Grape Encounters Wine Radio

While California is one of many world-class wine regions, there’s are compelling reasons why knowledge-thirsty wine enthusiasts should immerse themselves into the most comprehensive educational program ever developed around California wine. When you consider the fact that more than 90% of the domestically produced wines come from the Golden State and that the vast majority of all wines consumed in America are Californian, once you’ve mastered California wines, the rest of the world will be a snap by comparison.

From its peerless quality to its mind-boggling diversity, California Wine is a standout on the world stage. And while it might seem like a lot to take in, an all-star team of wine experts has developed Capstone California; a fast track wine education program divided into 4 courses that will help you become an expert in no time. Start with the basics and then take your California wine knowledge as far as you want to go. You’ll not only be one heck of a conversation starter, you’ll also be a leading candidate for wine and culinary dream jobs.

Joining David on this week’s edition is Honore Comfort, the VP of International Marketing for the esteemed Wine Institute. As you’ll soon hear, Honore has endless stories to share about the remarkable journey winemaking in California has taken; from the missionaries to center stage as an incomparable winemaking powerhouse! You’ll learn about the pioneers who were drawn to the fertile soils and microclimates throughout the state and how their humble family businesses became household names as generation after generation passed the baton.

To ensure that you’re not intimated by what is promised to be very user-friendly curriculum, David has enrolled himself in the Capstone California Program and will report back to listeners on a regular basis. It’s called “walking the walk” and not just talking the talk. It might be all the encouragement you need to take your wine knowledge to a mighty high level!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you can get 12 awesome wines hand-picked by Total Wine’s friendly experts. You’ll receive 2 wines that wow per month, all for a one time fee as low as $59! Best of all, you get to mix and match real gems… Red, white, rosé and sparkling, too. Pick a plan that’s just right for you!

Click here and we’ll take you to the Membership page at TotalWine.com.

While you’re there, spend a little time checking out their mind-boggling selection of more than 8000 wines and an equally impressive selection of beer and spirits, too!

Download this episode

This week’s show is an instant Grape Encounters Top Ten. That’s not hyperbole. With a library of 644 shows spanning 14 years of broadcasting, choosing the best of the very best should be a daunting task, but on extraordinarily rare occasions, an interview comes along that is simply priceless; Priceless because the guest is incredibly difficult to get an audience with… Priceless because the guest is a household name… Priceless because the guest is oozing with insight, wisdom and true relevance.

That being said, here’s how Grape Encounters host David Wilson summed it up at the beginning of this episode. “My guest today is a mega, mega, mega TV star, but way more than that. He is to entrepreneurism, high finance and reality-based entertainment, what grapes are to wine. He helps everyday people realize seemingly unimaginable dreams week in and week out. However, being the ultimate tell-it-like-it-is guy, he is also known for frequently dashing hopes (and probably preventing a lot of unnecessary heartache along the way). He has a track record of successes across a broad spectrum of pursuits that document his magic touch beyond a shadow of a doubt. Now, he’s turning his attention to an all new, highly-ambitious enterprise in the world of wine. Half Shark, half Sommelier, 100% wonderful… Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful himself—Kevin O’Leary—is with me in the flesh today!”

Known around the world as “Mr. Wonderful,” after today’s show, you may be inclined to call him “Mr. Wine-derful” as well. Kick back and enjoy a very deep dive into Kevin O’Leary’s remarkable preoccupation with wine. We’re SWIRLING WITH THE SHARKS on Episode 644 of Grape Encounters!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine and More, a wonderland for wine, spirits, and beer lovers! No matter what’s on your holiday table, they've got the wine—and the savings—to match. With over eight thousand wines, four thousand spirits and twenty-five hundred beers to choose from, you can expect the unexpected... always at ridiculously low prices, with the best service in America. Total Wine & More is your perfect go to destination for holiday celebrations and good cheer! Find them here, at TotalWine.com!

Download this episode

This story would make a great movie, if only the plot were believable. Michael Juergens is part Earnest Hemingway, part Ethan Luther (Tom Cruise’s character in Mission Impossible) and a hefty dose of Andre´ Tchelistcheff (Google him if you don’t know).

Michael lives the life most people dream of; a senior partner at one of the big 4 international accounting firms, a guy who runs foot races in places like Antarctica and an uber-serious wine enthusiasts who is delightfully unpretentious. He also builds motorcycles and hotrods but, despite his extraordinary knowledge of so many things, his knowledge of geography leaves something to be desired. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to enter a running race in Bhutan. Michael’s girlfriend has had a life-long obsession with Bhutan, calling it her ultimate bucket list destination. And for reasons Michael is unsure of, he had it in his mind that Bhutan was some kind of tropical paradise, complete with pristine white sand beaches, cocktails with umbrellas in them, parasailing and the smell of coconut oil and plumeria in the air. Well, that’s what he envisioned when he signed up for the race—an island paradise—and that would be correct if the Himalayas were an island rather than perhaps the most imposing mountain range on the planet.

Anyway, when Michaels girlfriend, who is also a competitive runner, gave him a little geographical realty check, the challenge was actually even more enticing and the couple focused their complete attention on high altitude endurance training. Yes indeed, the game was afoot, quite literally; and where that trail in the breathtaking Himalayas led Michael and Bhutanese officials is quite a story indeed.

Today’s episode of Grape Encounters chronicle the adventures of a footloose wine enthusiast who found himself uncontrollably mesmerized by the magical Kingdom of Bhutan; a landlocked Himalayan country bordered by China to the north and India to the South. Bhutan had everything that an adventurer dreams of… everything except vineyards. That was an odd reality in a country that couldn’t possibly be more fertile. And so this very remarkable and unlikely story begins. Well, it actually began at a dinner with Bhutanese government officials following the daunting race and you’ll need to hear what happened on the other side of the finish line straight from the horse’s mouth. Are you ready for one of the most amazing tales we’ve ever shared on Grape Encounters? Go ahead. Hit “play.”

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine and More, a wonderland for wine, spirits, and beer lovers! No matter what’s on your holiday table, they've got the wine—and the savings—to match. With over eight thousand wines, four thousand spirits and twenty-five hundred beers to choose from, you can expect the unexpected... always at ridiculously low prices, with the best service in America. Total Wine & More is your perfect go to destination for holiday celebrations and good cheer! Find them here, at TotalWine.com!

Download this episode

We can certainly understand a wine shortage. After all, droughts have challenged production and the last year has seen a major uptick in consumption. However, if you have a tough time finding your favorite wine, the blame may be the glass and NOT the grape! It’s true, wine bottles are in desperately short supply and you can blame it on that dastardly supply chain debacle. So what’s the story Morning Glory?

For wine wisdom on tap, there’s no one better to turn to than the amazing Wes Hagen; winemaker, scholar, writer, wine ambassador, AVA author and much more. On today’s show, David and Wes, share a wide range of stories, including the answer to the question on everyone’s mind these days, “Who’s drinking all that French wine?” The answer might surprise you. You might also be surprised to hear the lengths wineries are going to to get you back into their tasting rooms in the almost post Covid world.

Sit back and drink in this week’s surprising wine stories. It might just make you the most interesting person at your next get-together!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you can get 12 awesome wines hand-picked by Total Wine’s friendly experts. You’ll receive 2 wines that wow per month, all for a one time fee as low as $59! Best of all, you get to mix and match real gems… Red, white, rosé and sparkling, too. Pick a plan that’s just right for you!

Click here and we’ll take you to the Membership page at TotalWine.com. While you’re there, spend a little time checking out their mind-boggling selection of more than 8000 wines and an equally impressive selection of beer and spirits, too!

Download this episode

This year, the warnings in drought-stricken California wine country were harsher than ever. Don’t use your shower. Don't water your lawns. Shell out triple the normal cost of water because of 6 months of extreme scarcity. Then, quite suddenly, prayers were were answered to a power of ten when the Gulf of Alaska presented Northern California’s grape growing regions (as well as most of the Pacific Northwest) with something called a Bomb Cyclone; a weather event meteorologists describe as a “reverse hurricane.”

The result was an incomparably weird week of raging wind and rain in a region that has been plagued by droughts and fires at this time of year for several consecutive years now. It was a mind boggling rainstorm that took many reservoirs from nearly bone-dry to half-full or more in just a few days. That just doesn’t happen, does it? Well it did… and Grape Encounters had a very special reporter (who is also a weather reporting hobbyist) stationed at ground zero in Sonoma wine country to report the very sloshy details back to us.

Besides being an amateur meteorologist, he’s a pilot, astronomer, co-producer of an epic documentary on historic wine country infernos and also co-owner of Grape Encounters affiliate KSRO in Santa Rosa, CA. He’s also a mentor and close personal friend of David’s… and when these two fellas get to gabbing, well, you’ll hear for yourself! Lord, he’s seen fire and he’s seen rain! Meet radio icon, Michael O’Shea on today’s installment of Grape Encounters!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you can get 12 awesome wines hand-picked by Total Wine’s friendly experts. You’ll receive 2 wines that wow per month, all for a one time fee as low as $59! Best of all, you get to mix and match real gems… Red, white, rosé and sparkling, too. Pick a plan that’s just right for you!

Click here and we’ll take you to the Membership page at TotalWine.com. While you’re there, spend a little time checking out their mind-boggling selection of more than 8000 wines and an equally impressive selection of beer and spirits, too!

Download this episode

This week’s show takes listeners beyond the grape as David welcomes a real heavyweight to the program, California’s  Secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture, Karen Ross.

Before moving to California, Secretary Ross worked for a United States Senator, a presidential candidate, and in government relations for rural electric cooperatives and public power districts. After settling in California, she served as President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers from 1996-2009 and also as Vice-President of the Agricultural Council of California.

Before joining CDFA, Secretary Ross was chief of staff for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a position she accepted in 2009.  She was initially appointed Secretary of the Dept. of Food and Agriculture by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2011.  She was again appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom. 

Secretary Ross’ love of food and agriculture began as a 4-H kind growing up in Nebraska.  Today, she is passionate about fostering the reconnection of consumers to the land and the people who produce their food, and improving the access of all California citizens to healthy, nutritious California-grown agricultural products, celebrated for their diversity and abundance in serving local, national and global markets.  The scope of the California Agriculture market is truly mind-boggling and you’re going to get a crash course on today’s episode of Grape Encounters!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you can get 12 awesome wines hand-picked by Total Wine’s friendly experts. You’ll receive 2 wines that wow per month, all for a one time fee as low as $59! Best of all, you get to mix and match real gems… Red, white, rosé and sparkling, too. Pick a plan that’s just right for you!

Click here and we’ll take you to the Membership page at TotalWine.com. While you’re there, spend a little time checking out their mind-boggling selection of more than 8000 wines and an equally impressive selection of beer and spirits, too!

Download this episode

Three of the top cable serials offer more than just comedy, drama and entertainment. They are packed full of life lessons which can be applied to almost almost everything we do, nearly every day. Ted Lasso offers exceptional lessons in teamwork, true love and how to be a better person. Queen's Gambit shows us that fulfillment can be found in both being an expert as well as a casual observer. And A-Typical teaches us that telling it like it is can be both brutal and freeing.

But what’s in it for wine lovers? That’s the question that David tackles on this edition Grape Encounters. Sounds like a reach? You’ll just have to listen and find out!

Also on this edition of Grape Encounters, meet our new Social Media Director, Erica Poccia. She’s making sure that there are a lot more ways that you can connect with Grape Encounters virtually every single day. If all you’re doing is listening to the podcast or the radio broadcast, We’ve got a lot more to share with you. Give a listen to today’s episode and find out how to fully immerse yourself in the irreverent world of Grape Encounters!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you can get 12 awesome wines hand-picked by Total Wine’s friendly experts. You’ll receive 2 wines that wow per month, all for a one time fee as low as $59! Best of all, you get to mix and match real gems… Red, white, rosé and sparkling, too. Pick a plan that’s just right for you!

Click here and we’ll take you to the Membership page at TotalWine.com. While you’re there, spend a little time checking out their mind-boggling selection of more than 8000 wines and an equally impressive selection of beer and spirits, too!

Download this episode

While California is one of many world-class wine regions, there’s are compelling reasons why knowledge-thirsty wine enthusiasts should immerse themselves into the most comprehensive educational program ever developed around California wine. When you consider the fact that more than 90% of the domestically produced wines come from the Golden State and that the vast majority of all wines consumed in America are Californian, once you’ve mastered California wines, the rest of the world will be a snap by comparison.

From its peerless quality to its mind-boggling diversity, California Wine is a standout on the world stage. And while it might seem like a lot to take in, an all-star team of wine experts has developed Capstone California; a fast track wine education program divided into 4 courses that will help you become an expert in no time. Start with the basics and then take your California wine knowledge as far as you want to go. You’ll not only be one heck of a conversation starter, you’ll also be a leading candidate for wine and culinary dream jobs.

Joining David on this week’s edition is Honore Comfort, the VP of International Marketing for the esteemed Wine Institute. As you’ll soon hear, Honore has endless stories to share about the remarkable journey winemaking in California has taken; from the missionaries to center stage as an incomparable winemaking powerhouse! You’ll learn about the pioneers who were drawn to the fertile soils and microclimates throughout the state and how their humble family businesses became household names as generation after generation passed the baton.

To ensure that you’re not intimated by what is promised to be very user-friendly curriculum, David has enrolled himself in the Capstone California Program and will report back to listeners on a regular basis. It’s called “walking the walk” and not just talking the talk. It might be all the encouragement you need to take your wine knowledge to a mighty high level!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you can get 12 awesome wines hand-picked by Total Wine’s friendly experts. You’ll receive 2 wines that wow per month, all for a one time fee as low as $59! Best of all, you get to mix and match real gems… Red, white, rosé and sparkling, too. Pick a plan that’s just right for you!

Click here and we’ll take you to the Membership page at TotalWine.com.

While you’re there, spend a little time checking out their mind-boggling selection of more than 8000 wines and an equally impressive selection of beer and spirits, too!

Download this episode

On any given day, there are probably as many stories written about wine as there are stories written about politics, Bitcoin and Elon Musk combined. The summer of 2021 has generated nothing short of a bumper crop of wine news and leave it to Grape Encounters to share the most juicy and irreverent stories about the world’s favorite drink with you. By the end of the program, you’ll be armed with plenty of off-the-wall content to share at your next dinner party or in a plethora of posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We won’t be talking tasting notes or who’s got the biggest new blockbuster wine. Instead, David and his winemaking and radio impresario buddy Brent Keast will lead you down the road less traveled!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you can get 12 awesome wines hand-picked by Total Wine’s friendly experts. You’ll receive 2 wines that wow per month, all for a one-time fee as low as $59! Best of all, you get to mix and match real gems… Red, white, rosé and sparkling, too. Pick a plan that’s just right for you!

Click here and we’ll take you to the Membership page at TotalWine.com. While you’re there, spend a little time checking out their mind-boggling selection of more than 8000 wines and an equally impressive selection of beer and spirits, too!

Download this episode

This story would make a great movie, if only the plot were believable. Michael Juergens is part Earnest Hemingway, part Ethan Luther (Tom Cruise’s character in Mission Impossible) and a hefty dose of Andre´ Tchelistcheff (Google him if you don’t know).

Michael lives the life most people dream of; a senior partner at one of the big 4 international accounting firms, a guy who runs foot races in places like Antarctica and an uber-serious wine enthusiasts who is delightfully unpretentious. He also builds motorcycles and hotrods but, despite his extraordinary knowledge of so many things, his knowledge of geography leaves something to be desired. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to enter a running race in Bhutan. Michael’s girlfriend has had a life-long obsession with Bhutan, calling it her ultimate bucket list destination. And for reasons Michael is unsure of, he had it in his mind that Bhutan was some kind of tropical paradise, complete with pristine white sand beaches, cocktails with umbrellas in them, parasailing and the smell of coconut oil and plumeria in the air. Well, that’s what he envisioned when he signed up for the race—an island paradise—and that would be correct if the Himalayas were an island rather than perhaps the most imposing mountain range on the planet.

Anyway, when Michaels girlfriend, who is also a competitive runner, gave him a little geographical realty check, the challenge was actually even more enticing and the couple focused their complete attention on high altitude endurance training. Yes indeed, the game was afoot, quite literally; and where that trail in the breathtaking Himalayas led Michael and Bhutanese officials is quite a story indeed.

Today’s episode of Grape Encounters chronicle the adventures of a footloose wine enthusiast who found himself uncontrollably mesmerized by the magical Kingdom of Bhutan; a landlocked Himalayan country bordered by China to the north and India to the South. Bhutan had everything that an adventurer dreams of… everything except vineyards. That was an odd reality in a country that couldn’t possibly be more fertile. And so this very remarkable and unlikely story begins. Well, it actually began at a dinner with Bhutanese government officials following the daunting race and you’ll need to hear what happened on the other side of the finish line straight from the horse’s mouth. Are you ready for one of the most amazing tales we’ve ever shared on Grape Encounters? Go ahead. Hit “play.”

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you can get 12 awesome wines hand-picked by Total Wine’s friendly experts. You’ll receive 2 wines that wow per month, all for a one time fee as low as $59! Best of all, you get to mix and match real gems… Red, white, rosé and sparkling, too. Pick a plan that’s just right for you!

Click here and we’ll take you to the Membership page at TotalWine.com. While you’re there, spend a little time checking out their mind-boggling selection of more than 8000 wines and an equally impressive selection of beer and spirits, too!

Download this episode