Wine Access Unfiltered

If you’ve ordered a bottle of Barolo in the last 20 years, you can probably thank Jeff Porter for that. Despite now being a staple on wine lists and collections, Piedmont wines haven’t always received the same reverence as their French counterparts. Former wine and beverage director for Batali & Bastianich Hospitality—turned Wine Enthusiast writer and reviewer for northern Italy—left NYC to fully...

“If you were stuck with only Australian wine to drink, you would never be bored,” claimed guest Mark Davidson—who has been championing Australia for the better part of 2 decades. His book “The Wines of Australia” focuses on this new world region—which has some of the oldest vines in the world, nearly every grape and style of wine on the planet, and some of the best values in the wine world. Plus,...

Champagne might be the king of bubbly, but that doesn’t mean it’s the surefire option for every situation. Sommelier Matthew Kaner—former SommTV host and current wine correspondent for Men’s Journal—joins us to discuss the unique characteristics of the world’s best sparkling wines and how they can play a starring role … starting with Italy. While Emilia-Romagna might be best known for cars and foo...

It’s the 5th most planted grape in the world and the most planted white wine grape in California—but sometimes it feels like everyone hates Chardonnay. In this episode we’re diving into this very misunderstood grape variety, how its reputation as an over-oaked sugar cookie is falling by the wayside, and why it’s Amanda’s “desert island grape.” Wine-vlogger and sommelier Cokie of @cokiesworldofwine...

When it comes to wine regions, does one region rule them all? We’re putting the greats up against each other and breaking down the intricacies of selecting wine out in the wild. When should you choose Washington or Tuscany over Bordeaux? Does Champagne always make the best sparkling or are there situations where Cava or Prosecco make more sense? Plus, the wine world’s greatest con-man Rudy Kurniaw...

Episode 1 March 14, 2024 Season 3 of the Unfiltered podcast is all about sharpening your wine-buying savvy, and our Episode 1 guest is one of the most finely honed minds in wine: Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, America’s best-selling wine book. Karen is more than the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language. She’s also an independent and (truly) unfil...

Episode 36 February 22, 2024 Feeling a little lost reading through a restaurant’s wine list? Have trepidation about sending a wine back? Don’t know if you should tip on an expensive bottle? On the final episode of season 2, Amanda shares her insider tips—after a decade-long career as a restaurant sommelier—on what you should and should not be doing when it comes to wine at restaurants. And since c...

Episode 35 February 8, 2024 Becoming a wine collector and building your dream cellar at home isn’t as far-fetched as you might think—and also happens to be one of the best ways to learn about wine. Joined by the Nancy Meyers-inspired lifestyle-maven Lex Nicoleta (aka “The Coastal Grandmother”), Amanda shares her fool-proof method for how to build a collection on just about any budget, why you don’...

Episode 34 January 25, 2024 “Natural wine” has become the new darling of the wine world, but the lack of an actual certification or definition—like “organic,” “sustainable,” and “biodynamic” wine—has made it a topic of debate. So what exactly IS “natty” wine? And if you’re not drinking it, are you drinking “unnatural” wine? We’ve got TikTok’s favorite natural wine-obsessed New Jersey twins @superv...

Episode 33 January 11, 2024 We’ve got your backstage pass into everything you need to know about food and wine festivals with one of the authorities on the subject. Anthony Giglio —sommelier and contributing wine editor at Food and Wine Magazine—has graced more food and wine festivals stages than any other wine professional in the business. From which festival you’re most likely to taste your buck...

December 21, 2023 Her viral “What Your Champagne Says About You” videos made us cringe AND cackle at our bubbles choices—so we figured we’d invite her onto the program to talk about entertaining with wine this holiday season. Erin Darling (@dahhhhling) —comedian, writer, actress and host of the hit “Hot Pizza Ass” podcast—talks why you may want to reconsider serving your red wine with brie, Jay-Z’...

December 7, 2023 Executive Food & Wine Editor and decorated wine writer Ray Isle, whose book The World in a Wineglass: The Insider's Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now just came out to rave reviews. He and host Amanda McCrossin discuss how important “mindful farming” terms like “biodynamic” and “sustainable” really are, whether these winegrowing decisions manifest in...

On this Thanksgiving episode, we’re giving back with the two things you’ll need most this holiday season - wine and home renovation tips and tricks. HGTV and DIY TV Star Jeff Devlin asks the wine questions we’re all too afraid to ask—and Amanda has all the answers. What should you do after you find a bottle you love at a restaurant? Is there such a thing as good boxed wine? How can you uplevel you...

Episode 29 November 8, 2023 Move over Pumpkin Spice Latte… Amanda’s favorite fall beverage is Beaujolais—and she celebrated it by hosting our second ever live-episode on Beaujolais Nouveau Day! In it, she dove deep into the differences between Cru Beajolais and Beaujolais Nouveau and answered some of the questions she’s been getting on Instagram—including her picks for excellent Napa values for $7...

Episode 28 October 26, 2023 From cycling accident to US Editor of Decanter Magazine, Clive Pursehouse joins us for a behind the scenes look at life as a wine critic. How does he go about researching a vintage? And how does that information translate into terminology and drinking windows? Why is it that a cold vintage in Bordeaux can have the total opposite effect as a cold vintage in Napa? And why...

October 12, 2023 With 19 distinct AVA’s, numerous quaint downtowns, incredible restaurants, a cheese trail, and a total acreage more than twice the size of Napa Valley, Sonoma has a lot to offer. But that also makes it a complicated region to navigate. Wine For Normal People Host Elizabeth Schneider joins Amanda to discuss their can’t miss spots. From a hidden highway bar under eucalyptus trees to...

September 28, 2023 “If you love wine, you need to be drinking Spanish wine,” Advanced Sommelier Laura Koffer proclaimed. From the history of Spain’s most planted variety—Tempranillo—and it’s roots in Bordeaux to which region you should prioritize if you’re visiting for the first time, Wine Access experts Laura Koffer and Eduardo Dingler join the program to take you on a tour of one of the top prod...

Navigating Napa Valley Featuring Danica Patrick Episode 25 September 14, 2023 A sip of Sauvignon Blanc at Quintessa. That was the moment that Danica Patrick—who has been named to TIME’s “100 Most Influential People'' list, appeared in a record-setting 14 Super Bowl commercials, and is arguably the most successful female professional race car driver of all time—began dreaming about owning a Napa Va...

Florence-born wine journalist and Italian wine expert Filippo Bartolotta joins us to break down Tuscany with tips on how to enjoy the very best this historic wine-producing region has to offer. From understanding the classic style of Chianti Classico to where you can discover the under-the-radar wines the locals prefer to keep to themselves, this is a true wine-lovers guide to Tuscany. 📺 Watch th...

In our very first LIVE episode, host Amanda McCrossin unpacks what she’s most excited about in the wine world right now. From the grape that might be overtaking Pinot Noir in Oregon to the affordable (for now) Italian wine that’s about to have a major comeback, Amanda is divulging all the best tips she’s gathered from her wine travels over the past two years.  📺 Watch the full live-streamed episo...

How to Become a Sommelier Featuring Molly Greene, Saison SF Beverage Director Episode 22 August 3, 2023 Would you like to regularly travel to Europe and taste the best wines in the world night after night for your job? Well then it might be time to consider becoming a sommelier. But before you quit your job and make a run for it, we’re giving you the inside scoop on how to make it happen—and what...

A Masterclass on Enjoying Rosé Episode 21 July 20, 2023 Over the last decade rosé has taken the world by storm, expanding way beyond its Provence roots and into nearly every major wine producing region in the world. From food pairings and styles, to how White Zinfandel fits into the picture, Amanda breaks down everything you need to know about rosé … and is joined by TikTok star Christine Buzan (@...

Smart Wine Buys from Iconic Regions Episode 20 June 22, 2023 Restaurant sommeliers may be pouring the most iconic and expensive wines in the world at work, but at home it’s a slightly different story. In this episode we’re spilling all the tea on smart buys from iconic regions Somm’s love to keep for themselves. We’re talking Piedmont, Loire Valley, Burgundy, and even Bordeaux — because even in th...

Episode 19 June 8, 2023 The Guide to Visiting Bordeaux Featuring Aaron Pott Château Margaux. Lafite-Rothschild. Petrus. Château d’Yquem. Despite the exclusive reputation—wealth, power, status—that Bordeaux has earned, the region is also a hotbed for affordability and accessibility. We’ve invited Quintessa winemaker Aaron Pott who formerly served as winemaker at Bordeaux’s Château Troplong Mondot a...

Loire Valley and the great re-discovery of Cabernet Franc Episode 18 May 25, 2023 Don’t be fooled by the long winding river and Disney-esque castles that line it. The Loire Valley is way more than just a beautiful place to snap a photo and tour on bicycle. As the home to some of the finest Cabernet Franc’s, Chenin Blanc’s, and Sauvignon Blanc’s in the world, the Loire Valley is as prolific a regio...