Wine for Normal People

In honor of International Sherry Week, we have Andrew Sinclair of the iconic brand of Fino Sherry, Tio Pepe. We discuss the wonders of Sherry, the challenges it faces, and how and why we all need to incorporate this beautiful wine into our rotations!

We couldn't hit every food, or every wine, but this sampling was done at our kitchen table -- as an experiment with Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and Indian foods. We had some great pairing moments and some colossally bad ones (I didn't realize things could go SO wrong with wine and Asian food, but here's your warning)! Enjoy!

Dry wines of the Douro Valley of Portugal are a fairly new player on the international scene. We discuss the history of the region, the wines, and why you need to drink them if you don't already!

There are different wines that are similar to the standbys most people know and love. Ian Renwick, shop owner of www.jadedpalates.com in the U.K. and I discuss ideas of alternatives and vocabulary that will be a gateway to learning and getting more amazing wines.

Acidity is one of the key components of wine, along with tannin, alcohol and sugar/dryness. This is a completely dorky look at acidity -- what it does, why it's important, and then dive into different types of acid and why it matters.

The great grape of Piedmont has a lot in common with the great grape of Burgundy, but it may be even more selective about site & growing conditions. We tell you what to look for in a great Nebbiolo, plus places outside of Piedmont doing a good job with it

Is there still a place where you can get top wines of a region for an affordable price? YES! The Maipo Valley of Chile has some of the best Bordeaux-style reds & Cabernet Sauvignon in the world. You'll learn all about what's here, including top producers.

Wine-searcher.com is a site that allows us to see prices of virtually any wine in the world, in any country where it's sold. Suzanne Kendrick, in charge of global growth, talks about how the site works, what it does, and why it's the true democratizer of wine and a huge asset to us, as wine lovers.

We share the story of Spain's Albariño/ Portugal's Alvarinho. From ancient fame, to near extinction, and then triumphant resurrection, this grape is one of our favorites -- aromatic, acidic, complex yet delicious! It's a must in your wine rotation.

Austria is mainly known for whites -- Grüner Veltliner and Riesling -- but the reds are nothing short of stunning and are fantastic light to medium bodied wines that can make amazing alternatives to Pinot Noir. Learn about the big three -- Blaufränkisch, Sankt Laurent, and Zweigelt -- which are unique, range in style, and have a freshness that can't be beat. Check out the pod, and then try these amazing gems.

Blends are growing in popularity and this week we have the master of blends that are made in the vineyard: Bill Nachbur of ACORN Winery in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, CA. If you are curious about old-school viticulture, this is a must-listen.

After the Episode 236 on cork, I started poking around and wondering about the history of glass wine bottles. It turns out, glass bottles, which are the most common container for finished wine have a very cool evolution and that's what we discuss this week. From color to size and shape, we give an overview of why glass bottles are the way they are today and what the marketers are trying to tell you by the bottle they use!

This week, we focus on this splendid grape that has come into its own. From obscure blender to a star varietal, Grenache or Garnacha is a total crowd-pleaser and can be a delicious wine in its simplest and most complex formats. We give the lowdown on it -- from red to white to "furry" Grenache, I'm positive you'll hear about some wine in this podcast that will make you want to run out and get it!

This week João Rui Ferreira, the Chairman of APCOR, the Portuguese Cork Association joins. We discuss everything from the environmental impacts of cork to why it's such a great closure for wine. Cork is a vital part of the wine industry and this podcast is a great way to learn about it! João is a fascinating guy! 

Simone Madden-Grey, the Happy Wine Woman, is our guest host this week on a great topic!  New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has become either a staple or a joke (it's often called Mrs. Supermarket wine or Soccer Mom wine). But there is more to this category than just Marlborough's mass brands. It's time to take another look & get excited about this multifaceted wine that New Zealand does better than nearly any country.