We are back behind the mic with some mid-day beverages and fun, new exciting W25 things to chatter about. There are tasty tidbits about up-and-coming wine regions, truffle vodka, and a silly WinoRadar discussion regarding bitter food and drink choices. Steph and Val also have a special announcement, and we are serving up a cocktail of learning, laughs and a large pour of love fest this week.
In our glasses:
Val: Southampton Publick House Pumpkin Ale, Long Island, New York.
Steph: Vermouth del Professore – an Italian aperitif inspired by an ancient Piedmont recipe. It even has a bottle number! 3286/10,000 The label is way cool, so natural
ly, last week I was extra dorky and threw some Prisma app at it and uploaded the daddy to Instagram. I’ve been enjoying this vermouth so much that I think it might become a new Davis House staple.
Discussion Topic
Steph: “How was your road trip through Walla Walla and Idaho?”
Val: “So I checked out the tasting room at College Cellars. You know what that is? It’s part of Walla Walla Community College’s Enology and Viticulture program. The students do everything from managing the vines to making the wine and running the tasting room! I ran into some of the first and second year students, Eli, Sam, Cheryl, Anna, and Devyani picked up some bottles of their wine and even got to chat with some of the students. Interestingly enough all of them came from other careers to get to the wine world … just like us!”
FACTOID:
Steph: “Val, do you have some some Idaho goodies?”
Val: “Yes! Brought you back some Chenin Blanc! They have three American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). The first was in 2007 and is shared with Oregon called the Snake River Valley. Their second AVA was approved in 2015 and is called Eagle Foothills (a sub AVA of Snake River Valley). The third is brand new as of May of this year and is shared with Washington state. It’s called the Lewis-Clark Valley and is almost ¾ in Northern Idaho. Interestingly enough it’s named for two cities that face each other, also along the Snake River, called Lewiston in Idaho and Clarkston in Washington.
“Bottom line: they make some banging wines with Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Malbec, Cabernet, Chardonnay and Petite Syrah. They have over 50 wineries and 1600+ acres of vitis vinifera vine acreage as well as a wide range of styles from sparkling to still to dry to sweet.
“The sister winery to Gruet is actually Ste. Chappelle (both are owned by Precept Wine in Seattle) in Caldwell, Idaho and I had the pleasure of visiting them and tasting some fabulous wines at great prices. It is Idaho’s largest winery and oldest, founded waaaayyy back in 1975. In 2015 it was one of the Daily Meal’s top 100 wineries in the US.”
WINORADAR:
Steph: “There’s a truffle vodka out there, called Black Moth! Val and I saw it in the Tasting Panel Magazine. However, it is not available in the USA yet. When you find it, it is supposedly great in Bloody Marys or martinis. Go crazy with it! http://blackmothvodka.com/flash.php”
Val: “And this: My friends posted this, one is a gin collector. And maybe she is a psychopath, as, apparently, are we. Here’s the gist: http://thetab.com/uk/2016/09/05/experts-say-gin-lovers-probably-psychopaths-17675. Not sure what kind of gin they are drinking that’s bitter, but we both love actual bitters or amari. So … we’re potential psychopaths? I think this is hilarious and would like to get listener take on this.”
PATREON!
We jumped the shark and not only created our very own Patreon page. There are different donation levels for our engaged and enthusiastic listeners or show sponsors to take advantage of. Within hours we had our first patron!
- Patreon Love
Meg Hansen: It’s Not Five O’Clock and she doesn’t care! We would love a pic of you for the blog, and we have some W25 logo gear in production of which you will be the first recipient!
Why Patreon: Guys, the show is growing, and we are investing some serious financial and time resources into the show. This helps keep the show fresh with great quality content and helps pay for any new equipment, software, registration fees, samples, shipping and even a reinvestment in some much requested logo gear…coming soon!
Investments in our show are evidence that you get it, you value our content and our mission, just as we value you and the community you are helping to create. We’re seeing friendships form between wine lovers all over the world and couldn’t be more excited about this next step in our podcasting journey! Just go to https://www.patreon.com/winetwofivepodcast and find a level of support that works for you, even if it’s $1 every month!
SHOUTOUTS:
- Listener Love & #W25Challenge goodness
Michelle Miller in Reno: “My wine camp friends, Stephanie and Valerie have an awesome wine podcast, Wine-Two-Five …who knew? Well now I have been binge listening since I have returned. These girls are just simply fabulous! It is a great way to spend some time learning, sipping and listening to my favorite topic, Wine! They are very knowledgeable, fun and entertaining, I encourage everyone that is interested in wine to give them a try. So with this post I am participating in their #W25Challange. I had this amazing dessert wine the other night. It was a Passito di Pantelleria DOC from Sicily. The grape is Zibibbo AKA Muscat of Alexandria. It had notes of white peach and fig. It was very similar to a Tawny Port but with a much smoother finish, I just loved it. Now I need a bottle. Have you ladies had this? – Cheers.” Incidentally, this is one of Val’s favourite dessert wines! Follow Michelle on Instagram as @Reno_Wine
Val’s friend Kate B. in Germany sent this message on the book of face today: “…I am digging your wine to five podcasts! Went back to the beginning last week. Really liked the wine on vacation episode! Loved your advice about what you should do in the restaurant too … your podcast is witty and educational. I crack up just reading the titles! Like I mentioned before your episode (2 I think) where you explain how to taste a wine when you are out at a restaurant…that is always one of those “am I doing this right?” moments I have. You two make wine approachable and comfortable…thank you!”
Connect with Val on Twitter @WineGalUnboxed and on the Vino With Val FB page, and on instagram as Vino with Val.
You can find Steph on Twitter @Albarellosoap and on the AlbarelloSoap FB page, and check out the videos on the Albarello YouTube channel!
Steph: Please visit us on our FB page, Twitter, Pinterest & YouTube, Google+. Also, if you want to build your collection of wine books or accessories – please check out the online store also located on our website!
We hope that you’ll share Wine Two Five with your friends and online community, and we certainly appreciate all your involvement and feedback. Leave us a burning wine question or comment on speakpipe and while you’re at it, go out to iTunes and show us some love there in the form of a glowing iTunes review so other wine lovers can discover our fun W25 community. We are also on iHeartRadio!
One more thing … don’t forget to use the #W25Challenge when you are trying new wines and drinks to win an opportunity to co-host the show with us. Until next week …. Cheers!