The Hunter Valley is the OG -- the first place where Australian grape growing took place.  For 200 years there has been continuous winegrowing and winemaking among the rolling hills and green valleys, which are peppered with iconic wineries, many of which have been around for more than 100 years. Although other types of wines are made, the Hunter has one crown jewel -- Semillon. In this show I give detail on the history, background and terroir of the Hunter before discussing the Semillon and why it is so special and is truly a GREAT!!I give an overview of the Hunter Valley, which is one of Australia’s most popular wine destinations. It is just over a two hours' drive north from Sydney in New South Wales – about 160 km/100 mi north. It is very near UNESCO World Heritage National Parks, which are popular tourist destinations.With its low latitude (32°S), viticulture would not be possible without some mitigating factors The Hunter Valley is SMALL - it's 2% of Australian vineyard area. The region focuses on quality, premium wines, not bulkPlantings are 47% red (mostly Shiraz), 53% white (mostly Chardonnay and Semillon, with Verdelho of Portugal. This white-heavy mix is unusual for Australia! The I discuss the subtropical climate, the varied land and what works best for Semillon, and the GIsI spend the rest of the time talking about the alchemy involved in making a living wine like Hunter Valley Semillon -- truly one of "the greats" of the wine world! _______________________________________________________________________Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________Wine Access has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding). Get 10% your first order with my special URL.  To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 511: The Greats--  Semillon of the Hunter Valley, Australia

This is a quick special announcement show with two news items:1. After many years of being on the show, MC Ice has left the building! This was not his main business and he has chosen to focus on his work and other pursuits! We thank him for his contributions. Going forward, educational shows will be with Elizabeth only, with occasional guest appearances from Patrons to mix things up!2. Probably more important is the answer to the question many of you have been asking: Where do I get the old episodes of the podcast?Many of you have noticed that the back catalog of the podcast is no longer available on public podcast feed. It’s not gone but the access is restricted. You can still access the past 13 years ofepisodes by joining Patreon. As soon as you sign up, you will receive instructions on how to access the back episodes. It’s a very simple process and you can sign up at patreon.com/winefornormalpeopleThe decision to do this was based on the fact that the podcast takes 20 hours or more a week to produce. Although content seems free because it just pops up in your player, there is a big cost to produce it. Research, writing, editing, scheduling guests, etc. – all of which I do myself – takes a lot of time and effort. Those who provide financial support to the show through Patreon, the most committed listeners, have kept the podcast going since 2018 and now they will have exclusive rights to the previous shows. I would love for you to join that group, or you can access the current year’s shows, which are made free by my parternship with Wine Access, whom I hope you will support at wineaccess.com/normalThanks for understanding and I'll see you on the next show!!  Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special Announcement: MC Ice departs and Where to get past episodes of WfNP

I welcome to the show, again, and this time for a much longer and more thorough conversation, Luca Paschina, the head winemaker and GM of Barboursville, the historic property in the Monticello AVA of Virginia. Luca was on the show in 2016, originally on episode 162. Barboursville has a long history, which starts around the same time as its current owners’ wine history -- the Zonin family of Veneto (found 1821). We discuss Thomas Jefferson and his role in trying to get Virginia wine started. Luca tells us about Gianni Zonin, who purchased Barboursville in 1976 and created the first world class winery in Virginia. He is still the owner today. Luca has been the head winemaker of Barboursville since 1990. He gives us an excellent retrospective on what he has learned in these decades and the key terroir points about the Monticello AVA. tell us the . We also touch on some of the challenges and the advantages of the region and we are pretty honest about separating the wheat from the chaff. This is a very honest look at Virginia, and frankly a great way to tell if a winery you visit knows what they are talking about. If they don’t follow Luca’s advice, likely the wine isn’t going to be very good! This is a great show and I hope it motivates you to look more into the excellent wines of Virginia!_______________________________________________________________________Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________Wine Access has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding). Get 10% your first order with my special URL.  To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 510: Virginia’s Iconic Barboursville Vineyards with Winemaker & GM Luca Paschina

As a follow up to Felicity Carter's show last week, in which we mentioned referenced the work of Christopher Snowdon often, I am re-releasing Episode 274 to give another perspective. This was originally released April 29, 2019. We raised all sorts of red flags in this show and Christopher has been consistent on his blog about how moderate drinking is still good for you and why wine is NOT the new tobacco...This is a great supplement and another viewpoint on this subject and dovetails perfectly with last week's show.The show notes are simple this week: his two articles --“The campaign to make alcohol ‘the new tobacco’” March 28, 2019 (Scroll down to see the article on this page)"A glass of wine won't shorten your life -- moderate drinking is still good for you" April 17, 2018 More on Chris:Snowdon is author of five books: 'Polemics' (2020) 'Killjoys' (2017), 'Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism' (2015), 'The Art of Suppression' (2011), 'The Spirit Level Delusion' (2010) and 'Velvet Glove, Iron Fist' (2009). He has also written more than a dozen reports for the Institute of Economic Affairs including ‘Drinking, Fast and Slow’, ‘and ‘Closing Time: Who’s killing the British pub?’. He blogs at The Snowdon SubstackFull show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople_______________________________________________THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!!Wine Access has an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment. Get 10% your first order with my special URL.  To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revisiting the Wine and Health Debacle -- Re-release of Ep 274: Christopher Snowdon

My guest, Felicity Carter, is probably the most brilliant journalist in wine, and certainly one of the only ones doing vital investigative work in the field of wine, health, and the neo prohibitionist movement. From 2008 to 2021, she was editor-in-chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, a global, English-language magazine, one of Germany’s oldest publishing houses. She reported from 22 countries in that position. She writes for Decanter, The Guardian, and pretty much every major prestigious wine publication out there.Felicity is the foremost authority on wine and health and has information about what is ACTUALLY going on with the “new” data on wine and health…talk about a malevolent hand. HOLY SH&T when you find out what is behind the WHO’s recommendation. Your jaw will drop when she reveals what is actually happening...mine did.Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________Wine Access has Armenian wines before they even made a splash in the wine magazines! They have their finger on the pulse and connect with wineries and regions you need to know about! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding AND one of the shipments is likely to have an Armenian wine...hint, hint! ). Get 10% your first order with my special URL.  To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 509: Felicity Carter Exposes the Jaw-dropping Truth of Who is Guiding Global Wine & Health Policy

In this show we explore the world of Armenian wine, which has roots in the ancient world and may be the oldest winemaking region in Europe. To tell us about these wines, the terroir, and the regions, I welcome Keush Managing Director & Zulal Founder, Aimee Keushguerian. Aimee educates us on Armenian wine and tells us about the projects she and her family are undertaking to shape the modern Armenian wine industry, which is definitely getting noticed for its high quality and interesting grape varieties.Armenia is located in the Caucasus region bordering Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. Vineyards are in the mountains with very high elevations -- some of the highest in Europe. For a map see:  https://www.britannica.com/place/Armenia#/media/1/35178/208378 As a guide, here are some of the grapes we mention:Areni is the spicy, medium bodied, lovely main red grape. Vayots Dzor is the main quality region for Areni.Tozot from Vayots Dzor is like a Grenache and has great potentialVoskehat is Armenia’s most promising white grape. Producers can make sparkling, still, and dessert wine all from Voskehat. It is non aromatic.Chilar: is another promising white grape with great structure that does well with oakFrom geopolitical concerns to terroir studies, this podcast has it all! Take a listen -- you will learn a TON! Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!__________________________________________________________________Wine Access has Armenian wines before they even made a splash in the wine magazines! They have their finger on the pulse and connect with wineries and regions you need to know about! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding AND one of the shipments is likely to have an Armenian wine...hint, hint! ). Get 10% your first order with my special URL.  To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 508: Armenian Wine - Ancient Grapes, Modern Innovation, True Excellence with Aimee Keushguerian of Zulal & Keush

Food and wine pairing is complex. But as many of us are trying to eat healthier, more plant-based diets it becomes an exercise in frustration. Traditional outlets barely ever talk about how to pair red wine with vegetarian dishes, beyond eggplant and mushrooms.  Wendy Narby, a wine educator and writer in Bordeaux and Sally Evans, a winemaker and owner of Château George 7 (sette) aim to change that. This week they talk about their new site, which  helps us learn to pair the wines of Bordeaux and wines like them with vegetarian dishes. This podcast and their site, Wineand2veg.com, gives great ideas for pairings that prove you don't have to give up bold wine if you decide to eat a plant-based meal.   Knowing you can have a meatless day and still have a great wine pairing makes it a little more appealing to try it, no?   Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople    _______________________________________________________________  Wine Access  is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!).  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 507: Innovative Pairing with Plant-based Food with the founders of Wineand2Veg.com

This time we explore the hidden gems of  Bordeaux -- the Côtes de Bordeaux -- which make superb wines that few people know about. With an easy-drinking style, the Côtes de Bordeaux are the hidden, affordable wines of Bordeaux. These historic vineyards are a collection of AOCs around eastern Bordeaux on sunny hillside slopes that grow a majority of Merlot and have similar soil types. These are not second or bulk wines – rather family-owned, often sustainable wines that are always a good value for money.   This group of appellations under the marketing umbrella of Côtes de Bordeaux covers 9 - 10% of the total production of Bordeaux.     Faced with lots of competition from the named communes of Bordeaux (Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, etc), and the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur AOCs, efforts started in 2004 to create the Union des Côtes de Bordeaux (UCB) to create a collective “brand” of recognition: the AOC Côtes de Bordeaux with 6 terroir:  Côtes de Bordeaux - umbrella appellation Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux Francs Côtes de Bordeaux Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux· Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux (joined in 2016)   Map: Côtes de Bordeaux     In 2009, the AOC “Côtes de Bordeaux” went into effect. They must all use the logo below on the bottle to reinforce the association:     This is the wine we were drinking...  I hope this opens your eyes to some new, fantastic, affordable Bordeaux wines! Take a listen and put this to use -- there is a lot of goodness to discover here (and it won't hurt your wallet)!      Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople    _______________________________________________________________  Wine Access  is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!).  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Sources:  http://www.bordeaux-cotes.com/en/home/ https://www.vin-blaye.com https://www.cadillaccotesdebordeaux.com http://www.castillon-cotesdebordeaux.com/en/ "Inside Bordeaux" Jane Anson,   Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 506: The Wines of the Côtes de Bordeaux -- The Secret Best Value Wines of the Region

It's another edition of the "Alternatives to a Fave" series! This time: Grenache/Garnacha. As an extension of the Grape Mini-series, we come up with lists of wines that lovers of a specific grape can try as alternatives. Grenache/Garnacha comes in many different forms -- as a juicy, cherry-berry standalone grape in Spain, as lighter blender in the Rhône and Rioja, in rosé and fortified wines, and as full, serious wine in places like Priorat (Spain), Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France), and Australia, where old vines make very intense wines.  Photo: Grenache grapes in California. Credit: Getty Images via Canva This one was a challenge, but we came up with a good list of ideas and most won't burn a hole in your wallet! This show focuses only on the red wines  (not rosé or sweet wines) and our list includes everything from Zinfandel to Nero d'Avola, to Valpolicella and Alentejo blends (Portugal), on the lighter side to Syrah, Amarone, and Aglianico on the heavy side.   We hope, as usual, that this show opens some new doors and gives you new ideas of wines to add to your repertoire!    Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople    _______________________________________________________________  Wine Access  is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!).  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 505: Alternatives to a Favorite --  Grenache (Garnacha)

For the first time, we have a Wine For Normal People Patron on the show to share her passion and expertise!    This week is a follow-up to  last week’s weedier podcast on Greece. This time, long time listener and friend, Lindsey Miller, joins as our first Patron guest, to talk about her passion for and knowledge of Greek wine. She helps bring this topic to life, giving us background on how she fell in love with Greece, got to know its wines, and developed some expertise on the subject.     Lindsey shares tips and tricks on how to get the best Greek wine, talks about the challenges for the country’s wines in English-speaking markets, and makes helpful suggestions on where to start – from a grape AND region perspective – with Greece.     I had so much fun with Lindsey and she did a great job “humanizing” the topic and getting me motivated to explore even more of Greece! Let’s raise a glass (of Greek wine) to her for being the first brave soul to come on the show and share her passion and smarts with us!  Lindsey Miller in Pylos. Credit: Lindsey Miller As we mentioned in the last show, here is a list of places and grapes we mention:     Notable Appellations and Grapes we cover... Xinomavro PDO appellations: Naoussa, Amyndeo Agiorgitiko appellation: Nemea PDO Moschofilero: Mantinia PDO/Peloponnese Assyrtiko appellation: Santorini Liatiko, Vidiano, Vilana, Kotsifali: Crete Store shelf Lindsey mentions in the show. Greek wines with Hungarian wines thrown in. Credit: Lindsey Miller Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople    _______________________________________________________________  Wine Access  is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!).  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 504: A Normal Wine Person Perspective on Greek Wine -- Patron Lindsey Miller Shares Her Love and Knowledge of Greece

This show is an update to our previous shows on Greece. We hope to get you (re)started on your exploration of this ancient winemaking nation that has been reborn in recent years. Greek wines are unique, terroir-driven, and they harken back to the nation's ancient past and the very foundations of wine as a major part of the history in western civilization.   With recent investments and modernization, the wines are better than ever and are worth exploring.  Map from the Wines of Greece Although the places and grapes can be hard to pronounce (we did our best 🤷🏻‍♀️), they are easy to love. Take a listen and then seek these out -- you won't regret it!    Here is a list of places and grapes we mention: Notable Appellations Xinomavro PDO appellations: Naoussa, Amynteo, Rapsani, Goumenissa Agiorgitiko appellation: Nemea PDO Mavrodaphne appellation: Patras/Peloponnese Moschofilero: Mantinia PDO/Peloponnese Assyrtiko appellation: Santorini Liatiko, Vidiano, Vilana, Kotsifali: Crete   White grapes: Assyrtiko, Aidani, Moschofilero, Vidinao, Villana, Malagouzia, Roditis, Debina, Malvasia, Muscat of Alexandria, Savatiano, Sauvignon Blanc   Red grapes: Xinomavro, Agiorgitko (St. George), Mavrodaphne, Stavroto, Krasato, Limnio, Liatiko, Kotsifali, Mandelaria, Negoska, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc  Xinomavro. Credit: Wines of Greece   Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople    _______________________________________________________________  Wine Access  is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment (it's shaping up to be outstanding!).  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes  ______________________________ Main Sources: "The Wines of Greece", Konstantinos Lazarakis. Infinite Ideas; January 22, 2018. https://winesofgreece.org/ Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 503: Greek Wine -- The Updated 10,000 Foot Overview

This is a baffling story that includes a Napa history lesson, an idea of how the Valley has grown and then a jaunt into intrigue, sting operations, and what appears to be an effort to kill the goose that laid the golden egg by the Napa County government. It seems that the County is going after small wineries in an attempt to bankrupt them out of business.  Friend of the pod, Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone joins to discuss and explain the situation -- at least the parts that have an explanation!  If you want background on Smith-Madrone, check out... Ep 253: Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone Vineyards Talks About 48 Years in Napa Valley Please support small wineries! Now, more than ever they need our help!! Stu Smith, Smith-Madrone Vineyard  Lindsay Hoopes, Hoopes Vineyard     Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople  _______________________________________________________________  Wine Access  is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment.  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 502: Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone -- Why Napa County is Strangling Small Wineries

Thomas Bianciardi is the winemaker for the exceptional Azienda Agricola San Filippo in Montalcino, the famed enclave of Tuscany. I had the honor of meeting him while on the Patron trip to Tuscany this spring and loved the philosophy, the wines, and the way that Thomas explained the region. Photo: Thomas Bianciardi Credit: Wine For Normal People Thomas joins to discuss Montalcino, educate us about the region and tell us about how he and owner Roberto Gianneli make these exceptional wines that recently made #3 on Wine Spectators 2020 list of top wines. These wines are a great reflection of the terroir and the people who make them.   Photo: Roberto Gianneli, Owner of San Filippo. Credit: San Filippo    For info on the Agriturissmo, where you can stay on the property, click here!    Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople  _______________________________________________________________  Wine Access  is my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the first quarter shipment.  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 501: Winemaker Thomas Bianciardi of San Filippo - Award-Winning Wines of Brunello di Montalcino

This show is listener driven, which makes sense since we have always had a listener focus at Wine For Normal People! We take some amazing questions about the podcast from listeners and reveal some fun facts about the show that you may not know.   We cover things like:   What experience did we have going into the podcast? How do we select guests and plan shows? How should a first-time listener approach 500 episodes? What regions do we like now that we didn't at the outset? What has changed with the show over the years?    And much more. Lots of laughs and good fun, with some wine education and entrepreneurial advice to boot! Thank you to all listeners for being so loyal, kind, and all around awesome over the years -- especially the Patrons! And thank you to Wine Access for its continued support of the show!! Here’s to 500 more episodes!  Episodes referenced:    Ep 149: Wine Gifts So Bad They're Great!    Ep 396: Halloween Candy and Wine Pairings Revisited with Kelsey and Colby    Ep 353: Women in Wine and the Subtle Symphony of Quiet Misogyny    Ep 158: Did I drink wine when I was pregnant? Our story    Ep 391: Édouard Miailhe - Dynamic leader of the Margaux AOC & 5th Generation Owner of Château Siran AND  Ep 447: Édouard Miailhe from Château Siran Returns    Ep 434: The World's Foremost Authorities on Rosé -- Elizabeth Gabay, Master of Wine, & Ben Bernheim, Co-Author   Jim Morris Episodes (just click here for a list! )    Ep 478: Piero Mastroberardino -- the Soul of the Wines & Vines of Campania   Antonio Capaldo:  Ep 337: Feudi di San Gregorio and the Unrivaled Wines of Campania, Italy AND  Ep 482: Antonio Capaldo of Feudi San Gregorio Returns    Ep 333: Richard Betts, Former Master Somm, Shows What Moral Fortitude REALLY Looks Like     Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople  _______________________________________________________________  We couldn't have gotten to 500 episodes without my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. The holidays are almost upon us -- don't forget to stock up for your holiday feasts and get a Wine Access gift card for everyone in your life!  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 500: Listeners Ask About 500 Episodes of WFNP

Professor Thomas Collins (yes, his name is Tom Collins) is a foremost authority in the US on smoke in the vineyards. After a long career in research and enology at large wineries in New York and California, and a Ph.D. at UC-Davis, Dr. Collins became an assistant professor of grape and wine chemistry in the Viticulture and Enology Program at Washington State University in 2015.  Photo: Dr. Tom Collins, Credit: WSU   He manages a research program in grape, wine and spirits aroma and flavor chemistry, and teaches courses in grape and wine chemistry and winery operations. In this show we talk all about wine and fire -- topics like:  Why are there so many fires and will this trend continue in the future? Who is studying fire and what has been discovered so far?  What parts of the vine are affected by fire and what actually damages the grapes? What are the remedies and what can we expect to happen in the future with fire research?  A great show with a really smart and easy to understand guest -- important when it's such a complex topic!   Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople  _______________________________________________________________  I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. The holidays are almost upon us -- don't forget to stock up for your holiday feasts and get a Wine Access gift card for everyone in your life!  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes     Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 499: The Impacts of Smoke on Wine with Professor Tom Collins of Washington State University

This is a special update and recap of Episode 327 with Barnaby Eales on Wine ingredient & nutrition labeling. I refreshed and edited that (very short) episode and then MC Ice and I added the details of the new law.  We did the original episode in 2020 and at that time it was unclear whether or not Europe would go through with the plan, but they executed it and now we may be seeing back labels with a WHOLE lot more info about the wine! Listen to the update to learn what you NEED to know!    This new system goes live on December 8, 2023. There are still a lot of uncertainties, but all European wine lovers should know what the changes are so this is a must listen!   Here are a few useful links for further reading...  https://wineinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Wine-Institute-EU-Nutrition-Ingredient-Labeling-FAQ.pdf  https://www.decanter.com/learn/eu-wine-labelling-the-changes-explained-507553/   Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople  _______________________________________________________________  I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. The holidays are almost upon us -- don't forget to stock up for your holiday feasts and get a Wine Access gift card for everyone in your life!  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes       Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special update to Episode 327: Wine ingredient & nutrition labeling goes live in the EU (and what it means to us)

Thanksgiving is a hard meal to pair wine with but we've got you covered. After a little bit of wine advice about glassware, serving temps, and my annual "Aunt Gertrude" warning, we get into the pairings for traditional (and some variations on traditional) Thanksgiving fare.    We begin with suggestions for wines to welcome your guests, and then move on to:  Wine and food pairings for Thanksgiving appetizers/ hors-d'œuvre Wine and food pairings for the meats and main courses of Thanksgiving (my favorite part)  Wine pairings for traditional Thanksgiving side dishes  From the traditional suggestions of rosé and Riesling to more adventurous things like Amontillado Sherry and Xinomavro, we give you plenty to think about when picking wines for your holiday gathering!   Photo credit: Unsplash Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople  _______________________________________________________________  I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. The holidays are almost upon us -- don't forget to stock up for your holiday feasts and get a Wine Access gift card for everyone in your life!  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 498: Terrific Thanksgiving Food and Wine Pairings

This week we cover the unsung red of Central European wine – Blaufränkisch. This Central European red grape was planted widely in throughout the Habsburg Empire, and today the biggest plantings aren’t too far from its birthplace – right on the Austria-Hungary border.  Photo: Blaufränkisch. Credit: Austrian Wine Blaufränkisch translates to ‘blue wine of the Franks’, and it is known as Lemberger in Germany and the US, Kékrankos in Hungary, Franconia in Italy, and various Burgundy-related names elsewhere in Central Europe. We discuss the origins of all these names, how the grape performs in the vineyard, its flavors, food pairings, and more. Whether it’s from Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Finger Lakes of New York, Washington State, Italy or Spain,  this grape is versatile, multifacted and a perfect medium bodied red that’s perfect for many foods and all sorts of weather --  it can be chilled in the summer in one version and warm your bones by a fire in another.    *Note, we mentioned the Austrian anti-freeze scandal. For more on that and Austria in general, check out an old but still accurate show: Ep 051: Austria  © Austrian Wine / Austrian Wine   Go get yourself a bottle and you’ll see what we mean!   Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   Most information for the show from Austrian Wine, Wines of Germany, Wines of Hungary, Wine Grapes (Book, Jancis Robinson)  _______________________________________________________________  I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. The holidays are almost here -- don't forget to stock up for your holiday feasts and get a Wine Access gift card for everyone in your life!  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 497: The Grape Mini-Series -- Blaufränkisch (AKA, Lemberger)

Sherry is a complex wine with lots of terroir, tradition, and winemaking possibilities. In episode 495, we go over the stats on the region, the history, the terroir, and details on winemaking, including the solera system. We then describe the biologically aged wines – Fino and Manzanilla.    This show is a continuation of episode 495 but after listening to the show I did with MC Ice, I realized it was too meandering, so I recorded this version on my own.   This second part of the Sherry refresh has many aspects to it, and I do my best to be as clear as possible with it all. Here are the topics we cover:  First, I give a 5 minute review of Sherry winemaking. I explain, anew, the biological aging process and then explain the Oxidative aging process of Olorosos and other wines I explain, in greater detail, the “in between” styles – Amontillado and Palo Cortado, which have been made by a combination of biological and oxidative aging but are slightly different   Photo: Different types of Sherry. Source: Vinos de Jerez  I talk about the three categories of Sherry styles:  Vinos Generosos: the dry styles of Sherry – Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso Vino dolces Naturales: Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel Vinos Generosos de Licor: Pale Cream, Medium, Cream Sherries  I discuss the aging categories, which have been effect since 2000:  VOS: Vinum Optimum Signatum or Very Old Sherry that has been in a solera for 20 years VORS: Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum or Very Old Rare Sherry that has been in a solera for 30+ years   Photo: Legal age statements in sticker format from the Consejo Regulador   I wrap with some small changes to the DO that happened this year, sent to me by Patron Chaim G (thanks to Chaim!).   I give a thanks to the mixologists for keeping Sherry alive and then sign off!   Here is the show with Tio Pepe I mentioned... Ep 249: Revisiting Sherry with Andrew Sinclair of Tio Pepe Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   Most information for the show from the Jerez DO  _______________________________________________________________  I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. The holidays are almost upon us -- don't forget to stock up for your holiday feasts and get a Wine Access gift card for everyone in your life!  Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 496: Sherry Refresh Part 2 - Oxidatively Aged Wines, Style Categories, Food Pairing, and Serving Ideas

It's been 11 years since we discussed Sherry, so it's time to do a refreshed show. This time, Sherry is much more mainstream and we're revisiting this fascinating wine that has so much history, and has experienced a renaissance in recent times.   We discuss:  Where Sherry is and its defining terroir, including the terroir of the bodegas The grapes of Sherry The 3000 year history of the region Winemaking and the complex system of criaderas, soleras, and fractional blending The biologically aged wines (under flor): Fino and Manzanilla  Part 2 will include all the other types of Sherries from sweet to the numerous oxidative styles. Here's a link to the show with Grammar Girl we referenced...  Map: Sherry Wines DO   Full show notes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople  Most information for the show from the Jerez DO  _______________________________________________________________  I love my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access, my go-to source for the best selection of interesting, outstanding quality wines you can’t find locally. You HAVE to check out our Halloween pack at  https://wineaccess.com/wfnp-halloween/  -- Spooky wines for my favorite holiday! GREAT Wines and a ton of fun. Get 10% your first order with my special URL.    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes     Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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