Episode #278 – Wine Spectator’s Top 100: One-on-One with Executive Editor Thomas Matthews. A Must-Listen Episode!

Plus, Prisoner Pickers, Latest Wine News and Turkey Day Pairing!

The wine world has been abuzz this week with Wine Spectator releasing their list of Top 100 wines of 2014. This is one of the most hotly-anticipated events each year. Well, you may be able to read about it a lot of places, but on Grape Encounters, you’ll actually get to hear David go into detail about the announcement with Thomas Matthews, Executive Editor of Wine Spectator Magazine. Join David as he takes you well beyond the printed page.

Next, everyone has heard of the popular wine, The Prisoner, but on this week’s show, “prisoner” means something quite different to David’s guest Martha Barra, of Barra of Mendocino Winery. Believe it or not, this iconic winery is using prison labor to pick their grapes—and the resulting wines are so good, you’ll want to keep them under lock and key! You’ll definitely want to ESCAPE to beautiful Mendocino Wine Country!

Martha Barra of Barra of Mendocino Winery

In Wine News with Senior Wine News Correspondent Larry Gifford, we learn about a controversy developing in upstate New York, where “fracked” gas from Pennsylvania is being stored in caves which could present a very real threat to the region’s wine industry and tourism. In other news; Eight CA winemakers nearly had their liquor licenses suspended from a seemingly innocent re-tweet, a new indestructible suitcase to transport wine, and Red Robin new sensation, the “Divalicious Red Wine Shake”.

Finally, if you need some pairing suggestions for the Turkey Day table, David’s got plenty of ideas for you!

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