Wine for Normal People

Ep 620: The Greats - The Wachau Region of Austria

Austria is a bit off the radar so you may not know its greatest region: the Wachau. This time I cover the region in detail, from its 2000 year history to its unique geolo

Ep 619: The Wines of Provence - Liz Gabay & Ben Bernheim Return To Discuss Their Latest Book

Liz Gabay, MW and her partner and son, Ben Bernheim, come back on the show as dynamic as ever.   This time they discuss their latest, wonderful book, "The Wines of Pr

Ep 618: Back to Basics: Structure in Wine Part 2 - Sugar & Alcohol

In last week's show (dorkfest part 1), we discussed two components of structure, acidity and tannin, and how they are like two sides of a picture frame, structure. In thi

Ep 617: Back to Basics: Structure in Wine Part 1 - Acidity & Tannin

This time it's Back to Basics -- describing two of the four main components that make up the structure of wine - Acidity & Tannin. It's both simple, and very dorky (I quo

Ep 616: The Greats – The Chenin Blancs of the Loire Valley

Although the Loire Valley is most famous for the Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé (especially after Taylor Swift drove tons of people to buy Sancerre – thank

Ep 615: Felicity Carter Returns: The journalist, writer, speaker taking on the hardest issues in wine

Felicity Carter a journalist, researcher, and analyst who's spent more than 20 years covering the global drinks industry. Not one to shy away from controversy, Felicity c

Ep 614: The Alto Piemonte - Piedmont's Best Kept Secret

Although the best-known wines of Piemonte are in the south — in Alba, Roero, Cuneo, and Asti – there is a treasure trove of excellent Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo blends northea

Ep 613: The Grape Mini-Series Refresh -- Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is one of the oldest and finest red grapes of Italy. Native to Piemonte (Piedmont) in the northwest of the country, it was first mentioned and described by (my b

Ep 612: Wine Legends -- André Tchelistcheff, The Father of American Wine

André Tchelistcheff is a wine legend, especially in American wine. A winemaker, viticulturist and teacher, Tchelistcheff raised the standards for California wine, making

Ep 611: Six MORE Alternatives to Expensive Wines

I said in episode 604 that if you wanted my other 6 suggestions, I would do a follow up show! You told me this is what you wanted, so this time I give you six MORE wine r

Ep 610: The Greats - A History of Champagne (How Champagne Became Champagne) Part 2

This is part two (Ep 609 is Part 1)of a two-part series on the history of Champagne, which tells the story of how Champagne became Champagne! Photo: Champagne Vineyar

Ep 609: The Greats -A History of Champagne (How Champagne Became Champagne) - Part 1

This is part of a two-part series on the history of Champagne, which tells the story of how Champagne became Champagne!   Photo: Champagne vineyards before mechanizati

Ep 608: The Grape Miniseries -- The Barbera Refresh

Barbera is one of Italy's most widely planted red grapes and an essential part of Piemontese wine culture. It is native to the Monferrato hills, where it has been grown f

Ep 607: Wine Legends - The People Who Solved the Great French Wine Blight

In this show rather than one wine legend, I talk about a team of people who saved the wine world from The Great French Wine Blight of the 1860s – 1890s, which turned out

Re-release of Ep 310: Elena Walch - The Quality Revolutionary of Alto Adige, Italy

I couldn't get a new podcast out with my travels from Alto Adige with the patrons,  but I thought it was timely I re-released this show since I was just there. It's not A

Ep 606: Sally Evans, Owner of Château George7 in Fronsac Bordeaux, & Author of the Bestselling "Make the Midlife Move"

After a career in global consulting and raising a family, Sally Evans decided to pursue a dream of owning a winery. She took WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) wine

Ep 605: The Greats - The Grand Cru Whites of the Côte de Beaune, Burgundy (get to know them so you don't miss out if someone offers them to you!)

This episode is part of  "The Greats" series, in which I discuss the greatest wines in the world and what makes them great. This time,  I explore the top white Burgundies

Ep 604: Six Alternatives to Expensive Wines

This time I give you six wine regions that make very expensive wines and then provide ideas of less expensive bottles that you could sub in when you don't want to splurge

Ep 603: The Veneto Region of Italy (2026 Update)

I haven't given an update to the Veneto region in more than a decade. With an upcoming Patron trip to the region, I think it's high time! Veneto is in northeastern Ital

Ep 602: Wine Legends - Émile Peynaud, The Father of Modern Enology

This is the start of a new series, suggested by Patron Keith S.! Thank you, Keith!  I'll cover people who have made a huge difference in the wine world —figures whose con