Crush Course

In our last discussion of sensory science, we learned how to taste and describe wines.  But how do you know if a wine has gone bad, or just is bad?  This week, we are talking about some of the most common wine faults that you will find in the bottle.  As we will discover too much of anything- light, oxygen, sugar- is a bad thing for wine, and can really alter its character.  

The Wine of the Week is this delicious Appasimento style red wine, the Soraie Veneto from Cecilia Beretto.  If you're like me, you've already started buying wine for Thanksgiving, and this would be a most welcome addition to the table.  

https://www.vivino.com/US/en/cecilia-beretta-soraie-veneto-veneto-red-wine-v-phu6x/w/4362212

It's our very first ever spookisode!  With Halloween coming up, I felt like doing something a bit on the ghoulish side to celebrate.  I have scoured the history pages and I present to you Haunted Sonoma.  We got all the haunted classics: disembodied voices, floating lanterns, and even our very own Lady in White.  I have to say, I felt like part of the Buzzfeed Unsolved team working on this episode.  I hope you enjoy and Happy Halloween!

No matter what the wine aficionados out there would have you believe, no one is born a master wine taster.  And it's certainly not as hard as they make it out to be.  Join me as we learn how our senses can help us better understand a wine and how it was made.  We will discuss aroma taint, the purpose of swirling and how to describe a wine so you can find more bottles you will enjoy.  

For your reference, here is one of the better aroma wheels out there.  Use this to help narrow down aromas when swirling and sniffing:  https://winefolly.com/tips/wine-aroma-wheel-100-flavors/

Next week will be a bit different; we will be taking a haunted audio tour around town as we learn about the ghosts and ghouls that inhabit Sonoma Valley.

We have finally made it to the third and final installment of the fermentation series; to celebrate, we're popping some bubbly! I have been working in sparkling for the last year and was so excited to share what I've learned. Not only will we go through a traditional Sparkling Fermentation, but will also talk about different styles of sparkling, proper bottle preparation, and how La Croix is the Champagne of seltzers. Make sure to check out a Pet Nat next time you see it in the shop and prepare for a deliciously rustic and refreshing bottle of bubbles.

It's time for part two of our fermentation series and it's all about Rose and white wine fermentations. No skins?  No problem!  We have plenty of winemaking decisions to keep us busy- fermentation vessels, juice clarification, and whatever it takes to keep the yeast happy.  Plus, our question this week answers what is floating at the bottle of your wine bottle.

This week's wine of the week from here in the heart of Sonoma County: 

Pax Wines - 2019 Pax Chenin Blanc, Buddha's Dharma Vineyard (vinespring.site)

Now that we've tackled how grapes are grown, it's time to take a look at how we turn them into wine.  For the first episode in our fermentation series, I will be taking you through the steps of a typical red wine fermentation.  We will learn all about Cold Soaks, Pumpovers, and how skin contact will affect the finished wine.  Plus, we have our very first question!  

Make sure to give us a follow on Instagram @crushcoursepodcast for updates about the pod, fun facts, and wine pairing tips. 

This week's Wine of the Week is a tasty little Beaujolais I picked up on my last trip to Trader Joes; link below for details on the wine:https://www.vivino.com/US/en/georges-duboeuf-beaujolais/w/79412

This week, we are cracking open the history books. Wine has a long and fascinating history that has both shaped and been shaped by our own. Join me as I travel back in time and talk about the Egyptians, Phylloxera, the Judgment of Paris and much more! We will be taking a short break next week and will be back for the start of our Fermentation series on Friday October 1st. This week's wine of the week is the stunning Portrait Bordeaux Blend from Ehler's Estate in Napa Valley. Save this link for the next time you need a bottle for a special occasion. https://www.ehlersestate.com/product/2016-Portrait-Red-Blend

Before we get into fermentation, I wanted to talk about grapes- the building blocks of wine.  This week, I talk about the stages of berry growth, where to look for acidic white wines, and Degree Days.

This week's WOW is one of my new favorites for this brutal California heat.  Check out Kidia Sauvignon Blanc at your local Trader Joe's:

Kidia Sauvignon Blanc Reviews - Trader Joe's Reviews (traderjoesreviews.com)

Welcome to the first day of class! Today is all about my own journey in wine. I talk about what inspired me to make this podcast, a peak at what wine people are really like, and my wine philosophy. 

So many thanks to all my friends and family who have supported and aided me in this endeavor, and I'm so thrilled to finally be able to share it with everyone. 

The first Wine of the Week (W.O.W) is the sparkling Albariño from Carboniste; click the link fo more information on Carboniste and how and where to purchase their wines: https://carboniste.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-ARIsAMZ0eesfbvSAKVHhrZ2WnXkI3mnqBOgRnkUygnSiphXoMNgRrN0zc6z_oukaAqNaEALw_wcB