Wines from Anjou, a region in the Middle Loire Valley in France, were the absolute favorite of D’Artagnan the Gascon, the so-called 4th musketeer.

Throughout Alexandre Dumas’s saga beginning with “The Three Musketeers” and ending with “The Man in the Iron Mask” the white wines are vaunted and revered, particularly by D'Artagnan.

This episode explores the wines of Anjou, and the wines the 17th century musketeers actually might have been drinking. Then we take a small side trip to discover why, potentially, Alexandre Dumas was specific in naming the regional wines in his works.

*(Post publishing note/update:I may have said there were 5 volumes after "The Three Musketeers," but there are actually 6, including: (2) "Twenty Years After", (3) "Ten Years Later", (4) "The Vicomte de Bragelonne", (5) "Louise de la Vallière", and (6) "The Man in the Iron Mask." This does not include "The Red Sphinx," an 800+ page sequel which picks up nearly 3 weeks after the Three Musketeers (it was never finished, and recently translated to English). It is more about King Louis XIII, Queen Anne of Austria, & Cardinal Richelieu than the musketeers, albeit there's still wine-drinking, mostly Bordeaux.)

Resources from this episode:

Books:

French Wine Scholar Study Manual, 5th Edition, Wine Scholar Guild (2015)

Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition, Robinson, J. and Harding, J. (2015)

Wine Bible, 2nd Edition, MacNeil, K. (2015)

World Atlas of Wine, 7th Edition, Johnson, H., and Robinson, J. (2013)

Websites:

Federation Viticole: Cahier des Charges Anjou 2016 https://federationviticole.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/CDC_Anjou_2016.pdf

Loire Valley Wine: Anjou https://loirevalleywine.com/appellation/anjou/

Paris Review: Cooking with Alexandre Dumas, Stivers, V. (2018) https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2018/03/16/cooking-with-alexandre-dumas/

Podcasts:

Glass in Session®: S2E2: Behind Botrytis - Beautiful Wines from Ugly Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e2-behind-botrytis-beautiful-wines-from-ugly-grapes

Glass in Session®: S5E1: A Pét-Nat Chit-Chat https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s5e1-a-pt-nat-chit-chat

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.) 

Txakoli or Txakolina is a fizzy wine from Northern Spain, mostly Basque Country. This episode explores its cultural roots, styles, grapes, production, regions and some “chacoli” from other areas.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Basque History of the World [Kindle Edition], Kurlansky, M. (1999)

Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition, Robinson, J. and Harding, J., (2015)

Wine Bible, 2nd Edition, MacNeil, K. (2015)

Websites:

Bizkaiko Txakolina: Regulations https://bizkaikotxakolina.eus/en/designation-of-origin/regulations/

Catavino: Chacolí: The wild wine of Spain, Sadler, Q. https://catavino.net/chacoli-the-wild-wine-of-spain/

Enfocant: La UE dicta sentencia: Cantabria puede hacer uso del término "Chacolí" (2011) http://www.enfocant.info/cantabria/cultura/ue-dicta-sentencia-cantabria-puede-hacer-uso-termino-chacoli

Geocities: El Chacolí su Fiesta, Abello, L. http://www.geocities.ws/bibliotecadonihue/chacoli.htm

Getariako Txakolina Denominación de Origen: Getaria Txakoli https://www.getariakotxakolina.eus/?lang=en

Grupo David Sebastián: Chacolí de término de Miranda (2014) https://grupodavidsebastian.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/chacoli-de-termino-de-miranda/

OK Diario, Gastronomia: Todo lo que necesitas saber sobre el vino Chaoclí, (2017) https://okdiario.com/gastronomia/todo-necesitas-saber-vino-chacoli-132491

Research Gate: Vinos Típicos de Chile: Asecnso y declinación del Chacolí (1810 - 2015) {Typical Wines of Chile: The rise and decline of Chacolí (1810 - 2015)}, Lacoste, P., Castro, A. Quiroz, F., Cussen, F., Soto, N., Rendón, B., Mujica, F., Aguilera, P., Cofré, C., Núñez, E., and Adunka, M. (2015) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281671200_Vinos_tipicos_de_Chile_ascenso_y_declinacion_del_chacoli_1810-2015

Spanish Wines: Basque Country DOs https://www.spanish-wines.org/basque-country.html

Txakoli de Alava Denominación Origen: Txakoli de Alava https://txakolidealava.eus/eu/

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

As you all have heard, and can hear, my voice has been a problem for 3 months now. I’ve begun therapy to learn how to deal with these voice issues.

In the mean time, while I learn to use my voice all over again, I’m going to suspend this season, and pick it up when I can speak without the croaking, squeaking and this awful vocal fry - certainly not sexy!

Please stay subscribed to the Glass in Session® Feed, and look for Season 7 to start in May. There are over three dozen back episodes that cover everything from wood, to oxygen, mold to yeast, to wine, brandy, sotol and marsala to holy wars and wine caves.

I hope you’ll stay in touch!

Find me: Twitter: @WinegalUnboxed

Instagram, FB, and Pinterest: Vino With Val

Email: [email protected]

I’d love to hear about what you’re up to, what new beverage fun you’ve discovered during our year of our abnormally new normal.

Let me know if there’s a subject of obscure corkdorkery you’d like to hear about in Season 7.

Glass in Session® is a production and Registered Trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock

Website is GlassInSession.com/Podcast

This is an exploration of the main styles of Rutherglen (Australia) fortified wines - or Stickies. We also learn a little about Rutherglen Network and the classifications of the famous Muscat wines.

Because Rutherglen’s wine history dates back to the Gold Rush of the 1800s, “Liquid Gold” puns were made. The host can’t help herself.

Resources from this episode:

Websites:

Explore Rutherglen: The Four Faces of Rutherglen Muscat - The Rutherglen muscat classification https://www.explorerutherglen.com.au/rutherglen-muscat-classification/

Explore Rutherglen: History https://www.explorerutherglen.com.au/history-of-rutherglen/

Marketing Mag: A big bloody controversy, McConnell, S. (2016) https://www.marketingmag.com.au/hubs-c/big-bloody-controversy/

Wine Australia: Additional Label Items and Other Terms https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/additional-labelling-terms

Wine Australia: Fortified Wines - Examining an Australian classic (2017) https://www.wineaustralia.com/news/market-bulletin/issue-65

Wine Australia: Quality Wine Terms: https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/6fa35690-95eb-4519-a6f8-aae0359aa822/AGWA-Quality-Wine-Terms-Quality-Wine-Terms.pdf

Wine Australia: Map of Victoria https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/047d1788-a81d-4406-9403-2aa3d19fbf28/Victoria.jpg

Wine Selectors: Fortified Wine - What it is and why we love it (also great infographics) https://www.wineselectors.com.au/selector-magazine/wine/know-your-variety-australian-fortified-favourites

Podcasts:

Glass in Session®: S1E1 Fringe Wines and Flor https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s1e1-fringe-wines-and-flor

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: Addict Sound (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

No, not a "disco" party, thank you very much, autocorrect.

A Pisco Party! We're talking about distilled spirits from Peru and Chile: what they are, how they are made, and the many differences between them.

They are unique and distinct beverages from their respective countries of origin, and the differences between the two make the two Piscos fascinating spirits to explore, from history to grape to their role in their national cocktails.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Certified Specialist of Spirits Study Guide (Society of Wine Educators), Nickles, J., (2020)

Websites:

Comisión Nacional del Pisco - Peru (CONAPISCO) https://conapisco.org.pe/

Cornell Law School: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Title 27 Section 5.22 - The Standards of Identity (d) Class 4; brandy, (9) Pisco. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/5.22

EUR-Lex (Access to European Union Law): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008R0110

Peru: Spirit of Peru https://peru.info/en-us/piscospiritofperu#production

Peru Travel Info (maps) http://peru-travel-info.com/peru-maps.html

Pisco Chile: https://piscochile.com/en/home/

Pisco World (Perú): http://www.piscoworld.com/

Podcasts:

Glass in Session®: Grape Brandy Escape https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s5e5-grape-brandy-escape

Wine Two Five: Pisco Unpacked https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pisco-unpacked/id986650051?i=1000397336490

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: Addict Sound (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Pink bubbles for the new year! This episode highlights the new Prosecco Rosé DOC, then we dig a little deep into some sparkling wine corkdorkery. Because why not?

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine, Stevenson, T. & Avellan, E. (2014)

Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition, Robinson, J. and Harding, J. (2015)

Websites:

Consorzio Tutela Prosecco DOC: Production Regulations (2020) https://www.prosecco.wine/en/production-regulations

Consorzio Tutela Prosecco DOC: Production of Prosecco DOC Rosé has been approved https://www.prosecco.wine/en/news/production-prosecco-doc-rose-has-been-approved

Organisation Internationale del la Vigne et du Vin: OIV Focus 2015 - The rosé wine market (2015) http://www.oiv.int/public/medias/3103/focus-2015-les-vins-roses-en.pdf

Wine Economist: Global Rosé Market Q&A, Veseth (2019) https://wineeconomist.com/2019/03/12/global-rose-market-qa/

Wine Industry Advisor: Prosecco DOC Rosé Officially Approved to Begin Exporting Worldwide (2020) https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2020/11/02/prosecco-doc-rose-begin-exporting

Wine Industry Advisor: Riondo Rosé Prosecco DOC Arrives on New Year’s Day (2020) https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2020/12/14/riondo-rose-prosecco-doc-new-years

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: Addict Sound (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

[sponsored content]

This episode is an exploration of the history, regions, and wines of Israel. Personal and cultural notes are included.

Wines for this episode were provided by Yarden Wines & Gregory + Vine. Thank you to Stephanie Gutierrez for reaching out & for sending these beautiful wines, and thank you, listeners, for a wonderful 5th season.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Tasting the Past: The Science of Flavor and the Search for the Origins of Wine, Begos, (2018)

Websites:

Adam Montefiore: Israeli Wine Specialist. Consultant, Educator, Marketer & Writer http://www.adammontefiore.com/

Food and Wine: 8 Amazing Kosher Wines to Drink This Hanukkah, Cury, (2017) https://www.foodandwine.com/news/8-amazing-kosher-wines-drink-hanukkah

Glass in Session: Tasting the Past: The science of flavor & the search for the origins of wine by Kevin Begos - A Book Rave https://www.glassinsession.com/2018/07/30/tasting-the-past-by-kevin-begos-book-review/

Israel Wine Producers Association (IWPA) http://iwpa.com Israel Wine Experience http://www.israelwinexp.com/

The Jerusalem Post: 70 Years of Israeli Wine!, Montefiore, (2018) https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Wine-talk-70-years-of-Israeli-wine-549666

Kosher Wine: https://www.kosherwine.com/israeli-wines.html

Wine Enthusiast: Top Israeli Wine Misconceptions Debunked, Desimone, (2019) https://www.winemag.com/2019/03/14/top-israel-wine-questions/

Wines Israel http://winesisrael.com/en/

Wines of Israel https://www.winesofisrael.com/

Podcast Episodes:

Wine Two Five: Regional Rap on Israeli Wines https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wines-israel-regional-rap-featuring-golan-heights-winery/id986650051?i=1000423476399

Wine Samples courtesy of:

Gregory + Vine: https://www.gregoryvine.com/

Yarden Wine Imports: https://yardenwines.com/

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: Addict Sound (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

This is an overview of grape brandy around the world, and the different regions, production methods and styles. We distinguish the major grape brandy styles from those spirits made with other fruits, and the range of expressions from Grappa to long-aged brandies of the classic regions like Jerez, Cognac, and Armagnac.

There are some fun historical facts and little known oddities extracted from US Code of Federal Regulations ... because your host is a big ol' corkdork.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Certified Specialist of Spirits Study Guide (Society of Wine Educators), Nickles, J., (2020)

Distilling Knowledge: A professional guide to spirits and liqueurs (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) Broom, D., (2013)

Grossman’s Guide to Wines Beers, and Spirits (7th Edition) Grossman, H., (Revised by Harriett Lembeck), (1983)

Websites:

Brandy De Jerez https://www.brandydejerez.es/en/enjoyment

Charles Neal Selections: Armagnac http://www.charlesnealselections.com/armagnac1.html

Charles Neal Selections: Cognac http://www.charlesnealselections.com/cognac.html

Cornell Law School: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Title 27 Section 5.22 - The Standards of Identity (d) Class 4; brandy. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/5.22

Difford’s Guide: Grappa https://www.diffordsguide.com/beer-wine-spirits/category/380/grappa

EUR-Lex (Access to European Union Law): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008R0110

Germain-Robin https://www.germain-robin.com/our-story

San Francisco Gate: Over a Barrel - Germain-Robin makes superb brandies, yet they’re hard to sell, Gray, (2012) https://www.sfgate.com/wine/article/OVER-A-BARREL-Germain-Robin-makes-superb-2735377.php

Podcast Episodes:

S2E3: Apple Brandy - Domestic Happiness https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e3-apple-brandy-domestic-happiness

S3E5: Wine & Oxygen from Grapes to Glass https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e5-wine-oxygen-from-grapes-to-glass

S4E6: Got Wood? Talkin’ ‘bout Oak https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s4e6-got-wood-talkin-bout-oak

Wine Two Five: Pisco Unpacked https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pisco-unpacked/id986650051?i=1000397336490

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: Addict Sound (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

While fans await the release of the 2020 Beaujolais Nouveau, we explore the 10 Cru du Beaujolais appellations. These crus account for 25% of Beaujolais production, with each appellation known for its unique characteristics.

Think Senior Superlatives - like in High School - but with more geography, taste, and style, and less acid wash denim.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

The Wine Bible (2nd Edition), MacNeil, K., (2015)

Websites:

Beaujolais https://www.beaujolais.com

Cahier des Charges de l’Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (Beaujolais) http://www.siqocert.fr/cahier-des-charges/cdc-beaujolais.pdf

Discover Beaujolais https://www.discoverbeaujolais.com/

Podcast Episodes:

S2E5: Hello Vino Novello! https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e5-hello-vino-novello

S4E3: Valpolicella-Palooza https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s4e2-valpolicella-palooza

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: Addict Sound (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Is liqueur just a fancy word for liquor? What’s the difference between a liqueur and a cordial? How are they made, and what the heck am I supposed to do with all of these bottles?

We go there in this episode which is all about the sweetened, flavored spirits sitting around on your liquor shelf.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide (Society of Wine Educators), Nickles, J., (2020)

Grossman’s Guide to Wines Beers, and Spirits (7th Edition) Grossman, H., (Revised by Harriett Lembeck), (1983)

Websites:

Bar None Drinks https://www.barnonedrinks.com/drinks/by_ingredient/b/benedictine-189.html

Bénédictine https://www.benedictinedom.com/

Cornell Law School: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Title 27 Section 5.22 - The Standards of Identity (h) Class 8; cordials and liqueurs. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/5.22

Daily Beast: Lessons from the Virtual Bar, Wondrich (2020) https://www.thedailybeast.com/lessons-from-the-virtual-bar

EUR-Lex (Access to European Union Law): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008R0110

Liquor.com https://www.liquor.com/recipes/vieux-carre/

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: Addict Sound (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)