Wine Guide with Cork & Fizz - Wine education for beginners and enthusiasts

Ep 92 Today’s story is one of taking immense grief and love, and transforming it into a heartwarming initiative that honors a memory while celebrating female entrepreneurs by funding their dreams through wine sales. My guest David tragically lost his mother in 2019. He was driven by a desire to honor her memory and her entrepreneurial achievements through the founding of the DD Project. In this episode, we dive deep into the origin of the DD Project, David’s decision-making process for sel...

02-19

40:40

Ever wondered what it's like to sip wine from the real-life King’s Landing from Game of Thrones? Today, I’m diving into the world of Croatian wine. I had never really thought about Croatian wine until last year when Jennifer Kerum attended my Walla Walla retreat. Jennifer is from Croatia and runs a wine tourism business there. She came on the podcast to talk about all things Croatian wine and it was so fascinating that I knew I needed to dig deeper into this region. I recently highli...

02-12

37:28

When you think of Vermouth do you think of it as just a mixer for your martini? Vermouth is actually a wine! Wine must make up at least 75% of the total volume of a Vermouth, so it is very much a wine! From its ancient medicinal roots in 1050 BC China to its evolution in Italy as an aperitif, I’m diving into what Vermouth really is and why it’s so significant in the wine world. I’m digging into how Vermouth is crafted, the types of wine involved, and the unique botanicals th...

02-05

33:59

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to dive deep into the world of wine while facing the challenges of online bullying? In today’s episode I have Natalie MacLean back on the podcast and she’s diving into the world of wine through an experiential and personal lens. Natalie shares her unique approach to wine journalism, the emotional and cultural impact of wine, and challenges within the hospitality industry - from high rates of substance abuse to etiquette norms that stigmatize open di...

01-29

37:55

How does one go from working at Supercomputer company SGI to becoming a renowned wine critic author? Today, we are joined by Natalie MacLean, author of Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass; Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines; and Wine Witch on Fire. Natalie shares her transformation from tech to full-time writer, and dives into how storytelling can transform complex topics like wine into engaging and memorable experiences. ...

01-22

39:10

When it comes to wine books, which ones are essential for every wine lover’s collection? Well, if you know anything about me, you know I’m a sucker for a good wine book. A wine book is how I actually ended up getting into wine in the first place! Before I was really enthralled by the world of wine, my husband and I took a trip down to Willamette Valley. The tour guide gave us an amazing tour of Archery Summit and recommended this book called Cork Dork for me to read. After reading...

01-15

27:37

With its rise in popularity, I had a listener, Sheila, reach out to me wanting to learn more about Txakoli! I didn’t know a lot about Txakoli until I started researching this episode and what surprised me most was that Txakoli is not a grape! It’s actually a style of wine, usually referring to dry white wine from the Basque Country of Spain. It’s known for being slightly sparkling, fruity, and refreshing. In today’s episode, we will dive into the historical significance of Txakoli, as w...

01-08

28:35

Are you ready to go beyond wine from Spain, France, and the United States? Dale Ott, sommelier turned importer of Mexican and Portuguese wines, is back on the podcast and she is giving us a deep dive into Mexican and Portuguese wines. Dale is diving into the often overlooked but incredibly fascinating worlds of Mexican and Portuguese wines. She shares how Portuguese wines are reviving ancient winemaking traditions and how regions like Northern Baja and Valle de Parras are overcomi...

01-01

35:03

Ever wondered what it takes to bring unique Mexican and Portuguese wines to your local shelves? Today’s guest, Dale Ott, is giving us a behind the scenes look at what it takes to import wine into the US. We talk about why she chose to import wines from Mexico and Portugal, as well as her meticulous selection process for importing wines - hint it’s all about building strong, trust-based relationships with producers. She places an emphasis on low-intervention wines that genuinely represent t...

12-25

33:39

Are you scrambling to find the perfect wine for your holiday gatherings? I’ve got you covered with sparkling, white, red and dessert wines that will be perfect for your Christmas dinner. In today’s episode I’m sharing with you a cost-effective yet sophisticated alternative to Champagne as well as food-friendly white wines that will add a rich note to your holiday dinner, because we don’t just have to drink red wine for the holidays! But if you do prefer a red wine, I’m sharing wines tha...

12-18

29:39

This is one of my favorite episodes of the year! We are diving into my 2024 holiday wine gift guide! Maybe you’re like my family and you start your holiday shopping in October, or maybe you are like Mr. Cork & Fizz’s family and you start your shopping in December. Either way, I think you will find some amazing gift ideas here as well as some fun stocking stuffer ideas! This gift guide is specially curated for wine enthusiasts and wine beginners. It includes over 90 meticulously sele...

12-11

33:44

Are you curious about the world of Burgundy wines? What makes them so unique and sought after? Burgundy is a wine lover’s paradise, but diving into its complexities can feel like navigating a maze! Today, I have Kim Gagne of Journeys in Wine back on the podcast and she is diving into the nuances of Burgundy wine. Kim explores the importance of terroir - the distinct environmental factors such as soil, orientation, and climate - that give each parcel its unique characteristics. Kim sh...

12-04

36:53

Ever dreamed of sipping world-renowned Burgundy wine in the very vineyards they come from? I did just that on my recent trip to Burgundy! It was made possible by an amazing wine tour from Kim Gagne of Journeys in Wine. The tour was a highlight of my trip so I knew I had to invite Kim on the podcast! Kim’s career in the wine world originated in California in the late 80s, which enticed her to spend an immersion year in Burgundy, now her permanent home. In 1999 she started Journeys in Win...

11-27

36:02

Ever tasted a wine so unique that you either absolutely love it or completely hate it? I was first introduced to Jura wine at a French wine shop here in Seattle. I saw a bottle of Savagnin and asked the wine clerk how is this different from Sauvignon Blanc? The owner said I had to try it and people either love it or hate it! I ended up loving the unique wines of Jura and I knew that Jura would be a stop on my dream vacation trip. Today, we are exploring Jura’s unique grape vari...

When I was planning my trip to France with Mr. Cork & Fizz, it was an absolute given that we would visit Burgundy! And much to my surprise, I saw that we would have to drive right through Beaujolais to get to Burgundy. You know we had to stop in Beaujolais for a wine tasting and I’m so glad we did! So, for today’s episode we are going to talk about Burgundy and Beaujolais, and what makes each area so special. Beaujolais is actually known as the forgotten part, or black sheep, ...