GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

To many wine lovers, the names Littorai and Pinot Noir are synonymous. And, if there could be any truth to California Pinot Noir having a French Connection, Littorai would likely have first claim to the title.

It was an auspicious start for a young Ted Lemon – while studying French Literature at the University of Dijon, he also happened to take a wine appreciation course from the director of Burgundy’s tourism office. The result was a natural affinity to Burgundy and to Pinot Noir – so much so, that he was offered a job in France if he ever decided to take up winemaking.

After graduating from Brown University, Ted returned to France to study enology and viticulture at the University of Dijon, and went on to work at many prestigious estates in Burgundy, including Chateau Dujac.

Then, after returning to the U.S. and working with Josh Jensen at Calera, a surprising thing happened. In 1982, at 25 years of age he was offered the reins of Domaine Guy Roulot in Meursault, and became the first American winemaker and vineyard manager in Burgundy.

Join us as we hear from Ted Lemon about his wine making, and his philosophy for making classic Pinot Noir.

For More Info: www.littorai.com

Sponsor: Wine Blue Book: www.winebluebook.com

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Are you hosting a wine event and want to use a local restaurant? Where do you start? Find out what goes into the pricing, planning, and logistics of holding a wine dinner for 5, 20, or even 50 people.

Join us as we talk with Danielle Staffieri from the Pinot Provence restaurant of the Patina Group in Orange County, CA. Danielle is an event planner, so listen in as we hear about how to reduce the stress by working with staff dedicated to making your wine dinner a big success.

For More Info: www.patinagroup.com

Sponsor: Champagne USA: www.champagne.us

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Click Here: Hosting a Tasting Party

Auction Napa Valley is a one-of-a-kind event. Beginning on Thursday, there are numerous hospitality events – at which the wineries pull out all the stops to wine and dine attendees with the best of best of food and wine. Friday brings the Taste of Napa, with a huge display of yet more food and wine – along with a barrel auction and e-auction.

Saturday is the main event, a feast for the eyes, ears, and stomach, as a live auction brings in Millions for local charities. This is truly an event not to be missed.

For More Info: www.napavintners.com

Sponsor: Champagne USA: www.champagne.us

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Hot News: What is happening in the Champagne region of France you might ask? Join us for an inside look, as we speak with Daniel Lorson from the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), a trade organization looking after the interests of the growers and houses of Champagne.

Today we discuss:

- The 2007 harvest which will be the earliest on record – is this a result of climate trend (Global Warming) or a just a cycle?

- The coming expansion of the Champagne appellation – what will this mean to Champagne and the consumer?

- The growing popularity of Rose Champagne – why and will it continue?

For More Information: Champagne US: www.champagne.us

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Join us as we speak with Gaia Gaja, of the renowned Gaja Winery in Italy’s Piedmont region. Having worked at the winery since she was a child, Gaia is the fifth generation of her family to be involved in the winery, and even had a wine named in her honor (Gaia & Rey Chardonnay) by her famous father, Angelo Gaja. Angelo is credited with several innovations in winemaking, including the use of barriques – the 225-liter French oak barrels for aging Barbaresco, the production of single vineyard designations, and he planted Piedmont’s first Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc vineyards.

Founded in 1859 by Giovanni Gaja, the winery now owns 250 acres of vineyards in Piedmont’s Barbaresco and Barolo districts. In 1994, the Gajas acquired their first wine estate in Tuscany, Pieve S. Restituta in Montalcino. The property’s forty acres of vineyards produce two Brunello di Montalcino wines: Sugarille and Rennina. In 1996, the Gaja family purchased a second property in Tuscany, Marcanda, located in the Bolgheri district in the commune of Castagneto Carducci. New plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Sangiovese, cover 250 acres and a state-of-the-art winery was completed on the property in 2002. Beginning in 1996, all of Gaja’s single vineyard wines have been labeled Langhe Nebbiolo D.O.C.

Sponsor: North Berkeley Wine: www.northberkeleywine.com

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View More Photos From ‘The Wines of Gaja’

The esteemed author of the French Paradox, researcher Serge Renaud, PhD, has said, “There is no other drug that is so efficient at preventing heart disease as moderate intake of alcohol.” A corollary to the French Paradox is the “American Paradox.” We have spent billions in this country to match and surpass the French in health success. But we have failed miserably because our focus is on intervention rather than prevention and we have a persistent theme in this country that alcohol consumption of any kind is a dreaded and unwelcome threat to our well being. Our latest health escapade is reducing trans-fat, all the while ignoring the fact that our health is in the glass. We continue to support efforts to isolate the healthy components of wine so that we can achieve the benefits without actually drinking. A group of British scientists wrote in the respected medical journal, Lancet, “If wine is ever found to contain a constituent protective against cardiovascular disease, then we consider it almost a sacrilege that this constituent be isolated. The medicine is already in a highly palatable form.” They got that right.

Using recent research presentations at the 4th International Wine and Heart Health Summit in Napa Valley, California and culling pertinent scientific information on alcoholic beverages and health, I have attempted to simplify and summarize the current knowledge in a layman-friendly format. It is hoped that this critical review can provide further clarity and stimulate the dissemination of this valuable public health message.

For More Information:

The Renaud Society: www.renaudsociety.org
4th International Wine & Heart Health Summit: www.winesummit.org
Prince of Pinot: www.princeofpinot.com

Sponsor: North Berkeley Wine: www.northberkeleywine.com

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Wine tasting at Air France, business class: Gevrey Chambertin in company of Jean-Charles Boisset, a goblet of champagne with Luc Bouchard, English exclusive interview of Olivier Coal dust, voted the best sommelier in the world