Grape Encounters Wine Radio

Ever since David Wilson became the US Ambassador to the Wines of Naoussa Greece, he naturally has talked a lot about the often underappreciated wines from this ancient region. But rather than just talk about it, this week, David takes you there. Not only does he visit many of the wineries and winemakers that he’s been talking about for month, the story gets especially interesting given the fact that David arrived and toured the country at the height of Greece’s financial crisis. How are the winemakers holding up through this enormous crisis? You’ll get a good sense of their optimism and good humor… an unexpected surprise for David, and a rare look at a booming wine region facing difficulties that are no fault of their own. Tune in and learn more about wines that are probably off your radar. Better yet, let this show inspire you to help the Greek economy by becoming a visitor to this beautiful and ultra-friendly place. This week it’s Naoussa. Next week, it’s Porto Carras. What could have been a very downbeat show winds up being pure delight. Don’t miss it!

This week’s show explores a very novel concept in winemaking that creates a unique bond between top winemakers and wine-loving consumers. This week, David introduces you to Matt Smith of GrapeSeed Wines. Imagine being in partnership with some of the world’s greatest winemakers who create wines only available to you. If you’ve got a hundred bucks a month, you’re in fat city! Then, have you noticed how many women’s names are showing up on top winemaker lists? Well, it may surprise you to learn that more women are now attending winemaking school than men. Will the trend continue and what’s the scoop in other countries? Find out as David visits with Deborah Brenner, founder of Women of the Vine and the book of the same name. It may not be the battle of the sexes, but there’s some serious competition going on that puts male dominated winemaking head-to-head with wines bearing a more feminine touch!

The Trouble with Smart Phone Apps is that they tend to be awfully gimmicky… Not really delivering on their promises. However, when you hear what the brain trust over at Next Glass has come up with for wine lovers, your jaw will drop so low you’d best not have a mouth full of wine! The Next Glass Application is nothing short of pure genius; helping you predict whether or not you’ll like any given wine using complex algorithms, user input and unparalleled research and technology. This is the real deal and we have the company’s COO on who will tell you how this miraculous App does it’s thing! The show concludes with a profile of some hot varietals on Sippin’ with Sara featuring Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine. Are there wines you’re missing out on? Find out on this installment!

In part 2 of David’s coverage of the Finger Lakes Wine Region, David goes to a meeting of “We Are Seneca Lake”, a group fighting the storage of fracked gas in the salt mines underneath the region.

It’s likely you have no idea just how good the wines made in the Finger Lakes region of New York really are because very few of them make it outside of the Empire State. But don’t let that fact stop you. If you really want them you can get them and this week, David takes you to the tasting rooms of some of the very best Upstate New York wineries. Join David on a whirlwind tour of the entire Finger Lakes wine region where you’ll meet some of the very biggest names in East Coast winemaking. It’s a very special “on the road” edition of Grape Encounters Radio that will put you in a New York state of mind!

Recently, the International Chardonnay Symposium brought top Chardonnay producers from around the world to the classic Californian beach towns of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach for an in-depth exploration of the world’s favorite grape and its impact on viticulture, tastemakers and the market. David reports on the event, and talks to industry leaders and winemakers, beginning with Meredith May, publisher of The Tasting Panel magazine and the The SOMM Journal. Then it’s blending winemaker Aaron Mercer of Turnkey Wine Brands, makers of many brands and private label wines. David then interviews Amy Jean Butler of Ranchero Cellars and finishes with Bo Felton, winemaker of Migration Wines, of the prestigious Duckhorn Wine Company. It’s a great show even for non-Chardonnay fans!

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about wine drinkers, it’s the fact that we all tend to appreciate a good cup of Joe as well. Yep, coffee and wine to pair pretty fine, but what if you mixed the two together in the same glass? Hmmm. Well, today’s edition of Grape Encounters begins with an interview that answers that question. Meet the man who is making millions by blending coffee and wine in a can! David wanted to knock it… but instead, he decided to try it… on the air! Next, David catches up with Sara Schneider, the Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine and samples some wines that were produced by Maynard James Keenan, the front man of the Rock Group Tool who is now focusing much of his attention on winemaking in Arizona and New Mexico. Keenan served as Sara’s personal chauffer and tour guide recently and she fills us in on all the details! Wrapping up this week’s show is the Grape Encounters News with Larry Gifford. It was a busy news week and Larry’s got the skinny on what’s been going on in the world of the glorious grape!

The Trouble with Smart Phone Apps is that they tend to be awfully gimmicky… Not really delivering on their promises. However, when you hear what the brain trust over at Next Glass has come up with for wine lovers, your jaw will drop so low you’d best not have a mouth full of wine! The Next Glass Application is nothing short of pure genius; helping you predict whether or not you’ll like any given wine using complex algorithms, user input and unparalleled research and technology. This is the real deal and we have the company’s COO on who will tell you how this miraculous App does it’s thing! The show concludes with a profile of some hot varietals on Sippin’ with Sara featuring Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine. Are there wines you’re missing out on? Find out on this installment!

The Trouble with Smart Phone Apps is that they tend to be awfully gimmicky… Not really delivering on their promises. However, when you hear what the brain trust over at Next Glass has come up with for wine lovers, your jaw will drop so low you’d best not have a mouth full of wine! The Next Glass Application is nothing short of pure genius; helping you predict whether or not you’ll like any given wine using complex algorithms, user input and unparalleled research and technology. This is the real deal and we have the company’s COO on who will tell you how this miraculous App does it’s thing! The show concludes with a profile of some hot varietals on Sippin’ with Sara featuring Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine. Are there wines you’re missing out on? Find out on this installment!

This week’s show sets the record straight on the subject of wine turning to vinegar with vinegar experts Cari and Craig Clark, owners of Chaparral Gardens Vinegars.  In the segment, David downs more than a dozen tastes of vinegar while getting the real skinny on vinegar from these artisan vinegar makers. Next on “Sipping with Sara,” David and Sara Schneider, the Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, test some very old wines recently gifted to Grape Encounters. They are joined by special guest Annie Wilson, and experiment using the Coravin Wine Access System to extract tastes of these old bottles through the cork without affecting the integrity (or not) of the wine inside the bottle. Lesson learned: if you are storing wine for long periods of time, don’t leave them in a closet in the desert. Also, David sneaks in a very informative account of the origins of Madeira. Finally, in the Grape Encounters News segment. Larry Gifford tells all about the wildly popular “Two-Buck Chuck.” Curious how some much wine can be sold for so little? Find out on this edition of Grape Encounters Radio.