The Sipping Point: Wine, Food & More!

What happens when a winemaker stops trying to put his stamp on a wine—and lets the vineyard do the talking? This week on The Sipping Point, Laurie sits down with acclaimed Santa Barbara winemaker Greg Brewer, the force behind Brewer-Clifton and Diatom, to talk Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and why sometimes the best winemaking decision is to do less.

Greg shares his unlikely journey from teaching French at UC Santa Barbara to taking a $5.50-an-hour tasting room job that changed the course of his life. More than three decades later, he’s devoted his career to the Sta. Rita Hills. Laurie and Greg taste Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, exploring neutral oak, whole-cluster fermentation and how stems can bring structure and savory character to Pinot, before tasting Diatom—Greg’s clean, bright, stainless-steel expression of Chardonnay.

They also dig into Greg’s philosophy of taking ego out of winemaking, why vintage variation should be celebrated rather than corrected, and his mission to make wine less intimidating. And Greg takes on one of wine’s long-standing “rules”: Who says you have to drink white before red? His advice? Mix up the order, keep a few bottles open and experience wine on your own terms.

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What happens when a former rock band manager decides to make wine? If you’re Charles Smith, you don’t just join the wine business—you do things your own way.

Charles joins Laurie to talk about his unconventional journey from managing indie rock bands in Europe to becoming one of Washington State’s most recognized winemakers. Along the way, he created hugely successful brands including House Wine, Kung Fu Girl and Wines of Substance, while earning some of the wine world’s highest accolades.

But this conversation isn’t really about scores. It’s about making good wine accessible.

Charles shares why he believes consumers deserve better wine at everyday prices, why fruity doesn’t necessarily mean sweet, and why he thinks ingredient transparency matters. He also explains why inexpensive wine can actually require more precision to make than an expensive bottle—and why, as he puts it, “good is good, bad is bad, and everybody deserves good.”

Laurie and Charles taste through four very different wines: Blossom Fury Riesling, CasaSmith Pinot Grigio, REAL WINE Cabernet Sauvignon and K Vintners MCK Syrah. Along the way, Charles shares the unlikely story behind Motor City Kitty, makes the case for Washington as one of North America’s most exciting wine regions, and explains why wine should never be reserved only for special occasions.

Because great wine doesn’t have to be complicated—or saved for a special occasion.

Learn more about Charles Smith and his wines at HouseofSmith.com

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What makes Anderson Valley such a special place for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay?

This week on The Sipping Point, I’m joined by Maggy Hawk winemaker Sarah Wuethrich to explore this cool-climate California wine region and her fascinating approach to winemaking.

We taste 4 wines—Aurelia Chardonnay, Skycrest Chardonnay, White Pinot Noir and Jolie Pinot Noir—as Sarah shares how elevation, soil, clones and vineyard blocks create dramatically different expressions in the glass. We also talk about foot-stomping Chardonnay, making white wine from Pinot Noir, regenerative farming and why great winemaking is equal parts science, experience and intuition.

Plus, Sarah shares why she’s excited about the future of Anderson Valley—and why she’s not buying into all the doom and gloom surrounding wine today.

Join Laurie Thursday, November 19 at 6 PM for Uncork the Holidays Wine Dinner at Scossa Restaurant in Easton, Maryland, in partnership with Hair o’ The Dog Wine & Spirits. We'll kick off the holiday season with a multi-course wine dinner filled with delicious pairings and plenty of inspiration for Thanksgiving, holiday entertaining and beyond. Find details and tickets at TheWineCoach.com/Events

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Think “100% agave” means there’s nothing else in your tequila? You might be surprised.

This week on The Sipping Point, I’m stepping outside the wine glass and into the world of tequila with Heidi Anderson, better known as La Tequila Mamacita. Heidi is a certified tequila educator, spirits judge, co-founder of the Tennessee Agave Club, co-host of The Tequiladies and a tequila reviewer for The Tequila Report.

We go back to Tequila 101: what actually makes tequila tequila, why it can only be made from Blue Weber agave in specific regions of Mexico, and the differences between Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo.

Then we get into the really juicy stuff. Heidi explains why “100% agave” may not mean what consumers think it means, the additives that can be used in tequila, why price and a beautiful bottle don’t necessarily equal quality, and why good tequila deserves to be sipped—not shot.

We also taste Zumbador Blanco and Reposado side by side and explore how terroir, production methods and barrel aging change what ends up in your glass.

And if tequila “makes you crazy”? Heidi has something to say about that myth, too.

In this episode:
• What legally makes a spirit tequila
• Blanco vs. Reposado vs. Añejo vs. Extra Añejo
• Highlands vs. Lowlands tequila and why terroir matters
• How agave is harvested, cooked, fermented and distilled
• What “100% agave” actually tells you
• Additives in tequila and what consumers should know
• How to properly taste and sip tequila
• How barrel aging changes tequila
• What to look for when buying a bottle
• Some of the biggest tequila myths

Sip Along With Us

Zumbador Tequila Blanco
Zumbador Tequila Reposado

Connect with Heidi Anderson

Instagram: La Tequila Mamacita on Instagram

Heidi is also part of the review team at The Tequila Report and co-hosts The Tequiladies Show on YouTube, where she and her fellow tequila educators dive deeper into agave spirits, producers and tequila culture.

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Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her Zoom Info Session on 9/23 at 6 PM ET to learn more about her Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

What does five decades in the wine business teach you about wine, leadership, and knowing when to trust your own instincts?

This week on The Sipping Point, Laurie sits down with Eugenia Keegan, Senior Vice President of Winegrowing and Business Development for Jackson Family Wines, whose remarkable career began at Joseph Swan Vineyards in 1976 and has taken her from California to Burgundy to Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Eugenia shares how Oregon has evolved from looking to Burgundy for inspiration to finding its own winemaking voice, why Chardonnay and sparkling wine have become such exciting parts of the Oregon story, and what she sees coming next for the region.

They also get personal about the lessons Eugenia has learned along the way, including why “you cannot rush a wine,” the importance of being intentional about what comes next, and her refreshingly candid attitude about looking backward.

Eugenia also reflects on how dramatically opportunities for women in wine have changed. She remembers a time when women weren’t even allowed to drive forklifts in the winery and shares a wonderful moment years later, standing on the Penner-Ash crush pad with pioneering winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash, surrounded by women running the show.

In the glasses:

• Banke Brut Sparkling Wine
• Gran Moraine Yamhill-Carlton Chardonnay
• WillaKenzie Estate Tourdion Cuvée Blanc
• Penner-Ash Pinot Noir

Plus, Laurie and Eugenia talk about the future of wine events, lighter and more diverse wine styles, sustainability, and why there’s room in the wine industry for people with all kinds of talents and passions.

Support the show

Follow The Sipping Point on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @thewinecoach to get video footage of the podcasts an more.

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Facebook @winecoach
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Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her Zoom Info Session on 9/23 at 6 PM ET to learn more about her Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

In this episode, Alessandra Casini Bindi Sergardi shares her family's rich legacy in winemaking, rooted in Tuscany since 1349. She discusses the unique characteristics of Chianti Classico wines, including the importance of Sangiovese grapes, and the significance of food pairing in Italian culture. 

The conversation also delves into the distinctions between Chianti Classico, Riserva, and Gran Selezione wines, highlighting their aging processes and flavor profiles. Alessandra emphasizes the role of women in her family's history and the importance of sustainability in winemaking, while also touching on the heritage of Nobile di Montepulciano wines.

Takeaways

• Alessandra's family has been producing wine since 1349.
• Chianti Classico is the first defined wine territory in the world.
• Sangiovese grapes express the land's characteristics.
• Wine is an integral part of Italian meals and culture.
• Riserva wines must age at least 24 months before release.
• Gran Selezione represents the highest quality in Chianti Classico.
• The black rooster emblem signifies membership in the Chianti Classico consortium.
• Women have played a crucial role in the family's winemaking legacy.

Wines Tasted

Bindi Sergardi La Ghirlanda Chianti Classico DOCG

Bindi Sergardi I Colli Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Bindi Sergardi Mocenni 89 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

Check out the Bindi Sergardi website for more about the winery, Alessandra and her family& more!

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Follow The Sipping Point on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode!

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What if the future of wine is less about teaching people everything they need to know and more about giving them a reason to open a bottle?

Laurie sits down with Eric V. Orange, founder of LocalWineEvents.com, to talk about how wine events and wine consumers have changed over the past 26 years and why experiences, travel and connection may be increasingly important to the future of wine.

Eric shares the unlikely story behind LocalWineEvents.com, sparked by a Champagne dinner where only six people showed up, and how the site grew into a resource connecting wine lovers with tastings, dinners, festivals, classes and wine travel.

They also dig into new consumer research from Come Over October and LocalWineEvents.com, including the finding that 41% of respondents essentially said: give us a reason to get together. Laurie and Eric discuss why wine has a unique ability to make gatherings feel warmer and more special, whether the industry has made wine education too complicated, and why simpler, more approachable experiences may be the way forward.

Plus, they talk affordability, food and wine pairing, the changing appetite for large wine festivals, AI versus authentic event recommendations, and Laurie's upcoming Wine Down Wednesday: Wines of Washington State partnership with LocalWineEvents.com.

In this episode:

• The surprising event that inspired Eric to create LocalWineEvents.com
• What 26 years of wine events have taught him about consumers
• Why interest may be shifting from formal wine education toward experiences
• What the Come Over October consumer research revealed
• Wine tourism and the growing desire for experiences
• Why smaller, more intimate wine events may have an advantage

Support the show

Follow The Sipping Point on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode!

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What do Olympic sailing, aerospace engineering, and world-class Brunello have in common? More than you might think.

This week on The Sipping Point, Laurie Forster sits down with Alessandra Angelini of Altesino, one of Montalcino's historic Brunello producers.

Before returning to Tuscany and her family's wine business, Alessandra trained with the Italian National Team in Olympic-class sailing and earned a degree in aerospace engineering. She went on to work in the United States designing aircraft engines before bringing that combination of discipline, science, and problem-solving back to the family wineries.

Alessandra shares how Altesino has maintained its signature elegant style of Sangiovese even as tastes in wine have changed—and why a style that once seemed almost out of step with the times now feels remarkably modern.

Laurie and Alessandra also explore the differences between Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino, why Rosso deserves to be taken seriously as its own wine, and how dramatically Sangiovese can express the different soils, elevations, exposures, and microclimates within Montalcino.

Then they dive into Montosoli, Altesino's legendary single-vineyard Brunello and one of the wines that helped pioneer the concept of vineyard-designated Brunello in Montalcino.

In This Episode

• How Olympic sailing prepared Alessandra for the unpredictable world of wine
• What aerospace engineering taught her about research, efficiency, and winemaking
• Why Rosso di Montalcino isn't simply "Baby Brunello"
• Why Alessandra calls Sangiovese a "religion" in Tuscany
• How northern and southern Montalcino differ
• How long you can age a great Brunello—and why there isn't one perfect drinking window

And perhaps the most important takeaway: great wine doesn't have to be intimidating. As Alessandra puts it, "Brunello is always interesting."

Support the show

Follow The Sipping Point on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode!

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Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

Bordeaux may be one of the world’s most famous wine regions—but is our perception of it stuck in the past? Laurie Forster sits down with Bordeaux-based wine educator, writer and yoga teacher Wendy Narby to explore a region that has become more welcoming, innovative and diverse than many wine drinkers realize.

Wendy shares what has changed in Bordeaux over the past 20 years, from sustainability and climate adaptation to gentler winemaking techniques and a new generation of more fruit-forward, approachable wines. She also takes us beyond Bordeaux’s famous reds to the region’s whites, Crémant, rosé, sweet wines and experimental new styles.

Then the conversation turns from what we drink to how we drink it. Drawing from her book The Drinking Woman’s Diet, Wendy shares her practical approach to enjoying wine while supporting a healthy lifestyle. She and Laurie talk about moderation, eating with wine, pour size, hydration and why there’s absolutely nothing wrong with leaving wine in your glass.

Wendy also explains why she has shifted the conversation from “wine and wellness” to “wine and wellbeing,” how yoga and mindfulness fit into her philosophy, and why wine is best viewed not as a health food—but as a delicious, social pleasure to be enjoyed intentionally.

In This Episode:

• Why the people of Bordeaux may be the region’s greatest asset
• How Bordeaux has become more accessible over the past 20 years
• How research and technical expertise spread innovation across Bordeaux
• The growing importance of sustainability and climate-conscious farming
• What inspired Wendy to write The Drinking Woman’s Diet
• Wendy’s philosophy of drinking less—but drinking something delicious
• The surprising connection between yoga, mindfulness and wine

Check out Wendy's video course The Drinking Women's Diet and use code winecoach to get a 20 euro discount! Click Here

Support the show

Follow The Sipping Point on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @thewinecoach to get video footage of the podcasts an more.

Let's Stay Connected:
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Facebook @winecoach
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Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Johnson of Spy Valley Wines for a thoughtful and refreshingly honest conversation about family, place, and the future of wine. Amanda shares the story behind her family’s winemaking journey, what makes Spy Valley’s wines so distinctive, and why sustainability isn’t a trend for them—it’s a responsibility. We dive into how thoughtful viticulture shows up in the glass, exploring the vibrant character of their Sauvignon Blanc and the elegance of their Pinot Noir, while also touching on the exciting shifts happening across the wine world right now. It’s a conversation rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and grounded in deep respect for the land.

Check out the Spy Valley Winery website for more about the winery, wines & their sustainability efforts.

WInes Tasted

Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Spy Valley Pinot Noir

Learn more about the Marlborough region at AppellationMarlborough.com

Support the show

Follow The Sipping Point on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode!

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