Uncork Your Mind

    Located 35 miles from Sacramento, California lies the El Dorado AVA. Designated in 1983 it covers the majority of El Dorado County with beautiful views of the Sierra Foothills. There are 40 wineries that grow 76 grape varietals and the highest altitude vineyards is 3,500 feet above sea level. We welcomed Kara Sather, Executive Director of El Dorado Winery Association, to talk to us and familia...

The Delaware grape is an American hybrid. While its dark purplish skin would make you think it produces red wine, it's typically used in the production of white and rose wines. For this episode of Winephabet Street we were joined by Abby Wilkens (Stamp), Assistant Winemaker at Lakewood Vineyards in Watkins Glen, New York. I first met Abby when she was 16 years old, helping at the New York Classic...

Last month on Winephabet Street we explored the Carignan grape with Tana Cole, Winemaker at Jessie's Grove Winery in Lodi, California. We were also joined by the big boss - Owner Greg Burns. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Mon...

Are you familiar with Baco Noir. It's a French-American hybrid grape but don't let that scare you. It makes a really nice red wine with aging potential. Think of it as a poor man's Barolo. In this episode of Winephabet Street Lori and I spoke with Carlo DeVito, former owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery in Gent, New York. Carlo grew Baco Noir as well as sourced some from the Finger Lakes. He has in-dep...

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Dana Spaulding the Founder of Wander + Ivy. Wander + Ivy are classy single-serving wine bottles. Dana made the transition from the financial service industry to the wine industry after feeling that she was wasting wine. She would sit down at the end of the day and have a glass of wine while her husband would have a whiskey. She hated throwing out the wi...

Areni is a grape that is grown in Armenia and for our first episode of Winephabet Street, we got a double A. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar,...

In 2006 when Dan and Jacqui Heavens purchased their wine trail event ticket, they had no idea 14 years later they would own a winery. It was during that event that they discovered Glorie Farm Winery. They kept coming back. When Jacqui saw that Glorie Farm Winery was for sale, she jokingly sent it to her husband Dan. That "joke" soon led the two to purchase the winery from Doug and MaryEllen Glorie...

  Zweigelt is not a grape name you hear often, let alone are familiar with. It's a grape I always wondered about. I knew of its Austrian roots and for the first time tasted a Zweigelt from the Finger Lakes not to long ago. But still, knowing a bit about grapes, I knew Zweigelt's home is in Austria. For the final episode in Season 2 of Winephabet Street, Lori and I chose Zweigelt to learn about. Lo...

We don't get to drink or taste many Turkish wines and I was so excited when we chose Yapincak for the letter Y on Winephabet Street. We reached out to Andrea Lemieux who is known as the Quirky Cork and a champion in Turkish Wines to be our guest. She has just published a book The Essential Guide to Turkish Wine and it's available on Amazon. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of...

Xarel-lo is a Spanish grape used in the production of Cava and grown in the Catalonia region of Spain. It is indigenous to Spain and I personally only thought of it as a blending grape. Little did I know……A little research, special guests on Winephabet Street an Xarel-lo is more than just a blending grape. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work...

On the 23rd episode of Winephabet Street we visited the Waitaki Valley of New Zealand. Well virtually, with the help of Jim Jerram, owner of Ostler Wines and David Harlow of NZ Wine Navigator. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third M...

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 22 V is for Villany Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out...

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 21- U is for Ugni Blanc   Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with...

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 20- T is for Tavel   Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with us....

Sancerre is a wine region located in the central Loire Valley. It looks over the river Loire. It's basically known Sauvignon Blanc, but Pinot Noir also grows there and they produce a Pinot Noir and a Sancerre Rose. The Loire Valley is quite large and Sancerre is closer to Burgundy than it is the center of the valley. They were granted AOC status in 1936. The soil is what brings the complexity and...

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 18- R is for Riesling.   Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with...

Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with us. The month of Q we decided to change it up a bit and answer your win...

This past weekend I ventured out to some area wineries and took advantage of the nice weather. Wine tasting is a lot different today. Appointments are needed and you need to think out your route and stops. Gone are the tastings where you belly up to the bar and tasted 5-8 1 ounce pours and dump or spit in the dump bucket. But you know what, I like it this way. It is actually more enjoyable. What I...

    Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 16- P is for Petite Sirah Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out...

We are coming up on Spring, nice weather where we will be hanging outside gardening, boating, going to the beach, hiking and more. What goes best along with those activities, music and wine.   As we know wine is an important part of my life and so is music.   I worked in radio for many years. Well, I actually grew up in radio. My dad had a dream of owning his own radio station since he was a child...

Cambourcin isn't a grape that you hear about in daily wine conversation. I've had Chambourcin before grown in the Hudson Valley. Many wineries use it in a blend with other red varieties. I wasn't really a fan and a wine made with the Chambourcin grape wasn't one that I would reach for. That all changed recently on a media tour of the New Jersey Wineries. Chambourcin is a French-American hybrid gra...

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 15- O is for Orange Wine   Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out wit...

The first time I had a South African wine I didn't know what to expect. I remember it clearly, it was a Sauvignon Blanc from the Stellenbosch region. I liked it so much I went and ordered a case. That was years ago and frankly, I don't think I've tasted many since. I am very eager to learn more about this wine-producing country. I got invited to a South African Wine Zoom on Saturday from Red Wolf...

  My team the Buffalo Bills made the playoffs. I was so excited for game 1. I was thinking chicken wings and beer. But, quite frankly, beer fills me up and I wanted something I could drink and celebrate with, or drown my sorrows. I though bubbles in keeping with the carbonated beverage and Vilarnau Cava because even if they lost, their beautiful labels would keep me in a decent mood. I could sip c...

Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with us. With no special guests this month, Lori and I talk to you about the...