Wine 101

I don't know if we think about this much, but American wine is part of global Wine history. We have looked to Europe for inspiration in the past, but what's happening now in the United States is one of the most unique wine cultures in existence. So I want to start documenting this moment in our history, and for the first one, I want to talk to MJ Towler, The Black Wine Guy from the Wine Beats & Life podcast, about his Grenache Fest. Yeah, Grenache- there's a Grenache festival in Washington state every year. This is how we do wine in America. It's awesome. What a great interview. What a great conversation with my good friend MJ.

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On this special episode of Wine 101, we share with you an episode that ran on The VinePair Podcast earlier this month. Adam speaks with Barefoot winemaker Jen Wall about her long history with the brand, how it has grown into one of the largest players in the American wine industry, their ongoing partnership with the National Football League, and their recent launch into TetraPak single-serves.

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Literally, quiet. I recorded this episode in one take at an art studio in Headlands State Park, California, so my voice is a bit chill. Every morning, I headed up into wine country with no plans, and it was amazing.

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Adam Wolf of Safforn Fields Vineyards joins to talk about the Willamette Valley White Pinot Noir Fest. I asked him to come to further show how we celebrate wine in the US, like no other place on earth.

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A recap and some thoughts on our first wine YouTube series, The Great American Wine Tour, and how it maps out the history of American wine, a story at a time.

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Are big wineries the enemy? Are small wineries pure? Let's look at some factors.

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Now that we have an idea of this chemical's history, let's look at how it affects wine. This episode is filled with data, and most of it was provided by Gabriella Macari of Macari Vineyards, whom I thank tremendously for sharing her knowledge.

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Being one of the most talked-about chemicals in wine online, let's go back in time and find out where Glyphosate came from and how it became what it is today.

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Sometimes, the wine world talks about yeast as if it floats in the air, blessing grape must with the power of fermentation. The reality is a bit messier, but just as awesome.

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What was once considered regional flavor would be exposed as a spoilage yeast that denies a wine its natural grape character. And it wasn't wine that figured it out.

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This episode begins a journey to investigate the reality behind online noise, including debates like ambient yeast vs. cultured yeast and claims about glyphosate. In true Wine 101 style, we start with history for context, then dive into chemistry and data. We start with the history of humans' interaction with a single-celled organism and grape juice.

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In this ongoing historic shift we are seeing in the VinePair tasting room, Sauvignon Blanc emerges as yet another variety in the US that offers a wider spectrum of expressions than anywhere else in the world.

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This is the best time in the history of the US to be drinking American wine from all over the country. It is also one of the best moments to begin pivoting to heavier support of domestic wine.

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Recently on the Vinepair Podcast, Adam and Zach tackled the idea of tradition in wine. Give it a listen! I haven't stopped thinking about it, and I thought I would riff a little on the matter, with some historical context.

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The history of American wine is still being written. And Maryland is the next chapter. Wait until you taste these wines.

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Yet another historic shift has been observed with Chardonnay in the United States, creating a spectrum that is unlike any other.

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The tower on the hill finally emerges as the future first growth it’s destined to be—but not without a bit of drama.

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As the land that will one day become a famous First Growth Chateau changes ownership, the future of this coupe is set in motion.

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With war looming, a knight sets his eyes on a plot of land in the Médoc. A brief prologue introducing the history and origins of this iconic Bordeaux First Growth.

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We are at the point in our wine history where comparisons to Bourgogne are becoming less and less relevant.

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