Inside Wine Podcast

Port comes in many styles, but Vintage Port sits at the pinnacle -- but it isn't made every year. In this episode, Adrian Bridge of Taylor Fladgate explains what it means to "declare" a Vintage Port, how houses decide whether a year is worthy, and what all this has to do with St. George. You'll also hear how fortification works, the importance of the otherwise "neutral" grape spirit, what separates a classic declaration from Single Quinta and other vintage-dated bottlings, and you'll get a few unexpected food-pairing ideas. If you ever wanted to know how Port wine is made and why it can last for decades, then this is the episode for you. SPOILER ALERT: 2024 is a declared vintage for Port!

Key Topics

• When to drink classic Vintage Port
• Why you'd want to buy a Vintage Port on release, rather than later.
• How the declaration process works.
• What you can expect from 2024 vintage Port.
• Why the declaration is made on St. George's Day.
• What foods you can pair with Vintage Port.

Key Takeaways

• "Declared" means a house has chosen to release a classic Vintage Port from a specific year
• Vintage Port is rare. (~1.5% of total Port production—small volume, highest prestige)
• Vintage Port is built to age. (50–60+ years in good storage)
• Fortification is key to Port's style.
• The declaration decision takes time, and it happens on St. George's Day.

Connect with Adrian Bridge

• Taylor Fladgate website: https://www.taylor.pt/
• Taylor Fladgate Instagram: @taylorsportwine (https://www.instagram.com/taylorsportwine/)

Learn more about wine in general at https://Wine365.com

Podcast Show Notes Episode Title

Why You Should Be Drinking More California Sparkling Wine with Remi Cohen (Domaine Carneros)

Episode Description

What's the difference between Champagne, Prosecco, and California sparkling wine — and why should you care?

In this episode of Inside Wine Podcast, Joe Janish sits down with Remi Cohen, CEO of Domaine Carneros, to break down everything you need to know about sparkling wine. From traditional‑method winemaking and fine bubbles to sweetness levels, aging on the lees, sustainability, and food pairings, this conversation will change how you think about bubbles forever.

Topics Covered

• Sparkling wine vs. Champagne: what legally and stylistically separates them
• The traditional (méthode champenoise) process explained simply
• Why Chardonnay plays such a critical role in elite sparkling wines
• What "tête de cuvée," "Brut," "Extra Brut," and "Demi‑Sec" really mean
• Why California sparkling wine offers exceptional value
• Domaine Carneros' Champagne roots with the Taittinger family
• Sustainability leadership, solar power, and water reuse
• Why sparkling wine pairs with almost everything

Guest

Remi Cohen CEO, Domaine Carneros

Links & Resources

• Domaine Carneros website: https://www.domainecarneros.com
• Follow Domaine Carneros on Instagram: @domainecarneros (https://www.instagram.com/domainecarneros/)
• Follow Domaine Carneros on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DomaineCarnerosWinery
• Book your visit at Domaine Carneros on Tock
• Learn more about wine at: https://www.wine365.com

Inside Wine Podcast — Episode 37 Featuring Jane Dunkley, Winemaker for Bezel Wines Episode Summary

In this episode of the Inside Wine Podcast, host Joe Janish interviews Jane Dunkley, the Western Australia–born winemaker behind Bezel Wines in Paso Robles, California. Jane shares her unconventional path into winemaking, what makes Paso Robles such a dynamic and "Wild West" wine region, and how Bezel is creating wines that are Cakebread‑inspired yet distinctly their own.

Topics Covered 🍇 Jane's Winemaking Journey

• Growing up on a beef cattle farm in Western Australia
• Early exposure to wineries and viticulture
• Coming to California for a "three‑month" harvest and never leaving
• Finding a home—and creative freedom—in Paso Robles

🌄 What Makes Paso Robles Unique

• A pioneering, still‑evolving wine region
• Wide range of grape varieties thanks to diverse microclimates
• Dramatic day‑night temperature swings creating fresh, balanced wines
• A collaborative, community‑driven winemaking culture
• The celebrated Women in Wine tasting group Jane is part of

🍷 Inside Bezel Wines

• A new brand created by the Cakebread family
• Inspired by Cakebread's freshness and balance, but with a distinct identity
• Focused on four varietals:
  • Paso Robles: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc
  • SLO Coast: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
• Wines priced accessibly ($25–$30) to welcome younger and newer wine drinkers

🍽️ Food & Wine Pairing Tips from Jane

• Philly cheesesteak → Cabernet Sauvignon
• Pepperoni pizza → Syrah/Shiraz
• Anything rich & fatty → Riesling (her personal favorite pairing variety)

🧭 Visiting Paso Robles

• A growing tourism and culinary scene
• Boutique hotels and renovated mid‑century motels
• "Tin City" — a must‑visit hub of small wineries, breweries, and food spots
• A fun, cowboy‑country atmosphere (plus Boot Barn adventures!)
• Why now is the perfect time to visit before the region gets too crowded

Why Try Bezel Wines?

Jane emphasizes that Bezel has "something for everyone"—fresh, energetic whites, cool‑climate Pinot Noir, and Paso Cabernets that lean slightly off the expected path. Above all, Bezel aims to make wine approachable, food‑friendly, and free of pretense.

Connect With the Guest

Instagram: @janemakeswine

Bezel wines website: https://bezelwines.com/

More From Inside Wine

For more wine education—with zero snobbery—visit wine365.com.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Joe sits down with Nicholas Poletto, Vice President of Wine Education at Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits. Nick shares his unconventional journey into the wine world—starting from a job he hated, to selling wine in Manhattan, to moving to New Zealand to learn winemaking, and ultimately becoming one of the most respected wine educators in the industry.

The conversation covers how he discovered his passion for wine, what his job really entails (both the romantic and the gritty parts), his pursuit of the elite Master of Wine title, and why the people in the wine industry make it all worthwhile. Nick also paints a vivid picture of what he calls the most romantic wine destination on earth.

Whether you're a wine lover, a curious professional, or someone dreaming about a career in wine, this episode is packed with inspiration and insider perspective.

Key Topics & Highlights Nick's Unlikely Origin Story

• His first "real job" was a miserable relocation-company gig in a windowless office.
• A coworker suggested the wine industry because he loved languages and travel.
• His first wine experience? Volunteering for a tiny New Hampshire winery on weekends.
• Within six months he was selling wine in New York City.

Breaking Into Wine Sales

• Started in 100% commission sales — "what you kill is what you eat."
• A pivotal moment: losing a major sales opportunity because he didn't know what Sancerre was.
• That failure became the turning point that drove him to pursue formal education through WSET.

Education Changed Everything

• WSET opened the door to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, and beyond.
• Once he gained knowledge, accounts started calling him — his "aha" moment.
• Led him to teach WSET and build a strong foundation in wine theory.

A Life-Changing Leap

• Despite big earnings, Nick quit his job to move to New Zealand and learn winemaking firsthand.
• Worked in vineyards, scrubbed tanks, explored the entire country.
• Returned to the U.S. and joined Kobrand, eventually becoming VP of Wine Education.

What a Wine Educator Really Does

• Trains distributor sales teams across the entire U.S.
• Teaches eight-hour seminars (intermediate + advanced).
• Creates educational materials, books, presentations, and a training podcast.
• Travels extensively domestically and internationally to visit producers.
• Gains rare behind‑the‑scenes access at wineries, vineyards, and cellars.

The Glamorous Side (Yes, There Is One)

• Visiting world-class estates around the globe.
• Foot-treading grapes, learning barrel-making, touring historic caves.
• Experiencing local cuisine with winemakers — the true insider version.
• Witnessing wine regions in their natural beauty: Rhone cliffs, Douro terraces, Piedmont hills.

Nick's First Wine Love: Barolo

• The region of Barolo in Piedmont gave him his personal "Aha!" wine moment.
• A vineyard tasting showed him how wines made identically can taste completely different due to terroir just 10 feet apart.
• That realization cemented his lifelong passion.

The Most Romantic Wine Destination: Beaune, France

Nick's pick for the most magical spot in the wine world:

• The village of Beaune in Burgundy.
• Cobblestone streets, markets, fireside cafés, truffle-centered cuisine.
• A perfect bicycle route through legendary villages like Volnay, Pommard, and Montrachet.
• An unforgettable day of bread, cheese, vineyard views, and world-class Pinot Noir & Chardonnay.

So You Want Nick's Job?

• Start with education (WSET, Society of Wine Educators, Court of Master Sommeliers).
• Get frontline experience with a distributor to understand the sales side.
• Be prepared for travel, airports, long days, and lots of time away from home.
• The reward? A job filled with passion, authenticity, and incredible people.

Nick's Podcast

Kobrand Sips & Selling Tips A 5-minute-per-episode educational resource designed for sales teams—but open to all. Available on all major podcast platforms.

On Libsyn: https://kobrand.libsyn.com/

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3tQdPXdY2jDwqslTSlvP1b

On Apple Podcasts (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kobrand-sips-selling-tips/id1595188132

Guest

Nicholas Poletto Vice President of Wine Education Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits

You can also find more wine, food, and entertaining tips at the home of Inside Wine Podcast - https://Wine365.com

If you enjoy this episode please be sure to subscribe (it's free!) and also pass along to a friend, thank you!

Learn everything you need to know about sake, just in time to celebrate World Sake Day on October 1.

First, you will learn that Sake is NOT rice wine -- you'll learn exactly what it is and how it's made -- but there are a number of aspects of the Japanese beverage to which wine drinkers can relate. Listen to sake expert Ryan Mellinger of Joto Sake explain how to choose a sake, how much you'll pay for one, and how to enjoy it -- including food pairings. Spoiler alert: it's better cold than hot, and you can pair sake with MUCH more than sushi!

For more about Joto Sake -- and Sake in general -- visit https://www.jotosake.com and follow the Joto Sake Instagram @jotosake

Have a question, comment, or idea for an upcoming episode? Email me at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 513.399.6712

You can also find more wine, food, and entertaining tips at the home of Inside Wine Podcast - https://Wine365.com

If you enjoy this episode please be sure to subscribe (it's free!) and also pass along to a friend, thank you!

Jamie Ritchie, one of the world's leading wine and spirits auctioneers, explains why he left three decades of remarkable performance at Sotheby's to join a startup called BlockBar -- where he is COO. BlockBar is an online marketplace combining NFT, cryptocurrency (ethereum/eth), and blockchain technology with the sale, storage, and distribution of collectible wine and spirits to create authenticity and guaranteed provenance in the marketplace.

Learn more about BlockBar at https://BlockBar.com/

Follow Jamie Ritchie on Instagram @jamieritchiewine

Not ready for NFTs, crypto, and blockchain? Visit https://Wine365.com/collect to find outstanding, limited-quantity wines to begin -- or add to -- your cellar.

Use the code BLOCKBAR to receive 10% off your entire order at Wine365.com. You'll get free shipping if you spend $99 or more.

Have a question, comment, or idea for an upcoming episode? Email me at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 513.399.6712

You can also find more wine, food, and entertaining tips at the home of Inside Wine Podcast - https://Wine365.com

If you enjoy this episode please be sure to subscribe (it's free!) and also pass along to a friend, thank you!

As recently as the 1980s, only 10 wineries existed in Chile, making wines that were -- at best -- OK. Today, there are hundreds of Chilean wineries, making good to outstanding wines, many of which are highly coveted by savvy wine collectors. Aurelio Montes Jr. tells the story of how his father kickstarted a winemaking revolution in Chile -- and what father and son are doing next to rock the wine world (despite the persistence of hungry beavers).

If you hurry, you can buy Montes Folly (mentioned in the episode) at Wine365.com -- but ONLY AT THIS EXCLUSIVE LINK: https://wine365.com/folly.

Use the code CHILE15 to receive 15% off your entire order at Wine365.com. You'll get free shipping if you spend $99 or more.

Have a question, comment, or idea for an upcoming episode? Email me at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 513.399.6712

You can also find more wine, food, and entertaining tips at the home of Inside Wine Podcast - https://Wine365.com

If you enjoy this episode please be sure to subscribe (it's free!) and also pass along to a friend, thank you!

Listen to this episode if you want to learn how to start a wine collection and/or how to invest in wine. Wine collection and investment expert Brian Ward of Cask100 and the Winston Art Group offers a primer on starting, safeguarding, and selling a wine collection. Additionally, he talks about the fairly new financial strategy of wine investment, including how it differs from wine collecting.

The key points covered in this episode:

• What makes a wine valuable and collectible
• How to start a wine collection
• How to store, maintain, and secure your wine collection
• Collection strategies
• What regions to consider when building a collection
• How to sell wines from your collection
• Introduction to wine investing, and how it differs from collecting

Brian Ward is the Director of Wine and Spirits for Winston Art Group and Principal of the Cask 100 Fund. He can be reached at [email protected] Winston Art Group: https://winstonartgroup.com/ Cask 100 Wine & Whisky Fund: https://cask100.com/

You can buy collectible wines at Wine365.com!

Visit https://Wine365.com/collect to find outstanding, limited-quantity wines to begin -- or add to -- your cellar.

Use the code INVEST15 to receive 15% off your entire order at Wine365.com. You'll get free shipping if you spend $99 or more.

Have a question, comment, or idea for an upcoming episode? Email me at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 513.399.6712

You can also find more wine, food, and entertaining tips at the home of Inside Wine Podcast - https://Wine365.com

If you enjoy this episode please be sure to subscribe (it's free!) and also pass along to a friend, thank you!

Winemaker Alessandro Medici of Medici Ermete winery in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, explains every type of sparkling wine and how each is made -- from Champagne to Pet-Nat and everything in between. He is an expert on this subject because -- surprise! -- he makes Lambrusco in every style discussed.

You can learn more about Alessandro and his wines at the Medici Ermete website - https://www.medici.it/ and by following their Instagram @mediciermete

For a glossary of the terms mentioned in this episode, visit https://wine365.com/bubbles

If you'd like to taste Alessandro's pet-nat, Phermento, you can buy it at https://wine365.com/shop-wine/medici-ermete-phermento-2022/ - use the code BUBBLES24 for 15% off your entire order (whether Phermento is part of your order, or not).

Have a question, comment, or idea for an upcoming episode? Email me at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 513.399.6712

You can also find more wine, food, and entertaining tips at the home of Inside Wine Podcast - https://Wine365.com

If you enjoy this episode please be sure to subscribe (it's free!) and also pass along to a friend, thank you!

The Buglioni family was known and respected in the Italian garment industry -- until the early 2000s, when the patriarch of the family bought a quaint farmhouse for rest and relaxation. Listen to Mariano Buglioni explain how he accidently became an Amarone producer, and also how you can enjoy Amarone on purpose, in this episode.

Also:

• Find out the craziest wine-and-food pairing EVER
• Learn how Amarone and Ripasso are made
• Get the lowdown on Verona, the romantic town of Romeo and Juliet

Bonus: our partner, Wine365.com, now sells wine! You will get 15% off your entire order by using the coupon code ROMEO24. Visit https://wine365.com.

You can learn more about the Buglioni winery at their website: https://www.instagram.com/cantinabuglioni/?hl=en

Follow Buglioni on Instagram @cantinabuglioni (https://www.instagram.com/cantinabuglioni/?hl=en)

Have a question, comment, or idea for an upcoming episode? Email me at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 513.399.6712

You can also find more wine, food, and entertaining tips at the home of Inside Wine Podcast - https://Wine365.com

If you enjoy this episode please be sure to subscribe (it's free!) and also pass along to a friend, thank you!