Ep 94

Ever felt lost in a sea of Italian wines with their complex names and regions? With their 384,000 wineries, 1.8 million acres of vineyards, and over 590 catalogued grape varieties, it’s no wonder if you do!

Over the next several episodes we are going to do a deep dive into Italian wine! And in today’s podcast, we are doing an overview of how to read the labels on Italian wine bottles, the Italian wine classification system, and the 5 key wine regions in Italy. We will dive into the climate, geography, grape varietals and best known wines in Piedmont, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Tuscany, and Sicily.

We will learn about a landscape that is rich with centuries of viticulture, diverse grape varieties, and chaotic flavors. So, if you are ready to dive into the complexities of Italian wine, this episode is for you!

Episode Highlights:

• Overview of Italian wine regions

• How to read Italian wine labels

• Explanation of the Italian wine classification system - DOCG, DOG, IGT and VdT

• Overview of Piedmont’s geography and climate

• Key grapes in Piedmont - Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato, Brachetto, and Cortese

• Overview of Friuli-Venezia Giulia’s geography and climate

• Key wines in Friuli-Venezia Giulia - Pinot Grigio, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Sauvignon Blanc, Refosco, and Schioppettino

• Overview of Veneto’s geography and climate

• Key wines in Veneto - Prosecco, Garganega (Soave), Valpolicella Blend such as Corvina, Corvinone, and Amarone della Valpolicella

• Overview of Tuscany’s geography and climate

• Key wines in Tuscany - Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

• Key grapes in Tuscany - Sangiovese, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Bland, Terbbiano, and Vermentino

• Overview of Sicily’s geography and climate

• Key grapes in Sicily - Grillo, Catarratto, Riesling, Nero d’Avola, Nerello Mascalese and Frappato

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

Ep 93

What do wine and music have in common? More than you think!

Today, I have David Britz back on the podcast and he is sharing the synergies between wine and music! We talk about how both worlds are deeply intertwined in capturing unique, unrepeatable moments of magic. Whether it’s the perfect note in a live show or the optimal harvest of grapes for a vintage, both processes harness time to create something irreplicable. And don’t miss when David shares his aspirations for expanding the DD Project in honor of his late mother, Diane Rizzo.

So, if you are intrigued by how passion for wine, community, and music can truly shape unforgettable experiences, then this episode is for you.

Today’s episode is part 2 of my chat with David. If you missed the first part where we chat about the origin and the inspiration behind the DD Wine Project, then go back and listen to episode 92!

Connect with David Britz

The DD Project - https://www.ddprojectwines.com/

David’s Production & Management Company - https://www.worksentertainment.com/

Episode Highlights:

• David’s involvement in music and founding Works Entertainment

• The connection and similarities between the wine industry and music

• The concept of capturing moments in wine and in music

• The significance of people in the wine industry making a positive impact

• Goals and aspirations for the DD Project

• Expansion plans for increasing production and exploring new varietals

• David’s advice for starting a foundation

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

Ep 92

Today’s story is one of taking immense grief and love, and transforming it into a heartwarming initiative that honors a memory while celebrating female entrepreneurs by funding their dreams through wine sales.

My guest David tragically lost his mother in 2019. He was driven by a desire to honor her memory and her entrepreneurial achievements through the founding of the DD Project. In this episode, we dive deep into the origin of the DD Project, David’s decision-making process for selecting and producing wines, and some of David’s favorite wines he’s produced for the DD Project. 

David Britz is the founder of DD Project Wines and the DD Entrepreneurial Foundation. Started in honor of his late mother Diane Rizzo, all of the proceeds from DD Project Wines go toward the foundation’s work of supporting and developing female-owned businesses via grants and educational opportunities.

David’s cause celebrates legacy while savoring wines that are much more than what’s in the bottle. So, if you are inspired by the ways passion can transform grief into a powerful mission, click play and listen in on my conversation with David.

And don’t miss next week’s episode when David is back on the podcast to chat about his connection between wine and music, how he believes wine can have a positive impact on the world, and which wine myth bugs David the most!

Connect with David Britz

The DD Project - https://www.ddprojectwines.com/

David’s Production & Management Company - https://www.worksentertainment.com/

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to David Britz and his journey into wine

• Origin and inspiration behind the DD project

• The challenges of selling wine and creating brand awareness

• Criteria for selecting wines to produce under the DD label

• Specific wines that DD project produces

• Insight into the production process, including sourcing and fermenting wine

• How the DD project helps female entrepreneurs

• How you can support the DD project

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

Ever wondered what it's like to sip wine from the real-life King’s Landing from Game of Thrones? 

Today, I’m diving into the world of Croatian wine. I had never really thought about Croatian wine until last year when Jennifer Kerum attended my Walla Walla retreat. Jennifer is from Croatia and runs a wine tourism business there. She came on the podcast to talk about all things Croatian wine and it was so fascinating that I knew I needed to dig deeper into this region. I recently highlighted Croatian wine in my Cork Crew and we had so much fun that I wanted to share it with you on the podcast!

This week, we’ll talk about the diverse wine regions of Croatia and I’ll share each area’s distinct climates, soils, and grape varietals. We’ll also discuss Croatia’s ancient winemaking roots and the devastating Pylloxera epidemic that has shaped Croatia's wine scene.

So, if you’re ready to explore the fascinating world of Croatian wine, from its rich history to its diverse regions and unique grape varietals, press play and listen in!

Resources:

Ep 58 - Croatian wine episode with Jennifer Kerum - https://www.corkandfizz.com/blog/guide-to-wine-podcast-episode-58

Croatia Wine Folly Map - https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/introduction-to-croatian-wines/

Episode Highlights:

• Croatian wine history

• Geography and main wine regions of Croatia

• Istria wine region - climate, grape varieties and producers

• Key grape varietals from Istria - White grape - Malvazija Istarka and the Teran grape

• Dalmatia wine region - climate, grape varietals and producers

• Key grape varietals from Dalmatia - Red grapes: Plavac Mali, Babić, and White grapes: Pošip, Grk, Maraština (Rukatac)

• Croatian Uplands - climate, grape varietals and producers

• Key grape varietals from Croatian Uplands - Indigenous grapes: Škrlet, Pušipel, and Kraljevina 

• Slavonia and Danube - climate grape varietals and producers

• Key grape varietals from Slavonia and Danube - Graševina (aka Welschriesling

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

When you think of Vermouth do you think of it as just a mixer for your martini? 

Vermouth is actually a wine! Wine must make up at least 75% of the total volume of a Vermouth, so it is very much a wine!

From its ancient medicinal roots in 1050 BC China to its evolution in Italy as an aperitif, I’m diving into what Vermouth really is and why it’s so significant in the wine world. 

I’m digging into how Vermouth is crafted, the types of wine involved, and the unique botanicals that give Vermouth its distinctive flavors. Plus, I break down Vermouth from extra dry to sweet. And if you are curious about how to drink Vermouth, I’m covering that as well!

So, tune in and get ready to see Vermouth in a whole new way! 

Top Vermouth Producers:

Italy: Antica Formula, Cocchi, Martini, Cinzano, Chazalattes, Del Professore, Mauro Vergano, Punt e Mas, Bonme

France: Noilly Prat, Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambery, Quintinye Rouge Vermouth Royal, Harry Lester

Spain: El Bandarra, Casa Mariol Vermut Negre, Miro Rojo, Yzaguirre Rojo, Lustau, La Copa, St. Petroni Blanco Vermut, Atxa

Germany: Belsazar, Ferdinand’s

UK: Sacred, Asterley Bros, Wermod, Albourne Estate

USA: Quady Winery, Atsby, Ransom Dry, Imbue

Australia: Regal Rogue, Causes and Cures, Maidenii

To Learn More About Vermouth

Check out “A Spirited Guide to Vermouth” by Jack Adair Bevan

Jack is an award-winning food and drink writer and one of the first restaurateurs to make his own vermouth.

Includes history, production, how to drink it, and lots of cocktail recipes!

Episode Highlights:

• What is Vermouth?

• Is Vermouth a wine?

• The history of Vermouth

• Medicinal uses for Vermouth

• How is Vermouth made?

• What spices and herbs are in Vermouth?

• Common botanicals in Vermouth - Quassia, Star Anise, Bergamot orange, Cardamom, Galangal, St John’s Wort, Juniper, Wormwood, Cassia, Gentian

• Different styles of Vermouth

• How to drink Vermouth

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to dive deep into the world of wine while facing the challenges of online bullying?

In today’s episode I have Natalie MacLean back on the podcast and she’s diving into the world of wine through an experiential and personal lens.

Natalie shares her unique approach to wine journalism, the emotional and cultural impact of wine, and challenges within the hospitality industry - from high rates of substance abuse to etiquette norms that stigmatize open discussions about alcohol misuse. Natalie also shares her personal experiences towards alcohol consumption and online bullying.

So, if you are ready to dig into the emotional and cultural layers of wine, confront industry challenges like online bullying, and get a taste of Natalie’s adventurous stories this episode is for you!

Today's episode is part 2 of my chat with Natalie. If you missed the first part where we chat about Natalie's journey as a wine writer, her memoir Wine Witch on Fire, and if wine reviews are actually helpful, then go back and listen to episode 88!

Connect with Natalie:

Website: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/

Natalie’s Books: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/blog/books/

Free Pairing Guide& Book Club Guide: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/

Episode Highlights:

• Books by Natalie: Red, White and Drunk All Over, Unquenchable, and Wine Witch on Fire

• Experiential journalism

• Natalie’s unique experiences such as shark diving

• Wine’s emotional and cultural impact

• Natalie’s personal struggles with alcohol during challenging times

• Natalie’s personal contemplation on her relationship with alcohol

• Harassment and inequality in the wine and hospitality industry

• Turning marginalizing terms into symbols of strength and wisdom

• Natalie’s favorite food and wine pairing that you’ll never guess

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

How does one go from working at Supercomputer company SGI to becoming a renowned wine critic author?

Today, we are joined by Natalie MacLean, author of Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass; Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines; and Wine Witch on Fire.

Natalie shares her transformation from tech to full-time writer, and dives into how storytelling can transform complex topics like wine into engaging and memorable experiences. The conversation turns personal when Natalie opens up about her memoir, Wine Witch on Fire, which blends wine education with deeply personal narratives about overcoming significant life challenges. And we chat about wine reviews; are they really helpful? 

Natalie is the wine expert on CTV’s The Social, Canada’s largest daytime television show; CTV News; CHCH Morning Live; and CityTV’s Breakfast Television. She was named the World’s Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards, and has won four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards. She is the only person to have won both the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award from the James Beard Foundation and the M.F.K. Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing from Les Dames d’Escoffier International.

So, if you are ready to dive into Natalie’s remarkable journey, her wine tasting tips, and the challenges and triumphs of navigating the wine industry then this episode is for you.

And don’t miss next week when Natalie is back on the podcast and we chat about her memoir Wine Witch on Fire, her struggles with drinking, and the bullying she endured in the online space.

Connect with Natalie:

Website: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/

Natalie’s Books: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/blog/books/

Free Pairing Guide& Book Club Guide: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Natalie MacLean

• Natalie’s wine journey from tech to wine author

• Are wine reviews really helpful?

• Why you want to find a wine critic with a similar taste

• Connection through storytelling in wine writing

• Natalie’s memoir Wine Witch on Fire

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

When it comes to wine books, which ones are essential for every wine lover’s collection? 

Well, if you know anything about me, you know I’m a sucker for a good wine book. A wine book is how I actually ended up getting into wine in the first place!

Before I was really enthralled by the world of wine, my husband and I took a trip down to Willamette Valley. The tour guide gave us an amazing tour of Archery Summit and recommended this book called Cork Dork for me to read. After reading Cork Dork, it led to a deep dive into countless wine books that have since become cornerstones of my collection.

Today, I’m sharing my top 13 wine book recommendations and I’ve grouped them into 4 categories: reference books, personal essays/novel-esque, food pairing guides, and others. Whether it’s deepening your wine knowledge, learning new food and wine pairings, or a thrilling fiction book, there is a book here for everyone!

So, if you are ready to dive into the world of wine through the pages of expertly curated books, press play and listen in! 

Related Episodes:

EP 05 - Tips for Smelling Wine with Cork Dork Author Bianca Bosker

Ep 29 - Cork Crew Q&A with Karen Mcneil, Author of the Wine Bible

Ep 34 - Exploring Australian Win with Jane Lopes

Ep 65 - Synthetic Wine & Thrilling Stories with Jupiter’s Blood Author Steven Laine

Episode Highlights:

• My go-to wine reference books

• The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil

• Wine Folly: Magnum Edition: The Master Guide by Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack

• Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm

• Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

• Godforsaken Grapes by Jason Wilson

• Wine all the Time by Marissa A. Ross

• Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch

• Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles by Jane Lopes

• Food and wine pairing books

• Wine Food by Dana Frank and Andrea Slonecker

• Big Mac & Burgundy by Vanessa Price

• Wine and War by Donald and Petie Kkadstrup

• Wine Witch on Fire by Natalie McLean

• Jupiter’s Blood by Steven Laine

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

With its rise in popularity, I had a listener, Sheila, reach out to me wanting to learn more about Txakoli!

I didn’t know a lot about Txakoli until I started researching this episode and what surprised me most was that Txakoli is not a grape! It’s actually a style of wine, usually referring to dry white wine from the Basque Country of Spain. It’s known for being slightly sparkling, fruity, and refreshing.

In today’s episode, we will dive into the historical significance of Txakoli, as well as the winemaking techniques that bring out its acidity, refreshing fruity flavors, and slight effervescence which is perfect for pairing with a variety of foods. I’ll touch on the grape varieties, primarily the Hondarrabi Zuri for whites and Hondarrabi Beltza for reds, and how these grapes contribute to the overall experience of Txakoli.

So, if you are ready to dive into the world of Txakoli and discover what makes this wine so special press play and listen in!

Recommended Wine producers:

Txomin Etxaniz (Getariako Txakolina)

Rezabal (Getariako Txakolina)

Doniene Gorrondona (Bizkaiko Txakolina)

Malkoa (Arabako Txakolina)

Bodega Elizalde (Bizkaiko Txakolina)

Episode Highlights:

• Is Txakoli a grape or a wine?

• Where is Basque Country in Spain?

• Primary grapes Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza

• Different regions of Txakoli - Getariako Txakolina, Bizkaiko Txakolina, and Arabako Txakolina

• Styles of Txakoli wine

• Tasting notes of Txakoli wine

• Recommended producers for Txakoli wine

• What foods pair well with Txakoli

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]

Are you ready to go beyond wine from Spain, France, and the United States? 

Dale Ott, sommelier turned importer of Mexican and Portuguese wines, is back on the podcast and she is giving us a deep dive into Mexican and Portuguese wines.

Dale is diving into the often overlooked but incredibly fascinating worlds of Mexican and Portuguese wines. She shares how Portuguese wines are reviving ancient winemaking traditions and how regions like Northern Baja and Valle de Parras are overcoming infrastructural challenges to produce exquisite, sustainably-grown wines. 

And Dales shares one of her go to producers in Mexico - JC Bravo, where they dry-farm grapes and are making waves with their sustainable practice and exquisite wines.

So, if you are ready to jump into these lesser known wine regions from Portugal and Mexico and discover ancient traditions, complex flavors, and hidden treasures from regions that are capturing international attention, then this episode is for you!

If you missed part 1 of my conversation with Dale, go back to episode 84 where we talk about the intricacies of importing Mexican and Portuguese wines, the dynamic factors impacting wine prices, the detailed journey from vineyard to your table, and the passionate efforts behind NOSSA imports. 

Episode Highlights:

• Portuguese wine regions and characteristics

• Quality and affordability of Portuguese wines

• Vino Verde’s acidity and age-improvement potential

 

• History of Mexican wine

• Varieties of Mexican wine

• Modern growth and experimentation in the Mexican wine industry

• Industry challenges and infrastructure in Mexico

• Future concerns for Mexican wine

• JC Bravo - dry-farmed grapes and native yeast fermentation

• JJ Amargito - Biodynamic and organic production

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - [email protected]