Wine Face

Let's deep dive into a red wine grape that pairs perfectly with lamb, green olives, and gorgonzola — treat yourself to a crazy meal with all those things and a bottle of my favorite Cab Franc. We're going to break this vegetal varietal down to its origins and which regions make this wine really sing.  Recommended Cab Francs: Arnaud Lambert, Roland Guiberteau, Mosse & Olga Raffualt. Visit Helen...

Most people know Eric Wareheim from his hilarious work on 'Tim & Eric; and Netflix’s 'Master of None'. But Eric has fallen fully in love with wine and it is infectious!! He also makes his own wine, at Las Jaras, where along with his winemaking partner Joel they are pushing the envelope on how to keep his wine natural and innovative. I mean, sparkling Carignan? That's amazing! And it is delicio...

Tasting wine is very subjective because not all palettes are created equal. Some people might catch every single flavor note and nuance in a bottle and some might just be able to know if it’s white or red — and that's fine too. There’s no wrong way to taste wine but let’s go over some of the fundamentals of what to look for and how to look for them so next time you order a bottle at dinner, you ca...

Lauren 'LP' Paylor O’Brien’s first night behind the bar was a Friday night and everyone in the hospitality world knows — that’s sink or swim. FLASH FORWARD to 2022, LP is swimming her way to winning the Netflix competition show, “Drink Masters”. But her resume doesn’t end there and honestly, it’s too long and impressive to fully list here. But it was beyond a pleasure to chat with LP to talk about...

Visiting a vineyard can be so much more than dropping into the tasting room for a wine flight & getting crunk. There is etiquette and a good vibe energy that you should bring to take it to the next level. There are cellars, grounds, and caves to explore — with the right winemaker. Some winemakers will open up their labs to wine enthusiasts for the ultimate walkthrough but there are a few thing...

There is no Helen's Wines without Jon & Vinny's and vice versa! My business partners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo join me to talk about the earliest days of their cooking careers, how we all met, and what they cook for their families at home. The trifecta is real: Jon, Vinny, and Helen unite! Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen. Produced by Dear Media . See Privacy Policy at https:...

Chocolate GURU Valerie Gordon of Valerie Confections stopped by with some very special treats. Valentine’s Day is next week and you deserve it all! All the love, but especially some killer chocolates & wine. We taste through a very romantic box of chocolates, get the 411 on liquid caramel, make some wine & chocolate pairing magic, & taste a new chocolate she made with crispy rice that...

Such an inspiring Tour de Force of a woman!! We laughed, Pia cried, and we tasted fabulous wines. The boss of so much dopeness, Pia Baroncini, stopped by to fill me in on all things Sicilian olive oil, the perfect cooking dress, and all the ways her husband Davide and her want to bring more authentic Italian culture to Los Angeles. I also share my advice when it comes to pulling the perfect shot o...

Step into my somm brain!! When you grab a wine bottle, one of the signs of its character is its vintage, A.K.A. the year the grapes were harvested. Let’s dive into how weather can change the taste of a wine, what it means when there's no year on a bottle, and why you should not be aging your rosé!  Recommended wines: Kewin Descombes, Beaujolais Cuvée Kéké   Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen J...

Is there anything Westside Winos co-founder Khalil Kinsey can’t do? With the opening of his new Los Angeles wine bar Offhand Wines, he and I look back on his roots in the skateboarding and fashion world and how his family's massive role in the art world informed his career, taste in wine, and commitment to community.  Featured Wine: Dominique Derain, Las Nubes is SOLD OUT on Helen’s Wines but foll...

Is it important to drink specific wines out of certain glasses? Are champagne flutes a myth? When did humans start drinking out of glass? Are there really rules? All of these mysteries and more will be revealed! A nice bottle of wine does deserve a nice glass... but not all glasses are created equal, cost the same, or feel the same. Let’s look back at the OG days of wine glasses — I’m talking meta...

Not only is Tinx dubbed “Tiktok’s big sister,” she’s also dubbed “extremely lovely podcast guest” by me! It was honestly such a joy to talk with Tinx, she is incredibly smart, sensitive and aware-- all of which is super refreshing! I love when women know how they are and what they want! We talk all about the joys of casual dinner parties, the best martinis in the world, and why Tinx always keeps a...

Champs for my real friends, baby! I am obsessed with Champagne. My whole team is! It's so good and worth the splurge, and so I am here to tell you on this episode that it's a New year, and maybe a new you, but there are still the same old delicious bottles of bubbly! Champagne is a part of the cultural zeitgeist but it hasn’t always been that way. So how did we go from friars transporting bottles...

Every December my wine shop is poppin! And for good reason-- Holiday times are flush with gift giving, champagne celebrations and cozy moments drinking fabulous wine with people you love. I celebrate Christmas, so I wanted to talk about the history of wine during holiday times, the best varietals to please your in-laws, bottles to pair with tamales, and an updated take on an old Christmas-time cla...

Bricia Lopez and her family own one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles: Guelaguetza! Do you live in LA and haven't been? RUN THERE NOW. Bricia is on a mission to bring Oaxacan food and culture to the masses. Between her family’s delicious restaurant, her packaged mole business, and her michelada mix business — she took the time to sit down and school me on what it means to throw an asada , why...

Syrah is a grape that is often misunderstood, or people haven't been exposed to the right ones. Once more widely planted than Cabernet Sauvignon, this gravel-rich, soil-loving grape hits so right when it's from specific areas of the world. We’ll talk about my favorite (and less favorite) Syrah regions, which wine glasses will make your bottle pop, and which tacos I think pair great with a bottle o...

National treasure Gail Simmons of Top Chef fame Zooms with me all the way from New York. She’s a fabulous chef, a judge on one of my favorite shows, and literally, pure joy exudes from her at every moment. Tune in while we taste some dope wine and dish on her life from Top Chef, to fashion, to recipe writing, to her favorite food cities around the world.   Featured Wines:  Phelan Farm, Cambria, Ce...

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Wine Face to you and yours. Before you start baking your bird, mashing your potatoes, and popping your bubbly, let’s look at all the different wine choices that will have your friends, family, and food singing. I’ll also share my favorite turkey recipe (shout-out Alison Roman!), my favorite way to use T-Day leftovers, and my wine pairing pro-moves, including an...

Gaby Dalkin of What's Gaby Cooking is a literal wiz in the kitchen, has the best energy, and is one of the most real ones to chat with. In this episode of Wine Face, we talk about culinary school, rosé pasta, motherhood, and just loving all things food and wine. Featured Wines: Le Boncie, Cinque, Rosso di Toscana, Sangiovese/Colorino/Mammolo/Foglia Tonda/Ciliegiolo, 2020   Hosted and Executive Pro...

I support and love all kinds of wine, but I think it helps people to understand wine as an agricultural product if we start with what is and is not considered a “Natural” wine. Listen, I really don’t like labels, but we gotta break it down before we build it back up! Winemaking dates back thousands and thousands of years but it’s since been industrialized as technology and society - advanced. As a...

Sommelier. Business owner. Podcast host. My journey into the wine world wasn’t a straight line. With a few colleges and brief career stops along the way at a collections agency, a top chef’s restaurant, and the Court of Master Sommeliers, I carved out my own niche in the industry. Find out how I came to be a partner in six businesses, run a bustling wine club, and serve as a Sommelier to Hollywood...

Longtime friends Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power started their wine brand Avaline five years ago. What might have started as a way to understand what organic wine really meant has now turned into an exciting passion and business. Cameron and Katherine sit down with me to discuss the brand’s inception, reception, and, of course, drinkability, on today’s Wine Face. Hosted by Helen Johannesen. Featu...

Break out your best glasses, y'all because Wine Face is BACK! Helen Johannesen from Helen's Wines is behind the microphone once again to sprinkle little gems of wine knowledge into your ears. Tune in every Thursday for tips, tricks, do's, don't's, celebrity and tastemaker interviews, recipes, and more! Wine Face returns Thursday, November 3rd, 2022. Follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcas...

What is new about wine? As season three concludes, taking a look at how the last month has shifted and changed the lens of how we look about wine and what's important.   Winemakers discussed: Krista Scruggs: https://zafawines.com/ Andre Hueston Mack:  https://maisonnoirwines.com/ Brown Estate:  https://www.brownestate.com/   For 25% off your first order of Hydrant, head to drinkhydrant.com/winefac...

Cha McCoy is an incredible force in the wine industry. She has traveled the world, lived in several countries honing and contextualizing her mastery of wine and wine education. She is a Sommelier, an educator, a leader and a visionary for the beverage industry. She was just named Cherry Bombe's first Beverage Director! Check out our conversation to hear more of her story and to follow along to see...