Mexico is making world-class wine—and most people have no idea. In this episode, we head to Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California with Eduardo Dingler to explore one of North America's most exciting (and accessible) wine regions. From Nebbiolo that tastes like Napa Cab to fresh Chenin Blanc perfect for fish tacos, Valle de Guadalupe is rewriting the rules on what Mexican wine can be. We break down which grapes thrive there, why it's an easy weekend trip from San Diego, how to plan your visit, and what makes this region so special. Plus, we taste Mama Mama Chenin Blanc from winemaker Lulu Martínez Ojeda—a wine that proves Mexico deserves a spot on your wine travel bucket list. Whether you're curious about emerging wine regions or just want an excuse to drink wine with tacos by the ocean, this episode is for you.

Wine:

2024 Towns Wine Co. Mama Mama Chenin Blanc, Viñedo Kompali, Baja California

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Wine Region:

Winemaker/Producer:

Key People Mentioned:

California Chenin Blanc Producers Mentioned:

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Time travel exists—and it comes in a bottle. In this solo deep dive, we're exploring everything you need to know about older wines, from what actually happens as wine ages to how to find, store, and serve bottles with serious age on them. Drawing from years of working with Press Restaurant's legendary cellar—one of the largest collections of Napa Valley wines dating back to the 1950s—we break down which wines are worth cellaring, what "good funk" really means, and why you don't need a million-dollar cellar to enjoy the magic of aged wine. Whether you're curious about that 2015 Rioja in your glass or wondering if your closet can double as wine storage, this episode answers your most-asked questions about drinking through time. Spoiler: sediment is your friend, and no, you don't have to finish the bottle in one sitting.

Wine: 2015 El Centimo Real Rioja

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Previous Episode Reference:

Wine Regions/Styles Discussed for Aging:

Regions Known for Age-Worthy Wines:

Grapes That Age Well:

Grapes/Styles That Don't Age Well:

Wine Storage & Serving Tools Mentioned:

Key Concepts Covered:

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Forget the usual suspects—we're taking you off the beaten path with the top five most exciting wine destinations for 2026. From Portugal's incredible diversity beyond Port to Germany's underrated food scene, Argentina's high-altitude Malbecs in Mendoza, California's dynamic Paso Robles, and the UK's surprising sparkling wine regions, these are the places where wine, food, and culture collide in the best possible way. Whether you're planning your first wine trip or looking for your next adventure, this solo episode is packed with firsthand insights, travel tips, and why visiting wine regions beats any classroom education. Plus, we share what makes each destination uniquely exciting—and why now is the time to go.

2021 Catena Zapata Catena Alta Malbec Historic Rows Mendoza

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Wine lovers don't just travel—they travel differently. And in this episode, Amanda sits down with Candice Mathis, founder of Vintage Departures and wine travel expert, to explore exactly how. From what makes a wine trip worth booking to why a great hotel bar matters more than you think, Candice shares her hard-earned wisdom from planning itineraries across Napa, Burgundy, Champagne, and beyond. They dig into the logistics of traveling with kids, why sleep is always worth the splurge, the unspoken rules of wine region etiquette, and how to unlock hotel perks you didn't know existed. Whether you're planning your first wine trip or your fiftieth, this conversation will change the way you think about where to stay, what to book, and how to make every moment count.

Wine Featured on This Episode:⁠⁠⁠

2022 Louis Millet Sancerre Rouge

📣 Links and Mentions

Candice Mathis - Vintage Departures

🤳 @vintagedepartures

📧  [email protected]

Hotels

Napa Valley

Champagne

Piedmont (Alba)

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Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’re kicking off season four with our new theme “Unfiltered In Flight” and exploring wine the lens of travel. Whether it’s a wine producing region or a major city abroad, we’re focusing on how wine people experience the places they visit. To start, we’re returning to a region that’s both iconic and endlessly misunderstood: Napa Valley. Together with local sommelier Laura Koffer of Wine Access, who has called the valley home for more than a decade, we’re unpacking what Napa actually feels like beyond the tasting room. From Champagne-fueled nights and backyard picnics to tacos, beer, and the casual luxury that defines daily life in the valley, we break down Napa’s geography, appointment culture, and how to plan smarter tasting days, with one core takeaway in mind: the best Napa trips aren’t about doing more, they’re about doing it better.

Wine Featured on This Episode:⁠

2024 Bordo Mare Vermentino Las Brisas Vineyard

📣 Links and Mentions

Wine Bars & Drinking Spots

Restaurants & Food

St. Helena

Yountville

Napa

Wineries & Wine Producers

Beer

Other, Logistics & Tips

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Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Season three of Wine Access Unfiltered was never about turning you into a sommelier — it was about helping you become a more confident, curious, and intentional wine buyer. In this solo finale, Amanda revisits the biggest ideas and “aha” moments from the season, from why asking better questions is the most powerful wine skill you can develop, to how importers can be your greatest shortcut to finding wines you’ll actually love. Pouring a classic Chianti, Amanda reflects on where value really lives in the wine world, why popularity often drives price more than quality, and how buying wine that fits your life — not someone else’s rules — leads to better bottles and more enjoyment. Whether you’re catching up, revisiting favorite lessons, or setting intentions for the year ahead, this episode is your reminder that wine doesn’t belong to gatekeepers. It belongs to you.

Wine Featured on This Episode:
2023 Poggio Bonelli Villa Chigi Saracini Chianti

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Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The holidays are the perfect excuse to enjoy fancy snacks, and this episode—the last in our holiday food mini-series—is your official permission slip to indulge in the most luxurious of them: caviar. Shaoching Bishop, co-founder and CEO of Regiis Ova Caviar, the ultra-premium caviar company she built alongside three-Michelin-star chef Thomas Keller, joins to help us better understand and enjoy caviar this holiday season. From what caviar actually is to why quality, curing, and handling matter far more than prestige or price, she fills us in what it takes to produce one of the finest caviars in the world. Plus, Shaoching shares tips on how to store caviar properly at home and why you might want to consider cucumbers and ice cream (really) when serving. Whether you’re caviar-curious, already obsessed, or just looking to elevate your holiday or weeknight table, this episode will change the way you think about this iconic food.

Wine Featured on This Episode

2023 Matthiasson Chardonnay Linda Vista Vineyard Napa Valley

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Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The secret to great beef isn’t luck - it’s science, aging, and choosing the right cut. And nobody explains it better than Katie Flannery, third-generation butcher and co-owner of Flannery Beef. From a humble bay-area butcher shop to a beloved brand of chefs, sommeliers, and even Robert Parker, Flannery Beef has shaped the way many of us think about steak. And with so many of us enjoying a holiday roast this time of year, we’re demystifying everything from dry-aging to grading and why the beef you choose is just as important as the wine you pour alongside it. Plus, Katie shares how one major wine importer changed their business forever. Whether you're prepping for a holiday feast or finally ready to understand what makes great beef great, this episode is the perfect blend of wine, food, and unfiltered education.

Wine Featured on This Episode

2023 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Sonoma Coast

Flannery Beef Cuts and Mentions

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Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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We’re kicking off a special holiday mini-series focused on the foods we love and the wines that make them shine. In this episode, we sit down with Chris Battle of Mighty Cap Mushrooms, whose Paso Robles mushroom farm has become a destination for chefs and curious cooks alike. Chris pulls back the curtain on how specialty mushrooms are grown, why sourcing matters, and how one simple technique can completely transform their flavor. We also pour a Carignan from Chile and break down why the grape’s spicy, vibrant profile is a natural match for mushroom-driven dishes. From cooking tips to holiday meal inspiration, this episode blends the best of wine and food in classic Unfiltered style — equal parts fun, educational, and delicious.

Wine Featured on This Episode

2021 Morandé VIGNO Carignan, Maule Valley, Chile

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Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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👉 Mighty Cap Mushrooms

👉 Mawn (Philadelphia — BYOB Cambodian)
The James Beard Award–winning restaurant Amanda visited before recording

👉 Plan a Trip to Paso Robles & Tin City
An incredible food-and-wine destination worth putting on your calendar

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Zinfandel has been called California’s grape: it’s a little rebellious, often misunderstood, and always the life of the party. In this episode of Unfiltered, we’re diving deep into Zin’s roots with Chris Morisoli, fifth-generation Napa Valley grapegrower, helicopter pilot, and host of the Nine One Wine podcast. From the old vines of Rutherford to the spicy, fruit-driven bottles from Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, Amanda and Chris unpack what makes Zinfandel so uniquely American—and why it’s poised for a major comeback. Along the way, Chris shares family stories dating back to the 1800s, what it’s really like during harvest season (spoiler: it starts at 3AM), and why the “Old Vine” label isn’t always what it seems.

Wine Featured on This Episode:⁠

2023 Dancing Zinfandel Fresh Take Dry Creek Valley

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Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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🍇 Where to find Chris:

Morisoli Vineyard – ⁠https://www.morisolivineyard.com⁠

Nine One Wine Podcast – ⁠https://www.nineonewine.com⁠

🌎 Other Producers & References

Ravenswood Winery

Bedrock Wine Co. – Heritage vineyards & old-vine Zinfandel champions from Morgan Twain-Peterson MW

Turley Wine Cellars –  Referenced for “Old Vines” benchmark; Larry Turley’s 50-year rule

Robert Biale Vineyards – Morisoli single-vineyard bottling, including the famous Black Chicken Zinfandel.

Sandlands Wines (Tegan Passalacqua) – Celebrated for authentic, small-lot old-vine Zinfandel and lesser-known varietals

Elyse Winery – Producers of Morisoli Vineyard Zinfandel from 1987–2018

🥂 Restaurants, Food & Fun Mentions

Buster’s Southern BBQ (Calistoga) 

Taco Azteca (Napa Valley) 

Cook St. Helena

COTE Korean Steakhouse 

Coqodaq - Featured for “fried chicken & Champagne” pairing, as seen on Apple TV’s Chasing Stars

Dry Creek General Store – Amanda’s rec for best sandwiches while exploring Dry Creek Valley

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