Grape Encounters Wine Radio

For the second consecutive year, Grape Encounters has taken listeners on an incredible journey aboard a ship to fascinating destinations. Host David Wilson and his guests cruise the Baltic from Scandinavia to Northeastern Europe to Russia and take in the culture, the food and the wine. This week, Regent Seven Seas Voyager’s General Manager Andreas Piccinin and Food and Beverage Director Goran Radojicic talk about the excursion and the extraordinary collection of wines on board. Then, a selection of listeners talk about what they’ve learned by opening their minds and palates to new wine drinking experiences throughout the trip. We wrap up this week’s program with Sunset Magazine’s Sara Schneider, who talks about Zinfandel with David.

It’s been about a month since former BevMo Cellar Master Wilfred Wong appeared on Grape Encounters to talk about his transition to being Chief Storyteller at Wine.com. Today, host David Wilson visits the grape guru he’s dubbed the “Yoda of Wine” on his new turf. It’s another entertaining, passionate discussion about one of America’s biggest vino retailers. Margo True is the food editor at Sunset Magazine and she joins wine editor Sara Schneider with David in this week’s installment of Sipping with Sara. They have more fun with summer wine cocktail creations and discuss tinkering with your wine to compliment what you’re eating. Then, we revisit a Midwest winery in the Show Me State. Peter Hofherr is the CEO of St. James Winery, who also has served as the Director of Agriculture for the State of Missouri. They talk about the prevalence of sweeter wines from a region rich with fruit.

So, just what is the truth about the impact of wine on your health? You may have heard about how it can help with blood pressure, diet, and even minimize the effects of Alzheimer’s. Did you know it can also help you ward off kidney stones? That is some serious motivation to have an affinity for vino. This week, host David Wilson talks with Dr. Matilde Parente, a Pathologist from Indian Wells, California. She also happens to be an author and expert on wine and the healthy impact it has on our lives. Dispelling any myths, you’ll get important facts for enjoying wine and its healing qualities. Sunset Magazine editor Sara Schneider also joins David in-studio to concoct more summer wine cocktails, and talk about secondary wine labels. They’re not always that easy to identify, but today Sara sheds light on how you can find great quality wine that may not come with the higher price tag of bottles from related wineries.

You don’t need to own a single grape vine to be in the winemaking business. Many wineries rely on the services of others to connect them with the right juice. This week on Grape Encounters, host David Wilson introduces you to one such wheeler and dealer who helps winemakers with their grower relations. Gary Agajanian of Agajanian Vineyards shares his story and expertise as not only a winemaker, but also a negotiant and wine merchant. William Bloxsom-Carter is the Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Director at the Playboy Mansion. He makes a return visit to Grape Encounters and shares more of his love and expertise of vino. David Wilson gets some insight on three decades of serving up great food and wine at one of Americas most famous estates while working for the legendary Hugh Hefner. And, Sunset Magazine wine editor Sara Schneider is in the kitchen with David this week concocting wine cocktails that will keep you cool all Summer long in this edition of our Sipping with Sara segment.

The weather is warming up. Does your preference in wine transition when the temps rise? Many people tend to make a shift and that includes Sunset Magazine wine editor Sara Schneider. Host David Wilson welcomes Sara back for a discussion about how red wine runs a bit heavy for summertime thirst. Next, you’ll meet a winemaker who parlayed a job at one exceptional winery into an enterprise that spans several continents. Much of Nick Goldschmidt’s success today was the result of the wineries he worked at being repeatedly bought and sold. Soak up some fascinating conversation with the namesake of Goldschmidt Vineyards! One brand that is very well known from coast-to-coast for its quality wines is Justin Winery. From the Paso Robles region of California’s central coast, David Wilson will whet your appetite for excellent vino, an extraordinary culinary experience, and a remarkable vacation getaway as he talks with Justin’s wine educator Jim Gerakaris, and guest relations manager Samantha Payette - both certified sommeliers. Find out how Justin Winery became one of the world’s top-5 places to come, stay and enjoy food and wine. David also shares all the important information for you to experience wine country like no other tour has ever done before. From sailing aboard an America’s Cup racing yacht to winery visits among the “American Royalty” of wine with Jean-Charles Boisset and legendary Grgich Hills, this is THEE experience of a lifetime for wine lovers!

This week on Grape Encounters Radio, one of America’s foremost experts on the topic of all things Vino joins host David Wilson for an in-depth discussion on the nation’s favorite adult beverage. Wilford Wong started his career in a family-run wine shop and eventually pursued an opportunity with West Coast retailer BevMo, where he ultimately served as the company’s cellar master. Now, he is the Chief Storyteller on all-things-wine at national online retail giant Wine.com. From the fascinating stories behind his career growth and celebrity reputation as a judge and advocate, to his take on what’s hot and what’s losing its luster with consumers, this is an episode every wine lover must hear. It’s also a bittersweet occasion as new challenges and opportunities mean a long-time friend and contributor to Grape Encounters bids ‘so-long for now.’ Our Gadget Guru Matt Dubow of EpicStyle.com makes his final regular weekly appearance on this week's episode.

This week on Grape Encounters Radio, host David Wilson speaks with two of the biggest experts on the growing popularity of wine in Asia. Tommy Lam is the preeminent wine educator in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Mr. Lam is the President of the Asia Wine Institute, and is also with the Sommelier Association of Singapore, the Academy of Wine Singapore, and is chairman of the Southeast Asia Sommelier Alliance. Nelson Siu is the CEO and Editor in Chief of China’s leading wine publication, Wine Luxe, which is expanding beyond it’s reach in Mainland China and Hong Kong, and will soon add a U.S. edition. They give a comprehensive overview of why Chinese wines aren’t yet prevalent on the shelves of America’s wine retailers, where winemakers are in their product evolution and the nation’s biggest wine regions, as well as interesting consumer information. Plus... Does size matter when it comes to the volume of a wine bottle? That’s the question David poses to Sunset Magazine wine editor Sara Schneider in this week’s installment of Sipping with Sara.

Go beyond the Bordeaux shelf of your favorite wine retailer on this week’s episode of Grape Encounters. Host David Wilson introduces you to a Native New Yorker who now lives in Bordeaux and has the enviable job of playing liaison between French vintners and U.S. wine consumers as an ambassador of Bordeaux wines. Jana Kravitz Plissonneau of K and P Origines-Vin’Animus has also brought along a 14th generation Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur winemaker, Patrick Mazeau, from Château de Costis. It’s a fascinating discussion about the region, the châteaus and the standards required to actually be able to label a wine Bordeaux. And, if you’re a wine lover who is in love with collectibles, you’ll love David’s rap-session this week with EpicStyle.com Gadget Guru Matt Dubow. They’ll be discussing eye-catching bottle stoppers.

David Wilson is beginning to get terribly bored with wine. He hasn’t lost his passion for a good bottle of wine. But, rather, he has become impatient with finding decent bottles of wine at a decent price. Your Grape Encounters host believes that wines are beginning to taste more and more alike. Why is that? Manipulation in the winemaking process. This week, respected wine educator, wine judge and Clos Pepe Vineyards winemaker Wes Hagen joins the conversation to explain why he feels that it is becoming more and more difficult to zero in on wines that he’d like to recommend to you. He talks about overcoming 'sameness in the Golden Age of wine.' This week’s Sipping with Sara feature with Sunset Magazine’s Sara Schneider continues a conversation about wine manipulation. How exactly is Rosé made? Well, for starters, there’s only one place in the world where mixing red and white wine to achieve this flavorful pink is permitted. And, Gadget Guru Matt Dubow of EpicStyle.com and David talk about how you can legally take your wine leftovers home from a restaurant.

Great wine, delicious food, amazing music and faraway destinations intersect on this week’s edition of Grape Encounters. It’s that time of year when people get the bug to hit the road… or take to air or the sea… for spring and summer vacations. Andy Levine, founder of Duvine Cycling, makes a return visit to talk about astounding new ways to enjoy an exceptional wine and culinary experience while touring European wine destinations on a bicycle. In late-Jun, Grape Encounters listeners will cruise the Baltic with a stop in St. Petersburg, Russia. What can they expect in terms of wines and culture in this port of call? Get a sneak preview from the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble, a quartet performing this Spring on the U.S. West Coast, who stop by our studio for an entertaining conversation and mini-performance! And, did you know that grapes dig the good vibrations of music? Host David Wilson and Sunset Magazine wine editor Sara Schneider talk about winemakers who are using music to inspire that fruit on the vine. Plus, Gadget Guru Matt Dubow of EpicStyle.com gets twisted up when it comes to talking about bottle caps vs. corks.