Voices of the Vine

In the last episode of Season 2, we're going to end exactly where we started: with low alcohol wine. Today, Virginia and I taste a low alcohol Sauvignon Blanc wine versus a regular Sauvignon Blanc table wine, both produced in New Zealand. We're here to compare and contrast what a low alcohol wine actually tastes like compared to a regular table wine. We'll talk about mouthfeel, the process in which this wine was made, consistency versus seasonal variation, and highlight some of our sensory preferences with a low alcohol wine. Good lessons in this episode that highlight potential consumer expectations from a high quality low alcohol wine.

Show Notes for our episodes can always be found at dgwinemaking.com via the "Podcast" tab.

Today's episode not only reviews some of the top marketing trends of 2026 that keep coming up on repeat from various wine marketing experts we have talked to, but it also dives into addressing one of the top trends of the year: flavor integration. We're not talking about wine flavors, but top flavors that take over the food and beverage industry. While we discuss how to make formula wines and RTD's that touch upon the top flavor trends of the year, I'm also going to discuss how more traditional wineries can utilize flavor trends to help promote their wines.

You can find Show Notes for today's episode at dgwinemaking.com under the "Podcast" tab.

After having the opportunity to talk with Carly Razzi from Penns Woods Winery (PA) in last episode, Virginia and I also wanted to taste two of their wines and share them here with all of you. Both wines are Pennsylvania grown and Pennsylvania produced. Their winemaker, Davide, has done an excellent job on both and we're excited to describe them for you here. They are both lovely examples of the quality wines produced outside of the Western U.S. Today, we're tasting the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc and also the 2023 Pinot Noir. Cheers!

Show notes are always available at dgwinemaking.com, in the "Podcast" tab. There, you can find the entire Cellar Archive of episodes. Have a question for Denise? Email DG Winemaking at [email protected].

In 2009, Carley Razzi joined her father's winery, Penns Woods Winery, in Southeastern Pennsylvania at the young age of 23. Carley worked 7 days a week, painting her own path, determined to help her father sell Pennsylvania grown and produced wine. Today's episode reveals a story of determination, inclusivity, open-mindedness and generational youth. We discuss everything from how selling wine through a tasting room evolves to Carley's vision of inclusivity within the tasting room. All season long, we've discussed various marketing strategies for today's wineries across the U.S., and our interview with Carley is a fantastic example of creating experiences, events, and community within a wine brand. Let's welcome, Carley Razzi.

For Show Notes of this episode, please visit dgwinemaking.com under the "Podcast" tab for the entire Cellar Archive.

Let's taste some aromatic white wines that are associated with Episode 8's discussion! In today's Wine Tasting Short, Virginia and Denise taste a 100% Albarino and a blend of several aromatic white wine varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Chardonnay). Plus, we brought in a comparison wine - which DG Winemaking did not consult on - an oak aged Chardonnay. We wanted to highlight the lovely nature of this Pennsylvania grown- and produced- oak-aged Chardonnay. Please enjoy the distinct characters associated with each wine we tasted.

For more information on each wine, please visit the Show Notes at dgwinemaking.com under the "Podcast" tab.

Have you ever wondered whether your winemaking decisions are truly shaping the way your wines taste? Most wineries don't have the luxury of running a control against a treatment to measure how a single variable changes the outcome in a given variety. In today's episode, we're diving into a 2024–2025 winemaking project where we deliberately altered our processes to drive meaningful changes in the sensory qualities of several aromatic white wines. We'll walk through what we tried, what we learned, and why the decisions you make at each stage of the process matter more than you might think. Whether you're a new or seasoned winemaker, we hope you leave this conversation with a deeper appreciation for how intentional choices at every step of the winemaking process shape what ends up in the glass.

As always, you can find Show Notes to our episodes at dgwinemaking.com, in the "Podcast" tab. Show Notes include episode summaries and all of the resources we discuss on our episodes.

Selling wine is a challenge for many wineries this year. So we're talking to Dr. Kathy Kelley, Professor of Horticultural Marketing and Business Management at Penn State University. Dr. Kelley brings some fresh perspectives around wine marketing for smaller or family-owned operations, has provided us with a plethora of resources all available on our Show Notes, and created some reasonable action items for wineries to utilize today. If you are looking for a fresh start in your wine marketing strategies, this is the episode to listen to.

You can find these and all of our past Show Notes at dgwinemaking.com under the "Podcast" tab. Show Notes include episode summaries and all of the resources we discuss on our episodes.

Do you currently feel stuck or are struggling in the trenches of today's industry status? This may be the conversation you need! We're dropping a section of our interview with Estelle Tracy which was not previously released. We will pick up the interview when Virginia asked Estelle for background on how she named her company "37 Chocolates." From here, Estelle divulged more information on the years that led to the development of 37 Chocolates. After years of experimentation with a different blogging topic, Estelle found her interests and devotion to writing led her into a professional educator. For Denise, after a decade of using blogging as a tool to communicate to a broader audience, she learned that her persistence and interests captivated more people than she had imagined. Today's discussion reveals how both needed creativity in their work to maintain motivation and pivot through life's crossroads as they developed their businesses, which are still evolving today! We hope that today's episode encourages you to lean into your interests and allow them to guide you through those stuck moments.

As always, Show Notes are available at dgwinemaking.com through the "Podcast" link.

What happens when three people that are passionate about pairing complex foods with complex beverages get together? You get THIS wine and chocolate pairing. Estelle Tracy, from 37 Chocolates, leads us through a chocolate and wine pairing, showing us how much fun it can be to pair different craft or bean-to-bar chocolates with wines. She even added a very special tip for pairing wine and chocolate together for those that absolutely love these combinations. Today's wine tasting illustrates part of Estelle's Wine Pairing Guide with Chocolate. Plus, she shows us how possible it is to enjoy these pairings in case you didn't think it was possible! If you're interested in trying this approach in your winery, Estelle's information is in our Show Notes and we encourage you to check out her work!

You can find Show Notes to each episode at dgwinemaking.com, under the "Podcast" link.

Today's guest is Estelle Tracy, the founder and owner of 37 Chocolates, a business that provides chocolate tastings and chocolate education. Our interview with Estelle focuses on a modern approach to chocolate and wine pairings that. We're covering Estelle's background, her ability to connect with audiences, her interest in wine and chocolate pairings, and providing chocolate examples for wine pairings. This take on wine and chocolate is truly fascinating and has potential to elevate your own wine brand. We hope that you will tune into our second episode that features a wine and chocolate pairing with Estelle. If you're interested in trying this approach in your winery, Estelle's information is in our Show Notes and we encourage you to check out her work!

You can find these show notes and our archive at dgwinemaking.com under the Podcast link.