Renegade - A Blackthorn Podcast

Welcome to the first-ever episode of Blackthorn After Dark—our late-night corner of the podcast where the wine is flowing, the lights are low, and the stories are anything but ordinary. So this is going to be a bit different than our normal content, let us know what you think of it. This isn't a wine lesson. It's what happens when the day's work is done, the bottle’s open, and you&a...

Every once in a while we all find ourselves in need of a nightcap. Every month we will bring you some tasty sound bites to quench your thirst.  Tonight, from the underground studio at Blackthorn, Allie tells us all about skin contact wine. Not all of these wines can be pushed into one flavor category, in fact, their diversity is what makes them shine.  These are ines that surprise your and make yo...

This is the June episode, and the theme is Through the Fire — because June is a crucible. The heat is rising, the days are stretching, and the Summer Solstice is coming — the longest day of the year, when the sun sets fire to everything it touches. We taste a savory Rosé that reflects the season and share stories of 2 women who are changing the wine in Tavel, the heart of complex Rosé in France. W...

If you find yourself in need of a nightcap, you are in the right place. We welcome you to join in on a short story of war, wine, and identity.  Alsace has been making wine since ancient Roman times, but it has been in the hands of both Germany and France for hundreds of years. This struggle between cultures has formed a unique culture and influenced the aromatic wines in Alsace.  As we celebrate s...

We wanted to take time to answer your questions about Renegade and Blackthorn. This episode is all about who we are and our new company. We know you listen to us, so we wanted to take the time to listen to you.  Grab a glass and hang with us! Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If...

Welcome Nightcap hosted by Allie and Julie of Renegade: A Blackthorn Podcast.  We begin our new series of minisodes with a little trip to Tuscany. Allie tells us how some wine rebels in the heart of Tuscany broke the rules and ended up starting an entirely new style of wines with a mix of Old and New World Wines.  Grab a glass of your favorite beverage and sip along with us! Cheers!   Support the...

Welcome to Renegade: A Blackthorn Podcast. We are embarking on a new podcast adventure, but our entire catalogue of CrushCast will still be available on this podcast feed.  Renegade is a podcast for those who want to learn about wine on the fringe and connect it more to everyday life and the mystical.  In our inaugural episode, we introduce you to Blackthorn, Renegade, and our new content.  We jum...

In our final episode as CrushCast, we wanted to bring you all a long awaited episode all about Greece and the underestimated variety Assyrtiko.  As always we bring you a stellar example of our featured wine, this one is all the way from Attica region of Central Greece. Right in time for spring this mineral-driven white is perfect for Spring and a killer pairing for light seafood and Greek fare.  J...

We have brought you an episode full of wine and time. Every season has a wine and we make recomendations of what to chose as they change. We explore the vines as they change and what that can mean. Taste with us and explore Spring and every season to pair with. Grab a glass and join us! Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can al...

Cool Climate wines are often talked about in tasting rooms and mentioned about from wines all around the world. We took this opportunity to break down what that means for how they taste, where they come from, and what that can mean for you as a consumer.  Grab a Glass and Join Us! Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also rea...

We always have a great time creating content for our Patreon. We decided to share one of our latest favorite episodes where we ask some critical questions.  Have you ever wondered why a small French province would have rules about aliens? Are you looking for an exclusive and discreet club in southern France? In this episode, we have some excellent stories paired with not-so-excellent wines.  Join...

We’re bringing you another one of our interview episodes this week!  Recently, we had someone ask us if we had any special content planned for March since it is Women’s History Month. But we don’t celebrate women only one month out of the year. We are proud to be a women-owned company, and we are proud to consistently feature women winemakers and women in the industry both in our online wine shop...

In this Sispsode, we take you to the island of Madeira. What makes this place special is the wine that it produces. Madeira wine is made by a special process of heating and cooling that makes it truly unique and able to stand the test of time.  Allie shares a special bottle of Madeira and she tells you the story behind this famous wine and how it was discovered.  Grab a glass and join us! Cheers!...

We are so excited to bring you an entire episode on South African Wine. Although you may not see them too often in the American market, South Africa is the 7th largest wine producer in the world.  We sip stellar sparkling wine from an area known for high quality and explore a Cap Classique wine that can keep up with its European counterparts. We then tell the story of Mr. Siguqa, a child of a blac...

We finish off our 4 part series with a 'Case' study. We have chosen 12 wines that can help expand your palate and your wine education. And if you want to keep going, sign up to join the waitlist for our upcoming beginner's course: Crush It Basics! Allie grabbed us a bottle of wine from TJ’s to demonstrate good examples of affordable wines can be found. But you have to be willing to...

Have you ever wondered why some wines are so inexpensive and some seem too expensive?  Part 3 of our Beginners series starts with another surprise gem of a wine from Trader Joe's. It is a great example of buying wine for you and your price point.  Allie reviews what goes into the price of a bottle. Everything from physical products like grapes and bottles to costs of grapes in different areas...

In part two of our miniseries we focus on how people talk about wine. We have 15 key vocabulary words that you may have heard used to describe how wine tastes and smells.  We explain each word and its definition in the wine world. Understanding some of these key concepts can make it much easier for you to taste and define characteristics of which wines you prefer. Trust us; there is no need to mem...

Would you like to learn the difference between light and heavy wines? Or why dessert wines are so misunderstood? Maybe there is a variety you have been curious to try but wanted to know more about first.  In this episode, we do the work for you. We have taken the mystery of wine styles and broken them down into easy-to-understand categories. We kick everything off with a delicious and affordable B...

We continue our series on historic wineries with a little trip to Germany. In this episode, you will get to know the oldest winery in Germany, Schloss Johannisberg. Dating back to the Middle Ages, and thanks to monks planting grapes, they have been making wine for over 900 years. The winery survived rebellion, wars, and changes of ownership. Check out this pod to learn more. Grab a glass of Riesli...

Nestled in the east-west corridor of the Central Coast is the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. It is only one of three like it in the world. What makes it special is the morning fog that burns off slowly, and is perfect for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.   Allie has an excellent example of Pinot Noir from a prime vineyard made by one of our favorite producers. Julie brings a little history and overview of...

In our last episode of 2024, we are excited to share one of our favorite drinks, Vermouth. Vermouth can be enjoyed as an aperitif or mixed in a cocktail and comes in a variety of styles and flavors. We have a lovely example of a Dry Vermouth from one of our favorite Austrian producers, Heidi Schrock. And we take you through a variety of options on how to drink any Vermouth. Allie walks you through...

Have you ever wondered what "Harvest," means when it comes to wine? In this episode, I give you a first-hand account of just what goes into making wine from the very beginning to the end.  We give you the inside details of what it takes to make wine. It may not be as romantic as you think. We talk about cleaning, attention to detail, and maintenance.  I am happy to tell you the inside in...

As a bonus for our regular listeners, we are releasing our Patreon episode for November 2024! The days are shorter, the world is changing, and we always have wine to drink. Today, we toast positivity, looking for simple pleasures and drinking wines to help you enjoy it! Things get a little witchy as Allie guides us through a little wine Alchemy. Julie lays out the potential health benefits of wine...

Viognier has had a complicated past and at one point was almost extinct. Spread by the Romans and cultivated by the French it could have been lost to history. Now being planted around the world, Viognier has had a modest resurgence helped by the famed Condrieiu and a little-known but secretly famed monopole.  We talk about history and our experience with the variety.  Don't shy away from a Rh...

Our latest Sipisode once again turns to the dessert wine world. Don't count them out! From the heart of Tuscany we have a delightful little wine that is not overly sweet and a great partner for an aperitif, biscotti, or some stinky cheese.  Before or after a meal Vin Santo is a lovely wine that is more easily found than you think.  Grab a glass of your favorite heartwarming glass and join us....