Pour & Explore: A Wine, Food & Travel Podcast

Old World, New Discoveries: Wines of Turkey, Italy & Beyond with Andrea Lemieux, The Quirky Cork

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If you’ve ever savored a bold Barolo, stumbled over how to pronounce Xinomavro, or wondered why Turkish wine isn’t already on your radar, this episode is for you.
Nick Elliott sits down with Andrea Lemieux, an Italian Wine Scholar, creator of The Quirky Cork, and author of The Essential Guide to Turkish Wine, to uncork the fascinating stories behind two wine worlds she knows best: Italy and Turkey.
Andrea shares how her pandemic wine studies led her deep into Italy’s complex DOC rules, why Turkey’s native grapes like Emir, Kalecik Karası, and Çalkarası deserve global attention, and how she tracked down wineries across a country where alcohol advertising is banned.

 

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:
  • Why Italian wine law is both mind-boggling and beautiful
  • The must-try Turkish grapes you can find in the U.S.
  • How Turkey’s winemakers are balancing foreign varietals with native traditions
  • The food, travel, and cultural experiences that make Turkey unforgettable
  • Andrea’s top pick for the one Turkish dish you need to try (spoiler: it’s not kebab)
  • A peek inside her new book, The Quick and Dirty Guide to Greek Wine
    • From Cappadocia’s volcanic vineyards to hidden gems along the Aegean coast, Andrea’s passion will have you ready to book a flight, fill your glass, and explore the Eastern Mediterranean one sip at a time.

     

    Connect with Andrea
    Website: thequirkycork.com
    Instagram: @quirkycork
    YouTube: The Quirky Cork
    Her latest book, The Quick and Dirty Guide to Greek Wine, is available now on Amazon: Get it here

     

    Stay Connected with Nick
    Follow on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook: @the.real.wine.guy
    Subscribe to the Pour and Explore newsletter for travel tips, wine pairings, and upcoming tour info: thewineguy.vin
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    Pour & Explore: A Wine, Food & Travel PodcastBy Nick Elliott