Grape Encounters Wine Radio

David Wilson hosts Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, to endeavor to answer the impossible question, “What Makes Wine Good?” There are so many factors that determine what an individual’s perception of wine enjoyment vs. assigning a quality assessment, that it really IS an impossible question. David and Sara do their best to debunk pretentious wine geek speak and snobbery about wine ratings from established industry experts, and focus on the freedom of every person to determine for themselves what is a good wine for them.

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David Wilson hosts Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, to endeavor to answer the impossible question, “What Makes a Wine Good?” There are so many factors that determine what an individual’s perception of wine enjoyment vs. assigning a quality assessment, that it really IS an impossible question. David and Sara do their best to debunk pretentious wine geek speak and snobbery about wine ratings from established industry experts, and focus on the freedom of every person to determine for themselves what is a good wine for them.

On today’s Grape Encounters radio Host David Wilson couldn’t be happier than to spend some quality time with two fellas who, along with the mom of the family, are rockin’ the wine world down under… and, thank goodness, sending plenty of their world renowned Mollydooker wines to the US. Imagine, having your wines rated among the top 10 worldwide.

David asks Sparky and Luke Marquis (the "s" is NOT silent) about their blending program and most significantly, what it takes for a wine to make it into one of their bottles of Mollydooker wine. In winemaking, it’s more common than not to try to blend imperfections out of a wine. During the show, Sparky makes it clear Mollydooker won’t go down that road and explains the three tests that every wine must pass before it is incorporated into a Mollydooker blend.

This week’s show will give you plenty of insight into the making of their extraordinary wines. In the grand scheme of things, they’re technically a fairly new brand, but in their determination to make wines that suit their personal palates, it turns out than an awful lot of prominent judges and publications share their taste. Accordingly, in recent years, their wines have garnered near perfect scores and have repeatedly been ranked among the world’s top 10 best wines. Despite these extraordinary accomplishments, you’ll be taken aback by how incredibly humble our guests from down under are!

Find out more about Mollydooker here: https://www.mollydookerwines.com.au/Home/tabid/56/Default.aspx

Download this episode

On today’s Grape Encounters radio Host David Wilson couldn’t be happier than to spend some quality time with two fellas who, along with the mom of the family, are rockin’ the wine world down under… and, thank goodness, sending plenty of their world renowned Mollydooker wines to the US. Imagine, having your wines rated among the top 10 worldwide. David asks Sparky and Luke Marquis about their blending program and most significantly, what it takes for a wine to make it into one of their bottles of Mollydooker wine. In winemaking, it’s more common than not to try to blend imperfections out of a wine. During the show, Sparky makes it clear Mollydooker won’t go down that road and explains the three tests that every wine must pass before it is incorporated into a Mollydooker blend. This week’s show will give you plenty of insight into the making of the extraordinary wines of Mollydooker. In the grand scheme of things, they’re technically a fairly new brand, but in their determination to make wines that suit their personal palates, it turns out than an awful lot of prominent judges and publications share their taste. Accordingly, in recent years, their wines have garnered near perfect scores and have repeatedly been ranked among the world’s top 10 best wines. Despite these extraordinary accomplishments, you’ll be taken aback by how incredibly humble our guests from down under are!

David brings in an expert in good taste, Chef William Carter, the chef and co-owner of The Canyon Villa luxury B&B in Paso Robles, CA, and was formerly the Executive Chef (for nearly 29 years) at the fabled Playboy Mansion. It was nearly three decades of preparing sumptuous foods and choosing sensational wines for the rich, chic, famous and super-sexy.

Today, Chef William and his amazing hostess wife Katherine Bloxom, are experts in hosting guests and hobnobbing with many colleagues in the food, wine and hospitality businesses. David and William talk about the best ways to give wine gifts during the holiday season (or any season), to let the receiver know that you really cared about the choice of this wine. Unique presentations, or a little research with notes about the wine can make a real impression! Wishing all our listeners a Happy Holiday Season!

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David brings in an expert in good taste, Chef William Carter, the chef and co-owner of The Canyon Villa luxury B&B in Paso Robles, CA, and was formerly the Executive Chef (for nearly 29 years) at the fabled Playboy Mansion. It was nearly three decades of preparing sumptuous foods and choosing sensational wines for the rich, chic, famous and super-sexy. Today, Chef William and his amazing hostess wife Katherine Bloxom, are experts in hosting guests and hobnobbing with many colleagues in the food, wine and hospitality businesses. David and William talk about the best ways to give wine gifts during the holiday season (or any season), to let the receiver know that you really cared about the choice of this wine. Listen to find out how to make a real impression! Wishing all our listeners a Happy Holiday Season!

It is thoroughly amazing how many ways wine is used to do good things for great people. In this episode of Grape Encounters Radio, David strikes up a conversation with winemaker David Grega who is a collaborator in the production of Purple Heart Wines; a delicious blend that gives much of its profit to the Purple Heart Foundation.

David Grega knows an awful lot about the needs and sacrifices of our military veterans. After all, during his tour of duty in Iraq, he dreamed of one day becoming a winemaker. Well, it wasn’t long before David got out of the service and into the vineyard. As a matter of fact, he not only became a winemaker, but specialized in producing upper-tier Napa Valley Cabernets.

After perfecting his craft, he joined the Purple Heart Wine team, and what he and his co-producers have accomplished is simply amazing. Their modestly priced Purple Heart Wine will capture your heart with it’s intense flavors, perfect balance and determination to pamper your palate. The wine is a real winner and the cause it supports is so very important.

Listen in as David talks about his daily duty in Iraq, patrolling what most consider to be the most dangerous road in the region. While on duty, David filled his quiet hours with thoughts of how to become a premium winemaker. It turns out, all that thinking time really paid off!

The show ends with David and Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine sharing their thoughts about “varietal correctness.” This is a really tricky subject that you’ll surely want to consider. So, tune in, uncork and take it all in!

Download this episode

It is thoroughly amazing how many ways wine is used to do good things for great people. In this episode of Grape Encounters Radio, David strikes up a conversation with winemaker David Grega who is a collaborator in the production of Purple Heart Wines; a delicious blend that gives much of its profit to the Purple Heart Foundation. David Grega knows an awful lot about the needs and sacrifices of our military veterans. After all, during his tour of duty in Iraq, he dreamed of one day becoming a winemaker. Well, it wasn’t long before David got out of the service and into the vineyard. As a matter of fact, he not only became a winemaker, but specialized in producing upper-tier Napa Valley Cabernets. After perfecting his craft, he joined the Purple Heart Wine team, and what he and his co-producers have accomplished is simply amazing. Their modestly priced Purple Heart Wine will capture your heart with it’s intense flavors, perfect balance and determination to pamper your palate. The wine is a real winner and the cause it supports is so very important. Listen in as David talks about his daily duty in Iraq, patrolling what most consider to be the most dangerous road in the region. While on duty, David filled his quiet hours with thoughts of how to become a premium winemaker. It turns out, all that thinking time really paid off! The show ends with David and Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine sharing their thoughts about “varietal correctness.” This is a really tricky subject that you’ll surely want to consider. So, tune in, uncork and take it all in!

This week on Grape Encounters Radio, Host David Wilson takes the show’s microphones to Alta Colina Winery in Paso Robles, CA to showcase the ultimate wine appreciation experience.

Alta Colina Winery, managed by father-daughter team Bob and Maggie Tillman, is making quite a reputation for themselves by crafting some of California’s finest Rhone varietal wines. But like so many other wineries around the world, the Tillman’s have been looking for new and highly creative ways to enhance the experience of visitors to the winery.

Accordingly, Alta Colina has teamed up with Tinker Tin Trailers; a local business that restores trailers from bygone eras to mint condition and repurposes the trailers in a variety of unique ways.

To that end, Alta Colina and Tinker Tin have created the ultimate winery visitation experience. Guests can book one of five vintage trailers right smack in the middle of the Alta Colina Vineyard. The trailers have been strategically placed around a charming pond, complete with a dock that provides the perfect sunbathing opportunity. This week’s show was recorded inside two of the trailers as well as the Alta Colina barrel room where David, Maggie and Bob taste through around a dozen of Alta Colina’s fine wines.

At the start of the show, Jamie Holm, co-owner of Tinker Tin Trailer Company joins David inside two of the vintage trailers to give the low-down on the Alta Colina Trailer Pond experience. We guarantee that just a few minutes into the conversation, you’ll be primed and ready for this new and creative way to experience fine wine and the lifestyle it propagates!

Find out more about trailer glamping on the Alta Colina vineyard here: http://altacolinawine.com/visit/#tinker-tin OR here: http://www.tinkertin.com/trailer-pond

Download this episode

This week on Grape Encounters Radio, Host David Wilson takes the show’s microphones to Alta Colina Winery in Paso Robles, CA to showcase the ultimate wine appreciation experience. Alta Colina Winery, managed by father-daughter team Bob and Maggie Tillman, is making quite a reputation for themselves by crafting some of California’s finest Rhone varietal wines. But like so many other wineries around the world, the Tillman’s have been looking for new and highly creative ways to enhance the experience of visitors to the winery. Accordingly, Alta Colina has teamed up with Tinker Tin Trailers; a local business that restores trailers from bygone eras to mint condition and repurposes the trailers in a variety of unique ways. To that end, Alta Colina and Tinker Tin have created the ultimate winery visitation experience. Guests can book one of five vintage trailers right smack in the middle of the Alta Colina Vineyard. The trailers have been strategically placed around a charming pond, complete with a dock that provides the perfect sunbathing opportunity. This week’s show was recorded inside two of the trailers as well as the Alta Colina barrel room where David, Maggie and Bob taste through around a dozen of Alta Colina’s fine wines. At the start of the show, Jamie Holm, co-owner of Tinker Tin Trailer Company joins David inside two of the vintage trailers to give the low-down on the Alta Colina Trailer Pond experience. We guarantee that just a few minutes into the conversation, you’ll be primed and ready for this new and creative way to experience fine wine and the lifestyle it propagates!