Episodios

  • Wine (and other booze) in Space: Why, how, and some unexpected weirdness | S21E6
    Mar 27 2026
    Why did researchers send wine to space? Why is wine normally not allowed in space? Why did astronauts smuggle hooch into space anyway? We answer all these questions and more, address wet burps, a toilet tea party, and bring it home with how to smuggle cognac into space in this Season 21 Finale of the Glass in Session® Winecast. Resources from this episode: Websites: BBC: Why astronauts are banned from getting drunk in space, Lufkin, B. (20 February 2017) https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170217-why-astronauts-are-banned-from-getting-drunk-in-space Business Insider: Astronauts are banned from drinking alcohol at work, but this hasn't stopped them from sneaking everything from communion wine to cognac into space, Bhaimiya S. (23 August 2023) https://www.businessinsider.com/space-astronauts-booze-alcohol-drank-ban-examples-2023-8 Cordis Europa: What does fine wine taste like after more than a year in space? (Updated 8 April 2021) https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/429608-trending-science-what-does-fine-wine-taste-like-after-more-than-a-year-in-space Decanter: Petrus Revealed as Wine Aged in Space, Mercer, C. (Updated 25 March 2021) https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/petrus-wine-space-research-project-455239/ Financial Times: Space Wine: What a trip to the stars did for a case of Petrus, Anson, J. (7 April 2021) https://www.ft.com/content/39c6ae7f-d2c8-4584-bac1-bb270c26cf2b London Daily: (27 March 2026) https://londondaily.com/french-wine-that-spent-more-than-a-year-in-orbit-on-international-space-station-could-fetch-1m-at-auction NASA: Meteors and Meteorites Facts https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/facts/ New Scientist: Beer in Space: A short but frothy history, Davidson, A. (31 July 2007) https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12388-beer-in-space-a-short-but-frothy-history/ Russia Beyond: Space Smugglers: How Russian cosmonauts sneak booze into outer space, Levkovich, Y. (12 April 2017) https://www.rbth.com/science_and_tech/2017/04/12/space-smugglers-how-russian-cosmonauts-sneak-booze-into-outer-space_740566 Space.com: Red wine in space may age faster than on Earth, study finds, Weitering, H. (5 May 2021) https://www.space.com/red-wine-in-space-aged-faster Other Podcasts Relevant to this Episode: Jane Anson: Inside Bordeaux Podcasts https://janeanson.com/podcasts Wine Scholar Guild: Mastering Bordeaux … A Primer with Jane Anson (23 March 2018) https://www.winescholarguild.com/blog/wine-culture/podcast-jane-anson-andrew-jefford-on-bordeaux Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode: S3E5: Wine and Oxygen from Grapes to Glass https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e5-wine-oxygen-from-grapes-to-glass S21E4: Booze Disasters https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/booze-disasters-s21e4 S21E5: Little Red Riding Hood's Wine - Fairy Tale Turned Drunk History? https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/little-red-riding-hoods-wine-fairy-tale-turned-drunk-history-s21e5 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.)
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    13 m
  • Little Red Riding Hood's Wine: Fairy Tale Turned Drunk History? | S21E5
    Mar 13 2026
    This episode explores some controversial silliness over a bottle of wine that shows up in a classic fairy tale. We take a look at the history, and then cassually address the wine Little Red Riding Hood may have actually hauled through the woods to her ailing grandma in rural 19th century Germany. We end with a crazy pairing ... all in the spirit of entertainment. Resources from this episode: Websites: Banned Books Weekly: Guardians of The Fairy Tale - The Brothers Grimm, O'Niell, T. https://bannedbooksweek.weebly.com/the-banning-of-grimmsrsquo-fairytales.html Britannica: Little Red Riding Hood https://www.britannica.com/topic/Little-Red-Riding-Hood DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office): Rotkäppchen Sparkling Wine (Updated 10 December 2025) https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/about_us/history/30yearsofgermanunity/eastbrands/rotkaeppchen/index.html Daily Gazette: Calif. Elementary School Bans Little Red Riding Hood (19 May 1990) https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19900519&id=SWMhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bIkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3413,5003771 Forbes: This Sparkling Wine Survived Nationalization and Privatization to Become Germany's Favorite, Persio, S. L. (Updated 14 November 2019) https://www.forbes.com/sites/sofialottopersio/2019/11/11/this-sparkling-wine-survived-nationalization-and-privatization-to-become-germanys-favorite/ Mirriam-Webster: Bocksbeutel https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bocksbeutel Seattle Times: Little Red Riding Hood Banned, AP, (19 May 1990) https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900519/1072598/little-red-riding-hood-banned Smithsonian Magazine: There Are 58 Versions of Little Red Riding Hood, Some are 1,000 Years Older Than the Brothers Grimm's, Nuwer, R. (15 November 2013) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/there-are-58-versions-of-little-red-riding-hood-some-1000-years-older-than-the-brothers-grimms-180947704/ University of Pittsburgh: Folklore Archives, The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales (Grimms' Fairy Tales), [No. 26, Little Red Cap], Ashliman, D.L. https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm026.html University of Pittsburgh: Grimm Brothers' Home Page, Ashliman, D.L. https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm.html Wine Atlas: Saale-Unstrut https://www.wine-atlas.org/regions/saale-unstrut Wines of Germany: Franken https://winesofgermany.co.uk/regions/franken/ Wines of Germany: Rotkäppchen Sparkling Wine Cellar https://www.winesofgermany.com/our-regions/highlight-of-wine-culture/354/rotkäppchen-sparkling-wine-cellar WorthPoint: Little Red Riding Hood Wine Advertising Rotkappchen Freiburg Germany 1010s https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/little-red-riding-hood-wine-4577027708 Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode: S7E2: Wines of Anjou, the Musketeers … and a Salad to Go? https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s7e2-wines-of-anjou-the-musketeers-and-a-salad-to-go S16E1: Austrian and German Sekt https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/austrian-and-german-sekt-s16e1 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.)
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    15 m
  • Booze Disasters | S21E4
    Feb 27 2026
    This episode explores some of history's tragic booze disasters, and while we're at it, lays down some geeky booze knowledge. It is first in a new series of potable potpourri podcast episodes this season. Resources from this episode: Websites: ABC 7 Chicago: 8,000 gallons of Prosecco spew out of tank after wine distillery explosion, CNN, (4 October 2018) https://abc7chicago.com/post/8k-gallons-of-prosecco-spew-out-of-tank-after-blast/4412259/?userab=abcn_du_cat_topic_feature_holdout-474*variant_b_redesign-1939,abcn_news_for_you_exp-528*variant_a_control-2203 All That's Interesting: When Burning Whiskey Flooded Dublin's Streets, 13 Died Drinking Booze Out of Their Boots, Margaritoff, M. (Updated 18 December 2024) https://allthatsinteresting.com/dublin-whiskey-fire Great Italian Food Trade: Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG: A guide to excellence and stability, Dongo, D. (14 February 2026) https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/en/vino-italiano/conegliano-valdobbiadene-prosecco-docg-guida-sostenibilita/ History: The London Beer Flood - On October 17, 1814, a brewery accident unleashed a deadly tidal wave of beer through a London Neighborhood in one of history's strangest disasters, Klein, C. (Updated 27 May 2025) https://www.history.com/articles/london-beer-flood History Press UK: The London Beer Flood (17 October 2016) https://thehistorypress.co.uk/article/the-london-beer-flood/ The Irish Times: The night a river of whiskey ran through the streets of Dublin, Ruxton, D. (3 August 2016) https://www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/the-night-a-river-of-whiskey-ran-through-the-streets-of-dublin-1.2743517 Liberties Dublin: Keep Discovering the Liberties https://libertiesdublin.ie/visit-the-liberties/ Prosecco.wine: Prosecco DOC - 667 Milioni di Bottiglie Nel 2025 (13 January 2026) https://www.prosecco.wine/prosecco/ Smithsonian Magazine: This 1814 Beer Flood Killed Eight People - More than a hundred thousand gallons of beer burst onto the streets of London when a vat broke, Eschner, K. (4 August 2017) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1814-beer-flood-killed-eight-people-180964256/ Time: Thousands of Gallons of Prosecco Wasted in Dramatic Viral Winery Explosion (4 October 2018) https://time.com/5415344/prosecco-explosion/ VinePair: Veneto Winery Loses 30,000 Liters of Prosecco after Tank Explosion, McKirdy, T. (3 October 2018) https://vinepair.com/booze-news/prosecco-winery-explosion/ Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode: S7E3: Booze Riots and Rebellions, Part 1 - Champagne & Whiskey https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s7e3-booze-riots-and-rebellions-part-1-champagne-whiskey S7E4: Booze Riots and Rebellions, Part 2 - Rum https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s7e4-booze-riots-and-rebellions-part-2-rum S7E5: Booze Riots and Rebellions, Part 3 - Lager Beer and Eggnog Riots https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s7e4-booze-riots-and-rebellions-part-3-lager-beer-and-eggnog-riots 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.)
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    14 m
  • Muscat Grape Love | S21E3
    Feb 13 2026

    This episode explores main muscat wine grape varieties, the many wine styles, a little history, and terminology … all to help you fall in love with new styles of wine - and other beverages - made with this ancient grape that is still very much loved around the world. Just in time for Valentine's Day!

    Resources from this episode:

    Books:

    Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viticulture (Princeton Science Library Book 76) [Kindle Version], McGovern, P. (2003)

    Grapes and Wines: A comprehensive guide to varieties and flavours, Clarke, O. and Rand, M. (2010)

    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:

    Italian Wine Central: Moscato https://italianwinecentral.com/variety/moscato/

    Muscat Wines: Muscat Wines of the United States https://www.muscat-wines.com/muscat-wines/muscat-wines-of-the-united-states/

    Vinopedia: Muscat https://vinopedia.org/wiki/Muscat

    Vins Alsace: Fresh & Dry Muscat d'Alsace https://www.vinsalsace.com/en/gouts-et-couleurs/cepages/frais-et-secs/muscat-dalsace/

    Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:

    S1E6: Doing the Diois - Clairette de Die Sparkling Wine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s1e6-doing-the-diois-clairette-de-die-sparkling-wine

    S3E1: Asti DOCG - Bubbles in the New Year, Decade, and Season! https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e1-asti-docg-bubbles-in-the-new-year-decade-and-season

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

    S6E2: A Pisco Party! https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s6e2-a-pisco-party

    S6E3: A Sweet, Sticky Story - Rutherglen Fortified Wines https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s6e3-a-sweet-sticky-story-rurtherglen-fortified-wines

    S14E4: Constantia - The wine, the place, the history, and juicy bits https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/constantia-the-wine-the-place-the-history-and-juicy-bits-s14e4

    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.)

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    16 m
  • A Whisky Sweater for Burns Night (Whisky Re-Release)
    Jan 24 2026

    In addition to this re-release of "Whisky, Burns Night, and … Beerhenge?" (Originally Released Jan 28, 2022 ) I give a new, quick introduction to Burns night before treating you to this episode on whisky, in which I discuss: what it is, a little history, how it's produced, distinguishing the styles, and a little silliness (because your host cannot help herself).

    Just the thing for a cold, January in the northern hemisphere on this weird third rock from the sun.

    Resources from this episode:

    Books:

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

    The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails [Kindle Edition], Wondrich, D & Rothbaum, N., (2022)

    Whiskey: The Definitive World Guide, Jackson, M. (2005)

    The World Atlas of Whisky [2nd Edition], Broom, D. (2014)

    Websites:

    Difford's Guide: On this Day - 25 January, Sutcliffe, T. & Difford, S., (2020) https://www.diffordsguide.com/on-this-day/january/25

    Independent: How to Address you Haggis in Honor of the Great, According to Robert Burns, Sommerlad, J. (25 January 2022) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/address-to-the-haggis-burns-night-b2000134.html

    Merriam Webster: Auld lang syne: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auld%20lang%20syne

    Scotch Whisky: Famous Whisky Drinkers - Robert Burns, Smith, G.D., (25 January 2016) https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/famous-whisky-drinkers/8261/famous-whisky-drinkers-robert-burns/

    Some of Val's Favorite Whisky Personalities:

    Whiskycast: Cask Strength Conversation, by Mark Gillespie - https://whiskycast.com/

    The Unwritable Rant: Bourbon-Soaked Stories, by Juliette Miranda - https://theunwritablerant.com/

    Related Topics by Glass in Session®:

    S7E3: Booze Riots and Rebellions, Part 1 - Champagne & Whiskey - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/glassinsession/id/19435472

    S4E6: Got Wood? Talkin' bout Oak - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/glassinsession/id/15334700

    S4E5: Roll out the (Bourbon) Barrel ... and put Wine in it? - https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/glassinsession/id/15148409

    S13E5: Bourbon: The Distinctly American Spirit https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/bourbon-the-distinctly-american-spirit

    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

    Bourbon Segment: "Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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    28 m
  • Chardonnay Rose | S21E2
    Jan 23 2026

    This episode explores the pink mutation of the Chardonnay grape, and why it's now in the pantheon of Champagne's primary grape varieties.

    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:

    Champagne Education [Comité Champange]: Chardonnay Rose (9 January 2026) https://www.champagne.education/en/chardonnay-rose-champagne

    Comité Champagne: Grape Varieties https://www.champagne.fr/en/about-champagne/a-great-blended-wine/champagne-and-its-grape-varieties

    Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Agro-Alimentaire, et de la Souveraineté Alimentaire: Bulletin Officiel - Cahier des Charges du 07-08-2025 [Cahier des charges de l'appellation d'origine contrôlée "Champagne" homologué par l'arrêté du 31 juillet 2025 (AGRT2518163A)] https://info.agriculture.gouv.fr/boagri/document_administratif-677d59b2-d392-4220-9fa3-e65dbc723244

    PIWI International: The "Voltis" grape variety has been approved for the production of Champagne AOC, Rebsorten & Züchtung (21 February 2022) https://piwi-international.org/en/2022/02/grape-variety-voltis-was-released-for-the-production-of-champagne-aoc/

    Wine Business: Pink Chardonnay, a Forgotten Grape Variety that is Regaining its Place in Champagnes Heritage (20 October 2025) https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/309480

    Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:

    S3E3: Wine Caves - Dishing the Dirt https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e3-wine-caves-dishing-the-dirt

    S15E2: Champagne Part 2 - Grape to Glass https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/champagne-part-2-grape-to-glass

    S16E3: Belgian Wines (updated) and PIWI Grapes (re-release) https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/belgian-wines-updated-and-piwi-grapes-s16e3-re-release

    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.)

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    8 m
  • Sparkling Wines of Limoux | S21 E1
    Jan 9 2026

    This episode explores some of the world's first sparkling wines, their styles, and a little history from the "Soul of Southern France."

    Resources from this episode:

    Books:

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

    Websites:

    Limoux AOC: Les AOP de Limoux https://www.limoux-aoc.com/les-vins#les-vins-aop-de-limoux

    Limoux AOC: Limoux Wines https://www.limoux-aoc.com/en

    Medium: Exploring Echoes: The Birth of Champagne - How Monk Dom Pérignon Didn't Actually Invent It, De Wolfe, A. (6 April 2025), https://medium.com/exploring-echoes/the-birth-of-champagne-how-monk-dom-pérignon-didnt-actually-invent-it-af7cc99fd039

    Provence and Beyond: Saint Hilaire Abbey Collins, R. (2019) https://www.beyond.fr/sites/st-hilaire-abbey.html

    Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:

    S1E6: Doing the Diois - Clairette de Die Sparkling Wine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s1e6-doing-the-diois-clairette-de-die-sparkling-wine

    S5E1: A Pét-Nat Chit Chat https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s5e1-a-pt-nat-chit-chat

    S13E2: American Rosé - The Story of our Red, White and Blush https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/american-ros-the-story-of-our-red-white-and-blush

    S15E2: Champagne Part 2 - Grape to Glass https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/champagne-part-2-grape-to-glass

    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.)

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    11 m
  • The Eggnog Riot of 1826 (re-release)
    Dec 24 2025

    "Get your dirks and bayonets... and pistols if you have them." A quote heard during the Eggnog Riot at West Point on Christmas Eve in 1826.

    This is a quick re-visit of part of the Booze Riots and Rebellions series from Season 7.

    Happy Holidays & Cheers ~

    Resources from this episode:

    Websites:

    Big Think: The Boozy and Violent Story Behind America's Eggnog Riot, Davis, M. (2018) https://bigthink.com/culture-religion/what-was-the-eggnog-riot?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1

    How Stuff Works: Ridiculous History - When West Point cadets rioted over eggnog in 1826, Dove, L. L. (2015) https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/ridiculous-history-heres-why-west-point-cadets-rioted-eggnog-1826.htm

    US Army: The Eggnog Riot, Funck, C. S., (2010) https://www.army.mil/article/49823/the_eggnog_riot

    Podcasts:

    Stuff You Missed in History Class: The Eggnog Riot https://www.iheart.com/podcast/stuff-you-missed-in-history-cl-21124503/episode/symhc-classics-eggnog-riot-75374468/

    Related Glass in Session® Episodes:

    S7E3: Booze Riots and Rebellions, Part 1: Champagne and Whiskey https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s7e3-booze-riots-and-rebellions-part-1-champagne-whiskey

    S7E4: Booze Riots and Rebellions, Part 2: Rum https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s7e4-booze-riots-and-rebellions-part-2-rum

    S7E5: Booze Riots and Rebellions, Part 3: Lager Beer and Eggnog Riots [full episode] https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s7e4-booze-riots-and-rebellions-part-3-lager-beer-and-eggnog-riots

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

    Website: GlassInSession.com

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    8 m