Grape Radio

GrapeRadio is proud to announce that it has won the award for “Best Wine Podcast and Video Blog” from the American Wine Blog Awards. A panel of wine industry insiders selected the finalist in each category and the winners were then selected by popular vote of the listening public. So thanks again to all of our listeners.

Summary of all Winners:

BEST PODCAST OR VIDEOBLOG
Grape Radio
The crew that produces Grape Radio deliver one of the finest wine radio shows in America. And they have for quite some time. In my mind, what sets them apart from other wine related radio broadcast, be they originating on the Internet or via broadcast, is their willingness to treat their listeners with the respect they deserve, not talking down to them and not assuming they all need remedial education. The American Wine Blog Awards is hardly their first piece of recognition. The Grape Radio crew is now twice honored as a James Beard Award Nominee.

BEST WINE BLOG WRITING
Vinography
www.vinography.com
Last year Alder Yarrow’s Vinography took the prize for Best Wine Review Blog. I consider this award offering even broader recognition to what has become the standard bearer of the wine blogging effort. Alder has not built a substantial readership based on marketing and promotion. He’s earned it through his thoughtful, insightful writing and analysis.

BEST SINGLE SUBJECT BLOG
Good Wine Under $20
www.goodwineunder20.blogspot.com
Deb Harkness, aka Dr. Debs, the LA college professor and wine blogger has probably been the most newly noticed wine blog of the last 12 months or so. This is all due, as far as I can tell, to her enormous passion for both wine and her readers’ passions for wine. Her subject matter has of late broadened beyond recollections of her search for good wines under $20. This is very good news because she is quick witted and has an excellent eye for the curious and newsworthy. Yet her focus on value remains true and will likely be what delivers even more readers to her outstanding blog.

BEST WINE BLOG GRAPHICS
Chateau Petrogasm
www.chateaupetrogasm.com
Benjamin Saltzman and Andrew Stuart have done something remarkable. They created something new and very, very good in the world of wine reviewing. When I first came across Chateau Petrogasm I was knocked by in my chair by their graphic approach to reviewing wines. How simple. A single picture to convey their impressions of a wine. The approach is both highly cerebral as well as arresting due to its implications for how sophisticated and precise the simplest form of communication can be. There is no doubt a coffee table book in the Chateau Petrogasm’s future.

BEST WINERY BLOG
Tablas Creek
www.tablascreek.typepad.com
Tablas Creek has one of the longest running winery blogs. Any really good winery blog must impart the experience of working at a winery and running a winery. The Tablas Creek blog not only does this but is able to do so by also imparting the excitement they possess for being in the business, the seriousness with which they take their efforts and with the occasional self deprecating approach. It is a joy to read that takes one inside the head of someone who thinks clearly and communicates clearly about the business and fun of growing grapes and making wine.

BEST WINE REVIEW BLOG
Good Wine Under $20
www.goodwineunder20.blogspot.com
This was for me by far the most interesting group of nominees in this year’s awards. All four nominees do give their readers an educated and passionate glimpse into their view of the world of wines. Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20 did not necessarily win this category running away, but she did win it convincingly, with both the public and the judges. Why? I think it’s because voters and judges see in her reviews exactly what we all want when we encounter a wine we’ve not tasted: an excitement stemming from true discovery. Dr. Debs is clearly becoming an important person in the world of wine blogging and wine reviewing.

BEST BUSINESS BLOG
The Wine Collector
www.vinfolio.com/thewinecollector
The raise to win Best Business Wine Blog was easily the closets of them all. In the end, Steve Bachmann’s The Wine Collector took the prize, actually garnering the most votes from both the public and the judges. The Wine Collector was the winner of last year’s prize for Best Single Subject Wine Blog. This year it was honored for what it does best: deliver exceedingly high level analysis of the wine market and wine selling from the perspective of someone who knows markets and knows about selling wine. Steve’s blog posts, however, are not so far in the air above people’s heads that they won’t appeal to a broad market. What accounts for this is the straightforward nature of his writing. The Wine Collector is a deserving winner.

BEST WINE BLOG
Vinography
www.vinography.com

Scott Paul Wines is a boutique winery dedicated to producing ultra-premium Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Proprietor and winemaker, Scott Paul Wright, came to winemaking as a second career. For thirty years, he had a career in the radio and music industries. As a disc jockey, his handle was “Shadow Stevens” and those of you from the East Coast remember him well. His financial success in the music world allowed him to cellar and drink good wine from an early age. As the music business became more and more a corporate-driven industry, Scott lost interest in continuing in that field, and left to learn winemaking.

Under the mentorship of Greg Le Follette and others, and taking inspiration from Burgundy, he developed his winemaking skills. After ten vintages in Oregon, he is now very comfortable with his career change.

For more info on Scott Paul Wines: www.scottpaul.com

Sponsor: The Beaches of South Walton: www.beachesofsouthwalton.com

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View More Photos From ‘Shadow Stevens and the Wines of Scott Paul’

GrapeRadio has once again been selected as a finalist by the James Beard Foundation for an award in the category of Video and Webcasting.

Click here to access the video that was nominated: Stewards of the Land

The James Beard Foundation Awards are the nation’s preeminent honors for culinary professionals. More than 60 awards are given out each year in the categories of cookbooks, restaurants and chefs, design and graphics, broadcast media, journalism, and achievement. Nominees and award winners are selected by their industry peers, with more than 600 culinary professionals involved in the voting process.

Thank you to all of our fans who have given us such great support over the years.

The Boscaini family have been the owners of the Masi Winery in the Veneto region of Italy for six generations, and specialize in the production of Amarones and Reciotos. In 1964, Masi rediscovered and refined the technique of double fermentation using semi-dried grapes, essentially updating the style of Amarone by using new vinification techniques. Their Amarones are now considered ‘new world’ in style, and indeed, Masi has even established vineyards in Argentina, using the same vinification processes with the Malbec grape.

Join us as we talk with Sandro about the unique method of apassimento, a process of drying the grapes for over 3-months, and hear why Masi isn’t making your father’s Amarone any more.

For more info on Masi Winery: www.masi.it

Sponsor: The Beaches of South Walton: www.beachesofsouthwalton.com

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We are pleased to see that GrapeRadio has been listed on http://wine.alltop.com as one of the world’s top wine blogs. This site is Guy Kawasaki’s new experiment in aggregating data from across the web. Guy was one of the original Apple employees responsible for marketing of the Macintosh in 1984, and also is a well known tech venture capitalist and author.

GrapeRadio has once again been nominated for the Fermentation’s - “American Wine Blog Awards” in the category of Best Wine Related Podcast.

We need your help!!!

To vote for GrapeRadio as the “Top Wine Podcast”: CLICK HERE

Starting in 1987, the International Pinot Noir Celebration is held annually in McMinnville, Oregon, on the beautiful grounds of Linfield College. Arguably the benchmark in Pinot Noir festivals, this brings in participating wineries from Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, and of course the U.S., along with seminars, winemaker discussion panels, bus tours, lunches and dinners - making this a full immersion into the international world of Pinot Noir.

Join Rusty Gaffney, “The Prince of Pinot” as he interviews: (Click for Web Links)

- Sheila Nicholas, Anam Cara Cellars: www.anamcaracellars.com
- Terry Brandborg, Brandborg Vineyards and Winery: www.brandborgwine.com
- David Croix, Maison Camille Giroud
- Frank Ostini, Hitching Post II: www.hitchingpostwines.com
- Dr Edwin Irish, Salud: www.saludauction.org
- George Riedel, Riedel Wine Glass Company: www.riedel.com

For more info on the 2008 International Pinot Noir Celebration: www.ipnc.org

Sponsor: Wine Blue Book, Wine Buying Guide: www.winebluebook.com

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The 3rd annual Pinot Days, held in San Francisco’s Fort Mason Event Center, showcases some of the finest artisans making Pinot today. Organizers Steve and Lisa Rigisich and Eric and Teri White continue to tweak this event, and with blind tastings, grand tastings and seminars, it is one of the must-attend Pinot Noir festivals during the year.

Interviews include: (Click Below for Web Links)

- Kevin Hamel - Pellegrini Family Vineyards/Hamel Wines (Russian River Valley)
- Kathleen Inman - Inman Family Wines (Russian River Valley)
- Mike Sullivan - Benovia Winery (Russian River Valley)
- Rod Berglund - Joseph Swan (Russian River Valley)
- Anthony Filiberti - Anthill Farms Winery (Russian River Valley)
- Kent Humphrey - Eric Kent Wines (Russian River Valley)
- David Dain - Dain Wines (Russian River Valley - Crushpad)
- Bob Ruskin - Lost Canyon Winery (Oakland)

For more info on the 2008 Pinot Days: www.pinotdays.com

Sponsor: CRUSHPAD: www.crushpadwine.com

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Welcome to our video podcast of the 2008 Naples Winter Wine Festival - Part 1 - Video Show #26.

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The 2008 Naples Winter Wine Festival raised $14 million for children’s charities, making it once again the most successful charity wine auction in the world. Indeed, in only eight years, the Trustees of the NCEF have raised more than $69 million to improve the lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County, Fla.

Saturday kicked off with a wine tasting and culinary feast prepared by Ritz-Carlton chefs from across Florida. The 635 attendees at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, got right to it, bidding on 72 one-of-a-kind, unique and luxury auction lots, with winning bids ranging from $45,000 to $1 million.

Join us for Part 1 of our coverage, as we hear from organizers, attendees and vintners like Doug Shafer, and Vega Sicilia’s Pablo Alvarez about why this event is so successful, and its charitable causes so important.

For More Information on Naples Wine Auction: www.napleswinefestival.com

Founded in 1825 in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Maison J. Faiveley has expanded over seven generations to include prestigious Crus from Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, as well as the most renowned appellations of Côte Chalonnaise, such as Mercurey. Today, Domaine Faiveley owns more than 120 hectares (296 acres), including seven appellations in their entirety (monopoles) - more than any other domaine in Burgundy. These vineyard holdings include eight Grand Crus and 16 Premier Crus spread over 15 Villages. Eighty percent of Faiveley wines come from family-owned vineyards; the balance from long-term contracts.

In December 2004, Erwan Faiveley took over the reins from his father, François, at the age of 25. This might seem young, but it is not without precedent, as Erwan’s grandfather Guy handed the Domaine off to François in 1976 when the latter was about the same age. Join us as we talk with the very personable Erwan Faiveley about the region and its wines, and the skill and passion it takes to run the largest family Domaine in Burgundy.

For more info on the wines of Domaine Faiveley: www.bourgognes-faiveley.com

Sponsor: Millesima, Fine Wine Merchants: www.millesima-usa.com

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If you are a Bordeaux fan, the name Château Pétrus will be no stranger to you - even if the wine might be, given it’s exalted status and price. But, such is the result of something made in nearly miniscule quantities. Along with Pétrus, the Moueix family own several other “right bank” Châteaux in St. Emilion as well as the Dominus Estate in Napa Valley.

Jean-Pierre Moueix began the family business 1937, founding the Établissements J. P. Moueix as a négociant and shipper of wines from St.-Émilion and Pomerol, near their home town of Libourne. Many years and several Château acquisitions later, Jean-Pierre’s son Christian began exploring the idea of developing a winery in Napa Valley.

Join us as we talk with Edouard Moueix, the third generation of his family to continue the business, about the Moueix properties, Bordeaux vintages and pricing, and the Dominus Estate.

For more information on the wines of Moueix: www.moueix.com

Sponsor: Wine Blue Book, Wine Buying Guide: www.winebluebook.com

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The Vietti family trace their winemaking roots back to the mid 1800s in the Piedmont region of Italy. The modern era for Vietti began with Mario Vietti producing the first Vietti labeled wines, transforming the family’s farm into a grape growing and wine-producing business. In 1952 Alfredo Currado, married Mario’s daughter, Luciana, and became a major influence in the Piedmont by seeking to vinify individual site separately, to accent the terroir
of Barolo’s best slopes. In 1970 Alfredo & Luciana Currado introduced local art on their family’s wine labels.

Luca Currado joined the family business in 1990. Wine is in my blood,” he said, and he could not have imagined anything other than following his father Alfredo as the 5th generation at the Vietti winery in the Piedmont region of Italy. After oenological school, Luca left Italy to intern at several properties in France and the U.S., returning home, as he put it, “when my father stopped sending money.”

Join us as we talk with this engaging winemaker and vineyardist about the intricacies of Italian wines in general, and the Borolos, Bararescos, and Barberas of the Piedmont region. You just might find you too have an affinity for Italian wines.

For more information on the wines of Vietti: www.vietti.com

Sponsor: Wine Blue Book, Wine Buying Guide: www.winebluebook.com

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Michel Chapoutier is one of the most highly respected winemakers in all of France. Since taking over his family firm in 1990 at age 26, he has transformed M. Chapoutier winery into its eminent role in the Rhône Valley.

Michel embodies both the modern and the traditional, working at expanding operations and experimenting with cutting edge winemaking techniques, while crusading for biodynamic winegrowing. He pruned vineyards and reduced yields from 35 or more hectoliters per hectare to 25 hectoliters per hectare, and embraced biodynamic techniques in his estate vineyards, harvesting grapes by hand and using only natural yeasts to produce unfiltered wines to ensure that soils are alive and a true expression of the terroir.

Since 1996, Braille has been present on all M. Chapoutier labels as an homage to Maurice Monier de La Sizeranne, owner of the plot of the Hermitage, la Sizeranne, and also the inventor of the first version of abbreviated Braille.

Join us as we talk with this charismatic and fascinating winemaker about M.Chapoutier, biodynmanics, and his obvious joie de vivre. You might even hear the twinkle in his eye.

For More Information on M Chapoutier: www.chapoutier.com

Sponsor: Millesima, Fine Wine Merchants: www.millesima-usa.com

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If you are into Pinot Noir, seminars on the subject are almost always interesting. But, what really gets all of the pinophiles attention and turns them into Burg-heads, is the opportunity to hear more about the Holy Grail of Pinot Noir - Burgundy. Join us as we listen to Allen Meadows take us on a journey to Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue and Domaine Michel Gros, as he discusses the 1996, 1999, and 2000 vintages with these two iconic producers.

Sponsor: Wine Blue Book, Wine Buying Guide: www.WinBlueBook.com

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Welcome to our video podcast - Schramsberg Vineyards - Video Show #25.

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The origins of Schramsberg Vineyards began in 1862, when immigrant Jacob Schram bought some acreage on a hillside in Napa Valley. He was a barber at the time, but had lofty intentions of growing grapes and making wine in this wild area. By the 1880s, Jacob had quit barbering and was making 12,000 cases of award winning wines - mostly Riesling, Hock, Burgundy and Chasselas. Jacob’s death in 1905 and prohibition resulted in a series of sales over the next 50+ years, until finally the property was bought by Jack and Jamie Davies in 1965.

Join us as we follow Schramsberg winemaker Craig Roemer through caves filled with bottles of sparkling wines, and see how riddling is done. Then, it’s on the watch the disgorgement on the bottling line and finally a sabering of the bottle.

For More Information on Schramsberg Vineyards: www.schramsberg.com

When Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, a member of the English branch of the Rothschild family, purchased Pauillac’s Château Brane-Mouton in 1853, he founded what would become a Bordeaux powerhouse. Classified in 1855 as a second growth (”a first among seconds”), it would take almost 120 years to gain back what arguably should have been Mouton’s in the first place - classification as a first growth. Through most of the 20th Century, Baron Philippe de Rothschild was the guiding force of Mouton. From his decision to bottle the wines at the Château (1924), to his inventive use of artists and sculptors to design new wine labels for each vintage (1945), and from his successful campaign to obtain first-growth status, to his daring partnership with Robert Mondavi to begin Opus One in 1979, Baron Philippe worked tirelessly for Mouton.

Join us as we talk with Mouton’s Managing Director, Hervé Berland, about Mouton’s past, present, and future. His 30 years with Mouton speaks volumes about the loyalty and commitment of its staff.

For More Information on Ch. Mouton Rothschild: www.bpdr.com

Sponsor: Millesima, Your Fine Wine Source: www.millesima-usa.com

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If you like this show check out:

Audio #93: Mondavi - 40 Years in Napa
Audio #211: Opus One

Frederic Magnien always felt destined to follow in his father’s footsteps - indeed, he is the 5th generation in his family to farm vineyards or make wine in Burgundy’s Morey-St-Denis. As winemaker for both his father’s label (Domaine Michel Magnien) as well as his own négoce wines (Maison Frederic Magnien), Frederic approaches both vineyard management and winemaking with an obvious zeal.

Join us as we talk with this introspective yet confident Burgundian winemaker about terroir, balance, and the intricacies of Burgundy.

For More Information on the Wines of Frederic Magnien:www.frederic-magnien.com

Sponsor: North Berkeley Imports: www.northberkeleyimports.com

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Some of the wines made by Frederic Magnien include:

Cotes de Nuits Villages “Croix Violette”
Gevrey Chambertin “Jeunes Rois”
Morey St Denis 1er Cru “Les Ruchots”
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru “Borniques”
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru “Charmes Vieilles Vignes”
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru “Les Cazetiers”
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru “Les Suchots”
Echezeaux Grand Cru
Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

Is it soft cheese with white wine, and hard cheese with red wine? Or, what’s this we have been hearing lately about cheese not even being a good match with wine?

Find out the answers to some of your fromage questions as we listen to this World of Pinot Noir seminar on wine and cheese pairing, and you’ll be saying, ‘cheese, please.’

Moderator: Fred Dame, MD

Speakers:
- Kent Torrey, The Chese Shop of Carmel
- John Priest, Etude - Winemaker
- Mark Peel, Executive Chef / Owner - Campanile Restaurant
- Christine Maguire, Cheese Maker / Owner - Rinconada Dairy

Wines and Cheeses Pairings of the Seminar:

1. Wine - 2004 Etude “Depp Camp” Estate, Carneros
Cheese - Cow Girl Creamery - Mt Tam (USA)
Cheese - Seal Bay (Australia)

2. Wine - 2004 Stoller Estate - Oregon
Cheese - Andante - Crottin (USA)
Cheese - Surfing Goat - Mango Supreme (USA)

3. Wine - 2004 Freeman Sonoma Coast
Cheese - Trentino Grana (Italy)
Cheese - Aged Prima Donna (Holland)

4. Wine - 2000 Arcadian “Pisoni” - Santa Lucia Highlands
Cheese - Pecorino Toscano Stagionato (Italy)
Cheese - Rincondana Diary - Pozo Tomme (USA)

5. Wine - 2004 Wild Horse “Unbridled” Solomon Hills- Santa Maria
Cheese - Vieux Lille - Maroille (France)
Cheese - Le Trou Du Cru - Mini Epoisses (France)

6. 2004 Kawarau Estate Reserve - New Zealand
Cheese - Memoire (Holland)
Cheese - Sottocenere (Italy)

Click Here to download a detailed description of the cheeses: Cheese Detail

For More Information on the 2008 World of Pinot Noir: www.worldofpinotnoir.com

Sponsor: Champagne USA: www.champagne.us

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Click Here: Wine and Cheese Pairing

Imagine having the ability to pair food and wine, while the sommelier stands by ready to offer advice and/or commentary. That’s how the Iron Sommelier Challenge worked at the 2007 World of Pinot Noir. Five sommeliers sat on the panel, and took the attendees through each of the wines (Blind - not knowing the identity of each wine) in a flight of Pinots, comparing and contrasting them with dishes prepared by the Dolphin Inn, here in Shell Beach.

Join us as we hear sommeliers select what they feel are the best food matches from the flight of wines, and why. It was very interesting to hear how the wine notes changed when sampled without food and then with food.

Wines Revealed

A: 2004 Baileyana - Grand Firepeak Vineyards
B: 2004 Buena Vista Carneros - EVS Swan
C: 2003 Clos Du Val - Reserve
D: 2004 Handley Cellars - Reserve
E: 2005 Hug Cellars - Orchid Hill
F: 2004 Lane Tanner - Julia Vineyard
G: 2004 Roessler Cellars - La Brisa
H: 2004 Testarossa - Schultze

Seminar Plates:

- Roast Pekin Duck with Rhubarb Chutney
- Creole Spiced Lamb Tenderloin Carpaccio with Balsamic
- Local Foraged Chantrelles with Midnight Moon Aged Goat Cheese
- Red Onion and Black Currant Marmalade Tart

For More Information on the 2008 World of Pinot Noir: www.worldofpinotnoir.com

Sponsor: Champagne USA: www.champagne.us

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