Grape Encounters Wine Radio

From preserving history to defining Napa Style, Jean-Charles Boisset is truly a living legend in the worldwide wine industry. On today's Grape Encounters, it's a whirlwind conversation with Jean-Charles about everything under the sun! As perhaps the world's most colorful and flamboyant wine personality, Jean-Charles always has countless projects underway and every last one of them is fuel for endless discussion.

Jean Charles Boisset with David

Good grief! It's been nearly two years since Jean-Charles Boisset has graced the airwaves of Grape Encounters Radio... but this episode was probably well worth the wait as Jean-Charles and David take on a broad range of topics; from climate change to Jean-Charles' determination to document and preserve American wine history. And it's not just about putting it into words. Jean-Charles has been busily creating brick and mortar places where we can all gain a better understanding of how America became a force to be reckoned with on the world wine stage. And yes, all this from a Frenchman! Here's to you, Jean-Charles!

Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More. David says, "There's simply no better place to experience the endless world of wines around the globe than Total Wine & More!" With more than 8000 wines available under one roof, Total Wine is an unparalleled portal to discovery of nearly endless wines, beers and spirits from every corner of the planet. For the location of a Total Wine & More store, or to make purchases online, visit TotalWine.com!

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Recently back from his unforgettable adventure in Southern Oregon, David gives listeners the skinny on the incomparable Oregon Wine Experience. David has been talking about it for several months now and, as a major sponsor of the event, has been chomping at the bit to experience this legendary event firsthand. It’s a pretty good bet that after you hear the complete low-down on this awesome fundraiser for the Asante Foundation and the Children’s Miracle Network, you’ll want to block off some time on you calendar next August and participate in person. In the meantime, you can enjoy it through David’s eyes, ears and palate.

The show begins with a thorough rundown of this extraordinary spectacle. Then, David is joined by the National Sales Manager of Troon Vineyards, Nate Winters, to talk about his company’s transition to Biodynamic farming and grape growing… A very interesting chapter in this well-established winery’s evolution.

Then, Trium Winery co-owner, Tony Corallo, shares what it's like to win the Best of Show at the Oregon Wine Experience with a varietal that one would simply not expect to win this top honor. Stranger things can happen! All this and more on Grape Encounters Radio, sponsored by David’s preferred source for all things wine, Total Wine and More.

And it’s not all about Oregon, because this is the beginning of harvest across the country, and if you can’t make it to Oregon, it’s likely that the wine country closest to you will also be sharing in the celebrations that herald the most important time of year in the world of wine. Who better to bring this story to you than the folks at Total Wine and More; sponsors of Grape Encounters Radio. One thing is certain… every day of the year is a celebration of wine at Total Wine and More. Check out their website often to see the many things going on at your nearest Total Wine store. The address is simply TotalWine.com.

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California Celebrates Wine Month as Experts Fret the Imminent Climate Change Buzz-Kill

As Charles Dickens famously wrote at the beginning of A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times and it was the worst of times.” While we never like to focus on any bad news when it comes to wine, there is a lot of attention being focused on the effects of climate change on the wine industry. It's not just something that is being anticipated. The rising temperatures are already forcing forward-thinking producers to come up with a strategy to protect the Golden State's most prestigious agricultural product. When it comes to issues like this, there’s no better person to turn to than Allison Jordan, a frequent guest on Grape Encounters who holds two very important titles. Allison is both the Vice President, Environmental Affairs at the Wine Institute in California and also the Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

Allison Jordan

Allison speaks often about the complex topic of global warming’s impact on wine production, and on this episode of Grape Encounters, she gives a very thorough rundown of what’s happening, what we can expect and how winemakers in California and beyond are thoughtfully addressing the issue with proactive measures.

But, in the interest of not being a Debbie downer, David dedicates half the show to perhaps the very best thing that happens in California each year: California Wine Month. This is a time when wine enthusiasts flock to the many wine regions of the California to join in on an almost limitless number of celebrations that feature any wine related activity you can possibly imagine. From statewide grape stomps to culinary extravaganzas and red carpet rolled out at countless wineries, September will see hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to wine countries stretching from one end of the state to the other in search of the ultimate good time and also some great educational opportunities as well. And it’s not all about California, because this is the beginning of harvest across the country, and if you can’t make it to California, it’s likely that the wine country closest to you will also be sharing in the celebrations that herald the most important time of year in the world of wine. Who better to bring this story to you than the folks at Total Wine & More; sponsors of Grape Encounters Radio. One thing is certain… every day of the year is a celebration of wine at Total Wine & More. Check out their website often to see the many things going on at your nearest Total Wine store. The address is simply TotalWine.com.

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With America's First Master of Wine, Tim Hanni.

It's something that baffles a great number of wine lovers. Why is one bottle of wine $10 while another is $100?  Can there really be that much difference in quality to justify the price?  Well, the truth is, wine prices make a lot more sense when you consider all the details.  During this show, we'll look at what it takes to make a pricey wine versus an inexpensive one. What really matters the most is whether or not you get the amount of enjoyment out of a wine at any price to justify what you spend.

Joining David on today's show is one of America's first two Masters of Wine, Tim Hanni.  Tim doesn't pull any punches and gives the straight skinny to the Grape Encounters audience.  David and Tim arrive at a surprising conclusion during the show and you're likely to feel pretty good about it.  Isn't it time that you get the unfiltered answer to one of the most frequently asked wine questions?  Give a listen!

This week’s episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine & More!  For years, David has been raving about Total Wine, now they're helping us spread our unpretentious messaging further than ever before.  That's a really good thing!

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Who doesn’t love Summer, right? Well, if your wine could talk, it would definitely express its disdain for high temperatures. In fact, heat is the thing that wine hates the most, apart from too much oxygen. It’s hard to imagine just how many dollars worth of wine are completely ruined because they sat in a hot car or fell victim to a wine lover trying to keep their air conditioning bill somewhat reasonable. On this week’s show, David doesn’t just warn you of the many ways that you may inadvertently cook your Cabernet, he also offers some novel suggestions and assistance in finding short-term and long-term solutions to the overheating issue. You’ll even hear tips on how to create your own wine cellar on a shoestring budget.

Also on today’s show, David revisits the booming world of canned wine. The last time David talked about the subject, he posed the question, “Can wine in a can beat wine in a bottle in a blind tasting? Well, we’ve got the eye-opening answer thanks to special guests Dr. Robert Williams and his wife and business partner, Dr. Helena Williams.

This week’s show is brought to you by Total Wine & More!

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It's been another very busy week in the glorious world of wine.  Accordingly, host David Wilson takes a detailed look at the latest wine news.  Among the stories unpacked on this week's show is somewhat startling study by the folks at Neilsen about consumer trends relating to alcohol consumption.  Surprisingly, more and more folks are looking for lower alcohol adult beverages.  On this episode, David makes some wine suggestions that should make these consumers very happy.  As an aside, you'll also hear a few tips on how to lower the alcohol level on the wine in your glass on America's best wine podcast!

Which of these 3 things are most likely to inhibit your ability to fall asleep:  wine, nicotine or coffee?  The answer might surprise you!

OFF TO OREGON!

Finally, a visit with Sarahanne Driggs about David's upcoming visit to The Oregon Wine Experience in Jacksonville, Oregon.  This is a first for David and he's literally chomping at the bit to get there.  And if you're looking for a great selection of Oregon wines, there's no place on earth that offers more choices than Total Wine & More.  Grape Encounters is very pleased to be sponsored by America's leading wine, beer and spirits retailer.  If you've never visited a Total Wine & More store, you're in for the experience of a lifetime!  Learn more and buy online at TotalWine.com.

And don't forget, we've got more than 525 episode of Grape Encounters archived and ready to be downloaded at grape encounters.com.  We offer more content than you can imagine as part of our commitment to be the wine world's best wine podcast.  Come and download to your heart's content.

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Okay, we probably should keep you wondering what the title of this episode is all about, but we’re spoilers at heart here at Grape Encounters.

On today’s show, David connects with Stuart Spencer, COO of Wines That Rock. We’re all familiar with the multitude of wine bottles with catchy labels on them hoping to capture our attention. Too often however, what’s in the bottle has little in common with the image that was used to sell it.

Wines That Rock do things differently. They are very obsessed with the creation of wines that commemorate pop culture; music, TV, movies and more. Using what seems to be pretty sound reasoning, the book and the cover are created to be in harmony.

The company has had enormous success with wine bearing album artwork from legendary acts like the Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, The Police and even Pink Floyd. Now, they have taken on their most ambitious challenge to date… to create a Star Trek wine that will coincide with the the CBS release of the latest Star Trek installment, Picard.

Stuart has been a big-time player in the wine business for many, many years… and his knowledge is only overshadowed by his wit and humor! He’s got his fingers in every aspect of this project, so be sure to Kling-on to his every word!

This episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine and More!

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From choosing the wrong wine club to failing to preserve wine properly, David looks at some of the most common wine mistakes that enthusiasts often make and how to avoid them. Have you quit as many wine clubs as you’ve joined? That could be because you’re signing up for the wrong reasons. That doesn’t mean the club is bad, it may just mean that the club is bad for you. Also, should you dump out a bottle of wine that just isn’t your taste? Not so fast! Learn why you should not be too quick to dump out a wine that isn’t your cup of tea. (Metaphorically speaking.) And, how can a bottle that is smaller than a 750 ml wine bottle prevent your wine from going bad? Answers to this and much more on Episode 523 of Grape Encounters Radio.

And an interesting follow-up to an earlier show on wine allergies. David tells the story about a first-hand observation of someone turning bright, bright red after just a single sip of wine and how this poor fellow was able to reverse this severe allergic attack in just minutes. Listen and learn!

This episode of Grape Encounters is brought to you by Total Wine and More!

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A few weeks back, David interviewed Allan Green, the founder and Executive Director of the International Canned Wine Competition which is a first of its kind being held in Boonville, California. Since that initial interview, there have been a plethora of stories out about the subject and it appears we better be prepared for a major influx of canned fermentations. Before you say, “It’s just a flash in the can,” listen in to this update that will most certainly pique your curiosity as wine consumption continues to diversify!

Next up on the show is longtime contributor Wes Hagen. Whenever David wanders into a subject area that is a little overly complicated, Wes is his first go-to guy. In this particular case, David is a little frustrated by the fact that so many people are quick to say that their wine has turned to vinegar. Did it really? The answer may surprise you. Moreover, should you take that wine that is no longer pristine and pour it into your pasta sauce? If you’re unsure about the answer, you best listen to this edition of Grape Encounters Radio!

This edition of Grape Encounters Radio is brought to you by Total Wine and More!

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He’s the ultimate renaissance man when it comes to wine. He’s a pig farmer, renowned winemaker and world class artist. He’s also a dear friend of Grape Encounters Radio. In this episode, you’ll see that truly great winemakers are seldom one-dimensional. Join us for an intimate and fun-filled discussion with Artevino Winery’s Tom Rodrigues.

Tom Rodrigues, winemaker and artist

David hosts Tom Rodrigues, winemaker and renowned artist, founder of Artevino wines and Maple Creek Winery. Maple Creek Ranch and Winery was established in the spring of 2001. Tom, an artist for more than four decades, decided to leave his hectic Marin County life and settle in the Yorkville Highlands of Anderson Valley, the premier growing region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. After finding the ideal environment for growing grapes and living a healthy lifestyle, he purchased the ranch, vineyard and winery. From there, he hired Kerry Damskey, a consulting winemaker, to mentor him in his winemaking techniques, making French style wine while using California fruit. Artevino was born.

Tom’s art adorns the labels of Artevino with a different painting on each varietal from his”Vineyard Series.” His art may also be seen on some of the most notable industry, Far Niente, Nickel and Nickel, Dolce, EnRoute, Gemstone and Manzanita Creek, just to name a few.

 

This episode of Grape Encounters Radio is brought to you by Total Wine & More.

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