Sip with Nikki

Holy cow!!! This week I’m interviewing a well known author, wine journalist, teacher and mentor, Karen MacNeil. Not only is she the author of my personal favorite wine reference book,  the Wine Bible (which has sold almost a million copies around the world), she is also the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language!

Annnnnd......This week we’ve got an International Sip Spotlight AND Listener Questions! 

Listen in to this extra special episode as Karen and I talk about: 

• An unexpected wine from Sicily
• Her surprising food pairing with Sparkling wine and Champagne 
• How and why wine can be such an emotional beverage
• How she has greatly influenced my journey as a woman in the wine world 
• The creation of Wine Barbie, based on her!
• Her tips for expanding YOUR wine enjoyment 

Find Karen's beautiful wine glass collection here.

Purchase Murgo Sicilian Sparking Brut Rosé from our Sip Spotlight Here!

Become a part of Karen's Winespeed community here.

Use code SIPWITHNIKKI20 for 20% of your subscription 

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine! Please and Thank you.

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Delightful and fun. Now I love my Monday Commute” (kpjscarbs). 

Sound like you? I’d love for you to leave your own review!

How? Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode! 

If you haven't already, please FOLLOW the podcast! We have so many more exciting episodes coming out, and if you're not following you might MISS then! Click here to Follow! 

Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet HERE

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

Drinking around the world at Epcot….Have you done it? Head about it? Planning your next trip? It’s Definitely a thing. 

This is Part 2 in a 2 part series- Miss part 1? Go back to last week and catch up!

My partner Michael and I are taking you on adventure around the world (at Walt Disney World’s Epcot!) In this conclusion to cliff-hanging part 1, find out :

• If we make it all the way around "the World" and complete the last 8 countries
• Did we need a nap to make it happen 
• If we know the words to “Oh Canada”…
• The international wines and beers we enjoy at each stop
• What delicious Epcot bites we pair with our beverage (Hint: there’s fish-n-chips)
• Who our Surprise Guest is for the final portion of our adventure

Want more tips to get the most out of your wine? Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here.

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine or Michael a pint. We would be so grateful 

Looking for a delicious wine to serve with your next charcuterie board or pizza?Purchase my 2019 Sollevato Sangiovese here. Use code PODLISTENER for 10% off.

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?) 

Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode!

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

Drinking around the world at Epcot….Have you done it? Head about it? Planning your next trip? It’s Definitely a thing. 

With or without kids (we are without), Walt Disney World can be a playground for foodies and people who like to try “all the things”.  The World Showcase in Epcot has 11 countries represented around a beautiful lagoon, and each stop highlights the people, culture, music, food and drinks from that nation! 

This is part 1 in a series, where my partner Michael and I “Sip Around the World” and take you with us! 

Please Note: La Cava Tequila Bar in Mexico is very small and always very crowded and "lively"! Apologies for the background noise- I adjusted it as best I could... It's gets better when we move on to the next stop! Thanks for understanding.

In this Episode, see what happens when we :

• Kick it off at the Rose and Crown Pub in the UK with a proper pint
• Dive into a Full on Tequila Tasting in Mexico (with guac)
• Try a surprisingly delicious beverage in China
• Venture 220 miles above Epcot for some perfect pairings in the Space 220 Lounge

Spoiler alert!!!! ...we don’t make it all the way around before a nap is needed… You’ll have to tune into to the next episode in the series to hear what happens next! (And yes- I do get some WINE in other countries... Italy. Duh.)

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine (or Michael Anejo Tequila) we would be so grateful!

Purchase our favorite wine (not served at Epcot... yet) here. Use code PODLISTENER for 10% off.

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?) 

Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode!

Want more tips to get the most out of your wine? Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

Not everyone loves wine. I know this. And while it’s hard for me to relate, I can respect it. 

My very good friend Heather, who lives in Austin Texas, has never liked wine. In fact, she has even referred to it as “rotten juice” during our decades long friendship. She suggested we do an episode where she shares her past experiences and biases with wine, so that other non-wine drinkers out there felt seen. 

I see you. 

Heather was open to tasting a little bit of wine, because she is curious about why people like me find so much joy in it and she wanted to have some baseline knowledge so she could carry on a conversation with the wine drinkers in her life. 

Listen as we open 5 different bottles of wine and discuss:

• What’s that smell?
• The one that was “stanky”
• If cheddar popcorn and chili pistachios hold up as wine pairings 
• The definition of cougar juice 
• Drinking for taste, not to get drunk
• Is non alcoholic wine a thing?

Get my favorite wine preservation system, the Coravin Pivot, here- so you can take your time with your open bottles. 

You can purchase my small-lot 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese that is “Not Bad” Here- Use discount code PODLISTNER for 10% off. 

Information about the lovely and light Croix Chardonnay we tasted here: 

Curious about the Pride Mountain Vineyards Viognier? Email me at [email protected]

Find Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot here 

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine here-and I’ll give you a shoutout on a future episode!

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?) 

Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode!

Want more tips to get the most out of your wine? Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

The Ramazzotti family has been managing vineyards in Sonoma County since the late 1970s, and they are well-known and respected grape growers and wine producers with a gorgeous new tasting room in Geyserville, CA. (Sonoma County)

This week, I'm sitting down with Travis Ramazzotti, who is a second generation member of the family business and he talks about:

• What it was like growing up surrounded by vineyards and farming
• How old (young) he was when he learned to drive a tractor
• What led him to chose to be a part of the family business
• Why wine is important 
• His impressions as we taste our 2021 Sangioveses (that we each made from grapes farmed by his family) side by side

You'll also hear my partner, Michael, making his podcast debut!

Here's the map of the Sonoma County AVA's we discussed.

Check out Ramazzotti Wines to purchase and plan your visit here!

Follow the on on IG @ramazzotti_wines

Purchase our Sollevato Sangiovese here. Use code PODLISTENER for 10% off.

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine, I would be so grateful!

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?) 

Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode!

Want more tips to get the most out of your wine? Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

In this week's episode, I'm answering this super thought-provoking question: Why is wine Important? Why does wine matter?

Karen MacNeil is a very well know wine writer, author of the  Wine Bible  (one of my favorite wine reference books) and an instructor of mine in the Culinary Institute of America's wine program. She recently asked the question, "why is wine important?" to a group of winemakers here in California and their responses got me thinking.

In reading her recent blog article, which also talks about the changes and trends in present day wine consumption, I was intrigued by this question. As someone who made a total life change to study, make and teach others about wine, it is definitely an important part of my life... but WHY it's important to me and to YOU?... well that took me a minute to wrap my head around. 

• Wine is the "taste of a place"
• Wine is an expression of the time when it was made and the people who made it
• It's emotion in a bottle (especially my bottles)
• It brings people together
• It's an ancient process that still exists today
• It's just freakin delicious

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine or our producer Kathryn a bourbon) we would be so grateful!

Purchase a wine that is very IMPORTANT to ME (because I MADE it for you!) here. Use code PODLISTENER for 10% off.

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?) 

Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode!

Want more tips to get the most out of your wine? Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

This week I'm sipping and sharing a new (to me) wine that I recently tried and loved! I just couldn't wait to tell you about it because it's an interesting blend of Malbec and Syrah and at a really affordable price. And it's just De-Licious!

It's from Tilia, a producer in Mendoza, Argentina with a very cool approach to farming and business. You can read more about this producer here and you can Order Tilia Wine here from my affiliate partner.

NOTE: Use Code Code: FLOWER99 for 10% off order of $99+ through 4/14/24

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine or our producer Kathryn a bourbon) we would be so grateful!

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?) 

 Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode! “

Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here: 

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

Do you find yourself wondering if you should be seeking out "low sugar" wines? My social feeds are flooded with brands marketing their wines it this way...

Let's breakdown:

• Do all wines have sugar? If so how much?
• What's RS in wine?
• Is low sugar wine a "thing'?
• What causes the perception of sweetness in wine even it's not?
• Is all Riesling sweet?

Get a super helpful Riesling guide here.

Want to try my 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese (with 0.4 g/L of sugar)?

Order here and use Code at checkout: PODLISTENER for 10% off

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine or our producer Kathryn a bourbon) we would be so grateful!

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?) 

Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode! “

Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

Are you in search of that fireworks moment when you combine the right food and wine together? Or are you uninspired or even frustrated by the whole “Perfect Pairing” hype?

Wherever you land in the quest for the best combinations… you’re going to want to listen in as I share WHY it can truly make a difference and HOW to approach it in a simple but effective way. 

I’ll break down 2 helpful concepts:

• Matching the BODY of your Food and Wine
• Exploring Complementary versus Contrasting flavors

And we have an extra special SIP SPOTLIGHT this week! 

Get it here: sollevatowines.com Use code PODLISTENER for 10% off your order!

Check out David Katz’ delicious breadsticks and other great accompaniments for wine.

Get Evan Goldstein’s book “Perfect Pairings” here

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine or our producer Kathryn a bourbon) we would be so grateful!

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?) 

 Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode! “

Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here: 

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

Heading to Italy this Summer? Napa? The Finger Lakes?

I’ve seen over a decade worth of wine-tasting visitors miss some small details that can get in the way of them having their Best Day Ever of Wine tasting. 

If you are planning a day (or week) of tasting in a wine growing region near or far, you’re going to want to listen in for some super-helpful tips on how to get the most out of your winery visits!

I'm breaking down:

• What NOT to wear
• Hints for planning your visits
• Where to put your water (hint, it’s not in your wine glass)
• What do to at the end of the experience

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine or our producer Kathryn a bourbon) we would be so grateful!

Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!

“Every episode is such a great blend of fun, education and personal experience! By the end of each listen I know more about the food and wine world than when I hit play (and am also usually hungry and thirsty for a lovely food & wine pairing)."

(Shout out to Elizloop for this great review.)

Want to leave your own review (and get a show note shout out?)

Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode! 

If you haven't already, please FOLLOW the podcast! We have so many more exciting episodes coming out, and if you're not following you might MISS then! Click here to Follow! 

Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here: 

https://www.sipwithnikki.com/resource

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]