Grape Encounters Wine Radio

Few segments of the economy have been impacted by Covid-19 restrictions more adversely than wine tourism. With countless wineries temporarily (and indefinitely) shuttered in an effort to contain spread of the virus, wine countries throughout America and much of the world are seeing very few visitors. There was, however, a considerable spike in visitor traffic to the wine country of California’s Central Coast when an unexpected and otherworldly attraction appeared in the middle of the night.

Less than three weeks after the first mysterious monolith appeared in Utah’s Red Rock Country back in November, a third 3-sided structure of unknown origin showed up at the top of a popular hiking trail in the town of Atascadero, CA. If the name “Atascadero" sounds familiar, it’s probably because you hear it every week on your favorite syndicated radio program. Yep, Atascadero, long known for its weekly GRAPE ENCOUNTERS, has now become known for its CLOSE ENCOUNTERS as well. Situated at the center of a region hit very hard by Covid closures, Atascadero in now attracting a steady stream of sci-fi fans, lookie-loos and socially-distanced adventurers. So mesmerizing is the Atascadero monolith that many visitors have been compelled to travel for hours to get a look at the glimmering monument. And the best part is, Atascadero has no open-container laws on the books, so visitors who want to take in the Space Odyssey sight can tote a bottle of wine and a picnic lunch up to the summit where the monolith points to the stars.

Joining David on this episode of Grape Encounters is Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno who couldn’t be more delighted to welcome the sleek structure to the outskirts of town. Mayor Moreno was one of the very first city officials to welcome Grape Encounters to Atascadero nearly eight years ago, and she and David have been dear friends ever since.

Since it is rumored that monoliths come in 3’s, the Atascadero sighting was especially noteworthy to those who believe in such things. Since the Monolith-Mania began in November, nearly 100 similar structures have popped up all over the globe and the phenomenon doesn’t seem to be losing any steam. While alien activity has been ruled out in most cases, the spontaneous monolith erection movement has provided a welcome diversion for millions of Planet Earth citizens weary of Covid confinement. Like David always says, “Wine is a lot more than a beverage… It’s a catalyst for adventures, conversation and happy experiences.” While these metallic monuments won’t cure Covid, they certainly seem to have the power help us think about happier things.

This episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More! With the holidays coming up fast, it’s time to get your wine game in high gear. After all, there are few holidays that beckon us to get creative with pairing more than Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sure, it can be daunting, but that’s why it’s so fun to let the experts at Total Wine & More bounce some ideas your way. However, if you’d prefer to enjoy a home shopping socially-distanced experience, explore the amazing wines, beer and spirits online at TotalWine.com. You can do all your shopping from home and take advantage of our first class curbside pickup at your local Total Wine & More store.

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It’s a holiday season unrecognizable by most of us. We’ve all been asked to adapt to the deeply difficult circumstances that presently dominate our lives and will for the foreseeable future. It’s not what we would have chosen for ourselves, but sometimes you just have to improvise. That being said, David has some holiday wisdom to share that might bring your family closer together, even if you can’t be in the same place at the same time! In fact, you can even sit down to the exact same meal by borrowing a chapter from the wildly popular meal delivery services.

Also on this holiday episode, how to gift wine and not make a fatal mistake in the process. David’s got a few rules that will make any wine gift a sure-fire winner. As part of this discussion, you’ll learn about lesser-known wines that will be home-run gifts at modest prices – take a few notes if you can!

Finally, if you’re still not comfortable picking out a bottle of wine for someone else, or you just don’t want to make a costly mistake that won’t be appreciated, there are lots of wine-themed gifts that are always a big hit. With literally thousands of products to choose from for wine enthusiasts, some of the best choices might surprise you… and the gifts’ recipients. By the way, a great place to find winner gifts, wine or otherwise, is our national sponsor, Total Wine & More. It’s been David’s first choice in wine shopping store for more than 15 years! Discover all they have to offer at TotalWine.com!

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Observing consumer wine habits - 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 episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More! With the holidays coming up fast, it's time to get your wine game in high gear. After all, there are few holidays that beckon us to get creative with pairing more than Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sure, it can be daunting, but that’s why it's so fun to let the experts at Total Wine & More bounce some ideas your way. However, if you’d prefer to enjoy a home shopping socially-distanced experience, explore the amazing wines, beer and spirits online at TotalWine.com. You can do all your shopping from home and take advantage of our first class curbside pickup at your local Total Wine & More store.

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REBROADCAST BY POPULAR DEMAND: We had intended to pay a long overdue visit to a number of our wine and hospitality friends on the east side of America. Unfortunately, we’re in a bit of a holding pattern. Nonetheless, we still want to spread the love and two of our most lovable east coast friends join us today thru the magic of ZOOM. What would we do without it?

First up, it’s our bud Will Ouweleen of O-Neh-Da and Eagle Crest Vineyard, located in the breathtaking Finger Lakes wine region of Upstate New York. You’ve got to really feel for Will. After years of tireless work trying to save the region from a potential environmental catastrophe made possible by thoughtless frackers, things were really rolling along for this historic sacramental wine producer. Very sadly, cancelled church services has translated into a mountain of this very special wine sitting idle. Even worse, these particular wines aren’t meant for aging. Hence, time is not their friend. Will has dealt with a lot of monster-sized challenges in his life so he decided, when the going gets tough, wine enthusiasts should just go glamping on his property instead. It’s a great way to stay socially distanced and enjoy all that this off-the-beaten-path vineyard and winery has to offer.

Wrapping up the show is one of our favorite guests who has been so busy, we’ve had a tough time trying to catch up with him. He’s former Bad Company bassist Paul Cullen. Paul is all about food, wine, music and Italy. Wait until you hear how this very inventive wino, foodie, tour guide, chef, singer, songwriter and even sausage-maker pulls all of his passions together for your benefit! No spoiler alert here. You’re going to have to listen to the whole show!

This episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More! With the holidays coming up fast, it's time to get your wine game in high gear. After all, there are few holidays that beckon us to get creative with pairing more than Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sure, it can be daunting, but that’s why it's so fun to let the experts at Total Wine & More bounce some ideas your way. However, if you’d prefer to enjoy a home shopping socially-distanced experience, explore the amazing wines, beer and spirits online at TotalWine.com. You can do all your shopping from home and take advantage of our first class curbside pickup at your local Total Wine & More store.

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While it is the goal of every episode of Grape Encounters Radio to present compelling, informative, and entertaining content, there are times when interviews significantly standout. That is certainly the case with this episode of Grape Encounters Radio, featuring one of America's all time acclaimed chefs, Charlie Palmer.

Charlie is a bonafide Yankee original, acclaimed for his signature progressive American cooking, a style built on rambunctious flavors and unexpected combinations, with a deep and lasting fusion of classical French technique. David's long anticipated interview with Charlie was a labor of patience. Postponement seemed a running theme, as the COVID-19 pandemic was piggybacked by tragic wildfires ripping through Napa and Sonoma earlier this year. At long last, a window of opportunity presented itself. David made a bee-line to Sonoma County, Northern California Wine Country, where he immersed himself into the world of this highly revered chef, who has not simply redefined culinary experiences, but has also been responsible for creating dining atmospheres second to none, including the extraordinary, Aureole Restaurant in the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada. This mind boggling venue features a five story wine tower where exceptional offerings from every corner of the world are retrieved for patrons by Wine Angels, flying effortlessly up, down, and around an amazing storage structure, crafted in glass.

Over a period of 20 years, Chef Palmer has combined his creative cooking spirit and flair for business into 15 notable locations spanning the country, along with a growing collection of boutique hotels. Palmer, a longtime board member of Citymeals-on-Wheels was named by the James Beard foundation as “Best Chef in America, 1997” and “Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America 1998.” For his unwavering support of the Culinary Institute of America, he was named to the Board of Trustees, serving as Chairman of the Board from 2013-2016, and was presented with an honorary doctorate in April 2018.

Charlie Palmer is a frequent guest on NBC's Today Show, Bravo's Top Chef, The Rachel Ray Show and more. The author of six cookbooks, Palmer is not solely known for his noteworthy cooking flair and commitment to extraordinary dining spaces; he also possesses an incomparable sense of humor and a passion for creativity in all things he pursues, second to none.

Today’s landmark interview was recorded at Palmer's famed Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, California; widely regarded as one of the most unique culinary experiences in California Wine Country. Perhaps most remarkable of all, is Charlie’s down-to-earth, warm and good-natured presence, completely void of any pretentiousness. The disarming nature of his personality makes for most excellent discourse. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. Most of all, consider breaking out your calendar; set a date, and make your way to Sonoma Wine Country for an in-person visit to his incredibly dynamic and unique Dry Creek Kitchen!

Oh! Did we forget to mention Charlie has his own wine label? Learn more about that on today's edition of Grape Encounters Radio.

This episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More! With the holidays coming up fast, it's time to get your wine game in high gear.

This week's edition of Grape Encounters Radio takes place just a few days after the 2020 Election. On today's show, David and announcer Brett Keast speculate about what people drank on election night. Originally, David thought sparkling wine and champagne would be the go-to for at least 50% of the record-setting voting population. As the evening went off the rails, all bets were off. In due course, David and Brent presume folks broke out the hard stuff.

This episode then saunters to a discussion of viticulture nomenclature, the oft curious origin of wine names. They do things very differently in France and the rest of Europe than here in America. As a result, a wine the French might refer to as a Bordeaux, we would perhaps call a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Malbec, or a Merlot. Leaning into the confusion, David does his best to untangle the topic for his listeners.

It's the first production post-2020 election night; although that's an apparent misnomer, as it doesn't appear the referendum is over just yet. Let us all stay tuned for an historical, roaring good time, in what has most certainly been an unprecedented and crazy week, month and year.

Today's edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More. Enthusiasts often liken wine to a time machine. It can take you to places in the past where the spirit was created, without ever having to leave your home. Whether you're sipping a Sangiovese from Italy or a Reisling from Germany, a well-shaped goblet filled with crafted, fermented grapes, can tell you a lot about remarkable places and spaces across the world. Dig in deep and explore; learn more about over 8,000 wines at your local Total Wine & More store. For further information, log on to www.totalwine.com. You can also do all your shopping from home and take advantage of our first class curbside pickup at your local Total Wine & More store.

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Talking wine genealogy... Boy, do we ever take grapes for granted. We know that there are a zillion different varietals out there and no limit to the choices of wine that they produce. It wasn’t always that way however. As a matter of fact, we know that 700 years ago, early botanists (they probably weren’t called that) were creating hybrids that would produce some of our favorite wines today.

Wes Hagen, Winemaker, Historian and Philosopher

When it comes to making the technical stuff easy to understand, David frequently calls upon the very studious Wes Hagen. After all, Wes has an unimaginably deep knowledge of wine history, and he’s also been a highly respected educator and author for his entire adult life. Oh, and he makes even the most difficult topics easy to understand.

Join us as we look at where some of our very favorite wines came from; genetically-speaking that is. You might be surprised at how intertwined popular varietals really are.

This episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More! With the holidays coming up fast, it's time to get your wine game in high gear. After all, there are few holidays that beckon us to get creative with pairing more than Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sure, it can be daunting, but that’s why it's so fun to let the experts at Total Wine & More bounce some ideas your way. However, if you’d prefer to enjoy a home shopping socially-distanced experience, explore the amazing wines, beer and spirits online at TotalWine.com. You can do all your shopping from home and take advantage of our first class curbside pickup at your local Total Wine & More store.

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Host David Wilson often reminds us that “wine should be a social lubricant that stimulates conversation about everything except the wine!” Needless to say, there have been a nearly infinite number of conversations about every political topic imaginable that were likely energized by sharing a bottle or two!

From the wine habits of past presidents, to the wine preferences of the left and the right, you’re going to learn some juicy tidbits about wine and politics. As a matter of fact, you’ll even learn what your adult beverage preference may say about your political beliefs. Now remember, like everything on Grape Encounters, it’s all in good fun! If the info we share is spot-on where your preferences are concerned, drop us a note!

This episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More! With the holidays coming up fast, its time to get your wine game in high gear. After all, there are few holidays that beckon us to get creative with pairing more than Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sure, it can be daunting, but that’s why its so fun to let the experts at Total Wine & More bounce some ideas your way. However, if you’d prefer to enjoy a home shopping socially-distanced experience, explore the amazing wines, beer and spirits online at TotalWine.com. You can do all your shopping from home and take advantage of our first class curbside pickup at your local Total Wine & More store.

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Lodi wine – It’s almost impossible NOT to think of the Creedence Clearwater classic, when the town Lodi comes up in a conversation. Yep, it was more than 50 years ago that John Fogerty sang about a little known California town where it was easy to become forgotten. The funny thing is, while Fogerty was poking fun at this small agricultural town south of Sacramento and east of San Francisco, many of the grapes planted there were already becoming historic. Today, Lodi is not just a wine-producing powerhouse, it is home to some of the most historic vines in America; many were already 50 years old when the song “Lodi” became a hit.

Lodi makes some of the most delicious wines in California and has become quite a success story. There’s just one problem… The historic old-vines of Lodi are beginning to disappear, must to the dismay of locals, wine history buffs and, of course, those of us who love the small production but deeply-concentrated wines that flow from these vines.

Joining David on this week’s show is the Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, Stuart Spencer, who shares a determined campaign to Save the Old Vines! It’s an effort we’re proud to support vigorously!

Stuart was appointed Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission in 2018. Prior to that, he worked as the Commission’s Program Manager since 1999. Over the years, Stuart has been involved in many of the Commission’s marketing, education, and research activities which have focused on raising public awareness about Lodi grapes and wines. As Stuart is also the proprietor of St. Amant Winery, he is the Commission’s onsite industry expert and is a regular spokesperson on all things Lodi.

This episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More! With the holidays coming up fast, its time to get your wine game in high gear. After all, there are few holidays that beckon us to get creative with pairing more than Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sure, it can be daunting, but that’s why its so fun to let the experts at Total Wine & More bounce some ideas your way. However, if you’d prefer to enjoy a home shopping socially-distanced experience, explore the amazing wines, beer and spirits online at TotalWine.com. You can do all your shopping from home and take advantage of our first class curbside pickup at your local Total Wine & More store.

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From fire devastation that no one could have imagined, to Covid’s unyielding disruption of business as usual, 2020 has taken an immeasurable toll on winemakers and the consumers who love them. Wine enthusiasts are typically a pretty happy lot. We are people who find great joy in an international pastime that stretches over several centuries and touches every nook and cranny of the globe. And so, despite an onslaught of unthinkable challenges, we just have to suck it up and find that happy place.

We could talk about the 2020 challenges for months, if not years, and we can’t ignore the harsh realities, but sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we create our own happiness and sometimes need to make an extra effort to figure out how.

To that end, we can always count on winemaker, scholar and educator Wes Hagen to give us sage advice. Wes never sugar-coats things, but he’s also fearlessly optimistic. That’s why we often call upon him to help us enjoy our wine life in unique and meaningful ways.

Ready for a little inspiration from one of the most profoundly imaginative wine enthusiasts on the planet? Good! Download Episode 585 now or simply hit play. Make sure you pour yourself some tasty to pair with this edition of Grape Encounters!

Today’s edition of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More, where you’ll find thousands of wines produced by folks who started with a dream and never looked back. Be sure to spend a little time online at TotalWine.com. You’ll be very glad you did!

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