Grape Encounters Wine Radio

The wine world has been abuzz this week with Wine Spectator releasing their list of Top 100 wines of 2014. This is one of the most hotly-anticipated events each year. Well, you may be able to read about it a lot of places, but on Grape Encounters, you’ll actually get to hear David go into detail about the announcement with Thomas Matthews, Executive Editor of Wine Spectator Magazine. Join David as he takes you well beyond the printed page. Next, everyone has heard of the popular wine, The Prisoner, but on this week’s show, “prisoner” means something quite different to David’s guest Martha Barra, of Barra of Mendocino Winery. Believe it or not, this iconic winery is using prison labor to pick their grapes—and the resulting wines are so good, you’ll want to keep them under lock and key! You’ll definitely want to ESCAPE to beautiful Mendocino Wine Country! In Wine News with Senior Wine News Correspondent Larry Gifford, we learn about a controversy developing in upstate New York, where “fracked” gas from Pennsylvania is being stored in caves which could present a very real threat to the region’s wine industry and tourism. In other news; Eight CA winemakers nearly had their liquor licenses suspended from a seemingly innocent re-tweet, a new indestructible suitcase to transport wine, and Red Robin new sensation, the “Divalicious Red Wine Shake”. Finally, if you need some pairing suggestions for the Turkey Day table, David’s got plenty of ideas for you!

The wine world has been abuzz this week with Wine Spectator releasing their list of Top 100 wines of 2014. This is one of the most hotly-anticipated events each year. Well, you may be able to read about it a lot of places, but on Grape Encounters, you’ll actually get to hear David go into detail about the announcement with Thomas Matthews, Executive Editor of Wine Spectator Magazine. Join David as he takes you well beyond the printed page. Next, everyone has heard of the popular wine, The Prisoner, but on this week’s show, “prisoner” means something quite different to David’s guest Martha Barra, of Barra of Mendocino Winery. Believe it or not, this iconic winery is using prison labor to pick their grapes—and the resulting wines are so good, you’ll want to keep them under lock and key! You’ll definitely want to ESCAPE to beautiful Mendocino Wine Country! In Wine News with Senior Wine News Correspondent Larry Gifford, we learn about a controversy developing in upstate New York, where “fracked” gas from Pennsylvania is being stored in caves which could present a very real threat to the region’s wine industry and tourism. In other news; Eight CA winemakers nearly had their liquor licenses suspended from a seemingly innocent re-tweet, a new indestructible suitcase to transport wine, and Red Robin new sensation, the “Divalicious Red Wine Shake”. Finally, if you need some pairing suggestions for the Turkey Day table, David’s got plenty of ideas for you!

Last year, a fascinating documentary detailed the experiences of four sommeliers attempting to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier exam, a test less than 200 people have passed, and which has one of the lowest pass rates in the world. The movie SOMM gives us personal insight into the intensity with which they study, taste and spend their every waking moment preparing for the test. On this week’s edition of Grape Encounters, David has an extended conversation with the movie’s headliner, Ian Cauble, about his experience both with the test and being in the movie. In Wine News with Senior Wine News Correspondent Larry Gifford, we reveal the Wine Region of the Year, the relationship between wine and exercise, a new wine delivery service in Seattle, and the importance of knowing what you’re ordering. On Sipping with Sarah, David and Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, offer a plethora of tips on how to navigate both wine country and large wine tasting events. Expect a few surprises.

Last year, a fascinating documentary detailed the experiences of four sommeliers attempting to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier exam, a test less than 200 people have passed, and which has one of the lowest pass rates in the world. The movie SOMM gives us personal insight into the intensity with which they study, taste and spend their every waking moment preparing for the test. On this week’s edition of Grape Encounters, David has an extended conversation with the movie’s headliner, Ian Cauble, about his experience both with the test and being in the movie. In Wine News with Senior Wine News Correspondent Larry Gifford, we reveal the Wine Region of the Year, the relationship between wine and exercise, a new wine delivery service in Seattle, and the importance of knowing what you’re ordering. On Sipping with Sarah, David and Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, offer a plethora of tips on how to navigate both wine country and large wine tasting events. Expect a few surprises.

How come so many people claim their wine has “turned to vinegar” when such an occurrence is nearly impossible without intervention? This week’s show not only sets the record straight on the subject of wine turning to vinegar with husband and wife vinegar experts Cari and Craig Clark, owners of Chaparral Gardens. 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, award-winning winemaker Raymond Smith, owner of Indigené Cellars, joins David in a discussion about how wine drinking preferences have changed since the movie Sideways was released 10 years ago this week. David is a big fan of Raymond’s wines and particularly appreciates the fact that Indigené makes a Pinot that packs a serious punch! Next, David and Sara Schneider discuss the wisdom (or lack of wisdom) when it comes to trying to get drinkers of cheap wine to take a few steps up. Finally, a Marijuana Wine? What celebrity is behind it and what else is happening in the quirky corner of the Grape Encounters Radio wine world.

It is by far and away the most memorable and imitated comedic wine-themed moment in television and motion picture history. And what made it even more special was the fact that not a single word needed to be uttered to make the scene magical. Last week in Jamestown NY--in celebration of Lucille Ball’s iconic grape-stomping scene--a new Guinness World Record for the most people to foot-stomp grapes was set by 1232 purple-footed partiers. The revelers, mostly dressed like Lucy, stomped 60 tons of Concord grapes in a vat that was a city block long! Join David as he relives the magic with Journey Gunderson, Executive Director of the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy and the National Comedy Center, based in Jamestown, the hometown of Lucille Ball.While we’re talking New York wines, David introduces you to Jennifer and Fred Johnson, owners of the Johnson Estate Winery, the oldest farm winery in New York State. They’re located in Chautauqua County’s Lake Erie wine country, the largest grape growing region east of the Rockies. Will David make good on his offer to pick Ice Wine grapes in sub-zero temps? Burrrrrrr… And finally, Grape Encounters proudly introduces a new cast member to the show, our new Senior Wine News Correspondent, Larry Gifford, who has the latest on Napa Earthquake damage estimates, a new California wine-themed bar in London, and an NBA star who bathes in wine.

A die-hard romantic, Grape Encounters Host David Wilson believes there’s a perfect mate out there for everyone. He also believes there’s a perfect wine out there for everyone; even for those who say they don’t like wine. Determined to give listeners meaningful advice to improve their wine love life, David enlists the assistance of three trusted colleagues. First, thought-provoking Vinologist Fritz Westover of the Vineyard Team joins David in a discussion about place. More specifically, about the importance of learning how wine country regions imprint very distinct characteristics on the grapes grown there and how big of a difference there is between wines of the same varietal, grown in different locales. The discussion eventually turns to the topic of lesser know varietals that are thriving in regions not well known for growing world class grapes… and Fritz, who has consulted all over the world, gives listeners some suggestions of must-try wines. In romance, when a relationship isn’t working out the way one partner hoped it would, there is often the urge to change and improve your mate. If there is a parallel between romance between partners and our romance with wine, could it be possible to change the wines that don’t live up to expectations in meaningful ways. David and Sunset Magazine Wine Editor tackle that question and their conclusions may have you tinkering with your wine even though you once thought the notion is taboo. Finally, renowned wine guru Wilfred Wong, Chief Storyteller for Wine.com, floats a very COLD suggestion that could also make you feel better about what’s in your glass.

Recorded at SAVOR the Central Coast: David and Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, conduct a blind tasting with the winners of the “Why I Want to Co-Host Grape Encounters Radio” Contest: Kellie Ann Rowe, Veralynn Parker and Deja Mohr. Be a fly on the wall as David goes out of his way to stump three very enthusiastic guests who are members of the Millennial generation as well as one of the most knowledgeable wine enthusiasts on the planet. It’s a roaring good time as our guest co-hosts attempt to identify several random wines and tell us what they would be willing to pay for them. You’ll be amazed at how big of a game changer pouring wine from an unmarked jute bag can be. When the show is over, you’ll most certainly be tempted to try this at home. Oh, and if you’re a wine professional, don’t be so sure that you can come off smelling like a rosé!

All across America—scratch that—All around the world, countless wine lovers with a desire to learn more about winemaking or simply participate in the process of this age-old art, volunteer their services in vineyards and wineries with passion and pride. Now, labor laws with a very different original purpose are being reinterpreted and used to harshly penalize and potentially shut down wineries. One very small winemaking operation operated by Bill and Jill Smyth, Westover Winery in Northern California, was fined so severely, they are shutting their doors. The show begins with David Wilson and Bill Smyth discussing the gory details of this case that is sending shockwaves throughout the wine industry. Later, David speaks with a former Westover Winery volunteer who explains why he loves helping out. Finally David and another grape harvesting and winemaking volunteer from another region discuss the enormous scope of volunteer labor and why this guest is afraid to disclose his identity on the show.Seldom will you ever see your mild-mannered host so completely outraged, so fill up your glass and try to keep your blood pressure from boiling over.

It all started with the Chardonnay, and in just about six years, what started as a modest enterprise has transformed into the largest producer by volume in America. On this episode of Grape Encounters, David talks with the delightful Jessica Tomei, Head Winemaker at Cupcake Vineyards about their success, Tuesday Taco Night, and why Prosecco is one of the hottest product in the wine world. Next David talks with boutique winemaker Carl Bowker of Caliza Winery all about what David describes as “the single most misunderstood wine.” Well, it may be misunderstood, but one thing is for certain… like Prosecco, these days, everything’s comin’ up rosé. By the way, we forgot to mention that Carl makes one heckuva gutsy rosé! Don’t let the feminine pink label fool you! Finally, this week on Sipping with Sara, Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, talks with David about drought conditions in California. David, who had traumatic experiences learning to golf as a child, understandably floats the idea of planting grapes on golf courses to save water. It’s all in good fun so don’t write us unless it made you chuckle!