GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

Freemark Abbey’s history began in 1886, when Josephine Tychson established the original winery along Route 29 in St. Helena, becoming one of the area’s first woman winegrowers. Although its name might indicate otherwise, the winery was never a monastery, nor was it ever inhabited by monks. Instead, the current winery name originated in 1939, when its three ...

As with most wine events, it often comes down to the people – the producers and those behind the scenes – that make attending an event like the World of Pinot Noir both fun and interesting. And, while it’s always nice to taste the wines from artisan producers, it can be challenging to find the opportunity to actually talk with them – especially during...

Natural winemaking – yet another hot button topic over the past couple of years, was discussed in some depth at the 2012 World of Pinot Noir. The panelists included both small winery winemakers who practice various degrees of “natural” winemaking: Bradley Brown, Big Basin Vineyards; Peter Cargasacchi, Cargasacchi Vineyards; Nathan Kandler, Thomas Fogarty Winery; a...

We’ve always wondered what role the winemaker plays in determining whether a wine truly speaks of its origins – or, its terroir. For instance, is it possible to make an Oregon Pinot taste as though it came from California – or vice versa? Thankfully, the 2012 World of Pinot Noir featured a seminar discussing this very subject. The seminar, titled Technique ...

We continue with our visit to Pinot Days in San Francisco, from June 2012. We consider this to be one of the “must-go” wine festivals each year for wine lovers. Concentrating exclusively on Pinot Noir, there are over 150 individual producers and trade groups from overseas represented at Pinot Days event. Most wineries were from California, covering near...

GrapeRadio was very pleased to attend Pinot Days in San Francisco, this past June. Certainly one of the “must-go” wine festivals each year for wine lovers, Pinot Days concentrates exclusively on Pinot Noir producers. Over 150 individual producers and trade groups from overseas were represented at this year’s Pinot Days event. Most wineries were ...

With thirty-plus years of wine retail business behind him, Steve Zanotti has seen more than a few changes. But, as the old saying goes, ‘sometimes the more things change, the more they remain the same.’ As co-owner of the Wine Exchange, in Orange County, California, Steve has arguably “seen it all”: the emergence of wine critics, quickly followed by the appearan...

Chenin Blanc wines are probably quite familiar to most wine consumers. Since the 11th Century, France’s Loire Valley has always produced lovely Chenin Blancs, such those from Savennieres and Vouvray. The French wines have varied from dry to sweet, and both seem to last decades or more. On the other hand, this is usually not the case for Chenin Blancs from the New ...

When Australian businessman Terry Peabody visited New Zealand in 1997, he was introduced to noted kiwi viticulturalist and Master of Wine, Steve Smith. The pair made an important decision from the very beginning – to pursue the Single Vineyard Philosophy of winemaking – to select and source the best land and vineyards in the country, and to plant the vines...

We last talked to Maggie about 3 years ago, just after she had embarked on her new venture at Antica Terra winery and vineyard, in Oregon. After working with Manfred and Elaine Krankl at Sine Qua Non for the better part of a decade, as well as starting her own label for California Syrah, Maggie was now (literally) knee deep into Oregon Pinot Noir. The history...