Our antipodean correspondent, Simone Madden-Grey joins the podcast again (man, scheduling over the last few years has been hard!)!  She gets us up to speed on one of the exciting trends in Australian wine right now: alternative varieties (like Fiano, Vermentino, Tempranillo, and more!)   We define alternative varieties, discuss the impetus for this movement, and the proof points for the movement being more than a fad.  We discuss the importance of the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show.  We cover:  Current forces challenging Australian wine in general – China, difficulties in the US market, and some challenges with alternative varieties with Italy, specifically     Key regions (GIs – geographical indications) that are making great alternative varieties – Riverland, Murray-Darling, and Beechworth, among others.      Full show notes with producers and links are now exclusively available on Patreon! Become a member today!  _____________________________________________  _______________________________________________________________  I could not be happier to announce my partnership with Wine Access, once again.  Go to www.wineaccess.com/normal to sign up for their daily emails and get 10% your first order. And join my wine club. Click here to sign up!      If you think our podcast is worth the price of a bottle or two of wine a year, please become a member of Patreon... you'll get even more great content, live interactions and classes!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes     Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 463: Simone Madden-Grey Returns to Discuss Emerging Australian Alternative Varietals

A podcast for people who like wine but not the snobbery that goes with it. We talk about wine in a fun, straightforward, normal way to get you excited about it and help you drink better, more interesting stuff. The Wine For Normal People book is available on Amazon! Back catalog available via Patreon membership: www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Here’s something you probably didn’t know: Vienna is the only major city in the world where serious wine grown, with its own appellation, DAC Wien. In the green belt surrounding this very green city, wine grapes grow as they have since at least the Middle Ages. And it’s not negligible -- 582 ha/1438 acres. It’s also not crappy, tourist wine. It’s high quality, interesting wine that’s tasty and different. It’s become such a priority for Vienna and Austria that Viennese state law states that all existing vineyards must remain vineyards protecting valuable viticultural land from real estate speculation!
Standing side by side with the wine and with the Gemischter Satz blend is the unique tradition of the Heurige wine taverns. These are such an important part of Austria’s list of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2019.
To discuss this amazing tradition that I bet you had little idea even existed, Alex Zahel joins. He's the 4th generation of the Zahel family and is the GM and winemaker of Zahel. 
A great, eye opening show! 
Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!
www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________  
Check out my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access.  They have an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club for wines I select delivered to you four times a year!    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes   
 Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 520: The historic urban wines of Vienna (yes, the city!) with Alex Zahel of Weingut Zahel

For this show I ask my friend with Brian Callahan, small vineyard farmer and co-owner of Crux Winery in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma (the Middle Reach though – the warmer part, so they do Rhône varietals) to tell us what a year in a Sonoma vineyard looks like. He takes us through what he has been doing for the last 18 years in his vineyard, a three acre plot that produces the beautiful fruit that turns into Crux wine. 
This is a real look at what happens in the vineyard over the year to ensure a healthy harvest. We discuss what he can do and what Mother Nature gives or takes away that he may have to deal with! 


Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today! _______________________________________________________________
Wine Access has an amazing selection — once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the next shipment. As a limited time offer, get $25 off your first TWO shipments of our club!

 To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: http://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 519: A Year in the Vineyard in Sonoma with Brian Callahan of Crux Winery

These categories of "better for the earth" wines are technical, tricky, and ever-evolving, so I it was time to do an update!   In this show, I do best to break it all down in as simple a way as possible…I cover:BiodynamicsOrganicsSustainable farmingRegenerative agricultureAnd quickly, the loose ends – vegan wine, natural wine______________________________________ BiodynamicI discuss the main principles of biodynamic agriculture – that the farm is a single, self-sustaining organism and the farmer must encourage and guide the vines, as well as protect the soil so provides nourishment for the vines. ​The main certification for biodynamics is DEMETER.   _________________________________OrganicOrganic farming is how farming was always done until the industrial revolution. The new iteration grew out of the biodynamic movement in the 1920s. This method took off in the 1970s and 80s, especially in Europe. Different countries have different definitions of organic…European Union Organic Products/”Bio” in France: Organic wine prohibits most synthetic chemicals or GMOs and uses only certified organic oenological products in the cellar, including organic yeast. Sulfites are regulated. United States. This is a program developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). There are prohibitions on the vineyard and the winery, and added sulfites are prohibited. Because of this last prohibition, certified organic vineyards go in and out of the organic certificatioTo make it more flexible, they added the “Made with Organic Grapes” stipulation, which is looser  _________________________________________________________  Regenerative Organic Agriculture Although relatively new, this is likely the future of better for the earth initiatives. Regenerative starts out with the principles of organic but then adds a few other things. Watch this space…    _________________________________________________________   Sustainable Winegrowing  This is the most popular way to do better for the earth viticulture but it’s squishy. Sustainable is a catchall term that has MANY definitions. Examples of certifications:   France… HVE: The French Ministry of Agriculture developed the Haute Valeur Environementale Others... Vignerons Engages Viticulture Durable en Champagne Terra Vitis   California: Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing   I end with a quick tour of Natural wine and Vegan wines

 Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today! _______________________________________________________________
Wine Access has an amazing selection — once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the next shipment. As a limited time offer, get $25 off your first TWO shipments of our club!

 To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: http://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 518: Biodynamic, Organic, Sustainable, Regenerative Wine (and more) -- the Update

This is a special re-release of this very relevant and important show on Earth Day. Jason Haas, perhaps the greenest guy in in wine, joins to discuss the challenges the wine industry faces in becoming gentler on the earth. From regenerative agriculture (which is way less woo woo than biodynamics!) to sustainable transport and packaging, we cover the latest thinking of how to make the wine industry greener and better.
Happy Earth Day all!
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Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!
http://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople
_______________________________________________________________
Wine Access has an amazing selection — once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the next shipment. As a limited time offer, get $25 off your first TWO shipments of our club! That's $125 for 6 bottles -- an unbelievable deal when go to www.wineaccess.com/normal 

 To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: http://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earth Day Encore: Ep 440: Jason Haas of Tablas Creek on Regenerative agriculture, alternative packaging, & improving the environmental footprint of wine

Tax Day in the US has come and gone. Many of us are getting a refund, so if you have a little extra change, here are some great wines to consider.
A few on the list are...Burgundy in red and white: Pinot and ChardPomerol in BordeauxSyrah from The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater in Walla Walla WashingtonOld Vine Zinfandel from Sonoma, Napa, and Amador CountyChâteauneuf-du-Pape BLANC
 I offer descriptions and explanations of each wine in the show. I hope you enjoy and find a way to spend your tax money! 
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Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!
http://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople

 To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: http://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes _______________________________________________________________
Wine Access has an amazing selection — once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club in time for the next shipment (it’s shaping up to be outstanding). 
 Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 463: Simone Madden-Grey Returns to Discuss Emerging Australian Alternative Varietals

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