Sip with Nikki

This episode is all about my recent test cruise on the brand new Disney Adventure, which took us from Tokyo to Singapore. Join me as I recount the excitement, the unforgettable moments, and why this journey was not just a cruise, but a celebration of life, joy, and the magic that comes when you say yes.

Check out this episode's web page for more details and pictures of the Adventure!

Other resources and links:

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

Follow me on Instagram and check out more pics and reels from this trip!

Did you know we make wine here in Sonoma County? Our 2022 Sollevato Sangiovese and 2023 Grenache are available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. They're both delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wines that belong on your dinner table!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

A spontaneous trip to Tokyo leads to an unforgettable adventure at the iconic Tsukiji Fish Market, where my good friend Dana and I find ourselves in a culinary wonderland. We’re wandering through stalls overflowing with fresh seafood, from glistening tuna to tantalizing wagyu beef, all while trying to navigate the quirky world of Japanese currency.

Throughout the episode, we capture:

1. The vibrant sounds and flavors of the market
2. The locals who definitely who left an impression on us
3. Our foodie (and sake) moments as as we indulge in the freshest bites, uncover hidden gems, and soak up the lively atmosphere of Tokyo's food scene!

Other resources and links:

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

Visit the Podcast website to read more detail and see pictures from this episode!

Follow me on Instagram and check out the highlight bubble from the Tokyo Market!

Did you know we make wine here in Sonoma County? Our 2022 Sollevato Sangiovese and 2023 Grenache are available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. They're both delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wines that belong on your dinner table!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

Note: a Video version of this podcast will be releasing soon! Subscribe/Follow @nikkilamberti on YouTube!

Reaching 100 episodes feels a little surreal. What started as an idea has turned into a body of work filled with wine education, travel stories, laughter, vulnerability, and genuine human connection. Episode 100 of Sip With Nikki is a celebration—of the podcast, the people behind it, and the community of listeners who’ve made it all possible.

Recorded from our home in Sonoma County, this episode brings together Nikki, Michael, and original producer Kathryn for a look back at favorite moments, unexpected challenges, and the joy that has carried the show forward over the last two years.

Spoiler alert: There's a couples speed round...

Other resources and links:

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

Podcast website: www.sipwithnikki.com. Sign up there to be part of our SIP Community and receive my free Wine Tips download.

Did you know we make wine here in Sonoma County? Our 2022 Sollevato Sangiovese and 2023 Grenache are available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. They're both delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wines that belong on your dinner table!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

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

Yes, I drink cocktails... and this week I'm sitting down with Ken MacKenzie from Fresh Victor! We dive into the world of premium cocktail mixers that are not only fresh but also made with clean ingredients—no more high fructose corn syrup in our drinks!

Whether you're shaking things up at a dinner party or kicking back poolside, we’ve got tips and tricks to help you enjoy cocktails and mocktails that are packed with flavor and super easy to make!

Check out their full line of fresh, cold pressed mixers HERE and use our special discount code THESIP20 for 20% off your order!

Other resources and links:

Podcast website: www.sipwithnikki.com. Sign up there to be part of our SIP Community and receive my free Wine Tips download

Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2022 Sollevato Sangiovese and 2023 Grenache are available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. They're both delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wines that belong on your dinner table!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine and get a shoutout on a future episode!

I read an article today called "Nonalcoholic wine is still terrible. Will it ever get better?" It's by Ester Mobley in the 1/24/26 San Francisco Chronicle and it inspired me to add to and re-release our episode from last January, where 4 of us got together to taste a lineup of De-Alcholoized Wines. It was a great episode, entertaining and enlightening... so here's your chance in case you missed it!

The rise of NOLO wines (non-alcoholic or low-alcohol alternatives) is a hot and polarizing topic in the beverage industry. Listen in as Michael and I and our good friends and fellow wine industry professionals, Hoby and Justin, taste through sparkling, white, rosé and red non-alcoholic wines and share our unfiltered responses with each other!

1. Learn about the different methods used to create non-alcoholic wines, preserving flavor during alcohol removal
2. How are de-alcoholized wines different from the sparkling grape juice we were all served as kids during the holidays?
3. Can Nolo wines fully replace traditional wines, or are they just enjoyable alternatives?

Want to hear more of Dr. Hoby Wedler? Listen to this episode where he talks about Seeing Flavor and Tasting Color and our episode talking about the "Come Over October Campaign". Follow him on INSTAGRAM and check out his WEBSITE.

We tasted:

Zilch sparkling rosé

Fre Rose and Sauvignon Blanc

Giesen New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Red Blend

Hand On Heart Cabernet Sauvignon

Ariel Cabernet Sauvignon

Other resources and links:

Podcast website: www.sipwithnikki.com: Sign up there to be part of our SIP Community and receive my free Wine Tips download

Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2022 Sollevato Sangiovese and 2023 Grenache are available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. They're both delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wines that belong on your dinner table!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

Why do people LOVE or HATE Chardonnay? It's the polarizing grape that tends to split the room...

I'm leading 3 generations from ages 21-80 through a blind tasting featuring six different Chardonnays, ranging from $15 to $70 a bottle.

You'll hear why Chardonnay can range from “yuck” to “yum” so easily, and explore the factors that contribute to its diverse flavor profiles. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a graduate of the school of ABC (Anything But Chardonnay), this episode promises some eye-opening insights and a lot of laughs with my family, as we navigate through the often misunderstood nuances of this often debated wine.

Chardonnays Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Joel Gott 2023 Unoaked
2. Dreaming Tree 2022 California
3. Macon-Village by Louis Jadot 2023
4. Rombauer 2022 Carneros
5. Pride Mountain Vineyards- 2024 Napa
6. Three Sticks 2024 Durell Vineyard

Other Links and Resources:

Purchase our small-lot, sustainably grown, super delicious Sollevato 2023 Grenache and 2022 Sangiovese! Super-versatile wines for your table all year round! (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!)

Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

Back by popular demand... Dr. Hoby Wedler is my dear friend and sensory export who was born without sight. With his PhD in organic chemistry, he inspires people to experience the life at it fullest, especially when it comes to food, wine and the smells and sounds of the world around us!

Listen as Hoby and his partner Justin, my partner Michael and I all gather around the Holiday table and talk about:

1. The exciting new projects we've all been up to since we last saw each other!
2. Hoby and Justin's first impression of our new Sollevato Grenache, including its unique flavor profile and pairing possibilities
3. The resilience of our Coffey Park neighborhood post-wildfires, and a new tradition for all of our neighbors to enjoy
4. The challenges of pairing wine with spicy food
5. Hoby's got a new project and you'll want to be in the know

Hoby's Haiku:

Fresh and pure. Is it

silky, supple, smooth, delightful.

It makes us all happy.

Episode Links:

Check out Hoby's special curated box, Sweet and Savory Autumn Bounty Here

Use the code WILDTHINGS10 for 10% off your order

Follow Dr Hoby on Instagram

Purchase our small-lot, sustainably grown, super delicious Sollevato 2023 Grenache and 2022 Sangiovese! Super-versatile wines for your table all year round! (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!)

Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

Are you drinking Grenache? Here's why you should be. And why our newest release is extra-special!

• The emotional moment of sending off our first Grenache bottles is truly unforgettable, marking years of hard work and dedication.
• Our new Grenache represents not just a wine but a legacy we're excited to share with you all.
• This wine's release is tied to the cause of cancer research, making every bottle purchased a step towards making a difference.
• Grenache is a versatile wine that pairs beautifully with various foods, making it a must-try for any dinner table.
• We (sustainably) packed each order ourselves, wrapping them in love and care, which adds a personal touch to every shipment.
• Our partnership with the V Foundation allows us to give back while enjoying a glass of wine, making it a heartfelt experience.

Other Links and Discount Codes:

Purchase our small-lot, sustainably grown, super delicious Sollevato 2023 Grenache and 2022 Sangiovese! Super-versatile wines for your table all year round! (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!)

Try one of our favorite rosé of Grenaches from Terratorium Wines

Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website  to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy Michael and I a glass of wine! We would be so grateful! Cheers, Angels!

Episode Notes:

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Michael is weighing in on our holiday traditions and the all-important task of selecting the perfect wines to complement the feast. Michael, the self-proclaimed Thanksgiving aficionado (eye-roll) shares his excitement for the holiday and why it is his favorite!

This year marks a change as we transition from hosting to being guests at a friend's home, which sparks a fun conversation about the joys and challenges of holiday cooking and what we will bring!

Highlights:

• Pairing multiple wines with different dishes elevates the whole dining experience, try it... (you're welcome)
• We share our top versatile wines and why they work!
• Thanksgiving wines should be versatile to complement both savory and sweet dishes on the table.
• 3 Words...Leftover Stuffing Waffles!

Episode Links and Resources:

Michael's go to brine (for roasted or smoked turkey) from Chef Thomas Keller

Our favorite Viognier (Aromatic, Dry White wine) from Pride Mountain Vineyards (Call to Order)

One of our favorite Pinot Noirs, from fellow Sonoma County husband and wife team and Breast Cancer Survivor, Smith Story Wines!

One of our favorite sparkling wines is Schramsberg Blanc De Blanc-widely distributed, easy to find in most wine shops and great price!

Other Links and Discount Codes:

Purchase our small-lot, sustainably grown, super delicious Sollevato Sangiovese 2022! Super-versatile for your table all year round!

(Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!)

Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website  to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]

I'm re-releasing our episode from last November in honor of Beaujolais Nouveau Day!

What's this fun made up Wine Holiday all about?

The 3rd Thursday of November is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which has historically celebrated the end of Harvest. It also means the arrival of super young, fun and flirty red wines made from the Beaujolais region in Central France.

But is Beaujolais as a category of wine, just about those bubble gum and grape popsicle tasting wines???(which are certainly cheap and cheerful...)

• Get the scoop here on what you might be missing... there are more complex beautiful wines that also come out of that region
• Steal the tips for finding the right ones for you.
• Hear about our Sip Spotlight wine and how to try it for yourself!

Other Links and Discount Codes:

Purchase my small-lot, sustainably grown, super delicious Sollevato Sangiovese 2022!

(Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!)

Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!

Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:

Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!

You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

Check out Sena Sea's website  to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.

Questions, suggestions and guest requests? [email protected]