It’s Monday, Let’s raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It’s time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let’s begin Exploring the Wine Glass! Today, I am honored to share an episode where the table has been turned on me.

I had the honor of being interviewed by Natalie MacLean. If you are unfamiliar with her, here is her self claimed biography: To fund her late-night vinous habits, Natalie MacLean holds down day jobs as a wine writer, speaker and judge. An accredited sommelier, she is a member of the National Capital Sommelier Guild, the Wine Writers Circle and several French wine societies with complicated and impressive names. Funny, brainy and unapologetically tipsy, her goal in life is to intimidate those crusty wine stewards at fine restaurants with her staggering knowledge.

If you are a regular listener to this podcast, you know I got the opportunity to interview her also! If you missed it, please go back to episodes 253 and 254. I am not use to being on that side of the microphone, so I hope you enjoy!

While you are listening, please take a moment to rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. Ratings are now available, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Audible! Taking one minute of your time is the only way the algorithms will suggest Exploring the Wine Glass to others. Slainte!

Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video

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Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION!

Sláinte!

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It’s Monday, Let’s raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It’s time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let’s begin Exploring the Wine Glass!

Today we’re touching down in the stunning, UNESCO-protected medieval village of Saint-Émilion, a place where the wine flows like time travel and the reviews are occasionally aged in pure bitterness. While most visitors rave about the breathtaking vineyard views and silky smooth Grand Crus , we’re here for the "fresh drama" hiding in the cellar. We’ll explore the "defamatory" BBQ beef, the entitlement of guests who bought 30 bottles but fumed over not getting a free gift , and the "disgraceful" timeline dispute where a brief 10-minute wait somehow morphed into a 90-minute saga of outrage. It’s a vintage blend of world-class hospitality and the ultimate owner clap-backs—so pour yourself a glass and let’s get into the petty side of the Right Bank!

Please take a moment of your time to subscribe, rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. It’s completely free and is a great way to let other wine lovers know about the podcast. Be sure to head over to the website, Exploringthewineglass.com, to read my award winning blog and to see what else I have been up to. And most of all, please tell your friends about the podcast!

Slainte!

Find out more about my Wine Education Classes here

Order Spanish Wine Bingo Game here

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Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video

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It’s Monday, Let’s raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It’s time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let’s begin Exploring the Wine Glass!

The statistics all state the wine consumption is decreasing. According to Statista, wine consumption has dropped 6.75% since 2019 and the International Organization of Vine and Wine says that wine consumption has dropped 2.6% just this last year. In fact, global wine consumption has reached its lowest point since 1996. Enter the world of de-alcoholized wine. Fact.MR has predicted that non-alcohol wine will increase its market substantially in the next ten years; from 2.57 billion to 6.94 billion dollars. And in the forefront of this massive trend is Giesen Wines in New Zealand. I had the pleasure to sit down with Duncan Shouler, Director of Innovation to discuss the process and their goals for this line.

While you are listening, it would be greatly appreciated if you could take one minute to subscribe, rate and review. It takes only a few seconds of your time but means so much to the show. Also, please be sure to check the box for automatic downloads so that new episodes of Exploring the Wine Glass show up in your “next up feed.” The next best way to support Exploring the Wine Glass is to tell your friends. If you enjoy the podcast, your wine loving friends will too. Follow me on all the socials and finally, don’t forget to head to the website, Exploring the Wine Glass.com to read the blog, and sign up for the newsletter to keep up with all the happenings. Slainte!

Find out more about my Wine Education Classes here

Order Spanish Wine Bingo Game here

Earn your Rioja Enthusiasts Certification here

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Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video

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It’s Monday, Let’s raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It’s time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let’s begin Exploring the Wine Glass!

My friend Martha—my fun loving co-host of One Star Winery Reviews—recently made a trip out to Paso Robles. It was the first time we actually met in person and the conversation was effortless, the wine was flowing (along with a few margaritas), and the stories were endless. We even took a detour to see if we could speak to the beyond by seeing John Edwards live. While she was in town, we decided to take our friendship on the road. So, pour yourself a glass of something local, settle in, and listen to our guest appearance on Protecting What Matters, hosted by Barry Fisher.

Please take a moment of your time to subscribe, rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. It’s completely free and is a great way to let other wine lovers know about the podcast. Be sure to head over to the website, Exploringthewineglass.com, to read my award winning blog and to see what else I have been up to. And most of all, please tell your friends about the podcast!

Slainte!

Martha’s Podcast: click here

Protecting What Matters: click here

Find out more about my Wine Education Classes here

Order Spanish Wine Bingo Game here

Earn your Rioja Enthusiasts Certification here

Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video

Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to my YouTube channel

SIGN UP FOR EXPLORING THE WINE GLASS NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES

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Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com.

Please support our sponsors

Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order

GET SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DRACAENA WINES

It’s Monday, Let’s raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It’s time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let’s begin Exploring the Wine Glass!

We’re back in for our final visit to Montepulciano, where the wine is ancient but the attitudes are…freshly ferocious. From a winery that proudly reminds you it’s been there since the year 1200—but still won’t let you use the bathroom unless you’re a “real” customer—to underground tastings where the host seems more interested in flirting and asking “Are you drunk yet?” than talking about tannins, this one is a ride. We’ll meet guests who felt “ripped,” Americans who suspect their tour guide hated their entire country, and owners who respond to one-star reviews with 1,000 years of family history and a side of “too bad!!!”. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when world-class wine collides with world-class pettiness, keep listening—because these grapes come with serious gripes.

Please take a moment of your time to subscribe, rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. It’s completely free and is a great way to let other wine lovers know about the podcast. Be sure to head over to the website, Exploringthewineglass.com, to read my award winning blog and to see what else I have been up to. And most of all, please tell your friends about the podcast!

Slainte!

Find out more about my Wine Education Classes here

Order Spanish Wine Bingo Game here

Earn your Rioja Enthusiasts Certification here

Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video

Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to my YouTube channel

SIGN UP FOR EXPLORING THE WINE GLASS NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES

STITCHER | iTUNES | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | PODBEAN | AUDIBLE | BOOMPLAY

Even ask your smart speaker to play Exploring the Wine Glass

GIVE US A RATING AND REVIEW

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com.

Please support our sponsors

Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order

GET SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DRACAENA WINES

It’s Monday, Let’s raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It’s time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let’s begin Exploring the Wine Glass!

Welcome to another one star winery review,” where the vines are world-class, the views are stunning, and the reviews are… absolutely savage. Today, we’re wrapping up our Montepulciano misadventures with wineries that allegedly buy good ratings with free bottles, hosts more interested in flirting than pouring, reservation “requirements” that appear and disappear like magic, and a restaurant so bad one reviewer said it made McDonald’s look like fine dining. Pour yourself a glass of something affordable and stick around—because if you’ve ever felt ripped off on vacation, this episode will make you feel downright vindicated.

Please take a moment of your time to subscribe, rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. It’s completely free and is a great way to let other wine lovers know about the podcast. Be sure to head over to the website, Exploringthewineglass.com, to read my award winning blog and to see what else I have been up to. And most of all, please tell your friends about the podcast!

Slainte!

Find out more about my Wine Education Classes here

Order Spanish Wine Bingo Game here

Earn your Rioja Enthusiasts Certification here

Find out more about Wines of Galicia here

Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video

Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to my YouTube channel

SIGN UP FOR EXPLORING THE WINE GLASS NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES

STITCHER | iTUNES | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | PODBEAN | AUDIBLE | BOOMPLAY

Even ask your smart speaker to play Exploring the Wine Glass

GIVE US A RATING AND REVIEW

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com.

Please support our sponsors

Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order

GET SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DRACAENA WINES

It’s Monday, Let’s raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It’s time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let’s begin Exploring the Wine Glass!

Today, we are thrilled to be sitting down with a true visionary of the Paso Robles wine scene, the man behind Brecon Estate, Damian Grindley.

From the stunning, high-calcium hills of the Adelaida district, Brecon has quickly established itself as a producer of world-class, distinctive wines, earning high praise and a loyal following. But today, we're focusing on one grape in particular—a varietal that Damian has championed and truly elevated here in Paso Robles: Cabernet Franc.

Please take a moment of your time to subscribe, rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. It’s completely free and is a great way to let other wine lovers know about the podcast. Be sure to head over to the website, Exploringthewineglass.com, to read my award winning blog and to see what else I have been up to. And most of all, please tell your friends about the podcast!

Slainte!

Find out more about my Wine Education Classes here

Order Spanish Wine Bingo Game here

Earn your Rioja Enthusiasts Certification here

Find out more about Brecon Estate here

Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video

Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to my YouTube channel

SIGN UP FOR EXPLORING THE WINE GLASS NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES

STITCHER | iTUNES | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | PODBEAN | AUDIBLE | BOOMPLAY

Even ask your smart speaker to play Exploring the Wine Glass

GIVE US A RATING AND REVIEW

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com.

Please support our sponsors

Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order

GET SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DRACAENA WINES

It’s Monday, Let’s raise a glass to the beginning of another week. It’s time to unscrew, uncork or saber a bottle and let’s begin Exploring the Wine Glass!

We’re heading back to Spain today! Yeah! So far, we've traveled through Galicia’s green coastlines, wandered through the cider-soaked hills of Asturias, and hiked Cantabria’s misty valleys—but today, we’re heading somewhere truly unique. A place that feels like its own little country—because, well, it kind of is. Welcome to País Vasco, also known as the Basque Country. Where the food is world-class, the language predates Latin, and the wines? Oh the wines! Crisp, coastal, and packed with character. This is a place where the Atlantic Ocean crashes into steep green hills, where locals pour wine from impossible heights, and where the language sounds like it was written by Tolkien after a night of pintxos and Txakoli.

So, grab your glass, maybe pour something with a little spritz to it, and let’s dive into the story of Basque wine — a region that’s small in size but enormous in character.

Please take a moment of your time to subscribe, rate and review Exploring the Wine Glass. It’s completely free and is a great way to let other wine lovers know about the podcast. Be sure to head over to the website, Exploringthewineglass.com, to read my award winning blog and to see what else I have been up to. And most of all, please tell your friends about the podcast!

Slainte!

Find out more about my Wine Education Classes here

Order Spanish Wine Bingo Game here

Earn your Rioja Enthusiasts Certification here

Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video

Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to my YouTube channel

SIGN UP FOR EXPLORING THE WINE GLASS NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES

STITCHER | iTUNES | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | PODBEAN | AUDIBLE | BOOMPLAY

Even ask your smart speaker to play Exploring the Wine Glass

GIVE US A RATING AND REVIEW

Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com.

Please support our sponsors

Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order

GET SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DRACAENA WINES