Exploring Corsica’s wines, history, and grapes, as well as some fun facts, including an exciting archeological wine find! Resources from this episode: Books: French Wine Scholar Study Manual, 5th Edition, Wine Scholar Guild (2015) Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition, Robinson, J., Harding, J. (2015) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours, Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013) Websites: Ancient Origins: Rare Etruscan Tomb...

Exploring Malta’s wines, the history, grapes, and styles. And what’s the bird got to do with any of it? Resources from this episode: Books: Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition, Robinson, J., Harding, J. (2015) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours, Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013) Websites: Around the World in 80 Harvests: Heroic Viticuluture and Wines from Malta and Gozo, Barnes, A. (3 December 2020) ...

While your host continues to heal from a recent illness, please enjoy this primer on why we see crosses from the Knights Templar and the Order of Malta on wine bottles to this day. GIS will be back in November with a new episode in the "booze from islands" series on the wines of ... you guessed it ... Malta! Thank you all for your healing thoughts & good wishes. Val What do popes, kings, and holy wars have to do with wine? Religious orders dating back to medieval times are still...

To stay with the "wine from islands" theme, we're re-releasing the Cyprus episode, as your host is unable to record for a couple of weeks due to health reasons. Wines of Cyprus, grapes, history, a little geography, culminating in a discussion about one of the oldest branded wines in the world, Commandaria. Resources from this episode: Books: Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viticulture (Princeton Science Library Book 76) [Kindle Version], McGovern, P. (2003) Oxford Companion...

Exploring the Curaçao liqueur from Curaçao the island. We investigate the oranges of the spirit, history of the island, how it’s made … and what a dog humping one’s leg has to do with any of it. Resources from this episode: Books: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide (Society of Wine Educators), Nickles, J., (2020) The Drunken Botanist: The plants that create the world’s great drinks. Stewart, A. (2013) The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails [Kindle Edition],...

A devil of an episode in which we explore the history and emergence of  Tasmanian Sparkling wine. Don’t think for a minute we didn’t “go there." Resources from this episode: Books: Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine, Stevenson, T. & Avellan, E. (2014) Fizz! Champagne and Sparkling Wines of the World, Rose, A. (2021)  The Oxford Companion to Wine [4th Edition], Robinson, J. & Harding J. (2015) Websites: Animalia: Tasmanian Devil...

Amore for Amari!  Bittered spirits loaded with botanicals have a long history rooted (pun intended) in medicine.  This episode explores some of the foundations and culture behind bittered spirits. Resources from this episode: Books: Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, Parsons, B. T., 2011  Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide (Society of Wine Educators), Nickles, J., (2020) The Drunken Botanist: The plants that create the world’s great drinks. Stewart, A....

Exploring the wines of Montefalco Sagrantino.  A unique grape, cool birds, and a special growing region, along with a rich history, make this one of the host’s favorite wines. Resources from this episode: Books: Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., & Vouillamoz, J. (2013) Websites: Agraria: Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Atlante dei Prodotti Tipici, (n.d.)...

This episode explores the history of wine in Ukraine, styles, grapes, and vineyard areas through the unavoidable lens of current events. *Note: We wish to provide information on the wine culture and history, and understand things change. So yes, Crimea is part of the wine culture history, and we included it. This episode is presented in the spirit of hope, and dedicated to the brave, inspiring people of Ukraine. Resources from this episode: Books: Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368...

Grappa: Not just for breakfast (you laugh)! This pomace brandy, like many spirits, has ancient roots. With over 130 producers in Italy, some dating back hundreds of years, what is it about this drink made from, oh, I don’t know, chunky winemaking leftovers, that is so enchanting and beloved amongst connoisseurs?  Resources from this episode: Books: Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide, Nickles, J. (2020) The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails...

The wine region of Jura in Eastern France, the wines, styles, appellations, and ullage. Yes, ullage, along with straw lustiness, yellow wine, toasted angels, and dinosaurs ... all in under 30 minutes. Resources from this episode: Books: A Bite-Sized History of France: Gastronomic tales of revolution, war, and enlightenment (Chapter 40. Revelation in a Bottle), [Audio Edition], Hénault, S. & Mitchell, J. (2019) French Wine Scholar Study Manual, 5th Edition, Wine Scholar Guild (2015) ...

South African Sparkling Wine - Specifically Method Cap Classique (MCC), a brilliant sparkling wine made in the classic method. It's a wine that’s not even been around 100 years, yet the quality of these wines are undisputed. In this episode we explore the history of Cape Sparkling, and even take a sip of traditional method wines from other areas of the continent. Resources from this episode: Books: Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine, Stevenson, T. & Avellan,...

Vodka: What it is, where it's from, its role in the rise and fall of empires and … barbarians? Again? This episode is especially relevant to current events, and hopes to elucidate otherwise confusing issues around boycotting Russian Vodka: it has history, scandal, and irresistible international intrigue, especially considering the host isn’t even a fan of the neutral spirit itself. Resources from this episode: Books: Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study...

A quick trip around Swiss wine regions, grapes, and styles, ending with fascinating bits involving a world class counterfeiter, and … the Dalai Lama? Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J. & Harding J. (2015) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013) The World Atlas of Wine [7th Edition], Johnson, H., &...

A wine podcast inspired by Barbarian Empires of the Steppes and the Silk Road? We got that!   This episode on the wine history of Uzbekistan was inspired by Mongols, Mughals, and explorers: Genghis/Ginngis Kahn, Tamerlane/Timur, Babur, and Marco Polo all passed through, conquered, loved, loved to conquer - or were kicked out of - Samarkand, the crossroads of civilization.  Who brought the grapes, and who started the wine industry? What happened under soviet rule? Who tried to tear it down?...

Wine from frozen grapes: Is it Eiswein, Icewine, Ice wine, or “ice” something else? This episode is an overview of the where, when, why, and how of a wine celebrated in winter festivals, events, and wine lists around the world.  Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J. & Harding J. (2015)  Websites: Austrian Wine: https://www.austrianwine.com/our-wine/wine-styles/10-nobly-sweet-wines Casa Ronsilvini: Italian Ice Wine,...

Grab your whisky sweater and meet me in front of the fire. How we’ve gone 9 seasons without sipping a dram together of one of my favorite spirits is beyond me. And it’s beyond time. Whisky/Whiskey: what it is, a little history, distinguishing some styles, and a little silliness (because your host cannot help herself). Just the thing for a cold, January in the northern hemisphere on this weird third rock from the sun. Resources from this episode: Books: Certified Specialist of Spirits...

Franciacorta is a bottle-fermented, classic method produced sparkling  wine with from Northern Italy. It is so much more than what some people call “Italy’s answer to Champagne” (and no): it’s its own unique creature of culture, with its own terroir story to tell. Resources from this episode: Books: Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine, Stevenson, T. & Avellan, E. (2014) Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs [Kindle Edition], D’Agata, I. (2019) The Origins of...

Mirbelle eau-de-vie closes out Season 8. We discuss Mirabelle plums, the spirit by the same name, production regulations, a cocktail recipe, and … what do poodles have to do with any of it?

Wines of Cyprus, grapes, history, a little geography, culminating in a discussion about one of the oldest branded wines in the world, Commandaria

Just in time for spooky season we explore a treat of a fine spirit with a tricky past. Absinthe: what it is, how it behaves in the glass, the deal on wormwood, a brief history, and some thujone theory. Please absinthe responsibly, and apologies for the historical nugget on dog flatulence.

Wine is mentioned in many historical accounts in Afghanistan, as are the lush vineyards, orchards, and gardens. This is not the first thing many of us think of when we think of this country. This episode started as a curious "poking around" effort into unearthing whatever wine and spirits history Afghanistan had to offer. It resulted in a story with many loose ends that somehow always led back to the humble vine ... with some drunken Mughals along the way.

In part two of this interview with Michael Juergens we pick up where we left off in “the land of the thunder dragon.” We discuss the interesting way the wines labels are determined, Bhutan in a wine glass, chasing happiness, and dive a little deeper into agriculture and spirits culture in Bhutan. We briefly chat about Michael's other projects: his award winning rum company, MW studies, novels, and "Drinking and Knowing Things."

In part one of this fun, fascinating interview with Michael Juergens, we discuss how we ended up in Bhutan and eventually set up the entire wine industry: from writing the business plan, working with government representatives, planting the vines, to preparing for harvest and wine-making operations and building the production facility. Michael shares the beauty and culture of this special place, as well as all the challenges of doing this as a pandemic descended on the globe.

Season 7 brings us back to where we started at the beginning of this season: Basque country & wine related to the three musketeers. This week it’s French Basque country’s only AOC: Iroulégy. In a quick trip across the border we discover a small appellation and tie it back to D'Artagnan.