Best Direct Cellars Podcasts (2024)

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176: Greg La Follette - Marchelle Wines 1:04:45

2h ago1:04:45

1:04:45

In this episode, we have a conversation with Greg La Follette of Marchelle Wines. We discuss Greg's extraordinary journey from nearly becoming a professional bagpiper and priest to becoming a celebrated winemaker renowned for his expertise in mouthfeel and Burgundian techniques. Listeners will hear the importance of patience, community support, and…

1
Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #9: Victor Schoenfeld, Head Winemaker of Golan Heights Winery! 36:56

18m ago36:56

36:56

Did you know they make award winning wines in Israel? In this special episode, we have the honor to speak with Victor Schoenfeld, Head Winemaker at Golan Heights Winery and one of the pioneers of modern winemaking in Israel. Victor shares with us his journey and how we combined his love of food and interest in agriculture into a career in wine that…

1
Getting Serious About Rosé #2: Provence Rosé! (The Rosé you probably think about when you think about Rosé) 39:15

7d ago39:15

39:15

When most people talk about Rosé wine, they are most likely referring to Provence Rosé. Most people also probably think that Provence Rosé is what all Rosé wine tastes like, but that is not true. In this latest getting serious about Rosé episode, we spend some time talking about why that is. Now, it is true that Rosé from Provence is the most popul…

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175: James McCeney - Patz & Hall Winery 1:11:44

2h ago1:11:44

1:11:44

Join me today for a look into the world of winemaking at Patz & Hall Winery in Sonoma, where tradition harmonizes with cutting-edge technology. My conversation with Patz & Hall winemaker James McCeney offers a deep dive into the meticulous cleanliness and mental preparation required for the winemaking process. Discover how innovative techniques, su…

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WTF is Agiorgitiko? (This Greek red wine is a hidden gem, a must-learn wine) 39:00

7d ago39:00

39:00

Don’t sleep on Agiorgitiko! You may not be familiar with Greek wines - or know how to pronounce them (we didn’t!) - but this is a wine that deserves to be on your must-learn list! Agiorgitiko is a hidden gem in the wine world - a versatile red that comes in different styles, goes well with tons of foods, and can be found at very reasonable prices. …

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Costco Kirkland Signature Old Vine Zinfandel Challenge! (Kirkland wines vs. similarly priced wines) 42:26

6d ago42:26

42:26

Sometimes being old is good. Aged cheddar? Check. Vintage cars? Yep. Antique furniture Fo’ Sho’! Old Vine Zinfandel? You bet your a$$. In this episode, we return to one of our much beloved Kirkland Signature Challenges, and this week we pit the Kirkland Signature Old Vine Zinfandel against similarly priced and easy to find Old Vine Zinfandels to se…

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174: Vincent Fritzsche - Vincent Wine Company 1:14:41

11d ago1:14:41

1:14:41

In this episode, we sit down with Vincent Fritzsche of Vincent Wine Company. Vincent shares his journey from California to Oregon, where he has built a unique one-man operation in the Willamette Valley, focusing on crafting high-quality Pinot Noir. Our conversation spans a range of topics, including the impact of mentorship and online wine communit…

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Great American Sparklers: 2024 Edition! (California Brut Sparkling Wines for the 4th of July - or Anytime!) 39:10

13d ago39:10

39:10

What’s more American than sparkling wine?!? Seriously, we make a lot of sparkling wine in the U.S. and we drink a lot of sparkling wine, too! And we think there is hardly anything better on warm summer afternoons and evenings than a nice glass of bubbly! Don’t save sparkling just for serious occasions. And on July 4th?!? Sparkling wine is perfectio…

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Getting Serious About Rosé #1: Pinot Noir Rosé (Choose a Rosé based on the red wines you like!) 37:59

20d ago37:59

37:59

We admit it, we have not always been fair to Rosé, but starting today, we are going to set the record straight! If you think you don’t like Rosé, it may be because you have not yet met a Rosé you like. And the key to finding a Rosé you like is to start with a red wine you like and then finding a Rosé made from that wine. Because, afterall, Rosé is …

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173: Guillaume Large - Resonance Wines 1:10:36

25d ago1:10:36

1:10:36

In this episode, Guillaume Large from Resonance Winery takes us on an oenological journey to discover the Willamette Valley in Oregon, where tradition and modernity. Sharing his experience from his early days in Burgundy to the making of wines in the United States, Guillaume discusses the evolution of winemaking methods and the search for balance b…

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Italian Wine Adventure #12: Dolcetto! (Similar to Gamay, the Sommelier’s secret weapon) 46:05

27d ago46:05

46:05

From the great wine region of Piedmont, Italy comes the red wine called Dolcetto, which means “little sweet one” - but don’t be fooled, this is not a sweet wine, although it is a red wine with flavors and aromas of crunchy red fruit. In our latest Italian Wine Adventure, we travel back to one of our favorite wine areas to see if Dolcetto should be …

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Malbec: The Ultimate Summer Cookout Wine! (A lush, fruity, inexpensive crowd-pleaser) 40:58

1M ago40:58

40:58

Summer is here, and that means cookouts with family and friends! If you are wondering what kind of wine would be a crowd-pleaser and pair well with food and fun, we have the perfect answer: Malbec! This juicy, well-balanced wine from Argentina is an inexpensive wine that doesn’t taste or drink like it's inexpensive. You may ask why would a wine fro…

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172: Viticulture Q&A II with Fritz Westover 1:02:28

2M ago1:02:28

1:02:28

In this episode, we have a conversation with viticulture specialist Fritz Westover. He shares his knowledge of vineyard management, focusing on cane pruning and shoot management methods. We discuss the significance of fruit drop timing, approaches to prevent powdery mildew and the advantages of maintaining a sustainable vineyard floor. We also go o…

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Minisode #13: Help! I Don’t Know How to Love White Wine! (Use the B-FAST method to learn to love White Wine) 17:58

1M ago17:58

17:58

We introduce you to the B-FAST method in this minisode so you can become a white wine lover. What’s that you say, you’ve never heard of the B-FAST method? Well, that’s because it is a Wine Pair Podcast original! To love a thing, you have to learn about a thing, and you have to spend time with a thing. You can’t just go with your first impression! Y…

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Minisode #12: What Are the Noble Grapes? (And Why Should You Care?) 14:17

2M ago14:17

14:17

When it comes to wine grapes, it’s ok to play the field, but it is a good idea to get to know the Noble Grapes. And the good news is - you may already be really familiar with them. That’s because many of the most popular wines and wine blends, both red and white, are often made of these grapes. But what makes them Noble? We’ll tell you! And does th…

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171: Jesse Fox - Sequoia Grove Winery 1:24:41

2M ago1:24:41

1:24:41

In this episode, we journey with Jesse Fox, a former small-town chef who followed his passion all the way to becoming a master winemaker in Napa Valley. From his humble beginnings in his mother's kitchen to the hallowed educational halls of Cornell and the culinary scenes of Paris and New York, Jesse's story is one of transformation and tenacity. L…

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Special Episode! Meet the (Wine) Makers #8: Jennie Murphy of Oxlee Graham Wines! (From forensics to wine making, being a woman in the wine industry 41:57

2M ago41:57

41:57

Jennie Murphy is, like her grandmothers who she named her winery after, a tough, resilient, and determined woman. After losing her home in the 2017 wine country fires, she started to seriously think about starting her own winery. We learned a ton about the winemaking world in our conversation with her - things that the average wine drinker never th…

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WTF is White Grenache? (AKA Garnatxa Blanca and Grenache Blanc, an underrated white wine, an alternative for Chardonnay lovers, a good summer wine) 38:48

2M ago38:48

38:48

Yes, it’s true, they make Grenache is white as well as red! And it’s a great summer wine! Popular in the Catalonia area of Spain where it is known as Garnatxa Blanca, and in the Rhône area of France where it is often used as a blending grape and known as Grenache Blanc, White Grenache is a tasty, complex, and food friendly white wine that deserves …

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170: Russell Bevan – Bevan Cellars and Adversity Cellars 1:09:23

2M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

Listen in for the secrets of winemaking and the stories behind the vines in our latest episode with Rusell Bevan of Bevan Cellars and Adversity Cellars. Russell recounts his journey into the heart of the industry, proving that passion and self-education can create extraordinary success. In this episode, we discuss the meticulous processes defining …

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Spain’s Answer to Champagne: Cava! (A step up from Prosecco at a similar price) 42:17

2M ago42:17

42:17

A 10 point wine in this episode! If you want a higher-class alternative to Prosecco at the same price point, then Cava is your wine. Cava is an underrated sparkling wine from Spain that is made in the same way as Champagne, but at a fraction of the cost. Cava is unique among sparkling wines - it is made with native Spanish grapes like Macabeo, Xare…

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WTF is Txakoli? (Fizzy, fruity, and fun dry white wine from Spain, aka Txakolina) 43:17

3M ago43:17

43:17

It may be hard to pronounce and spell, but is it ever easy to drink! In this episode, we introduce you to a fun, quaffable, and not so serious wine called Txakoli which hails from the Basque region of Spain. Sometimes also called Txakolina, this slightly fizzy white wine is a perfect summer sipper. While tasting it, we had visions of sitting by the…

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169: Avery Heelan - Larkmead Vineyards 56:27

3M ago56:27

56:27

In this episode, Avery Heelan, the talented winemaker at Larkmead Vineyards, shares her personal voyage from the pharmaceutical industry to the heart of Napa Valley's viticulture scene. Listen in as she recounts the challenges and growth she experienced while transitioning to a career that aligns with her passion. Our conversation takes a worldly t…

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Costco Kirkland Signature 2019 Rioja Reserva Challenge! (A punch-you-in-the-face wine, perfect base for Sangria, for Cab Sauv lovers) 43:22

3M ago43:22

43:22

Rioja is the big dog of Spanish wines, but the question on everyone’s lips is - how does the Costco Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva stack up to other Riojas? Amiright?!? Well, without giving it away, we’re here to tell you that the Kirkland Signature Rioja is a worthy contender! But did it win in a knockout, or was it a draw? You’ll have to listen…

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Spain’s Hidden Gem: Priorat! (One of the great wines of Spain, Grenache-based red wine) 38:16

3M ago38:16

38:16

When we say hidden gem, we are not kidding! When people think of Spanish red wines, they immediately think of Rioja, but don’t sleep on Priorat. Hailing from the Catalonia area of Spain, Priorat is a Grenache-based red wine blend that completely blew away our expectations! Rich, complex, and oh so drinkable, this is a wine that deserves a lot more …

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168: Viticulture Q&A with Fritz Westover 1:02:06

4M ago1:02:06

1:02:06

Join me as I bring back viticulturist Fritz Westover to unpack questions from our dedicated Inside Winemaking community. Listen in as we discuss the intricacies of vineyard management, sustaining vineyard health and productivity over time, and the crucial steps involved in preparing a vineyard for replanting, with a particular focus on the nuances …

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High QPR Pinot Noir #4! (How the American wine palate has been programmed by big wine, Pinot is a polarizing wine) 43:30

3M ago43:30

43:30

Pinot Noir can be a polarizing wine - some people love it, and some people just don’t get it. We think that happens for a few reasons. First, most wine drinkers have been trained to think that wines are supposed to taste like Cabernet Sauvignon - big, fruit forward, high in alcohol, and very tannic. Which is just not what a great Pinot tastes like.…

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Wallet-Friendly Wine Reviews: Two Buck Chuck and More! (Reviewing wines under $5, cheap Cabernet Sauvignon, some pleasant and unpleasant surprises) 43:35

3M ago43:35

43:35

Believe it or not, 73% of the wine purchased in the United States is sold for less than $8. So, there are a LOT of people drinking those wines! But they don’t often get reviews, and so we thought we would take some time to taste and review some value wines to see just how different they are from slightly more expensive wines. The results: one of th…

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167: Josh Phelps - Grounded Wine Co 47:25

4M ago47:25

47:25

Join us as we explore the life of Josh Phelps, a seasoned player in the wine industry, from his roots in restaurant work to the strategic cultivation of his winemaking empire. Listen in as Josh recounts his time at Kimberly Jones Selections where he honed his skills in sales and faced the tough skin-building challenge of rejection, and shares how h…

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Bordeaux Bargains #1! (Haut-Médoc and Graves, Left Bank, why Bordeaux wines are so tricky to understand) 48:30

4M ago48:30

48:30

Bordeaux is home to some of the most famous - and most expensive - wines in the world. But can you find a great wine at a great price?!? You can!!! There is no reason to spend more than $20 a bottle to find highly rated and very enjoyable wines from this classic region. In this episode, we focus on Left Bank wines, and we bring that up because Bord…

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WTF is Muscadet? (Melon de Bourgogne, the Sur Lie method, batonnage, the ultimate fish wine, the best French white wine under $20?) 41:50

4M ago41:50

41:50

If you’re like us, French wines can feel so confusing - and that’s exactly why we do these WTF episodes! This week, we dive into a great French white wine called Muscadet, which is not to be confused with Muscat or Moscato (which are, by the way, the same thing). Muscadet is a wine made in the Loire Valley from the grape Melon de Bourgogne - and th…

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166: Shawn Johnson - Amulet Estate 56:28

5M ago56:28

56:28

I recently sat down with Shawn Johnson of Amulet Estate, who shared the revolution in winemaking processes brought by innovative software and fermentation techniques. His story intertwines with mine as I recall my years learning the winemaking craft from mentors like Mark Harold and the brilliant minds at Nicholson Ranch. Come with us behind the sc…

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Italian Wine Adventure #11: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo! (An underrated and underappreciated Italian beauty, the ultimate cookout wine) 43:04

4M ago43:04

43:04

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is an easy wine to overlook. It is inexpensive, easy to find, and does not have the cachet that a Chianti or Barolo or Amarone has. But we are here to tell you that you should take a second look at this underappreciated and underrated Italian wine! In this episode, we tasted and reviewed three easy to find and reasonably pri…

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How Good Are Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Wines? (TJ’s is a great, inexpensive place to expand your wine horizons, is high-end cheap worth the price?) 48:29

5M ago48:29

48:29

Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve wines are meant to compare with wines twice their price, and are said to be top wines from top winemakers in some of the most prestigious wine-growing regions, but just how good are they really? We seek to answer that question to save you time and money. In this episode, we try three different Platinum Reserve wines fr…

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165: Dan Limoges - Limoges Cellars 1:04:38

5M ago1:04:38

1:04:38

Listen in as I sit down with Dan Limoges, a winemaker and grape grower from North Georgia who has truly immersed himself in the craft. Dan shares the narrative of his transition from Iowa to the wine-laden landscapes of Georgia, where he and his wife have established Limoges Cellars. His passion for the vine-to-bottle process is evident as we talk …

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WTF is Pinotage? (And WTF is Coffee Pinotage? South Africa’s signature wine) 44:59

5M ago44:59

44:59

Ok, let’s be honest. Pinotage is a TRIP. It is like no other wine we have ever had before, and is flat out an experience that you have to try. You may not love it, or even like it, but you have to try it. Especially the Coffee Pinotage which in and of itself is an adventure (and is really a thing)! Pinotage is a wine that was invented in South Afri…

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Costco Kirkland Signature Pinot Noir Challenge! (The pros and cons of Costco’s wine selection, why few experts review Costco wines, Kirkland Signature Russian River Pinot Noir review) 44:59

5M ago44:59

44:59

Costco sells a TON of wine, but finding expert reviews of their Kirkland Signature wines can be very tricky. We are happy to help fill that void! Find out why few wine reviewers bother to review Costco Kirkland Signature wines, and where you can find some pretty reliable reviews for those wines. But, most importantly, find out what we think of the …

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164: Fritz Westover - Westover Vineyard Advising and Virtual Viticulture Academy 1:00:59

6M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Join the conversation with viticulturist Fritz Westover and discover the alchemy of grape growing in climates that challenge even the most seasoned growers. From the humble Pennsylvania plant lover to an acclaimed viticulturist, Fritz unpacks his storied journey and the problems faced by vineyards far from Napa Valley. Learn how Fritz helps vineyar…

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