The Wine Pair Podcast

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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If you love Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, or Albariño, you’re going to also love Müller-Thurgau because they all have something in common: they are all aromatic dry white wines! Now, if you don’t know what aromatic white wines are, don’t worry, we’ll tell you all about them in this episode. We’ll even teach you what terpenes are and why they matter when it comes to aromatic dry white wines. Even better, we’ll tell you how to pronounce Müller-Thurgau, where the name came from (it’s a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster story), and why so much Müller-Thurgau is grown in Italy. After tasting this wine, it is now on our go-to list for white wines - definitely worth learning about and adding to your wine repertoire. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Muri Gries Alto Adige Müller-Thurgau, 2021 Elena Walch Müller-Thurgau

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If you love Oregon wines and biodynamic wines, we have a treat for you! And, if you think you know Oregon wines, this episode is a must listen. Did you know that there are two major wine growing regions in Oregon? It’s true! Most people think about the Willamette Valley, which is where our guest Morgan Beck is making beautiful Burgundy style wines for Johan Vineyards. But we bet you don’t know that in Southern Oregon, where the climate and soils are much different, there are people like our other guest Vince Vidrine making beautiful Rhône Valley style wines, like GSM and Viognier, and Vince makes these wines for Cowhorn Vineyard and Garden. Both of these winemakers are focusing on biodynamic wines - which in essence means they let the grapes and the juice and the specific weather and growing conditions each year tell them how the wines should be made each year. And it also means that they try and do less in the cellar and be more proactive in the vineyard. This was an amazing conversation, and if you want to learn more about wine, you would be hard pressed to find two better teachers than Morgan and Vince!

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Holy smokes, did we find a great wine! If you or someone you know is a Sangiovese skeptic, just doesn’t get what all the fuss is about Chianti wine, then you owe it to yourself and them to try this wine made from the Sangiovese Grosse grape, a mutation of the standard Sangiovese grape used in Chianti. You will become a convert. We promise! Hailing from the Montalcino region of Italy, just south of Siena, the same region that Brunello di Montalcino is from, is this fabulous wine made from the same grape as Brunello, but is a more affordable, and some say more approachable, cousin or sibling of Brunello. If you don’t know, Brunello is one of the great wines of Italy, and this wine is no slouch either. Rich, complex, fruity, and balanced, this wine is fabulous with meat dishes, rich red sauce pastas and lasagnas, and spicy wood fired pizza. After listening to this episode, you will want to run to your local wine shop to load up on this wine! We don’t often give such high scores to wines at this price point. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Camigliano Rosso di Montalcino, 2021 Voliero Rosso di Montalcino.

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