Sip with Nikki

In last week's Episode (did you listen?), you met my good friends "English Anne", Joan and Erika as we did a fabulous tasting at Tres Sabores Winery in St Helen, CA led by fellow wine educator Jim Olmos.

This week you are hearing the second part of our visit as we pulled 3 of my unfinished 2023 Sollevato wines from the barrel to taste them mid-way through their journey.

I was excited to share my "babies" with this special focus group and their reactions are genuine, interesting and insightful!

Listen as we talk about:

• How wines change as they are aging in the barrel (and why we age them as long as we do)
• Where does tannin come from and why is it important?
• What you can tell by the color of a wine 
• What’s up with a white wine that looks brown?
• Can you /should you bottle age white wine?

Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. It's a delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wine that is perfect with pizza, pasta and your charcuterie spread!

• You can sign up HERE to be the first to know when the wines you are hearing about are available in 2025!

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

If you listened to last week’s episode, you heard me dispel some myths around Zinfandel and sing this grape’s praises! This week you’re coming along to a Zinfandel-centric tasting at the beautiful Tres Sabores Winery in St Helena, CA. 

Tres Sabores is a boutique organic winery owned by winemaker, Julie Johnson and they are celebrating their 25th year making gorgeous wines in the Napa Valley.

Join my dear friends Anne, Joan, Ericka and I, as our wine educator, Jim Olmos, shares Zinfandel in 4 different and exciting wines. You’ll hear their reactions and the story of this special winery and why it drew me in the very first time I visited over 15 years ago. 

Listen to our impressions of:

• Rosé of Zinfandel (is it White Zinfandel?)
• 2022 Zinfandel
• A special Library vintage of Zin (hint- it blew us away...)
• My favorite Zin driven blend "Porque No?"

You can order these beautiful wines or plan your tasting visit to Tres Sabores Here. 

When in St Helena, be sure to visit one of my favorites, Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch and bring your Tres Sabores Zinfindel for some fantastic pairings! 

Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. It's a delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wine that is perfect with pizza, pasta and your charcuterie spread!

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

When you hear “Zinfandel”, what do you think of? A bubble gum sweet pink wine? A jug wine? Today we’re quickly setting the record straight with what Zinfandel (aka America’s Grape) IS and what it ISN’T.

• What you need to know about this sometimes mis-understood grape
• Why you should be drinking it and what to expect
• Great pairing recommendations

Check out this cool video all about Zinfandel!

Nikki’s Favorite Zins

• Tres Sabores
• Storybook Mountain
• T-Vine
• Lambert Bridge
• Ramazzotti

Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. It's a delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wine that is perfect with pizza, pasta and your charcuterie spread!

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

For our 50th Episode, I knew I wanted to do something extra special. So Michael and I flew to Orlando, visited Walt Disney World and got to spend time with George Miliotes of Wine Bar George. George has been on my "list" as a dream guest since starting this podcast, and with a little faith+ trust + pixie dust, dreams can come true!

In his Library room on the second floor of Wine Bar George, we got in to:

• How and Why he become one of 281 Master Sommeliers in the world
• What a train-wreck a holiday table can be and what wine pairs with it
• Why he proudly offers coveted wines $150 an ounce and why they cost what they do
• A delicious (and steal) Sip Spotlight Wine
• His feelings on the controversial wine word, YUMMY
• How Merlot is not a "lesser" grape
• What he drinks when he just needs a hug
• And so much more....

Links and Resources:

Visit George's website to sign up for your 90 Minute Tasting event!

Follow Wine Bar George on Instagram

Visit the Miliote's family's favorite spot Enzo’s Longwood.   

Get our Sip Spotlight Wine that we taste together: Chanrion Cote De Bruilly

Get the famous Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot here.

Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. It's a delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wine that is perfect with pizza, pasta and your charcuterie spread!

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

Andrea Lemieux is a Michigan native who found herself on a "temporary" assignment in Istanbul… and 12 years later she is still there championing Turkish wines and the people and the history behind them. 

Episode Highlights:

• How the country is embracing and reviving its native grapes
• I taste my first ever Turkish wine-hear my reaction!
• The rise of women in wine in a Muslim dominant country
• What American foods she misses the most and can't getting Turkey
• Tips for transporting 12 bottles of wine in a suitcase

Links and Resources:

Get Andrea's book the Essential Guide to Turkish Wine

Check out Andrea's Website The Quirky Cork and follow her on Instagram

Get the Wine Diapers here.

Order and Ship Pasaeli wines from Bottle Barn in CA (We tasted the 2021 Karasakis)

Follow Pasaeli on Instagram

If you are in Houston you can find a great selection of Turkish Wines Here.

Andrea's recommended Turkish Wineries to visit:

Yedi Bilgeler

Akberg

Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. It's a delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wine that is perfect with pizza, pasta and your charcuterie spread!

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

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!

Did you know I make my own wine here in Sonoma County? My 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off. It's a delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wine that is perfect with pizza, pasta and your charcuterie spread!

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

Are you really tasting your wine? Like, REALLY?

I'm often asked for tips on the best way to experience a wine, including:

• What temperature should I enjoy my wine?
• Is swirling really a thing? And Why?
• What's the best way to actually taste the wine?

If you've ever wondered these things... You're going to want to listen in.

And if you want to dive deeper into the tips I touch on here, check out these previous episodes:

Aging Wine- Why and How?

The How's and Why's of Aerating your Wine

A FEW tips to elevate your wine Joy

Pairing Schmairing- Finding the best food and wine combinations

Try a delicious and highly limited wine from a California woman winemaker! Nikk’s 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

Bold Women Make the Best Wine (Naturally).

Marilee Bramhall is the founder of Iola Wines where she sources and direct imports organic wines from top women winemakers in France and Italy. 

Listen in to hear:

• What led her to specialize in such a specific niche of the wine market
• The % of women winemakers versus the % of wines being purchased by women
• Her observations about how different genders approach wine differently
• 2 unique and surprising Italian wines both made by sisters (Cue “Sisters, Sisters….” from White Christmas)

Use the code NIKKI20 for $20 Flat rate shipping at Iola Wines.

You can purchase the Oro Di Baal Sparking Fiano.

Grab the beautiful Cascina Vengore Arneis from Northern Italy.

Be sure to sign up for Iola Wines newsletter and take advantage of your Free 10 minute Master Class “Discover Your Perfect Bottle

Try a delicious and highly limited wine from a California woman winemaker! Nikk’s 2021 Sollevato Sangiovese is available to be shipped to most US States. Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

Jen Ruiz is a lawyer turned travel blogger, content creator, Tedx speaker and author of 5 Amazon best sellers! In her newest book “12 Trips in 12 Months”, she shares how she experiences the world as a solo female traveler and shares how to find your own Travel Magic!

As we sip on a surprisingly delicious wine from Washington state we talk about: 

• Her quest for love as she travels the globe
• How lucky many of us are to be able to travel
• Her take on the word “Influencer” and why she’s proud to be one
• We swap gorilla trekking stories... spoiler: we had very different experience

You can check out her websites and sign up for travel tips and deals!

jenonajetplane.com

12tripsin12months.com

Follow her AWESOME Instagram@jenonajetplane

Find this week’s Sip Spotlight from the Columbia Valley, WA: Luke 2020 Syrah

If you need a unique and crowd-pleasing wine for the holidays. try my Sollevato Sangiovese ...(yes I'm biased, I make it)! Use code PODLISTENER for 10% off your order. I can ship to most states in the US!

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]

This week, Michael (in his official co-hosting debut) and I are sitting down with Mark McWilliams, Co-Owner of Arista Winery in Healdsburg CA (Sonoma County). Listen to our heartfelt and hilarious conversation, as we sip 2 beautiful wines while the sun sets and harvest moon rises in the vineyard around us. (Poor us). 

Mark is an enthusiastic storyteller who shares:

• How his family came from Texarkana, TX to Sonoma County
• The ups and downs of starting and owning a winery 
• How NOT competitive the wine industry is 
• A sad but amazing story about their first harvest and a special human Ulises Valdez (read more about him here)
• What’s an Appellation and why does it matter?
• How there is an “Ocean of shitty Chard” on the planet (his words, I agree) 
• The concept of “Tension” in wine
• His thoughts on the HOT TOPIC of natural wine (not NATURAL wine)

Check out Arista’s website to be a part of their “A List” and get in line for all allocation of their exquisite wines. If you are visiting Napa/Sonoma, I highly recommend you book a visit to Arista (and tell them you heard about it on Sip With Nikki!)

If you need a unique and delicious wine for Thanksgiving try my Sollevato Wines...(yes I'm biased, I make it)! Use code PODLISTENER for 10% off your order. I can ship to most states in the US!

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

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

Please leave a RATING or a REVIEW (on your podcast listening platform), or thumbs up and subscribe (on YouTube!)

Questions? Comments? Guest requests? [email protected]