Renegade - A Blackthorn Podcast

In this episode, we explore our home turf in Santa Barbara County. Home to some of the most uniquely situated vineyard sites in the world. Not only that, it boasts a concentrated amount of micro-climates and an abundance of wine varieties. Allie fills you in on the history of home winemakers and their legacy. Join us as we sip a favorite wine from the Santa Ynez Valley. Tune in to get all details...

Gewürztraminer (ga-VERTZ-trah-mee-ner) may be a mouthful in more ways than one. This brassy aromatic white wine tastes as good as it smells. We are sipping on some pretty famous Gewürz, while Allie breaks down all the details on just who has the monopoly on this lesser known variety. Julie takes us to war, talking liberation, battles, and disputed territories in between. We strongly encourage you...

Rosé one of the most diverse and historically underrated wines in America. In this episode, we give you the skinny on how rosé is made and how it has become so popular in the US over the past 15 years. Julie takes you way way back to ancient times when water was basically poison, so best to mix it with wine! So sit back relax and don't forget your favorite glass of pink wine. Note: Bare with...

Oak barrels, in particular, French Oak are synonymous with winemaking, we break down the history and purpose behind this coveted wine-making vessel. Answer that "age-old" question what does it mean to age like a fine wine? All while we sip a fancy pants bottle from a local favorite Brave and Maiden. Sip back and relax, Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message...

In this episode we tackle the adaptable, varied flavor profiles of the "manly" grape Syrah. We ask ourselves if Australia really exists, and Julie figures out what defines a UFO. Tune in to find out what  puts the Hermit in Hermitage and toasty wine wines are from Côte-Rôtie. Want to join our upcoming Australian Wine Class? Get 3 bottles of wine and a live virtual class! Click here to ge...

Burgundy is not just a color y'all. In this episode, we explore the Burgundy or Bourgogne Region in France.  Allie gives you all the details of the area and demystifies their many levels of designation.  Learn what exactly Burgundy Bliss is and about various ex-pats who follow their dreams in the French countryside.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagra...

What do grapes, winemakers, marketing, and MLMs have in common? We do a deep dive into what it means for your wine to be defined as "Natural." We talk about one of our natural wine favs and give you all of the facts. Plus, find out what Allie discovered in her investigation of some very popularized "Clean" and "Natural" wines. Buckle your seatbelts and let us help you...

For our first bonus episode of 2023, we take on Valentine's Day. We pop open a bottle of a very affectionate red wine.  Julie breaks down all you need to know about Saint Valentine, while Allie unveils the secret of why we have Saint Valentine to thank for wine as we know it today.   Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also rea...

In this episode, we explore where wine aromas come from and how you can use a little bit of wine knowledge to enjoy wine more than you already do! Allie will break down the different types of aromas, while Julie throws in a little science lesson.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.c...

In our very first episode of 2023, we are starting off with a dessert wine. Port wines are a warming and delicious way to end a meal.  We give you all the tips for pairing these wines and some other home remedies. Then Julie tells you the tale of the badass woman who made Port wine for the people of Portugal. Happy New Year and Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message...

We close out our first season of CrushCast with a trip to Italy! Well, we explore the very ancient Veneto Region at least. Find out what varieties are synonymous with the area, and just how long they have been making wine. Allie Pops some bubbles and explains why and how vineyards can float.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also...

We demystify wine scores and the critics that make them. Julie shares a new favorite wine that happens to be a winner, while Allie gives you all the info you need on scores and how they are made. It is all about Robert Parker and how we  could not get away from him even in the documentary "Mondovono." Aka. Italian for World of Wine.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and...

We took on the derisive grape variety Chardonnay. Learn about all of the different modern and old-world styles. Then we will give you all of the details of just how Chardonnay gained its popularity and became the go-to wine for many.  Then, Allie reads a scathing review of the California Wine Industry that is a 'Back to the Future-esque' point of view straight out of 1981.   Grab your fa...

We are going to be thinking outside the box this week and give you all the info you need to pair wine with your Thanksgiving table. Allie drops some simple wine-pairing guidelines to help you pair wine with food, while Julie chimes in with all of her opinions.  We learn a little about what they really drank and ate on the first Thanksgiving and how it became a part of American culture. Pick up a g...

Happy Spooky Halloween! Did you know that many wineries claim to be haunted? We hope to 'Piquette' your interest with a horror-themed wine and some spooky tales from across the US. We found out what a retirement home, a hospital, a morgue, and a cemetery have in common. While Allie tells you the tale an insane tale of Agoston Haraszthy and just how much life someone can live before their...

We heard a rumor that we didn't explain Pét-Nat so well in our Bonus Patreon release, mainly cause we were busy drinking and had ton of other weird and random facts to share. But, we rose to the challenge and we gave you the breakdown on all things Pét-Nat. We have a beautiful example of wine made by a local veteran, how to avoid unwanted explosions, and a few other fizzy options we have disc...

We're releasing this patreon episode as a special bonus in our regular feed for a couple of reasons. First, we want to give you another taste of what you can expect from our Patreon episodes. If you like the show and are able to please join our patreon so we can continue improving the show and creating more for you! But we also have a pretty interesting conversation at the end of this episode...

In this episode, we celebrate women in the wine industry, while tasting a delicious rosé from our local favorite winemakers. Julie will cover the history of pioneer women around the world, and just how recently some of these changes have been made. While Allie takes you on a little trip to Italy.  So, grab a bottle from your favorite woman winemaker and sip along with us. Cheers! Support the show...

What better way to learn about Gamay than through a little bit of tangled history? Gamay is as unpretentious a wine as you can get.  It is the footloose and fancy-free friend of Pinot Noir, just south of Burgundy, France.  We talk wine, crime, and all things Beaujolais. Including the fact that 'Dukedom' is a real word, and we break down how this humble variety survived a Royal Degree.  C...

Julie talks Covid-19, Dragons, and who or what is the Sandman.  We will give you all the details about Maipo Valley, Chile, and what makes them comparable to Bordeaux and Napa quality reds.  The best part, Allie talks about devils in caves, the Chamber of Secrets, and how fiction novels can go terribly wrong when based on winery legends. Want to learn more about Chilean wines and taste some for yo...

This week we do a deep dive on all things Chenin Blanc and talk about one of our local favorites.  We take a slight detour into kitchen renovations, personal shopping, and random banter. To top it off Julie went in search of something fun about Chenin Blanc and turned up a mystery. Grab a glass and join us!  Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackth...

Join us to learn to compare and contrast similar wines, along with wine tasting basics that will have you tasting like a Pro. Not to mention, true crime, wigs, and just which famous 'Chris' is in our latest feature. As always, practice makes perfect, Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US:  You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - ga...

In this episode we're going outside the bottle and talking mainly about canned wine but also touching on other alternate format wines, like boxed wine. We're sipping on a couple of cans from Maker Wine Company including a Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc from Bodkin Wines and a Pinot Noir from Handley Cellars. And then we have a story about an unlikely and unusual collection. Crack a can and jo...

Let's talk about Grüner Veltliner, the Austrian white grape that we keep reaching for. We love this wine so much we made our first ever Crush It wine out of Grüner Veltliner. In this episode we'll break down the origins of the grape, what it tastes like, and of course what foods pair well with it. And then we'll delve into a story all about the search for a long lost parent. Like yo...

This bonus episode is a peak into what we're offering on our brand new Patreon.  Every month we will let you guys know what we're into and what we're drinking now. Plus we'll go over some new cool, or weird, wine news, and whats happening in the industry now.  This month we're talking Pet Nat, 70s butts, pink ponies, mega purple, and phalic bottles. Join the list to stay u...