In Search of Flavor

Episode Timestamps: 01:09 From Academia to Wine Writing 05:55 Evolution of Wine at Food & Wine Magazine 13:19 The Inspiration Behind 'The World in a Wine Glass' 21:08 Understanding Sustainable Wine Terminology 38:13 How He Chose the Wine Producers in ‘The World in a Wine Glass' 42:01 The Human Element & Storytelling in Winemaking 46:42 Exploring Emerging Wine Regions around the world (ie not Italy...

In this solo episode, Liz shares about navigating an uncertain life moment and confronting that fear of the unknown. How can travel sharpen these life skills on the road and at home? We dig into that in this episode. Travel provides the ultimate opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. From immersing yourself in a new culture and language to confronting travel hassles, ‘...

In this episode we discuss: Family history dating back to grandfather establishing winery in Mendoza in 1960s The inspiration to focus on high elevation sites like Altamira, La Consulta, Gualtallary Understanding the valley's geology, altitude impacts creating distinct terroir identities   How he developed Zuccardi's non-interventionist approach allowing transparent expression of place using concr...

In this episode we talk about:  How Giuliana was “chosen” by the world of fungi  The “3F’s” & basics of the Fungi Kingdom & the role fungi plays in sustaining life The development of Chilean mycology and the uniqueness of Chilean fungi. The lonely road that was studying Chilean fungi at first and why Chile is classified as a “mycro-phobic” country despite being a fungi hotspot!  How co-evolution w...

In this episode: Why the holiday season goes beyond peak season and coincides with the onset of summer vacation A discussion on top destinations in South America: Patagonia, Mendoza, Buenos Aires, and the beaches of Jose Ignacio, Uruguay How to navigate the varied weather and seasons Tips on booking flights, transportation, and accommodations The secret on how to avoid the summer crowds and when t...

In this episode we discuss: Emily’s background and how she transitioned from media to skincare with her French business partner, Garance Doré The origin of French pharmacy skincare and how Doré set out to modernize it Why origin and source of ingredients matter in skin care & how she & Garance formulated their products to be clean  A breakdown of the big difference between EU & US ingredient safet...

In this episode: Background and the origin of Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences’ group trip name called, “Romancing Colombia” Why Travel in Colombia is Safe & how to travel smart Colombia's top destinations: Bogotá, Coffee Triangle, Medellín& Cartagena Tips on navigating the varied climate, weather, seasons and flights Itinerary layout suggestions from 4 to 14 day itineraries The secret sauce...

In this episode we discuss: - Ted’s experience in Burgundy and how that shaped his path in wine and a deep love for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay  - The challenges of bootstrapping and growing his wine business and how Littorai grew from sourced fruit to an established, renowned, self-financed, profitable winery - The important difference between aesthetic and ‘technocratic’ wines and why aesthetic wi...

In this episode we discuss: History and Background of Carmenere Origin and discovery of Carmenere grape Transitioning the vineyards and where Carmenere grows in Chile Specific viticulture of growing Carmenere Flavor profiles of the grape and nuances across regions Chileans producers of Carmenere at all price points  What to eat, and pair with Carmenere Resources: Instagram: @lccwe , @lizcaskey77 F...

In this episode we discuss: - The early days and influences in Rodolfo Guzmán's culinary journey - Introduction to Boragó and its unique approach to Chilean ingredients - The decades-long knowledge-gathering process of Boragó - The Role of Boragó in the evolution of Chile's gastronomic Landscape - Discussion on Chilean endemic ingredients and their diversity and the uniqueness of the dining experi...

  Timestamps: 1:17 - Liz’s ‘Three Pillars’ of successful trip planning (for any trip) 3:26 - Coming to visit Napa in different seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall 8:33 - Travel planner hacks on where to base in Napa, the best airports for easy access, and the valley’s unique geography to consider 16:44 - How to structure your trip (& wine tastings) to Napa like a pro 21:24 - Final key strategy t...

In the show: -The origins and history of astrology in history and present day - How astrology's decline during the Inquisition and revival during the Renaissance led to its divide from astronomy. -How to use astrology as a tool on your life journey through knowing your sign–and even for those in your life like friends, family, and colleagues. Timestamps for each sign: - 19:48 Aries (March 21st to...

In this episode we cover: -The wine revolution in Chile and how Rodrigo started exploring the wine in  Burgundy, France -His definition of terroir and how that relates to growing grapes and winemaking -The journey and a 10-year search to identify the perfect site to plant his vineyard in the rainy south of Chile–a place where nobody had planted vines before. -Understanding the climatic conditions...

Nestled at the feet of the towering Andes Mountains with more than 320 days of sunshine each year, Mendoza is a region defined by wine, much the way Bordeaux or Napa is. After all, it’s the world’s fourth largest wine producing region. Mendoza, however, is more than vineyards and wine cellars. It’s a place that feels like a last frontier where the Andes and the intensity of the sun is woven into e...

With Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, rain forests, jungles, great valleys and rivers flowing from the Andes Mountains, desert, and fog forests, Colombia is a country with deep regionality and distinct food, culture and customs. As the country exports more and more talent in music, innovation, art, design, fashion, and now food, today we are going to introduce you to a brilliant tastemaker, chef,...

If you are considering traveling to Chile in 2022, it’s a great time to start planning as the country has the most complete and aggressive vaccination in South America (over 85% of the adult population is fully vaccinated and there is now zero cases in Patagonia!). Contact us to plan your trip In Episode 22, we talk a little about the possible forecast for travel in South America in 2022, although...

If you missed Episode 22 on travel in South America, we highly recommend it. Listen here . Explore our destinations in South America Contact us to plan your trip You can learn more about Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences and the trips we offer in food, wine, culture, design & beyond at www.lizcaskey.com     You can also sign up for our free weekly newsletter announcing new e...

In this episode we talk about:  Rodrigo’s background and why a summer job in a restaurant was the beginning of his curiosity about wine. The uncanny timing of an unwanted thesis on organic agriculture opened the door to lifelong learning and working with biodynamic agriculture. A glimpse into the world of wine in Chile in the early 2000s, and then mid-2010s, as he worked with trailblazers Matetic...

In this episode: The current situation as of early July 2021 in South America and a country-by-country “reading” of how we think it will evolve into 1Q 2022 and beyond Our philosophy on how we work with our clients and advise them on planning travel in this new era--just like you work with a financial or legal advisor. The metrics we use to evaluate how safe a destination can be and how to approac...

In this episode we talk about:  Laura’s family background and growing up in an Italo-Argentine winemaking family. What led her to become a medical doctor and when she felt called to join the family business. How her father, Nicolas Catena, saw the potential for Malbec as one of the great wines of the world. The story behind Catena Zapata and how it conquered one consumer, one wine shop one by one....

In this episode: The definition of terroir and its limitations What products are considered terroir products and why How artisanality and quality are the backbones of terroir Why the human touch and families are also part of the equation What we all bring to the table in our terroir experience A mash-up of four of our favorite episodes from Season One that bring this point home Resources: Episode...

Are you signed up for our newsletter? If not, after subscribing first here on iTunes (if you haven’t already), head on over to lizcaskey.com and get on it, amigo(a) . Every Thursday when episodes drop, Liz shares an accompanying story that’s only for our newsletter readers. Join us now! You can learn more about Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences and the trips we offer in food, wine, cultur...

  You can follow Carola on Instragram at @olivalovers . You can also follow us on Instagram at @lccwe where we share many travel, wine, food, and design inspo. Don't forget we also have an upcoming bean-to-bar chocolate tasting on March 18, 2021 with the founder and chocolate maker of Obolo Chocolate with three full-sized bars of chocolate delivered to your front door. You can sign up here. Spaces...

In this episode we talk about: On how Carola became an olive oil taster and honed her palate The history of olive oil in Chile and other regions of South America where it’s produced like Mendoza, Uruguay, and even Brazil The varieties and origins of different olives, attributes in each variety (hint: it’s similar to wine!), and why culturally they are planted in different areas The best way to pra...

In this episode we talk about: The beginnings of Treko and how Catalina was inspired to start this project from 5,000 miles away in California Chiloé as travel destination and its cultural intrigue The unique craftsmanship and weaving style of Chile from the Chilota sheep to natural dyes used How she trained the islanders to try her contemporary designs using traditional technique and the challeng...