Looking Into Wine

The challenge of identifying an unknown wine can be thrilling, and hearing that you got it is a huge satisfaction but no easy task.

Blind tasting can be a dreaded topic for anyone who wants to test their skills or preparing for it as part of a examination. It often involves tasting very many wines in a day which may sound fun but the pressure to identify the wine correctly can counteract this.

My guest Nick Jackson, Master of Wine and author of Beyond Flavour,
discusses his approach to blind tasting, through focusing on the structure of wine. A system that Nick perfected in the last few years while practicing for his blind tasting exams for the Master of Wine and which have proven successful for him.

Nick explains on the episodes how each variety and country has is structural pillar and by learning them one can more confidentially identify wines. And I’m keen to stress that as Nick tells on the episode, one should leave behind the aromas.

Blind tasting is still subject to personal feeling, but this approach is something that resonates with me and my own experiences with the WSET Diploma examinations and the way I tasted wine for these.

To learn more about this go to:
https://vintagevariation.com/school
https://imbibe.com/news/nick-jackson-mw-launches-new-online-wine-education-platform/
https://vintagevariation.com/beyond-flavour

These following are affiliate links, it costs you nothing to use them but I get a small percentage when you buy something, so thanks!

Beyond Flavour https://amzn.to/2N6AHyM


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Audio Interface: Zoom H6 https://amzn.to/3qnz7Ht
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Online Recording on studio level: SquadCast https://squadcast.fm/?ref=mattiascarpazza

Slovenia has been producing wines since Roman times, and it is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Vineyards are limited to the two extremities of the country where milder temperatures allow for successful vine growing.
I have caught up with Robert Gorjak, author of 'Slovenia a winemaking country', to discuss and discover more about the local wines and what is happening in recent years. We talked about Slovenia's climate and what grapes are popular in the country, Interestingly international varieties have been planted for over 200 years and have adapted well to the local environment.
Slovenia has many natives grapes making it very interesting to consumers and to those who are learning about it.
In the Episode we have discussed the three main regions
Podravska Wine Region
Bordering Croatia and Hungary in the east, Podravje is Slovenia's largest wine region famous for its sparking wines and world class dessert wines. The wines from this region are amongst Slovenia's most prestigious - Almost 97% of wine produced here is white wine. Officially two major areas, these are broken down into 7 smaller districts.
Posavska Wine Region
This is the smallest of the wine producing regions in Slovenia. The Dolenjska area being home to Cviček; the fresh, light and slighly sour red wine. Cviček has a rich history of more than 200 years and is the wine of choice for most households in the Dolenjska area.
Primorska Wine Region
Slightly smaller but producing up to 30% more wine than the Podravje region, Primorje is the most developed of the three Slovenian wine regions with an annual output of over 25million litres. There is a very stong Italian influence in this area; in language, food, culture, architecture and viticulture.
Although its long producing history, Slovenian's wines have struggled to establish their presence in the international markets compared to their neighbouring regions.
Slovenia also has a long tradition for sweet wines, with regulations resembling those of Germany and Austria and in the western part of the country, there is a growing trend for orange and natural wines.

If you are interest in learning more about Slovenian Wines, I wuold look at getting a kindle version of Robert Book's 'Slovenia a Winemaking Country'

Also check those website out -
https://www.slovenia.info/en/things-to-do/food-and-wine/wines-of-slovenia
https://www.followingtherivera.com/2019/12/20/wine-from-slovenia/
https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-slovenia

These following are affiliate links, it costs you nothing to use them but I get a small percentage when you buy something, so thanks!

The wines of Slovenia https://amzn.to/37jAijv


What I use to make the podcast:
Audio Interface: Zoom H6 https://amzn.to/3qnz7Ht
Microphone: Shure SM58 https://amzn.to/3bcfbAC
Boom Arm Mic Stand with Pop Filter: ShureSM7B https://amzn.to/3tWlMYR
Online Recording on studio level: SquadCast https://squadcast.fm/?ref=mattiascarpazza

In this episode, we talked to Wink Lorch, Author of Wine of The French Alps.
Vineyards in the French alps' region have been around since roman's time. Those vineyards are situated in eastern France, precisely in the Northwester part of the Alp. In this episode, we pay particular attention to the wines Savoie and touch upon the sparkling wines and discussed the many projects that are happening in the region.
Up until a decade ago, most of the wines were sold in the local ski resorts and the wines destined to those outlets were of little interest. But thanks to a group of maverick producers that focused on the production of quality wines, things are changing.
Interesting are the many local grape varieties of which there are more than 30 and are unique to the region. With many sub-appellations which makes it very interesting to look at. It is not every day that a ‘New’ French region escalates to global market interested.
With Wink we talked in detail about the great culture of sparkling wines in the region and things have changed since the approval of the Crémant de Savoie.
***** We have a special 20% discount code for wink’s books. Use the code - LIWPC202020 on her website to get the discount. Valid till 31St of December 2020 *****
We have added a donation box on MattiaScarpazza.com/Podcast and remember to subscribe and to rate the Podcast!
Here are some links to read further about the region:
https://winetravelmedia.com/
https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/opinion/jefford-on-monday/savoie-wines-great-388187/
http://www.snooth.com/region/france/savoie/
https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-savoie

The history of Georgian wines can be traced back 8000 years but the modern Georgian wine industry its fairly young in the grand scheme of the world’s wines. It was only in the 80s when the Georgia opened up to western countries that their wines became influenced by modern techniques.
My guest Lisa Granik, author of Georgia a Winemaking Country, describes the history and the regions of the country. A striking quote from Lisa’s book is - ‘the number of producers increased by double digits in the time writing the book’. This highlights that the country is rapidly changing with a greater global interest in their wines thanks to their unique techniques and grape variety.
Now is a perfect time to learn about the regions in more depth. In this episode we discussed: The major native grapes (did you know there are more than 500 of them?!); the ancient amphoras called Qvevri or Churi, as I discovered while speaking to Lisa: Churi are Qvervri of west Georgia; What Lisa thinks is a great wine for those want to start exploring the country: lastly why Georgian grapes may play a bigger role in the years to come with the warming of the earth.
As promised on the show here are the names of the grapes discussed:

Saperavi produces rich dark red wines suitable for extended aging - Saperavi is one of the essential grapes used in Georgian red wines.

Ojaleshi
Ojaleshi is grown on the mountain slopes above the banks of the Tskhenistskali River, particularly in the Samegrelo region of Western Georgia.
Rkatsiteli
Rkatsiteli is responsible for both high-volume, good value whites, and high-quality examples – especially those fermented on the skins in qvevri. Rkatsiteli grapes have great acidity and good body. It’s produced in both traditional Georgian style and with European vinification methods

Tsolikouri is the white grape of western Georgia. Pronounced tso-li-ko-u-ri, Imereti’s humidity makes it a challenging area for many grapes, but Tsolikouri is relatively thick-skinned which helps it to resist fungal diseases.

For Further information visit:
https://winesgeorgia.com/
https://www.georgianwine.uk/
https://wineriesingeorgia.com/
https://www.winemag.com/2020/11/10/the-wines-of-georgia/
https://www.tasteofgeorgia.co.uk

These following are affiliate links, it costs you nothing to use them but I get a small percentage when you buy something, so thanks!

The WInes of Georgia - https://amzn.to/3jPy3JT

What I use to make the podcast:
Audio Interface: Zoom H6 https://amzn.to/3qnz7Ht
Microphone: Shure SM58 https://amzn.to/3bcfbAC
Boom Arm Mic Stand with Pop Filter: ShureSM7B https://amzn.to/3tWlMYR
Online Recording on studio-level Quality: SquadCast https://squadcast.fm/?ref=mattiascarpazza

In this first producer profile episode, a new segment of the podcast where I converse with wine producers about their wines - history and what is to come from them.
I speak to Lenz Moser, Head winemaker of Chateau Changyu Moser XV in Ningxia China.

China may not be the first country that spring to mind when thinking about wine, but it is now on the top five country in number of vineyards and number of bottle produced for year - as always I like to explore what new and original is coming out in the greater wine world in my podcasts, and who is best that Lenz Moser as first guest with his fine wines produce in China one of the first contemporary winery in the whole country.

Lenz specialised in Cabernet sauvignon, although his previous experiences in Bordeaux and Napa valley, he says that he’s never seen such small berries in his 35years experience as winemaker and in Ningxia – He tell us why he like to work with them so much.

We talk about the Ningxia’s climate and the influence of the nearby Helen mountain ranges home of the first Chinese Appellation. This region faces very few climatic problems other than having jaw-dropping freezing temperatures of -30℃ and Lenz tell us how the vines in have to be bury to protect them from die and his white Cabernet an unique take on Cabernet Sauvignon.
Also, with Lenz we talk about the Greater Chines market and I was surprised to hear that there is a bit of downslope in the wine consumption.

As always be sure to go to mattia.scarpazza.Com. And remember to join our mailing list now! to receive the latest news and projects that are coming up.

Please give us a five-star review and tell your friends to subscribe!

A Special Thanks today to guest, Lenz Moser.

For further information on the regions wines and the winery follow the links and also to the book.
http://www.changyu-moser-xv.de/start/
https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-china
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chinese-Wine-Renaissance-Lovers-Companion/dp/1529103606
(Not affiliated to this product)

Dan Belmont, my New Yorker guest, and I discussed the wines styles, history, and the elements of the New York wine region.

It has a long history of vine planting and is the home of the oldest continuously operating winery in the USA – Brotherhood Winery Est. 1839.

In the 1980s the NY wine region revolutionised its wines thanks to the increased interest of the local farmers in planting Vitis Vinifera. The styles of wine produced then became more consumer friendly.

The small vineyards of the New York region are found in the northern part of the county - close to Canada which shares many similarities in climate.

Defined by its cool continental climate, the Finger Lakes are crucial to mitigate the microclimate of the region. The lakes were created by the retreat of the last ice age and function as energy batteries, both insulating the vineyards from harsh frosts during the winter and cooling them during the summer. This combination leads to the long, growing season essential to healthy grape development. Dan transports us to the shore of the lakes thanks to his incredibly detailed stories.

The region's leading grape is currently Riesling, found in both dry and sweet wines, but as the region is so young things may change in the years to come. Dan tells me about the many styles and grapes that are found in the region, which he tasted in the New York wine competition last year.
I believe that is truly fascinating and that is worth keeping an eye on it to see where is going to go.

For further reading on the region you can go to:
https://www.newyorkwines.co.uk/
https://newyorkwines.org/
https://www.decanter.com/premium/new-york-state-producers-10-to-know-445361/
https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-new+york
https://www.danbelmont.com/
https://www.goodwinexgoodpeople.com/

The majestic island of Sicily has always been a source of wine since Greek times. Over the centuries many populations have conquered it: Turks, Romans, Etruscan, French and English to name but a few. Those rulers have shaped the styles of wine that are produced today.

During its high times, Sicilian wines were some of the most celebrated in the world but a series of poor decisions turned the image of Sicilian wines into what was described as the “Wine Lake”.

In this episode, we will explore the early history of the island’s wines, the later influence of Englishmen and how the modern wine revolution come into place. The days of the production of wines sold in bulk to France and North Italy are long gone but are important to understand the dynamics of the wine production of Sicily today.
Bill Nesto MW tells the story of how in the 80s the exploration of skin contact wines begin, both in Sicily and Friuli Venezia Giulia which has then lead to the global revolution!

My guests today are, Frances Di Savino and Bill Nesto MW, authors of ‘The world Of Sicilian wines’. They believe Sicily is going through a renaissance as they describe it as ‘one of the most vibrant wine regions in Italy’. Sicily has learnt from its ancient history. In their book they offer a comprehensive view of the island’s heritage, regions and grapes varieties.

Bill Nesto Master of Wine, teaches at the Boston University: Metropolitan College (Programs in Food & Wine) and the School of Hospitality Administration and Fran is a corporate attorney who has a background in medieval and Renaissance studies and is Bill’s partner in life and on the wine road.

Bill and Frances, are the authors of the ‘The world of Sicilian Wines’(University of California Press, 2013) winner of that year André Simon Book Award and Chianti Classico: The Search for Tuscany’s Noblest Wine (University of California Press, 2016),

We can expect a interview with them on Chianti Classico in near future, and both books will soon be available in the Wine Bookshop on Mattiascarpazza.com.
A special thanks today to guests Frances Di Savino and Bill Nesto MW.

For more on Sicily I would suggest the following:
https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-sicily
http://winesofsicily.com/
www.marcodebartoli.com/en/
https://www.frankcornelissen.it/
https://settesoli.com/

These following are affiliate links, it costs you nothing to use them but I get a small percentage when you buy something, so thanks!

The World of Sicilian Wines https://amzn.to/2OBj5LP

What I use to make the podcast:
Audio Interface: Zoom H6 https://amzn.to/3qnz7Ht
Microphone: Shure SM58 https://amzn.to/3bcfbAC
Boom Arm Mic Stand with Pop Filter: ShureSM7B https://amzn.to/3tWlMYR
Online Recording on studio level: SquadCast https://squadcast.fm/?ref=mattiascarpazza

Set at the highest point of the south of Italy Mount Etna has been the primary point of investment and exploration in Italy.
Etna wines have been able to make their mark in the global market thanks to their sense of place, history and inspiration that are able to transpire in each bottle. The volcano is planted on three sides, and each of them has its own characteristics and styles thanks to different exposure to sun, altitude, and soils.
My guest today, Dario Pizzuto, a native Sicilian, wine writer and importer is seeing the development of the island’s wines and Etna. Dario visits the region every few months and his knowledge on the region is incredible. He tells us in detail how each ‘versante’ side differs, the grape varieties of the ‘muntagna’, how the eruptions have created an incredible array of soils over centuries, how international grape varieties are growing alongside local ones and we hear Dario’s excitement about vineyards planted above the 1,000 meter threshold.
DOC and DOCG are not explained in the interview: DOC and DOCG wines are both wines with a designation of origin, but DOCG wines have an additional “garantita,” or guarantee, by the Italian government as wines of especially high quality.
To further explore the region I would suggest the book:
The world of Sicilian wine, from Bill Nesto MW & Frances di Savino.

The following links:
https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-etna
https://www.etnaunlimited.com/etna-wines/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomhyland/2018/12/09/the-wines-of-etna-excellence-from-an-extreme-production-zone/
https://wine-philosophy.com/the-wines-of-mount-etna/

Over the past 15 years rosé wines have seen unprecedent success and they are now consumed year-round, not just in summer.
You can find rosé wines from any major wine region, with producers looking to get into this growing market.

Elizabeth Gabay MW, undoubtedly one of the leading global rosé experts and author of ‘Rosé, Understanding the pink wine revolution’, joins me today on Looking Into Wine.

In this episode we explore; how producers are taking into consideration vineyard position and soils to consciously produce rosé wines, how some producers have created new ways to make rosé and the reasons why producers are replicating the Provençal techniques in their own regions using their local grapes. Elizabeth inspires us with her story on tasting older rosés and invites us to explore different styles, as you would with a red or a white, and explains how a different vocabulary is needed for aged rosé.

This episode is suitable for anyone who has some knowledge of rosé wine production techniques, an interest in the development of the rosé category and wine enthusiasts in general.
‘Rosé, Understanding the pink wine revolution’ is a thought-provoking read that encourages rosé wine to be a approached afresh. This wonderful book will be soon available on the Wine Bookshop at www.mattiascarpazza.com.

Some other useful links:
https://pink.wine/
https://rocknrose.wine/
https://elizabethgabay.com/
https://www.winemag.com/2019/05/21/a-quick-guide-to-rose-wine/


These following are affiliate links, it costs you nothing to use them but I get a small percentage when you buy something, so thanks!

Rose: Understanding the Pink Wine Revolution https://amzn.to/3u1tsZF


What I use to make the podcast:
Audio Interface: Zoom H6 https://amzn.to/3qnz7Ht
Microphone: Shure SM58 https://amzn.to/3bcfbAC
Boom Arm Mic Stand with Pop Filter: ShureSM7B https://amzn.to/3tWlMYR
Online Recording on studio level: SquadCast https://squadcast.fm/?ref=mattiascarpazza

Canada is a market that has grown exponentially in the last 20 years, since the switch to Vitis Vinifera and investment in new wineries.

In this episode, I talk to Rod Phillips Author of The Wines of Canada.
Rod offers amazing insights on the wines of key regions – Ontario on the centre-east of the country and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia in the west. Two opposite realities, Ontario specialising in cool climate grapes ( Such as Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) and Okanagan Valley warm climate specialising in Bordeaux Varieties, Syrah and Pinot Gris.

We start by touching on the key dates of the development of Canadian wines. Rod is a world leader wine historian and I really enjoyed picking his brain and hearing about the fascinating history of the country’s wines.

Rod also explores some controversial techniques used in Quebec to produce Ice Wines, where grapes are cut and left in the proximity of the vine rather than on the vine.
The potential of Nova Scotia Traditional Method sparkling wines is also mentioned and the reality that Canada will probably never be a high-volume producer but will be a specialised boutique wine country, with lots of very good quality wines.

This episode is suitable for anyone who has some knowledge of the whereabouts of the regions,
and wants to learn more about Canadian wines.

Rod’s book The Wines of Canada, is a must-read on the region. It will be soon available on the Wine Bookshop on www.mattiascarpazza.com.

Some other useful links:
https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-canada
https://www.rodphillipsonwine.com/
https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/quebec-wine-lovers
https://winecountryontario.ca/
https://origins.wine/partners/british-columbia/

These following are affiliate links, it costs you nothing to use them but I get a small percentage when you buy something, so thanks!

The Wines of Canada https://amzn.to/3jUyfro

What I use to make the podcast:
Audio Interface: Zoom H6 https://amzn.to/3qnz7Ht
Microphone: Shure SM58 https://amzn.to/3bcfbAC
Boom Arm Mic Stand with Pop Filter: ShureSM7B https://amzn.to/3tWlMYR
Online Recording on studio level: SquadCast https://squadcast.fm/?ref=mattiascarpazza