The Wine Pair Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Decoy Wine: Should You Buy It, or Duck It? Sep 27, 2026

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We know you’ve seen Decoy wines around with their famous duck on the label, but the real question is - have you ever tried Decoy wine? Before you answer that question, we want to tell you what we think. Before we do that, we’re going to tell you a bit about the parent company that Decoy comes from called Duckhorn Wine Company started by, and this is not a joke, Margaret and Dan Duckhorn. Then we are going to tell you more about Decoy wine itself, its history, its purpose, and its winemaker. And then we are going to do a real, honest, tasting and review of two Decoy wines to let you know if you should buy it (and, as always, we bought these wines with our own money, so you know we are being real). We also have some things to say about the inevitable AI apocalypse and what wine has to do with it, wink, wink. And we even have a listener interview for our tribe name this week. So, look, it’s time to get your ducks in a row, put down your ducking phone, and listen to this episode so we can tell you what the duck to do. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Decoy California Cabernet Sauvignon, 2025 Decoy Sauvignon Blanc

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Cru Beaujolais: A Far Cry from Beaujolais Nouveau! Sep 20, 2026

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If your impression of Beaujolais is that super light fruity wine called Beaujolais Nouveau that comes out in November right around Thanksgiving, you are really missing out on what Beaujolais has to offer. Cru Beaujolais is often compared to Pinot Noir from Burgundy, and they are neighbors in the region. And, for many years, Cru Beaujolais was considered to be on par with Burgundy. So what happened? A bunch of crappy Beaujolais Nouveau flooded the market, and really hurt the reputation of Beaujolais. But, it is making a comeback! Made from the grape Gamay, Beaujolais is a medium bodied red that can be chilled, and is often called a bistro wine, meaning it is fantastic with casual meals. Cru Beaujolais comes from 10 specific villages in France, and each has its own AOC and flavor profile, and we may even have a mnemonic device to help you remember them because sometimes the labels just mention the village, not Beaujolais. Look, if you don’t know Gamay or Beaujolais, the first thing you need to do is listen to this episode and learn more, and then you need to buy some Cru Beaujolais and find out for yourself. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Domaine Gilles Coperet Morgon, 2024 Moulin-a-Vent Cru Beaujolais Les Michelons

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They Make Sparkling Wine in England?!? Sep 13, 2026

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We know what you’re thinking. There’s no way they can make wine in England. We thought the same thing too, but here’s the deal. They are making some killer wine, especially sparkling wine, in England. Don’t believe it?!? Then you must listen to this episode. Once the butt of jokes, British wine is getting a reputation for excellence that is surprising both professionals and regular drinkers all over the world. There are a few factors that play into this rise of British bubbly that we discuss, including the impact of climate change, and the common soil they share with Champagne. Yes, that Champagne! While not the cheapest option, which is why we only tasted and reviewed one wine in this episode, you may be very surprised to find what a great option it is. Plus, in our wine in the news this week, we tell you what happens when a wasp, a badger, and a goose walk into a vineyard. Wine reviewed in this episode: Henners 2018 Vintage Sparkling Blend

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Minisode #21: Is "Sugar-Free Wine" Even a Real Thing? Sep 06, 2026

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You hear claims about zero-sugar wines, low sugar wines, and clean wines and you think, hey, that sounds like a good thing. But, what does it really mean? The truth is, not much. We dig into the facts to give you the skinny. Turns out, much of that no-sugar language is just fancy marketing speak for stuff that has always been true about wine. Guess what? In the fermentation process, sugar gets turned into alcohol, and in most cases, very little residual sugar is left behind. Even more, there are no regulations or laws in the U.S. that dictate what can or cannot be stated in these claims. In other words, brands can say anything they want about low sugar or zero sugar or clean. So, what are we supposed to do now? Listen to this minisode to find out. And relax. It’s just wine.

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Aglianico Rosato: If You Love a Bold Red Wine, Try Its Rosé! Aug 30, 2026

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When you take a great red wine grape like Aglianico and you make a Rosé from it, do you know what you get? That’s right. A great Rosé! In this episode we explore Rosé made from Aglianico, the King of Southern Italian red wines, which also happens to make a great Rosé. If you think you don’t like Rosé, it probably just means that you haven’t had one made from a red wine grape that you love. And in Italy, they are starting to make some fantastic Rosé wines, also known as Rosato in Italian. So, if you see the term Rosato, don’t be confused. Unlike the typical Provence-style Rosé, which dominates the market, Aglianico Rosé wines have more structure and more complexity. We also talk about a study that found people who know a lot about wine tend to be of higher intelligence. We couldn’t agree more! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2024 San Salvatore Vetere Rosato, 2025 Feudi di San Gregorio San Greg Rosato

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Italian Wine Adventure #26: Schiava! Sommeliers Love This Chillable Red! Aug 23, 2026

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Chillable red wines are a thing right now, and we think we may have found the perfect chillable red wine for you to not only enjoy but wow your hipster friends, family, and coworkers with. In fact, this wine is becoming a darling of in-the-know sommeliers! Schiava comes from the Alto Adige region of Italy, and it has everything you are looking for in a chillable red wine: crunchy red fruit flavors, light body, low tannins, and moderate alcohol. And while the wine is sometimes called “weightless” don’t confuse that with being bland or boring, because it is anything but that. Look, you are not going to drink this wine with a big steak, but there’s more to life than big steaks, right?!? Sometimes also called Trollinger and Vernatsch, this is the perfect wine for a summer afternoon, for appetizers and charcuterie, poultry, spicy and sweet barbecue, and, yes, even fish. Red wine and fish?!? Crazy, but true. Often called the white wine drinker’s red wine, Schiava is a wine you need to know, especially if you want to be counted among the trendy. Or not. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2024 Alois Lageder Schiava, 2022 Elena Walch Schiava

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Costco Kirkland Signature Châteauneuf-du-Pape Challenge! Aug 16, 2026

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Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the world’s great wines, but many people haven’t tried it because it can be darn expensive. So, when Costco drops their Kirkland Signature version of the wine, the natural question is “should I buy it?” Well, we are here to help you make that decision. Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a rather remarkable history, harkening back to a time when the papacy was in France, not Rome, and even a period when there were two popes for a longer period than you might expect. We talk about that history, as well as some of the rules and restrictions around Châteauneuf-du-Pape. But, what you really want to know is “should I buy it?!?” and that is what we will help you decide in this episode. And just to make sure we are giving you good advice, we compare the Costco Kirkland version to a well regarded and highly rated version of the wine just to make sure. We don’t want to spoil it, but the Kirkland version compares very well. As an extra bonus, we talk about the hot new wine trend called blouge. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2024 Costco Kirkland Signature Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2023 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

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Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #25: Brian and Jessica Smith from Wendelin Vines Aug 09, 2026

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Meet Brian and Jessica, a husband and wife winemaking team from Kansas. Yes, you heard that right - Kansas! It’s not as crazy as it sounds. In fact, did you know that in the 1800’s, Kansas was one of the top wine producing states in the country? Brian and Jessica are one of a group of winemakers bringing back winemaking in Kansas through their new winery Wendelin Vines. And, you won’t believe the story of how they got here, but you have to listen in to get the full story. All we’ll say is that their adventure started on a beach in Maui drinking Mimosas at 10 AM in the morning, and today, they are in Kansas making wine. Enough said. We had a wonderful time getting to know Brian and Jessica, and you will, too. They are what happens when curiosity, passion, and DNA combine into something pretty wonderful.

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Italian Wine Adventure #25: Vermentino! Summer Sipper Contender? Aug 02, 2026

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Nothing says summer like a nice, crisp white wine, and in this episode, we cover one of the greats that you may never have heard of called Vermentino. Vermentino is a fabulous wine most famously from the island of Sardinia that is a perfect summer sipper. Vermentino is also likely to be a wine that you start seeing more often because it comes from a grape that creates these crisp, high acidic wines, but can take the heat in warmer climates and keep its acidity. In addition to digging into Vermentino and tasting and reviewing a couple of great wines you should be on the lookout for, we also talk about the criteria that make a great summer sipper and we give you a short list of some other wines to look out for. Summer isn’t over yet! Enjoy it while it’s here! Wines reviewed in this episode: 2024 ColleMassari Melacce Vermentino, 2022 Tommasi Poggio al Tufo Vermentino

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Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #24: High-Altitude Excellence: Discovering PDO Amyndeon & PGI Florina with Alpha Estate. Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

Angelos Iatridis has a philosophy that stuck with us: if you want to be a better man, you make better wine. That's the kind of thoughtful conversation we get into in this special episode, a deep dive into PDO Amyndeon and PGI Florina, two of Greece's protected wine designations, with Angelos from Alpha Estate. He talks about Xinomavro, the region's signature red grape, which is often described as sitting somewhere between Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir, but shaped entirely by Amyndeon's high altitude, its ring of three mountains, and two nearby lakes that keep the climate in balance. He explains why the sandy, limestone soil left behind by an ancient lake gives the wine its acidity, and how that same acidity lets Xinomavro age for decades, slowly turning from red fruit into notes of dried tomato and olive paste. Angelos also opens up about how climate change has actually helped ripening in Amyndeon over the last 30 years, why he believes the best winemaking technology should be invisible in the glass, and how his own daughter's research helped preserve the purest expression of the grape for the next generation. By the end, he's picked the exact bottle he'd bring to a big Sunday family dinner, one he says carries both place and memory. It's a warm, generous conversation with someone who clearly loves what he does, and you'll come away wanting to track down a bottle of his Xinomavro for yourself.

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