The Wine Goblins

The long-awaited fruit wine episode has arrived!! It’s been our most requested episode and this one delivers.  What is fruit wine, how is it made, and how does it stack up against cider or mead? Plus, a few personal wine stories, unexpected facts, and some serious fruit-fueled opinions. Pour something juicy and press play. Things are about to get... fruity.

The goblins return from hiatus with wine in hand and stories to share. Dani’s celebrating, Aaron’s interrupting, and JR’s keeping things (mostly) on track. This week’s glass holds something a little stronger, and a lot more complex. From ancient barrels to unexpected sweetness, the goblins explore a style of wine that packs more than just a buzz. Pull up a chair and pour yourself a mystery… it’s g...

Cheers! Prost! Tchin-tchin! Holiday time and festive drinks. Does chenin blanc fit the vibes? The Goblins discuss the mass appeal of the white wine from the Loire Valley in this deep-dive on chenin blanc.  Wine of the Week - 2022 Terres d'Imaginaire, Feu Follet, VdF Music: Coyotes by Half Tail

It’s the never ending question on the Wine Goblins. And in this episode, we finally have an answer. Dani talks about her love of riesling and the uniqueness of the grape. Aaron and J.R. share wine stories, which include some real sicko behavior.  Wine: 2022 Moritz Kissinger, Riesling Music: Coyotes by Half Tail

Quiz time! J.R. quizzes Dani and Aaron on some of the quirky wine abbreviations. Why? Because the Goblins are drinking a GSM from France. Affordable Aaron talks about why he picked this bottle.  Wine: 2020 Domaine Clos de la Barthassade, Cuvee H, Languedoc Music: Coyotes by Half Tail

The Wine Goblins share what wines they will be drinking at Thanksgiving - and maybe at some other upcoming parties as well. Listen to the rambunctious trio talk about the beauty of sharing some memorable bottles over dinner and the joy that follows. They are drinking a red wine from Burgundy this week and J.R. explains why it was his pick for the season.  Wine: 2022 Domaine Berthaut-Gerbet, Bourgo...

The start of Season Four will keep you laughing, guaranteed. In an episode that originally started out as a deep-dive into fortified wine, the episode actually takes a look at a very unique dry white wine - that is quite polarizing among the Goblins. We examine what is the winemaking style known as rancio. Why did Dani select this wine? Find out the inexplicable answer in this episode.  Wine: NV D...

Champagne evangelist, social media genius, founder of your favorite wine import company (@cagechampagneco), and the best wine club (@ledeuxchampagneclub), Garth Hodgdon joins the Wine Goblins for this hilarious, entertaining, and educational interview. Learn more about the beauty of champagne in this electrifying podcast episode from the Wine Goblins.  Music: Coyotes by Half Tail

In the first episode of Season 4, the Wine Goblins interview Dane Curley (@dscurley), an artist who has designed the label for many highly acclaimed, award-winning wines. Learn about his wine journey, the process of designing artwork for a label, and where you can find some of Dane’s art in this episode of Wine Goblins.

In the Season Finale of the Wine Goblins, JR shares how Dani and Aaron can finally bury the hatchet regarding the missing birthday gift. The Goblins talk about Savoie, a tiny wine region that went through some hard times but looks to be on the rebound. Check out Eric Asimov’s excellent piece on the region . The Goblins are drinking a sparkling wine from Savoie that was recommended by Hannah Willia...

The Goblins talk more about German wine in this episode of the Wine Goblins with a special focus on Wasenhaus’ 2022 Grand Ordinaire, perhaps the best red wine to drink during the summer. Learn about the rise of Pinot Noir (aka Spatburgunder) in Germany and some producers to know making the good stuff. On this week list of the week, the Goblins discuss the list at KOL in London .  Music: Coyotes by...

Have you had a corked wine before? What is a corked wine? These three wine novices run into a corked bottle for the first time and talk about how to handle the challenge. Plus JR talks about the smallest wine region in France, Jura, that is home to some of the most exciting and interesting wines. On the wine list of the week, the Goblins discuss the list at The Barbary in London - in the ongoing q...

The Wine Goblins address the drink of the moment, coke and red wine. Here Dani’s expert opinion on the perfect ratio to make this concoction. Each goblin picks a different wine for the cocktail as well. Plus, the Goblins continue the quest to find the perfect wine bar for a summer trip to London.  Music: Coyotes by Half Tail

In this week’s episode of Wine Goblins, it’s time for a deep dive on one wine region. Have you ever wondered about Beaujolais? JR leads the discussion about the often overlooked region of French wine that has a major place in the natural wine movement. Timing of this episode coincides with the current KickStarter from Jon Bonne about the Classification of Beaujolais . The crux of the conversation...

JR and Dani talk about a wedding they recently attended including some of the new beverage choices. Aaron talks about his vacation to Italy including his experiences with the giants of Italian wine in Gravner and Emidio Pepe. The Goblins do a deep-dive on a new Italian producer, Montetino , in this episode. Learn about this up-and-coming star from a unique part of Abruzzo. For the Wine List segmen...

  The Wine Goblins interview German wine expert (and now winemaker) Lars Carlberg (@LarsCarlberg). We discuss his website, https://www.larscarlberg.com/ , his work with Hofgut Falkenstein , and the book he helped translate, Mosel Wine . Hear about his fascinating story and learn more about German wine in this special episode of The Wine Goblins.  Music: Coyotes by Half Tail

The Wine Goblins are back! In the first episode of Season Three of Wine Goblins, the three best friends recap some wine stories from the past few months including a hilarious tale about the gift Dani tried to buy for Birthday Bitch Aaron. JR references the popularity of Bordeaux wines from the wine-searcher article . The Goblins discuss the early signs of the 2024 vintage with bad weather leading...

The most important wine news of the year is the shocking article from Wine Business Monthly “ How Neo-Prohibitionists Came to Shape Alcohol Policy ”  The Goblins discuss this revelatory piece from Felicity Carter. JR shares a wine story about his recent work travel - and trying coconut wine! The Wine List of the Week is March from Houston, Texas. In the glass this week is 2018 Zorzal “Eggo - Tinto...

The Goblins discuss LodiGrowers.com’s article “ The Dirty Secret No One in California is Talking About, ” which will make you reconsider your wine purchases in the future. In a personal update, Dani talks about her recent travels and the wine she consumed. She also talks about the wedding industry and recent wine trends . The Wine List of the Week is Ardesia from New York . Dani also leads the dis...

California gains another AVA? Wait, what is an AVA? The Wine Goblins continue the conversation about American wines with a focus on California’s wine regions. Learn about what an AVA is and hear about the exciting new region in California . Plus, hear a darling tale of how strong Dani is. In this episode’s Wine List of the Week, the Goblins talk about Torc from Napa, California . We are drinking 2...

In this episode of the Wine Goblins, Dani and Aaron call J.R. cheap for declining an invite to a wine event due to the price. Who is right? The Goblins discuss some recent news with prices falling at the Napa wine auction . What does it mean? The wine list of the week is Indienne Chicago . And the Goblins have maybe the best U.S. riesling, 2021 Hermann J. Wiemer Seneca Lake Dry Riesling. Hear thei...

U.S. wineries are hurting according to winemaker Patrick Cappiello from Monte Rio Cellars. Check out Patrick’s plea about the state of domestic wineries . With an attempt to help U.S. wineries, the Goblins will only be drinking wines from the U.S. for the next three episodes. In this episode, they are drinking a Pet Nat Rose from Madson . Plus the Goblins mention some of their favorite US Wineries...

Brian Carter of Brian Carter Cellars joins the Wine Goblins in this episode. A pioneer of the Northwest Wine scene, Brian Carter is an award-winning winemaker who shares his wealth of knowledge of all things wine with Dani, Aaron, and J.R. Check out  Brian Carter Cellars .   Music: Coyotes by Half Tail   Questions? Comments? Airing of grievances? Send us an email at thewinegoblins@gmail.com  

The second episode from the Wine Goblins in-person series focuses on another damning report about the wine industry. The annual State of the Wine Industry report is in the spotlight as younger consumers are turning away from wine at an alarming rate. The Goblins discuss these downward trends and some silver linings. Plus, the blind wine returns as J.R. tries to test Dani and Aaron with two wines i...

In this very special episode of Wine Goblins, Hannah Williams, the Beverage Director at Blue Hill at Stone Barns , joins Aaron, Dani, and J.R. for an in-depth conversation about wine lists, wine and food pairings, and other tips about producers to know. Williams is a rising star in the wine world. She was named the “Best New Sommelier” by Wine and Spirits in 2019. She redefined the Wine List with...