Grape Encounters Wine Radio

David meets with top executives of Justin Winery concerning the oak deforestation that has fueled outrage at the multi-billion dollar parent company, The Wonderful Co., headed by Stewart and Lynda Resnick. David meets with David Ricanati, Justin’s president, Steven Clark, Wonderful Co. Vice President of Communications and Justin Baldwin, original founder of Justin Winery and asks how this could have possibly happened? Who pulled the trigger?

The Resnicks claim they had no knowledge of the ecological disaster and apologized in an impassioned open letter. How sincere was the apology? How will reparations be made and in what time frame?

This interview was conducted with the hope that everyone will work together to do what is right. As much as I love wine, no bottle of it is worth sacrificing our precious and finite resources.

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David meets with top executives of Justin Winery concerning the oak deforestation that has fueled outrage at the multi-billion dollar parent company, The Wonderful Co., headed by Stewart and Lynda Resnick. David meets with David Ricanati, Justin’s president, Steven Clark, Wonderful Co. Vice President of Communications and Justin Baldwin, original founder of Justin Winery and asks how this could have possibly happened? Who pulled the trigger? The Resnicks claim they had no knowledge of the ecological disaster and apologized in an impassioned open letter. How sincere was the apology? How will reparations be made and in what time frame? This interview was conducted with the hope that everyone will work together to do what is right. As much as I love wine, no bottle of it is worth sacrificing our precious and finite resources.

This week, David welcomes Tom Acitelli, author of the newly-released book, “AMERICAN WINE: A Coming of Age Story.” This episode is a major wow packed with little-know insight into how America rose to a position of prominence and downright leadership on the worldwide wine stage. Tom Acitelli shares with color and accuracy the amazing story of how American wine after WWII became a giant among world wines. Expect to learn a lot in the first three segments of the show.

Later, Peter Hladun, the VP of Operations for Cork Supply USA joins David to tell how his company is going far above and beyond to make certain that wines sealed by natural cork are free from the dreaded cork taint that sent so many winemakers scurrying to switch from the real McCoy to screw caps and other synthetic enclosures. This discussion will surely give you peace of mind that has long been absent in the wine world.

It’s one of the most educational Grape Encounters of all time. All you have to do is tune in!

Download this episode

This week, David welcomes Tom Acitelli, author of the newly-released book, “AMERICAN WINE: A Coming of Age Story.” This episode is a major wow packed with little-know insight into how America rose to a position of prominence and downright leadership on the worldwide wine stage. Tom Acitelli shares with color and accuracy the amazing story of how American wine after WWII became a giant among world wines. Expect to learn a lot in the first three segments of the show. Later, Peter Hladun, the VP of Operations for Cork Supply USA joins David to tell how his company is going far above and beyond to make certain that wines sealed by natural cork are free from the dreaded cork taint that sent so many winemakers scurrying to switch from the real McCoy to screw caps and other synthetic enclosures. This discussion will surely give you peace of mind that has long been absent in the wine world. It’s one of the most educational Grape Encounters of all time. All you have to do is tune in!

Stephen McConnell, food and wine blogger of SOIF and eatdrinkca.com

Wine and Food Blogger Stephen McConnell is never at a loss for words.  And while you may not always understand his quips about Cabernet, Granache grandiosity or muses about Merlot, one thing is certain; there’s a madness to his method. To understand his verbal gymnastics, you must first understand a little bit about Stephen.  There is nothing conventional about the imagery he stirs up in the minds of his readers, and if you dare to let your brain soak up both the words and the wine simultaneously, the experience will be a kind of fermented Fellini.

Enjoy a full hour of Stephen McConnell transforming wine into words.  This is not about scratching your head… it’s about exercising your brain.  You’re sure to be swept away, as if you’d just experienced a 73 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. Every bottle of wine has something to say to you, and there is no better interpreter than Stephen McConnell!

 

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An enlightening session with David’s favorite wine & food bloggers that he loves the most; he is the Sultan of SOIF, and eatdrinkca.com, Stephen McConnell… Listen and learn about the language of wine and all those crazy metaphors we use to describe the beverage we love the most. Stephen’s writings are amongst the most creative and sometimes absurdly perceptive and descriptive reviews that we’ve ever read. Read Stephen’s reviews at http://zvoiture.blogspot.com/ before you buy!

David talks dogs and wine with Sharon Sevrens of Amanti Vino, a cutting-edge wine, spirits, and specialty microbrew shop located in the heart of Montclair, NJ that is helping to promote Take Your Dog to Work Day.

Next, Sarah Johnson, Director of Food and Beverage at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, talks about the challenges of managing one of the largest luxury customer service operations in the world. Plus, the tallest wine rack in the world, serviced by Wine Angels. The show finishes off with an update from Gil Gagnon, the former Disney exec-turned-winemaker.

 

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David talks dogs and wine with Sharon Sevrens of Amanti Vino, a cutting-edge wine, spirits, and specialty microbrew shop located in the heart of Montclair, NJ that is helping to promote Take Your Dog to Work Day. Next, Sarah Johnson, Director of Food and Beverage at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, talks about the challenges of managing one of the largest luxury customer service operations in the world. The show finishes off with an update from Gil Gagnon, the former Disney exec-turned-winemaker.

Recently, David discovered a winery that he truly believes will take the wine industry by storm. He was so excited about Cardella Winery that he took his microphones out into the boonies so that he could share the discovery with wine journalists, renowned sommeliers and, of course, wine enthusiasts! David says, “Cardella Winery will be the Cult Winery of the Year!”

The wines are from the beautiful Cardella Winery in Mendota California—a tremendously fertile California Central Valley location not known for fine wine production. Nonetheless, Cardella’s remarkable Barbera, Sangiovese, Ruby Cabernet and other varietals are absolutely world class.

Join David as sits down with winery owner Rod Cardella, winemaker Nathan Cardella and Sales Manager Suzanne Palazzo. They’re not just awesome wine people, they are also real characters who will have you eager to discover what David is predicting will be the “Cult Winery of the Year!”

Discovering Cardella has made David one very happy fella!

Download this episode

David says, “This will be the Cult Winery of the Year!” Recently, David discovered a winery that he truly believes will take the wine industry by storm. He was so excited about them that he took his microphones out into the boonies so that he could share the discovery with wine journalists, renowned sommeliers and, of course, wine enthusiasts! The wines are from the beautiful Cardella Winery in Mendota California—a tremendously fertile California Central Valley location not known for fine wine production. Nonetheless, Cardella’s remarkable Barbera, Sangiovese, Ruby Cabernet and other varietals are absolutely world class. Join David as sits down with winery owner Rod Cardella, winemaker Nathan Cardella and sales manager Suzanne Palazzo. They’re not just awesome wine people, they are also real characters who will have you eager to discover what David is predicting will be the “Cult Winery of the Year!” David says that discovering Cardella has made him one very happy fella!