Incredibly fun discussion to kick off the first Court of Wine with amazing panelists:

Liz Barrett - https://whatsinthatbottle.com/

Sarita Cheaves - https://www.vinemeupdc.com/ and https://soundcloud.com/swirl-suite

Sandra Everingham - https://www.risingwinescollective.com/

 

Recorded 24 August, 2022

 

We discuss news and topics from the following articles:

 

Author: W. Blake Gray

Publication: Wine-Searcher

Date: July 18, 2022

Title: Direct Wine Shipping Comes Under Fire

URL: https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2022/07/direct-wine-shipping-comes-under-fire

 

Author: Paul Vigna

Publication: Pennlive.com

Date: July 15, 2022

Title: Wine Enthusiast decision has more than a few states feeling left out

URL: https://www.pennlive.com/food/2022/07/wine-enthusiast-decision-has-more-than-a-few-states-feeling-left-out.html

 

Author: Press Release

Publication: Wine Industry Advisor

Date: July 26, 2022

Title: Woodbridge® Debuts First-to-Market Wine Sodas 

URL: https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2022/07/26/woodbridge-debuts-first-to-market-wine-sodas

 

Author: Harpers Editorial team

Publication: Harpers

Date: July 15, 2022

Title: Friday read: Why bulk is the hot ticket in the face of climate change

URL: https://harpers.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/30467/Friday_read:_Why_bulk_is_the_hot_ticket_in_the_face_of_climate_change.html

After more than two years away, I (Tony) am coming back to podcasting with my Wine in the News style show. I had intended it to be a spin-out from this podcast (which would also change), but with Betty not wanting to host a podcast currently, I will be renaming Weekly Wine Show to Court of Wine and will host the show here so back episodes can remain available. I hope you enjoy the new format! Cheers!

This week we hit our 200th episode which is a huge milestone for us. We've made the decision to end Weekly Wine Show. It's a big decision and in this episode we reflect on our past four years and talk about what is next for us.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why did we start Weekly Wine Show?
  • One of the main reasons was we wanted to expand our knowledge of wine and thought a podcast was an interesting format for that learning.
• Did we accomplish what we wanted?
  • Yes, we've learned so much and made so many connections through the podcast. This helped us lay the foundation we needed for what is next.
• Why are we stopping now?
  • We've been putting out content non-stop for almost four years and it's time for a little break
  • Also, we originally started out this podcast to help beginners like us but we can no longer call ourselves beginners. So since it has fulfilled its purpose, we feel its time to move on.
• What's next for us?
  • Although we are ending this podcast, we will be releasing multiple new podcasts and new content in 2020. 
  • By the end of Quarter 1: Court of Wine podcast! If you are looking to be a guest on the show make sure you fill out the guest form on the website.
  • Spring of 2020: An mostly interview style podcast gathering stories of people's wine journey's who have been bitten by the wine bug.
  • Late 2020: A wine history podcast focused on interesting stories told in a storytelling format.

Although we will next be releasing new content for a little while, we will be active on social media (mostly Instagram and Twitter) so follow us if you haven't already. We will be providing news and updates so you are in the loop when new content is launched. Also, if you are still subscribed to Weekly Wine Show in you podcast player you will get promos for the new podcasts before they launch.

Thank you all for you love and support. There is no way we would have keep releasing episodes for almost four years without you. We are excited with what 2020 has in store for us and our wine journey. So thank you for listening and it;s not goodbye, it's see you later. Cheers! 

 

*Note: If you’re just here looking for that offer link Tony mentioned, feel free to skip to the last paragraph. 

Have you tried any wine clubs? We've tried a couple wine clubs or club-like retailers and were not thrilled but over the last year we've been testing out Naked Wines. If you've wondered whether a wine club could be valuable and worthwhile, Naked Wines might be your answer.

SPOILER ALERT: At the end of this episode, we're going to share an offer from Naked Wines that they give its members to share the service. You'll get a big discount on wine and we get a little bit too if you sign up, so feel free to consider this episode like advertising. That being said, if you've listened to Weekly Wine Show for any length of time, you know we have only accepted advertisements for a couple of episodes. We're extremely picky about what brands we represent and we need to be willing to spend our own money on that item or service if there's a chance our words would influence others to do the same. And in fact, over the last year or so, we've sent over $500 of our own money the way of Naked Wines, and now we're ready to tell you about our experience. 

 

So what is Naked Wines and how does it work?

Naked Wines is a "customer-funded wine business". Club members, who they call "angels" pay a deposit of $40 per month in their naked wines account. This money sits in the Angels' account as a balance until they use it to purchase wines. But while it's there, Naked Wines uses it to fund winemakers up-front to be able to make wines, many wines which otherwise might never be.

The interesting part of this funding model is many winemakers work for other people and don't get to put their name on the label. They may not have the funds to invest in their own grapes, barrels, storage, and all the other costs involved in making wine, much less their cost of living while those wines are being made.

The situation might be even a bit dire, like the story of winemaker Katie Jones. If you want to hear more about her story check out the video from Naked Wines. 

So far, according to their website, they have funded 159 independent winemakers in 14 countries. These direct relationships with winemakers results in lower costs for us because they benefit from economics of scale for buying wine bottling supplies. Also, since they're the considered the winery, there isn't the markup from a distributor and a retailer. They call it "wholesale prices".

So what do we like about Naked Wines?

First of all, you pick the wine you get, how much, and when (Not like other clubs that send to you on schedule). You order this wine from your house (you don't even have to put pants on) making it super convenient. Second, these are real, top-quality winemakers, some we've actually met or been to their "day job" winery. Also, there are a wide range of wines from all across the globe and pretty affordable prices like a Premier Cru Chablis ($24) and a vintage Champagne ($35). The wines overall have been top quality and of all the wines we've try there has only been a couple of wines we didn't love. They'll also let you know what wines to age so we have several bottles sitting in the cellar waiting for the right time to drink.

Another feature that makes Naked Wines unique is the money-back happiness guarantee.  They will refund you for any wine you didn't love.  We actually haven't taken the initiative to use this for the couple of bottles that weren't to our taste, but even so they proactively gave us an $11 refund to highlight the guarantee and encourage us to use it. They want happy customers. 

Lastly, you're positively impacting winemakers, giving them a chance to make wines with their own name on the bottle or maybe to make something lesser known that wouldn't fit with their day employer's winery. Also, there website allow us to interact with winemakers and read their stories.

What don't we like about Naked Wines?

To start, when we signed up in late 2018, we were required to buy a case of wine in order to join. That first case we bought with the promotional offer was priced at their non-member price. This felt a bit deceptive and we almost didn't join. After a few weeks, they gave us the option to buy a smaller 9-bottle pack so we didn't have to invest as much money just to give them a try. Once we bought that first case, they put us on a "waiting list" to get into the club. We don't remember a believable explanation for why there was a waiting list, it seemed like an attempt to fake exclusivity.

Also, they send emails about promotional packs that feel a bit spammy and over time you learn to give them a glance and archive or delete them. We imagine some people like the promotional packs, they just haven't been appealing to us.

Before deciding to do this episode we also looked up naked wines on the Better Business Bureau. They have an A+ rating from the BBB, but only get 2 out of 5 stars from customer reviews. There were several pages of reviews and the vast majority seem to be people who somehow don't realize they will be charged $40 per month and were unhappy with it despite the fact you can get your money back or people who are unhappy with their wines and didn't take advantage of the happiness guarantee.

What are some tips for getting the most value?

First, if you are struggling to find wine they have wine advisors you can call. Once you start receiving wine make sure you are rating the wines you try because this feeds into their recommendations. It also helps to follow winemakers you like in the app or the website so you can get updates on when they release new wines.

Also, every month they offer a free promotional bottle (one they choose) to compete a case if you order any 11 bottles of your choice. So make sure to buy 11 bottles at a time do you get the free bottle. If the promotional bottle doesn't appeal to you, check the other options in their bottle picker.

If all else fails, use that happiness guarantee. Get you money back and pick out something different. Like I said, they want to make you happy.

If you're in the same boat we were in and want to try out Naked Wines, you can get $100 off $160 purchase for new members using our link. Remember, if you become a member they will be investing $40 a month into Angel account to use to purchase wine. If you sign up we receive $40 in credits to buy more wine and support our hobby. So this is a win - win - win situation. Cheers!

 

With the holidays just around the corner, we have some sparkling wine recommendations to take the guess work out of selecting wines.

Big thanks to our friends at Palm Bay International and Taub Family Selections for providing us with samples for this episode. Although these wines were provided to us, the opinions and tasting notes in this episode are our own.

 

Budget Friendly Wines

Villa Marcello Millesimato Prosecco DOC Brut NV - priced around $17.

• Villa Marcello Prosecco DOC hails from the province of Treviso, one of the finest growing regions of Prosecco.
• Grapes: 85% Glera, 15% Pinot Bianco
• Light aromas and flavors of apple blossom, lemon, and dried hay
• This wine doesn’t have bread or yeasty notes - it’s fruity and floral, very delicate and elegant wine

Pere Ventura Tresor Brut Cava - priced around $16. 

• This Cava is a Reserva which means it’s aged 15 months on the lees the same as non-vintage Champagne 
• Light aromas of nectarines, fresh sage, minerality and yeasty notes
• Flavors of nectarines, fresh sage, white flowers and minerality
• Although we get a hint of breadiness in the nose, this wine is still very crisp and fruity
• We enjoyed this wine with a nice aged Gouda cheese but also would go with appetizers, hard cheeses, fried foods, and Asian cuisine

Something different

Ackerman Crémant de Loire Sparkling Cuvée 1811 Blanc Brut - priced around $22. 

• The name of this wine comes from its beginnings. Ackerman was established in 1811 in the small town of Saumur in the heart of France's Loire Valley by Jean-Baptiste Ackerman.
• Blend of 70% Chenin Blanc, 20 % Chardonnay, 10% Cabernet Franc and each variety is made into wine separately in view of maintaining its typical features up until blending at the end of winter.
• This wine has light aromas of golden apples, white flowers and a hint of breadiness
• We got flavors of golden apples, peaches, lemon oil and white flowers
• Very fruit wine that we thought it paired really well with blue cheese
• We think that this is a unique blend of grapes that people might not be as familiar with.

Altemasi Brut, Trento DOC - priced around $24.

• The Trento DOC appellation is renowned for producing some of the finest sparkling wines in Italy and is known as the Italian alternative to Champagne 
• 100% Chardonnay wine made in the traditional method that is aged on the lees for at least 15 months
• Light aromas of apples and bread almost like apple pie
• This wine has flavors of lemon, green apples with a hint of breadiness
• So when people think of sparkling wine from Italy they mostly think of Prosecco and Prosecco is super popular right now. So if you are looking for something different from Italy this would be a great option. 

Splurge Wines

Boizel Brut Réserve Champagne NV - priced around $50.

• 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier
• The still wines from the year are blended with 30% of reserve wines kept from the previous two harvests, for consistency
• Post second fermentation, the wine is aged for three years on its lees, in bottle
• Intense aromas of bread dough, golden apples and honeycomb
• This wine has flavors of honeysuckle, green apples, lemon and a hint of bread
• We love the smell of this wine and the complex flavor profile
• Enjoyed this wine with Camembert and aged Gouda cheeses

Champagne André Jacquardt Brut Nature Expérience 1er Cru Blanc De Blancs - priced around $100.

• 100% Chardonnay wine
• 60% Vinified in stainless steel, 40% vinified in older Burgundy oak barrels. No malolactic fermentation. Five years aging on the lees before disgorgement.
• Aromas of red apple skins, bread, rose and minerality
• It’s the driest of the wines in this episode and has high acidity with flavors of pink lady apples, rose, lemon, and a funky yeasty flavor
• This wine is crisp, fruity, floral and complex 
• A special treat for a special occasion

This week we are talking about Brachetto d’Acqui.  Brachetto d’Acqui is a DOCG in the Piedmont wine region of Northwest Italy.

Wine Recommendations

Risata Brachetto d’Acqui 2016 - priced around $16.

• Risata is a larger producer in the area - in fact they produce the #1 seller of Moscato d’Asti in America
• Aromas of candied red berries and orange
• It’s sweet with medium plus body, medium acidity with flavors of red berries and apricot preserves
• This wine has enough acidity to stand up to the sweetness but not syrupy
• It’s very lively, bright and a real treat
• It paired well with dark chocolate so this wine can handle more intensely flavored desserts

 

Rinaldi Brachetto d’Acqui 2016 - priced around $30

• This sweet wine has aromas of black cherries and strawberries
• It’s medium body, medium acidity and flavors of dried apricot and red berries
• This wine was lighter in flavor, more delicate than the previous wine
• We would recommend pairing with milk chocolate, fruit tarts and creme brulee. 

Sources:

• WIne Folly 
• Wikipedia 
• Wine-Searcher 
• Book: The Oxford Guide to Wine

 

This week we are talking about Lebanon and its wine. Check out our wine recommendations for some amazing wines.

 

Wine Recommendations

Massaya Terrasses Baalbeck 2012 - priced around $28.

• Blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre
• Aromas of blackberries, pepper, cedar and bitter coco
• It’s dry with medium acidity and tannins with flavors of similar to aromas with the addition of mushroom or earthy notes
• The tannins provides a wonderful texture to the wine
• We thought this wine was at its best paired with food like a hard or semi hard cheese

 

Château Belle-Vue La Renaissance 2007 - priced around $45.

• This wine is a blend of 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Very deep inky colored wine with aromas of blackberries and black cherries, dusty earth, and eucalyptus notes
• It’s dry with medium plus acidity and tannins with flavors of dark berries, coco and spice
• Great textured wine with a lot of structure with a nice long finish

 

Sources

• Wines from Lebanon
• Tim Atkin 
• Wine-Searcher 
• 209 Lebanese Wine 

Every couple of months we take a pause on our normal format and talk about four wine we’ve enjoyed recently and want to share with all of you. 

 

Wine Recommendations

Seaglass Unoaked Chardonnay 2017 - priced around $12.

• Fermented in stainless steel tanks, this Chardonnay did not undergo malolactic fermentation
• Light golden color wine with aromas of pineapple, apple, white flowers and tangerines
• It’s dry with medium plus acidity, light body and flavors similar to aromas
• Crisp, light and refreshing wine great with light pastas, grilled fish or salads.

 

Perticaia Umbria Rosso IGT 2016 - priced around $15.

• This wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Colorino, and Merlot with aromas of sour cherries with a hint of earthiness
• It’s dry with medium plus acidity and tannins with flavors of sour cherries, earth and black tea
• The tannins give a lovely smooth texture to the wine with a pleasant finish
• Great food wine to pair with salami, cold cuts and pasta

 

Las Nietas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 - priced around $25.

• This wine has aromas of cherries, baking spices a hint of earth
• It’s dry, light bodied with light tannins, medium plus acidity and flavors of cherries, red berries and rose
• This wine is delicate but needs a little time to open up with some oxygen for the flavors to really shine
• The new oak was perfectly done with just enough to give it some complexity but not overwhelm the wine and keep all those lovely red fruit flavors.

 

Les Lunes Wine Zinfandel 2016 - priced around $30.

• From Venturi Vineyard in Mendocino County California
• These vines were planted in 1948.
• This wine has aromas of red fruits and baking spices
• It’s dry with medium plus acidity and tannins and flavors of red fruits like cherries and cranberries as well as a little earth
• This is a leaner style Zin than what you would get from other places in California like Lodi.
• Really fresh tasting, fruit forward wine with bright acidity

This week we are talking about Wiener Gemischter Satz!

 

Wine Recommendations

Mayer am Pfarrplatz Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC 2016 - priced around $26.

• Blend of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Rotgipfler and Zierfandler
• Pale Lemon color wine with aromas of lemon, tangerine, white flowers and a chalky minerality
• It’s dry with medium plus acidity and flavors of lemons, apricot, white flowers and minerality
• Great crisp white wine with a lovely aromatic nose

 

Sources

• Austrian Wine 
• Book: Oxford Guide to Wine
• Wine's Latest Runaway Hit? You've Probably Never Heard Of It. 

This week we are talking about Tokaji wine region in northeast Hungary.

Wine Recommendations

 Kiralyudvar Pezsgő Henye Sparkling 2015 - priced around $29.

• Medium golden colored wine 
• Aromas of golden apples, pears and fresh baked bread
• It’s dry with medium plus to high acidity with flavors of lime pith, toast and apple
• Great with a double cream brie cheese
• Crisp, fruity and bready and even with some age still have quite a bit of acidity

 

Megyer Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2013 - priced around $50.

• Winery Direct selection from Total Wine
• Deep gold hue with aromas of golden raisins, honey, dried apricots and dry hay
• This is a very sweet wine with flavors similar to aromas 
• This is a real treat and great with buttermilk blue cheese or a great dessert on it’s own

Sources

• Wine Folly 
• Wine-Searcher 
• Book: The Oxford Companion to Wine
• Book: The World Atlas of Wine

This week we are talking about the Wagram wine region which is a viticultural region on the banks of the Danube River in northeastern Austria.

 

Wine Recommendations

Wimmer Czerny Familien Wagram Roter Veltliner 2017 - priced around $22. 

• This wine has a Pale lemon color white wine with aromas of golden apple, lemon, honeysuckle and minerality
• It’s dry with medium light body, medium plus acidity and flavors similar to aromas - lemon peel, honeysuckle and minerality
• This wine is fruity and crisp with some beautiful floral notes and a nice long finish

Josef Ehmoser “Wagram Terrassen” Gruner Veltliner 2018 - priced around $18. 

• Aromas of lemon, lime, peach, orange blossom and minerality
• It’s dry with medium acidity and flavors of peach, minerality, white flowers and lemon rind on the finish
• Fruit, crisp and a really lovely long finish
•  Food pairings: Appetizers, spring salads, delicate fish and other similarly light dishes

 

Sources:

• Austrian Wine 
• Wine-Searcher