You ever visited a wine region, fallen in love with it and daydreamed about taking that MASSIVE leap and diving headfirst into the world of wine? I bet many of you have. How many of you actually followed through with that crazy dream? I bet the number is LOW. My guest on the wine podcast did just that! Meet Corey Mio who had never tried any wine from Niagara a decade ago and now his own vineyard. Yup ... a fun interview!
My latest guest on the 'Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People' Podcast Geoffrey Moss has such an impressive wine resume. He earned his Master of Wine back in 2020. There is less then 500 of them in the world!! He founded a boutique wine marketing company, Lithica Wine Marketing in 2019 Finally he and his friend/winemaker Ryan McKibbon have started a virtual winery called Søren. One of their latest releases: Soren Boundary Spring Red 2022 a classic Bordeaux blend from Okanagan ... An elegant/refreshing Cabernet Sauvignon led wine with savoury notes on the end.
Love the wine origin story of Richie Allen, the winemaker for Rombauer Vineyards, located in Napa Valley. Australian born, Richie’s wine journey started at a surprise birthday party in Sacramento. From there it was living out of two suitcases going from harvest to harvest before ending up at Rombauer producing award winning wine. One of my favourite California Zinfandels plus killer Chardonnay’s Rombauer is one of the prettiest vineyards you can visit. Fun conversation.
Making her third appearance on the Podcast is Heather McDougall. Sommelier, Wine Educator, Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) Board Member, Wine cellar management …. Trust me I’m leaving off several of her other jobs. Always a fun and educational interview.
The wine podcast is going full Ontario Apple Cider! My guest is Lynn Sullivan. Formerly the GM of Rosehall Run Vineyards (@rosehall_run), now the Marketing Director for Drink Ontario Apples (@drinkontarioapples). They are ALL about the growth of the Ontario Craft Cider. We chat about her transition from grapes to apples, just how many different styles of Cider are out there and the upcoming Ontario Cider Week. NOTE: Ontario Cider Week is upon us! DATES: Sept 19–26
My guest on the ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast is one of the busiest people in the wine industry. The guest: Master of Wine, James Cluer. James and his company Fine Vintage is involved in wine education, luxury tours, helping people find jobs in the wine world and he specializes in assisting new wineries. Appreciated James taking time out of his busy schedule to join the pod!
Had a great time interviewing Canadian Music Hall of Famer and 3-time Juno Winner Deborah Cox on the ‘Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People’ Podcast! Deborah has partnered with Chateau Margilliere, located in Provence, France to create her own Rosé, Kazaisu. Named after her three children this project is a labour of love from someone who is deeply passionate about making organic wine. This was such a unique and entertaining conversation with such a talented individual. You’ll love it! Side note: If you are in Southern Ontario Deborah will be performing at Casa Loma on August 27th!
The 'Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People Podcast' is on one hell of a Napa Valley run! My guest, John Giannini, is the Winemaker for Mount Veeder Winery. This winery has been making classic Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet sauvignon since the early 1970's. Thrilled to learn more about this historic winery.
The Podcast is headed to the famed Bordeaux appellation of Pessac-Leognan. My guest is Edouard Kressmann, the Deputy Technical Director at Château Latour-Martillac.
The latest Podcast is headed to Portugal where I sat down with winemaker João Maria Portugal Ramos. We discuss his legendary father João Portugal Ramos, one of the most important people in the world of Portuguese wine, all things about the Alentejo region and just a solid overview of the Portuguese wine scene. Side note: If you can find his Marquês de Borba Colheita Red 2022, pick up a bottle or seven. Crazy value wine.
Loved my interview with Etude Senior Winemaker & General Manager Jon Priest. Etude is one of the preeminent Pinot Noir producers in California. This was such a fun Pinot masterclass with a winemaker who has been working with this "very, very needy" grape for over 25 years.
With the Fourth of July just around the corner no better time to celebrate one of my favourite Napa Cabernet Sauvignon producers, Amici Cellars. My guest on the 'Matt Talks Wine and Stuff with Interesting People' Podcast is their Lead Winemaker Tony Biagi. The interview ranges from just how different Napa Valley is today versus when he started working there, Mountain vs. Valley Floor fruit to what is the best wine Tony ever had after a San Francisco 49ers victory.
Wait, is the main reason Westcott Vineyards exists in our lives is because the owners, Carolyn and Grant don’t like to golf??? Okay that may be a wee bit overly simplistic BUT it is part of the story. Check out my interview with Carolyn Hurst, Westcott Vineyards President & Co-Founder where we go into the whole story of this Niagara based winery.
It’s World Verdejo Day! It’s that special time of year for people who enjoy this acidic/fresh Spanish white wine with that unique combination of fresh stone fruit, fennel notes and a herby finish. One of my favourite producers is José Pariente. From their entry level wines to their older oak influenced versions they know there way around Verdejo. My interview is with their energetic CEO Ignacio Prieto Pariente. We discuss the history/philosophy of José Pariente, the early days when he and his winemaking sister Martina took over the family business back in 2012 and pushing the quality levels of the Verdejo grape.
World Verdejo Day is coming on Friday! In honour of this day, I sat down with Mariate Sanz a winemaker for Bodega Campo Eliseo. We chatted about her early days making wine in Rueda, what she looks for in classic Verdejo and working with famed winemaker François Lurton.
In Part II of my “All Things Stratus Vineyards” I’m joined by head winemaker Dean Stoyka. Just like J.L. Groux, Dean’s wine journey was also heavily influenced by his father. Great sitting down with the man behind some of Ontario’s most consistent high-end wines.
Thrilled to have had the chance to sit down with one of the Ontario wine legends, J-L Groux from Stratus Vineyards. Loved hearing Groux’s stories from family trips to Loire buying wine barrels as a child to having the freedom of making the wines he loves in Niagara.
The wine podcast is finally "going" to Australia! My guest on the 'Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People' Podcast is Luke Marquis, the Global Sales Director for Mollydooker Wines. This interview is really more about family that it is about wine. Luke's parents Sarah and Sparky Marquis started this winery two decades ago and their story of getting this iconic wine off the ground is an inspiring one. Neary every label honours the Marquis honours the family history and I was thrilled to sit down with Luke to hear his family’s story.
In the exciting conclusion of my interview with the owners/winemakers for Leaning Post Wines, Ilya and Nadia Senchuk, we pick up the interview about what the toughest moments were in those early years. So much fun talking giving birth while hunting for Syrah, speeding tickets and some fantastic Cabernet Franc.
My interview with Leaning Post Winery Co-Founders Ilya and Nadia Senchuk went so well that I had to split it up into two parts. In Part One: Their origin story which is more about love and trust than about tannins and full-bodied Chardonnay. Nadia and Ilya are passionate, unapologetic winemakers whose portfolio can be found in Michelin Star restaurants all over the world.