Explore every episode of the podcast Court of Wine
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Prohibition Laws, Snubbed States, and Orange Fanta
04 Sep 2022
00:52:43
Incredibly fun discussion to kick off the first Court of Wine with amazing panelists:
After more than two years away, I (Tony) am coming back to podcasting with my Wine in the News style show. I had intended it to be a spin-out from this podcast (which would also change), but with Betty not wanting to host a podcast currently, I will be renaming Weekly Wine Show to Court of Wine and will host the show here so back episodes can remain available. I hope you enjoy the new format! Cheers!
Ep 200 - This is Not Goodbye, it's See You Later
03 Jan 2020
00:17:22
This week we hit our 200th episode which is a huge milestone for us. We've made the decision to end Weekly Wine Show. It's a big decision and in this episode we reflect on our past four years and talk about what is next for us.
In this episode we discuss:
Why did we start Weekly Wine Show?
One of the main reasons was we wanted to expand our knowledge of wine and thought a podcast was an interesting format for that learning.
Did we accomplish what we wanted?
Yes, we've learned so much and made so many connections through the podcast. This helped us lay the foundation we needed for what is next.
Why are we stopping now?
We've been putting out content non-stop for almost four years and it's time for a little break
Also, we originally started out this podcast to help beginners like us but we can no longer call ourselves beginners. So since it has fulfilled its purpose, we feel its time to move on.
What's next for us?
Although we are ending this podcast, we will be releasing multiple new podcasts and new content in 2020.
Spring of 2020: An mostly interview style podcast gathering stories of people's wine journey's who have been bitten by the wine bug.
Late 2020: A wine history podcast focused on interesting stories told in a storytelling format.
Although we will next be releasing new content for a little while, we will be active on social media (mostly Instagram and Twitter) so follow us if you haven't already. We will be providing news and updates so you are in the loop when new content is launched. Also, if you are still subscribed to Weekly Wine Show in you podcast player you will get promos for the new podcasts before they launch.
Thank you all for you love and support. There is no way we would have keep releasing episodes for almost four years without you. We are excited with what 2020 has in store for us and our wine journey. So thank you for listening and it;s not goodbye, it's see you later. Cheers!
Ep 199 - Pros and Cons of Naked Wines
27 Dec 2019
00:22:34
*Note: If you’re just here looking for that offer link Tony mentioned, feel free to skip to the last paragraph.
Have you tried any wine clubs? We've tried a couple wine clubs or club-like retailers and were not thrilled but over the last year we've been testing out Naked Wines. If you've wondered whether a wine club could be valuable and worthwhile, Naked Wines might be your answer.
SPOILER ALERT: At the end of this episode, we're going to share an offer from Naked Wines that they give its members to share the service. You'll get a big discount on wine and we get a little bit too if you sign up, so feel free to consider this episode like advertising. That being said, if you've listened to Weekly Wine Show for any length of time, you know we have only accepted advertisements for a couple of episodes. We're extremely picky about what brands we represent and we need to be willing to spend our own money on that item or service if there's a chance our words would influence others to do the same. And in fact, over the last year or so, we've sent over $500 of our own money the way of Naked Wines, and now we're ready to tell you about our experience.
So what is Naked Wines and how does it work?
Naked Wines is a "customer-funded wine business". Club members, who they call "angels" pay a deposit of $40 per month in their naked wines account. This money sits in the Angels' account as a balance until they use it to purchase wines. But while it's there, Naked Wines uses it to fund winemakers up-front to be able to make wines, many wines which otherwise might never be.
The interesting part of this funding model is many winemakers work for other people and don't get to put their name on the label. They may not have the funds to invest in their own grapes, barrels, storage, and all the other costs involved in making wine, much less their cost of living while those wines are being made.
The situation might be even a bit dire, like the story of winemaker Katie Jones. If you want to hear more about her story check out the video from Naked Wines.
So far, according to their website, they have funded 159 independent winemakers in 14 countries. These direct relationships with winemakers results in lower costs for us because they benefit from economics of scale for buying wine bottling supplies. Also, since they're the considered the winery, there isn't the markup from a distributor and a retailer. They call it "wholesale prices".
So what do we like about Naked Wines?
First of all, you pick the wine you get, how much, and when (Not like other clubs that send to you on schedule). You order this wine from your house (you don't even have to put pants on) making it super convenient. Second, these are real, top-quality winemakers, some we've actually met or been to their "day job" winery. Also, there are a wide range of wines from all across the globe and pretty affordable prices like a Premier Cru Chablis ($24) and a vintage Champagne ($35). The wines overall have been top quality and of all the wines we've try there has only been a couple of wines we didn't love. They'll also let you know what wines to age so we have several bottles sitting in the cellar waiting for the right time to drink.
Another feature that makes Naked Wines unique is the money-back happiness guarantee. They will refund you for any wine you didn't love. We actually haven't taken the initiative to use this for the couple of bottles that weren't to our taste, but even so they proactively gave us an $11 refund to highlight the guarantee and encourage us to use it. They want happy customers.
Lastly, you're positively impacting winemakers, giving them a chance to make wines with their own name on the bottle or maybe to make something lesser known that wouldn't fit with their day employer's winery. Also, there website allow us to interact with winemakers and read their stories.
What don't we like about Naked Wines?
To start, when we signed up in late 2018, we were required to buy a case of wine in order to join. That first case we bought with the promotional offer was priced at their non-member price. This felt a bit deceptive and we almost didn't join. After a few weeks, they gave us the option to buy a smaller 9-bottle pack so we didn't have to invest as much money just to give them a try. Once we bought that first case, they put us on a "waiting list" to get into the club. We don't remember a believable explanation for why there was a waiting list, it seemed like an attempt to fake exclusivity.
Also, they send emails about promotional packs that feel a bit spammy and over time you learn to give them a glance and archive or delete them. We imagine some people like the promotional packs, they just haven't been appealing to us.
Before deciding to do this episode we also looked up naked wines on the Better Business Bureau. They have an A+ rating from the BBB, but only get 2 out of 5 stars from customer reviews. There were several pages of reviews and the vast majority seem to be people who somehow don't realize they will be charged $40 per month and were unhappy with it despite the fact you can get your money back or people who are unhappy with their wines and didn't take advantage of the happiness guarantee.
What are some tips for getting the most value?
First, if you are struggling to find wine they have wine advisors you can call. Once you start receiving wine make sure you are rating the wines you try because this feeds into their recommendations. It also helps to follow winemakers you like in the app or the website so you can get updates on when they release new wines.
Also, every month they offer a free promotional bottle (one they choose) to compete a case if you order any 11 bottles of your choice. So make sure to buy 11 bottles at a time do you get the free bottle. If the promotional bottle doesn't appeal to you, check the other options in their bottle picker.
If all else fails, use that happiness guarantee. Get you money back and pick out something different. Like I said, they want to make you happy.
If you're in the same boat we were in and want to try out Naked Wines, you can get $100 off $160 purchase for new members using our link. Remember, if you become a member they will be investing $40 a month into Angel account to use to purchase wine. If you sign up we receive $40 in credits to buy more wine and support our hobby. So this is a win - win - win situation. Cheers!
Ep 198 - Make Your Holidays Sparkling
20 Dec 2019
00:09:29
With the holidays just around the corner, we have some sparkling wine recommendations to take the guess work out of selecting wines.
Big thanks to our friends at Palm Bay International and Taub Family Selections for providing us with samples for this episode. Although these wines were provided to us, the opinions and tasting notes in this episode are our own.
The name of this wine comes from its beginnings. Ackerman was established in 1811 in the small town of Saumur in the heart of France's Loire Valley by Jean-Baptiste Ackerman.
Blend of 70% Chenin Blanc, 20 % Chardonnay, 10% Cabernet Franc and each variety is made into wine separately in view of maintaining its typical features up until blending at the end of winter.
This wine has light aromas of golden apples, white flowers and a hint of breadiness
We got flavors of golden apples, peaches, lemon oil and white flowers
Very fruit wine that we thought it paired really well with blue cheese
We think that this is a unique blend of grapes that people might not be as familiar with.
The Trento DOC appellation is renowned for producing some of the finest sparkling wines in Italy and is known as the Italian alternative to Champagne
100% Chardonnay wine made in the traditional method that is aged on the lees for at least 15 months
Light aromas of apples and bread almost like apple pie
This wine has flavors of lemon, green apples with a hint of breadiness
So when people think of sparkling wine from Italy they mostly think of Prosecco and Prosecco is super popular right now. So if you are looking for something different from Italy this would be a great option.
60% Vinified in stainless steel, 40% vinified in older Burgundy oak barrels. No malolactic fermentation. Five years aging on the lees before disgorgement.
Aromas of red apple skins, bread, rose and minerality
It’s the driest of the wines in this episode and has high acidity with flavors of pink lady apples, rose, lemon, and a funky yeasty flavor
This wine is crisp, fruity, floral and complex
A special treat for a special occasion
Ep 197 - Brachetto d'Acqui
13 Dec 2019
00:10:27
This week we are talking about Brachetto d’Acqui. Brachetto d’Acqui is a DOCG in the Piedmont wine region of Northwest Italy.
It's time for another four wines episode! Every couple of months we talk about four different wines that we've been enjoying and want to share with all of our wonderful listeners.
Book: Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavors
Ep 184 - Fitou AOC
13 Sep 2019
00:09:46
This week we are talking about the Fitou AOC. Fitou is a small wine appellation in southern France that is a part of the larger Languedoc-Roussillon wine region area.
Deep purple color wine with aromas of candied strawberries like red Australian Licorice
It’s dry with medium plus acidity and tannins and flavors of red fruits, rock, violets and kalamata olives
Very fruit forward wine that smells sweet
It’s young, wild and rustic - like a horse that hasn’t been tamed - we would recommend pairing with food or let it age for a few years to mellow it out.
Garnet colored wine with aromas of fresh cherries, a little earth and sweet baking spices
It's dry with medium plus acidity with flavors of cherries, earth, baking spice and a bitter note on the finish
very juicy, vibrant tasting wine with a fair amount of complexity.
Ep 180 - David Eakle of Pope Valley Winery
16 Aug 2019
00:18:30
This week features our interview with David Eakle of Pope Valley Winery out of Napa Valley.
Wines featured in this episode - these wines were sent to us as samples.
2018 Sauvignon Blanc - a really wonderful representation of a warmer style SB with lots of stonefruit and tropical aromas and flavors, and is also a refined and delicate wine - so a great pairing with light seafood dishes.
2016 Sangiovese - great crowd pleader wine. This is your pizza pairing wine. Sangiovese is the grape of Chianti, and although this wine is not a Chianti, it tastes like it would pair with similar foods. We enjoyed it best when it was decanted for about an hour.
2016 Petit Verdot - This is a very intense, bold and savory wine with a lot of complex flavors and aromas going on.
Ep 179 - Dogliani DOCG and Dolcetto
09 Aug 2019
00:08:23
This week we are talking about the Dogliani DOCG and the Dolcetto grape.
It’s time for another four wines episode. Every couple of months we talk about four different wines we've tasted recently and want to share with our listeners.
Light lemon color with strong aromas of stonefruit, lemon and honeysuckle
It’s medium sweet and medium acidity with flavors of peach, apricot, and tangerine
Ripe, fruity wine with just the right amount of sweetness and low alcohol for spicy foods
This wine has a lot of food pairing options: Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and Indian as well as German-inspired dishes like sausage and schnitzel, Mexican dishes like Chile Verde and enchiladas, and desserts like fruit tarts and pies
This week features our interview with Theodora Lee or also known as Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards. She is the owner and founder of Theopolis Vineyards in Yorkville Highlands of Anderson Valley.
Wine Featured in this episode - These wines were sent to us as samples by Theopolis Vineyards.
Aromas of black cherries, black plum and sweet baking spices
it's dry with medium plus acidity and tannins, full bodied, with flavors of dark fruits, spice and dusty earth
Smells sweet and fruity but taste more savory and the tannins give this wine a really lovely texture.
A very lush and fruity wine and a great option is you are looking for something big and bold.
barbecue, stews, braised and grilled beef, pot roast, veal, wild game, oxtails, charcuterie, lamb, sausage or dark chocolate
Ep 174 - Summer Food and Wine Pairing Challenge
05 Jul 2019
00:18:44
This week we are talking about summer food and wine pairings. We were brainstorming ideas for episodes and we came up with the idea of picking four different foods we eat mostly in the summertime and pair with some past favorite wines.
This week we are talking about Bulgaria a country in Southeast Europe.
Wine Recommendations - Big thank you to Grapes & Barley Imports for providing the wines for this episode. All but one of these wines are from the Thracian Valley.
Bulgariana Rose 2017 - priced around $13.
This rose wine is made with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes
Aromas of strawberries, raspberries, watermelon and minerality
Its dry with medium acidity with flavors similar to aromas - lots of berry flavors
Light in aromas and flavors but everything I want in a rose - fruity, crisp, really refreshing
Rough Day Chardonnay 2016 - priced around $9.
This is an unoaked style of Chardonnay
Aromas of tropical fruits like melon and apricots as well as some lemon aromas
It’s dry with a light to medium body, medium plus acidity with flavors similar to aromas - mostly tropical fruits
This wine is a light crisp unoaked chardonnay that perfect for summer
Bulgariana Pinot Noir 2014 - priced $15.
The grapes for this wine come from a subregion of the Danube Plain in North-east Bulgaria
Aromas of cherry flavored cigars, salmai, and coffee
Its dry with medium body, medium plus acidity, light tannins with flavors of cherries, tobacco, coffee and dirt
This pinot is a more fuller body style and less fruit than Pinots from other places. Not your delicate Pinot Noir like Burgundy or Willamette Valley - this Pinot has some teeth
Bulgariana Gamza 2016 - priced around $12.
Made from the Gamza grape - which is a dark skinned variety used to make red wine found in Central Europe and the Balkan area. It’s also known as Kadarka
Aromas of dusty earth, spice with a hint of black cherries and black plum
It’s dry with medium acidity and tannins, full body and flavors similar to aromas - dark fruits, spices and dusty earth
Very deep full wine that is not very fruity but a great texture to the wine with smooth tannins
Rough Day Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 - priced around $10.
Aromas of black cherries, blueberries, dusty earth and spice
This wine is dry with medium acidity and tannins, full body and flavors of earth and dark fruits
This wine is all about the fruit - its very juicy, really approachable wine with smooth, satin like tannins
Winemaker’s Selection Un Double Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah 2012
This is a part of Walmart’s private label program
50% of each Cab Sav and Syrah
Aromas of dark fruits like black cherries and black plum as well as pepper
It’s a dry, full bodied wine with medium acidity and tannins with flavors similar to aromas - dark fruits and spice
This wine is very juicy, ripe, lush wine that is big and bold
We pair this wine with an aged cheese and it really shined with some fatty food
This week we are talking about Southern Greece which is defined by its hot Mediterranean climate so most of the vineyards in these areas are grown on the sides of mountains in higher elevation. Southern Greece includes the Kefalonia, Peloponnese and Crete areas.
This wine is dry, medium plus acidity, medium body and flavors of honeysuckle, pear, minerality and lemon rind on the finish
This wine is older for a white wine and has a deep gold color. If you get an older vintage of this wine you need to decorate it for a while. The first day we tried this wine we didn’t like it and had some weird flavors. But the second day and some exposure to oxygen we ended up loving this wine.
It still has quite a bit of acid and you can’t tell by tasting this wine that it’s eight years old
Food pairings: seafood, white meat and light cheese
This week kicks off a series of episode exploring Greece. This episode is an introduction to Greece and Greek wine history. In the following weeks, we will dive into some of the major wine areas of Greece.
Source for this episode:
Book: The Oxford Companion to Wine
Ep 165 - Wine in the News May 2019
03 May 2019
00:25:52
This week we talk recent wines news. Below are the articles that inspired this episode's topics.
It’s time for another four wines episode. Every couple of months we talk about four different wines that we really enjoyed and we're excited to share with all of you.
Aromas of stewed blackberries, black plums and black currants, dusty earth and black licorice
This wine is dry, fully body with medium tannins and acidity with flavors similar to aromas with a hint of prunes on the finish
This wine is dark and luscious wine
Really fantastic wine for sipping or pairing with red meats and strong cheeses, as well as Portuguese Wild Boar Stew (if you can’t find boar, pork will do)
This wine has aromas of plum, stewed black cherries, and dried Italian herbs
It’s dry, light body, with medium acidity and tannins and flavors of of dark fruits, dried herbs and a bitter wood on the finish
The tannins give this wine a lovely texture
There is a lot of complexity in this wine and we think this wine either needs to be aged or enjoyed with food
Pairing Option: Creamy truffle risotto, medium-mature cow’s milk and goat’s milk cheeses and red meats
Ep 162 - Monterey County
12 Apr 2019
00:17:25
This week we are talking about Monterey County wine region. This area is part of the larger Central Coast AVA that stretches from San Francisco to Santa Barbara County. There are approximately 46,000 acres of wine grapes making it one of the larger growing area in California.
This wine has a light nose of red berries - cherries, strawberries and raspberries as well as sweet baking spices like Allspice as well as some savory, mushroom aromas
It’s dry with medium plus acidity, light tannins, light body and flavors very similar to aromas just more intense fruit and mushrooms notes
We did really enjoy this wine but we think it’s best with food.
This Pinot has quite a bit of acidity and needs some fat to cut through it and really elevate the wine - maybe something earthy with mushrooms or lentils
This week we are talking about the small AVA in California call El Dorado. El Dorado is a sub-appellation of the 2,600,000-acre Sierra Foothills AVA which is one of the largest appellations in California.
Light Garnet colored wine with aromas of dried cherries, balsamic and a hint of coriander
It’s dry with light to medium body, light tannins and medium plus acidity with flavors similar to aromas as well as a bitter component to the finish, almost like radicchio
This wine is starting to show it’s age but still is fruity
We loved the candied cherries aromas, the nose in more intense than the flavors of this wine
Although it’s not an intense flavored wine, more delicate, we think this would compliment food really well and could still be aged if you are looking to see how the aromas and flavors continue to develop over time.
For this wine we got aromas of red berries, dust, violets and graphite
It’s dry with medium body, medium tannins and medium plus acidity with flavors similar to aromas, red fruit - cherries, strawberries, sandy dirt, violets with a hint of mushroom
This is a really approachable wine and is more fruity in aromas than in taste
We think this wine who do well with food: Beef and lamb dishes, Chili, Hard Cheese, dishes with earthy flavors like Mushrooms or lentils,
Had a hard time finding the 2015 online but the 2014 and the 2016 is available on Skinner’s website.
If you are looking for some additional El Dorado wine recommendations check out our past episodes listed:
Book: American Wine by Jancis Robinson and Linda Murphy
Ep 160 - Sierra Foothills
29 Mar 2019
00:12:29
This week we are talking about the Sierra Foothills The Sierra Foothills is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The total area of the appellation is 2.6 million acres within eight counties, making it one of the largest AVAs in the state of California.
The day this episode is being released, March 15, 2019, is the 3rd year anniversary of this podcast. On March 15th 2016 is when we launched the first three episodes of the podcast. We’ve tried a lot of wine and learned a ton along the way. So we thought we would take a trip down memory lane and reflect on some of our favorite moments and learning from the past three years.
This week we are talking about Alexander Valley AVA. Alexander Valley AVA is a Californian American Viticultural Area located in the northern end of Sonoma County. It is the largest and most fully planted wine region in Sonoma with 14,449 acres of vines out of 32,536 acres of land.
Deep golden color with with aromas of stonefruit, melon, ripe bananas and vanilla cream
This wine is dry, full bodied with medium acidity and flavors similar to aromas - tropical and stonefruits and that creamy vanilla flavor
Very cream, soft texture and the oak flavor is there put not strong which we appreciated - it’s just the right amount
Also, you can tell this Chardonnay comes from the cooler climate that other parts of California because it has that acidity to balance out the fuller body and texture of the wine.
Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 - priced around $25.
This wine was given to us as a sample
Aromas of dark fruits - blackberry, black cherry and black plum as well as some green pepper notes
It’s dry with medium acidity and medium silky, smooth tannins with flavors of dark fruits, vanilla and a hint of a vegetal notes
Love the tannins in this wine - provides a great sensory experience
You can also tell this wine is from a cooler part of california but the fruit aromas and flavors are ripe but don’t have a cooked or jammy quality to them.
It’s time for another four wines. Every couple of months we talk about four random wines that don’t fit in an upcoming episode. All four of the wines featured in this week’s episode were sent to us as press samples. But regardless if we purchase the wine or get it for free we always give our honest opinion and only talk about wines we really enjoyed.
This is a sparkling wine is made from 90% Glera, 10% Chardonnay
Fresh aromas of tropical fruits - starfruit, papaya, and pineapple as well as some floral notes
It’s off dry with medium plus acidity and flavors very similar to aromas - tropical fruits and flowers
This wine is everything I like about sparkling wine fresh, fruity and crisp. The bubbles give this wine a soft and luxurious texture and it has just the right amount of sweetness
Pair with wine with brunch, fresh fruits or dessert like a fruit tart
Maryhill Viognier 2017 - priced around $19.
Aromas of pear, melon, nectarine and pineapple
It’s dry with medium plus acidity and medium light body with flavors of grapefruit, pineapple, and nectarine
This wine is great if you want something crisp and light.
It went great with Indian food but it does have 14% ABV so watch the spice level on your dish
This wine has aromas of dark fruits , dusty earth, rose and Chinese 5 spice
It’s dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and medium body with flavors of dark fruits, rose, salty mushrooms, with a hint of bitter greens on the finish
A Lot going on in this wine - floral, savory, herbal
Great great balance of acidity and tannins
Don’t see a lot of varietal wines made from Mourvèdre so if you are looking for something unique this is a great option.
Ep 154 - Montefalco Sagrantino
15 Feb 2019
00:14:42
This week we are talking about Montefalco Sagrantino . Montefalco Sagrantino is a wine and one of two DOCGs in the Umbria region, which is located in central Italy.
Ageing: 24 months in large oak barrels, 12 months in stainless steel, 12 months in the bottle.
Very ripe and juicy dark fruit aromas as well as anise and cigar
It’s dry with medium plus acidity, medium plus bordering high tannins that hit in the front of your mouth but are smooth and flavors of dark berries and a slight savoriness like mushrooms
This is a young, very fruity, intense wine that I would recommend pairing with food
Also decant this wine for at least a couple of hours. We did not like this wine at first taste but with some oxygen it really opens up and become something special
Aged for 12 months in French oak and then another 26 months in the bottle before release
Aromas of jammy dark fruits like blackberries, black currants and plum as well as anise and dry dusty herbs
This wine is dry with medium acid and tannins some dark fruit flavors but not as intense as the aromas and flavors of leather and mushroom
We thought this wine was perfect aged, still some fruity flavors and aromas and the time has smoothed out the acid and tannins enough to drink without food but still can stand up for bold food choices
I couldn’t stop drinking this wine and this is a situation in which patience pays off.