The Arizona Wine Monk Podcast

I sit with winemaker James Callahan from Rune Winery (and Pillsbury) and talk native yeast, labels, history, and wine. This was a fun podcast to record. Visit James Callahan in his tasting canopy in Sonoita on weekends.

I sit with winemaker Cynthia Snapp from Javelina Leap today and we talk viticulture in the Verde Valley, Skull Valley, and winemaking. Especially interesting is the note about Zin in Arizona being better from the Verde Valley than from Willcox.

I'd also like to thank my new sound editor for podcasts, Jeremiah Craig!

Two new friends and I podcast about the 2013 Viognier from Zarpara; Hilarity, Lord of the Rings discussion, and comments about Arizona wine, Label Design, and How I met Your Mother ensue. There was a lot of off-topic conversation that got cut, so I apologise if it's a little choppy.

Gary and I meet up over drinks to talk about the various bugs and parasites which affect Arizona vineyards. Also stay tuned for a special behind the scenes outtakes reel.

I drink the Willow White Seyval Blanc from Dancing Apache Vineyards, with my friends Sarah and Greta from The Sheaf and Vine blog, discuss lent, Hybrid varietals, Midwest wine versus Arizona wines, and why I refuse to date someone who likes White Zinfandel.

My friend Derek J. Power and I drink the Velvet Slippers GSM Rosé from Caduceus Cellars, talking about Arizona Rose, Terrance Malick, Maynard, and wine. And sandwiches. And Orthodoxy creeps in, just a little. It's our special Arizona Statehood Day/Valentine's Day Wine Monk Podcast!

We hang out with Michael Pierce, from Saeculum Cellars and Bodega Pierce, and talk about winemaking, Syrah and Viognier coferments, and the Viticulture program at Yavapai College!

My friends and I recently did a tasting panel comparing Arizona Tannat to wines made from this grape from all over the world. Specifically, the focus was the 2013 Capra Tannat, from Dancing Apache Vineyards. This was way too much fun.

Zach and Mia drink with me again; this time we're talking about Terroir, blending, and aging wines while we drink the Hell's Half Acre blend from Passion Cellars, grown on the Willcox Bench.

Also, the recipie for the Apple Crumbles:

Whatcoo need:

4 granny smith apples (or whatever apples you have around), peeled, cored and sliced

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup butter, softened

Rum

Whatchoo do:

Arrange apples in an 8 or 9 inch square baking dish (I use a 7x11 Pyrex baking dish, it works fine).

Pour a few tablespoons of rum over the apples, spread evenly over the dish. Take a spoon and mix up the apples to integrate the rum evenly. You just enough to coat the apples, not drown them in rum.

Combine the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl and mix.

Spread the crumble evenly mixture over apples (don’t pat it down) and bake for 40-45 minutes at 350.

Top off with a dollop of plain/vanilla yogurt, ice cream, or custard.

Extras! If you have any blueberries or raspberries lying around, feel free to throw in some in with the apples.

The first in the Arizona Winemaker's series of podcasts for the Arizona Wine Monk Blog. Here we're in the barrel room with Megan and Shannon from Arizona Hops N' Vines, in Sonoita, Arizona, to talk about the release of their first estate wine, the "Amanda", which is made from 100% Sonoita Cabernet Sauvignon, the problems of running a vineyard, and the release party coming up on January 10th, 2015.