessica and Mark could think of no better person to come on the show and break down the ins and outs of Napa Cab.  Kelli digs into the history and emphasizes understanding the diversity when we think of this topic. 

Big thanks to Jeffrey's of Austin for providing us with the most elegant of recording spaces!

Other resources:

Meadowood Napa Valley

Elaine Chukan Brown on Instagram

Wines of Napa Valley

On today's show, we have Patrick Olds, wine director of MML Hospitality based in Austin, TX.  Patrick digs into the roll of a wine director as mentor and educator, as well as his passion of blind tasting.  He feels that blind tasting is not just a parlor trick, but a way to understand the world of wine and the experience of the guest to a greater degree.

Links from the show:

MML Hospitality website: https://mmlhospitality.com/

Patrick on Instagram: here

Jessica's article on the Renaissance of Cava

Check out Daniel McKeever, from Glazer's Domains and Estates, talk about the interconnectedness of vineyards, the constellations, and the human body.  Daniel has been delving into the subtleties of Biodynamics and teaches how to use the calendar to better enjoy your wines!

The 'Chef de Cave' is so much more than simply a winemaker.  With so many permutations of vintages, grape varieties, and vineyards, many consider the blending of Champagne to be the most difficult in the industry (along with Port).  Michel is in charge of all operations along with working with hundreds of growers in the Montaudon winery in the Côte des Bar in the South of Champagne.  There's something in here for everyone, from expert to folks just starting to learn about the intricacies of this magical region!

One of the most popular segments on the show, 2 judges from the Texas Wine Journal and 2 winemakers taste blind 6 wines made from Sangiovese from around the world.  Which one is from Texas, which is the favorite?  Enjoy the lively conversation!

Guests:  Russell Smith (Celler Barcelona), Rob Moshin (journal judge and consultant), Penny Adams (Wedding Oak Winery), and Jesse Brantley (journal judge and Bev Director at Trattoria Lisina and Mandolas)

Brandon Watson is the Food Editor of the Austin Chronicle, and he comes on the show to talk about their anticipated First Plates Issue hitting the shelves this Thursday!  Every year the Chronicle comes up with a top 100 list of the best restaurants in Austin, it's called First Plates.  Listen here to get you salivating!

Just back from an educational trip to Spain, I dig into the wines, cultures, and foods of the very exciting regions of Bierzo, Valdeorras, and Ribeira Sacra in the Northwest of Spain.  Francois Pointeau, freelance writer, poet, and 'wine drinker,' takes the reigns as guest interviewer and helps me to highlight the excitement of the long history, proud culture, and delicious foods of the area!

Eugenio Jardim is the Ambassador of all Wines of Portugal in the US.  He travels the country inspiring the merits of the beautiful indigenous grapes of Portugal, the intense wines, and the exquisite cuisine.  He says we must understand the minutiae, but then file it away and draw the greater lessons that are a little more metaphysical (my words).  I hope you enjoy listening as much as being involved in the interview!

The Women for WineSense Austin Chapter leadership, Jackie Granelli, Barbi Shows, and LaSaan Georgeson tell us about their organization's goal of educations and networking around wine.  They have an upcoming event on June 20th, panel discussion and happy hour.  They also talk about their passion for Rosé in all incarnations!  More information at https://www.facebook.com/austinwomenwinesense/

Sarah Harshaw is National Sales Manager of Lioco Wines which specializes in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Carignan from Northern California.  Matt Licklider and Kevin O'Connor started the winery about ten years ago to focus more on nuanced wines over power and high alcohol versions.  Sarah travels the US spreading the word and gives a unique perspective on the new wave of California wine.  www.liocowine.com

David Mayfield left his desk job to start importing wine into Texas.  He was first attracted by the quality of Uruguayan wine, but then that passion for the unique led him all over Europe and the world.  He specializes in small production wineries, odd grape varieties, and unique flavors.  He has recently opened a retail shop in Waco to even better showcase the wines. 

Rae Wilson has been in the Austin wine industry since 2005, made wine in California and Portugal, and currently consults for restaurants and other industry entities.  She says that her quest to fully complete the circle has lead her to plant a vineyard and make wine here in Texas.  She is in her second year of producing the Dandy Rosé and her vineyard will be producing viable fruit come next year.  http://www.dandypink.com

Rosé is on fire in Texas!  It's a favorite of the wine loving community all over Austin as well as one of the most exciting categories of the booming Texas wine industry.  In this edition of TX vs the World, we put the top scoring Texas rosé from the Texas Wine Journal up against 5 other rosés from around the world. Join wine professionals Julia Dixon and Jon Gerber along with winemakers Doug Lewis and Duncan McNabb to see how Texas stacks up!

Mariana and Ian McEnroe who are the creators of the acclaimed food blog Yes, More Please! come on the show to talk about food, wine, music and all things good.  Food doesn't have to be a task, it can be pure pleasure.  That's what the blog is about, not only veggie or gluten-free, but reflecting the way they eat.  There is a story behind every recipe, and the photography, by Ian, will surely make you salivate!

www.yes-moreplease.com

Murph Wilcott, owner of Texas French Bread in Austin, comes on the show to talk about various philosophies in the world of food and wine.  Heirloom varieties of grain and grape, natural vs cultivated yeast strains, and various production practices that add flavor are all heavily debated in our industry.  However, when we strive for unique character and soul in our wine and food, we touch something deeper in our human experience.

Daniela Marcone owns the Italian restaurant Andiamo in Austin, TX.  They don't prescribe to any regional cuisine in particular but more so focus on what is fresh and in season in Austin, though Daniela is from Napoli.  The wine list is all Italian with a focus on small producers with organic and biodynamic philosophies.  In the last 15 minutes we get an update from the Texas winery William Chris; how the 2016 harvest is shaping up, and their movement on 100% grown Texas wines called the Texas Wine Revolution.  Enjoy!

Roberta Rinaldi comes on the show to talk about the under-appreciated region in Lombardia named Oltrepò Pavese.  This region is home to the largest area of Pinot Noir from which they make beautiful still and sparkling wines.  Roberta and importer Giacomo Butera talk about the upcoming arrival of renowned producer Cà di Frara to the Austin market:

http://www.cadifrara.com/en/

Virginia Willcock has been making wine for Margaret River's first winery, Vasse Felix, for 10 years.  She has been making some of Australia's best Chardonnay is really pushing the bar on Cabernet Sauvignon.  She tells us all about all that she is doing in this exciting region; native fermentations, focus on Malbec and Petite Verdot for blending with Cab Sauv, and so much more!

Daniel Chavez, an economist with Texas A&M Agri-life Extension program, talks about his work helping small-acreage farms and growers link up with local restaurants. 

In the second half of the program, Chris Seals presents his new Austin distillery, Still Austin.  His focus will be white whiskey which explores the different terroirs and heirloom grain varieties of Texas.  All 'grain to glass' and a lot of experimentation!

What better way to celebrate Texas Wine Month than with three leading producers, Ron Yates of Spicewood Vineyards, Fredrick Osterberg of Pedernales Cellars, and Dave Reilley of Duchman Family Winery.  These wineries along with Brennan and Bending Branch make up the Texas Fine Wine Group which share a philosophy of producing wines made from grapes best suited to Texas.  We hear what varieties they are producing and experimenting with as well as stories from the 2016 harvest!

We continue celebrating Texas Wine Month with a comprehensive tasting of the hybrid varieties that are most prospective in the Lone Star State.  We explore the diverse styles of Blanc du Bois, from Sparkling to Sweet and Fortified, with it's bright acidity and pretty aromatics.  We also tackle the historic Black Spanish, also known as, Jacquez and Lenoir, with its screaming acidity and gamey characteristics.  Norton gets a few minutes at the end!  Enjoy!

Jeremy Fouquet, export manager with the Chateauneuf-de-Pape Producer, Maison Brotte, comes on the show to speak about the Rhone Valley and all the different properties owned by the Brotte Family.  He grew up in the Southern Rhone in a family of chefs, and now travels telling the story of one of the most popular Chateauneuf producers!

Freelance food, wine, and travel writer Jessica Dupuy, has covered the Texas wine industry for Texas Monthly for many years.  In 2016, she changed her highly anticipated yearly list of top Texas wines to be a quarterly endeavor.  Join us to chat about her Fall 2016 list as a well as conversation around direction of the industry and her new book United Tastes of Texas.

Jasmine Hirsch comes on the show to share the history of her family's vineyard.  David Hirsch, Jasmine's father, planted his vineyard in 1980 two miles from the ocean, the first on the Sonoma Coast, so he could have someplace to hear himself think.  Now, Hirsch Pinot Noirs are some of the most acclaimed in all of California.  Jasmine talks of the early days and growing up on the "ranch," as well as her current role and the direction of the winery.  I am so happy to be able to share these stories.

Miriam Parker, Exec Director of the Austin Food and Wine Alliance, talks about the up-coming Wine and Swine event in the Hill Country.  Then, Marta Delfa Mediavillas comes on to talk about the 5th generation family owned winery, Torres, and the wines of the Penedés.  We also delve into the other major Spanish regions and explore the Torres project of recuperating "lost" varieties!  Super fun stuff.

Check out this wonderful discussion with Giulia Luccioli, sales director of Sagravit, and Anthony Salazar, sommelier of Gusto Restaurant in Austin.  Sagravit is the largest Agricultural company in Italy, managing the land interests of the Order of Malta.  They oversee 3 really historical estates in Umbria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Prosecco.  Anthony talks about Italian Restaurant Week in Austin with proceeds going to the earthquake disaster relief of Central Italy.

Giulia Luccioli is the resident wine expert of the Wine Lover community on the Umbria Region of Italy.  She talks about the power of connecting with wine lovers all around the world.  Use the hash-tag, #WineLover. 

I'm very proud to post an amazing discussion with Murph Willcott of Texas French Bread and Paul Ozbirn of Parkside Projects.  With these amazing wine and food gurus, we take calls from the Austin wine loving public.  Listen to get the full story on what to serve with your Thanksgiving dinner!

Tessa and Matt Halstead opened their high-end confectioner's chocolate shop in Austin two years ago.  Tessa comes from a chocolate making family and Matt made wine in Argentina, perfect combo in my book!  Listen to us discuss the finer points of making chocolate, tasting chocolate, and pairing wine with chocolate.  We're definitely getting ready for the holidays!

Wine and food writer Alan Tardi just came out with his book, Champagne, Uncorked, which chronicles a year he spent at one of the most acclaimed Champagne houses, Krug.  Alan is gearing up for a dinner, five courses, at the the Driskill in Austin, with Executive Chef, Troy Knapp.  The dinner will be featuring exquisite food paired with multiple vintages, Rosé, Grand Cuvee, and the acclaimed Clos du Mesnil.  This is the baller event of the year!  Listen in!

In his 2016 book, Champagne, Uncorked, Alan Tardi chronicles a year he spent in Champagne at the prominent house Krug.  He tells us of the inner-workings of making wine in this region: the dynamics of the growers and houses, the blending trials, the ageing, and a history that has been mystified throughout the centuries. 

Wow, we're in the thick of the holidays with everybody looking for gifts for their family members, bosses, colleagues, customers, and loved ones.  I decided to put a couple of the top scoring wines with the Texas Wine Journal, up against some heavy hitting wines from around the world (thanks to Southern Glazers for providing),  Listen in to hear how the Texas wines fared against their foreign counterparts.  Happy holidays, y'all!

Check out the wonderful, insightful conversation by some of Austin's top wine people about the most enigmatic of beverages.  Shadd Scott, Austin Manager for Pioneer Wine Company, David Salinas, Enologist and Key Account Manager for Pioneer, and Christina Walther Mogish, Spec's Wine and Liquor dig into all the particulars of enjoying the real Champagne.  Happy New Year's everyone!

Sergio is head winemaker at Fall Creek Vineyards and came to TX after a career of making wine in Chile.  We talk about the challenges of growing grapes in a warm climate and how the vines adapt to produce wines you wouldn't expect.  Sergio talks of his experience of making wine in TX, how the soil and site make all the difference, as well as why the winemaker must stay on his or her toes during harvest.

This week on the show we interview James Sutton from Austin Eastciders and Jeff Bell from TX Saké company.  Austin Eastciders has be blowing up, they've moved to a larger facility on the South East side and will be soon opening a tap room.  Jeff from TX Saké tells us all about the saké making process and how they use all American ingredients to craft a TX saké.  He also shares some cocktail recipes, which I've listed below.

Mango,Habanero, Cilantro makes 6 cocktails

Muddle

4 Tbls Chopped fresh ciltantro

1.5 Tsp Chopped fresh habanero (Add to taste)

Add 1 Chopped ripe large mango

Muddle til paste

Cocktail

2 Tbls of Mango Mix

3 oz Texas Sake Junmai

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

1/2 oz Simple Syrup (add if mango is not as ripe)

Shake in cocktail glass with ice.

Serve with Cilantro garnish.

Basil, Cucumber, Ginger

Muddle

4 Tbls Fresh basil 

1 Tbls Fresh ground ginger 

Add 1 Whole chopped skinned and seeded cucumber

Muddle til cucumber is crushed

Cocktail

2 Tbls of Cucumber Mix

3 oz Texas Sake Junmai

1/2 oz Lime juice

1/2 oz Simple syrup

Shake in cocktail glass with ice.

Serve with lime slice or zest twist.

Neal Rosenthal is celebrating 40 years in the wine business, starting as a retailer in New York and quickly moving to importing.  He was just in Austin, and we caught up with him in person to talk about his history, tastes, and recommendations to our younger generation of wine professionals.

In this week's episode, we meet Adam Orman, managing partner of the Italian restaurant, L'Oca D'Oro.  Adam has been in the restaurant world for many years, working in some top wine spots in New York, San Fransisco, and now Austin.  He tells us of the philosophy of the wine and food menus, a focus on open flame grilling, heirloom ingredients, and the restaurant's mandatory gratuity to give their employees a livable wage.  Also, we hear from LaSaan Georgeson, and her upcoming music and wine pairing festival.  We get a taste of the bands playing and have some fun exploring some music and wine pairings.  Finally, we hear from the editors of Slow Wine about their 2017 guide and the industry event they were putting on in Austin. (we will have another episode of expanded coverage on this event!)

Patrick Baudouin is descendant of several generations of wine growers in Anjou, the Loire Valley, and has been making wine for 26 years.  He tells us of his research into the origins of Chenin Blanc and explains the diverse styles, from the bone-dry Savennières to the sweet and noble Quartes de Chaume.  He also explains his wine making of natural yeasts, really long fermentations,  low sulfur, and so much more.  I could listen to this man for hours!

www.beckywasserman.com & patrick-baudouin.com

The 2017 Slow Wine Tour of the US stopped in Austin, TX on Jan 30th.  They were also spreading the word in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York.  In this show, we'll hear from the organizers Giancarlo Gariglio and Jonathan Gebser, as well as a handful of producers who are doing amazing things off the beaten path; Gavi, Dogliani, Lake Guarda, Lambrusco, and Mount Etna to name a few.  We truly get the sense of "Good, Clean, and Fair!"

Chris Brundrett (William Chris Vineyards) and Rae Wilson (Wine for the People) come on the show to talk about the proposed HB1514 that makes wine labeled as Texas to be 100% from Texas grapes.  This makes the law more strict than the Federal TTB requirement of 75%.  Join us for the full discussion.

To sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/support-texas-wine-industry-pass-hb-1514-truth-in-labeling-act

This is a terrific episode featuring owner and chef of Emmer and Rye in Austin, Kevin Fink, and general manager Rand Egbert.  They're talking about the the South by Southwest food events as well how they push the bar of local cuisine on a regular basis at the restaurant.  Daily menu changes depending on what fresh and delicious coming in, heirloom grains, whole animal butchery, small plates, dim sum, and so much more are at the heart of their operation.  Enjoy!

Steven Dilley, owner of Bufalina, and Murph Willcott, owner of Texas French Bread, come on the show to talk all things pizza and the Austin restaurant scene.  These guys are lovers of vibrant wine made by real people, growers that we can get behind and support.  Beaujolais, Muscadet, Burgundy, and the new wave of California producers are such highlights!

Managing Director, Christine Collier, and Brand Ambassador, Mikayla Pope, come on the show to talk about the unique history of the Willamette Valley Vineyards and the Oregon wine industry as a whole.  They have a unique business model of being publicly traded and owned by all of their investors.  They have grown to be the largest winery in the Willamette Valley; however, they still do small lot fermentations, harvest tiny parcels separately, and are growing in a very sustainable way.  We talk Pinot, Rosé, their new Sparkling program, and so much more!

Catch an in depth description of the food and wine event happening in Austin on April 6th, Live Fire!  Mariam Parker, Exec Director of the Austin Food and Wine Alliance, comes into the studio to tells us all about the amazing chefs coming from all over Texas, and the awesome idea to pair Rosé with beef, and so much more!  Check it out, http://austinfoodwinealliance.org/2017-live-fire/

In celebration of upcoming Earth Day, I'm joined live with John Hoffner, host of KOOP's own Shades of Green, to discuss how the wine industry affects the earth we live in.  We delve into manyenvironmental issues, such as the impact of growing grapes, making wine, and packaging.  John helps us put it into context with other industries and adds a wonderful new voice to the show, don't miss it!

Check out an interview with Mike Pizinger and Max Woodfin, the organizers of Barks for Beers, a Central Texas fundraiser for Divine Canines.  You buy a pint glass for $20 at one of over 30 participating breweries in Austin and surrounding areas and they get a free beer at the rest of the 30 breweries, what a deal! 

http://divinecanines.org/barksforbeers/

Kyle Johnston talks about his experience in setting up this brand new winery RLV in Coleman Texas.  Centered around the Rancho Loma getaway ranch and restaurant, their first vintage is 2016, and the tasting room just opened to the public.  He's working with some fantastic vineyards from around the state, and looking forward to their estate vineyard planted to Rhone varietals.  They scored several awards in the recent Texsom wine competition.

Shane has been making wine all over the world:  Washington State, Osoyoos of Canada, Margaret River Australia, Golan Heights Israel, and Sonoma California.  In 2013, he moved to Oregon to head up the winemaking of the newly purchased Jackson Family Estates properties of Gran Moraine in the Yamhill-Carlton and Zena Crown Vineyard in the Eola Amity hills.  Working in complete synergy with his vineyard manager, Ken Kupperman, Shane is seeking to produce world class wines from Pinot Noir and with a growing interest to Chardonnay. Tune in to hear an amazing break down of the Willamette Valley, and why it is indeed a special place, as well as all the daring techniques Shane's using to produce truly exceptional wines!

We're toasting International Sauv Blanc day, May 5th with a conversation with Clive Dugall, winemaker of Seresin Estate in Marlborough, NZ.  Clive talks about the whole of New Zealand and the high quality practices they have going on at Seresin.  Don't miss a discussion towards the end of Clive's sulfite-free experiments that he is extremely excited about!  Happy Sauv Blanc day y'all!

Brandon Watson, Austin Chronicle Food Editor, joins us for a discussion of their annual First Plates edition, in which Brandon maps out the top 100 restaurants in Austin today.  He shares some wonderful info on trends in the industry, hot spot neighborhoods, and some of his favorite spots that are provide amazing food and comfort!

Last week was a celebration of WSET (the Wine and Spirits Education Trust), which is the largest third party certification body in the world.  We talk with Liz Palmer, owner of the Texas Wine School, and Sissy Preston, Diploma candidate, to get a feel for the experience of the programs as well the process of taking your wine knowledge to the next level.  I'll toast to that!

Bob Lindquist founded Qupé in the early 1980's and quickly made a name for himself in the Central Coast for Chardonnay and the Rhone varieties of Syrah, Grenach, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier.  In this episode, Bob gives a glimpse into California in the early days as well as how the Central Coast is a special place for grapes.  He's doing something right when a 10 year old Marsanne-Roussanne blend is as fresh as a button and as complex as a marriage.  Enjoy!

For this episode, we're joined by Dr. Cristian Maddalena, export manager for Schiopetto (Friuli) and Siro Pacenti (Brunello).  Cristian has a PhD in history and gives us a unique glimpse into the wine and culture of Northeast Italy.  He has a wonderful way of describing the unique indigenous grapes of the region as well as the International varieties that have been there for centuries, as well as showing absolute pride to be part of the Schiopetto family.  We talk history, vineyards, culture, food, and so much more!  You can find more information at: http://www.schiopetto.it/en/

Nicolas joins us in the KOOP studios to talk about making wine in Burgundy.  Nico is part of the new generation of excellent Burgundy winemakers and makes 13 wines from excellent vineyards in Volnay, Pommard, Savigny-les-Beaune, and Pernand Vergelesses.  His passion for Pinot Noir really comes through, and he has quite the affinity for the no-nonsense Texas way of life.

Adam comes into the KOOP studios to talk all about South African wine.  Since the 2011 vintage, he has been in charge of winemaking at Mulderbosch, and talks about his pride and reverence in Chenin Blanc.  We also delve into the difficulties of Sauv Blanc, oxidative juice handling for Chardonnay, the lessons learned with red Bordeaux varieties, and so much more! 

Grayson is winemaker of Arché Vineyard and Winery in Saint Jo, about an hour North of Dallas.  An odd place you might guess for vineyards, but Grayson explains how the conditions are unique and perfect for grapes.  Arché was the first to move into the neighborhood, but now there are a number of wineries moving into what the locals are referring to the Red River Valley. Check it out, there's even a guest appearance by Presley Whitehead, vineyard manager of neighboring Blue Ostrich and Grayson's fiancé!

Dr. Shelly Sethi has a family practice specializing in Integrative and Functional Medicine in Austin, Texas.  She delves into her philosophies on wine as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle that promotes good digestion and low inflammation.  We also talk about some of the lesser known health benefits of moderate consumption of wine as well as the famous anti-oxidant resveratrol.  Love wine, life, friends, and good livin' with Dr. Shelly!

http://www.drshellysethi.com/

Alois Clemens Lageder, 6th generation winemaker in the Alto Adige, and Jo Pfisterer, head winemaker, tell the story of their region in the north of Italy.  We dig into their histories, the experimentation they have going on, the grapes they're producing in the Alto Adige, and so much more.  I bet you didn't know they grow Tannat and Assyrtiko in Italy!  They clearly had a good time with traveling through Austin and spreading the good word. 

Isabella Pelizzatti Perego is 5th generation wine producer in the Valtellina of Northern Italy, and comes on the show to talk about her amazing wines, vineyard and cru-focused Nebbiolo.  She talks about the differences of Nebbiolo from her vineyards, locally called Chiavenasca, and that of Barolo and Barbaresco.  We also get into some of the sub-regions and special wines they make; it's so inspiring to hear Isabella's story!

Music is performed by a local female choir for which Isabella sings, called Coro Clara Wieck, and they're coming out with an album towards the end of 2017:  www.clarawieck.org

Michel and Marla are the husband-wife team behind Michel Thibault Wine, which specializes in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and some select producers from Italy and the US.  We dig into French wine, the Bordeaux Futures campaign, their travel business and so much more.  Incredibly knowledgeable and down to earth, Michel and Marla give may tidbits to savor.

Regan and Carey Meador come into the KOOP studios to share with us their quest to first produce highly acclaimed wine on the North Fork of Long Island then their transition to Texas.  We get all the juicy facts of Long Island wine as well as a strong argument for why we should all be excited about Texas as a growing region!  Get the inside scoop, cause they still have some LI wines to sell, extremely interesting Lagrein and Teroldego (yeah, that's right), and everybody's getting excited about their first 2017 Texas vintage!

https://www.southoldfarmandcellar.com/

In 2006, Randy left Houston to carve out a life with his wife in Napa, with the 10 year plan to come back to TX to make world class wine and push the industry.  An internship at Cakebread lead to a job, then to a position at Colgin, then to work under cult winemakers like Mike Hirby and Andy Erickson.  All this lead to served as the foundation of his own label, Lightning Wines, focusing on Grenache.  In 2014, Randy came back to TX to launch C.L Butaud to push the possibilities of Tempranillo.  Check out the podcast to hear Randy tell his story.  He's made a splash already!

clbutaud.com

http://lightningwines.com/

Giannis Tselepos has been making wine in Greece, the Mantinia in particular, since the 80s, and can be considered one of the pioneers of the grape Moscofilero.  Giannis, and his importer Andreas Zinelis (Cava Spiliadas) come on the podcast to explain Greek wine in general and talk about the regions of his three wineries: Mantinia, Nemea, and Santorini.  Check it out to get a modern perspective on Greek Wine and a guide to pronouncing Greek varieties and regions!

http://www.tselepos.gr

http://cavaspiliadis.com/

We're in the throws of summer, and the Texas grape harvest is in full swing.  We talk with winemakers across the state to get the low down of where the harvest is and where it's going across the state.  It's an early harvest, but there's high hopes for the Hill Country and High Plains; "no excuses," says Sergio Cuadra of Fall Creek Vineyards.  But the Gulf Coast and other parts of Texas have other difficulties.  Check out the podcast for the full story!

Julia Dixon gives us her recap of Texsom, the Sommelier conference that wrapped up last week, from the volunteer's perspective.  She talks about some of the seminars that made an impression as well as some special wines tasted off-program.  She reads her wine description that won the Guildsom Social Media contest for "Best Tasting Note."  Plus, she has many other projects coming down the pike in the next couple months!

On the second half of the show, Jeremy Wilson talks about the TX Wine Lover web page and how it serves to present tons of information and to advocate for the TX wine industry.  There are interactive maps of wineries and vineyards as well as one of the best blogs in the industry and podcast.  Jeremy is a great advocate for TX wine!

Membership drive is in full swing!  This is an amazing radio station that allows this podcast, I'd love the support!  On this show, we have other programmers and KOOP personalities come on the show to taste and talk about what are the best wines to have ON ICE!   Feel the KOOP love and the diversity of community radio!

Texas Wine Journal Panelists, Jon Gerber, Shawn Croft, and Julia Dixon come on the show to talk about Chardonnay from Texas and around the world.  They tasted 6 chardonnay blind and this is their commentary before they knew which was which.  You can see the lineup below, but overall, great discussion around the most famous and infamous white grape out there.  Plus, I think the consensus was that TX did show strong.  Guest appearance from Daniel Kelada at the end to give insight on the producers and regions!

Kelly Meyer, owner of New Braunfels Brewing Co., brewer Nathan Rice, and beer expert Justin Chamberlain, come on the show to talk about their beers that blur the border of beer and wine.  Their Sur Lie program, beers that they age over different sorts of wine yeast, has captured the attention of collectors and aficionados, and we taste 6 different releases aged over different wine lees.  These guys are pushing the bar of what beer can do in terms of food pairings, complexity, and bringing beer to a broader wine-loving community.  Proust!

Kevin O'Brien, GM of Expression Wines and Prime Solum, tells the story of how Bill Hill plants vineyards that become super famous, such as Gaps Crown and Zena Crown.  We dig into the Sonoma Coast, the "Deep End" of Anderson Valley, and the Eola Amity Hills of Oregon.  Steve Alley from the Sorting Table chimes in to describe these wines and how the Texas Market has been receiving them.  Also, we hear about Broken Rock Ranch in Napa and so much more!  Pinot meets TX tacos, what could be better!

Noah Ullman, owner of Vino Z Czech (pronounced “vee-nos check”), comes on the show to talk about Czech wine and the business of importing and promoting in the US.  I learned a ton from this conversation: how there is a long history of winemaking in what is today's Czech Republic, how the south facing slopes of South Moravia are special for winemaking, and how diverse the wine culture is there with many unique grapes (Cabernet Moravia, Blauer Portugueser, and Pálava).  To quote Noah, quoting someone else, "somewhere between Austria and Alsace."

We kick off our coverage of October as Texas Wine Month with January Wiese, Executive Director of the Hill Country Wineries Association.  Then, we hear from Lewis Dickson, and how he is producing some magical 100% Estate wines from his vineyard in Canyon Lake, just west of New Braunfels.  Lewis is a staunch proponent of natural or "hands off" winemaking, never adding yeast, sulfites, enzymes, or anything.  We learn about the path he's taken to focusing on the two Texas hybrid grapes, Blanc du Bois and Black Spanish, and how wine should be the whole film, not just a snapshot. 

As continued coverage of Texas Wine Month, we catch up with Ben Calais at his winery in the Hill Country.  This was a great conversation about this year's harvest, his focus on the Bordeaux varieties, how Ben is coaxing the most flavor out of his grapes, and so much more!  Ben has a cool thing going on in his underground cellar, selling only direct to consumer, and cultivating a strong following!  Santé!

Continuing to feature Texas wineries during Texas Wine Month, we welcome on Jennifer McInnis, general manager of Bending Branch Winery.  We have a great conversation about some of the varieties that Bending Branch champions, Tannat and Picpoul at the top of the list.  They also use some innovative winemaking techniques, such as Cryo-maceration and Flash Detente.  Check out what it's all about!

We're continuing to interview Texas winemakers who are innovating and raising the bar in celebration of October being Texas Wine Month.  Doug Lewis of Lewis Wines is certainly positioned in the vanguard and has his finger on the pulse of what is really going both in the Hill Country and the High Plains.  I always enjoy chatting with Doug, and I'm sure you're enjoy listening!

Messina Hof, founded in 1977, is currently making 90 different wines from 33 varieties, wow!  Paul and Karen Bonarigo, second generation owners, come on the podcast to talk about the evolution of Texas wine, the history and future of Messina Hof, and so much more.  Check it out!

On this week's show, we talk Prosecco with Alessandro Samogin from Borgoluce in the Valdobbiadene.  He grew up on the property and his wife is now the winemaker; they grow all their food for the restaurant and estate as well as produce all their electricity on site.  What a crazy operation!  We talk about how Valdobbiadene is unique and special, how Glera is king for them, and how there is now becoming awareness of the Rive (similar to cru).  And, so much more!

I welcome sommeliers Rania Zayyat and Chris Kelly on the show to field Thanksgiving wine questions from the Austin public and beyond.  Rania and Chris have tons of experience in top Austin restaurants and breakdown their classic turkey pairings as well as some non-traditional ones that might bring us out of our comfort zone.  How does smoking vs deep frying vs roasting a turkey change the pairing?  Check out the show for their commentary, and here are some producers and wines that they recommend:

Rania and Chris's consulting company: www.vintelwine.com

Wine recommendations we talk about: Riesling- A.J. Adam, Julian Haart, Fritz Haag, Willi Schaefer.

Gewürztraminer: Domaine Ostertag and Domaine Weinbach from Alsace

Moscato d'Asti: La Spinetta 'Bricco Quaglia'

Bugey-Cerdon: Patrick Bottex, sparkling red (delish)

Piedmont: GD Vajra Rosso & Langhe Nebbiolo, Roagna Dolcetto d'Alba

Northern Rhone: Andrea Calek 'Babiole', Franck Balthazar, Hervé Souhaut Syrah and Gamay

Texas Wines: William Chris Pét-Nat, Doug Lewis Tempranillo, Cruz de Comal, Calais Roussanne

Vin de Liquor: Macvin du Jura: Jean-François Ganevat & François Rousset-Martin

Olive and Anthony Hamilton Russell, owners of South African wineries Ashbourne, Hamilton Russell, and Southern Right, come on the show to talk about their little nook of the Cape South Region called Hemel-en-Aarde.  They are pushing the boundaries of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, understanding their vineyards and soils, and garnering attention world-wide to put South African Pinot and Chard on the map.  We also have insightful conversation around Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, and so much more. Check it out!

Federico Lombardo di Monte Iato runs the Sicilian winery Firriato.  He comes on the show to talk about how far Sicily has from its recent history of supplying bulk wine to Northern Italy and France.  I learned a ton from Federico, from the various zones of western Sicily and even the island of Favagnana to the mountain wines of Etna.  If you can't bask in under the Sicilian Sun, may as well listen to this podcast and dream about it!

Managing Editor of StarChefs, Will Blunt, and Steven Dilley, featured Sommelier and owner of Bufalina Pizzaria, come on the show to talk about the upcoming Rising Stars awards on Dec 13th.  We talk all about the Cava and Caviar reception, the challenges of pairing wines with 18 different dishes from all the featured chefs and culinary innovators, and what it means for a national publication to be highlighting the food scene of Austin and San Antonio!  Proceeds go to the Austin Food and Wine Alliance!

Check out more info: www.starchefs.com/risingstars

On the first episode of 2018, we catch up with Maddie Richards, Sales Director, of Rotie Cellars in Walla Walla, Washington.  We talk about what makes Washington State unique and such a good value, and the relatively new AVA (wine region) of the Rocks of Milton-Freewater.  Rotie was started by geologist Sean Boyd in 2007 with the first year of fruit coming from their estate vineyard in 2013.  But, they're already making waves with their Rhone blends that reference the various styles coming from the Rhone, France.  Check out all the good stuff here!

Rotie Cellars' vineyard in the Rocks of Milton-Freewater

Vineyard is a hybrid of head trained but then canopy is attached to a trellis wire.  Look at those galets!

Stuart Thomajan, owner of the Chameleon Group, and Sterling Ridings, Chef and Partner, come on the show to talk about the highly anticipated opening of Guild.  The Chameleon group is responsible for the Austin dining hot spots Swift's Attic and Wu Chow, and with early March as the slated opening date, Guild will fill the niche of top-notch seafood.  Chef Ridings gets to spread his wings and break boundaries, and the seafood friendly wine list and extensive cold bar will quickly become an Austin staple! 

More info: www.guildaustin.com

Steve Warner, President and CEO of the Washington State Wine Commission, comes on the show to talk about where the Washington State wine industry is at in 2018.  Over 900 wineries, 55,000 acres, and a lot of high quality wine!  Steve, comes from such a privileged perspective of knowing and representing the image of ALL wineries.  We get into what the particular regions are all about, and how their branding themselves, comparing the uniqueness of the state's growing conditions to those of other iconic regions, and so much more!