In this season finale we explore the Verdicchio wines of Le Marche's Jesi and Matelica appellations.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023)

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)

Websites:

Britannica: Sharecropping https://www.britannica.com/topic/sharecropping

Do Bianchi: From sharecropper to landowner, an Italian Parable (26 June 2013) Parzen, J. https://dobianchi.com/2013/06/26/italy-sharecropping-mezzadria/

Istituto Marchigiano di Tutela Vini: Verdicchio https://www.imtdoc.it/verdicchio/

Italian Wine Central: https://italianwinecentral.com/

Quattrocalici: Il Vino Nelle Marche - Vitigni, Vino, Enogastronomia https://www.quattrocalici.it/regione/Marche/

Wine Two Five: Episode 163 - Grape Gab - Getting Geekio with Verdicchio (24 May 2018) https://www.winetwofive.com/episode-163-mays-grape-gab-getting-geekio-with-verdicchio/ (*note: this website will be taken down in January 2026, but this episode and most of the others will remain on the podcast's YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@winetwofivepodcast1721)

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi: https://www.verdicchiodeicastellidijesi.it/

Vinous: New Releases from the Marche: Life Beyond Verdicchio? D'Agata, I. (14 February 2018) https://vinous.com/articles/new-releases-from-the-marche-life-beyond-verdicchio-feb-2018

Glass in Session Episodes Referenced in this Episode:

S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes

S10E5: Montefalco Sagrantino: Wine, Birds, and the King of Everything https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s10e5-montefalco-sagrantino-wine-birds-the-king-of-everything

Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: "Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Orvieto is a clifftop city, a wine region, and a wine culture all its own with a rich history loaded with silly anecdotes. When your host says there's more in a glass of wine than fermented grape juice, she's not kidding, and Orvieto is an excellent example of that.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023)

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)

Websites:

Antinori: Cervaro della Sala https://www.antinori.it/en/vino/cervaro-della-sala-en/

Britannica: Orvieto https://www.britannica.com/place/Orvieto

Consorzio Vino Orvieto: http://www.consorziovinidiorvieto.it

Italian Wine Central: Orvieto https://italianwinecentral.com/denomination/orvieto-doc/

Madonna del Latte: https://www.madonnadellatte.it/en/products/item/orvieto-doc

Orvieto Viva: The History of Orvieto https://www.orvietoviva.com/en/orvieto-history/

Glass in Session Episodes Referenced in this Episode:

S2E2: Behind Botrytis - Beautiful Wines from Ugly Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e2-behind-botrytis-beautiful-wines-from-ugly-grapes

S10E5: Montefalco Sagrantino - Wine, Birds, and the King of Everything https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s10e5-montefalco-sagrantino-wine-birds-the-king-of-everything

Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music:

"Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Just in time for spooky season we explore a treat of a fine spirit with a tricky past.

Absinthe: what it is, how it behaves in the glass, the deal on wormwood, a brief history, and some thujone theory.

Please absinthe responsibly, and apologies for the historical nugget on dog flatulence.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Absinthe: History in a Bottle, Conrad, B. (1988)

The Drunken Botanist: The plants that create the world's great drinks. Stewart, A. (2013)

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, McCullough, D. (2012)

Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide, Nickles, J. (2020)

Academic Journals/Papers:

Chemistry Central Journal (5:44): Determination of the biologically active flavour substances thujone and camphor in foods and medicines containing sage (Salvia officinalis L.), Walch, S. Kuballa T., Stühlinger, W., Lachenmeier, D., (21 July 2011)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3155476/

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (97(8)): α-Thujone (the active component of absinthe): γ-Aminobutyric acid type A receptor modulation and metabolic detoxification, Höld, K., Sirisoma, N., Ikeda, T., Narahashi, T., Casida, J., (11 April 2000), pp. 3826 - 3831, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC18101/

Websites:

Cocktail Safe: Wormwood and thujone safety information for cocktails https://www.cocktailsafe.org/wormwood-and-thujone.html

The Spirits Business: The 10 most famous absinthe drinkers, Hopkins, A. (2014) https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2014/08/the-10-most-famous-absinthe-drinkers/

The Nachtkabarett: Mansinthe, Kushner, N. http://www.nachtkabarett.com/mansinthe

Wormwood Society: Absinthe Original D- Don't believe the hype, Robinson, B., (24 November 2009) https://wormwoodsociety.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=665&catid=16&Itemid=233

Podcasts:

Glass in Session® Winecast: S1E2: Aperitif Wines (2019) https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s1e2-aperitif-wines

Wine Two Five: Anise Spirits and a Nice (Wine!) Surprise (2018) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anise-spirits-and-a-nice-wine-surprise/id986650051?i=1000415280141

Wine Two Five: Boos & Booze: Spooky Wine & Spirits Stories (2015) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/boos-booze-spooky-wine-spirits-stories/id986650051?i=1000355843969

Glass in Session® (including Absinthe!) swag: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: "Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

An exploration of the origins of Super Tuscans & the spirit of free thinking, progress, and stepping (or sippng) outside the box.

Resources from this episode:

Websites:

Antinori: The Antinori Family https://www.antinori.it/en/family/

Author's Calendar: Giosuè Carducci (1835 - 1907) https://authorscalendar.info/carducci.htm

Bolgheri DOC: https://www.bolgheridoc.com/en/wines/

Discover Tuscany: The Etruscan Coast https://www.discovertuscany.com/the-etruscan-coast/bolgheri.html

Forbes: Among Tuscan Red Wines, Carmignano Ranks With The Best And At A Lower Price, Mariani, J. (3 March 2025) https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmariani/2025/03/03/among-tuscan-red-wines-carmignano-ranks-with-the-best-and-at-a-lower-price/

Italian Wine Central: Bolgheri https://italianwinecentral.com/denomination/bolgheri-doc/

Masseto: https://www.masseto.com/en/the-winery/

Museo Galileo (Institute and Museum of the History of Science) Reclamaiton in Tuscany https://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/itineraries/itinerary/ReclamationTuscany.html

Orenellaia: https://www.ornellaia.com/en/

Quattrocalici: Wine in Emilia-Romagna https://www.quattrocalici.com/regions/emilia-romagna/

SCRIBD: Hymn To Satan: https://www.scribd.com/document/669538347/Hymn-to-Satan

Tenuta San Guido https://www.tenutasanguido.com/en/sassicaia-en

Wines of Tuscany: https://wineoftuscany.com/about/

Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:

S3E6: A Maremma Wine, Cowboys, and a Little Pope https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e6-a-maremma-wine-cowboys-and-a-little-pope

S12E5: Wines of the Tuscan Wine Archipelago https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/wines-of-the-tuscan-archipelago-s12e5

S19E4: The Wines and the Region of Lombardia https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/the-wines-and-the-region-of-lombardia-italy-s19e4

S20E2: A Quick Exploration of Emilia Romagna Wine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/a-quick-exploration-of-emilia-romagna-wine

Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music:

"Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Emilia Romagna: An exploration of North-Central Italy's eclectic collection of wines and vines.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023)

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)

Websites:

Britannica: Emilia-Romagna https://www.britannica.com/place/Emilia-Romagna

Italian Wine Central: Liguria https://italianwinecentral.com/region-province/liguria/

Quattrocalici: Wine in Emilia-Romagna https://www.quattrocalici.com/regions/emilia-romagna/

Emilia-Romagna Turismo: Reggio Emilia, the City of Resistance https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/itineraries/reggio-emilia-city-of-resistance

Emilia-Romagna Turismo: Wines from Emilia-Romagna https://emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en/food-valley/wines

Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:

S2E1: Lambrusco Love Fest https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e1-lambrusco-love-fest

S2E5: Hello Vino Novello! https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e5-hello-vino-novello

S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes

S11E4: Corsican Wine, Grapes, History … and a Grave with Goblets https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s11e4-corsican-wine-grapes-history-and-a-grave-with-goblets

S12E6: Croatia Corkdorkery https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/croatia-corkdorkery-s12e6

S19E4: The Wines and the Region of Lombardia, Italy https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/the-wines-and-the-region-of-lombardia-italy-s19e4

Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music:

"Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

An exploration of the wines and the region of Liguria on Italy's northwestern coast

Resources from this episode:

Books:

The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023)

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)

Websites:

Britannica: Dorian https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dorian

Britannica: Liguria https://www.britannica.com/place/Liguria

Italian Wine Central: Liguria https://italianwinecentral.com/region-province/liguria/

Quattrocalici: Il Vino nella Liguria: https://www.quattrocalici.it/regione/Liguria/

Unesco World Heritage Convention: Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/826

Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:

S2E5: Hello Vino Novello! https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e5-hello-vino-novello

S2E6: Marsala https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s2e6-marsala

S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes

S11E4: Corsican Wine, Grapes, History … and a Grave with Goblets https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s11e4-corsican-wine-grapes-history-and-a-grave-with-goblets

S12E3: Madeira Primer https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/madeira-primer-s12e3

S19E4: The Wines and the Region of Lombardia, Italy https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/the-wines-and-the-region-of-lombardia-italy-s19e4

S19E6: The Great White wines of Piemonte, a Nymph, a Rascal, and a Princess https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/the-great-white-wines-of-piemonte-a-nymph-a-rascal-and-a-princess-s19e6

Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music:

"Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)