The Wine Pair Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Great American Sparklers: 2023 Edition! (Sparkling Wines for the 4th of July, Sparkling Rosé, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) Jun 25, 2023

Show notes

Think beer is the beverage of choice for Independence Day?!? We beg to differ! As with any special occasion, sparkling wine is perfect, and what better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with a good old American sparkling wine! We are joined in this episode by our daughter Marianna whose birthday just happens to be July 4th (that is not a joke!) and her friend Jack who help us rate and review three sparkling wines from the states of Washington, Oregon, and California. We learn about how much sparkling is produced and consumed in the United States, and discuss many of the different states in which sparkling wine is made - it’s a lot. We even talk about the first state where sparkling wine was made, and it will surprise you! Join us for some fun and frivolity in our second annual American sparkling wine episode. And follow our daughter Marianna on her Instagram at munch.with.mar! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 POPUP Sparkling Wine, Chemistry Pinot Noir Rosé Bubbles, and Scotto Family Cellars Brut.

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Italian Wine Adventure #7: Cirò! (The wine of the gods, the oldest continually produced wine, a wine for dining Al Fresco, Calabrian Wine, Fun and Festive Red Wine) Jun 18, 2023

Show notes

Cirò may be the longest continually produced wine in the world, and legend has it that it is the wine that the Greek gods drank during the original Olympic games. So, if you haven’t heard of it yet, or haven’t tried it yet, we have one question for you: “Do you even lift, bro?!?” Cirò is the flagship wine of Calabria in southern Italy, and is a great choice for those who like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and other food friendly, medium bodied red wines. It is also a wine with roots in Greece, a 3,000+ year history, and is usually made in the same way it has been made for centuries - naturally and organically. We think Cirò is a crowd-pleaser, especially for cookouts and picnics. So,if you are curious about exploring Italian wines, or consider yourself an Italian wine fan, Cirò needs to be on your list! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Baroni Capoano Cirò Rosso Classico, 2019 Segno Librandi Cirò Rosso Classico, and 2019 Scala Cirò Rosso Classico Superiore.

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In Vino Veritas #1: Cava Edition (In Wine There Is Truth!) Jun 11, 2023

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There is a famous Latin proverb “In vino veritas” which means “in wine there is truth.” In this new recurring episode series, we do something really different: We throw away the script, let Carmela do a lot more of the talking, and we find out just how much truth there is in wine. Listen in as we drink some wine, and while the wine does its work, we let the truth just pour out! Today we drink a Cava while on vacation in New York City and talk about our first experiences with sparkling wine, if you should drink on your wedding day before the ceremony, how we obtained alcohol before we were of age, the strange nature of liquor stores, and other stupid stuff we did as kids when alcohol was involved. We also talk about why there are socks on our microphones and the AirBnB we rented from Hope Tarr who is an award winning Romance Novelist and has written books with Jenna Jameson. That’s a lot. Wine reviewed in this episode: Viña Palaciega Cava Brut.

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Costco Kirkland Chianti Challenge (The origin of the word Fiasco, Chiantis worth drinking, Sangiovese) Jun 04, 2023

Show notes

We are back with one of our popular Costco Kirkland wine challenges! Now, Chianti has not always had the greatest reputation, but over the past several years it has improved in quality and popularity, and it is one of the flagship wines of Italy from the beautiful Tuscany area. Costco has their house version of a Chianti Classico Riserva, and in this episode, we compare it to two other Chianti Classicos and give you our honest opinion of how the Kirkland Signature version stacks up. We also talk about the connection between the word fiasco and those wicker basket covered bottles of Chianti, foods from Tuscany that go well with Chianti - and why Chianti is a wine that really needs to be paired with food. And, if you think you are not a fan of Chianti, we think we have found some wines that will change your mind! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Costco Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva, 2020 Castello di Albola Chianti Classico, and 2020 Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico.

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Is Merlot Making a Comeback? (An underdog story? Wines from the Right Bank of Bordeaux) May 28, 2023

Show notes

The 2004 movie Sideways did a number on Merlot, hurting its reputation and suppressing sales. But was that impact justified? Did we judge Merlot too harshly? Is it time to let Merlot rejoin the cool kids table?!? In this episode, we give Merlot a fighting chance to win back a place in our hearts - and our cellar. We admit we are not the biggest fans of Merlot, but can one of these wines change our mind? We selected three highly rated wines, all under $20, and two from the Bordeaux region of France, to see if we could find a Merlot that convinced us that it is deserving reconsideration. And guess what - we found one!!! We also talk a bit about the history of Merlot, and the so-called Sideways effect. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2016 Ronan by Clinet, 2018 Santa Ema Reserva Merlot, and 2019 Chateau Mayne-Vieil Cuvée Alienor.

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WTF is Zweigelt? (The Ultimate Picnic Wine, Summer Sipper, For Gamay and Pinot Noir Lovers, Great red wine for Cookouts and BBQs, Red Wine for Fish, Austrian Wine) May 21, 2023

Show notes

Looking for the perfect Summer Sipper? Then you need to know about Zweigelt! Wait, what’s that you ask - WTF is Zweigelt?!? We’ll tell you! This light, fruity, and fun red from Austria is an excellent Cookout wine, and pairs wonderfully with BBQ. If you like Gamay or Pinot Noir, this is a wine you really need to know! You can drink it chilled! It’s a red wine that can be paired with fish! It often comes in a 1 liter bottle and with a screw cap! C’mon, what else do you need to know - it’s like this wine is too good to be true! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Winzer Krems Blauer Zweigelt St. Severin, 2018 Pratsch Zweigelt, and 2019 Berger Zweigelt.

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Let’s Talk About Sekt! German Sparkling Wine! (Lots of Sekt jokes, AKA Secco) May 14, 2023

Show notes

It’s never too late to have Sekt for the first time! Yes, we use that bad joke A LOT in this episode - but we also explore German Sparkling Wine - which is called Sekt - and discover what makes it unique,. Did you know that Germany is the third largest producer of sparkling wine in the world? We didn’t either! So there must be something about this German Sekt that is worth your hard earned money, and you don’t have to pay a lot for good Sekt! And, yes, we use that joke A LOT in this episode, too. Beyond the Sekt jokes, we taste and review three German sparkling wines, and give our honest ratings of them so you can see if you want to have Sekt after listening to us. It’s getting funnier, right?!? Known for being on the sweet side, we give our opinion on just how sweet the Sekt is in Germany. Ba dum bump. Wines reviewed in this episode: Henkell Finest Sparkling Wine Brut, Fritz Muller Muller-Thurgau Secco, Markus Molitor Mosel Riesling Sekt.

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Great Wines to Celebrate Mom on Mother’s Day! (Wines with Mother’s Day Foods, Sparkling from South Africa, Rosé of Pinot Noir, Beaujolais) May 07, 2023

Show notes

How do you show mom you really love her on Mother’s Day? By serving her favorite wine, of course! But what if you don’t know what her favorite wine is?!? No worries, we’ve got you covered. No matter who occupies that mom-space in your life, Mother’s Day is the perfect time to show her how much you appreciate her and think about her, and we think a great way to show some of that love and appreciation is through a thoughtful wine choice. (What did you expect us to say?!? We’re a wine podcast, after all!!!) Because wine is food, the right Mother’s Day wine needs to be a great complement to Mother’s Day food, and it should also be a great experience, meaning it should look beautiful in the glass and on the table. And this year, don’t be so obvious with your wine choices - we’ll help you find some wines that are PERFECT for mom, but a bit off the beaten path so you can show her how special you think she is! Our wines choices are also certified by the resident mom on our podcast - Carmela! Wines reviewed in this episode: Graham Beck Methode Cap Classique Brut, 2021 Compton Family Wines Garden Series Rosé of Pinot Noir, and 2021 Jean-Claude DeBeaune Special Selection Beaujolais.

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Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers: David Babich (CEO of Babich Wines, the 107 year history of Babich wines, New Zealand wine, Sauvignon Blanc, what really makes organic wine better) Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

Babich Wines make world-class Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other varietals. They are also the largest family owned winery in New Zealand, and the story of how the family came to make wine is fascinating to say the least. We are honored to have David Babich, CEO of Babich Wines join us for this special episode. David took on the role of CEO in 2001, and has helped to lead Babich Wines into one of New Zealand’s leading wineries and a highly regarded global wine brand. What comes across very clearly in his story is the passion for not only the wine they make, but also his pride in his family and their legacy. Join us to hear more about what makes Babich Wines so special - the care with which they make their wines which are sustainable and increasingly organic - and the amazing story of a group of brothers who left their homeland in Croatia at young ages to start a new life in New Zealand. We know you will enjoy listening to this interview as much as we enjoyed talking with David.

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Minisode #7: A Quick Primer on Red Blends Apr 23, 2023

Show notes

Ever walked into a wine shop or the wine section of a grocery store and been totally overwhelmed and confused by the vast sea of wines that are simply labeled red blend? Us too! So to remove this confusion, in this minisode we do a quick overview - a primer if you will - on the two major types of red blends that most (but not all) red wine blends are based - Bordeaux and GSM. Both come from France, and both are known by other names that you may also be familiar with, like Meritage and Claret. This quick, fun minisode will help you feel more comfortable and confident the next time you are looking to buy or order a wine (and you can show off your knowledge to your friends who will be so impressed!).

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