Another Bottle Down

This is a terrific episode featuring owner and chef of Emmer and Rye in Austin, Kevin Fink, and general manager Rand Egbert.  They're talking about the the South by Southwest food events as well how they push the bar of local cuisine on a regular basis at the restaurant.  Daily menu changes depending on what fresh and delicious coming in, heirloom grains, whole animal butchery, small plates, dim s...

Chris Brundrett (William Chris Vineyards) and Rae Wilson (Wine for the People) come on the show to talk about the proposed HB1514 that makes wine labeled as Texas to be 100% from Texas grapes.  This makes the law more strict than the Federal TTB requirement of 75%.  Join us for the full discussion. To sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/support-texas-wine-industry-pass-hb-1514-truth-in-lab...

The 2017 Slow Wine Tour of the US stopped in Austin, TX on Jan 30th.  They were also spreading the word in San Francisco, Seattle, and New York.  In this show, we'll hear from the organizers Giancarlo Gariglio and Jonathan Gebser, as well as a handful of producers who are doing amazing things off the beaten path; Gavi, Dogliani, Lake Guarda, Lambrusco, and Mount Etna to name a few.  We truly get t...

Patrick Baudouin is descendant of several generations of wine growers in Anjou, the Loire Valley, and has been making wine for 26 years.  He tells us of his research into the origins of Chenin Blanc and explains the diverse styles, from the bone-dry Savennières to the sweet and noble Quartes de Chaume.  He also explains his wine making of natural yeasts, really long fermentations,  low sulfur, and...

In this week's episode, we meet Adam Orman, managing partner of the Italian restaurant, L'Oca D'Oro.  Adam has been in the restaurant world for many years, working in some top wine spots in New York, San Fransisco, and now Austin.  He tells us of the philosophy of the wine and food menus, a focus on open flame grilling, heirloom ingredients, and the restaurant's mandatory gratuity to give their em...

Neal Rosenthal is celebrating 40 years in the wine business, starting as a retailer in New York and quickly moving to importing.  He was just in Austin, and we caught up with him in person to talk about his history, tastes, and recommendations to our younger generation of wine professionals.

This week on the show we interview James Sutton from Austin Eastciders and Jeff Bell from TX Saké company.  Austin Eastciders has be blowing up, they've moved to a larger facility on the South East side and will be soon opening a tap room.  Jeff from TX Saké tells us all about the saké making process and how they use all American ingredients to craft a TX saké.  He also shares some cocktail recipe...

Sergio is head winemaker at Fall Creek Vineyards and came to TX after a career of making wine in Chile.  We talk about the challenges of growing grapes in a warm climate and how the vines adapt to produce wines you wouldn't expect.  Sergio talks of his experience of making wine in TX, how the soil and site make all the difference, as well as why the winemaker must stay on his or her toes during ha...

Check out the wonderful, insightful conversation by some of Austin's top wine people about the most enigmatic of beverages.  Shadd Scott, Austin Manager for Pioneer Wine Company, David Salinas, Enologist and Key Account Manager for Pioneer, and Christina Walther Mogish, Spec's Wine and Liquor dig into all the particulars of enjoying the real Champagne.  Happy New Year's everyone!

Wow, we're in the thick of the holidays with everybody looking for gifts for their family members, bosses, colleagues, customers, and loved ones.  I decided to put a couple of the top scoring wines with the Texas Wine Journal, up against some heavy hitting wines from around the world (thanks to Southern Glazers for providing),  Listen in to hear how the Texas wines fared against their foreign coun...

In his 2016 book, Champagne, Uncorked , Alan Tardi chronicles a year he spent in Champagne at the prominent house Krug.  He tells us of the inner-workings of making wine in this region: the dynamics of the growers and houses, the blending trials, the ageing, and a history that has been mystified throughout the centuries. 

Wine and food writer Alan Tardi just came out with his book, Champagne, Uncorked , which chronicles a year he spent at one of the most acclaimed Champagne houses, Krug.  Alan is gearing up for a dinner, five courses, at the the Driskill in Austin, with Executive Chef, Troy Knapp.  The dinner will be featuring exquisite food paired with multiple vintages, Rosé, Grand Cuvee, and the acclaimed Clos d...

Tessa and Matt Halstead opened their high-end confectioner's chocolate shop in Austin two years ago.  Tessa comes from a chocolate making family and Matt made wine in Argentina, perfect combo in my book!  Listen to us discuss the finer points of making chocolate, tasting chocolate, and pairing wine with chocolate.  We're definitely getting ready for the holidays!

I'm very proud to post an amazing discussion with Murph Willcott of Texas French Bread and Paul Ozbirn of Parkside Projects.  With these amazing wine and food gurus, we take calls from the Austin wine loving public.  Listen to get the full story on what to serve with your Thanksgiving dinner!

Giulia Luccioli is the resident wine expert of the Wine Lover community on the Umbria Region of Italy.  She talks about the power of connecting with wine lovers all around the world.  Use the hash-tag, #WineLover. 

Check out this wonderful discussion with Giulia Luccioli, sales director of Sagravit, and Anthony Salazar, sommelier of Gusto Restaurant in Austin.  Sagravit is the largest Agricultural company in Italy, managing the land interests of the Order of Malta.  They oversee 3 really historical estates in Umbria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Prosecco.  Anthony talks about Italian Restaurant Week in Austin...

Miriam Parker, Exec Director of the Austin Food and Wine Alliance, talks about the up-coming Wine and Swine event in the Hill Country.  Then, Marta Delfa Mediavillas comes on to talk about the 5th generation family owned winery, Torres, and the wines of the Penedés.  We also delve into the other major Spanish regions and explore the Torres project of recuperating "lost" varieties!  Super fun stuff...

Jasmine Hirsch comes on the show to share the history of her family's vineyard.  David Hirsch, Jasmine's father, planted his vineyard in 1980 two miles from the ocean, the first on the Sonoma Coast, so he could have someplace to hear himself think.  Now, Hirsch Pinot Noirs are some of the most acclaimed in all of California.  Jasmine talks of the early days and growing up on the "ranch," as well a...

Freelance food, wine, and travel writer Jessica Dupuy, has covered the Texas wine industry for Texas Monthly for many years.  In 2016, she changed her highly anticipated yearly list of top Texas wines to be a quarterly endeavor.  Join us to chat about her Fall 2016 list as a well as conversation around direction of the industry and her new book United Tastes of Texas.

Jeremy Fouquet, export manager with the Chateauneuf-de-Pape Producer, Maison Brotte, comes on the show to speak about the Rhone Valley and all the different properties owned by the Brotte Family.  He grew up in the Southern Rhone in a family of chefs, and now travels telling the story of one of the most popular Chateauneuf producers!

We continue celebrating Texas Wine Month with a comprehensive tasting of the hybrid varieties that are most prospective in the Lone Star State.  We explore the diverse styles of Blanc du Bois, from Sparkling to Sweet and Fortified, with it's bright acidity and pretty aromatics.  We also tackle the historic Black Spanish, also known as, Jacquez and Lenoir, with its screaming acidity and gamey chara...

What better way to celebrate Texas Wine Month than with three leading producers, Ron Yates of Spicewood Vineyards, Fredrick Osterberg of Pedernales Cellars, and Dave Reilley of Duchman Family Winery.  These wineries along with Brennan and Bending Branch make up the Texas Fine Wine Group which share a philosophy of producing wines made from grapes best suited to Texas.  We hear what varieties they...

Daniel Chavez, an economist with Texas A&M Agri-life Extension program, talks about his work helping small-acreage farms and growers link up with local restaurants.  In the second half of the program, Chris Seals presents his new Austin distillery, Still Austin.  His focus will be white whiskey which explores the different terroirs and heirloom grain varieties of Texas.  All 'grain to glass' and a...

Virginia Willcock has been making wine for Margaret River's first winery, Vasse Felix, for 10 years.  She has been making some of Australia's best Chardonnay is really pushing the bar on Cabernet Sauvignon.  She tells us all about all that she is doing in this exciting region; native fermentations, focus on Malbec and Petite Verdot for blending with Cab Sauv, and so much more!

Roberta Rinaldi comes on the show to talk about the under-appreciated region in Lombardia named Oltrepò Pavese.  This region is home to the largest area of Pinot Noir from which they make beautiful still and sparkling wines.  Roberta and importer Giacomo Butera talk about the upcoming arrival of renowned producer Cà di Frara to the Austin market: http://www.cadifrara.com/en/