When You Just Want A Glass Of Wine

A 2021 P.S. Santa Barbara County Piedrasassi Syrah ! Bacon, smoke and pepper on the nose, Syrah in the glass!

Today we are truly honored to be joined by the amazing Austrian Ambassador to the US, Petra Schneebauer. Teacher, lawyer, linguist, diplomat. Promotor of all things Austria! Ambassador Schneebauer joined us along with the amazing Finja Draxler, Director/Counselor of the Press and Information Service of the Embassy to discuss Austria's extraordinary wine heritage - and pour some amazing Austrian Wi...

Red fruit and baking spice, bacon and peppercorn, whole cluster, cool climate, acid and tannin, New World....If you ever get the chance to be ambushed into a blind tasting, make sure it's a 2023 Cristom Eola-Amity Hills Syrah from the Louise Vineyard in the Willamette Valley! Only 400 vines on 1/3 of an acre...and they only make this baby when everything is just right. Big shout out to our friend...

We're excited to welcome Latoya S. Jordan and Brianna Shelko of Atlanta-based Marble Wines -a Female founded label that is intentional about partnering with artists and winemakers who are aligned with their desire to bring beauty and belonging to the world of wine. A philosophy that's right up our alley! Join us as we discuss their philosophy, the amazing creatives they work with and how they are...

Our good friend Holly Rocco Feraci , CSW, DipWSET, Sommelier, National Sales Director & Chief Sommelier at Barboursville Vineyards joins us for a sneak peek at this year's Governor's Cup! We’re pouring Barboursville 2024 Vermentino and the iconic Octagon 2019, both Governor’s Cup Gold winners, and talking about the wines we’re excited to taste at the Governor’s Cup Gala on March 16.

Muscadet!! One of my favorite regions in France, Loire! Melon de Borgogne...An unusual but delicious example of this fantastic food friendly wine. Shout out to one of favorites, Andrew Stover , who dropped in to blind Renée (personally, Renée thinks he takes a little too much pleasure in trying to stump her...), with this lovely La Briaudière, Vielles Vignes Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Sur lie .

What's the community/economic development leadership equivalent of terroir? This week's guest! Tracy Sayegh Gabriel , President & CEO of National Landing BID joins us for a joyful conversation about creating community and a sense of place...kinda like terroir. She's an innovative urbanist and planner focused on helping communities shape and implement plans for neighborhood and downtown vibranc...

Her favorite varietal that's what! Cabernet Franc for the win! Slater Run's lovely 2022 Cab Franc was throwing lovely dark fruit and violets...or as Renée said, "hello darkness, my old friend...." See, she doesn't just quote P!nk lyrics!

Guy Talk at with Jimi brings wine into the snowboard world - no rules, no pressure. Joined by fellow snowboard instructors, Henry Gallo & Fisher Boeckmann who are at different stages of their wine journeys, Jimi and Zena talk earned drinks, confidence, dating menus, favorite bottles and how wine connects to memory. From Barboursville Merlot to Willamette Valley Chardonnay to Elijah Craig Bourb...

There's nothing like sitting in a beautiful tasting room, with a brilliant creative vigneron and vintner, doing a side-by-side tasting of his French and Virginia chardonnays. The delightful Michael Shaps of Michael Shaps Winery and Maison Shaps joins us for an old world/new world discussion that's a lively as his wines! 2022 Michael Shaps Wild Meadow Vineyard Chardonnay and the 2023 Maison Shaps L...

Gamay! In this episode of What’s in Renée’s Glass, we’re pouring 2024 Château Cambon 100% Gamay from Beaujolais, France—a bright, joyful red that reminds us why Gamay deserves a permanent spot in your rotation. Fresh red berries, a hint of violet, soft tannins, and mouthwatering acidity make this wine effortlessly drinkable. We also explore the story behind Château Cambon and the thoughtful philos...

What's in? Breaking Rules! What's out? Judgment!

Adroît 2021 Whole Cluster Siletto Estate Trousseau (San Benito County)...Welcome to the What's In Renée's Glass, Carol Lassen , the rock star sommelier from Husk Nashville . The Trousseau grape (aka "Bastardo"). Made by Chris Miller , a Master Sommelier who also runs Seabold Cellars and BOLD Wine Co. Adroît is his experimental label focusing on unique California regions and grapes like the French...

We're thrilled to have Carol Lassen aka SingleBarrelCarol , the amazing sommelier at Husk Nashville . Carol shared an amazing Central Coast Adroît 2021 Whole Cluster Siletto Estate Trousseau from Sebold Cellar's winemaker/master sommelier, Chris Miller . for his fun Adroît project. A fascinating conversation about her journey in wine, what it's like to design a wine menu in a chef-driven, farm-to-...

We launch the Season 3 of When You Just Want A Glass Of Wine in Nashville at the amazing restaurant, Husk Nashville , with their rock star sommelier, Carol Lassen aka SingleBarrelCarol . We'll be asking the important questions like how do you create a wine list for a chef-driven farm-to-table restaurant and what wine would you pair with a Johnny Cash song? Then, we're back in Virginia to have an "...

From our saber-tastic Season 2 launch hosted by McCealaig O'Clisham of the Westin Crystal City in National Landing with Molly from Laurent Perrier to our finale with the Charleston made and DC raised, Shawn Townsend, President & CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington and all the amazing friends, new and old, in our spectacular Season 2!

What are we drinking? Drappier Brut Nature Rosé, Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle. If you're not into bubbles these wines are still celebration-worthy - Check your cellar first! Go for a Brunello, or go local American unique regions.

Zena's tips: Sip, Sparkle and Shop! Sip Champagne, dress in something sparkly and shop at Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique! Renée's tips: Hydrate, surround yourself with amazing people and drink the good champagne first!

Pigs in a Blanket - Champagne Ranch Dip - Albariño, Screaming Betty Vermentino, Bedell Cellars Cocquillage, 61 Vineyards' Sparkling Albariño Brisket - Gamay Grape Jelly Meatballs - Rhône reds Chinese Food - Glen Manor Sauvignon Blanc Cashew Chicken - Sauvignon Blanc on the lees Veggie Indian - Vouvray, Riesling, Albariño, dry Petit Mangseng Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich - Gruener Veltliner Regu...

Because, even RAMW's President has "just pour me a glass" moments...Our Season 2 finale! Can you believe it? And we're thrilled to be joined by the leader of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington - Shawn Townsend . From Charleston, SC to the utterly unique dining & wining scene that is the DMV. That's DC/Maryland/Virginia for those outside the Beltway. "There's no other metropo...

Today we're diving into the wine terms people nod along to while secretly googling: tannins, clones, lees, carbonic maceration, terroir...One of the guiding principles of When You Just Want a Glass of Wine is decoding the language of wine and making wine drinking more approachable. Another guiding principle is geeking out on wine! We got to do both on this episode. From structure to winemaking to...

What do you get with vanilla, pipe tobacco, dried herbs, leather, meat and red cherries and raspberries? You get the Tuscan Sun baby! A beautiful 2019 Brunello di Montalcino from Rodolfo Cosimi of Bramante Cosimi . Considered one of the greatest modern vintages for Brunellos, this 100% Sangiovese aged 24 months, had beautiful tannins and acid. It scored 95 points from James Suckling and 100 from Z...

Zena and Renée hit Somm Sunday and take a tour of some amazing Cabernet Francs. Led by Slater Run's Sommelier, Sara Gann, this world tour features the "Mother" varietal, Cabernet Franc. Seriously, it's the mother of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carménère, and a Basque varietal, Hondarribi Beltza. We started with a 2024 Bernard Baudry Chinon Rosé . Next up Slater Run's own 2021 Cabernet Franc. On to...

A spectacular 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet from the Côte de Beaune, that's what!

Join us as we sit down with PR pro and world traveler Wendy Gordon for a feel-good episode filled with wine, humor and unforgettable stories. Zena and Wendy swap memories of eating and drinking their way through incredible restaurants - complete with the world’s worst photo ever taken of Zena. From discovering Wendy’s aha wine moment to choosing the perfect stadium drink, from converting her husba...