Episode 190: Smokin’ Hot Burning Wine Question Edition
This episode is all about answering questions you all have sent in about everything from how this podcast got started, finding (or starting) a tasting group, and ideas for new tasting room attendants. Wino Radar gives way to a Whiskey Radar, and we draw the November winner for a WTSO gift card.
This is a hot one. Not only are we creeping up on our 200th episode, we decided to take some time to answer your burning wine questions.
In the Glasses (1:27)
Steph (1:04)
Steph is double fisting it today with two drinks. Because it’s her birthday. Anyone have a problem with that? Didn’t think so.
1978 Sempe’ Armagnac
AND
Kir Royale w/ creme de cassis & Kirkland Champagne
Hot Tip! Chill the creme de cassis in the fridge before mixing it up, or it warms up your champers.
Val (3:00)
Murray Hill Club blended bourbon from Jos. A. Magnus & Co.
Burning Wine Questions (5:32)
We answer the following questions from you guys. Hey, you asked!
Once upon a conference call
Lee from OffTheVinePR.com asked in a Speakpipe message, quite a while back actually, “How did you guys get together in the first place?”
Podcast time in a bottle (sometimes literally) (12:10)
Christine’s question from the FaceBook Community page asks, “How long does it take to produce an episode?”
All in good taste (16:07)
Nadine asks, via FaceBook, “What are some tips for new wine tasting room attendants? Dos and not to dos?”
We had some thoughts on this from a different perspective since neither of us is employed in a tasting room. So why we felt the need to pontificate on this for 10 minutes is interesting.
While we aren’t sure we were much help on this, we can offer some entertaining “embarrassing tasting room stories” we found that were gathered form Kathrerine Cole of The Four Top podcast and courtesy of Seven Fifty Daily:
Taste what you are missing? (26:30)
(Side note: this is the title of a great book by Barb Stuckey that we highly recommend.)
Jerry sent us the following email:
“New listener here- about 3 months or so- and thoroughly enjoying having you ladies in my ear on long car rides because I’m a pharma sales rep with three states/areas as my territory (MD, VA, and DC)! I am wondering how do I find a tasting group to join without needing to be sitting for an exam? I’ve scoured the internet and really haven’t found much. I’m interested in one that focuses on learning the wine and regions, so I don’t know that necessarily getting a group on my friends together is the best idea. Thank you for any help in advance! Best.”
Syrah/Shiraz/What’s the deal? (34:19)
From Antti on Twitter – “Not really a burning wine question kind of person; When it comes to tasting Syrah / Shiraz Blends there is such a large symphony playing that trying to deconstruct all the nuances can be daunting, although extremely enjoyable. Probably not the only listener in this predicament. Wine vs. Winemaker! That is the question: Grape vs. technique! No mistaking, Syrah, but with blends, there is something complex & wonderful on the finish. What, Why, How? Not every Maestro or symphony can take you there, you desire an encore, or at least something coextensive.”
Ooh – should we do a Syrah/Shiraz grape gab in 2019? Because we could get super-cerebral on this. We also think Antti should come play, if he would like, and take this discussion further.
Steph and Val in a glass? (37:18)
We close out this edition with a more recent question to ponder from Lee from OffTheVinePR.com.
(Text: “If you could only drink one varietal of wine for the rest of your days, which would it be? Cheers!”)
This is actually something that everyone else is probably now thinking about – if so, let us know!
OR if there is a grape or wine that describes YOU, we’d love to hear about it!
Wino Radar: (41:08)
WOTVS Global Symposium
The next symposium is March 11-13, 2019 in Napa, and is only open to members now because it is a sell-out event every year. General registration opens January 22nd to members. The link below has more details – guest speakers, agenda, and membership.
Wine Media Conference (41:50)
The Wine Bloggers Conference is now the Wine Media Conference and will be October 10-12, 2019 in Hunter Valley, Australia.
The Return of Red Spot (42:30)
OK, it’s a Whiskey Radar.
It’s baaaacck! We mentioned it back in Episode 83 when Val got (a wee bit) excited over a new bottle of Yellow Spot & what the different “spots” meant in terms of aging.
Whiskycast podcast tasting notes https://whiskycast.com/ratings/red-spot/ and Episode 740 are worth a read/listen.
Check out this super-cool Whisky.com article on Red Spot!
Big Shoutouts!
Please send big ol’ honkin’ Happy 40th Birthday to your hot co-host, Stephanie (Steph) Davis!
WTSO is our Podcast Sponsor (45:43)
Cheers to our Show Sponsor, Wines ‘Til Sold Out (WTSO)! Steph shares her recent experience in corporate gifting. The level of service and quality of presentation, not to mention the unsolicited raves from the recipients, were unparalleled.
Our listeners have their very own listener page at: weeklytasting.com/W25 to sign up and get started!
Or just click on the WTSO logo on the top right of this web page.
Follow them on Instagram, FaceBook, and Twitter and see what’s new and good!
Big Patreon Love (46:50)
Thank you to our patrons who support us on our Patreon crowdfunding platform!
*We do read all the names on the show, and feature the list on our Support page.*
The winner is … (48:25)
This month’s drawing will receive a $25 gift certificate to WTSO, our generous sponsor. Or for anyone outside the US or in the following states: AZ, AK, AR, AL, KY, MI, SD, UT, you will get WTSO/Weekly Tasting Swag – hat, Tshirt, wine carrier, wine opener, bottle stoppers or other cool stuff!
Congratulations … David D.!
Connect (49:46)
Between each weekly chat you can find us on the social spaces @WineTwoFive, and play in our private FaceBook group called Wine Two Five Community!
Connect with Val on Twitter @WineGalUnboxed and everywhere else as @VinoWithVal.
Steph is in all the social spaces as @TheWineHeroine.
You can also find us on the My Wine Society App. There are also channels on travel, wellness, events, wineries and more.
