The Wine Pair Podcast

As the days start to get shorter and the weather starts to get cooler, it’s time to think about wines that pair well with the fall! Or is it autumn?!? In this episode, we learn about, taste, and review a great wine for fall called Grenache, also known as Garnacha if it comes from Spain. With warm flavors and relatively high alcohol, we think Grenache is a perfect tailgating wine! And, one of the w...

Do you love big, bold red wines, and are looking for new wines to try to expand your horizons? Then this episode is for you! There is no doubt that Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are popular wines, but there are other great red wines out there - like Malbec - that will satisfy your craving and maybe be a little easier on the old pocketbook! Malbec from Argentina is an up and coming wine that is get...

If you have never had Soave, you are missing out on a great Italian wine! Believe it or not, 50 years ago, Soave was the most popular Italian wine in the United States. What?!? Today, however, it is not super easy to find, which we think is a tragedy. In this episode, we take another Italian wine adventure to introduce you to a vastly underrated white wine called Soave - not Suave, and definitely...

Have you been curious to know what exactly Vegan wine is? Well, it has something to do with fining and filtering. Wait - don’t know what that is? Then listen to this episode to find out! Ever wanted to try Vegan wine but don’t know where to start? Good news! It’s actually much easier to find than you think! Listen to this episode to find out more! Wondering what Vegan wine tastes like? We’ll tell...

Ok, real talk. Cabernet Franc is not Cabernet Sauvignon. Yes, both are red wines, and both have the same first name, but they are pretty different wines, and we are betting that Cabernet Franc may be a wine you are not super familiar with. We are here to change that! In this episode, we discuss just WTF Cabernet Franc is, where it comes from, where it is grown (hint, it is grown all over the world...

Are you feeling like it’s time to expand your wine horizons?!? Are you ready to deepen your knowledge of Italian wines? Then this episode is perfect for you! We take our first Italian wine adventure and introduce you to the King of Southern Italian wines - Aglianico - which is considered one of the three great wines of Italy. As you grow in your knowledge of wine, this is definitely one to add to...

Did you know there is a right way to hold a wine glass? There is! Listen to this minisode to learn the proper way to hold your wine glass, and some habits that you just need to break. And don’t even get us started on stemless wine glasses! Minisodes are fun, short, snackable content of The Wine Pair Podcast where we share with you things you have always wanted to know about wine, wine tasting, and...

If you love wine and you love books, this is the perfect episode for you! Joe is joined by his son Giuseppe who selects three fantastic books and then they pair those books with three great wines. Each of these wine and book choices are fun, interesting, compelling, and conversation pieces all on their own, but together they are the perfect pairing of books and wine. Afterall, if you are choosing...

In honor of the most popular white wine in the US and the biggest wine retailer in the US, we undertake our very own Costco Kirkland Signature Brand Chardonnay Challenge! If you remember the Pepsi Challenge, this is a similar concept. We line up two Chardonnays that Costco sells under its Kirkland Brand and compare them to each other and a third well known Chardonnay that Costco also sells. We giv...

Looking for a new white wine to try or a good new summer sipper? Then look no further than Pinot Blanc! Wait, did you mean Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris?!? No, we mean Pinot Blanc! Pinot Blanc is a relative of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir, but is a delicious and affordable white wine all its own. In this episode, we taste and review three different Pinot Blancs from different parts of the world - Germ...

Wines and barbecue make a perfect pairing, but depending on the type of barbecue you like - Kansas City barbecue or Memphis barbecue or Carolina barbecue or Texas barbecue - there are different types of wines that will definitely pair better. Intimidated?!? Don’t be! We got you covered! In this episode, we discuss different types of barbecue styles and wines that should go well with them. And we t...

Just in time for the 4th of July, we bring you three great American sparkling wines that are inexpensive and pretty darn tasty! If you are ready for some wine to pair with fireworks and fun in the sun, we may have just found the perfect bubbly for you! In this episode, we discuss styles of sparkling wine - like what is a blanc de blanc vs. a blanc de noir - and the different states in the USA in w...

What could be better than combining a love of wine with philanthropy?!? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Robert Hollander who does that very thing! Diagnosed with Prostate cancer, Dr. Bob decided he would do his part to make a difference, and brought together his love of wine and wine making with supporting cancer researchers through his Robert & Susan Hollander Foundation. Just in time for F...

Ever wondered why sometimes people slurp their wine? Isn’t that rude? Does it really have a purpose? In this minisode, we explain why slurping wine is important in the tasting of wine, and teach you the right technique! Minisodes are fun, short, snackable content of The Wine Pair Podcast where we share with you things you have always wanted to know about wine, wine tasting, and wine etiquette but...

In this minisode, we explain why swirling wine is important in the tasting of wine, and the proper ways to swirl wine - including some things you want to avoid. Minisodes are fun, short, snackable content of The Wine Pair Podcast where we share with you things you have always wanted to know about wine, wine tasting, and wine etiquette but were afraid to ask! Send us a Text Message and we'll re...

Are you a Chardonnay fan and want to find some good wine alternatives you might like? Well, look no further because this is the episode for you! In an effort to expand your wine horizons and give you some options to consider when your go-to may not be available, we bring you Viognier. With some similarities in flavors, body, and acidity, Viognier can be a great choice for Chardonnay lovers. In thi...

Did you know they grow wine grapes and make wine in Canada? Do you like Cabernet Sauvignon and want to find more wines like it? Well, then this is the episode for you! One of our favorite places in the world - the Okanagan Valley British Columbia - is one of the few places where wine can be made in Canada. And one of the very popular wines they create there is Syrah, a wine that you should know, e...

Great wine comes from great fruit which comes from great soil. You’ve heard about organic wine, but how about wine made via Regenerative Agriculture? We interview Tabitha Compton of Compton Family Wines and learn about how they make their wines using Regenerative Viticulture methods, and why that makes a difference in how their wines taste, and why it is a step up from organic. We also talk about...

Grilling season is here, and we have some great wines to pair with your next cookout, barbecue, or outdoor shindig! For grilling, you want wines that go well with a variety of foods, are crowd pleasers, and are reasonably priced so you can always have some on hand - in case a neighbor or relative or friend stops by for a bite to eat, or you are planning a big summer party. We discuss the different...

The Wine Pair is thrilled to be joined by The Swirl Suite, four African American women who co-host The Swirl Suite podcast and who aim to elevate black and women voices in the wine industry. In this episode, you will hear from these four amazing women - Sarita, Tanisha, Glynis, and Leslie - as they discuss with us their careers in wine, what motivates them and keeps them going, and the challenges...

Indian food has been considered notoriously difficult to pair with wine, but we at the Wine Pair Podcast say pshaw to that! In this episode, we pair three wines with Indian food and discover that they work together pretty darn well! We cover what to look for in wines to pair with Indian food - hint, think about acidity, oak, and alcohol content - and we also discuss a little bit about why there ma...

Ever tried the wonderful wine Gamay, also known as Beaujolais? Well, you really should! Gamay is a crisp, refreshing red wine meant to be served chilled. Yes, it’s true - there are some red wines that are served chilled! As former teachers, Joe and Carmela are committed to your lifelong learning, and that includes learning about wine! This wine is the epitome of “crunchy red fruit,” a wine term yo...

With baseball season underway, it’s a great time to figure out what wine goes with the ball game and ballpark foods! In this episode, we review three Woodbridge wines by Robert Mondavi because they are the official partner of Major League Baseball, and because these are wines you can easily find at nearly any store and are very reasonably priced - even when you get them in the mega-sized magnums....

In this Episode we are joined by special guests TJ and Kelsey, also known as The Nashville Wine Duo. We use the magic of streaming to do a virtual wine tasting between the two great cities of Seattle and Nashville. In addition to drinking wine together over the interwebs, we share some fun stories and get an update on their cat Felix. This episode follows a bit of a different format than usual, bu...

If you love Sauvignon Blanc, you need to know WTF White Bordeaux is! A perfect pairing for foods in Lent like fried fish, fish & chips, and other seafood (even a Filet-O-Fish!). We taste and review three White Bordeaux style blends, two from France, and one from Washington State, to help you find a reasonably priced winner. Each blend is different, despite the fact that all three are made from...