Chuck Nix-Episode 64 | Wine Talk

Join us as we discuss how Chuck got his start into wine, including some of his earliest mentors. We also discuss the Southern wine culture, the wine scene in Mississippi and some in depth discussion into the representation of women, minorities and colour in wine. We also touch on an initiative called The Southern Sommelier Collective.  
 
Chuck Nix, CSW is a rising star sommelier in the Southern wine scene. Chuck can be found in Jackson, Miss. at Bravo Italian Restaurant, where he curates their wine list and hosts amazing wine dinners and educational sessions. They can be found here- https://www.instagram.com/bravobuzz/
  
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
 
The Southern Sommelier Collective referenced in this episode can be found here-
https://southern-sommelier-collective.raisely.com/
 
Chuck's Instagram content can be found here- https://www.instagram.com/beardedwineaux/
 
Photos and liner notes of all guests appearing on the show can be found on our website-
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For podcast updates and to follow the show as we source out future guests look us up on Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/ianswinetruths/
 
All music found in this podcast is courtesy of the group Shakamoraine-
https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Sarah Heller MW-Episode 63 | Wine Talk

Join us as we discuss how Sarah got her start into wine, including how art played a role and still does, her passion for Italian wine, the Hong Kong micro-wine culture, and some in depth discussion into the MW program.
Plus, discover how Sarah has kept her magic of wine through her visual tasting notes.
 
Sarah Heller MW is a wine expert, visual artist and television host based in Hong Kong and at 32 is the youngest female Master of Wine and Asia-Pacific’s youngest.
Sarah created the branded platform called Radix to engage with projects targeting a new generation of wine lovers in Asia and beyond.  Among these, she is a partner and the buyer for the Almásy Collection of wines, brand ambassador and design collaborator for Lucaris Crystal, sits on the faculty of the Vinitaly International Academy, and is the wine editor for Asia Tatler.
  
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
 
Sarah's website can be found here- http://sarahheller.com/
 
The Champagne article referenced in this episode from Sarah in Tatler Asia can be found here-
https://www.tatlerasia.com/collection/champagne-guide-2022
 
Sarah's Instagram content can be found here- https://www.instagram.com/sarahhellermw/
 
Photos and liner notes of all guests appearing on the show can be found on our website-
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For podcast updates and to follow the show as we source out future guests look us up on Instagram-
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
All music found in this podcast is courtesy of the group Shakamoraine-
https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Steve Bishop & Nick Green-Episode 58 | Elite Wine and Whisky | Wine Talk

Join Steve, Nick and I as we delve into the world of wine and whisky investment. Started 10 years ago, Steve Bishop began Elite Wine and Whisky in London. Joined a year later by Nick Green, these two, and their team navigate the world of investments, focusing mostly on Scottish whisky, Bordeaux and Burgundy. We chat about investing in Californian wines given the volatility of the recent wildfires, the ups and downs of their company coming out of the pandemic, the beauty of visiting distilleries in Scotland and much much more.    
 
We also go into their upcoming re-branding, expansion to Scotland and some fun new bottling and cask options upcoming. 
  
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
 
Follow Elite Wine and Whisky and their journey thru their Instagram.
 
https://www.instagram.com/elitewineandwhisky/
 
Steve and Nick and the rest of the team at Elite Wine and Whisky can be found here on their website-
https://elitewineandwhisky.com/
 
Photos and liner notes of all guests appearing on the show can be found on our website-
 
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For podcast updates and to follow the show as we source out future guests look us up on Instagram-
 
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
All music found in this podcast is courtesy of the group Shakamoraine-
 
They can be followed here: https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Jonah Beer-Episode 57 | From Frog's Leap to Pilcrow Wine | Wine Talk

Join Jonah Beer and I as we discuss the fine wine world that is Napa Valley. Jonah shares the last couple decades of being involved in all things Napa, and his decision to leave Frog's Leap Winery after 18 years. 
 
In this episode, we delve into his wine journey from washing glasses at Stag's Leap Winery, to become general manager of Frog's Leap, to taking the plunge and venturing out with his wife Sara on their own project, Pilcrow Wine. We also chat wine tasting, his amazing wine contacts, and being part of the Somm TV family. 
  
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
 
Follow Jonah's story thru his Instagram.
 
https://www.instagram.com/jonah.beer/
 
Jonah and Sara Beer can be found through their new project, Pilcrow Wine
https://www.pilcrow-wine.com/
 
They can also be found through True North Wine Merchants
 
https://www.truenorthwines.com/
 
Photos and liner notes of all guests appearing on the show can be found on our website-
 
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For podcast updates and to follow the show as we source out future guests look us up on Instagram-
 
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
All music found in this podcast is courtesy of the group Shakamoraine-
 
They can be followed here: https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Justin Heisig & Eric Josefson Jr-Episode 56 | Co-Hosts of The Burn Down Podcast | Wine Talk

Join Eric, Justin and I as we talk about wine and cigars. So many similarities in how to approach both areas, we delve into some of those in our chat. As co-hosts of their own show, they have a great podcasting style, as they are known to shoot the breeze about all sorts of cigar topics and about life in general. Based in New York, they publish a new show each Friday, with some additional youtube or instagram live content from time to time. 
 
In this episode, we go into cigar culture, wine and cigars and how to pair them, how they got into cigars, and how they got into cigar related content on social media. For them, it was taking the cigar club feel and turning that into an online experience.
  
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
 
Their new website can be found here- with links to their podcast stream, youtube channel, Instagram pages, and the members only section of their content- 
https://www.burndownpodcast.com/
 
 
Justin and Eric can be found on their Burn Down Instagram page and their own individual pages-
 
Burn Down IG https://www.instagram.com/burndownpodcast/
 
Justin's IG- https://www.instagram.com/thedappercigar/
 
Eric's IG- https://www.instagram.com/brothercigar_/
 
 
Photos and liner notes of all guests appearing on the show can be found on our website-
 
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For podcast updates and to follow the show as we source out future guests look us up on Instagram-
 
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
All music found in this podcast is courtesy of the group Shakamoraine-
 
They can be followed here: https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Rafael de Lima-Episode 54 | Wine Talk

Rafael de Lima is a wine bar owner which features wine tastings and wine experience tours based in Porto, Portugal. Rafa also started running online wine sessions as he finishes his WSET diploma studies and to try and continue to connect socially with others while we deal with the lack of travel and social interaction during this pandemic.
 
His online sessions include "Wines by the Fireplace", which features a casual conversation to educate and answer questions related to different regions. 
  
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
Rafa's Instagram can be found here- https://www.instagram.com/rafaeldelima91
 
Rafa's wine bar and wine experiences can be found on his website- https://www.rafaeldelima.com/ 
 
Photos and liner notes of all guests appearing on the show can be found on our website-
 
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For podcast updates and to follow the show as we source out future guests look us up on Instagram-
 
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
All music found in this podcast is courtesy of the group Shakamoraine-
 
They can be followed here: https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Randy Ullom-Episode 52 | Kendall Jackson Wines | Wine Talk

Randy Ullom and I talk all things Chardonnay. Ever since the acronym ABC came to light 25 years ago in the NY Times, wine drinkers have debated this polarizing grape. We discuss the legacy of the world's most popular grape, and discover what the current wine world thinks on this topic. As well, we talk about Randy's entry into wine back in the 1970's, his degree in viticulture and enology, and he shares some fun stories about how he got the wine bug while skiing in Chile.       
 
Winemaster Randy Ullom and his signature moustache have overseen the production of Kendal Jackson wines since 1997. As the winemaker for the number-one selling Chardonnay in America for 28 years, Randy is an authority on the subject. He’s been making wine since the 1970’s and with Kendall-Jackson for 28 harvests; he has perfected the winemaking techniques that other winemakers have mimicked for years.
  
Our audio conversation was recorded over Zoom video conferencing with Randy on his cell phone, pulled over in his car somewhere in Mendocino County, California. While his battery died. 
 
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
Kendall Jackson Wines can be found here-
 
https://www.kj.com/
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Randy's photo with thanks from Nicole Berrio of QUINN PR.
 
Photos and liner notes of all guests appearing on the show can be found on our website-
 
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For podcast updates and to follow the show as we source out future guests look us up on Instagram-
 
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
All music found in this podcast is courtesy of the group Shakamoraine-
 
They can be followed here: https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Brett Thiessen-Episode 50 | Wine Talk

Brett Thiessen is the viticulturist for Mount Boucherie Estate Winery and Rust Wine Co. His task is to convert all their grapes, vineyards and land to organic farming. Multiple acres over multiple sites, in multiple appelations spread throughout the Okanagan wine regions is a big task, but Brett is up for the challenge.    
In this episode we go into how he got into wine, his farming background, the personal growth that this job has given him, and where he sees the future of the Okanagan wine landscape for the next generation.  
Our audio conversation was recorded in person from the Summit Room, located in the Mount Boucherie Estate Winery in West Kelowna. 
 
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
  
Brett's Instagram content can be found here-
 
https://www.instagram.com/makingawinemaker/
  
Mount Boucherie and Rust can be found here-
 
https://mtboucherie.com/
 
https://www.rustwine.com/
-
Great photos of all our guests can be found on our website here-
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For all podcast updates and to follow the show look us up on Instagram-
 
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
 
All music in this podcast are courtesy of Shakamoraine-
 
Follow them here: https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Ann Sperling-Episode 48 | Sperling Vineyards | Wine Talk

Ann Sperling is a winemaker and winegrower. She divides her attention between Sperling Vineyards in Kelowna where she manages the winery along with her sister, and the Niagara wine region of Ontario at Southbrook Vineyards, where she focuses on making organic, biodynamic wines.    
In this episode we go into how she got into wine, the family property in Kelowna, growing up in the family wine business, and how that translates to her current philosophies on winemaking. We also talk about a passion project she has in Argentina, where Ann and her husband own a 100 year old Malbec vineyard. 
Our audio conversation was recorded over Zoom conferencing from Southbrook Vineyards in Ontario. 
 
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
  
Sperling Vineyards and their Instagram content can be found here-
 
https://www.instagram.com/sperlingvineyards/
  
 
Sperling Vineyards website can be found here-
 
  https://sperlingvineyards.com/
 
Southbrook Vineyards can be found here-
 
https://www.southbrook.com/
-
Great photos of all our guests can be found on our website here-
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For all podcast updates and to follow the show look us up on Instagram-
 
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
 
All music courtesy of Shakamoraine-
 
Follow them here: https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/

Bobbie Burgess-Episode 47 | Wine Talk

Bobbie Burgess is a sommelier and wine director for Restaurant Tyler in Starkville, Miss. She represents an up-and-coming group of young passionate female sommeliers in smaller wine regions seeking wine education, good wines and some camaraderie with other wine professionals. Through wine clubs, wine tastings, her passion for wine and the food pairings of Chef Ty, Bobbie is creating a burgeoning wine scene in this small Southern town. She was recently named Starkville's rising stars under 35, and credited with starting the local wine culture in her town, focusing on organic, biodynamic, sustainable wines.    
In this episode we go into how she got into wine, epiphany moments, being a young female sommelier in the wine world, how the current Covid pandemic is affecting her profession, mentorship of other sommeliers on her life, and much much more.   
Bobbie recently was given a scholarship with SommCon USA, who awards the top 10 professionals under the age of 30 who are blossoming leaders in the wine industry. 
Our audio conversation was recorded over FaceTime from Restaurant Tyler in Starkville, Miss. 
 
Get ready for a fun conversation. Pull up a chair, grab a glass and enjoy!
  
Bobbie’s Instagram content can be found here-
 
https://instagram.com/thepinupsomm
  
 
Restaurant Tyler can be found here-
 
  http://eatlocalstarkville.com/wp/
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Great photos of all our guests can be found on our website here-
  https://friendsofthevine.podbean.com/
 
 For all podcast updates and to follow the show look us up on Instagram-
 
http://instagram.com/ianswinetruths
 
 
All music courtesy of Shakamoraine-
 
Follow them here: https://facebook.com/Shakamoraine/