Wine Talks with Paul K.

Latest Episodes:

Mike Grgich made California wine famous. Meet Violet Grgich. May 11, 2023

Show notes

Celebrating Judgement of Paris month.

When Mike Grgich came to America, he had sewn $32 into the sole of his shoe, that's all he had to his name. He arrived in Saint Helena without a plan or a job but became one of the most influential winemakers in California's history.

In May of 1976 when the California wines beat the French wines in a French-judged tasting, the wine world was changed forever, Mike Grgich was the winemaker at Chateau Montelena and was the man who slayed the French white Burgundies with his 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay.

Meet Violet Grgich, the current GM at Grgich Estates to hear the real story.

The food philosophy of a Michelin starred Chef. Meet Dave Beran of Pasjolis May 05, 2023

Show notes

The holy grail of the restauranteur is to be recognized by the Michelin Guide. Though the guide has various levels of accolades for the restaurants it reviews, the best restaurants are awarded stars; 1,2 or 3. These stars are coveted and suggest the Chef has mastered his craft from the cuisine to the hospitality. The pandemic caught Chef Dave at a disadvantage and he lost his star at Pasjoli...and he wants it back.

Have a listen and hear about his philosophy not only of the cuisine but on the management of the restaurant. I think you will find it refreshing.

George Taber, only journalist at the Judgement of Paris. May 1976. May 02, 2023

Show notes

The anniversary month of the Judgement of Paris Is May.

The Judgement of Paris is considered one of the single most influential even for American wine….ever. Meet the only journalist to bother showing up.

George Tabor was with Time magazine at the time. Living a dream in Paris, he decided to attend a wine judging event. He was the only journalist who showed and that became his fame. Meet George Taber the man with the story because he was there.

Wine influencer turned wine shop owner. Crazy stuff. Meet Jamie Griffiths. Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Influencers are a new marketing tool. Some have more influence than others. Jamie, as part of corporate retirement, decided to TikTok some wine information videos...and voila, influencer. What started as a hobby turned to a commitment. As a collector he learned about wine but turning influencer he really learned about wine.

This influencer journey took him to a place he never expected and ultimately became the proprietor of a successful and embedded wine shop in Ohio. Learn about his trip to the promise land of wine retailer.

This was a particulalry interesting interview because I have a jadded view of most influenceer marketing and it was so encouraging to see the path end up in the thick of the world he was influencing. You can trust his opinion.

Cheers.

So you want to own a winery in Europe? Meet Bettina Kurz...she sells wineries world wide. Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

So you want to own a winery in Italy, Germany, France? you name it....Bettina can fill your needs. Oh, and she will sell you a winery in Napa too! Listen as we role play as a potential client who wants to buy a winery in Montalcino, Italy. All of us look in on the lifestyle of a vineyard owner and think "this is my dream." And for many, it is a dream that comes true...but then to find out what the real dream is...but then again, there are those that make their dreams come true and it is exactly of not moreso what they hoped.

Have a listen to Bettina Kurz of Viva-Business

Does low cal wine help? Meet food and fitness experts Gina Wynn and Angie Alles. Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

In 1990 when 60 minutes released the evidence that supported the healthy consumption of wine in the French Paradox, the world learned that wine can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle coaches Gina and Angie took a minute before a conference on the very subject to talk to Wine Talks about including wine in your daily routine. Of course, they were enjoying a glass of Rombauer Chardonnay as they were headed to the pool, hey wait, that is some kind of lifestyle conference! Have a listen.

There are wine journalists...and then there is Dan Berger. This is real wine education. Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

You can't help but be in complete aw when speaking with Dan Berger. He has been writing about wine for so many decades that when he writes about wine, he transcends normal conversation. And because of this cast experience, you don't feel intimidated by this knowledge, you leave inspired.

Have a listen as we catch up of Riesling, the industry, wine writing and dozens of more subject...there never seems to be enough time when speaking with Dan.

What I have to say…(ain't pretty). I rant today. Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

There is so much "inside baseball" in the wine trade. We all know what each other is doing. There are not many secrets and when one is exposed...well, it is no longer a secret. What is fascinating to me is the consistent attempts to create something new. For 35 years, new ideas have crossed the tasting room here and none of them are really new; just regurgitated ideas from previous generations. How can there be anything new...the product is over 9000 years old. Putting wine in different container is changing anything except the container... but when it comes to the actual manufacturing of wine...what is new? Certainly, there are contemporary processes that help with character or life but the core of winemaking has and is always the same: Ferment grape juice.

Have a listen ...

One of the great LA wine guys waxes poetic on wine. Ed Masciana was in the house. Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

In 1969, Ed approached Palos Verdes Wines and Spirits to sell my father advertising space in the Peninsula News; thus started a love affair with wine. Ed wrote the book, Shortcuts On Wine as a simple approach to understanding wine and has lectured at UCLA and many adult schools and has made wine and has worked in most facets of the wine industry.

Not only is it educational when he stops by but entertaining as it seems his filter is waning.

We talk of the old days, the current days, and the days ahead on wine. Have a listen to the grand master, Ed Masciana.

Purely educational Bordeaux talk. Like serious. Meet Guillaume-Alexandre Marx Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

As your first soirée into wine study, one might say study Bordeaux and particularly the Classification of 1855. Here Napoleon III ordered a ranking of wine of the Medoc for the Paris Exhibition of 1855. Here you will find fascinating wines, fascinating history and fascinating pedigree. And that is what we have here in this podcast with Guillaume-Alexander Marx.

The four first growth Bordeaux (now there are five) were Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau La Tour, Chateau Margaux and todays podcast subject, Chateau Haut Brion.

Wine is about the story....most of life actually is about the story. But something about wine connects one to the earth through the wine, through the story.

I think you will be intrigued by the story and the history to be told about Chateau Haut Brion.