Witches Winecast

Well y'all, this might be our boujiest wine pick yet. Today we're bringing you the 2009 Gran Reserva Rose from R. Lopez de Heredia. Did you know they made a rosé in the Rioja region? Because we didn't. But this bottle is a true beauty to savor. Made from 60% Garnacho, 30% Tempranillo and 10% Viura, and was aged for four years in American oak and another five years in bottle prior to release. We talk about what we typically think of as Rioja wines and what the aging process does for wine. While this bottle might be hard to find, we truly believe it's worth the effort. 

We hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast for other wine recommendations. As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - [email protected].

Rioja Aging Classifications -

The episode we know you've all been waiting for. We're finally bringing you a Chardonnay and Alex didn't even protest. Today we're drinking a Chablis from Gilbert Picq. Chablis is in the northernmost region of Burgundy that is known for it's Chards. This Chablis is a Premier Cru so she's extra fancy. We discuss where Chablis is,  and do a deep dive on how to learn primary aromas in wine. We hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast for other wine recommendations. As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - [email protected].

Primary wine aromas - When made into wine, each grape variety offers a unique "scent" called primary aromas. These aromas are typically classified by fruit, herbal, and floral smells which come naturally just from the grape. White wines often have more citrus and stone fruit scents, compared to red wines which will have more red or blue fruits like cherry or plum. Each grape has it's own primary aromas, so open a bottle and start smelling!

We're still celebrating Mad's birthday, and what is more suitable for celebrations than CHAMPAGNE?! Today we're drinking a grower champagne from Bereche et Fils. This brut reserve is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier and is referred to as "house champagne." We discuss the méthode traditionnelle of champagne production. Whether you're looking to celebrate something big or just need some bubbles on a Wednesday, we hope you'll add this bottle into your celebratory line up. We hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast for other wine recommendations. As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - [email protected].

Grower Champagne - refers to sparkling wine that is not only made in France’s Champagne region (as a protected designation of origin), but is also specifically crafted by families who are growing the grapes on their own land. Grower Champagne is made in much smaller volumes, and can really showcase the terroir of each farm.

Traditional Method or Méthode Traditionnelle - 

Then you have Champagne! Phew. 

It's a special week around the studio, because it's Madeleine's 30th birthday! We're celebrating this babe's entry into a new decade with the 2020 Gamay/Pinot Noir blend from Lo-Fi wines out of Santa Barbara California. This chilled red isn't what you'd typically think of. It has a complexity of flavors that are more earthy and umami. You might even call it funky. This is another carbonic red made from organically grown grapes and fermented with all natural processes. We talk about what categorizes "natural" or "low-intervention" wines and why you should drink more of them. Open this wine when you're feeling the 70s and listening to Fleetwood Mac, you won't be disappointed. We hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast for other wine recommendations. As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - [email protected].

According to the Oxford Companion to Wine, natural wine is produced from grapes that are hand-picked from sustainable, organic, or biodynamic vineyards. The wine is then fermented with native yeasts (or without the addition of yeasts) and without any other additives. During bottling little or no sulfites are added, which are used to help prevent oxidation. 

Happy first day of summer and Cancer season, witches! We have another highly crushable wine for you today! The 2020 Lune Juice from Subject to Change is just as it sounds, highly juicy and easy drinking. We fully admit that we were influenced by the label (we are millennials after all), but inside you'll find a wine with light acidity and lower alcohol content thanks to a partial carbonic fermentation. It's a great summer sipper to have in the fridge. If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and as always shoot us an email with your wine questions - [email protected]. 

Carbonic maceration occurs when a winemaker skips stemming and crushing grapes and instead puts full the bunches of grapes into steel fermentation tanks that are sealed and filled with carbon dioxide, creating an anaerobic atmosphere without any oxygen. Without oxygen, fermentation begins inside the individual grapes, and eventually the grapes end up crushing themselves under the weight of the alcohol they are producing.

BONUS! We 10/10 recommend drinking this while listening to Taylor Swift's willow (90's trend remix). If that doesn't sound like a juicy summer, we don't know what does. 

We're feeling summer and heading to the southern hemisphere! Today we're drinking Vina Maitia's 2020 Pipeno, a chillable red blend of Pais and Carignan. This laid back wine is perfect for hanging out by the beach or enjoying with some spicy seafood. It has a great mouthfeel and if you close your eyes, you might just feel transported to a little Mexican beach town. This wine is widely available and reasonably priced, so it's great to have on hand to take to any summer gatherings where you want to show off your wine knowledge a bit. Hope you enjoy!

It's Gemini season and Mercury RX, so it seemed fitting to feature a wine that crosses into oblivion. Starting off our chilled reds, we bring you the 2020 Astral Blend from Les Lunes. This blend of five varietals is a blend of red, white and rose wines, a combination that creates a category-less wine that subverts definition. Bright, sour red fruits with initially a high acid palate, this wine is one you can open and linger over with friends. And maybe, you'll find some much bliss you start to ascend into the astral plane.

Happy Memorial Day weekend! We hope you're doing something relaxing and luxurious, like backyard sipping or bathing in champs. Today we're highlighting a favorite winemaker of us both - Lioco. They make some truly exceptional wines, and their 2020 Rose of Carignan is one worth searching for. This is a limited release wine due to the California fires that occurred over summer 2020. It's incredibly drinkable and is a unique Rose since not many are made from the Carignan grape. Beg your local wine shop to find a bottle or two and hoard it. You won't be disappointed.