Steak and wine have been linked together, forever. Just as a glass of wine is part of any important occasion, so, too, is a flavorful slab of rib-eye, sirloin or tenderloin. But over the past few years, a tantalizing twist has added to this mix, and the idea is spreading. Clever meat farmers have been [...]
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Wine and Politics. Now, there’s a Tasty Nexus that goes right back to our pre-historic Solar Plexus. The earliest known example of wine production dates back 8,000 years to Georgia, in Europe. Since that was the Stone Age, we’re not sure exactly who decided to grow those grapes, but would bet it was the Chief, [...]
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What is your dream of dreams? What would you really do…if you won the lottery….or suddenly began to dance as if no one were looking? Would you fly into Wine Country and launch a lovely and memorable day, filled with the sights and scents of rolling hills, neat rows of grapes, scenic drives through Italy’s Tuscan wine region…strolling ancient cellars…tasting [...]
Read MoreLegend has it that the father of modern psychology, Sigmund Freud, once commented that, “sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.” And while that may be so, the same probably does not apply to…you guessed it…wine! When was a glass of wine….ever…just…a glass of wine. Always, there is mood…and feeling…not to mention the “character” and [...]
Read MoreSome aspects of the wine-lover’s life can be downright daunting. Let’s see if this has happened to you: You’re up in Wine Country, having the tasting of your life. And you’re thinking of flying home with a few bottles. But wait, you say…what about all those TSA security rules. You know – you cannot board [...]
Read MoreWhen it comes to America’s love affair with wine…the official beverage of romance….the State of the Union is STRONG! And not just from the standpoint of consuming the liquid of the gods: Winemaking in the USA is truly a “growth industry,” even in the face of the deepest recession, since the Great Depression. In fact, now more than ever, you don’t [...]
Read MoreFor the die-hard romantic, it is one of the most essential elements of the wine drinking experience. No, it is not Ravel’s “Bolero” or Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” it is the humble cork–that low tech little device that’s been keeping wine safely in its container since at least the 1st [...]
Read MoreDuring a particularly poignant moment, David asks Rex if he thinks another varietal such as Viognier would have emerged as the “go-to” wine had Miles preferred it to Pinot. Rex said the question was “a great one that (he) had never been asked.” Hear his response on this week’s show.
Read MoreBy popular demand, we’re posting Chef Shelly Maddocks’ recipes from our Cabernet Concoctions episode of Grape Encounters!
Read MoreLegend has it that the father of modern psychology, Sigmund Freud, once commented that, “sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.” And while that may be so, the same probably does not apply to…you guessed it…wine! When was a glass of wine….ever…just…a glass of wine. Always, there is mood…and feeling…not to mention the “character” and [...]
Read MoreGrape Encounters Radio is always looking for fun and interesting facts to bring to the attention of our Grape Encounters followers. This was an article we recently discovered and thought it would be fun to share with you. Read it and give us your comments. It would be a fun subject to discuss at your [...]
Read MoreHere are the five top wines under $15, at least according to Wine Spectator Magazine. Dare to compare! Have you found any good buys for under $15? Let us know! Top Picks Wines Under $15 Wine Spectator 3/25/11 Mar. 25, 2011: VINHOS DOURO SUPERIOR Douro Castello d’Alba 2008, 25,000 cases made. ($10) A medium-bodied and [...]
Read MoreIt’s time for our Top Picks of the Week ending 1/28/11! Grape Encounters Radio is always on the look out for great wine deals and here’s an excellent list this week from Wine Spectator Magazine. Taste and compare; we encourage it! Give us your thoughts and any great wines you may have discovered that are under [...]
Read MoreHere’s another excellent top 10 list for 2010 from Wine Spectator Magazine. Let us know your top 10 for 2010 list and we can compare notes. Read on! Wine Spectator Magazine’s Top 10 Wines of 2010 1) Saxum, James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles 2007, 950 cases made, California ($67) 2) Two Hands, Shiraz Barossa Valley [...]
Read MoreWe particularly liked this region by region summary of what to expect and what t buy from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. If you didn’t happen upon this on your own, you’ll enjoy reading it here. Very informative. Wine Enthusiast Magazine What to Buy in 2011 Wine Enthusiast gives you the latest advice on what to [...]
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we thought it would be interesting to show you where some of your favorite wines are coming from. In reality, a small group of companies is responsible for producing the bulk of the wine we drink. The first company we would like to profile is The Wine Group. Please note this [...]
Read MoreE&J Gallo E & J Gallo Winery was founded in 1933 by Ernest Gallo and Julio Gallo in Modesto, California. E & J Gallo Winery is the largest exporter of California wines. The company has been pivotal in establishing Sonoma County as one of the premier wine growing regions in the world. The two brothers [...]
Read MoreFosters Group Foster’s Group is a beer group with interests in brewing, wine-making and soft drinks. Foster’s Group is the brewer of the Foster’s Lager. Foster’s Group Limited is a publicly-listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange and is based in Melbourne, Victoria. Its wine division Beringer Blass is the 7th largest producer of wine [...]
Read MoreConstellation Brands Constellation Brands, Inc., headquartered in Victor, New York, is the largest wine company in the world with a broad portfolio of wine brands complemented by imported beer, spirits and other beverage alcohol products. The company was established in 1945 by Marvin Sands in the Finger Lakes region of New York as Canandaigua Industries [...]
Read MoreIf you cooked up a special meal that was just perfect to go with a Cab Syrah blend and you suddenly realized that you have plenty of one or the other but not both, would you blend them? Have you ever sipped straight out of the bottle when no one was looking? Is it OK [...]
Read MoreIs a hundred dollar bottle of wine really better than a five dollar bottle of wine? Maybe, but thinking your wine cost a hundred dollars can make you enjoy it more. So, if you want to make sure your in-laws love the wine, tell them it was expensive. Research from the California Institute of Technology [...]
Read MoreA very sexy edition of Grape Encounters Radio! Learn all about the aphrodisiac some wines and food from the very exciting Amy Reiley, co-author of THE LOVE DIET COOKBOOK. Amy sizzles in this episode. Later in the show we have a very spirited debate on whether screwcaps screw up the romance of an otherwise amazing wine. Dubbed “the world’s handsomest blogger,” Clive Pursehouse pleads his case convincingly on this very special edition of Grape Encounters Radio!
Read More“We may show up on google as a link to someone who liked or disliked what we put out there–and while I tend to prefer the likes, the dislikes can be rewarding too because I recognize that I am often too close to the subject and overlook things that might be significant.”
Read MoreI’m going to spend the long weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley where I hope to get a very special group of perfect strangers together to talk about possibilities. And yes, these strangers are perfect. Frankly, I am awed by the incredible people that have wandered into my life recently… Shelly, Brian, John, Wes, Keith, [...]
Read MoreHey Grape Encounters fans! This week’s episode is on the web and on iTunes Music Store, and you are going to love it!
This week, David takes issue with wine descriptions that leave consumers scratching their heads in bewilderment. So he brings renowned winemaker and wine judge Wes Hagen in to translate the verbosity of some of these absolutely silly wine descriptions. Plus, Wes lets listeners know what amazing cellar-stocking deals are going on right now.
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