The Wine Pair Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Italian Wine Adventure #3: Valpolicella (A red wine blend you should know, light easy-drinking red wine, a red wine alternative for Gamay, Beaujolais, and Pinot Noir lovers) Sep 25, 2022

Show notes

Ever heard of a red wine blend from Italy called Valpolicella? No? Well, this is a wine we think you really should know about, especially if you are someone who a) loves red wine blends, b) loves lighter bodied red wines, c) wants to learn more about chilled red wines, or d) is curious about - or loves - Italian wines. Or, even better yet, all of the above. While not terribly common, Valpolicella is a reasonably easy to find wine that is reasonably priced and comes from one of the most famous and most beautiful parts of Italy - the area around Verona and Lake Garda. Made from a blend of grapes you have probably never heard of - like Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone - this is a wine that will really help you to expand your wine knowledge and horizons! Join us and drink up! Salute! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Vigneti del Sole Valpolicella, 2020 Allegrini Valpolicella, and 2018 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore.

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you!
Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: https://thewinepairpodcast.com/
Follow and DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewinepairpodcast/
Send us an email: joe@thewinepairpodcast.com

WTF is Albariño? (A great option for white wine lovers, Spanish wine, zippy) Sep 18, 2022

Show notes

Looking for a new white wine to try?!? We have just the wine for you! Most famously from the Rias Baixas area in the Galicia region of Spain, this zippy wine is perfect for the white wine lover in your life - especially if that person is you! You may have started seeing this wine on store shelves and thought “I wonder what that tastes like?” Wonder no more! In this episode, we talk about, taste, and review three Albariño wines, two from Spain, and one from Oregon, and we’ll let you know what we think about how they taste and if they are worth your hard earned money! We also talk about why white wines are sometimes not as highly regarded as red wines, and what makes the region that comes from Albariño so special. Hint - it rains a lot in Galicia! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Condes De Albarei Albariño, 2021 Abacela Albariño, and 2020 Laxas Rias Baixas Albariño.

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

Great Wines for Fall: Grenache! (AKA Garnacha, Great Autumn wines, Tailgating wines, Grenache Rose’, orange sherbet or sherbert?) Sep 11, 2022

Show notes

As the days start to get shorter and the weather starts to get cooler, it’s time to think about wines that pair well with the fall! Or is it autumn?!? In this episode, we learn about, taste, and review a great wine for fall called Grenache, also known as Garnacha if it comes from Spain. With warm flavors and relatively high alcohol, we think Grenache is a perfect tailgating wine! And, one of the wines we chose for this episode is a Grenache rose’, so we will try to break the myth that rose’ is a summer wine. As a secret bonus, during the section where we taste the wines, we reveal the mystery that is sherbet - or is it sherbert?!? Listen to find out if you have been saying it wrong this whole time! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Viña Borgia Garnacha, 2020 Fortant Coast Select Grenache Rose’, and 2019 Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

If You Like Merlot, You’ll Love Malbec (Red wine alternatives for Merlot, Argentinian red wines tasted and reviewed, reasonably priced red wine) Sep 04, 2022

Show notes

Do you love big, bold red wines, and are looking for new wines to try to expand your horizons? Then this episode is for you! There is no doubt that Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are popular wines, but there are other great red wines out there - like Malbec - that will satisfy your craving and maybe be a little easier on the old pocketbook! Malbec from Argentina is an up and coming wine that is getting really easy to find, and so it is one you should know about! And did you know that about 75% of all Malbec wine grapes are grown in Argentina?!? Well, now you do! Find out even more fun facts in this episode, including why the high altitude at which grapes from the Mendoza region of Argentina are grown makes such an impact on the taste of the wine. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Alamos Malbec, 2020 Chalkboard Malbec, 2019 Catena Malbec.

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

Italian Wine Adventure #2: Soave (A very underrated white wine, Italian white wine treasure, great options for white wine lovers, Classico designation explained) Aug 28, 2022

Show notes

If you have never had Soave, you are missing out on a great Italian wine! Believe it or not, 50 years ago, Soave was the most popular Italian wine in the United States. What?!? Today, however, it is not super easy to find, which we think is a tragedy. In this episode, we take another Italian wine adventure to introduce you to a vastly underrated white wine called Soave - not Suave, and definitely not Rico Suave! In the 1970’s and 80’s the U.S. was swamped by cheap Soave that still impacts the impression people have of Soave to this day. If you are old enough, you may remember Soave Bolla, or “Chill a Cella” TV ads - and the bad wine that went with them. But don’t let that sway you! If you are a white wine lover, this is a wine you really need to try - especially Soave Classico, and in this episode we also explain what the Classico designation actually means for Italian wines. So, come join us on this exciting adventure to the Verona region of Italy! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Inama Vin Soave Classico, 2020 Villa Cavarena Soave, and 2020 Pieropan Soave Classico.

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

What's the Difference Between Vegan Wine and Non Vegan Wine? (Fining and filtering, how to find Vegan wines, three Vegan wines reviewed) Aug 21, 2022

Show notes

Have you been curious to know what exactly Vegan wine is? Well, it has something to do with fining and filtering. Wait - don’t know what that is? Then listen to this episode to find out! Ever wanted to try Vegan wine but don’t know where to start? Good news! It’s actually much easier to find than you think! Listen to this episode to find out more! Wondering what Vegan wine tastes like? We’ll tell you what we think, but you might be surprised to find out you may already know! Confused?!? Intrigued?!? Then listen to this episode! We’ll tell you everything you’ve been dying to know about Vegan wine, even if you’ve never heard of it before. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2020 Kris Pinot Grigio, 2021 Layer Cake Malbec, and 2020 Michael David Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon.

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

WTF is Cabernet Franc? (aka Chinon and Bouchet, the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, a red wine you can chill) Aug 14, 2022

Show notes

Ok, real talk. Cabernet Franc is not Cabernet Sauvignon. Yes, both are red wines, and both have the same first name, but they are pretty different wines, and we are betting that Cabernet Franc may be a wine you are not super familiar with. We are here to change that! In this episode, we discuss just WTF Cabernet Franc is, where it comes from, where it is grown (hint, it is grown all over the world), and how its use and taste can vary tremendously depending on the climate it comes from and whether or not it is blended with other grapes or bottled on its own. As usual, we taste and review three Cabernet Francs that are reasonably priced and let you know how we really feel about them, and Cabernet Franc in general. Definitely put this wine on your list if it is not one you have tried yet. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Isenhower Vineyards I Series Cabernet Franc, 2019 Horton Vineyards The Tower Series Cabernet Franc, and 2019 Mascota Vineyards Cabernet Franc.

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

Italian Wine Adventure #1: Aglianico (King of Southern Italian wines, learning Italian wine, wines you must try, wines for red wine lovers) Aug 07, 2022

Show notes

Are you feeling like it’s time to expand your wine horizons?!? Are you ready to deepen your knowledge of Italian wines? Then this episode is perfect for you! We take our first Italian wine adventure and introduce you to the King of Southern Italian wines - Aglianico - which is considered one of the three great wines of Italy. As you grow in your knowledge of wine, this is definitely one to add to your repertoire. Aglianico is a beautiful wine, great for red wine lovers, and an excellent option for those who love both Burgundy and Bordeaux (or, if you prefer, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon). Aglianico is a wine that is great on its own, and amazing with food - including grilled foods, and foods cooked in wood fired ovens. And in this episode, we award our first 10 out of 10 rating - but you need to listen to find out which wine it is! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2019 Mastro Aglianico Campania, 2017 D'Angelo Aglianico del Vulture, and 2019 Donnachiara Aglianico Montefalcione.

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

Minisode #3: The right way to hold a wine glass Jul 31, 2022

Show notes

Did you know there is a right way to hold a wine glass? There is! Listen to this minisode to learn the proper way to hold your wine glass, and some habits that you just need to break. And don’t even get us started on stemless wine glasses! Minisodes are fun, short, snackable content of The Wine Pair Podcast where we share with you things you have always wanted to know about wine, wine tasting, and wine etiquette but were afraid to ask!

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!

Three Great Book Club Books and Wines for 2022 (pairing books and wine, A Certain Hunger, Luster, In the Dream House, Chianti Rufina, White Cotes-du-Rhone, Zinfandel) Jul 24, 2022

Show notes

If you love wine and you love books, this is the perfect episode for you! Joe is joined by his son Giuseppe who selects three fantastic books and then they pair those books with three great wines. Each of these wine and book choices are fun, interesting, compelling, and conversation pieces all on their own, but together they are the perfect pairing of books and wine. Afterall, if you are choosing books and wines for your book club, we think the wine should be just as interesting as the books to talk about. We recommend three fabulous books for your next book club or even just reading on your own - A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G Summers, Luster by Raven Leilani, and In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. And we pair them with three equally excellent wines - these are book and wine pairings that are sure to please even your pickiest friends. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2018 Fattoria di Basciano Chianti Rufina, 2021 Pierre Henri Morel Laudun Côtes-du-Rhone Villages, and 2018 Michael Lavelle Iris Zinfandel.

Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!