This is our first ever head-to-head battle between Trader Joe’s and Costco wines, and what a doozy it was. A true battle of equals - the same year, same price, same varietal, same region, same specific area, and same top tier of each retailers’ private label wines. Plus, these wines are from Oakville in Napa - one of the most revered wine growing areas in America. And our verdict? Well, we’re not going to give it away here, but let’s just say the final winner came down to the final bell. A TKO rather than a true knockout. Both Costco and Trader Joe’s have an exclusive tier of their private label wines - Diamond Reserve for Trader Joe’s, Signature Series for Costco - and they both charge a premium for them, but the real question comes down to this - is the higher price worth it? We also dig into how these wines are made, and by whom, so you can get a sense of whether or not you want to seek them out. Let’s get ready to rumble! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Trader Joe's Diamond Reserve Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot #03, 2022 Costco Kirkland Signature Series Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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Now this is an exciting wine! We didn’t have super high expectations going in - the name Kerner does not scream “adventure” - but we are telling you this is a white wine that is worth seeking out. Some call it one of the best white wines in Italy, and after tasting it, we agree, and so we are wondering why it does not get more love! It is a grape originally created in Germany as a cross between Riesling and Schiava/Trollinger to be a workhorse and handle cold weather, the Italians have made it into a rich, complex, and beautiful aromatic white wine. Confused about why this German wine is being made in Germany?!? Listen in and we’ll tell you why! Both the wines we tried in this episode are excellent, and what is fun is that they are both a little different from each other - the Abbazia wine we would call adventurous and worth seeking out, and the winemaker is no slouch, having won the Gambero Rosso Winemaker of the Year in 2009. Trust us, this is an episode you will want to listen to. Wines reviewed in this episode:  2023 Kellerei Bozen Puntscheit Kerner, 2023 Abbazia di Novacella Kerner

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When one of our listeners asked if we would be willing to explore wines from Croatia, we were a little hesitant - not because we didn’t want to try them, but because we were worried that we would have a hard time finding them. Well, we were able to find some, and we are so glad that we did! Croatia is an area where they have been making wine for more than 5,000 years, yet despite their history, Croatian wines and wine varietals are not very well known outside of Croatia, nor are they super easy to find. That’s in part because they don’t produce a ton of wine, and because they don’t export a lot of their wine, either. But, we bet if you have been to Croatia you have tasted the wine and thought - why isn’t this more available in other countries? We loved learning more about winemaking in Croatia, and we had a wonderful time trying two of their highest regarded wines in Plavac Mali and Pošip, the latter of which has been called by some the greatest unknown grape varietal in the world! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Bura-Mrgudić Plavac Fresh, 2023 Zlatan Otok Pošip.

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We had mixed expectations about Layer Cake Wines. On the one hand, Layer Cake was started by a winemaker who produces some of the most expensive and highest rated wines in the U.S. via their Hundred Acre label. On the other hand, “layer cake” is hardly a name one would give a sophisticated, serious wine. So which one is it? In this latest episode, we try to give Layer Cake wines an honest shot to impress us, reserving our judgment until we had the chance to taste them. We’ll let you judge for yourself, but in our opinion, these are not good wines, or at least not wines for anyone who is serious about wine. And maybe that’s the point. Very similar to our experience with Josh Wines, we think you can do much better at their price point. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Layer Cake Creamy Chardonnay, 2021 Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Is there such a thing as minerality in wine? Our taste buds tell us yes, but the science tells a different story. Is it a myth? Have the wine nerds and snobs brainwashed us to believe that minerality is a real thing? Is that really rock or seashell or gasoline or gunsmoke we are tasting in wine, or is it a bunch of hooey? In this minisode, we attempt to break down the facts and separate the evidence from the pseudoscience. But can we deny what our own palates tell us? Or have we fallen victim to a catfishing scheme against our own senses? The truth is out there - if we can face it. 

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What a beautiful wine! You may not have heard of Greco di Tufo, and you may not be familiar with wines from Campania in southern Italy, but we are hoping that we can change that! Greco is an ancient wine grape, brought to the area around Naples by the Greeks thousands of years ago, that nearly went extinct in this area of Italy. Thankfully, some hard working farmers and heritage wine making projects kept the wine alive, and we are the lucky benefactors today. There are only four DOCG designations in Campania - that is the highest designation of Italian wine - and Greco di Tufo is one of them. The name Tufo comes from a tiny town, but also from the volcanic soil, called tuff, that gives Greco di Tufo its distinct and beautiful flavor. If you are a white wine lover, and/or a seafood lover, this wine is a must try. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Vinosìa Greco Di Tufo L'ariella, 2020 Feudi di San Gregorio Greco di Tufo

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You know when they say “you get what you pay for”?!? That seems to fit pretty well with Trader Joe’s Reserve label wines. Look, you’re spending $10, so you probably shouldn’t expect to be wowed. And the wines we tasted met that expectation. However, when a wine is a private label from a store like Trader Joe’s - similar to Costco’s Kirkland brand - we think you should expect to get 2X the value for the price. In the case of Trader Joe’s Reserve wines, we think you kind of just get the value of the price on the bottle, which is disappointing. And, as usual, we don’t pull any punches when it comes to reviewing these wines. We also dig into why Trader Joe’s wines are popular, and do some sleuthing about where their wines come from, but we end up being pretty skeptical - you know, skep?!?-  about the quality of their production and taste of their wines. Quite frankly, these wines are not really for the wine snob in your life, they are wines for Tuesday night cheap pizza night. Keep your expectations in check and you won’t be disappointed. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Trader Joe’s Reserve Arroyo Seco Monterey County Chardonnay Lot #262, 2023 Trader Joe’s  Reserve Paso Robles Zinfandel Lot #265, 2022 Trader Joe’s Reserve Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah Lot #261

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Sometimes an interview just feels magical. Like, you just happen to find two people who have amazing stories, who genuinely like each other, and who complement the other in terms of their philosophies and approaches, and that is what we found in this interview with Roman and Jens. Roman makes beautiful wine for Wölffer Estate, so beautiful, in fact, that Jens and his partner Rasmus wanted to include him in their amazing book Rosé Revolution. Look, you may not think you are a Rosé lover, but we think that’s because you don’t know Rosé, and this episode, and this book, are fantastic ways to learn more and appreciate more about Rosé. Roman and Jens have some absolute pearls of wisdom to share, like everyone can make wine in a good year, but the real proof of talent is how good their wine is in tricky years. Another pearl from Roman is that the key to a great wine is found in fighting just the right time to harvest it. The other wonderful thing about his interview is that it encompasses the concept of Rosé Revolution, which is that Rosé is a worldwide phenomenon, and in it you have a Dane, a German, and an American all talking about Rosé wine. What more could you want? Please join us for this awesome conversation!

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Don’t say we didn’t warn you - because once you try this wine, you may never go back to Prosecco! Don’t get us wrong. We like a nice Aperol spritz made with Prosecco, and Prosecco was the sparkling wine that opened our eyes to sparkling wine, but if you want a more elegant, interesting, and food friendly wine, Franciacorta cleans Prosecco’s clock! There is a reason that Franciacorta and not Prosecco is considered to be a competitor to Champagne. Made in the same method as Champagne (Prosecco is not) and from similar grapes (which, again, Prosecco is not), Franciacorta has a taste and mouthfeel that is unique and complex, and if there are some of you out there who just don’t get what all the fuss is about Champagne or about Prosecco, you may find that Franciacorta is the sparkling wine you have been waiting for. We cover what the similarities and differences are between Franciacorta, Champagne, and Prosecco, and this week, we found two great Franciacorta wines that are excellent options if you are curious and don’t want to break the bank. Wines reviewed in this episode: Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Brut, Berlucchi Franciacorta '61 Extra Brut

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This is what we call a “wow your friends” wine! First, it’s a wine they have probably never heard of. Second, it is a great wine for all sorts of different red wine lovers because it has hints of different wines like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. And third, it is a delicious wine that goes well with a wide variety of foods. That is, if you find the right Blaufränkisch. And that is what we are here for! We want to expose our listeners to different types of wines, not just the same old Cabernet Sauvignon blends and Chardonnay, and we taste and review wines that we buy ourselves so we can give you the unvarnished and honest truth about how good - or not good - these wines are. And this week, we not only found a wine that we think is more than worth seeking out, we also found that each wine was a different experience. Join us to learn about what this wine, sometimes known as the Pinot Noir of the East, is all about - you will be glad you did! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2018 Weingut Burg Ravensburg Sulzfeld Blaufränkisch, 2020 Prieler Johanneshöhe Blaufränkisch

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