Grape Encounters Wine Radio

This episode of Grape Encounters will tug at your heartstrings as few things can. It’s the story of a warm and cheerful family that suffered an unthinkable tragedy that came without warning and led them to a vineyard to heal themselves and bring hope to others. A lost loved one can never be replaced, but pain can be a powerful weapon capable of preventing tragedies from upending the lives of other families.

Today, you’re invited to meet two of the three Stilsons; Deborah and her son Cole. They’re a joy to spend time with and it’s difficult to imagine that a story about the suicide of a father and husband could leave you feeling hopeful and uplifted, but this is a very special family that came to wine county and put hope in a bottle. Not only is the family channeling their energy into the production of first class Stilson Cellars wines, they’re using a significant portion of the proceeds of their “Aware” label to help prevent tragedies from tearing apart families they may never know.

Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where friendly in-store teams can recommend the perfect bottle of wine or beer for any occasion and any budget. With 8,000 wines and 2,500 beers – there’s always something new to explore. Total Wine has built partnerships with some of the most intriguing winemakers, and brewers from around the world. Whether you’re hosting or bringing the wine, Total Wine & More’s always low prices and ridiculous selection will always provide something interesting to drink. More at totalwine.com

Download this episode

Things aren’t always as they seem.  Like that nice fella at the farmers market, offering you a taste of some delicious Sonoma Valley wines.  He seems like a regular guy… maybe a wine country native, living the California dream?  That would be as far off as you can get!

This guy is Ken Fuhr, a New York transplant with a resume´ in network news that spans several decades. During those years, the only thing that has ever separated him from the ultimate who’s-who list of Presidents, world leaders and A-list celebs is a camera.  Ken is considered a primary cameraman for all of the CBS, NBC and ABC news magazine shows and much, much more.  However, regardless of whether he’s behind a camera in the White House or pouring fine wines for you, his undivided attention and passion for the task at hand will be second to none.

But there’s another major player in this story.  She’s Elizabeth Miller, CSW, CSS, Director of Consumer Sales, Hospitality & Wine Club for renowned Dutton Estate Winery.  Oh, she is also Ken’s wife and (technically) supervises his volunteer gig at the Santa Rosa, CA Farmers Market.  You see, when the pandemic stopped tasting room wine sales dead in their tracks, Elizabeth and Ken did some serious brainstorming and came up with the idea of schlepping the Dutton wines to the iconic Farmers Market in Santa Rosa in hope of keeping sales churning.  If you want to know how it all worked out and sneak a peek into this very special couple’s life and the magical world of Dutton wines, Give a listen.  Thank goodness for very special people like Elizabeth, Ken and, of course, six generations of Duttons!

Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where friendly in-store teams can recommend the perfect bottle of wine or beer for any occasion and any budget. With 8,000 wines and 2,500 beers - there's always something new to explore. Total Wine has built partnerships with some of the most intriguing winemakers, and brewers from around the world. Whether you're hosting or bringing the wine, Total Wine & More's always low prices and ridiculous selection will always provide something interesting to drink. More at totalwine.com

Download this episode

It may be a while before things truly get back to the way they were before the pandemic, but there’s an abundance of wine-related events to enjoy nonetheless. It’s wine month in California and you’ll find all sorts of celebrations happening up and down the state. Meanwhile, just up the coast, the Oregon Wine Experience is back, despite an adjustment to the date to better ensure the well-being of participants.

We begin today’s episode of Grape Encounter by welcoming first-time guest, Desirae Meyers of the Asante Foundations; sponsors of the highly anticipated Oregon Wine Experience. The Oregon Wine Experience returns with all its glory, albeit, the Foundation felt it was in the best interest of exhibitors and guests to push the date back a tad. It’s a slight adjustment for a good reason and Desirae will give you all the details so that you can lock in your travel plans! Make sure you have your calendar ready so that you can take note of all the details.

Following Desirae is another guest we’ve wanted to welcome to the show for quite a long time; wine, food and travel writer, Tina Caputo. Tina is joining us in the capacity of a spokesperson for The Wine Institute. If you’re a frequent Grape Encounters listener, you know that The Wine Institute is an invaluable advocacy organization that represents wineries large and small throughout the State of California. Today, Tina will be giving listeners the skinny on some of the most highly anticipated events that will be held in celebration of California Wine Month (better known as September). In her capacity as a journalist and blogger, Tina is responsible for an abundance of witty, unpretentious and highly informative food, wine, beer and travel content easily accessible online. Once again, have your calendar ready as Tina gives us the lowdown on several upcoming wine and food events you won’t want to miss!

It’s time to get back to the things that make wine so doggone fun!

Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where friendly in-store teams can recommend the perfect bottle of wine or beer for any occasion and any budget. With 8,000 wines and 2,500 beers - there's always something new to explore. Total Wine has built partnerships with some of the most intriguing winemakers, and brewers from around the world. Whether you're hosting or bringing the wine, Total Wine & More's always low prices and ridiculous selection will always provide something interesting to drink. More at totalwine.com

Download this episode

Every year, around the globe, the devastation caused by wildfires is worsening at a catastrophic pace.  Moreover, if there's anything we've learned in recent years, it's that wildfires will overtake territory once thought to be invulnerable to its wrath.  There is no better example of this than vineyards.  No, they don't burn, but if there are grapes hanging from the vines, smoke from nearby wildfires will envelop the fruit and render it useless for winemaking.  That's because it can't be washed off with water or any other non-toxic substance.  It's called "smoke taint" and it was virtually unheard of a decade ago but now, as a result of persistent and rapid warming trends in many parts of the world, smoke damage is chalking up billions of dollars in losses year after year.

In life, we get very few second chances; especially when it comes to wildfires... but that's changing thanks to a wildly innovative company known as Purfresh, based in Northern California.  Purfresh has develop their Titan units for deployment anywhere smoke is damaging crops.  The units, similar to ocean-going shipping containers, can hold up to 20 tons of grapes at a time and process them using temperature-controlled exposure to ozone.  In 24 hours, the smoke taint is gone!  And there are even more benefits to tell you about.  We'll leave that to today's special guest, Christian DeBlasio, Founder and CEO of Purfresh Wine. What an amazing turn of events in the battle against wildfire destruction. Detailed information about the Purfresh Titan units is available at PurfreshWine.com.  You can also drop us a line here using the Grape Encounters Contact Form and we'll get you connected to our friends at Purfresh promptly!

Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where friendly in-store teams can recommend the perfect bottle of wine or beer for any occasion and any budget. With 8,000 wines and 2,500 beers - there's always something new to explore. Total Wine has built partnerships with some of the most intriguing winemakers, and brewers from around the world. Whether you're hosting or bringing the wine, Total Wine & More's always low prices and ridiculous selection will always provide something interesting to drink. More at totalwine.com

Download this episode

We’ve been telling you this for years, but maybe you need to hear it from the King of Seasoning himself.  When pairing food, it’s really all about the spice!  Sure, you can generalize and say, “White with chicken and fish” or “red with beef, lamb or gamey meats,” but the truth is, you should be more concerned about the intensity if the spices you use than what you sprinkle or rub it on.

Bren Randolph, founder of Bren’s Original, is a character and a half who’s been up to his neck in spices since he was knee high to a grasshopper.  His seasoning blends are so perfect and irresistible that folks will stop at nothing to get their hands on as many bottle as they can.  Some retailers literally have to ration Bren’s blends so as not to disappoint anyone.

But there’s more to the story.  Since Bren is based in the Central Coast Wine Country of California, several formidable wineries have called upon him to create several variations of his secret spices that are more wine-friendly than anything that’s ever been concocted before.  You  don’t have to buy his special blends to learn the do’s and don’t of spicing up your wine pairings.  Listen in for much more than a sprinkle of spice insight on this edition 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

Christopher Sawyer is one of the most highly regarded Sommeliers in America and has long been nicknamed “The Sommelier to the Stars” because of his A-List celebrity clientele. Gavin Joll is the General Manager of Abacela Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley; a true superstar winery known for its broad range of stellar varietals. Abacela doesn’t follow trends, they create them. And, as for Christopher, no one has better insight into current wine trends than him. So when we decided to ask if wine drinkers are more daring when it comes to lesser-known reds or whites, Chris and Gavin were more than eager to chime in.

Abacela has come through the Covid crisis loud and proud and anxious to show off some incredible wines at a host of events including the upcoming Oregon Wine Experience taking place at the end of August.

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

When it comes to wine, temperature matters tremendously. Serving wine at a cool temperature is a game-changer and can show off characteristics of the wine that are hidden when served at room temperature. But what about the temperature of the food itself? How does serving "cool food" impact the wine and food pairing experience? Well, these and other questions are brilliantly answered by Vanessa Seder, whose new cookbook, "Eat Cool" is already getting a lot of attention. And you're sure to give your undivided attention to one of the years most delightful and palate-pleasing Grape Encounters conversation.

A California transplant now deeply imbedded in the Portland Maine culinary world, Vanessa has made quite a name for herself as a frequent foodie guest on national television, a food columnist, author and also as an accomplished food stylist. If you don't fall head-over-heels in love with Vanessa during this interview, then you're probably looking for love in all the wrong places! Vanessa's latest book presents high flavors, bright colors and great food for hot days. There's nothing uncool about this mouthwatering masterpiece; featuring more than 100 for exactly what you want to eat when its blazing hot outside.

Of course, in classic Grape Encounters style, the conversation takes more twists and turns than a sightseeing trip on the Amalfi Coast! You'll never look at cool cuisine the same way again and you'll learn plenty of tips where pairing with cool foods and serving wine at lower temperatures is concerned. OK, so toss a bottle in the freezer for turbo-chilling and pour a glass to compliment this anything-but-usual interview. Vanessa will be sipping Lambrusco. David will be enjoying a glass of Rose´Prosecco and what you put in your glass will determine just how COOL you are!

This edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More.  Grape Encounters is delighted to introduce you to Total Wine Membership, where you can have two bottle of new wine discoveries delivered each month. What's you pleasure? All red? All white? How about both? There's so much to discover at Total Wine! Consider this: A couple of generations ago, you could have set ALL of the major wine choices available to you on a small table.  Today, if you want to truly do justice to the world of wine, it takes several thousand square feet to properly showcase what’s available.  With more than 8000 wines in stock at every store, nobody showcases the astounding world of wine today better than Total Wine & More!  To check out their mind-boggling selection or simply get inspired, click here and we’ll show you something truly amazing!

Download this Episode

Host David Wilson and show announcer Brent Keast were deeply involved in the world of advertising before the wine business lured them away. It is therefore fitting that they take on the topic of wine advertising and showcase a bunch of commercials that would make even the most serious wine enthusiasts chuckle out loud.

While some of these commercials were tongue in cheek, many of them were dead serious! Oh my goodness, how times have changed. Listen in and you’ll see what we mean! It’s all grins for the next hour on Grape Encounters Radio! Wine has come a long ways from the 60s and 70s and you’ll get a kick hearing how wine was marketed to consumers way back when!

Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where friendly in-store teams can recommend the perfect bottle of wine or beer for any occasion and any budget. With 8,000 wines and 2,500 beers – there’s always something new to explore. Total Wine has built partnerships with some of the most intriguing winemakers, and brewers from around the world. Whether you’re hosting or bringing the wine, Total Wine & More’s always low prices and ridiculous selection will always provide something interesting to drink. More at totalwine.com

Download this episode

In addition to hosting Grape Encounters Radio for 12 years, Host David Wilson has also operated a wine tasting room on the Central Coast of California’s Paso Robles AVA. David says that he probably won’t run the shop forever but is grateful for the perspective that it has given him where the consumer is concerned. David says, “I'm glad that I did it because I have learned so much about you and your wine drinking habits, but I've also learned that, as a culture, we’re really screwing things up where wine is concerned.” 

And it’s not just wine that has David concerned. Our consumer habits with regard to both food and wine has him scratching his head at times. He says, “I'm going out on a limb here, but I think that most of you are not getting the enjoyment out of food and wine that you should be getting. There are a number of reasons why and, with wine, the biggest reason is the number 10. What is it? It's the list of the 10 most popular wines in America… both by volume and sales dollars. What disturbs me so much is this; when somebody walks into the wine shop and I ask what they like to drink, they’ll often look back at me and say, they like Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir and Malbec and Syrah and other wines that are much different than any of the other wines they just listed. All of the wines are on that list of the 10 most popular wines and they seldom mention varietals that aren’t.” 

On this week’s edition of Grape Encounters, David shares his thoughts on the impact marketing and popularity have on our wine choices and laments that countless equally worthy wines are typically ignored. Insofar as food is concerned, some equally disturbing forces may be guiding our choices in unsavory way. What does it all mean? Stay tuned for an hour of long-overdue enlightenment!

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. 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

With restrictions lifted after our long Covid ordeal, most of us are eager to make up for lost time. For wine enthusiasts, that means looking for events to attend that promise an unforgettable experience. Well, one thing is certain, The Oregon Wine Experience is a Grape Encounters’ favorite, promising a full-immersion food and wine happening that delivers Oregon’s finest in high style!

Joining David on this episode of Grape Encounters is Sarahanne Driggs, Events Officer for the Assante Foundation. Here’s how David describes this show:

“Of all the wine and food events I’ve covered in recent years, there’s absolutely nothing that tops the extraordinary Oregon Wine Experience, which takes place in Southern Oregon at the end of August.

This mind-blowing extravaganza is the ultimate health-related fundraiser; produced by the extraordinary Assante Foundation for the benefit of the Chidrens Miracle network. I’ll be sharing tons of information with you from now until the event begins, but don’t let that stop you from checking out the details of the event that I can only describe as a full-immersion foodie and Oregon wine extravaganza that will exceed your every expectation. The Oregon Wine Experience is arguably the top destination wine and culinary benefit in the country. This distinct experience located in historic Jacksonville, Oregon celebrates the state’s unrivaled wines, paired with mouthwatering culinary creations unique to Oregon.

Spanning an entire week, you’ll get get to sample exclusive wine futures straight from the barrel at the Founders’ Barrel Auction. You’ll meet top winemaking talent during the Medal Celebration. After that, you’ll get to sample award-winning wine from all corners of the state paired with incomparable cuisine at the Grand Tasting. Finally, you’ll get to toast the very best of Oregon at the Miracle Auction & world-renowned Salmon Bake. I’d love to meet you there! Learn how to be a part of it at OregonWineExperience.com."

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. 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