David visits the Wente Vineyard in Livermore, CA, the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery, founded in 1883. They are celebrating their 135th anniversary, and David talks with the “first family of Chardonnay,” Phil, Niki and Karl Wente about their family history, and the celebrated “Wente clone” that is prevalent in CA Chardonnay. Also, next […]
Uncommon wine knowledge… There are no stupid questions when it comes to wine. The thing is, the questions most people are asking may not give you the knowledge you really need when it comes to wine. That’s why we invited world-renowned winemaker Adam LaZarre into the studio to tackle a few questions that we think […]
David talks with David Hunt of Hunt Cellars, a winemaker, author, musician, lyracist and inventor. David lost his sight in his forties, and it hasn’t stopped him from making the most of each and every day. David (Hunt) believes that his “inner vision that can see a God-made world, not a man-made world.” David shares […]
David talks aspects of the importance of wine branding and marketing, and the experience of wine judging at competitions. Download this episode
Continuing the exploration of Bordeaux, David visits with Bruno Mottet, Executive Director of Chateau la France, a beautiful chateau with vineyards, a bed & breakfast and a 20-meter stainless steel rooster who watches over the grapes. An estate of great name since the XVIIth century, Château La France is one of the largest estates in […]
David talks with Lucas Puente, Chief Economist at Thumbtack, a service that matches up consumers and service providers, from bartenders & event help to house painting and personal training. Thumbtack looked at which cities know how to throw the classiest parties by examining which cities are most likely to have a professional bartender at their […]
David talks with one of our most favorite somms, Christopher Sawyer, “the Sommelier to the Stars,” all about The World of Pinot Noir event, and why it’s ok for you to like, or not-like, different varietals… including Pinot! Follow Chris’s events and blog at: http://sawyersomm.com/ Download this episode
In a new edition of David’s “You Too, Can Be A Winemaker,” David talks with Erin Faulkner of Defiance Vineyard in the Paso Robles wine region, about her family’s journey into winemaking, and their methods of learning the grape-growing and winemaking industries. Their Cabernet Sauvignon really “wow’ed” David, and they have a fascinating story, still […]
On this week’s Grape Encounters, meet Charn Rai, the inventor of a device that host David Wilson says is a “landmark innovation.” (Interview starts at 18:30 in the podcast.) This brand-new wine aeration product is a game-changer… just as the Coravin was a few years back. After putting it through its paces, David says, “It’s […]
Each year, Wine Enthusiast Magazine chooses ten destinations that are all about maximum wine enjoyment and, this year, there are some very big surprises on that list. Joining David on the show are two of Wine Enthusiast’s finest; Editor Susan Kostrzewa and Contributing Editor Matt Kettmann, who covers the Central Coast and San Luis Obispo County beat.
Host David Wilson welcomes guest Chris Kern of Forgotten Grapes; a wine entrepreneur talks about artisan wine making compared to wine as a product. Second guest, Amy Riley, an expert on aphrodisiacs, introduces her latest cookbook, Eat Cake Naked.
David talks with MIKE DeSIMONE and JEFF JENSSEN, also known as the World Wine Guys, who are wine, spirits, food, and travel writers, educators, and hosts. They are award-winning journalists as well as best-selling and award-winning authors. They have been featured guests on the TODAY Show, The Martha Stewart Show, Better TV, and the CBS, […]
David talks with photographer Julia Perez who, along with legendary California wine writer Paul Hodgins, created “The Winemakers of Paso Robles”, a large format, full-color book, lovingly crafted and designed to take you beyond the cellar door, deep into the art and science of making the finest wines in the world, and celebrating the men […]
It wasn’t that long ago that Grape Encounters host David Wilson would cringe at the idea of putting fine wine in a can, in fact, there are many past episodes of Grape Encounters where David literally rants about the thought of doing such a vile thing. Well, sometimes it takes a respected colleague to get […]
This is host David Wilson’s favorite time of the ear because it’s when the top wine publications release their top 100 wine lists for the year. On this episode of Grape Encounters, David is thrilled to sift through the list released by Wine Spectator magazine with Senior Editor Bruce Sanderson. This list features wines that […]
“Winter White, Holiday Red or something else instead” David shares ideas on how to get the most out of your holiday wine and food pairings. When fall rolls in, our taste in wine changes gradually, but before too long, the whites are all but gone and the heartier reds take their place. The exceptions are […]
Meet Blakesley Chappellet, Author of Napa Valley Entertaining If you think Napa Valley Wines are amazing, you should see how the vintners of America’s premiere wine region party! The term “Napa Style” can often be heard in conjunction with entertaining, decorating and even dressing in a way that reflects the nature of the legendary valley. […]
Continuing the exploration of Bordeaux, David visits with Bruno Mottet, Executive Director of Chateau la France, a beautiful chateau with vineyards, a bed & breakfast and a 20-meter stainless steel rooster who watches over the grapes. An estate of great name since the XVIIth century, Château La France is one of the largest estates in […]
From one of the first wineries to be declared lost to the fire, David talks with Katrina Frey of Frey Vineyards in Redwood Valley about the effects, losses and plans for recovery from the devastating wildfires. Frey Vineyards is America’s first organic and biodynamic winery producing award-winning vegan, gluten-free wines with no added sulfites since […]
David talks with Chris Sawyer [Sommelier to the Stars) and Jeff Davis of KSRO about the effects of the wildfires in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and other northern counties. Download this episode
Genome – vinome? Grape Encounters host David Wilson has long insisted that our taste in wine is no simple accident. For years, David has been noting the relationship between things we love (and hate) in our everyday world and our preferences in wine. David frequently asks listeners to tell him their preferences in music, film, […]
Well, it wasn’t all that long ago that wines with screw cap enclosures began to flood wine stores in a very big way. Most fine wine drinkers resisted the trend for a while but, in the end, boycotting the metal cap meant missing out on some very good wines with natural corks. Today, things are […]
Leading up to Winesong 2017, this week’s show features two top participants from the remarkable Anderson Valley. First up is Zac Robinson of Husch Vineyards. Husch was founded in 1971 and is the oldest winery in the Valley. The vineyards are comprised of some of the earliest varietal plantings on the valley floor. In 1967 […]
Erich Fleck, Head Cider Maker at Bristols Cider House came to the Cider business by way of the wine business. The funny thing is, Erich quickly learned that there are more similarities than differences between making cider and making wine. If ever there was a crash course in Cider making, and its similarities to wine […]
We’ve asked world-renowned winemaker Adam Lazarre to tackle a few questions that we think will boost your wine knowledge. Also on the show is William Carter, former Playboy Mansion chef. Find out why he’s making big news!
