Grape Encounters Wine Radio

Why Malibu Wines are Making Waves and Chinese Wine Enthusiasts are Making Bordeauxs More Expensive

Episode 333 of Grape Encounters Radio takes you from Malibu, CA all the way to China. Our first guest is Elliott Dolin, founder of Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards. Elliott went from a career in music that included playing with a number of legendary music icons. But, like so many musicians, the same skills it takes to make music seem to effortlessly translate into winemaking.

What is most interesting about Dolin’s wines is the fact that they come from Malibu; a town known more for celebrities and sun worshipers than winemaking. Learn about this emerging beach community wine region in this episode.

In the show’s second half, our attention turns from Malibu to China, as David welcomes to the show Suzanne Mustacich, author of The Thirsty Dragon. This insightful book will help you better understand China’s unquenchable thirst for fine wine and why that demand is driving prices up. There’s a whole lot of information packed into this edition of Grape Encounters radio.

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This week, we are treated with a visit from Wes Hagen to the Grape Encounters Studio and Emporium Wine Bar & Shop in the Central Coast. Wes has just experienced the Vinthesis™ blending experience, and gives his stamp of approval to David’s methods and madness. And then lets loose with what we consider to be brilliant observations about the meaning and value of wine in our lives… What is the WHY of wine? Wes explains, “We use wine to engage in the last meaningful analog ritual that’s left in this country, and that is, to open a bottle of wine at the table, to spend a little time away from our stupid phones and our iPads and our computers, to make eye contact, to drink a glass of wine, drink a bottle of wine, and spend an extra hour discussing everything except that bottle of wine. Great wine should lead to a conversation about everything except itself. Wine is an investment in spending time with people we love.” And why are we so determined to try to identify flavors in wine? Wes discusses how Robert Parker established a lexicon of identifying aromas and flavors in wine, and why it’s basically irrelevant. The more profound questions are “What are you passionate about? What do you love in life?” Next, David talks with Joel Paglione, Owner of Oak Bottle LLC, which is revolutionizing the beverage and bar industry by allowing consumers to take their cheap/average tasting wine, whiskey or any other desired spirit and transform it into an expensive, vintage tasting beverage within hours. Interested in learning how it works? Listen on…

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!

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This week, we are treated with a visit from Wes Hagen to the Grape Encounters Studio and Emporium Wine Bar & Shop in the Central Coast. Wes has just experienced the Vinthesis™ blending experience, and gives his stamp of approval to David’s methods and madness. And then lets loose with what we consider to be brilliant observations about the meaning and value of wine in our lives… What is the WHY of wine? Wes explains, “We use wine to engage in the last meaningful analog ritual that’s left in this country, and that is, to open a bottle of wine at the table, to spend a little time away from our stupid phones and our iPads and our computers, to make eye contact, to drink a glass of wine, drink a bottle of wine, and spend an extra hour discussing everything except that bottle of wine. Great wine should lead to a conversation about everything except itself. Wine is an investment in spending time with people we love.” And why are we so determined to try to identify flavors in wine? Wes discusses how Robert Parker established a lexicon of identifying aromas and flavors in wine, and why it’s basically irrelevant. The more profound questions are “What are you passionate about? What do you love in life?” Next, David talks with Joel Paglione, Owner of Oak Bottle LLC, which is revolutionizing the beverage and bar industry by allowing consumers to take their cheap/average tasting wine, whiskey or any other desired spirit and transform it into an expensive, vintage tasting beverage within hours. Interested in learning how it works? Listen on…

As strange as it may seem, until now, there has never been a comprehensive worldwide winery guide where you can quickly learn just about everything there is to know about any given winery; large or small. Now there’s Kazzit.com… a website that overs a truly remarkable winery database that will rock your world. Join David and his guest, Kazzit co-founder Babak Motamedi for a whirlwind tour of this amazing site. They say that knowledge is power. If that is true, then Kazzit will give you the potential to be one of the world’s most powerful wine lovers. Next, winemaker Jutta Toerner of MM Organics joins David. Jutta makes an amazing Portuguese desert wine that is truly amazing. How does it differ from Port? Well, you’re about to find out on this week’s edition of Grape Encounters Radio. Cheers!

As strange as it may seem, until now, there has never been a comprehensive worldwide winery guide where you can quickly learn just about everything there is to know about any given winery; large or small.

Now there’s Kazzit.com… a website that covers a truly remarkable winery database that will rock your world. Join David and his guest, Kazzit co-founder Babak Motamedi for a whirlwind tour of this amazing site. They say that knowledge is power. If that is true, then Kazzit.com will give you the potential to be one of the world’s most powerful wine lovers.

Next, winemaker Jutta Thoerner of MM Organics joins David. Jutta makes an amazing organic Portuguese-style desert wine that is truly amazing. How does it differ from Port? Well, you’re about to find out on this week’s edition of Grape Encounters Radio. Cheers!

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Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey were trying to help a friend collect a debt.  What transpired is truly unimaginable! Neither Michael nor Bonnie knew much about wine… but they understood consumers better than 99% of the population. Michael and Bonnie followed their instincts to a place no wine brand had ever been before… the success story of Barefoot Wine is so amazing that it literally changed the way wine is marketed and created an entry point for consumers that might have otherwise migrated to beer and spirits.  Americans now drink more wine than any other adult beverage, and it is likely that Bonnie and Michael’s Barefoot Wine brand had a great deal to do with it!  Hear the Barefoot story on this week’s episode of Grape Encounters.

Also on this week’s show, some news from the world of wine, handpicked for your personal enjoyment.

OK, take off your shoes and let’s go Barefoot with Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey; now New York Times Best-Selling authors and delightful Grape Encounters Radio Guests!

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Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey were trying to help a friend collect a debt. What transpired is truly unimaginable! Neither Michael nor Bonnie knew much about wine… but they understood consumers better than 99% of the population. Michael and Bonnie followed their instincts to a place no wine brand had ever been before… the success story of Barefoot Wine is so amazing that it literally changed the way wine is marketed and created an entry point for consumers that might have otherwise migrated to beer and spirits. Americans now drink more wine than any other adult beverage, and it is likely that Bonnie and Michael’s Barefoot Wine brand had a great deal to do with it! Hear the Barefoot story on this week’s episode of Grape Encounters. Also on this week’s show, some news from the world of wine, handpicked for your personal enjoyment. OK, take off your shoes and let’s go Barefoot with Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey; now New York Times Best-Selling authors and delightful Grape Encounters Radio Guests!

In vineyards around the world… and especially in California, winemakers are turning their backs on pesticides and man-made solutions to problems dished out by Mother Nature. Some of the world’s most outstanding grape growers are now employing dogs, sheep and even harmless insects to do the work that was once reserved for poisons. And here’s the best part… The grapevines are healthier and more resilient than ever before. Better yet, the wines are more delicious as a result. The Benziger Family Winery is one of America’s most beloved super-premium brands. Their wines are of exceptional quality and much of the winery’s success is rooted in the Benziger family’s determination to be outstanding stewards of the land. To tell listeners how this superstar winery uses animals and other natural solutions to grow great grapes and make delicious wines, David is joined by Chris Benziger; vice president of Trade Relations. Also joining David on the show is Sunset Magazine’s Sara Schneider who shares some important insights into getting a useful wine education. Then, Randy Arnold, a key figure in the success of Barefoot Wines, stops by for a surprise visit! And yes, it was a total surprise!

In vineyards around the world… and especially in California, winemakers are turning their backs on pesticides and man-made solutions to problems dished out by Mother Nature. Some of the world’s most outstanding grape growers are now employing dogs, sheep and even harmless insects to do the work that was once reserved for poisons. And here’s the best part… The grapevines are healthier and more resilient than ever before. Better yet, the wines are more delicious as a result.

The Benziger Family Winery is one of America’s most beloved super-premium brands. Their wines are of exceptional quality and much of the winery’s success is rooted in the Benziger family’s determination to be outstanding stewards of the land. To tell listeners how this superstar winery uses animals and other natural solutions to grow great grapes and make delicious wines, David is joined by Chris Benziger; vice president of Trade Relations.

Also joining David on the show is Sunset Magazine’s Sara Schneider who shares some important insights into getting a useful wine education. Then, Randy Arnold, a key figure in the success of Barefoot Wines, stops by for a surprise visit! And yes, it was a total surprise!

Download this episode