Wine Pod

Spain is considered an “old world wine region” — a blend of tradition and innovation where superb quality goes hand in hand with unparalleled value. Working with indigenous grape varieties, winemakers craft robust reds, crisp whites, lively sparklers and world-renowned fortified wines. Spanish wines have a classification system based on the "Denominación de Origen" (also known as a "D.O." or designation of origin) that indicates where the wine was produced. In this episode, we're joined by Elisa Errea as we look at seven enchanting wine regions across Spain.

Growing up in hospitality, Alpana's parents wanted her to go to college, and move away from the restaurant industry - but Alpana had other plans. Becoming the youngest female, and first South Asian Master Sommelier in the world and blazing a trail of success with everything she touched.

In addition to being a world-renowned Sommelier, Alpana is a restaurateur, author, and the host of the Emmy Award-winning restaurant review show, Check, Please! As the youngest female to gain the Master Sommelier title, she is also the first person to then renounce their title - listen now to find out why.

Holiday Bonus Episode: Wine Pod hosts, Doris Miculan-Bradley and Adrian Caravello share their favourite splurge and save bottles of wine to indulge in, or gift, around the holiday season. They share what makes them work with their favourite holiday treats, and why you should consider adding them to your holiday line-up. For anyone who's familiar with Adrian, you might be able to guess what his go-to splurge champagne is.

Born in Montréal, Québec, Élyse Lambert graduated with a degree in hotel management from the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) in 1998 and as Sommelier from L’École Hôtelière des Laurentides in 1999. Now, one of five Master Sommeliers in Canada - Élyse is currently working as a Sommelier Consultant and continues sharing her passion at Radio-Canada’s morning show, Medium Large and has a wine column in Journal de Montreal. Élyse lives in Montreal and consults for private and corporate clients and is often invited to facilitate wine education seminars and to speak at corporate functions in Canada and around the world.

Christopher Sealy is the Wine Director for the Alo Food Group and recipient of Best Sommelier by Canada's 100 Best Restaurants in 2019. Having grown up in Guelph, On and graduated with a degree in French Language and Literature at the University of Toronto, Sealy became interested in the wine industry while living in Paris, and working as a photographer and a DJ.

Johnny Schuler is an author, chef and restaurateur, distiller, and television personality from Lima, Peru. Regarded as one of Pisco's greatest advocates, Johnny's experience and enthusiasm for pisco are evident on his popular television show, Por Las Rutas del Pisco. As the master distiller for Pisco Porton, and a Peruvian Congress Medal of Honour recipient, Johnny has played an integral role in rallying government ministries and the private sector to regulate the pisco industry in Peru.

With a name like Shiraz, it's no surprise that this week's guest won Winemaker of the year at the 2017 Ontario Wine Awards. As the Winemaker at Malivoire for over fifteen years, Shiraz Mottiar's goal is to make fresh, drinkable wines that can be enjoyed at the dinner table on any given day.

Part of the first graduating class at Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture program in 2000, Shiraz joined the Malivoire team as a cellar hand that same year. Within a year, Shiraz was promoted to Assistant Winemaker, and after a brief leave of absence to join the Coldstream Hills Winery team in Australia, Shiraz returned to Malivore and was promoted to Winemaker in 2005.

Gaia Gaja is the fifth generation of her family to work at the GAJA Winery. While Gaia Gaja takes great pride in her family's rich winemaking heritage she is not one to rest on the laurels of preceding generations. The new generation of Gajas, led by Gaia Gaja, is determined to make all preceding generations proud.

Vivian Kleynhans, owner of one of South Africas most successful wineries - Seven Sisters, grew up in a fishing town. Having never tasted wine before deciding to go into the business, Vivian saw an opportunity in the market and, with the goal of creating generational wealth for her family, Seven Sisters Winery was born.

Doris and Adrian introduce Wine Pod with their first guest, Katie Jackson of Jackson Family Wines - most known for their renowned Vintners Reserve Chardonnay. Katie has been a champion in the California wine industry for environmental impact and social sustainability. We're joined this episode by friend of the podcast, and wine expert, Michael Fagan.