Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Wine Pair Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Episode! The Virginia Winemakers Series #2: Justin Rose of Rosemont of Virginia | 09 Nov 2025 | 00:34:08 | |
In our second installment of our Virginia winemaker’s series, we meet Justin Rose of Rosemont wine. Justin was able to leverage his chemical engineering background into becoming the winemaker at the winery his father started on their historical family farm. Today, in the southernmost wine grape growing region in Virginia, they make wines that are tailored to grow well in their area. That includes wines you have heard of like Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the latter of which is a wine that Virginia is excellent at, but also lesser known wines like Traminette and Chardonel, along with sparkling and sweet wines as well as a vermouth! Join us in learning more about Virginia wines and one of the winemakers in the area trying to make their mark on the wine world. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Spätburgunder: High QPR Pinot Noir! | 02 Nov 2025 | 00:49:39 | |
This wine, friends, is the epitome of why we started our podcast in the first place - to help you find great wines at reasonable prices that you have just not learned about yet. Spätburgunder is the Pinot Noir you didn’t know you were looking for - in fact, it’s probably the Pinot Noir you’ve never heard of. Part of it is because the supply and demand are well balanced within Germany itself, and part of it is because, well, frankly we don’t know why else. Because this is a wonderful, high QPR (quality to price ratio) Pinot Noir that has flown under the radar for far too long. And it’s time to change that. Did you know that Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir in the world?!? Yeah, we bet you didn’t know that either. And yet, if you want to find a wow your friends, great quality, reasonably priced Pinot Noir, you really need to get to know Spätburgunder. Listen in and we’ll tell you more, and we also have a fun listener interview and a wine in the news this week segment on a Champagne fraudster! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2018 Bercher Burkheimer Spätburgunder Trocken, 2022 Pfeffingen Alte Reben Spätburgunder Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| WTF is Mencía? | 31 Aug 2025 | 00:48:16 | |
Ok, in this episode, all hell breaks loose! It starts out innocently enough - an introduction to the Spanish wine Mencía, a quick interview with a real listener, some wine in the news this week, but once we hit the second tasting, pure chaos. Proof that our tastings are real, and that our podcast is unrehearsed and, frankly, when we get to the tasting section, unpredictable. You have to listen to the very end to get the full experience. But, we digress. If you don’t know the wine Mencía from the Galicia region of Spain, then it’s time to get on board. Often compared to Pinot Noir, Gamay, or Cabernet Franc - which it was originally thought to be a clone of until DNA tests proved otherwise - it is a medium bodied, fruity, gastronomic wine (a fancy way of saying that it is meant to be drunk with food). Listen in to find out more about this wine, and lots of other crazy stuff. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Vinos de Arganza Lagar de Robla Premium Mencía, 2019 Losada El Pájaro Rojo Mencía Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Holiday Sparkling Wines #3: Brut Prosecco! (The most popular sparkling wine in the world, why brut rather than dry this Holiday season, where the name Prosecco came from) | 10 Dec 2023 | 00:44:56 | |
Think you know Prosecco?!? Not so fast! We bet you didn’t know that most of the Prosecco you are drinking is on the sweet side. Who cares, you say? We love it no matter what, you say? In this episode we are going to tell you why you should care, and why you should be seeking out the BRUT Prosecco! You dig?!? We all know that the Holidays are made for celebrations, and celebrations are the perfect opportunity to pop open a bottle or two (or three or four) of Prosecco. But this year we are begging you, beseeching you, to take the extra minute to find the brut Prosecco, rather than the dry or extra dry. Why, pray tell, does it matter? Well, the sweeter Proseccos, while fun and tasty, often mask a lesser wine. The brut Proseccos don’t have as much sugar to mask the sometimes lower quality, and so you are getting a better sparkling wine experience. Seriously! We wouldn’t lie at this time of year. You think we want to end up on the Naughy List? Are you nuts?!? We also talk about why the name Prosecco and the name of the grape it’s made from called Glera are kind of recent inventions. But you’ll have to listen in to find out more. It’s like an early Holiday gift! Wines reviewed in this episode: Bisol Jeio Prosecco Brut, Zardetto Prosecco Brut, Le Colture Fagher Prosecco Superiore Brut. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Costco Kirkland Signature Syrah Challenge! (100th Episode, Spicy red wine, Is Syrah the same as Shiraz?) | 03 Dec 2023 | 00:40:50 | |
Who doesn’t love buying wine at Costco? But have you ever wondered if the Costco Kirkland Signature wines are worth their low cost? Wel, that’s what this series of episodes is all about! On our last Costco “date” (and you need to listen in to understand what we mean by that) we picked up one of their Kirkland Signature K Vine Syrahs, and then we bought two other reasonably priced and well reviewed Syrahs to see how it compares. Did it win the challenge? You have to tune in to find out! We also talk about the difference between Syrah and Shiraz (they are the same wine and grape, but there can be some nuanced differences between the two), and the pros and cons of shopping for wine at Costco. And, a little incentive to listen in - Joe actually had some challenges while recording this episode - and we’ll tell you all about it. Let’s just say that Joe owes Carmela BIG TIME! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Kirkland Signature K Vine Syrah Frenchman Hills Vineyard, 2021 J. Lohr Estates South Ridge Syrah, 2021 Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Minisode #10: Does Wine Bottle Size Matter? (What are those big-@$% bottles of wine called? And why are they so expensive?) | 26 Nov 2023 | 00:15:17 | |
Some people say that size matters, others say shape matters more. We are staying out of that discussion altogether. But, regardless of how you feel about the subject, there are more sizes of wine bottles than you may think, and in this minisode we demystify why there are so different sizes of bottles, why they almost always cost more than standard bottle sizes, and what these different bottles are called. The names are pretty nutty! If you have ever wondered what a split is, or how big a Balthazar is, this is the episode for you! Then, the next time you are at a party with a bunch of wine nerds, you can show off your massive wine vocabulary! Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Italian Wine Adventure #9: Verdicchio (A great wine for Chardonnay lovers, the King of White Wines, a fantastic winter white wine) | 19 Nov 2023 | 00:47:48 | |
Some critics have called Verdicchio the best Italian white wine, but we are betting many of you have never tasted it or even heard of it! Let’s just say, if you love Chardonnay, then Verdicchio is a wine you must try. Hailing from the Marche region of Italy, which we are also betting is a region you have never been to and maybe never even heard of, Verdicchio is not to be confused with the white wines you may associate with Italy like a light Pinot Grigio. On the contrary, Verdicchio is a rich, complex, exciting wine that some have called a red wine disguised as a white wine. Sometimes oaked like a Chardonnay, Verdicchio is a great wine for fall and winter, a great Holiday wine, and a white wine that can age for decades. After tasting and reviewing it, we can understand why there are those who consider it the King of White Wines - so listen in to find out more! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Velenosi Querciantica Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Classico, 2021, GarofoliSupera Verdicchio di Matelica, and 2018 Bucci Verdicchio Classico dei Castelli di Jesi Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Thanksgiving Wine: Bonkers for Beaujolais! (The perfect Thanksgiving wine, a 10/10 point wine! high QPR wines, avoid Beaujolais Nouveau) | 12 Nov 2023 | 00:51:45 | |
Why are we Bonkers for Beaujolais this Thanksgiving? Because Turkey Day was made for Beaujolais. Hey, that even rhymes! Beaujolais is considered the ultimate Thanksgiving wine, but why? Well, we’ll tell you if you listen to this episode, but as a little amuse bouche, here’s something to chew on. First, the fruity flavors of the wine pair perfectly with the many different flavors - both savory and sweet - that often land on the Thanksgiving table, complementing but not overpowering the meal. Second, Beaujolais is a wine that is very easy drinking! Made from the Gamay grape, Beaujolais it is a wine that is hard to not like - a crowd pleaser whether you love red wine or not. In fact, it can be a crowd pleaser even for those who usually don’t like to drink wine. So, this Thanksgiving, do yourself a favor and go Bonkers for Beaujolais with us. Listen in as we taste and review three Beaujolais so you can find one that will be perfect on your Thanksgiving table and won’t break the bank. And one of these wines we gave a 10/10! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Jean-Claude Debeaune Domaine Pignard Beaujolais, 2021 Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages, and 2021 Domaine Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Wine to Pair with Thai Food! (Wine is the 5th food group, WTF is Pineau d'Aunis, why spicy food is hard to pair with wine) | 05 Nov 2023 | 00:48:05 | |
Thai food is one of the world’s best cuisines, but pairing wine with it is difficult for many reasons - primarily its spiciness. In this episode, we break down how you can make finding a wine to drink with Thai food easy, and we review several different types of wines that make great pairings. We also talk about why some people bristle at the concept that there are even such things as “appropriate” wine and food pairings. And while we firmly believe there is an art to pairing wine and food, we also believe there are many choices you can make, not just one perfect choice. And, in this episode, we try a wine from a grape that we have never had before - Pineau d'Aunis - which comes from the Loire Valley and is a hidden gem. If you love Thai food and other spicy Asian dishes, listen in! This is for you! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Radley & Finch Alley Pack Chenin Blanc, 2022 Maison Angelot Bugey Gamay, and 2022 Henri Bourgeois Le Vert Galant Pineau d'Aunis Rosé. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #5: Alex Gambal! (An American in Burgundy, Author of Climbing the Vines in Burgundy, A Story of Perseverance and Positivity, What Makes Burgundian Wines Different) | 29 Oct 2023 | 00:48:50 | |
Want to buy a vineyard and become a winemaker in Burgundy as an American with no experience in winemaking? Impossible! Or is it? Despite the longest of odds, Alex Gambal did it, and did it successfully. And now he has written a book about it called Climbing the Vines in Burgundy. It’s a story of hard work, perseverance, and positivity - pushing through when the odds are stacked against you - that is truly engaging and somewhat unbelievable, and we discuss it with him. It’s not often that you run into someone with such optimism and we think you’ll find his story and his approach to life to be as amazing as we did! Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| WTF is Gewürztraminer? (Wines for Fall, Bigger Bodied White Wines, Spicy White Wine, Sweet Wine, Total Wine sucks) | 22 Oct 2023 | 00:50:15 | |
Looking for something to spice up your wine life a little bit? We’ve got just the thing! Gewürztraminer is a different kind of white wine. This ain’t your typical light bodied, low alcohol summer sipper. This is a big bodied, high alcohol Fall juggernaut that is not made for the faint of heart. Gewürztraminer is a difficult grape to grow, but it makes big, sweet, spicy wines with flavors of apple pie filling and canned peach cocktail. If you like spicy food, this spicy wine is a perfect pairing. We uncover where Gewürztraminer got its name, where it is often grown, and why it is so different from your typical white wine. And if you are getting ready for some upcoming Holiday get-togethers, you just may want to have one of these sweet and spicy babies on your table. Joe also spends some time ranting and whining (pun intended) about Total Wine. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Chateau Ste Michelle Gewürztraminer, 2022 B Lovely Gewürztraminer, and 2021 Arthur Metz Vin d’Alsace Gewürztraminer. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Wines for Halloween 2023! (Vine to Bar Chocolate, Wines to Pair with Halloween Party foods, Spooky wine labels) | 15 Oct 2023 | 00:50:41 | |
Not sure if it was the wine or the candy or the fact that we recorded it on Friday the 13th, but we lost our minds in this episode! Halloween is the perfect time for wine (and, heck, what time isn’t perfect for wine?!?!), but not just any wine - spooky wine! Now, we don’t mean that it tastes haunted, what we mean is that it has the perfect combination of a creepy name, a spooky label, and a crowd-pleasing taste. And we think we have found three really good choices! Going to a Halloween party and want to bring a gift of wine? We got you covered! Throwing a Halloween party of your own and trying to figure out what wine to serve? Listen in for great ideas that won’t break the bank! In this episode, we also talk about Vine to Bar chocolate - a delicious chocolate that contains Chardonnay marc - and would be great to serve for the adults who may want something more sophisticated than a fun size candy bar. Join us for this episode - or else! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Prayers of Sinners Red Blend, 2019 Omen Origins Zinfandel, and 2021 Devil's Corner Pinot Noir. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| High QPR Pinot Noir #3! (American Pinot Noir vs. Burgundy Pinot Noir, wine price inflation, our first corked wine?!? Highly extracted wines) | 08 Oct 2023 | 00:46:54 | |
Maybe we’re just crazy, but we have to believe that you can find a high quality Pinot Noir for a reasonable price. Believe us when we say - it’s not easy! In our third foray into trying to find high QPR Pinot Noirs, we try once again to help you find a wine you’ll like that won’t bust your wallet. We also talk about how Pinot Noirs from Burgundy are different from those found in the United States and other New World, warmer climate regions. Let’s face it - the American palate is just tuned to prefer bigger, bolder, jammier, higher alcohol wines. Is that what you prefer? It’s ok - you can be honest. We won’t judge . . . maybe. Anyway, we also ran into our first corked wine in this episode! We are actually surprised it didn’t happen sooner - but one of these wines tasted like kissing a wet dog. Not the most pleasant experience - and you can hear us tell you all about it while we are drinking it! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Rickshaw Pinot Noir, 2016 Ghost Pines Winemaker's Blend Pinot Noir, and 2021 Underwood Pinot Noir. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Italian Wine Adventure #18: Primitivo! | 24 Aug 2025 | 00:45:27 | |
This crowd-pleasing wine from Southern Italy’s Puglia region we think is underappreciated and not well-enough known - kind of like Puglia. Genetically identical to Zinfandel, Primitivo can be a rustic red, but when done well, it is fruity, juicy, and wonderfully balanced. There is a reason why Primitivo does so well in the heat of Southern Italy, and it’s the same reason why Zinfandel does so well in California. It is an early ripening grape that needs to reach high sugar levels so that it can create the high alcohol required to balance the fruit and tannin. Primitivo is a fantastic wine for your next cookout, barbecue, or elegant dinner. We also spend a little time talking about 25 cent one ounce pours available from Olive Garden. There is no other reason to go to Olive Garden, but we can’t blame you if you head there for the samples. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Masseria Le Veli Orion Primitivo, 2023 Castello Monaci Pilùna Primitivo Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| WTF is Pét-Nat? (Fun, Funky, Natural Sparkling Wine) | 01 Oct 2023 | 00:48:59 | |
If you have been wondering if you should try Pét-Nat, we are here to tell you unequivocally - YES! Pét-Nat wines are natural sparkling wines that are like your friendly weird cousin - different, entertaining, sometimes exciting, and just fun to be around. Considered to be the oldest form of sparkling wine, Pét-Nats are low-intervention sparklers that are fizzy and funky - but also delicious and festive. Whether you are into sparkling wines, natural wines, vegan wines, orange wines, artisanal wines, or unique wines, Pét-Nats have tons to offer. It is hard to pin down exactly what a Pét-Nat will taste like, and that is part of the fun! They are often experimental, and winemakers love them because they offer them a chance to explore winemaking in an unrestrained way. After this episode, we are asking ourselves why we don’t drink Pét-Nat more often! Join us on this fun romp, and discover some super tasty wines! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Entre Vinyes Oniric Pét-Nat, 2022 Santa Julia Natural La Mantis Pet Nat, and 2021 Field Recordings Dry Hop Pét-Nat. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| They Make Wine in New York?!? (Great Wines for Fall, Finger Lakes Wines, Riesling, Exotic Tastes, Good With Indian and Thai Food) | 24 Sep 2023 | 00:45:32 | |
We know what you’re thinking - but it’s true! They make wine in New York - and some really good wines, too! In fact, New York state is the third largest producer of wine in the US - bet you didn’t know that, either! In this episode, we focus on the Finger Lakes region and specifically dry Rieslings, which are fantastic wines for Autumn. We found the style of the wines we tried to be really intriguing, even exotic in some cases, and definitely worth seeking out. Riesling is a bit of an underrated white wine in our opinion, and if you are a fan of Indian or Thai food, a spicy dry Riesling is an amazing pairing. In our tasting section of the podcast, we share the very different and unique flavors and smells from these wines, and some of them may surprise you - ginger, pecan, and even gasoline! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling, 2019 Forge Cellars Caywood Vineyard Dry Riesling, and 2021 Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Rosé of Pinot Noir is a Serious Wine! (Different ways Rosé is made, Direct Press or Maceration Method, Pairing Pinot Noir Rosé with food) | 17 Sep 2023 | 00:47:23 | |
Don’t get us wrong - wine doesn’t have to be serious, but we do think that Rosé can sometimes be treated as an unserious wine, and that’s just not fair. Over the course of our podcast, we have come to truly appreciate Rosé wines, and one of our very favorite types of Rosés is Rosé made from Pinot Noir. Rosé has gotten a bad rap in part because sometimes it is not made in an intentional way - what we mean by that is that there are methods of making Rosé where the wine is an afterthought rather than a wine that is intentionally and purposely made. In this episode, we talk about the different methods of making Rosé and why we believe one of the methods creates a more serious wine. And we talk about why Pinot Noir Rosé in particular is a wine that deserves some respect! We taste and review three reasonably priced Pinot Noir Rosé wines and let you know which of them we think is worth seeking out. And, yes, we have a great time while doing it because, afterall, wine should be fun! Being serious about wine doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, too! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 D'Autrefois Pinot Noir Rosé, 2022 Conscious Pinot Noir Rosé, and 2021 Courtney Benham Rosé of Pinot Noir. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #4: Karl Weichold of Stoller Wines! (Oregon wines, the art and science of winemaking, juice vs. grapes, Texas wine country, mentors, cocktail wines vs. food wines) | 10 Sep 2023 | 00:40:18 | |
We had the pleasure of spending time with Karl Weichold, the estate winemaker at Stoller Family Estate, located in the famous Dundee Hills in Oregon. Karl shares his story of how he became a renowned winemaker, starting with a degree in Biochemistry and Genetics from Texas A&M, to working at an Italian restaurant where he first fell in love with wine, to Texas wine country, and then to Oregon where he worked at 12th and Maple and Erath before landing at Stoller. In our conversation we talk about his thoughts on the art and science of wine making, what makes a “haunting” wine, and how the changing climate affects the choices they have to make every year - including during the very warm summer of 2023 in the Pacific Northwest. As the estate winemaker, Karl also has the ability to manage the grapes themselves, and we talk about how he has changed the amount of time he spends with the grapes versus the juice. Karl also talks about the special 30 year anniversary celebration at the Stoller Estate is holding this year. It is a conversation you really don’t want to miss! Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Wines for Tailgating! (Wines in a Can, top 10 tailgating foods and canned wines that go with them, top tailgating games, a can of wine is more wine than you think) | 03 Sep 2023 | 00:46:15 | |
It’s the most wonderful time of the year - football season! And football season means tailgating, and tailgating means wine! Wait, what?!? Did we say wine? You bet your sweet pigskin we did! While beer may still be the beverage of choice for most, we think wine is a perfect fit for all of the food and fun that you find at a tailgate - whether at the stadium or at home. And canned wines - which are growing in popularity and availability - are a perfect choice because they are easy to pack in and out, won’t break, and don’t need a corkscrew! In this episode we had a ton of fun trying 5 - that’s right 5 - canned wines, including two whites, two reds, and a rosé so that we could give you a wide variety to choose from to fit any palette, and to pair with tailgate foods. We also talk about the most popular tailgating foods and which of these wines will pair the best with each. We think we found some real winners among these cans - and a few we think you might want to stay away from! And, we give you some important information about how much wine is actually in a can - it’s more than you think, so don’t say we didn’t warn you! Wines reviewed in this episode: Creamery Chardonnay, House Wine Sauvignon Blanc, 14 Hands Hot to Trot Smooth Red Blend, Underwood Pinot Noir, and Oak Flat Vineyards Rose' Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Minisode #9: What's So Special About Single Vineyard Wines? | 27 Aug 2023 | 00:10:59 | |
Ever noticed that sometimes a wine bottle will call out that it comes from a specific vineyard? And when you’ve noticed that on the bottle, have you ever wondered, hey, what’s the big deal? Well, we are here to tell you if it's a big deal or not. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Minisode #8: What Is Orange Wine Exactly?!? | 20 Aug 2023 | 00:11:18 | |
Been wondering just what the heck Orange Wine is? Well, drop on in and we’ll tell you what’s what! You can kind of think of Orange Wine as a cousin to Rosé wine, but there are some key differences - differences in the grapes, the production, and the tastes of the wines. If you have been hesitant to try Orange Wine, we’re here to tell you you shouldn’t be. And, yes, it may seem hip, cool, and in vogue, but the reality is that this is a style of wine that has been around for millennia. So, before you taste it, stop on by, and we’ll give you a quick primer on just what the heck it is in this quick and fun episode. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| WTF is Monastrell? (AKA Mourvèdre, Mataro, Underrated Spanish Red, High QPR Superstar, Low-intervention Farming) | 13 Aug 2023 | 00:43:30 | |
Our goal in life is to find high QPR wines to share with you all, and in Monastrell, we think we have found a QPR Superstar! Two of the wines we tasted were $10.99, and they way, way, way outpunch their price. Stop wasting your money on overpriced California Cabs, and discover this wine which gives you much more bang for your buck! Also known as Mourvèdre, Mataro, and a million other names, Monastrell is the Spanish name for this wine, and if you love big red wines, you are in for a treat. Monatrell is the “M” in GSM blends, but it can more than stand up on its own. To say that we were pleasantly surprised is an understatement. In this episode, we learn about some of the background of this wine, where it is from, and what makes it so special. We also talk about the potential for creating a Wine Camp, where one of our cheers with be “Monastrell, Monastrell!” so let us know if you are in or out and we’ll send you the permission slips! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Bodegas Sierra Salinas Mo, 2020 Ego Bodegas Goru Verde, and 2019 Bodegas Volver Tarima Hill Old Vines Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Italian Wine Adventure #8: Orvieto (Summer sipper, a perfect wine for fish, Umbrian wine, Grechetto and Trebbiano Toscano grapes, a strange cork label mystery!) | 06 Aug 2023 | 00:44:08 | |
We are off on another Italian Wine Adventure, and this time we bring you a wonderful white wine from Umbria called Orvieto. Wait, what’s that you say? You’ve never heard of Orvieto? Well, we need to change that! Orvieto is a white wine made from a blend of grapes - most predominantly Grechettto and Trebbiano Toscano (aka Procanico and Ugni Bianco) - and that blend of grapes can vary quite a bit! As a result, we found the taste of these wines to be quite different from each other - which is a really fun and exciting experience! One of the wines we thought would be good for the Chardonnay lover, while another we found to be much more of a crisp, refreshing summer sipper. Join us as we learn about this Italian classic, and try to uncover the mystery of a very strangely labled cork - hey, is something nefarious afoot?!? Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Ruffino Orvieto Classico, 2022 Bellini Orvieto Classico, and 2021 Roio Orvieto Classico. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #3: Rita Pinto of Quinta do Pinto Wines, & Guests Nossa Imports! (Wines from Portugal, Family-run winery, sustainable and low intervention wine) | 30 Jul 2023 | 00:47:50 | |
In this special episode we have the honor to meet and speak with Rita Pinto, the CEO of Quinta do Pinto winery. Rita’s story is an incredible tale of family, love, passion, and hard work. Truly a family-run winery, as well as a mostly woman-run winery, Quinta do Pinto makes both new and traditional Portuguese wines in a low intervention, sustainable, and organic way, using natural fermentation and vintage cement tanks - the way wines have been made for hundreds of years. She also teaches us about their use of micro-zoning and slow wine making to create unique and beautiful wines. And Rita brings her unique background in the corporate world to her leadership of Quinta do Pinot to create a world-class winery. We are also joined by Dale and Stephen Ott, owners of Nossa Imports, who put their sommelier backgrounds to good use by importing wines from Portugal and Mexico. You can find out more information about Quinta do Pinto winery on Facebook and Instagram: @quintadopintowines, and on their website: https://quintadopinto.pt/. And you can find and follow Dale and Stephen Ott and Nossa Imports on Instagram: @nossaimports and visit their website: https://www.nossaimports.com/ Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| WTF is Chablis? | 17 Aug 2025 | 00:39:47 | |
Chablis is a wine we absolutely adore, and we think too many people are just unaware of what a beautiful and fantastic wine it is. If you are thinking, wait, I thought you guys hated Chardonnay, well, you’re not wrong, but specifically, we dislike super oaky Chardonnays. However, we love, love, love Chablis, and we can’t believe we have not done an episode on it before today. It is hard to put into words how much we love Chabils. If you are unsure about what all the hubbub is, or if you think we are exaggerating, we implore you: try some Chablis and drink along while you listen to this episode, and you will quickly change your mind about what a Chardonnay can be. Fruity, complex, elegant, crisp yet smooth, with wonderful minerality, Chablis is a wine almost without parallel, and should be at the top of everyone’s wine list. Whether you are a Chardonnay lover or a Chardonnay doubter, this wine will make you a believer that there is so much more to Chardonnay than oak and vanilla. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Le Vieux Clocher Chablis, 2023 Thomas Labille Chablis. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Costco Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio Challenge! (Same as Pinot Gris? The perfect summer wine, side-by-side taste test, could the wine snobs be wrong?!?) | 23 Jul 2023 | 00:43:35 | |
Seriously - $4.99?!? How good can a wine actually be at $4.99?!? Well, we are here to tell you, and you may just be surprised by what we have to say! In this episode we do a side-by-side comparison of the Costco Kirkland Signature Grave Pinot Grigio with two other easy to find Pinot Grigios to see how it stacks up. Pinot Grigio is a wine that some wine snobs are down on, but we’ll tell you confidently - don’t listen to them. A good Pinot Grigio is like a warm summer day, and there are few wines that are better with fish and shellfish. Hailing from the northern areas of Italy, Pinot Grigio is the most popular white wine in Italy, and the 2nd most popular white wine in the United States for a reason! And, we’ll admit that while sometimes Costco’s Kirkland brand can seem too good to be true, it is often surprisingly high in quality especially in comparison to the price. Talk about high QPR! If for some reason you think you are not a Pinot Grigio fan, check out the episode, and we think we can change your mind. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Costco Kirkland Signature Grave Pinot Grigio, 2021 Kris Pinot Grigio, and 2021 Barone Fini Valdadige Pinot Grigio. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Is California Zinfandel Underrated? (Discover California Zins, Cult wine, Turley, rich, juicy, and velvety red wines, a must-know wine) | 16 Jul 2023 | 00:45:58 | |
California Cabernet Sauvignon gets all the attention, but a good California Zinfandel is a thing of beauty! Often overlooked and definitely underrated, when done well, Zinfandel is a velvety, rich, complex, juicy, food friendly wine. All that being said, there are some California Zinfandels that give their brothers and sisters a bad name, and we want to help you find the good ones and avoid the bad ones. Zinfandel is one of the oldest wine grape varietals grown in California, and many of the old vine Zinfandels are more than 100 years old! In this episode, we put a couple of reasonably priced and easy to find California old vine Zinfandels head-to-head with a Turley wine that is also reasonably priced to see how they stack up. If you don’t know Turley wine, they are definitely a winemaker that anyone who considers themselves a wine fan should seek out. Known as a cult wine, they make stunning wines that will impress you, and your friends. For a bit of a sneak peek, one of the ones we tasted compared well to the Turley, and one of them should be off of your wine list forever! Listen to our brutally honest reviews, and learn a bit more about California Zin. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Turley Juvenile Zinfandel, 2021 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin, and 2019 7 Deadly Zins Old Vine Zinfandel. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| WTF is Petite Sirah? (Hint: it’s not baby Syrah, AKA Durif, for people who love big red wines, a punch-you-in-the-face wine) | 09 Jul 2023 | 00:45:57 | |
Do not be fooled by the name! Petite Sirah is anything but petite, and if you enjoy big, jammy red wines, this is the wine for you! A distant cousin of Syrah, Petite Sirah is a wine all its own. Petite Sirah is a California wine through and through, with bold flavors and an amazingingly rich mouthfeel - and in fact, the grape is grown almost exclusively in California. Also known as Durif, Petite Sirah is perfect to pair with rich red meats, like a steak or a California style barbecue. We will admit that this style of wine is not our usual go-to, but we were pleasantly surprised by two of the wines, and the third wine - well - let’s just say it was one of the lowest rated wines we have ever tasted. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Bogle Family Vineyards Petite Sirah, 2020 Michael David Petite Petit, and 2019 Kaleidoscope Petite Sirah. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| GSM Wines Demystified! (Red wine blend any wine lover needs to know, Côtes du Rhône, Rhône-style blends) | 02 Jul 2023 | 00:45:14 | |
We never thought we'd say it, but because of this episode, we are now GSM fans! GSM blends are one of the two classic red wine blends known all over the world - so they are definitely something you need to have in your repertoire. But we will admit it - red wine blends can be so tricky because very often the winemaker doesn’t tell you exactly what grapes are in the blend. And if you don’t know the grapes, how can you know the wine?!? Seriously! Made from Grenache, Syrah or Shiraz if you are in Australia, and Mourvèdre (get it - GSM?!?), these wines are produced all over the world, but are most famously from the Côtes du Rhône in France. Juicy and complex, these wines are great with food, and can be appropriate at a fancy dinner and at a summer cookout! If you think you are not a red blend fan, it may be that you just haven’t found the red blend that is right for you! Come along with us, and together we can solve the mystery of GSM! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2017 Domaine Saint Gayan Trescartes Côtes du Rhône, 2017 d'Arenberg The Stump Jump GSM, and 2017 Les Alexandrins Terrasses de l'Eridan Côtes du Rhône. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Great American Sparklers: 2023 Edition! (Sparkling Wines for the 4th of July, Sparkling Rosé, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) | 25 Jun 2023 | 00:45:33 | |
Think beer is the beverage of choice for Independence Day?!? We beg to differ! As with any special occasion, sparkling wine is perfect, and what better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with a good old American sparkling wine! We are joined in this episode by our daughter Marianna whose birthday just happens to be July 4th (that is not a joke!) and her friend Jack who help us rate and review three sparkling wines from the states of Washington, Oregon, and California. We learn about how much sparkling is produced and consumed in the United States, and discuss many of the different states in which sparkling wine is made - it’s a lot. We even talk about the first state where sparkling wine was made, and it will surprise you! Join us for some fun and frivolity in our second annual American sparkling wine episode. And follow our daughter Marianna on her Instagram at munch.with.mar! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 POPUP Sparkling Wine, Chemistry Pinot Noir Rosé Bubbles, and Scotto Family Cellars Brut. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Italian Wine Adventure #7: Cirò! (The wine of the gods, the oldest continually produced wine, a wine for dining Al Fresco, Calabrian Wine, Fun and Festive Red Wine) | 18 Jun 2023 | 00:46:03 | |
Cirò may be the longest continually produced wine in the world, and legend has it that it is the wine that the Greek gods drank during the original Olympic games. So, if you haven’t heard of it yet, or haven’t tried it yet, we have one question for you: “Do you even lift, bro?!?” Cirò is the flagship wine of Calabria in southern Italy, and is a great choice for those who like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and other food friendly, medium bodied red wines. It is also a wine with roots in Greece, a 3,000+ year history, and is usually made in the same way it has been made for centuries - naturally and organically. We think Cirò is a crowd-pleaser, especially for cookouts and picnics. So,if you are curious about exploring Italian wines, or consider yourself an Italian wine fan, Cirò needs to be on your list! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Baroni Capoano Cirò Rosso Classico, 2019 Segno Librandi Cirò Rosso Classico, and 2019 Scala Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| In Vino Veritas #1: Cava Edition (In Wine There Is Truth!) | 11 Jun 2023 | 00:41:23 | |
There is a famous Latin proverb “In vino veritas” which means “in wine there is truth.” In this new recurring episode series, we do something really different: We throw away the script, let Carmela do a lot more of the talking, and we find out just how much truth there is in wine. Listen in as we drink some wine, and while the wine does its work, we let the truth just pour out! Today we drink a Cava while on vacation in New York City and talk about our first experiences with sparkling wine, if you should drink on your wedding day before the ceremony, how we obtained alcohol before we were of age, the strange nature of liquor stores, and other stupid stuff we did as kids when alcohol was involved. We also talk about why there are socks on our microphones and the AirBnB we rented from Hope Tarr who is an award winning Romance Novelist and has written books with Jenna Jameson. That’s a lot. Wine reviewed in this episode: Viña Palaciega Cava Brut. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Costco Kirkland Chianti Challenge (The origin of the word Fiasco, Chiantis worth drinking, Sangiovese) | 04 Jun 2023 | 00:44:35 | |
We are back with one of our popular Costco Kirkland wine challenges! Now, Chianti has not always had the greatest reputation, but over the past several years it has improved in quality and popularity, and it is one of the flagship wines of Italy from the beautiful Tuscany area. Costco has their house version of a Chianti Classico Riserva, and in this episode, we compare it to two other Chianti Classicos and give you our honest opinion of how the Kirkland Signature version stacks up. We also talk about the connection between the word fiasco and those wicker basket covered bottles of Chianti, foods from Tuscany that go well with Chianti - and why Chianti is a wine that really needs to be paired with food. And, if you think you are not a fan of Chianti, we think we have found some wines that will change your mind! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Costco Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva, 2020 Castello di Albola Chianti Classico, and 2020 Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Is Merlot Making a Comeback? (An underdog story? Wines from the Right Bank of Bordeaux) | 28 May 2023 | 00:44:23 | |
The 2004 movie Sideways did a number on Merlot, hurting its reputation and suppressing sales. But was that impact justified? Did we judge Merlot too harshly? Is it time to let Merlot rejoin the cool kids table?!? In this episode, we give Merlot a fighting chance to win back a place in our hearts - and our cellar. We admit we are not the biggest fans of Merlot, but can one of these wines change our mind? We selected three highly rated wines, all under $20, and two from the Bordeaux region of France, to see if we could find a Merlot that convinced us that it is deserving reconsideration. And guess what - we found one!!! We also talk a bit about the history of Merlot, and the so-called Sideways effect. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2016 Ronan by Clinet, 2018 Santa Ema Reserva Merlot, and 2019 Chateau Mayne-Vieil Cuvée Alienor. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| WTF is Zweigelt? (The Ultimate Picnic Wine, Summer Sipper, For Gamay and Pinot Noir Lovers, Great red wine for Cookouts and BBQs, Red Wine for Fish, Austrian Wine) | 21 May 2023 | 00:39:50 | |
Looking for the perfect Summer Sipper? Then you need to know about Zweigelt! Wait, what’s that you ask - WTF is Zweigelt?!? We’ll tell you! This light, fruity, and fun red from Austria is an excellent Cookout wine, and pairs wonderfully with BBQ. If you like Gamay or Pinot Noir, this is a wine you really need to know! You can drink it chilled! It’s a red wine that can be paired with fish! It often comes in a 1 liter bottle and with a screw cap! C’mon, what else do you need to know - it’s like this wine is too good to be true! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Winzer Krems Blauer Zweigelt St. Severin, 2018 Pratsch Zweigelt, and 2019 Berger Zweigelt. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| High QPR Pinot Noir from South America! | 10 Aug 2025 | 00:44:26 | |
South America may not be the first place you think of for high quality Pinot Noir, but it is definitely time to start putting it on your list, especially because, as wine prices shoot up due to tariffs, these lower cost options are going to be in higher demand. Pinot Noir in places like Chile and Argentina is still relatively new, and they are making exciting Burgundian-style wines in areas you would not expect. Despite most of the wine growing areas in South America tending to be warmer weather spots, they are discovering cooler climate oases where Pinot Noir can really shine. One of the wines we tasted and reviewed this week really knocked our socks off. And, as an extra bonus, we’ll dig into just what the eff rosorange wine is - and you can decide if you want to try it. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Sur de los Andes Reserva Pinot Noir, 2021 Leyda Las Brisas Pinot Noir Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Let’s Talk About Sekt! German Sparkling Wine! (Lots of Sekt jokes, AKA Secco) | 14 May 2023 | 00:47:32 | |
It’s never too late to have Sekt for the first time! Yes, we use that bad joke A LOT in this episode - but we also explore German Sparkling Wine - which is called Sekt - and discover what makes it unique,. Did you know that Germany is the third largest producer of sparkling wine in the world? We didn’t either! So there must be something about this German Sekt that is worth your hard earned money, and you don’t have to pay a lot for good Sekt! And, yes, we use that joke A LOT in this episode, too. Beyond the Sekt jokes, we taste and review three German sparkling wines, and give our honest ratings of them so you can see if you want to have Sekt after listening to us. It’s getting funnier, right?!? Known for being on the sweet side, we give our opinion on just how sweet the Sekt is in Germany. Ba dum bump. Wines reviewed in this episode: Henkell Finest Sparkling Wine Brut, Fritz Muller Muller-Thurgau Secco, Markus Molitor Mosel Riesling Sekt. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Great Wines to Celebrate Mom on Mother’s Day! (Wines with Mother’s Day Foods, Sparkling from South Africa, Rosé of Pinot Noir, Beaujolais) | 07 May 2023 | 00:48:33 | |
How do you show mom you really love her on Mother’s Day? By serving her favorite wine, of course! But what if you don’t know what her favorite wine is?!? No worries, we’ve got you covered. No matter who occupies that mom-space in your life, Mother’s Day is the perfect time to show her how much you appreciate her and think about her, and we think a great way to show some of that love and appreciation is through a thoughtful wine choice. (What did you expect us to say?!? We’re a wine podcast, after all!!!) Because wine is food, the right Mother’s Day wine needs to be a great complement to Mother’s Day food, and it should also be a great experience, meaning it should look beautiful in the glass and on the table. And this year, don’t be so obvious with your wine choices - we’ll help you find some wines that are PERFECT for mom, but a bit off the beaten path so you can show her how special you think she is! Our wines choices are also certified by the resident mom on our podcast - Carmela! Wines reviewed in this episode: Graham Beck Methode Cap Classique Brut, 2021 Compton Family Wines Garden Series Rosé of Pinot Noir, and 2021 Jean-Claude DeBeaune Special Selection Beaujolais. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers: David Babich (CEO of Babich Wines, the 107 year history of Babich wines, New Zealand wine, Sauvignon Blanc, what really makes organic wine better) | 30 Apr 2023 | 00:55:15 | |
Babich Wines make world-class Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other varietals. They are also the largest family owned winery in New Zealand, and the story of how the family came to make wine is fascinating to say the least. We are honored to have David Babich, CEO of Babich Wines join us for this special episode. David took on the role of CEO in 2001, and has helped to lead Babich Wines into one of New Zealand’s leading wineries and a highly regarded global wine brand. What comes across very clearly in his story is the passion for not only the wine they make, but also his pride in his family and their legacy. Join us to hear more about what makes Babich Wines so special - the care with which they make their wines which are sustainable and increasingly organic - and the amazing story of a group of brothers who left their homeland in Croatia at young ages to start a new life in New Zealand. We know you will enjoy listening to this interview as much as we enjoyed talking with David. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Minisode #7: A Quick Primer on Red Blends | 23 Apr 2023 | 00:13:27 | |
Ever walked into a wine shop or the wine section of a grocery store and been totally overwhelmed and confused by the vast sea of wines that are simply labeled red blend? Us too! So to remove this confusion, in this minisode we do a quick overview - a primer if you will - on the two major types of red blends that most (but not all) red wine blends are based - Bordeaux and GSM. Both come from France, and both are known by other names that you may also be familiar with, like Meritage and Claret. This quick, fun minisode will help you feel more comfortable and confident the next time you are looking to buy or order a wine (and you can show off your knowledge to your friends who will be so impressed!). Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Minisode #6: The Myth About Legs on Wine | 16 Apr 2023 | 00:10:25 | |
If you have ever wondered what legs in your wine glass mean, we are here to tell you. Guess what - it’s probably not what you think (unless you are some sort of scientist, of course). If you have been out to dinner or to a wine party and watched people wax poetic about the legs, or tears, in their wine glass and wondered “that the hell are they talking about?” - we are going to solve the mystery. And, we are going to help you explain to them what the legs in their glass actually mean. Long thought of as an indication of wine quality, legs are poorly understood. Listen in for a quick and fun explanation in our latest minisode! Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| High QPR Pinot Noir #2! (Why Pinot Noir can be expensive, why you should care about Pinot Noir, a 9 point wine rating!) | 09 Apr 2023 | 00:49:44 | |
The search for high QPR (quality to price ratio) wine is like our lifequest! And, the peak of this quest is for high QPR Pinot Noir because finding great, reasonably priced Pinot Noir is so damn hard! If you are a Pinot Noir lover, we have a GREAT wine for you in this episode that hits all the marks, including price point. And if you are not a Pinot Noir convert, we think this wine may just change your mind! We talk about why we love Pinot Noir, why Pinot Noir is one of the most expensive wines in the world, and we taste and review three reasonably priced and easy to find Pinot Noirs and tell you which one(s) we think meet that high QPR bar. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Bouchard Aine & Fils Heritage du Conseiller Pinot Noir, 2019 Montinore Estate Red Cap Pinot Noir, and 2021 BloodRoot Pinot Noir. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Orange Wines: The Thing for Spring! (WTF is Orange Wine? Wine hype, Spring wines, Easter wines, natural and vegan wine, similarities to rosé, Ramato) | 02 Apr 2023 | 00:47:55 | |
Wondering if you should get on the Orange wine bandwagon but a little hesitant to try? Don’t worry - we will demystify Orange wine for you and help convince you that it is a bandwagon you should just jump right on! Not sure what Orange wine is? Well, it’s not wine made from Oranges, but it is a style of wine you need to know because it is growing in popularity and even getting some hype! If you are a rosé drinker, this is a wine for you. Wait, you say you are a red wine drinker? Then this is also a wine for you! Hold on, you like white wines, well . . . then you’ll like this wine! Intrigued?!? You should be. Orange wine covers a broad spectrum of grapes and tastes, and really does have something for everyone - you just need to know what Orange wines to try, and we will help you out! And if you are a vegan wine or natural wine fan, Orange wines are right up your alley. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 L’un des Sens Orange wine, 2021 Winzer Krems Orange Grüner Veltliner, and 2020 Poderi DiCarlo Pinot Grigio Orange Wine. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Italian Wine Adventure #6: Salice Salentino! (Rich, rustic red wines, Southern Italian wines, Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera, great wines with Italian food) | 26 Mar 2023 | 00:49:27 | |
The next time you are at an Italian restaurant, do yourself a favor and reach for a Salice Salentino! Never heard of it? Well, now’s a great time to find out more. Hailing from the Puglia area of Southern Italy, Salice Salentino is a wonderful, rustic wine that will make red wine lovers, Italian food lovers, and basically anyone who likes food and wine, rejoice! Made from the Negroamaro grape which is almost exclusively found in Italy and widely grown in Puglia, Salice Salentino is a wine known for depth, character, chewy tannins, and excellent acidity. Carmela shares some of her fond memories of trips to see family in Puglia, and then we talk about foods that will perfectly pair with this underrated red. If you think you know Italian wine but don’t know Salice Salentino, we suggest you listen in to learn more! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2018 Marchese di Borgosole Salice Salentino Riserva, 2018 Cantele Salice Salentino Riserva, and 2011 Taurino Salice Salentino. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| If You Like Cabernet, You’ll Love Tannat! (Bold red wines, wines from Uruguay, discovering new red wines) | 19 Mar 2023 | 00:49:45 | |
Are you getting tired of the same old same old when it comes to wine? Do you need to spice your wine life up a bit? Are you stuck in a Cabernet rut and ready to bust out?!? Then this is the episode for you! In this episode, we discover a wine called Tannat, also known as Madiran in France, which is a great option for red wine lovers. Tannat is a bold, flavorful, and delicious red wine that is growing in popularity, and it is the most widely planted red wine grape in Uruguay. Wait, what’s that you say, you didn’t know they made wine in Uruguay?!? Well, there’s another great reason to listen to this episode - so you can learn a little bit about the Uruguayan wine industry. If you are a red wine fan and are looking for something new to explore, this could be the wine for you! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Bodega Garzón Uruguay Reserva Tannat, 2019 Familia Traversa Tannat, and 2018 Marichal Uruguay Reserve Tannat. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| WTF is Pouilly-Fumé? (Fancy wine vs. Barefoot wine, Sauvignon Blanc from Loire, Wines named for regions rather than the grapes) | 12 Mar 2023 | 00:49:59 | |
So, if you didn’t know, Pouilly-Fumé is Sauvignon Blanc, but from a specific area of France in the Loire Valley. Like a lot of European wines, the names can be confusing because they are named after the place they are from, not the grape they are made from. But the real question is - can you tell the difference between a Sauvignon Blanc from Pouilly-Fumé, which is going to be a little pricey, from a much less expensive Sauvignon Blanc? If you are curious about all of this stuff, this is the episode for you! We talk about what makes Sauv Blanc from Pouilly-Fumé special, and then we taste and review two wines from Pouilly-Fumé and compare them to Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc. The results may surprise you! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Domaine Francis Blanchet Pouilly Fumé Cuvée Silice, 2020 Domaine Cailbourdin Pouilly-Fumé Les Cris, and Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Costco Kirkland Signature Côtes du Rhône Challenge! | 03 Aug 2025 | 00:51:11 | |
Have you ever walked down the wine aisle at Costco, picked up one of their Kirkland Signature wines and thought, “What the eff is this wine?” Because, you know, you feel like if a wine at Costco is $7.50 you should probably just buy it, but you just want to make sure you are going to like it. If that happened to you when you saw the Kirkland Signature Côtes du Rhône Villages wine and you hesitated to buy it, then this episode is for you! As we do in all of our Costco Kirkland Signature wine challenges, we pit the Kirkland brand against two other similarly priced wines and see who comes out on top. Sometimes it’s Kirkland, and sometimes it ain’t. This time around?!? One of the wines won the challenge hands down - no doubt about it. We also go into just what the eff Côtes du Rhône wine is, and why you should know about it. But, most importantly, we help you choose the right wine so you feel good about your purchase! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Kirkland Signature Côtes du Rhône Villages, 2023 Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône, 2022 Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône Reserve Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Trader Joe’s Private Label Wine Review: Petit Reserve (Quality Tiers of Trader Joe’s wines, TJ’s Petit Reserve Chardonnay, Barbera, and Blanc de Blancs Brut) | 05 Mar 2023 | 00:43:49 | |
Lots of people drink and enjoy Trader Joe’s private label wines, but how much do you really know about them? Did you know there are several tiers or levels of quality in Trader Joe’s wines? And are you curious about how they stack up “regular” wines? Well, we are here to help! In this episode, we taste and review three Trader Joe’s wines, including their Blanc de Blancs Brut, and two of their Petit Reserve wines - a Barbera and a Chardonnay - all of which are under ten bucks! And we discuss all of the different tiers of Trader Joe’s wines from Two Buck Chuck to the elusive Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve. It’s not all that often that Trader Joe’s wine gets reviewed, so consider this an opportunity to at least see what we think - and then you can decide if you think we are full of it or not! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Barbera, 2021 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Chardonnay, and Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blancs Brut. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Sparkling Wines from Argentina! (Affordable high quality sparkling wines, under the radar sparkling wines, Sparkling Rosé from Malbec, crowd pleasing sparkling wines, sparkling wine for red wine lovers) | 26 Feb 2023 | 00:48:08 | |
Wait a minute, did we say sparkling wines from Argentina?!? Yes! If you think only France, Spain, Italy, and the US make great sparkling wine, you are missing out! Of course Argentina is most known for their outstanding Malbecs, but they are also a top-notch and rising producer of very reasonably priced sparkling wines, some of which use Malbec to make amazing sparkling rosé wines. We taste and review three very different, and very delicious, sparkling Argentinian wines, all from the famous Mendoza region. If you have red wine lovers in your life who don’t think they like sparkling wine, or don’t think that sparkling wine can be sophisticated, we have a wine for you! And if you are looking for a great price point for high quality sparkling wines that go great with food and are crowd pleasers, Argentina must be on your list! Two of the wines in this episode are sparkling rosé using Malbec, and one is a wonderful, traditional sparkling wine using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and all are more than worth your time to find and taste! Wines reviewed in this episode: Belasco de Baquedano Rosa de Argentina Sparkling, Domaine Bousquet Organic Brut, and Alma Negra Brut Nature Rosé. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||
| Fish Friendly Wines for Lent or Whenever (Why white wine with fish? Can you drink red wine and fish? Drinking wine on an early morning flight, unoaked Chardonnay, lightly oaked Sauvignon Blanc, Cava) | 19 Feb 2023 | 00:50:59 | |
It may seem like a cliché, but white wine and fish are the perfect pairing. But wait a minute - there are so many different types of white wines, and so many types of seafood, so can you really just make that blanket statement?!? Good question - there are nuances, and certain kinds of white wines do go better with certain kinds of seafood. Feeling overwhelmed, confused, want to throw in the towel?!? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this episode we talk about why white wine and fish pair so well, we give you ideas for white wines (and even red wines!) to pair with seafood, and we taste and review three wines that at first glance may seem like obvious choices, but each has a twist on the varietal and style that you think you know. We try an unoaked Chardonnay, a slightly oaked Sauvignon Blanc, and a vintage sparkling Cava - all under $20! So, for whatever reason you are eating fish and seafood - because it’s a Friday in Lent or just because you love it - this is the episode for you! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 A to Z Unoaked Oregon Chardonnay, 2021 Substance Sauvignon Blanc, and 2017 Juve & Camps Reserva de la Familia Cava Gran Reserva Brut Nature. Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode! Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you! | |||