Sip with Nikki

I’m sitting in the middle of Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth, and I can’t help but share what we experienced last night! Michael and I are on a road trip from Sonoma County, and let me tell you, our first stop was nothing short of magical. The culinary experience we had at the Napa Rose Restaurant in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa was out of this world! I woke up with my travel m...

In this special Encore Episode, we dive deep into world of Olive Oil, led by the incredible Liz Tagami. She's a 6th generation Californian, who has been involved in defining and nurturing the Lucero Olive Oil brand for over 16 years. She’s a specialty food and cooking equipment industry veteran with 4 decades of international business experience. She and her husband, Donald, now own...

We’re exploring the ins and outs of this fabulous Italian grape, why it deserves a spot on your table, and what dishes it pairs perfectly with—hint: think delicious fresh pasta and rich tomato sauces. Plus, I’m bringing in my other half, Michael, for an exciting tasting of our 2022 Sollevato Sangiovese that we’ve been waiting to uncork. Here's what you'll hear: Why Sangiovese is a very versatile g...

In Part 2 (a continuation from last week's episode), I'm chatting with Ali Smith Story of Smith Story Wines, who shares how her handsome and intelligent doodle inspired a heartwarming initiative called Socks for Sandwich! You'll also hear about: This delightful backstory of their dog, Sandwich, and how his quirky name brings joy to many. Her remarkable journey as a breast cancer survivor and how i...

I'm finally sitting down with the inspiring Ali Smith Story from Smith Story Wine Cellars in Healdsburg, CA! Ali shares her journey from TX to CA and the unique story behind launching the first ever fully crowdfunded winery. You’ll hear about how she and her husband Eric approach winemaking in a way that emphasizes supporting family farmers and growers and using old-world techniques. You'll hear a...

Pour yourself a glass and listen in as Laurie Forster (aka The Wine Coach) and host Nikki Lamberti dive into the demystification (is that a word???) of wine. It's an engaging discussion filled with tips, personal anecdotes, and a shared passion for making wine enjoyment accessible, fun and FUNNY for everyone. They explore why many people feel intimidated by wine, discussing common misconceptions,...

The episode is a poignant reminder of the human spirit's resilience in the face of disaster, as Nikki and her sister Amanda, an LA resident, share their insights on rebuilding lives and communities after wildfires. They dive into the emotional complexity of losing a home (which Nikki and Michael experienced in 2017), the struggle to accept assistance, and the importance of connecting with others w...

The rise of NOLO wines (non-alcoholic or low-alcohol alternatives), is attracting attention in the beverage industry. Listen in as Michael and I and our good friends and fellow wine industry professionals, Hoby and Justin, taste through sparkling, white, rosé and red non-alcoholic wines and share our unfiltered responses with each other! Learn about the different methods used to create non-alcohol...

If you missed last week's episode about Dan Richer and Razza Pizza in Jersey City, NJ, listen to that first and this will make way more sense! Click here to listen. Pull up a chair with my family and I at the amazing Razza Pizza and listen as my friend and owner/chef/author Dan blows us away with : His homemade cultured butter topped with CAVIAR! 2 different expressions of his world-famous bread a...

It's Sip With Nikki's One Year Podcast Anniversary AND the last Episode of 2024! In honor of both, I'm sharing an encore release of our very first episode, with a new intro and teaser for next week! My guest in our first episode was Dan Richer, a fellow Matawan, NJ born chef and owner of Razza in Jersey City, which was named Best Pizza in North America by "50 Best". He’s the author of the New York...

In last week's Episode (did you listen?), you met my good friends "English Anne", Joan and Erika as we did a fabulous tasting at Tres Sabores Winery in St Helen, CA led by fellow wine educator Jim Olmos. This week you are hearing the second part of our visit as we pulled 3 of my unfinished 2023 Sollevato wines from the barrel to taste them mid-way through their journey. I was excited to share my "...

If you listened to last week’s episode, you heard me dispel some myths around Zinfandel and sing this grape’s praises! This week you’re coming along to a Zinfandel-centric tasting at the beautiful Tres Sabores Winery in St Helena, CA.  Tres Sabores is a boutique organic winery owned by winemaker, Julie Johnson and they are celebrating their 25th year making gorgeous wines in the Napa Valley....

When you hear “Zinfandel”, what do you think of? A bubble gum sweet pink wine? A jug wine? Today we’re quickly setting the record straight with what Zinfandel (aka America’s Grape) IS and what it ISN’T. What you need to know about this sometimes mis-understood grape Why you should be drinking it and what to expect Great pairing recommendations Check out this cool video all about Zinfande...

For our 50th Episode, I knew I wanted to do something extra special. So Michael and I flew to Orlando, visited Walt Disney World and got to spend time with George Miliotes of Wine Bar George. George has been on my "list" as a dream guest since starting this podcast, and with a little faith+ trust + pixie dust, dreams can come true! In his Library room on the second floor of Wine Bar George, we got...

Andrea Lemieux is a Michigan native who found herself on a "temporary" assignment in Istanbul… and 12 years later she is still there championing Turkish wines and the people and the history behind them.  Episode Highlights: How the country is embracing and reviving its native grapes I taste my first ever Turkish wine-hear my reaction! The rise of women in wine in a Muslim dominant c...

The 3rd Thursday of November is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which has historically celebrated the end of Harvest. It also means the arrival of super young, fun and flirty red wines made from the Beaujolais region in Central France. But is Beaujolais as a category of wine, just about those bubble gum and grape popsicle tasting wines???(which are certainly cheap and cheerful...) Get the scoop here on wh...

Are you really tasting your wine? Like, REALLY? I'm often asked for tips on the best way to experience a wine, including: What temperature should I enjoy my wine? Is swirling really a thing? And Why? What's the best way to actually taste the wine? If you've ever wondered these things... You're going to want to listen in. And if you want to dive deeper into the tips I touch on here, check out these...

Bold Women Make the Best Wine (Naturally). Marilee Bramhall is the founder of Iola Wines where she sources and direct imports organic wines from top women winemakers in France and Italy.  Listen in to hear: What led her to specialize in such a specific niche of the wine market The % of women winemakers versus the % of wines being purchased by women Her observations about how different genders...

Jen Ruiz is a lawyer turned travel blogger, content creator, Tedx speaker and author of 5 Amazon best sellers! In her newest book “12 Trips in 12 Months”, she shares how she experiences the world as a solo female traveler and shares how to find your own Travel Magic! As we sip on a surprisingly delicious wine from Washington state we talk about:  Her quest for love as she travels the globe Ho...

This week, Michael (in his official co-hosting debut) and I are sitting down with Mark McWilliams, Co-Owner of Arista Winery in Healdsburg CA (Sonoma County). Listen to our heartfelt and hilarious conversation, as we sip 2 beautiful wines while the sun sets and harvest moon rises in the vineyard around us. (Poor us).  Mark is an enthusiastic storyteller who shares: How his family came from Te...

Did you listen to last week’s episode about Come Over October? If not, check it out! As part of the “Come Over October” Movement, my friends and I got together on Saturday night to Eat, Drink and Be Merry.  (Also a quote from one of my favorite Dave Matthews Songs). I thought it'd be fun to share a peek into our gathering where we had 2 winemakers (I’m one!), multiple wine hospitality and mar...

In a Sip with Nikki first, I have 2 ENCORE guests with me: Karen MacNeil (Season 1 Ep 24) and Dr Hoby Wedler (Season 1 Ep 13). The three of us came together to talk about an exciting new initiative that Karen started and that Hoby and I are big supporters of. We gathered in Karen’s office St. Helena and shared a very special bottle of wine from an epic year. This lively and heartfelt conversation...

Many of us that live in wine country are big fans of Grenache both as a red wine and a rosé... But maybe you don't know much about it and if you're not drinking it you're missing out! Listen in to hear: What kind of wines are made from the Grenache grape Why it's such a popular option with the foodies and the cool wine kids A few of my favorites across different price points Our Sip Spotlights: Cl...

A recent experience at a local restaurant here in the Napa Valley (shout out to Rutherford Grill ) really got me thinking about how the right wine can truly elevate an evening and connect people in a world where we are all moving a million miles an hour! We're Diving into: Why we like to sit at the bar The magic of Syrah and why you should be drinking more of it The importance of a pioneer family...

It's Harvest time here in Wine Country! We wait all year for our one chance to create beautiful wine for you...and you're coming along for the day! Ride along with Michael and I for the pick, sorting and extra special crush (hint: STOMP) that happened on September 9th. You'll hear: The vineyard crew hand picking our Sangiovese grapes A special check in with our growers Joe and Travis Ramazzotti Th...