Grape Encounters Wine Radio

Part Two of Our Journey to Greece With the Owner of Domaine Porto Carras! Domaine Porto Carras is unquestionably one of the most luxurious wine regions in the entire world. It is home to some of the world’s oldest wine varietals AND lavish resorts, stunning beaches and a marina to the rich and famous. Yliana Stengou is President of Domaine Porto Carras and we were honored to have her spend some quality time with us in the Grape Encounters Studio, along with a number of figures central to the promotion of her family’s extraordinary wines in the United States and beyond.Join us as we welcome Yliana, Katerina, Michael and Alison for a very good time in the studio as David completes his two part serious on the wines of Northern Greece. This session of Grape Encounters is so fun, you’ll want to pack you suntan oil and head straight to Porto Carras (Bathing suits optional!)

Meet the Winemakers of Naoussa , Greece for a Very Special One-on-One! As the newly appointed US Ambassador to the Wines of Naoussa, Greece, David has been touring with some of the very best winemakers from that region. On their way south, David invites these talented and fun-loving fellows to stop into the Grape Encounters studio for an in-depth interview about all things Greek Wine. You’re invited to join in on the conversation and learn about the history, heritage and hard work that is at the root of these amazing and historic wines. The show concludes with a blind tasting on Sippin’ with Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine. Does the year of an American wine really make a difference? Sara and David put themselves to the test. Will the conclusions be predictable? Well, make your prediction and find out for yourself!

How Greed and Legal Maneuvering Threaten the Good Name of the Exceptionally Conscientious Winemaking Community as it Celebrates Sustainability and Best Practices. You may never hear host David Wilson this outraged again as he takes aim at lawyers and fear mongers who could rake in a fortune by making legal claims against numerous winemakers whose only crime is obeying the letter of the law. Yes, in America you can sue for anything… and a class action suit that wine lovers will probably never see a penny from could cripple some of your favorite wine brands, or at least drive prices much higher. Is arsenic in wine slowly killing us? Well, David demands to see the dead or dying that support the claim that naming your poison could get you exactly what you ask for. Guests include a very outraged Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, Gladys Horiuchi, Director of Media Relations for the highly influential Wine Institute and the Wine Institute’s Allison Jordan who helps focus attention where it deserves to be… on the exceptional sustainability practices of California Winemakers. Give a listen and SPREAD THE WORD, NOT THE FEAR!

It’s a Grape Encounters road trip as David does the show in front of a live audience at Napa Flats Restaurant in historic San Antonio. San Antonio is about an hour and a half from the Texas Hill Country, which is home to some of the finest wines in the state. Though Texas’ wine production is relatively small in comparison to the Golden State, the quality of these wines cannot be overlooked and so David has invited some high profile players from the Hill County to join him and give YOU a crash course in Lone Star Grape-Based Libations. David’s guests include Dr. Richard Becker who is credited with much of the growth of Texas’ wine industry and the ever-increasing quality of the wines. At the end of the show, David ducks out to quieter quarters to talk wine etiquette with Sunset Magazine Wine Editor Sara Schneider. To spit or not to spit… that is the question!

This week’s Grape Encounters covers a lot of territory, from how to shop the big box retailers for great wine values, to making wines in a way that protects the planet. First David talks organic semantics with Michael Jordan, one of only fifteen people to hold both Master Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator credentials. Michael is the Director of Global Key Accounts for Jackson Family Fine Wines, a leader in the area of using sustainable practices at their forty wineries. From the growing of the grapes to the pressing and making of the wines, to the bottling and storing, and shipping off to market, he talks about the company’s commitment to being a Green winemaking enterprise. Then David talks with old friend of the show Wes Hagen, winemaker for Clos Pepe Vineyards, about appreciating wines no matter what their dollar value, and how today’s wines are generally higher quality than ever before, and how even mass-produced wines can deliver a great experience. Finally, a chat with Sara Schneider, wine editor of Sunset Magazine, who put the finishing touches on the conversation adding plenty of food for thought in this buffet of expert wine opinions!

This week’s Grape Encounters takes you from the frigid cold weather that is threatening the grape crops in the east, to the tepid drought-plagued west and a little barefoot romping with the brand Ambassador of Barefoot wines who made an unscheduled visit to the Grape Encounters studios just as we were wrapping up our broadcast. What’s the latest on the storage of fracked gas under the fingerlakes? Is Mother Nature making things even worse in the Wine Country of the Year? And why is Barefoot Wine so darn popular? The answers to all these questions and the latest wine news with Larry Gifford this week on Grape Encounters Radio with David Wilson!

It’s amazing how much things that have nothing to do with what is inside your bottle of wine effect your perception of that wine. By spending just a few minutes listening to David’s tips, you can significantly change your perception of your wine in magical ways. Check it out and see for yourself! Then it’s wine news with Larry Gifford, including the biggest story of the week about Vinthesis, a practice pioneered by your host himself, David Wilson. In the second half of the show, David tells all about Vinthesis and gives Larry 4 vials of wine and guides him on a blending adventure that will surely give you confidence to try it on your own! Finally, in the last segment of the show, David and Sara Schneider take on the topic of tasting room etiquette. Don’t wear any perfume while listening to this piece!

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!

Last week, Grape Encounters Host David Wilson and Sara Schneider, the Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, took on a challenge that may well have been the craziest thing two journalists could inflict upon themselves. It was a blind tasting of wines from around the world sent by arguably the most high profile sommelier in the business… Ian Cauble, the star of the hit wine documentary, SOMM. So did they pass, or should the hang their heads in shame. To find out, David met with the Master face-to-face. And so, this edition of Grape Encounters Radio takes you to one of the most acclaimed sub-regions of the Napa Valley, where Master Cauble renders his verdict. Is it a passing grade or a reason to crawl under a rock? You’ll have to listen to find out! Then, on the lighter side, David is joined by two members of a prestigious winemaking business who have something very special in common with our host. Yep, sometimes its really nice having one of the most common last name in the phone directory. Plus, all the wine news you can drink up with the loveable Larry Gifford. Cheers to you!

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey are arguably the greatest success story in the American wine business. They were the founders of Barefoot Wine, which grew into the largest brand in the country. The story is particularly compelling because charity is what fueled the company’s success and, this week, you’ll hear their inspiring story in detail as David spends some quality time skipping barefoot through the vines. Next, it’s a special edition of Sippin’ With Sara… Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine. In this extended segment, David and Sara navigate though six wines concealed in unmarked wrappings. The wines were sent courtesy of Ian Cauble, the star of the movie Somm. Just how well will David and Sara be able to identify what’s under the black wrappers. Well, they may not get their Master Somm degrees, but they will get plenty of chuckles as they prove that even seasoned wine drinkers have trouble finding their way through the darkeness! A lot to love on this week’s Grape Encounters Radio!