Grape Encounters Wine Radio

He’s known around the country as the Sommelier of the stars. That’s because both Hollywood and corporate elite turn to him for wine advice. Christopher Sawyer is without a doubt one of the most colorful figures in the wine business, and if there’s a major event or wine competition, you can bet that Chris is on the A-List. Chris Sawyer, internationally-renowned sommelier, wine educator, journalist,...

As the U.S. wine industry basks in the glow of premiumization once again, the issue of luxury wine pricing is gaining more attention. However, a review of the luxury wine marketing literature generates more confusion than light on the issue, and makes it difficult to answer the question: what price is luxury wine? Dr. Liz Thach, MW of Sonoma State University This week on Grape Encounters, David vi...

After 5 years of unprecedented drought in California, the flood finally came… and did it ever put the enormous dry spell to bed. For several weeks, creeks in many of California’s wine regions have been overflowing their banks; a double-edged sword as plenty of damage occurred to infrastructure, but water supplies returned to 100% and even more. Gladys Horiuchi, Director of Media Relations at the W...

One-On-One with Xavier De Eizaguirre, Chairman of Vinexpo Bordeaux, Europe’s Biggest Wine Soiree! This June, Bordeaux will host the most stylish wine industry show in the world, Vinexpo 2017. Vinexpo is the gold standard when it comes to wine and spirit trade expositions, drawing nearly 50,000 buyers from around the world and featuring nearly 2500 exhibitors from 42 producing countries. Xavier De...

The Uncanny Success Story of the Cardella Winery! At the beginning of each year, it is Grape Encounters’ pleasure to look back upon the wineries and winemakers featured on the show in the prior year and select one that we believe has truly distinguished themselves by producing a broad range of consistently outstanding wines. Host David Wilson says “This year’s choice was easy… not simply because t...

Ryan Render, Rendarrio Vineyards and Tonnellerie CADUS David talks with Ryan Render, Director of Sales for Tonnellerie CADUS North America, as well as founder and winemaker at Rendarrio Vineyards. Ryan consults with wineries about choosing suitable barrels for their wines. Tonnellerie means barrel-making, or cooperage, and is one of the least understood aspects of winemaking. Ryan has a keen appre...

We’ve been covering the very tense state of affairs in the Finger Lakes wine region of New York for a couple of years now. It’s an ongoing saga with the potential to have a very unhappy ending if the government doesn’t step in and address the concerns of winemakers, leaders of a wide variety of key industries and, of course, the citizens of Upstate New York. The drama revolves around a company fro...

PERFECTION TO THE 5TH POWER It’s an achievement that most winemakers only dream of… earning a perfect 100 point score from legendary wine critic Robert Parker. Yes indeed, it’s nearly impossible to earn even one 100 point score during your career. But Mark Carter of Carter Cellars and Envy Wines has lots of years ahead of him and he has already earned an incomparable five 100-point scores from Par...

Sara Schneider, Sunset Magazine Wine Editor David Wilson hosts Sara Schneider, Wine Editor of Sunset Magazine, to endeavor to answer the impossible question, “What Makes Wine Good?” There are so many factors that determine what an individual’s perception of wine enjoyment vs. assigning a quality assessment, that it really IS an impossible question. David and Sara do their best to debunk pretentiou...

On today’s Grape Encounters radio Host David Wilson couldn’t be happier than to spend some quality time with two fellas who, along with the mom of the family, are rockin’ the wine world down under… and, thank goodness, sending plenty of their world renowned Mollydooker wines to the US. Imagine, having your wines rated among the top 10 worldwide. Sparky and Luke Marquis of Mollydooker David asks Sp...

David brings in an expert in good taste, Chef William Carter, the chef and co-owner of The Canyon Villa luxury B&B in Paso Robles, CA, and was formerly the Executive Chef (for nearly 29 years) at the fabled Playboy Mansion. It was nearly three decades of preparing sumptuous foods and choosing sensational wines for the rich, chic, famous and super-sexy. Today, Chef William and his amazing hostess w...

It is thoroughly amazing how many ways wine is used to do good things for great people. In this episode of Grape Encounters Radio, David strikes up a conversation with winemaker David Grega who is a collaborator in the production of Purple Heart Wines; a delicious blend that gives much of its profit to the Purple Heart Foundation. David Grega knows an awful lot about the needs and sacrifices of ou...

This week on Grape Encounters Radio, Host David Wilson takes the show’s microphones to Alta Colina Winery in Paso Robles, CA to showcase the ultimate wine appreciation experience. Alta Colina Winery, managed by father-daughter team Bob and Maggie Tillman, is making quite a reputation for themselves by crafting some of California’s finest Rhone varietal wines. But like so many other wineries around...

Ian Cauble and Brandon Carneiro, Founders of SommSelect This week on Grape Encounters, David talks blind tasting with Ian Cauble, star of the movie SOMM, and Brandon Carneiro, co-founders of SommSelect , along with Sunset Magazine Wine Editor Sara Schneider, while they do some blind tasting. They talk about the importance of enjoying wine vs. just identifying the characteristics, a little backgrou...

Sara Schneider, Wine Editor, Sunset MagazineBreaking Down the 2016 Sopexa Wine Trade Monitor With Special Guest Pauline Oudin, Managing Director of Sopexa USA Sopexa is one of the world’s leading Food and Beverage marketing agencies, with offices around the globe representing many of the world’s leading food, wine and spirit producers. Every two years, they release the SOPEXA WINE TRADE MONITOR, a...

Neeta Mittal, Int’l Wine & Spice Pairing Expert, Co-owner of LXV Wines In this very special edition of Grape Encounters Radio, David Wilson hosts Neeta Mittal, co-owner with her husband Kunal Mittal of LXV Wines, who is an international expert in pairing wine and Indian spices. The charming Neeta dispels misconceptions about curries, the importance of tasting food and wine at the same time, and li...

Featuring Wine Guru Wes Hagen Wes Hagen, Winemaker, Historian and Philosopher This week, Grape Encounters host David Wilson is pleased to welcome long-time show alumni Wes Hagen, Winemaker and Brand Ambassador for J. Wilkes Wines in the Santa Maria Valley, on the Central Coast of California. Over the past couple of months, David has talked about a wine education event coming up November 16-19 in S...

On today’s Grape Encounters radio Host David Wilson couldn’t be happier than to spend some quality time with two fellas who, along with the mom of the family, are rockin’ the wine world down under… and, thank goodness, sending plenty of their world renowned Mollydooker wines to the US. Imagine, having your wines rated among the top 10 worldwide. Sparky and Luke Marquis of Mollydooker David asks Sp...

The Unlikely Tale of a Student and Professor Reunited Through the Grapevine, meet Alexa Chappellet Flagler! NOTE: This episode of Grape Encounters from earlier in the year was so popular that we had many requests to replay it, so here you are! A few decades ago, a professor in his early 20s teaching at Pepperdine University’s breathtakingcampus in Malibu California had a student in his speech and...

Introducing Revolt Wine Co. and their mission to inspire others through the power of music & wine. What happens when a young couple from the Midwest moves across the country to chase their dreams? On this edition of Grape Encounters Radio, you’ll be introduced to Heather Hudson who, along with her husband Steve, recognized the synergy between music and wine. Theirs is a story of innovation and ima...

This week, David is pleased to welcome Master Sommelier Eric Entrikin, Director of Wine Education at Southern Glazers Wines & Spirits, talking about SommCon 2016, coming to San Diego, November 16-19. Eric Entrikin, DIrector of Wine Education at Southern Glazers Wines and Spirits Eric Entrikin is a Master Sommelier and instructs at the Introductory, Certified and Advanced levels for the Court of Ma...

David Wilson hosts Michael Blaylock of Quady Winery in Madera, CA, talking Vermouth, Muscato and herbed dessert wines. What makes a Vermouth, Vermouth? Listen to learn what it really is, and why it’s not just something you should buy randomly to mix into Martinis. Michael Blaylock, Director of Winemaking at Quady Winery In 1975, in a small San Joaquin valley town, Andrew Quady discovered an unused...

It really wasn’t then intended theme of this week’s show, bit it just kind of worked out that way. In Episode 374 of Grape Encounters Radio, it’s a veritable potpourri of subjects that, for one reason or another, just haven’t been talked about on the show. Martha and Charlie Barra The show begins with a truly delightful and eye-opening conversation with Martha Barra, wife of 90- year-old winemakin...

WINESONG 2016 DEMONSTRATES VINO’S INCREDIBLE POWER TO FUEL ACTS OF SELFLESS CHARITY This week, Host David Wilson takes listeners to the breathtaking Mendocino Coast of California for the 32nd Annual Winesong, a weekend of spectacular wine, food, fine art, music and merriment. Winesong begins with A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers, featuring world-class Pinot Noirs from acclaimed region...

Geoff Kruth, Master Somm and President of GuildSomm David Wilson hosts Master Sommelier Geoff Kruth, President of GuildSomm.com, and also co-producer of the movie SOMM: Into the Bottle. Geoff brings vitality, passion, and extensive knowledge to his role as President of Guildsomm.com and one about 200 people worldwide to achieve the distinction of Master Sommelier. He graduated from Sonoma State Un...