The Real Wine Show

California Cab Fatigue, Hybrids vs. Classics, and a Chillable Minervois Red with Roast Chicken on The Real Wine Show (S8E6) In the season eight finale of The Real Wine Show, we thank our sponsor , the Gabriel Group (www.gabrielgrp.com) and introduce panelists Jason Lyons (assistant winemaker at Social Vines), House Alpens’ Midwest sales manager Megan Heinowski, and Red Wagon Rochester Wine Shop wine director Mick Descamps. Panelists shared their “hot takes,” including boredom with oversaturated California cabernet, appreciating vermouth/oxidative and fortified styles as “wine,” and big suppliers narrowing restaurant lists while accelerating market decline. News topics debate how to position cold-climate hybrids, whether influencer “thirst posting” drives demand, and the Sancerre price/availability pivot to nearby Loire appellations. Glass checks include Bayernmoor Pinot Noir, J.B. Becker Riesling, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Saint-Aubin, and Leflaive Mâcon-Verzé. Chef Jason’s Grape to Plate pairs a light Minervois blend from Clos Centeilles with brined roast chicken, potatoes, and kale; Wine Cipher is won by Mick; an emotive blind reveals a multi-vintage Austrian Grüner blend from aged barrels that were left without being topped, and Megan brings home the big prize! 00:00 Season Finale Kickoff 00:17 Sponsor Spotlight Gabriel Group 01:06 Meet Jason Lyons 01:48 California Cab Debate 03:30 Meet Megan Heinowski 04:24 Vermouth Is Wine 06:19 Meet Mick Descamps 07:11 Big Suppliers Backlash 09:52 Glass Check Tasting Notes 13:39 News Segment Hybrids Future 17:00 Selling Hybrids Smartly 20:28 Social Media Thirst Posting 24:04 Influencers Versus Craft 28:43 What Is Carcavelos 30:37 Rare Carcavelos Deep Dive 31:05 Tasting Notes and Rancio 32:01 Taylor Swift Bottle Banter 32:07 Sancerre Solution Debate 36:45 Downselling and Climate Shift 39:45 Glass Check and Score Update 42:29 Mystery Red Wine Analysis 45:28 Roast Chicken Pinot Pairing 48:13 Sides Potatoes and Kale 52:44 Reveal Minervois Blend 53:18 Chillable Red Reveal 53:56 Brining Poultry Practical Hack 55:13 Why Not Brine Steak? 56:41 Wine Cipher Game 57:10 Decoding Tasting Notes 01:00:45 Emotive Blind Setup 01:04:09 Springtime Wine Stories 01:09:39 Scores and Winner 01:10:22 Blind Wine Unveiled 01:12:21 Wrap and Final Toast

America Still Doesn’t Get Wine: Three Wine Biz Owners on Culture, Community, and the Magic We're Missing. Discover why South African wine is poised to win, if America has a problem appreciating wine, and find out which Friulian chardonnay gives sunny, Greek beach vibes! (The Real Wine Show S8E5). Episode five of season eight opens with a shout-out to sponsor Gabriel Group ( www.gabrielgrp.com ) and introduces panelists Tommy York (owner of Ann Arbor wine hotspot and cafe, York), Emily Dorr (Flint community developer and owner of Queen’s Provisions), and Lori Herron (founder of Social Vines Vineyard and Winery in Dexter). Their hot takes include Emily calling for a 2026 “Judgment of Paris” redo with South Africa challenging California, Tommy arguing wine’s “magic” is underappreciated versus beer and spirits, and Lori defending Riesling’s range beyond sweetness. Glass checks include Lalarge-Peugeot Champagne Tradition, Cartell Serena Prosecco, and a Bayernmoor Cellars Pinot Noir from Puget Sound. They discuss a fake “ancient cellar” story and SV Bank’s wine report on hospitality-driven sales and pricing, plus the perils and benefits of NA wine. Chef Jason Bertold’s triple-blind tasting leads to a French style, spring-vegetable risotto matched to rare Coloma Alarije Dorado from Extremadura, Spain. The Wine Cipher identifies 2016 Lynch-Bages and Andre Cold Duck! Emotive blind tasting surprises with a delicious 2020 Pierpaolo Pecorari Chardonnay from Friuli, and Lori wins the game! 00:00 Welcome And Sponsor 00:53 Meet Tommy York (York Ann Arbor) 04:23 Meet Emily Dorr (Queens Provisions Flint) 08:56 Meet Lori Herron (Social Vines Dexter) 11:20 Riesling’s Reputation 12:41 Glass Check! 15:11 Fake News: Ancient Cellar 21:30 NA Wine Debate 24:14 Wine Industry Future 36:13 Score Update Segment 37:20 Grape to Plate w/ Chef Jason 40:34 Springy White Wine 41:31 French Style Risotto 42:52 Aged Carnaroli Rice 43:47 Risotto Cooking Plan 44:56 Vegetable Garnish Prep 46:11 Wine Reveal: a Spanish Alarije 47:57 Practical Hack: Blanching 50:01 Wine Cipher: Bordeaux 55:09 Candy Sparkler comes to the Cipher 01:00:03 Emotive Blind Tasting 01:08:25 Reveal: Friuli Chardonnay 01:09:35 Wines Of The Show 01:11:23 Scores And Farewell

Serious boss ladies get into it with Paper Bottles, Fake Wine Trains, and why stickies rule, plus a grenache-to-lamb pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E4) Special thanks to our sponsor Gabriel Group (gabrielgrp.com) for helping us make another great episode! The show opens with intros to panelists Elisa Weber-Saintin (Little Guy Wine Company, celebrating 19 years; critic of predictable three-Michelin-star dining), Anna Nolan (Russian-born sommelier and co-owner of Vino and Vibes in Utica, aiming to “un-snob” wine), and Kristen Jonna (Michigan wine family royalty and owner of Vinology in Ann Arbor; she follows the moon!). In news debates, they discuss the viability of low-carbon “Frugal Pack” cardboard bottles versus glass, and a (fake) story about Japan’s underground wine trains, prompting talk of Michigan wine trains. Glass checks feature wines including Los Malditos Tempranillo, a Cremant de Loire sparkling wine, and a Slovenian pét-nat. The Wine Cipher note matches Château d’Yquem. On the Grape to Plate segment, Chef Jason Berthold pairs a 2022 McLaren Vale Grenache from Worlds Apart with grilled lamb loin crusted with black trumpet mushroom powder and pomegranate molasses plus chickpeas and grilled onions, sharing a grilling meal-prep hack. An emotive blind tasting generating Sound of Music vibes is revealed as a 2021 Lulu “BB1” Chardonnay/Savagnin blend from the Jura, and a 1975 Rivesaltes dessert wine stands out; Kristen takes home the big win! 00:00 Welcome and Sponsor 01:01 Meet the Panel 02:10 Elisa on Dining Hype 05:09 Anna Unsnobs Wine 07:54 Kristen’s Wine Royalty 10:40 Glass Check Tasting 17:36 Debate Paper Bottles 24:30 Fake News: Wine Trains 31:34 Wine Cipher Challenge 36:12 Dessert Wine Revival 38:22 Grape to Plate 38:44 Chef tastes 40:18 Food Pairing Pivot 42:01 Grilled Lamb Plan 43:41 Mushroom Pomegranate Crust 46:00 Chickpea Ragu Sides 48:09 Bottle Reveal: Grenache 49:07 Practical Hack: Grill Extras 50:22 Second Glass Check 54:20 Somm Slam Event Plug 59:05 Emotive Blind Tasting 01:06:39 Unveiling Lulu BB1 01:08:13 Wines of the Show 01:09:47 Final Scores; Farewell

Champagne Semantics, Vibe Vocabulary, and Howell Mountain Vineyards Zin Pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E3) In episode three of season eight of The Real Wine Show, the hosts thank sponsor Gabriel Group ( gabrielgrp.com ) and introduce panelists Arturo (Mexico-born wine enthusiast pursuing WSET Level 3 with the hot take that there’s no bad champagne), Taylor Johnson (wine director/sommelier in Ann Arbor who rejects seasonal drinking), and journalist/filmmaker Mark Kurlyandchik (arguing wine jargon turns off new drinkers). In glass checks they discuss Lambrusco, a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and a Côte des Bar vintage Champagne. A debate explores replacing technical wine terms with “vibe vocabulary,” emphasizing meeting drinkers where they are while preserving expertise. Another story covers biodynamics and EMF-shielding products, leading to discussion of spirituality, labeling, and consumer information. Wine Cipher and an emotive blind tasting follow, plus Chef Jason Berthold’s Grape to Plate pairing a 2019 Howell Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel with charcoal-grilled dry-aged ribeye, beef-tallow potatoes, and black-garlic chimichurri; the blind wine is revealed as 2019 Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc, and Arturo wins the game! 00:00 Welcome and Sponsor 01:10 Meet Arturo Champagne Take 03:49 Meet Taylor No Seasons 06:44 Meet Mark Storytelling 09:04 Glass Check What’s Pouring 12:52 Vibe Versus Vocabulary 22:18 Biodynamics and Spirituality 31:04 Wine Cipher Tasting Game 35:55 Grape to Plate Setup 36:46 Color and Aromatics 37:26 Tannin and Fruit Structure 38:18 Red Wine Temperature Talk 40:47 Grill Pairing Vision 41:40 Dry Aged Beef Breakdown 44:17 Salt and Seasoning Sidebar 46:04 Wine Opens Up Notes 47:26 Black Garlic Chimichurri 50:19 Bottle Reveal Zinfandel 52:21 Live Fire Cooking Hack 53:37 Emotive Blind Tasting Returns 58:57 Reveal Von Winning Sauvignon 59:44 Wines of the Show and Wrap Thanks for listening, and be sure to Like, Follow, & Subscribe, please! It really helps! :)

Stop playing it safe—it's time for Michigan to find its unique identity through small, thoughtful production. The "Grape to Plate" segment is a masterclass on slow-rendering duck breast with lavender, and we learn the tells of "tasting room theatre". In episode two of season eight of The Real Wine Show, hosts Chaad Thomas and Matt Kuhr announce show sponsor Gabriel Group ( www.gabrielgrp.com ) and introduce panelists Alan Collins (Michigan vineyard project advocating risk-taking for a uniquely Michigan wine identity), wine traveler/judge Bobby Frank, and chef/winemaker Jason Berthold (promoting aging high-acid white wines). They discuss three news topics: billionaire winery acquisitions and their impact on wine’s “soul,” proposed 2026 U.S. ingredient-label transparency and consumer reactions to additives, and AI-driven wine recommendations in tasting rooms versus human sommeliers. During glass checks they taste wines including aged Muscadet and other bottles. The new “Grape to Plate” segment sees Chef Jason conjure a slow-rendered duck breast and swiss chard pan sauce from blind tasting a 2022 Famille Gras Côtes du Rhône. The show includes a Wine Cipher game, the popular emotive blind tasting (revealed as an Italian Ciliegiolo), and ends with Jason taking home the prize! 00:00 Welcome and Sponsor 01:05 Meet Alan Collins 03:42 Meet Bobby Frank 06:02 Meet Chef Jason 07:27 Glass Check 09:54 Billionaires Buying Wineries 15:51 Ingredient Label Transparency 21:14 AI Sommelier Debate 27:28 Grape to Plate Pairing 37:27 Duck Resting Plan 37:49 Chard Wine Pan Sauce 38:41 Jam And Duck Sauce 39:42 Wine Reveal Cote Du Rhone 41:51 Practical Hack: Low And Slow 42:44 Blind Notes Game Begins 42:54 Big Red Guess Chateau Pavie 45:39 Second Cipher Debate 49:56 Riesling Notes Too Easy 52:43 Glass Check #2 55:13 Michigan Wine Collaborative Events Update 56:33 Emotive Blind Tasting 01:03:12 Reveal Italian ciliegiolo 01:05:15 Favorite Wines And Scores 01:07:50 Final Wrap And Thanks May is Michigan Wine Month: Visit www.michiganwinecollaborative.com for event details.

Fifty years after the Judgment of Paris, is the wine world ready for another revolution? The panel dishes on world class Oregon Chardonnay, the chef dishes up buttery roasted oyster with hijiki seaweed, and we get into the growing movement for "Honest Wine" and label transparency, and why, despite the buzz, non-alcoholic wine stills falls short. Season 8, Episode 1 of The Real Wine Show opens by thanking sponsor The Gabriel Group ( www.gabrielgrp.com ), a Midwest hospitality equipment supplier with showrooms and test kitchens. The panel introduces Rebecca Waldron (Bush’s beer/wine/spirits buyer and Michigan Craft Beverage Council member), Dr. Matthew Horkey (wine writer and YouTuber), and Domenico “Mimmo” Musumeci (West Michigan farmer-winemaker behind wine projects including Wine Pirati, emphasizing transparency and ingredient labeling). They debate whether the old world–new world rivalry still matters ahead of the Judgment of Paris 50th anniversary, discuss sommelier culture and blind tasting, and assess expensive no/low-alcohol wines. The group tastes wines including a Riesling pét-nat made with West Michigan oak barrels. On Grape to Plate, Chef Jason pairs an Abruzzo sparkling blend with aromatically baked oysters and hijiki-butter. Segments include a “wine cipher” game, an emotive blind tasting revealed as Amarone, Michigan wine event announcements, the Glass Check, Grape to Plate, and Rebecca winning the episode scoring. 00:00 Season Eight Kickoff 00:15 Sponsor Spotlight: Gabriel Group 01:12 Meet Rebecca Waldron 02:05 Currant Flavor Debate 03:16 Meet Matthew Horkey 04:04 Oregon Chardonnay Case 05:20 Meet Domenico "Mimmo" Musumeci 06:41 Honest Wine Transparency 09:30 News Segment Begins 09:42 Judgment of Paris Revisited 10:32 French Versus American Today 16:23 Glass Check 17:37 Michigan Oak Barrels 20:09 Sommelier Reality Show Talk 24:57 Blind Tasting Mythology 28:59 Luxury Non Alcohol Wines 35:33 Low Alcohol Alternatives 36:57 Michigan Wine Month Events 38:12 Dates and Show Notes 38:36 Grape to Plate w/ Chef Jason Berthold 39:58 Texture and Pairing Ideas 42:22 Oyster Pairing Blueprint 45:49 Hijiki Butter Broiled Oysters 48:10 Wine Reveal and Wrap 51:25 Wine Cipher Funky Note 54:59 Cipher Redemption Round 57:13 Emotive Blind Tasting Game 01:04:09 Blind Wine Reveal: Musella Amarone 01:05:35 Wine of the Show, Final Scores, and Farewell

The panel debates whether "Luxury Wine" is a real quality tier or just a marketing construct used to justify high prices. Plus, industry insiders Jarred Gild, Nick Arone, and Jarett Coy pull back the curtain on how restaurants determine wine list markups and the reality of selling high-end bottles in a changing market. For the season 7 finale (and our 63rd episode!), we grabbed three of the coolest cats on Detroit's progressive wine scene and basically asked them to spill the tea (or, you know, the skin-contact orange wine). Get ready to meet the panel: Jarred Gild: This OG Detroit tastemaker has been ahead of the curve forever. His pioneering wine vision is the secret sauce behind iconic spots like Western Market, Stadt Garden, Pash & Glou, The Schvitz, and the legendary Dakota Inn. Seriously, he's the map to Detroit natural wine history. Nick Arone: The guy who made a splash the moment he rolled into town! Originally from sunny California and rocking a cocktail background, Nick pivoted to pure wine passion and opened Bar Chenin —the super-chic wine haven inside the Siren Hotel. He's got some serious chops with wine, and he serves up some mean sandwiches, too! Jarett Coy (a.k.a. Vino in Detroit): If you're into Detroit's natural wine movement, you already follow this guy! Jarett's Instagram is your pocket guide to the city's best sips and bites, featuring interviews and explorations across the D. Like Gild, he's also a returning guest on the show; will their experience be the advantage that nets one of them the win? What did we talk about? Oh, just everything! We dove deep on topics ranging from: Why the venerable German Wine Queen competition could be the model for a signature Michigan wine event. Is Pet-Nat the perfect "gateway wine" for your White Claw-loving friends? (Spoiler: Maybe!) The imminent proletarian wine revolution ! Rise up and drink the riesling, comrades! Join us for guaranteed laughs, some seriously hot tips on what you need to be drinking right now, and the kind of deeply geeky wine talk that makes you feel smarter and makes your life better. Don't miss this one! Tune in, have a listen, and if you love the episode, do us a solid: Like, follow, or subscribe! Your support keeps the good juice—and the good content—flowing! Cheers! Catch us on Instagram at @therealwineshow

Is the term "Fine Wine" losing its meaning in a market flooded with luxury marketing? Why Australian wines are still MIA in the American market, a debate the future of wine classification, and a deep dive into the traditional world of Mezcal and agave spirits. S7 E5 is, as we say in the podcast biz, a meaty one, ranging from '90s pop movie references to a groundbreaking, highly technical, wine salvage technique, and onto practical suggestions on how to choose a spouse! We also taste wines from Italy, Georgia, and Australia...and opine on what happened to the latter in the USA market. Our panelists for all this fascinating discussion are Cody Formisano of York, and Ann Arbor wine bar and retail spot; Pedro San Antonio, a longtime wine enthusiast and literature prof from Henry Ford Community College; and distiller and winemaker David Landrum, founder of Detroit's first post-Prohibition distillery, Two James. It's a show we know you'll love, and we sincerely appreciate your audience! Please let us know if you enjoyed listening with a heart, like, follow or subscription; the feedback helps us continue to bring you this kind of unique, wine content. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or your preferred podcast source. You can listen and watch on YouTube, and keep up with our schedule and happenings on Instagram, at @therealwine show. Thank you and enjoy!

This episode we ask, is California wine facing a permanent shift in consumer perception, or is it just a temporary slump? Is Veuve Clicquot missing out on Michigan? A debate over the future of domestic wine production, and exploration of the real-world impact of sustainable and regenerative farming on the juice in your glass. The diversity of perspectives on the wine industry is something we love most about the business and something we want most to share with others, so we're extremely delighted to bring this group to the mics! Emily, who as the Executive Director of the Michigan Wine Collaborative, is working not only on the marketing side, but also working closely with producers. Kaira represents the consumer facet, running a wine social club that not only drinks wine, but gets members out in the world to visit wineries, explore dining, and really engage with the lifestyle of wine. Mike owns M4 Distributing, a speciality wine wholesaler focused on natural/organic wines supplying top restaurants and shops across Michigan. Distributors are a critical link in the chain from producer to consumer in 3-tier states like Michigan, so their unique perspective literally shapes what's available. We had a great chat, filled with humor and insight, and think you'll enjoy these three as much as we did! Thanks for listening in!

Has the "Natural Wine" movement lost its rebellious soul to corporate investment and mass marketing? Join guests Chris Hunter, Kassy Fifer, and Kristie Brablec as they debate the commercialization of low-intervention wine and explore how modern wine tourism is shifting toward authentic, farm-to-table experiences. Chris Hunter is well known not only to regular listeners, but also wine-loving travelers through Detroit's Metro airport, where he's been an outstanding presence at wine bar Vino Volo. Kassy is someone you'll love meeting, as her confidence, sportsmanship, and good humor clearly mark her as a force to be reckoned with, and her soon-to-open Bay City wine bar, Calypso, will certainly be a must-visit, too. And returning to the panelist table is our very own, spunky and irreverent co-host, Kristie Brablec, who stepped up to fill in for a guest who left us in the lurch. She does it all for you, dear listeners! So yeah, lots of energy, thoughtful provocation, and laughs in this one; you might not even notice you're learning stuff about the wonderful world of wine, it's so much fun! Set the cruise control or pull up a chair, crank the volume, and enjoy a full 1 hour episode of engaging wine talk! Please Like and subscribe, and follow us on Instagram at @therealwineshow. Your support means a lot to us. Thanks!

Is the "old guard" of Bordeaux finding its way into the glasses of a younger, more adventurous generation? Join our panel as they debate the modernization of classic regions, reveal what’s actually driving the "new school" of American wine imports today, and get a first taste of the new Thomas Acker wines! We're back in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for episode 2 of season 7, graciously hosted by Good Good Good Wine & Flowers. Owners Kyle and Sam run this supercool wine bar and retail shop on Plainfield Ave. NE; stop in if you're town, but be sure to check 'em out and give them a follow on Instagram at @goodgoodgoodgr, too. Kyle also joined our discussion panel, alongside Jaime Haener of wine wholesale distributor AHD Vintners, and Nadim Audi of the acclaimed wine import company Selection Massale. Their conversation was friendly, witty, and disarmingly open, highlighting why we brought the show to GR in the first place: it's a community of terrific wine enthusiasts! Our panelists strategically deciphered the Wine Cipher segment, and easily saw through what we thought were cleverly deceptive, fake wine news stories. You'll also meet Tom Cariano, the winemaker of new, northern Michigan winery, Thomas Acker Wines. One of his wines was tasted blind by the panelists, and you'll love to hear what they thought of it! Settle in and enjoy the discussion, and don't be shy to laugh out loud with us. It's a full 1hr 9mins of quality entertainment. Thanks for listening, and please Like and follow our channel. Please also follow us on Instagram at @therealwineshow.

Are 100-point ratings still relevant, or are modern drinkers moving past the critics? Join guests Amy Ruis, Sean Stearns, and Ben Vanderwaal as they debate the legacy of wine scores and explore the explosive growth of high-quality non-alcoholic and dealcoholized beverages in the market. Welcome to the very first TRWS road show! We packed up the mics and headed west to Grand Rapids, MI, to hang out with the terrific wine community there. We were graciously hosted by Sam and Kyle, whose wine bar and flower shop, Good Good Good, is a real area treasure! We were joined by panelists Amy Ruis, veritably the matriarch of the GR fine wine scene and owner of wine shop Art of the Table; Sean Stearns runs the very cool wine bar Chateau Grand Rapids, and Ben Vanderwaal owns the east town wine shop, Ritual. It's our usual show format, just with an all-new cast, so be ready for a fun-- and often funny!-- wine geek-out! Thanks for listening!

Scholar, philosopher, educator, professional Italian wine authority... Dr. Salvatore Napolitano is one of the most erudite and insightful people in the business. We sat down with Salvatore at his hotel in downtown Detroit before he set out for a day of evangelizing for Sardegna and renowned winery, Sella & Mosca. Of Italian origin, his passion for classical studies brought him to the USA, and today, based in New York, he travels the country spreading the good word about the amazingly diverse world of Italian wine. We had a great chat, and we hope you enjoy listening! Thanks for coming, and don't forget to subscribe; it helps us keep the good content coming!

A rising star in the Rioja wine scene for his elevated and elegant winemaking, exemplified by Con.tacto, a skin-contact, amber viura, Álvaro Loza is also a deeply thoughtful person committed to respecting the land, the vines, and legacy of both family and region. While working in the Michigan market (with distributor Eagle Eye Brands and importer Vino Vi & Co.), he sat down with us for a quick lunch and 10 questions, revealing his deep passion for both grape growing and winemaking. We hope you enjoy getting to know him as much as we did! Thank you for listening!

We're wrapping up Season 6 with a real banger, an episode of exceptional depth, humor, insight, and listenability. All credit is due to our terrific panelists, Alex McNeely of Poetson Wines, Kat McCormack of Decanter & Coupe distribution, and Jimmy Bates of T. Edwards importing, each of whom came ready to play and have fun! You'll enjoy hearing their thoughts on whether we need more business-type folks in the wine industry, grape vaping, and the importance of keeping an eye on the dog when hamburgers and pizza are around. Lots of great stories, terrific insights, and laugh-out-loud moments. We promise this will be one of your favorite episodes yet! Thanks for listening!

It's the episode of the vintage! Well, that's up for you, the listeners, to decide, but we think it's great! Austin Beeman (Travel Bloggers Exchange), Emily Yahkind-Dabish (Sol Summit), and Lena Wellington (Santé Wine Bar) join us for this one, and they have their say about the state of the US domestic wine business, opine that Bordeaux is the most important wine region in the world, and agree that there's no shame in cracking a can of wine when dining home alone. Hot tip of the show? Buy dessert wine at auction!

For Season 6 Episode 3 the show panelists are Mike Fifer of Imperial Beverage, Lori Moss of Little Guy Wine, and Diego Aliste of Stadtgarden Detroit. They're three distinct personalities, each with their own pathway into wine, but they vibe great and fun conversation flows easily, making this a perfect episode when you really need to have your focus elsewhere and don't want to feel like you can't follow the show, but also don't want to listen to senseless, inane, blather. Have we broken the code for fab podcasts, or are we just lucky to sit down with really great folks? Take a listen and let us know what you think!

Chaad and Matt had a great time talking with Tatiana Portillo of Detroit’s Prime & Proper, Brenda Puska of Simply Wine Northville, and .wine distributor Kristen Pennington of Carpe Vinum.

Fun time for S6 E2 comes courtesy of three, dynamic industry insiders with diverse approaches to the business, but a shared sense of humor and passion for people and wine. Mary Davis is the beverage program director at Detroit’s acclaimed Takoi restaurant. Adam Mahler, a returning panelist familiar to regular listeners, is the founder and owner of Ampelography, a Toledo-based wine brokerage house. Sean Mankowski is the regional manager for Taub Family Selections, the fine (mostly Italian) wine division of Palm Bay Imports. We’re posting from our phone here, while on vacation in Italy, so excuse the descriptive brevity and trust us when we say you won’t be disappointed in this episode; it’s a solid hour of entertainment! Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the show, please subscribe to follow and help us the grow the show!

We open Season 6 with topics such as robotic hospitality, parsing "crushed stone impingement" in a tasting note, and how a wine can remind you of that drummer you brought home from the club one night! Our terrific panelists for this show are Shelley Bynum of Detroit Athletic Club, Kimberly Hartnett of Vintage Wine Company, and Elisa Weber of Little Guy Wine. If you like charming, smart, warm, funny and honest conversation, click Play and get ready for one of our best episodes yet!