Wine Talks with Paul K.

Latest Episodes:

Jean-Charles Boisset Is All About Vision. Hear Him Speak On Napa. Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

Just when you thought the Napa Valley was going the way of its French counterparts by steeping itself in the tradition...along comes Jean Charles Boisset. You will be fascinated, intrigued, and dumbfounded.

Jean-Charles not only comes from one of the most famed Burgundian families, he married a Gallo. And I think you can surmise, they are a power wine couple in the Napa Valley scene.

One might think that there is a utopia in the Napa Valley. The scenery, the wineries, the people, the lifestyle. Certainly, that is what the public persona is. Like any other industry or group of enthusiasts, there are disagreements and a myriad of ideas on the direction of things.

I think you could safely say, Jean Charles occupies alot of that space.

He has a knack, a vision and an alternative perspective...but stay traditional just the same.

Have a listen and find out why.

Paul McSharry Can Make Your Winemaking Dreams Come True. Osiris Wine Club Is Open Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

Paul McSharry wasn't originally destined for the wine business, he had other plans. Let's face it, Ireland is not necessarily the hotbed of the wine culture.

Life has a way of redirecting our focus and Paul has bitten off an idea that seems to be resonating with want to be winemakers and curiosity seekers all the same. Because of the expense and the bureaucratic headwinds that clog up the wine trade, it is virtually impossible or too expensive to venture into it alone. One mistake, and. you will make one, can wipe out any dream you had of breaking even. But at the same time, you still have this hankering to know more and get your hands dirty to see if the wine lifestyle is for you.

Enter Paul McSharry and the Osiris Wine Club...though "wine club" traditionally means something a bit different than the way Paul is using it, this new definition effectively makes you part of a wine-making team; a club as it were.

Have a listen to get all the details and how you can test your palate and skills.

His quest is to show the world American wine grapes. Meet Jerry Eisterhold in TerraVox (Missouri). Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

The Smithsonian Institute wanted to know about Jerry Eisterhold. So much so, the featured an article on what one might say is a long shot at best. The idea to repropagate vines of yesteryear in America would be fruitless (pun intended). But it is quite the opposite.

In this episode, you will hear the history of wine grapes in America that I would easily put down even money that the most advanced academics in the world of wine would not have a notion of the significance. It was so intriguing, that Wine Talks immediately purchased a sampling of the wines and bought the book recited in the show.

Jerry Eisterhold took it upon himself to scour the United States grape nurseries and study the history of wine grapes in America to a point where he has reintroduced a dozen indigenous grape varieties back into the soil. And then comes the fun part...

Making wine from these new varietals with all the moving parts that go into making wine without any of the experience of any predecessor is proving to be a task of geometric proportions.

Have a listen and hear the answers to all these headwinds.

Married and selling wine together? Ouch. Meet Jeff and Kathy of Uncorked. Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Of all the sectors of wine, retail has to be the toughest. Tough meaning you need to understand not only wine, but POS systems, merchandising, event planning, inventory systems, the gift of gab, employee relations, internet marketing, subscription marketing, and many more facets.

And Jeff and Kathy did not set out to be a multi-store wine shop "chain" nor did the set out to get married. But, as the romance of wine would have it, both of these events occurred.

Wine Talks caught up with the couple at their Manhattan Beach store to not only engage in a revealing conversation, but to also interact with the single file line of patrons making their way in for a tasting, a bottle or a little of both.

Jeffs knowledge of wine and how to inspire customers is rather unique and Kathy's disarming conversational style will want you to stick around awhile and see what might happen...because something to write home about will emerge.

Cheers.

She watched the Nazi's destroy her mothers Chateau. Literally. Meet the elegant May-Elaine Lencquesaing Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

The Nazis destroyed her parent's Chateau, and she was there to witness.

You just know it. Humans have a sense about who and what they are. and when you sit in the presence of pure elegance, pure knowledge, and pure humility, you just know it.

Though May-Eliance Lencquesaing spoke for over 75 minutes (she took a couple of breaths), it took 15 seconds to realize that this conversation was going to be epic.

She started with "Hello Paul, good to see you again"...because she had remembered a dinner together in 1993 while the Wine of the Month Club was visiting Vin Expo in Bordeaux; I guess you could say she had me at "hello."

The stories you are about the hear are never going to happen again. The point of view of a woman who made good in the patriarcal French society let alone the patriarchal French wine industry can only come from May-Eliane. You see, women like her were not setting out to make history, they were setting out to do the job. She had only one intention, take over the family business and make it grow. Sounds simple on paper but the headwinds came in all forms...and she remembers.

Listen to May-Eliane Lencquesaing.

I'm telling you like it is in the wine trade. A trailer as it were. Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Time to set the record straight. Because I have just about had enough.

On this episode, I try to lay it all out....get to the root and wax poetic a bit.

Wine has a special place in me heart and that didn't happen overnight. It took 35 years for me to grab the underlying value of the proper glass of wine. There is somethiing completely ethereal about real wine...what is real wine? listen to this episode.

Season 17 was a crazy good season of guests and thoughts on wine and the longer this show goes, the deeper we can dig into what wine is and what it is for.

I also give tell tell signs of what is coming in Season 18. And the first episode is off the charts...is was completely taken by a 98-year-old woman...so much, I just back and listened (for 75 minutes).

Have a listen to....me.

Could a genetically engineered probiotic prevent a hangover? And is GMO really a bad thing? Meet Zack Abbott of ZBiotics and find out here! Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

Would you like to end your hangover before it even starts? Would you like to mitigate any symptoms of excessive drinking? Certainly, we have all thought at some point, "I wish there was something to help keep away a hangover!" Have a listen to this. After studying classical art, archeology, and microbiology, Zack Abbott found himself working in an HIV lab with his mind wondering, thinking there was a consumer use for his microbiology interests. So he played around with a couple of ideas and landed on the idea to create a GMO probiotic that has been shown to reduce or stop a hangover before you drink! This conversation takes some pretty cool twists to explain the solution to the eternal problem of a good old-fashioned hangover. Who would have thought it would take science? To learn more about Zack and Zbiotics, check out their website www.zbiotics.com

First a PhD, then wine influencer. Meet Dr. Nia Ruth and all her energy. Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

Despite we might be competitors in the wine club space, Nia brings a bubbly outlook to the world of wine influencers. She has two important features that bring the spotlight to her efforts; she is a woman, and a woman of color; both attributes the wine industry is seeking to fill in the ranks.

She was engaging and fun to have in the studio and I think you will find her outlook on the world of wine refreshing and contemporary.

Such a contrast to, for instance, the group of wine enthusiasts I sat with evaluating vintage Ports recently. Fresh, bubbly and energetic, have a listen to Nia.

With (3) substantial wine and business degrees, Julien takes on Napa with Maison Fayard.. Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

As much as we aspire for wine to be a romantic beverage that tells a story...and it is, we have to acknowledge that is it business.

So you must meet Julien Fayard of Fayard Wines. And there is really good chance you will meet him if you swing into his new tasting room on 2nd street in downtown Napa. There we peeled back his career path and opinion of all things wine. WIth a Masters in WInemaking, a Masters in Agribuisness and a Masters in Business, Julien has equiped himself with all the tools necessary to navigate a complicated and layered industry. With the tasting room alone, he took on a different path than most; it is primarily a wine shop with "oh, by the way, we taste wines here too."

Sometimes when you sit with a potential podcast guest, you can tell in the opening remarks whether the conversation will be eventful naturally or one will have to work to make the episode evetnful. In this case, it was clear after the opening greetings that we had much to talk about.

Have a listen to the thoughtful and innovative Julien Fayard.

With a Master of Wine and a WSET Diploma and the French language well in hand, she became a wine educator.. Meet Anne McHale. Dec 16, 2023

Show notes

Anne McHale is well accomplished in the academia of wine. She has a Master of Wine (incredible study required to earn) and a WSET Diploma (the highest accolade for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust)...neither an easy feat by any stretch. But what is disarmning is her utter charm.

First, her accent will confuse you until you understand the source, but her ability to articulate her ambition in wine is the clincher to fall head over heels for her. Each time I relisten to the show, I am reinspired by her wit, knowledge, and disposition.

She resides in London and has won award after award for her wine education and wine writing. She is knowledgeable without the snobbery, inspiring without bragging and interesting without boorishness.

Have a listen to Anne McHale.

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