
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris with Chateau Montelena winemaker Matt Crafton—but we're not here to rehash history. Instead, we're diving into Paris as a wine travel destination through Matt's eyes, shaped by an accidental 10-day COVID quarantine that became the trip of a lifetime. From food tours with kids to Sunday restaurant closures, spontaneous wandering versus careful planning, and the wine bars worth seeking out, this is Paris for wine lovers who want to go beyond the guidebook.
Wine featured in this episode:
2022 DeLille Cellars Signature Syrah Yakima Valley
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oregon wine country is closer, more accessible, and more delicious than you think. In this episode, we sit down with AJ Resnick—former Wine Access colleague, podcast co-creator, and current Ponzi Vineyards Chief of Marketing—to explore Portland and the Willamette Valley through the eyes of someone who left California to make Oregon home. From why Ponzi is only 20 miles from downtown Portland to which pizza shops deserve a permanent spot in your rental car, AJ breaks down how to plan your Oregon wine trip, where to eat in Portland, and why these Pinot Noirs deserve more age than they're getting. We taste Ponzi's Laurelwood Chardonnay, compare Oregon to Burgundy and California, and get AJ's insider list of restaurants, wine bars, and hidden gem wineries. Whether you're planning your first trip to the Pacific Northwest or wondering if Oregon wine lives up to the hype, this episode proves it absolutely does.
2023 Ponzi Vineyards Chardonnay Laurelwood District, Willamette Valley
Restaurants - Portland:
Pizza:
High-End/Fine Dining:
International:
Casual/Other:
Breweries:
Bakeries/Coffee:
Willamette Valley
Restsaurants/food
Wineries Mentioned:
Must-Visits:
Hidden Gems:
Historic Oregon Producers (aged well at Press Restaurant):
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Wine Region:
Winemaker/Producer:
Key People Mentioned:
California Chenin Blanc Producers Mentioned:
Napa Restaurants Mentioned:
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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
Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
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:
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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
Hotels
Napa Valley
Champagne
Piedmont (Alba)
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From the publisher's feed

1,482 Listeners

430 Listeners

3,011 Listeners

187 Listeners

111,865 Listeners

56,449 Listeners

302 Listeners

6,066 Listeners

373 Listeners

84 Listeners

417 Listeners

105 Listeners

15,904 Listeners

4,473 Listeners

750 Listeners