Episode 90: Dinner is Poured – Wine Two Five 2016 Wrap-Up

Posted onAuthorWine Two Five Podcast

In our last episode of the year we wrap up with listener favorites, highlights, and some of the not-so-shining “oopsie” moments. Let’s celebrate the end of a full and fabulous year of wine edu-tainment, guests, factoids and follies with the Wine Two Five Podcast! We hope you’ll pour a glass, sit back and giggle along as we look forward to a fun-filled, wine-soaked 2017!

In our glasses:

Val:  “This is a Southern Rhone cru, Rasteau, by Lavau. It’s a 2013 red wine, and blend of 50% Syrah & Grenache. Interesting note, this has only been an AOC or appellation for dry red wine since 2009. Between the Lirac, Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Rasteau, I’d have to say these are some super quality wine values and are my go-to wines in terms of the pleasure they lay on my palate. They are moderately complex, generous with fruit, herbs, spice, body and structure, perfect food wines, and many are around the $20 price point.”

Steph: “Averna Amaro Siciliano, thanks to my friend Gina! We gabbed about bitters and aromatized wines back in episodes 20 and 21.”

Discussion Topic:  2016 W25 Highlights and Bloopers Reel

First, what were the listener favorites? As of this week, this is what you are listening to the most:

Steph’s Highlights:

  1. “Meeting 2 of our 2016 guests, Massimo Coppetti (Episode 40) and Katarina Anderssen (Episdoe 62), in person when I was in Italy.
  2. “Karen MacNeil (Episode 66) and Eric Asimov’s (Episode 72) interviews still give me goose bumps.
  3. “Launching our Patreon crowdfunding platform and within hours getting financial support from our listeners!
  4. “Creating our first W25 swag with govino! Thanks, Joseph Perrulli
  5. “Best of all is the face time I get with Val on a weekly basis. Actually, the face time on Skype is second to our time together in FoCo, Springs, Denver, Boulder, Wine Camp in D.C. – did I miss any? And congratulations again, Val, on earning your WSET Diploma this year!”

Val’s Highlights:

  1. “Getting to know some of our listeners, having conversations with them online and even in person! Watching our community grow and seeing our listeners even connect with each other.
  2. “Our #W25Challenge sipping challenge for 2016. I think it’s cool that people are still looking for new things to try and getting an opportunity to come on the show and share what they are learning.
  3. “Being able to converse with, literally, legends in the wine industry this year! From our talks with writers like Karen MacNeil & Eric Asimov to Banfi (Sharon McCarthy) & Grgich (Violet Grgich) winery giants taking time to share their love and enthusiasm for what they do, how they got where they are, and why they love what they do.
  4. “Finishing that diploma in 18 months was a highlight for sure. It’s really great to be able to focus on other things, like our growing podcast!
  5. “I also have to say that trying to stay focused on the fun and not getting tied up in stats checking has been a joy. Steph and I have a blast not only creating content, but now are responding to listeners, interacting with them, and not just talking to ourselves. That said, Steph & I get to have some great chats and truly do enjoy talking to each other. I do live for Skype or live time with The Wine Herione. Cheers, sister.”

Factoid:

Michigan wines:  Did you know there are 5 AVAs in the state? It also ranks 10th in US wine production. The most recent AVA, Tip of the Mitt, was approved this year in August 2016. AND the most widely planted grape is Riesling.

Shout Outs:

To all our 2016 guests on the podcast, we Thank YOU! What an honor to have 23 different, amazing and talented people on our show.

Patreon Love:

We are so grateful for our supporters who are helping us work toward our goal of taking the Wine Two Five Podcast to the next level with your generous support! Thank you:

“TENacious Tasters”:

Jeff E from the hilarious drinking show, We Like Drinking

“It’s not five o’clock and we don’t care” listeners: Thank you:

  • Meg from South Dakota!
  • Clay from Arizona!
  • Jon in California!
  • Andrew in Illinois!
  • Michelle in Nevada!
  • Our newest supporter is Aswani in California – welcome!

A little bit about Aswani: 
Aswani is an Engineer by profession and passionate about food and more importantly, wine. She fell in love with wine several years ago and  spends her free time learning about wine. She passed the CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) and CMS (Court of Masters Sommeliers) – Level 1 in 2016. In addition to food and wine, She loves traveling and reading books. Aswani can be reached at @a_swan_i on instagram where she posts photos of wine, food and travel. She also blogs about random things on www.lifestylediaries.com.”

We are so happy she’s joined the pack of Patreon supporters. Thank you all for being a vital part of the W25 listening and sipping community!

There is also a new promotion for a monthly giveaway for all Patreon supporters at the $2/month Tastemaker Listener level and higher. Check it out at www.patreon.com/winetwofivepodcast

Share the Love:

If you love Wine Two Five then share it with the wine lovers in your life. Give the gift of wine edu-tainment. For everyone’s listening pleasure, whether IOS or Android, we are also on iHeartRadio!

We are also accepting gifts in the form of  burning wine questions or comments on speakpipe. iTunes love is always appreciated in the form of a glowing iTunes review as well.

Come play with us on our FB page, Twitter, Pinterest & YouTube, Google+ spaces if you’d like. Also, you can build your collection of wine books & accessories at our online store also located on our website!

Connect with Val on Twitter @WineGalUnboxed and as Vino With Val on FB and on instagram.

Steph is on Twitter @Albarellosoap and on the AlbarelloSoap FB page, and check out the videos on the Albarello YouTube channel! Steph is also on instagram as the Wine Heroine.

We wish you a Happy New year and look forward to sipping with you in 2017. Now, we invite you to sit back, pour a glass, and kick 2016 out the back door by enjoying some of our bloopers & outtakes: