Sip & Grow The Podcast

My friend Dakota gifted me a Pinot Noir she found during her trip in Quebec… let's try it!

Leon Courville, was a wine enthusiast and decided to buy land when he retired in 1999 and converted it to a vineyard. Although he passed away in 2023, the winery still runs to this day honoring his legacy. The vineyard is actually located in the southern part of Quebec on the slopes of Mont Brome which used to be glaciers 12,000 years ago.

Watch the full episode out now to get all the details on this wine. Titus, as always, has made a guest appearance on this EP. Hope you guys enjoy listening to me taste and yap a bit haha

Cheers to another episode!

1:35 - Introduction to today's wine

4:08 - Scared about the color of the wine

4:45 - Experiences really make the difference

5:15 - Visual analysis

5:45 - Olfactory analysis

6:55 - Tasting notes

7:25 - RIP… disappointed

Today's wine: 2020 Leon Courville Pinot Noir Reserve

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Pinot Noir is near and dear to my heart and one of the most difficult grapes to cultivate. She's a feisty grape but when done correctly makes beautiful wine. I came across Optik vineyards through my job and loved their wine.

The Miller family is a multi-generational farming family that has owned and farmed California's central coast for five generations. Joey Tensley, the current winemaker, let's the terroir and wine do it's thing. He wants the vineyard and the unique qualities of the fruit to shine through in the wine.

Tune in now to get the full details on this delicious Pinot Noir.

1:30 - Introduction to brand

2:15 - Farming family

2:38 - Joey Tensley, winemaker

4:05 - Coolest vineyard in appellation

5:45 - Visual analysis

6:08 - Olfactory analysis

7:08 - Tasting notes

8:15 - Solid Pinot Noir

9:10 - Worth the price point

Today's wine: 2023 Optik Solomon Hills Pinot Noir $50

(Plum Market)

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My friend brought me back some wine from Uruguay… let's try it!

Pisano wines is fourth generation owned and currently being run by three brothers. This family has been making wine since the 1900s and they have always had a passion for winemaking. They LOVE what they do. If you want more details on their family story tune in to episode 29.

Today we just do a little taste test on this white wine while I talk about the world cup. Listen to this full episode now as I open up a Torrontes and give you all the details on this wine.

1:11 - Titus appearance

1:25 - Pisano wines

2:30 - Torrontes from Progreso

4:00 - Visual & Olfactory analysis

4:35 - Tasting notes

5:25 - What I would pair this with

6:28 - Rating on the wine

Today's wine: 2025 Pisano Torrontes Rio de los Pajaros Reserve $20

BUY WINE HERE

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Found this Spanish wine to try at Plum Market and was sold once they told me it was old vines, high altitude. Cesar Mate, the winemaker, originally planned on just growing grapes on the land and selling them but when they made their first vintage in 2008 (3,000 bottles) he was like "hold up, we need to keep doing this". With his wife Marta, they bought the land and some other small plots and Marta Mate was officially born in 2013.

Marta Mate predominantly grows Tempranillo. This bottle we try today is mostly Tempranillo with a little bit of Albillo Mayor to soften the tannins, boost the aroma and brighten up the acidity. Tune in now to get all the details and try this Ribera del Duero Tempranillo with me.

Cheers!

1:12 - High altitudes, old vines

1:45 - Turbilla del Lago

2:45 - 2008, first wine production

4:10 - Albillo Mayor

5:55 - Biodynamic farming

6:30 - Jumilla is my favorite

7:20 - Visual analysis

7:30 - Olfactory analysis

8:35 - Tasting notes

9:55 - Fermented in concrete vats

11:35 - What I would pair this with

12:16 - Rating of the wine

13:15 - How much wine they produce yearly

14:20 - My favorite world cup goal so far

Today's wine: Marta Mate Tempranillo $35

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Vermentino is a well known white grape varietal in Italy and is very important in Tuscany and Sardinia. Today I open up a delicious Vermentino from Sardinia.

Think Mediterranean vibes with some tropical notes and zesty-ness coming through. Located in the southwestern corner of Sardinia, Cantina Mesa is in an area called Sant'Anna Arresi. Created by Gavino Sanna, Italy's most celebrated and awarded advertising professional, Cantina Mesa was born to create something extraordinary, unique and simple.

Tune in now as I taste this bottle, give you details on Cantina Mesa and talk about the Curacao game against Germany.

Happy World Cup and cheers to another episode!

1:45 - Introduction to the producer

2:50 - Left on the lees for 4 months

4:25 - Advertising professional

5:00 - Different dialects

5:30 - Why it's called Mesa

6:55 - Visual analysis

7:12 - Olfactory analysis

8:08 - Tasting notes

9:55 - Perfect for watching the World Cup

10:45 - Cheers to Curacao

Today's wine: Cantina Mesa Giunco Vermentino di Sardegna 2023 $25

CANTINA MESA

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This was a cool find from Mendoza, Argentina. Las Susanas are dedicated to making high quality, sustainable wines that align with their values while always striving for improvement. High Altitude wines from the Uco valley are one of my fave and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try a new one.

This specific wine is called "icono" because they dedicate this batch to the best fruit of each vintage. So whether it new one grape varietal or multiple grape varietals they get the best of that year and put it in a bottle. That's why its iconic. Today's is made up of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Malbec.

Tune in now to get the full details and tasting notes with me.

1:45 - Intro to today's producer & wine

2:35 - The best of the best grapes

3:45 - Minimal intervention

5:20 - Visual analysis

5:30 - Olfactory analysis

6:05 - Tasting notes

6:30 - Blend of Cabernet & Malbec

7:10 - Rating of the wine

8:00 - Sustainable winery

Today's wine: Las Susanas Icono Gualtallary $46

(Plum Market)

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Pallagrello Bianco is an indigenous white grape varietal to Campagna. It has been around since the 1700s and is linked to important historical figures and events over the centuries. Fun fact, it was King Ferdinand's favorite grape. When the phylloxera spread happened around the 1860s nearly wiping out two thirds of the European vineyards, this grape varietal was thought to be extinct until it popped back up in the 1990s.

This specific wine is from a vineyard located in Terre del Volturno in the Campagna region. Today I open this crispy guy up and give you some tasting notes and thoughts on the wine. I hope you guys enjoy this one.

Cheers!

1:15 - Wine from the south of Italy

2:10 - Wine is art

3:20 - Titus has some thoughts on the wine

4:10 - Olfactory analysis

4:44 - Tasting notes

5:25 - Indigenous grape to Campagna

5:55 - Affected by phylloxera

7:12 - Rating of the wine

Today's wine: Canestrini Pallagrello Bianco 2024 $25

(Plum Market)

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Ripasso, aka "baby Amarone", is probably one of my favorite go to's when it comes to Valpolicella wine. It is produced in Valpolicella located in Veneto, Italy. Bertani has been around since the 1800s and today's ripasso consist of 70% Corvina Veronese, 20% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella. This one was aged 9 months in French oak and 3 months in the bottle.

Not only do I give you guys the spark notes version on how Ripasso is made but also get into the importance of not downplaying your success. Opportunities are always presented to us not only because we are ready for them but also because we have done the necessary work to be open to receiving them.

It is so easy to dismiss our achievements or shrink ourselves when we finally reach a milestone versus understanding the work we put in to get there. Honor your journey, embrace your accomplishments and most importantly celebrate your successes.

Tune in now to get all the details in this new episode and sip some Ripasso with me.

2:10 - Intro to today's wine

3:02 - Valpolicella

4:20 - "Baby Amarone"

4:44 - Spark notes on Ripasso

5:35 - Grapes used in this wine

6:45 - Half the price of an Amarone

8:55 - Putting in the work

10:05 - Remind yourself of how far you've come

11:50 - Familiarity is really easy

13:38 - Visual analysis

13:50 - Olfactory analysis

14:45 - Tasting notes

16:24 - Rating of the wine

Today's wine: Bertani Valpolicella Ripasso Valpantena DOC 2022 $27

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New Zealand is known for it's intense, zesty, fruit forward wines. Marlborough is the go to place for sauvignon blanc. This area is known for having lots of sunshine, cool breezes and stoney river valleys which ultimately aid in bringing vibrant acidity and distinct tropical and herbal notes in the sauvignon blanc.

Yealands is one of the most sustainable wineries in the world and today you get to go on the tasting journey with me. This one is short and sweet, purely tasting notes along with my thoughts on how crazy hot this weather is right now in Florida. With that said, I figured it would be great to bring on a wine that can help us through this heat.

Hope you guys enjoy this one!

1:10 - Introduction to today's wine

2:40 - Florida people, how we doing?

5:00 - Visual analysis

5:15 - Olfactory analysis

5:35 - Tasting notes

6:40 - It's giving what it needs to give

7:40 - Rating of the wine

8:10 - Happy Mothers Day

Today's wine: Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $17

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Who loves themselves an unfiltered wine made with minimal intervention? … Yes please!

Junio Vargas Ojeda, winemaker and brand owner of Santo Diablo, reached out to me to try out his wine. He launched his brand in 2025 and this bottle is officially his first batch out in the market. It's a red blend made up of 42% Syrah, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 2% Cinsaut.

Junio has been in the industry for 15 years and has learned everything from his dad and brother who also have worked in the industry most of their life. The grapes used to make their wines are all sourced from Paso Robles. His brand is inspired by a saying from his grandmother: "Ni tanto que queme al Santo ni tanto que no lo alumbre" which translates to " Don't be so harsh that people shy away from you, nor so kind that you become vulnerable to exploitation. Seek a balanced approach." This philosophy is reflected not only in his winemaking but also in life.

Tune in now to get the full details on this wine, the taste profile and where you can get yourself a bottle to try.

Cheers!

1:30 - Launched wine brand in 2025

3:10 - Be proud of who you are & where you came from

3:30 - Where did the inspiration for Santo Diablo come from

4:30 - Junio learned everything from his dad & brother

6:25 - Red blend of five grapes

6:40 - Sourced grapes from Paso Robles

8:20 - Unfiltered & minimal intervention wine

9:40 - Visual analysis

10:10 - Olfactory analysis

11:30 - Tasting notes

12:42 - Rating of the wine

Today's wine: 2023 Santo Diablo Red Blend $45

(Go on Santo Diablo IG, send DM)

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Connect with Santo Diablo on IG @santodiablowine

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Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale