Grape Encounters Wine Radio

David talks with Dwight Crevelt, 7Cs Winery in Walnut Grove, Missouri, about the upcoming 7th Annual Mead Fest happening there Sept 25, 2016. 7Cs makes both wine and meads, and participate in many unusual food & wine events. Mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The alcoholic content ranges from about 8% ABV to more than 20%. The defining characteristic of mead is that the majority of the beverage's fermentable sugar is derived from honey. It may be still, carbonated, or naturally sparkling; dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Find out more about mead and 7Cs Winery & events at: 7cswinery.com.

Next, innovative agricultural economic opportunities with Woody Tasch and Jeff Wade. Woody Tasch is the Founder and Chairman of the Slow Money Institute and author of Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered and Jeff Wade, head of the local chapter of Slow Money. Slow Money’s Mission Statement is, “To catalyze the flow of capital to local food systems, connecting investors to the places where they live and promoting new principles of fiduciary responsibility that “bring money back down to earth.” Find out more at slowmoney.org

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David talks with Dwight Crevelt, 7Cs Winery in Walnut Grove, Missouri, about the upcoming 7th Annual Mead Fest happening there Sept 25, 2016. 7Cs makes both wine and meads, and participate in many unusual food & wine events. Mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The alcoholic content ranges from about 8% ABV to more than 20%. The defining characteristic of mead is that the majority of the beverage's fermentable sugar is derived from honey. It may be still, carbonated, or naturally sparkling; dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Find out more about mead and 7Cs Winery & events at: 7cswinery.com. Next, innovative agricultural economic opportunities with Woody Tasch and Jeff Wade. Woody Tasch is the Founder and Chairman of the Slow Money Institute and author of Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered and Jeff Wade, head of the local chapter of Slow Money. Slow Money’s Mission Statement is, “To catalyze the flow of capital to local food systems, connecting investors to the places where they live and promoting new principles of fiduciary responsibility that “bring money back down to earth.” Find out more at slowmoney.org

Answering that question with the help of KingsBottle Wine Refrigeration

It’s a question that David gets asked nearly everyday… “What is the best and most inexpensive way to protect my wine collection?" Now for a long while, David had an extensive—or should we say expensive—wine cellar to protect his liquid assets. But after moving to a home that did not have a cellar, it became important to find other means of protection.

After looking at all the options, wine refrigeration and storage appeared to be the best bet… efficient, economical, and incredibly reliable. David and his wife Annie run the Grape Encounters Empourium right next to the studios. Recently, the Empourium acquired amazing side-by-side 3 temperature zone units from KingsBottle, an extraordinary manufacturer and distributor of wine and beverage refrigeration and storage units.

Join David and his special guest, KingsBottle General Manager Dena Doiron During this episode, they’ll tell you everything you need to know about the care and feeding of your precious wines. From what temperature to store at to what temperature to drink at, there is really valuable information here for everyone how wants to keep a little or a lot of wine around that house!

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David talks with Kim Stemler, Executive Director, Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association, about the Sobranes fire burning in the wild country between Big Sur and the Monterey wine growing areas, affecting the Carmel Valley AVA. Even if the 47,000 acre fire doesn’t reach the vineyards, the smoke taint could ruin the entire grape crop in the area. Find out more about Monterey Wine Country at www.montereywines.org/.

The good news is, everyone seems to be optimistic that, despite the magnitude of the fire, the fact that Monterey has a very late growing season and the grapes are a long way from ripening, the odds of too much damage seem to be slim. We will all take a deep breath and cross our fingers. Now since Grape Encounters never likes to leave any wine conversation on a sour note, the exchange between Kim and David soon wanders into the wonders of magnificent Monterey wines, including some of Dave’s Faves!

Your host is a big fan of wines from this world-class region and list 4 or 5 compelling reasons why you ought to put your worries about the fire aside and start planning a trip to Monterey. You do know the way to Monterey? Oh, drat, that’s San Jose!

Then on Sipping with Sara, David & Sara talk about 2-Buck Chuck and that it’s ok if you like inexpensive wine. More importantly, it is just plain wrong to try to steer friends to more costly wines just because they are classier!

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David talks with Kim Stemler, Executive Director, Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association, about the Sobranes fire burning in the wild country between Big Sur and the Monterey wine growing areas, affecting the Carmel Valley AVA. Even if the 47,000 acre fire doesn’t reach the vineyards, the smoke taint could ruin the entire grape crop in the area. Find out more about Monterey Wine Country at www.montereywines.org/. The good news is, everyone seems to be optimistic that, despite the magnitude of the fire, the fact that Monterey has a very late growing season and the grapes are a long way from ripening, the odds of too much damage seem to be slim. We will all take a deep breath and cross our fingers. Now since Grape Encounters never likes to leave any wine conversation on a sour note, the exchange between Kim and David soon wanders into the wonders of magnificent Monterey wines, including some of Dave’s Faves! Your host is a big fan of wines from this world-class region and list 4 or 5 compelling reasons why you ought to put your worries about the fire aside and start planning a trip to Monterey. You do know the way to Monterey? Oh, drat, that’s San Jose! Then on Sipping with Sara, David & Sara talk about 2-Buck Chuck and that it’s ok if you like inexpensive wine. More importantly, it is just plain wrong to try to steer friends to more costly wines just because they are classier!

To commemorate the 7th Anniversary of the first Grape Encounters Radio episode, David has on Keith Saarloos of Saarloos and Sons from Los Olivos, CA. Keith was a frequent guest in the first years and they talk about the way the wine industry has changed over these years.

Next, it’s Randy Arnold, the Brand Ambassador from Barefoot Wines, talking about the legacy of Barefoot as the entry-level wine for many consumers, as well as a leader in supporting non-profit organizations around the world. Wines & Vines recently released some astonishing numbers about US wine industry sales, and Gallo’s Barefoot wines continued to lead all other brands in off-premise sales during the past 52 weeks, with 5% in value growth and 7% in volume.

Finally, David talks with Robert Cordtz of Sonoma Cider and their kickstarter campaign to fund a new taproom, that includes rewards such as drum lessons from Sonoma Cider’s pal Ronnie Vannucci, the drummer for The Killers, along with a signed pair of drum sticks. Find out more at SonomaCider.com.

Download this episode

It’s a question that David gets asked nearly everyday… “What is the best and most inexpensive way to protect my wine. Now for a long while, David had an extensive—or should we say expensive—wine cellar to protect his liquid assets. But after moving to a home that did not have a cellar, it became important to find other means of protection. After looking at all the options, wine refrigeration and storage appeared to be the best bet… efficient, economical, and incredibly reliable. David and his wife Annie run the Grape Encounters Empourium right next to the studios. Recently, the Empourium acquired amazing side-by-side 3 temperature zone units from KingsBottle, an extraordinary manufacturer and distributor of wine and beverage refrigeration and storage units. Join David and his special guest, KingsBottle General Manager Dena Doiron During this episode, they’ll tell you everything you need to know about the care and feeding of your precious wines. From what temperature to store at to what temperature to drink at, there is really valuable information here for everyone how wants to keep a little or a lot of wine around that house!

To commemorate the 7th Anniversary of the first Grape Encounters Radio episode, David has on Keith Saarloos of Saarloos and Sons from Los Olivos, CA. Keith was a frequent guest in the first years and they talk about the way the wine industry has changed over these years. Next, it’s Randy Arnold, the Brand Ambassador from Barefoot Wines, talking about the legacy of Barefoot as the entry-level wine for many consumers, as well as a leader in supporting non-profit organizations around the world. Wines & Vines recently released some astonishing numbers about US wine industry sales, and Gallo’s Barefoot wines continued to lead all other brands in off-premise sales during the past 52 weeks, with 5% in value growth and 7% in volume. Finally, David talks with Robert Cordtz of Sonoma Cider and their kickstarter campaign to fund a new taproom, that includes rewards such as drum lessons from Sonoma Cider’s pal Ronnie Vannucci, the drummer for The Killers, along with a signed pair of drum sticks. Find out more at SonomaCider.com.

The Unlikely Tale of a Student and Professor Reunited Through the Grapevine!

A few decades ago, a professor in his early 20s teaching at Pepperdine University’s breathtaking campus in Malibu California had a student in his speech and debate class who was the daughter of one of the Napa Valley’s pioneering winemakers. The instructor, whose infatuation with fine wine was in its infancy, recognized the name of the student, but didn’t know enough about the wine industry at the time to realize how important the name was to the birth of the California wine industry.

Today, that professor, focuses virtually all of his energy on wine education. As a matter of fact, he is the host of this show. The student is Alexa Chappellet who, along with her siblings, now owns and operates the winery founded by her parents.

Thanks to Facebook’s uncanny ability to reestablish relationships that might have otherwise remained dormant, David Wilson, host of Grape Encounters, and Alexa Chappellet Flagler, had the opportunity to sit down together and catch up on what has transpired over the past 30 odd years.

It’s a delightful conversation that not only gives listeners a behind the scenes peak at the early days of modern Napa winemaking, but it also offers an up-close and personal look at just how far things have come in a relatively short period of time.

This week on Grape Encounters Radio, an aspiring student of public speaking takes to the microphone with her former teacher, and the teacher finds himself in the odd position of following in a student’s footsteps!

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The 30-Plus Year College Reunion of Alexa Chappellet and David Wilson. A few decades ago, a professor in his early 20s teaching at Pepperdine University’s breathtaking campus in Malibu California had a student in his speech and debate class who was the daughter of one of the Napa Valley’s pioneering winemakers. The instructor, whose infatuation with fine wine was in its infancy, recognized the name of the student, but didn’t know enough about the wine industry at the time to realize how important the name was to the birth of the California wine industry. Today, that professor, focuses virtually all of his energy on wine education. As a matter of fact, he is the host of this show. The student is Alexa Chappellet who, along with her siblings, now owns and operates the winery founded by her parents. Thanks to Facebook’s uncanny ability to reestablish relationships that might have otherwise remained dormant, David Wilson, host of Grape Encounters, and Alexa Chappellet Flagler, had the opportunity to sit down together and catch up on what has transpired over the past 30 odd years. It’s a delightful conversation that not only gives listeners a behind the scenes peak at the early days of modern Napa winemaking, but it also offers an up-close and personal look at just how far things have come in a relatively short period of time. This week on Grape Encounters Radio, an aspiring student of public speaking takes to the microphone with her former teacher, and the teacher finds himself in the odd position of following in a student’s footsteps!