Did you know there is a lot of science behind the winemaking process? I touch on what I have learned and go over terms that were foreign to me before I started working a wine harvest. Sampling grapes is an important part of the process and harvesting the grapes at the perfect time is where the science comes in to help us.  I dive into how these different measurements affect the wine and the PH of the wine. Also, the importance and difference between alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation. It is super important to make sure the yeasts in the juice are healthy and have enough nutrients to be healthy and strong during fermentation.  Everything is explained in the simplest way possible and towards the end of the episode I open up a 2021 Malbec from Domaine Bousquet.

You don’t want to miss this one!  

2:50 - Science components

3:40 - Sampling grapes

5:22 - Why sampling the grapes is important

7:45 - Breaking down important terms

8:00 - What we measure to harvest grapes

8:55 - What is yield?

9:45 - Brix measurement

10:45 - Measuring the PH of wine

11:45 - TA measurement (total acidity)

12:30 - YAN measurement (yeast assimilable nitrogen)

12:45 - MA measurement (malic acid)

13:35 - Preferred PH range for winemakers

15:35 - Fermentation: two types

15:58 - Alcoholic fermentation

16:18 - Malolactic fermentation

17:05 - Feeding the yeasts for fermentation

18:18 - Timing is everything in winemaking

18:45 - Magical juice (wine) is created once the malolactic fermentation finishes

20:05 - Describe today’s wine for tasting

22:30 - Briefly explain barrels

22:33 - Gluten free wine

24:24 - Wine tasting

Today’s wine: Domaine Bousquet 2021 Malbec 

https://domainebousquet.com/en/wine/premium-malbec/ 

Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast

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Today we are trying a Malbec from the US… particularly Sonoma County, California.  I do a little story time on this specific 2018 Malbec and the Bradford Mountain Vineyard regarding these grapes.  I was feeling the story time and touched on “suitcase clones” which was a huge movement in the 80’s with Americans bringing back clones from Europe. Honestly, the 80's were wild LOL but we loved their wines/clones so why not bring a few back to create some great wines over here (…am I right?). 

Sit back, grab your glass and enjoy another episode of Sip & Grow with me.

1:55 - Malbec from Sonoma County, CA

2:25 - Story behind their Malbec vines

3:20 - Story time the Nicole way

4:50 - Aging process for this Malbec

5:30 - Oak barrels

6:45 - “Suitcase clones” and the history behind it

9:50 - Clearing out any diseases from foreign clones

10:55 - Pour wine in glass

12:10 - Elevate your tasting notes

13:55 - Taste the wine

16:18 - What food I would pair this wine with

Today’s Wine: 2018 Malbec Bradford Mountain Estate Vineyard $40 

https://www.petersonwinery.com/product/Malbec-2018--Bradford-Mountain-Estate-Vineyard 

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Sulfur… natural wine… let’s talk about it.

What is sulfur? Why is it important? What does natural wine actually mean?

I get into all these questions in this episode, regarding why using sulfur outside in the vineyard and during the wine making process is important. Each winemaker has their own process and way of doing things but there is a general rule of thumb for everyone across the board…. make sure the integrity of the wine is protected at all times.  I dive into oxidation and how some white wines may have higher amounts of sulfur if the skins were separated in the winemaking process.  One thing I love about where I currently am working is that they dry farm and stick to the natural way of making wines. My take on wine is simple, stick to the natural wine making process but do what is necessary to to preserve the wine you make.

Tune in to get all the nitty gritty details on this topic. Hope you enjoy and drink your wine while listening!

1:30 - Hurricane in California

3:10 - What are natural wines?

4:15 - How sulfur helps the grapes out in the vineyard

5:45 - Not all winemakers are the same

6:25 - Sticking to the fermentation process & adding sulfur when necessary

7:05 - Natural oxidant from the skins

7:30 - White wines usually have more sulfur added to them

8:20 - Sulfur allergies

9:35 - Preserving wine in the bottling process

10:30 - Shelf life for most ‘natural wines’

11:02 - Visual analysis of the wine

12:50 - Taste the wine

13:50 - My take on natural wines

14:44 - Would I buy this wine?

16:15 - Expanding your palette

Today’s Wine: 2020 Virgen Organic Cabernet Sauvignon

https://domainebousquet.com/en/wine/virgen-cabernet-sauvignon/ 

Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast

Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale 

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

Two words…. Kosher and natural.

Today we are tasting a Kosher wine that also falls under the natural wine category.  I get into what exactly kosher wine is, go over what natural wine means and talk about how sulfur is important to preserve the integrity of the wine.  Generally, I am not a huge fan of the ‘natural wine’ label but I do stand by sticking to the natural process of wine making from vine to glass.  Tune into this episode to see how this specific Kosher wine taste and hope it’s the addition you are looking to add to your wine collection.

Let me know what you think!

2:40 - Introduction to Kosher wine we will be tasting

4:50 -  What is Kosher wine?

5:50 - Natural wine 

7:00 - Sticking to the natural wine process as much as possible

7:30 - Sulfites… don’t be scared of them

8:35 -  Don’t change the integrity of the wine

9:48 - Natural wine movement

10:50 - Visual analysis of the wine

12:22 - Living a dream with California weather

13:30 - Olfactory analysis of the wine

Today’s Wine: 2021 Alavida Organic Kosher Malbec

https://www.totalwine.com/wine/red-wine/malbec/alavida-usda-organic-certified-kosher-malbec/p/2126215067?glia=true&s=1135&&pid=cpc:Performance+Max%2BUS%2BCALI%2BSTANDARD+PRIORITY::google::&gclid=CjwKCAjwvrOpBhBdEiwAR58-3CsEqIBUoHA1yrXeQU6GUliCZ4t8S5Asm7_TeRduIaFX0J2w1RpE6BoCDi0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds 

Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast

Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale 

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

Another week, another episode… WELCOME BACK and/or WELCOME if you are new to the podcast.

Today, we are drinking the Hallberg Blanc from the vineyard I am currently working a Harvest at aka Emeritus Vineyards (best Pinot in town hehe).  I do mention that Emeritus also has a sparkling wine (like a champagne but a little different) which is just as delicious as the blanc. 

Today, I get into talking about Angus Cloud’s death which inspired the topic for this episode along with recent conversations I have been having with multiple people.  Understanding yourself is so important because knowing who you are will allow you to be more open to experiences (good or bad) that will aid in your growth.  In order to experience and feel everything life has to offer you really need to be honest and open to everything. I think it’s so important to always do things that bring you joy and happiness and I feel like there are so many people out there confused, lost or unhappy with their current life because they aren’t doing what brings them joy or focusing on their present moment. Life can be hard sometimes and it’s easy to go with what is comfortable or “in routine”. Mental health is important and there are so many factors that can get in the way of you and what you want. Hopefully today I give you a different perspective that will inspire you to strive for more and do the things that genuinely bring you the most joy.

Remember, everything is always happening for you, not against you.

Hope you guys enjoy this one!

1:50 - Introducing the Hallberg Blanc

2:15 - Clones 101

2:50 - Open bottle to start tasting the Blanc

3:20 - Red wine vs. white wine

3:45 - Improvise as my roommate & her date walk by

4:40 - Tasting the Blanc

5:55 - What I would eat with this Blanc

7:10 - Angus Cloud passed away

8:05 - Life experiences & mediocracy

9:10 - Everything is happening for you

10:15 - Everything starts with understanding yourself

11:40 - Life: the good & the bad

13:25 - It’s about balance and getting the help you need

Today’s wine: 2022 Hallberg Blanc $42

https://www.emeritusvineyards.com/product/2022-emeritus-vineyards-hallberg-blanc/ 

Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast

Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale 

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

Welcome back to another episode….. sera lo que sera (it will be, what it will be)… which in this  case it will be Syrah.

This producer is probably one of my favorite finds here in California so far. Anthill Farms, thank you for blessing me with an easy to drink Syrah. Their wines have yet to disappoint me, also I just love their story.  Tune in to hear a little more about Anthill Farms and try their 2020 vintage with me. Today you will learn how three friends created their own wine label, talk about the term “cellar rats” and getting into taking some messy action going after what you want. I dig into how everything in life is connected, good things take time and you attract what you are. Remember, everyone is dealt a different card but it’s what you do with your card that matters!

Cheers to episode 6!

2:44 - Anthill Farms backstory

3:33 - “Cellar Rats”

4:22 - Three friends create their own wine label

5:00 - Crush pads, what they are and what they are used for

6:12 - Pour the Syrah for tasting

7:05 - Anthill Farms backstory inspired me

8:22 - Olfactory analysis on the Syrah

9:20 - Tasting notes on the wine

11:25 - Take “messy action”

12:35 - Everyone is dealt a different card

13:10 - Everything is a process

14:20 - Good things take time

15:55 - Everything is connected

16:30 - Law of attraction

Today’s wine: Anthill Farms 2020 Syrah

https://www.anthillfarms.com/purchase 

Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast

Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale 

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

YAY! Another day of sippin’ on some wine. In this case sippin’ on one of my favorite grape varieties… Malbec. This week we strictly talk about two of my favorite things, soccer and wine (Messi & Malbec). I get into talking about the Zuccardi family, Inter Miami CF, the MLS and at some point invite Messi and his fam to the family asado (bbq)…. they say you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take right? It’s a long shot but hey I hope one day Messi comes across this episode and gets the invite. The Di Pasquale family are some of the best host. Also, may or may not have thrown in a random study abroad story about a Croatian guide and a bee. This one is short but probably one of the funnest ones I have filmed to date. Hope you enjoy it! 1:07 - Introducing my favorite grape 2:20 - Introducing the Zuccardi family 5:08 - Messi going to Inter Miami CF 6:00 - Messi changing the MLS culture for the better 7:00 - Inviting Messi to my family asado (bbq) 7:45 - Tasting the Malbec 9:24 - Why I love Malbecs 10:15 - Three month asado (bbq) break 11:00 - Bee in Croatia 2014 12:58 - Don’t fear the bee, pet the bee… 14:05 - Try the Zuccardi Malbec, you won’t regret it. Today’s wine: Zuccardi Serie A 2022 Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

Pinot Noir is now a way of life for me…aka my job has taught me to appreciate this grape even more. Today I get to give you the insider scoop on a vintage that is not yet out! 

Backstory: We bottled the 2022 vintages my third week on the job and I was able to take home some sample bottles that were tested in the lab to ensure the quality is exactly how it should be once the wine hits the bottle. Since these test bottles can't really go out to market, I was able to take some home to taste… woohoo more delicious wines for the Podcast!  Also, once this vintage is released it will be the perfect time to drink it and will definitely taste even better than it did for me during this tasting because it was given the time it needs in the bottle for the true character of this specific wine to thrive.

Once the vintage is out, I will make sure to let you know on Instagram so you can grab your bottle!  In the meantime, I will link their website below for you to check out their current vintages on the market.

Today, I get into new world wines vs. old world wines and really just simplify the differences so that you can get the gist of what they mean and why they are different. Then we get into trying the 2022 Pinot Hill East and how I feel about wine collections.

Hope you enjoy!

2:00 - Difference between old world wines & new world wines

5:00 - New world wines = the millennials of the wine world

5:50 - Explaining the area & climate of the wine we are tasting

6:33 - Open the bottle to taste 

7:00 - Appreciate learning & understanding everything

7:55 - Problems would be solved if we listen to understand

9:30 - Wine description

10:10 - What I would eat with this wine

11:35 - Wine collections… are they necessary?

12:35 - Drink the wine when you get the wine

Today’s wine: 2022 Pinot Hill East (vintage not yet out to the market, view their current selections below)

https://www.emeritusvineyards.com/acquire/ 

Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast

Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale 

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

Thank you for tuning in once again… I appreciate YOU!

Today, we are getting into the details of where exactly I am working and try one of their best selling wines. I touch on how to open a wine bottle, remind you the specifics on how to hold your wine glass (because we definitely want to make sure that glass + wine is secured and tasting it’s best at all times) and I give you the inside scoop on how my first week on the job went. I touch on pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and looking at things from a different perspective. This one is short, sweet and to the point. I really hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoy putting these together for you.

Cheers to number 3!

1:50 - Intro to Emeritus Vineyards

4:44 - Hallberg Ranch 2019 vintage

6:22 - How to open a bottle of wine

7:55 - Growth & continuously learning

8:20 - Push yourself out of your comfort zone

9:12 - Looking at things from a different perspective & taking accountability for your actions

11:00 - Analyzing & tasting the wine (pinot noir)

12:40 - Pinot Noir grape

14:10 - My first week working at Emeritus Vineyards

15:22 - Cleaning & labor work

16:22 - Pictures & videos during wine harvest

16:45 - Painting barrels

17:35 - Learning how to transfer & filer wine

19:19 - Wine harvest talk

Today’s wine: 2019 Hallberg Ranch $48 https://www.emeritusvineyards.com/product/2019-emeritus-vineyards-hallberg-ranch-750/

Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast

Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

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

SECOND EPISODE… Let’s goooo.

This week we get to tasting our first wine (…finally…) on the podcast! I get into my career background, how I landed my wine harvest internship and dive right into tasting one of my favorite Italian grapes (nebbiolo).  We do touch on the spider situation in my current living quarters but over all I am so thankful to be living on a vineyard, experiencing and learning as much as I can!

I can’t wait for you to listen and really hope you enjoy this one.

Today’s wine is: Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo 2021 (price point between $26-$30)

1:50 - Career background & how the podcast was created.

3:00 - Wine harvest: how & why

4:20 - Interviews are rough

4:45 - The worst that can happen is “no”

5:45 - Barn house + spiders

6:30 - Wine @sospiro_naturalwinebar in Coral Gable Miami, FL with Fabrizio

8:10 - What “vintage” means on a wine bottle

9:00 - History on Renato Ratti, Langhe & the nebbiolo grape.

10:50 - Protecting Italian borders & the meaning behind “Ochetti” 

12:40 - How to open a bottle of wine

16:20 - Optimal temperature for red wines

19:05 - How to hold a wine glass 

21:30 - Tasting notes on this weeks wine

25:30 - Foods that I think go with this wine

Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast

Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale 

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