True Crimes Against Wine

DEFENDANT: Gilded Age Decadence  EVIDENCE: Biltmore Estate Reserve Chenin Blanc  SCENE OF THE CRIME: The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC -- Hey friend — welcome back to True Crimes Against Wine for our first full episode of 2026! We’re sipping a slightly off-dry Chenin Blanc (surprise: from Biltmore in North Carolina), chatting about how it tastes like walking through a crisp apple orchard, debatin...

When wine is on trial, the gossip is dishy, the judges are drunk, the verdicts are random — welcome to True Crimes Against Wine and our first sidebar of 2026! Happy New Year, friend! We kicked off the episode riffing about nostalgia, then dove headfirst into what actually matters: what the next year (and beyond) looks like for wine. Quick take: climate shifts are pushing vineyards north and uphill...

Hey friend — welcome to our latest People’s Court episode where we dive into an Am I the Asshole post about a 19-year-old bridesmaid who finally got her ears pierced and wore one-inch silver hoops to her sister’s wedding, only to be called "trashy" and accused of disrespecting the bride. Spoiler: we’re not surprised by how wild this got. We walk through why that reaction felt wildly over the top —...

DEFENDANT: Buddy the Elf EVIDENCE: Manos Wines Special Edition "Elf" Prosecco SCENE OF THE CRIME: From the North Pole all the way to Manhattan and back again!  -- Hey — glad you made it to our cozy chaos. This episode is basically two things: a heavy pour of festive Prosecco (shoutout to the blingy Manos bottle) and a full-on, goofy love letter to Elf — plus the ridiculous trivia and fan theories...

Join Judge Rachel and Topher as they relive a delightfully chaotic honeymoon in Edinburgh — from a misbooked Highlands tour that turned into an unexpected adventure, to candlelit luxury at The Witchery and a surprise Muppet Christmas Carol live orchestra. This episode is full of humor, heartfelt moments, and travel mishaps (yes, a bus mix-up that might have saved their lives). If you love stories...

DEFENDANT: Tori Amos EVIDENCE: Cloud Watcher California Red Blend SCENE OF THE CRIME: "The Finest Vineyards in California"  -- Hey friend — welcome to the chaos: we opened a grocery-store red called Cloud Watcher (hello, green-pepper nose and dark-plum cocoa vibes), wrestled over a billion points in Corrections Corner, and brought our dog Hermes along to supervise. We sip, we sigh, and we trade ch...

Hey friend — grab a cup of something warm because this episode is basically a cozy love letter to Scotland and the chaos of planning the perfect honeymoon. I’m getting married (yes, Mrs. Fiance—probably?), and Topher — now a travel advisor extraordinaire — planned our whole week in Edinburgh as a wedding gift. He went full curator mode, balancing our must-dos (spooky tunnels? yes please) and the s...

DEFENDANT: Everybody Loves Raymond EVIDENCE: Raymond Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon  SCENE OF THE CRIME: Long Island -- Hey friend — grab a glass and get comfy. In this episode of True Crimes Against Wine we swap the usual table wine for a lush, decanted Raymond Sellers Cabernet Sauvignon (yes, the reserve — velvety label, 14.5% sass included) and spend the episode pairing big-flavor wine note...

Hey! If we're being honest, soup season is basically the best season — cozy sweaters, warm bowls, and yes, perfectly paired wine. I had so much fun chatting through these with Topher and dreaming up combos that actually make the soup sing (and sometimes calm the heat from sriracha). Here are the highlights, like I’m telling you over a bowl on my kitchen counter. Chili: Go fuller-bodied. Think an A...

DEFENDANT: The Hero of Time EVIDENCE: Siren Song Merlot/Syrah blend SCENE OF THE CRIME: Hyrule -- Hey friend — pop a cork and get comfy. In this episode of True Crime Against Wine we pivoted (blame the internet and a mis-shipped bottle) and ended up sipping a lush Merlot-Syrah blend from Siren Song while getting delightfully nerdy about The Legend of Zelda. Expect giggles, throwback gaming stories...

Hey friend — here’s the messy little episode: you’re living in a one-bedroom with a partner who does construction and gets terrible back pain, and your seven-month pregnant sister shows up after a big fight with her husband asking to crash and sleep in your bed. Your boyfriend said he couldn’t give it up, you apologized to avoid a fight, and later you found your sister crying in the bathroom. Cue...

DEFENDANT: Pazuzu EVIDENCE: Manos Special Edition "The Exorcist" Cabernet Sauvignon SCENE OF THE CRIME: Hell, or a staircase near you...  -- Hey friend — welcome to our spooky season send-off. We cracked a bottle of Manos Cabernet, sunk into the couch, and dove headfirst into The Exorcist: the movie, the poster, the Pazuzu lore and all the deliciously grim behind-the-scenes gossip. Expect laughter...

Join us for a laid-back sidebar of True Crimes Against Wine where we dive into our favorite spooky season picks — from psychological dread to nostalgic childhood classics. We trade top-three lists, debate Hocus Pocus ownership (sorry, Topher), and discover surprising picks like Arsenic and Old Lace, Over the Garden Wall, and Trick 'r Treat. Expect cozy black-and-white vibes, campy anthology thrill...

DEFENDANT: Pennywise the Dancing Clown EVIDENCE: Manos Special Edition "IT" Cabernet Sauvignon SCENE OF THE CRIME: Derry, Maine -- Hey friend — pull up a chair (but maybe keep an eye on the storm drain). In this episode we crack open some Manos vino and dive headfirst into Stephen King’s It: the book, the 1990 miniseries, and the 2017/2019 films. We chat about why the various adaptations land so d...

Join the hosts of True Crimes Against Wine as they dive into a heated Am I the A**hole Reddit post: a dad is offered a free family trip to Hawaii but his wife, 7 months pregnant, doesn't want to go. Should he take their toddler and enjoy the rare opportunity, or stay to support his pregnant partner? This episode is equal parts judgment, curiosity, and empathy as the hosts debate medical risks, emo...

DEFENDANT: Inconclusive EVIDENCE: Manos Special Edition Friday 13th Cab Sauv SCENE OF THE CRIME: Camp Crystal Lake, duh --  Join Judge Topher and Judge Rachel for a hilariously intimate, wine-soaked chat about the entire Friday the 13th saga. They riff on everything from the original film’s odd pacing and surprise twist to Jason’s evolution (hockey mask, cyborg era, and questionable resurrection l...

Hey friend — welcome back to another cozy, slightly silly episode of True Crimes Against Wine. Today we did what any wine-and-dog-loving friends would do: we matched dog breeds to wines (and one cocktail), riffed on personalities, and learned a few fun facts along the way. We wandered through some real winners: a graceful Borzoi that felt like mulled wine by a hearth, a tiny-but-mighty Miniature P...

DEFENDANT: Annabelle  EVIDENCE: Manos Special Edition Annabelle Cabernet Sauvignon SCENE OF THE CRIME: Hell -- Hey friend — pull up a chair and pour yourself a glass (or two) — we spent the episode diving into Annabelle, Manos' delightfully creepy collector bottles, and a whole lot of supernatural rambling. Expect laughs, movie takes, and some bourbon-powered philosophy about demons, dolls, and th...

Hey friend — this episode dives into a tense family showdown: a wife refuses to have her judgmental, purity-culture–pushing mother-in-law move in, while her husband insists it’s his duty. We’re sipping wine, reading Reddit, and delivering a candid verdict about who’s in the wrong — spoiler: it gets heated. Come for the drama, stay for the spicy takes and listener stories. If you’ve got wild in-law...

DEFENDANT: DragonCon EVIDENCE: Old Fourth Ward Limited Edition DragonCon Bourbon SCENE OF THE CRIME: Atlanta, Georgia! -- Hey friend — we’re back for Season 5 and we start things off with bourbon, Dragon Con vibes, and the kind of stories you only find when nerd culture meets true crime. Join us for cocktails, cosplay chat, a few messy scandals, and loads of heart. Grab a drink, get cozy, and let’...

Hey friend — we’re kicking off season five with a cozy, gossip-filled Q&A. Come hang while we spill our first celeb scandals, swap fave (and not-so-fave) wines, and debate whether a hot dog is a sandwich or a taco. It’s low-key, honest, and full of the kind of banter we’d have over a picnic bottle of Pinot. Got questions? Send them our way — we love answering on the show and sending out swag.

Hey friend — quick life update: after some tough losses we brought home two new sweet chaos-makers, Sylvan the snuggly cat and Marina the curious puppy, and they’ve already made the house feel whole again. Expect loud kibble crunching, surprise ankle ambushes, backyard zoomies, and lots of goofy moments — and yes, we want to see your pet pics because they absolutely make our day.

Hey there, lovely listeners! In this episode, we're diving into some serious fashion revelations about my fiancé's wedding outfit. Originally, this episode was all about the accessories for the big day, but guess what? There's been a major update — the suit has finally been chosen!  My fiancé went on a thrilling sartorial adventure with his brothers, breaking the mold with a stunning plum-colored...

Hey there! In this episode, we're diving into the chaos and fun of a bachelorette trip that almost didn't happen.  Imagine finding the perfect mountain cabin with your friends, only to have the booking fall through last minute – VRBO nightmare, right? But don't worry, we got lucky with a backup plan that was even better!  Join us as we recount our themed nights, from Disco Rodeo to Romance Book Cl...

Hey there, friends! Ready for some laughs and a taste of our craziest conversations yet? This week's episode dives into upcoming wedding plans, including our unique bachelorette trip with a twist!  Get the inside scoop on our no-partners-allowed getaway to a dreamy farmhouse with its own pool, where themed nights and unexpected surprises await. Plus, discover our unconventional approach to party p...