Wine Access Unfiltered

Konstantin Baum is Germany’s youngest Master of Wine and one of the most followed YouTube wine experts, but even he grapples with one of the most common problems for wine drinkers—figuring out what you like and being confident in your choices. In this episode we’re helping you discover YOUR wine palate, including a DIY project that will help you become a better taster (that even your kids might en...

If you’re looking for value, you can have place or you can have grape, but you usually can’t have both. That’s why we enlisted Vince Anter from the award-winning wine show V is for Vino, who is been termed “the Bourdain of Wine TV.” He joins Amanda to discuss their favorite lesser-known wine regions … because exploring different wine regions allows you to experience unique flavors and blends. What...

A pro tip for buying wine is to familiarize yourself with wine importers since they can be the key to unlocking your next favorite bottle. But how do wine importers go about discovering under-the-radar producers? Our good friends Jonah and Sara Beer of True North Wine Merchants join the program to share their stories from the wine trail and what their secrets are to spotting that next big thing. P...

Caleb Mosley proudly waltzed into his 4th grade class covered in Cabernet stains so it’s no surprise that he’s now the Executive Director of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers. Having worked with some of the most revered vineyards in California, he joins us to discuss how farming impacts what’s in your glass and how understanding its role in the winemaking process can lead to savvier wine buying. From w...

From single vineyard grape selections to ultra-specific techniques, winemakers are taking rosé more seriously than ever. But how do you discern which style is right for you? Raquel Royers—whose viral Instagram videos have earned her (@watchmesip) well over 100M views—has tasted HUNDREDS of rosé’s in her quest to find the best. Join us as Raquel discusses how she spots the best bottles based on the...

On this very special crossover episode, Wine Access Unfiltered host Amanda McCrossin joins Dr. Matthew Horkey’s YouTube channel. He interviews Amanda, who opens up about the first HUGE mistake she made as a sommelier at Press, why one of the world’s most popular wines just can’t be aged, how a particular Chenin blanc makes her think of butterflies getting it on in the garden, and her favorite hack...

When it comes to celebrating, how do you know which wine to choose? Amanda gets thoughts from some of the best in the business—Niki Russ Federman of NYC’s iconic Russ & Daughters, Jasmine Hirsch, Nia Renee Hill, Anthony Giglio, and Master Sommelier June Rodil—at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic. From the value wines they love serving at weddings to rare bottles they’ll never forget, our guests shar...

In this very special episode, Amanda is joined by some of the top vintners and winemakers in the world—from Spottswoode, Shafer, Frogs Leap, Gallica, and Duckhorn—at the Napa Valley Barrel Auction. You’re not going to want to miss their never-before-told stories on their ‘aha moments’ of clarity where something just clicks for them—when wine starts to feel different, more purposeful, more meaningf...

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...