StarChefs: Rising Stars of Austin and San Antonio

Managing Editor of StarChefs, Will Blunt, and Steven Dilley, featured Sommelier and owner of Bufalina Pizzaria, come on the show to talk about the upcoming Rising Stars awards on Dec 13th.  We talk all about the Cava and Caviar reception, the challenges of pairing wines with 18 different dishes from all the featured chefs and culinary innovators, and what it means for a national publication to be highlighting the food scene of Austin and San Antonio!  Proceeds go to the Austin Food and Wine Alliance!

Check out more info: www.starchefs.com/risingstars

Vineyards by the Sea: Firriato

Federico Lombardo di Monte Iato runs the Sicilian winery Firriato.  He comes on the show to talk about how far Sicily has from its recent history of supplying bulk wine to Northern Italy and France.  I learned a ton from Federico, from the various zones of western Sicily and even the island of Favagnana to the mountain wines of Etna.  If you can't bask in under the Sicilian Sun, may as well listen to this podcast and dream about it!

Hamilton Russell: South Africa's Heaven and Earth

Olive and Anthony Hamilton Russell, owners of South African wineries Ashbourne, Hamilton Russell, and Southern Right, come on the show to talk about their little nook of the Cape South Region called Hemel-en-Aarde.  They are pushing the boundaries of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, understanding their vineyards and soils, and garnering attention world-wide to put South African Pinot and Chard on the map.  We also have insightful conversation around Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, and so much more. Check it out!

Special Thanksgiving Call-In Show!

I welcome sommeliers Rania Zayyat and Chris Kelly on the show to field Thanksgiving wine questions from the Austin public and beyond.  Rania and Chris have tons of experience in top Austin restaurants and breakdown their classic turkey pairings as well as some non-traditional ones that might bring us out of our comfort zone.  How does smoking vs deep frying vs roasting a turkey change the pairing?  Check out the show for their commentary, and here are some producers and wines that they recommend:

Rania and Chris's consulting company: www.vintelwine.com

Wine recommendations we talk about: Riesling- A.J. Adam, Julian Haart, Fritz Haag, Willi Schaefer.

Gewürztraminer: Domaine Ostertag and Domaine Weinbach from Alsace

Moscato d'Asti: La Spinetta 'Bricco Quaglia'

Bugey-Cerdon: Patrick Bottex, sparkling red (delish)

Piedmont: GD Vajra Rosso & Langhe Nebbiolo, Roagna Dolcetto d'Alba

Northern Rhone: Andrea Calek 'Babiole', Franck Balthazar, Hervé Souhaut Syrah and Gamay

Texas Wines: William Chris Pét-Nat, Doug Lewis Tempranillo, Cruz de Comal, Calais Roussanne

Vin de Liquor: Macvin du Jura: Jean-François Ganevat & François Rousset-Martin

Bubbles from Borgoluce Prosecco

On this week's show, we talk Prosecco with Alessandro Samogin from Borgoluce in the Valdobbiadene.  He grew up on the property and his wife is now the winemaker; they grow all their food for the restaurant and estate as well as produce all their electricity on site.  What a crazy operation!  We talk about how Valdobbiadene is unique and special, how Glera is king for them, and how there is now becoming awareness of the Rive (similar to cru).  And, so much more!

Texas Wine Month: Messina Hof

Messina Hof, founded in 1977, is currently making 90 different wines from 33 varieties, wow!  Paul and Karen Bonarigo, second generation owners, come on the podcast to talk about the evolution of Texas wine, the history and future of Messina Hof, and so much more.  Check it out!

Texas Wine Month: Doug Lewis

We're continuing to interview Texas winemakers who are innovating and raising the bar in celebration of October being Texas Wine Month.  Doug Lewis of Lewis Wines is certainly positioned in the vanguard and has his finger on the pulse of what is really going both in the Hill Country and the High Plains.  I always enjoy chatting with Doug, and I'm sure you're enjoy listening!

Texas Wine Month: Bending Branch

Continuing to feature Texas wineries during Texas Wine Month, we welcome on Jennifer McInnis, general manager of Bending Branch Winery.  We have a great conversation about some of the varieties that Bending Branch champions, Tannat and Picpoul at the top of the list.  They also use some innovative winemaking techniques, such as Cryo-maceration and Flash Detente.  Check out what it's all about!

Texas Wine Month: Ben Calais

As continued coverage of Texas Wine Month, we catch up with Ben Calais at his winery in the Hill Country.  This was a great conversation about this year's harvest, his focus on the Bordeaux varieties, how Ben is coaxing the most flavor out of his grapes, and so much more!  Ben has a cool thing going on in his underground cellar, selling only direct to consumer, and cultivating a strong following!  Santé!

Texas Wine Month: January Wiese and Lewis Dickson

We kick off our coverage of October as Texas Wine Month with January Wiese, Executive Director of the Hill Country Wineries Association.  Then, we hear from Lewis Dickson, and how he is producing some magical 100% Estate wines from his vineyard in Canyon Lake, just west of New Braunfels.  Lewis is a staunch proponent of natural or "hands off" winemaking, never adding yeast, sulfites, enzymes, or anything.  We learn about the path he's taken to focusing on the two Texas hybrid grapes, Blanc du Bois and Black Spanish, and how wine should be the whole film, not just a snapshot. 

Czech Wine? Different Yet Familiar!

Noah Ullman, owner of Vino Z Czech (pronounced “vee-nos check”), comes on the show to talk about Czech wine and the business of importing and promoting in the US.  I learned a ton from this conversation: how there is a long history of winemaking in what is today's Czech Republic, how the south facing slopes of South Moravia are special for winemaking, and how diverse the wine culture is there with many unique grapes (Cabernet Moravia, Blauer Portugueser, and Pálava).  To quote Noah, quoting someone else, "somewhere between Austria and Alsace."

Pinot and Tacos: Expression Wines

Kevin O'Brien, GM of Expression Wines and Prime Solum, tells the story of how Bill Hill plants vineyards that become super famous, such as Gaps Crown and Zena Crown.  We dig into the Sonoma Coast, the "Deep End" of Anderson Valley, and the Eola Amity Hills of Oregon.  Steve Alley from the Sorting Table chimes in to describe these wines and how the Texas Market has been receiving them.  Also, we hear about Broken Rock Ranch in Napa and so much more!  Pinot meets TX tacos, what could be better!

New Braunfels Brewing Company and wine-oriented beers!

Kelly Meyer, owner of New Braunfels Brewing Co., brewer Nathan Rice, and beer expert Justin Chamberlain, come on the show to talk about their beers that blur the border of beer and wine.  Their Sur Lie program, beers that they age over different sorts of wine yeast, has captured the attention of collectors and aficionados, and we taste 6 different releases aged over different wine lees.  These guys are pushing the bar of what beer can do in terms of food pairings, complexity, and bringing beer to a broader wine-loving community.  Proust!

Texas Vs. The World: Chardonnay

Texas Wine Journal Panelists, Jon Gerber, Shawn Croft, and Julia Dixon come on the show to talk about Chardonnay from Texas and around the world.  They tasted 6 chardonnay blind and this is their commentary before they knew which was which.  You can see the lineup below, but overall, great discussion around the most famous and infamous white grape out there.  Plus, I think the consensus was that TX did show strong.  Guest appearance from Daniel Kelada at the end to give insight on the producers and regions!

Wine on Ice!

Membership drive is in full swing!  This is an amazing radio station that allows this podcast, I'd love the support!  On this show, we have other programmers and KOOP personalities come on the show to taste and talk about what are the best wines to have ON ICE!   Feel the KOOP love and the diversity of community radio!