This week’s guest is Recently named as one of “the 50 most influential women in the wine trade,” and as “a leading woman in wine,” Lisa Granik MW entered the field following an earlier career as a lawyer and law professor. Having worked in wine production, retail, import and distribution channels, she has worked with both small and large wholesalers and importers around the United States. Her writings on wine have appeared in publications such as Sommelier Journal, The World of Fine Wine, and The New York Times. Lisa became a Master of Wine in 2006. She has a BS and MS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, a JD from Georgetown, her LL.M and doctorate from Yale Law School.

Lisa and MJ discuss her unconventional path to becoming a Master of Wine, imposter syndrome, how wine is like people, where to get the best steak in Philly, Lisa’s time in the Soviet Union, and why she left litigation behind.

A huge thank you to Lisa Granik

Follow Lisa on IG at @lisagranikmw

For more information, check out Tastingworks website at http://granikmw.com/

This episode’s in studio wines:

• Kapistoni Tavkveri
• Kapistoni Chinebuli
• Zulal Areni Vayots Dzor

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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers!

Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.

For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at

Blackwineguy.com

Follow MJ @blackwineguy

Thank you to our sponsor: Taub Family Selections. Taub Family Selections is a dynamic fourth generation, family-owned wine import company with a truly enviable portfolio of fine wines from 11 countries. They are proud to represent an exceptional portfolio of high quality, terroir centric and historic producers from around the world, including Italy and France - where they have an exciting roster of burgeoning vignerons from Burgundy coming your way soon.

Learn more at www.taubfamilyselections.com

Thank you to our sponsor: Independence Wine and Spirits - or IWS. IWS is one of the hot up and coming distributors of fine wines and spirits headquartered in New York City. Like Taub Family Selections, IWS is owned by the Taub family, who have re-entered the NY wholesale market, bringing the family back to its roots in distribution where they held court from 1951 – 2004.

To learn more about IWS go to: https://independencewine.com

Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media.

www.necessarymediaproductions.com

@necessary_media_

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MJ’s guest today is former banker turned wine importer, and founder of VOS Selections, Victor O. Schwartz. Victor initially worked in the banking sector on loans, stocks and bonds, before transitioning to the wine industry. His upbringing was steeped in an intense culinary culture. In 1986, Victor moved to France to jump start his wine career. VOS Selections has been a staple in the wine industry for over 35 years.

In this episode MJ and Victor talk about his journey from banking to learning the language of terroir in the country of France, where he received hands-on experience in the wine business. The duo also discuss the money that drives the wine industry vs. the farming that drives it; whether we’re “there yet?” with non-alcoholic wine, the lost art of handwritten letters and its effectiveness (Thank you, Steven Spurrier), and ultimately how Victor O. Schwartz became VOS Selections. Pull up a chair, and a sharp one, this is a fast paced, laugh out loud good time with Mr. VOS!

A huge thank you to Victor O. Schwartz!

Follow him on IG at @vosselections

Check out his website: www.vosselections.com

This episode’s in studio wine:

Champagne Alexandre Bonnet Les Riceys - Blanc de Noirs

2006 Raven No. 5 California Syrah - Sine Qua Non

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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers!

Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.

For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at

Blackwineguy.com

Follow MJ @blackwineguy

Thank you to our sponsor: Taub Family Selections. Taub Family Selections is a dynamic fourth generation, family-owned wine import company with a truly enviable portfolio of fine wines from 11 countries. They are proud to represent an exceptional portfolio of high quality, terroir centric and historic producers from around the world, including Italy and France - where they have an exciting roster of burgeoning vignerons from Burgundy coming your way soon.

Learn more at www.taubfamilyselections.com

Thank you to our sponsor: Napa Valley Wine Academy. It’s no secret that everyone's wine education journey is unique. You deserve a wine School that not only delivers top-notch content but also guides you on the learning path that's right for you. Whether you're looking to earn your WSET certification or just get the basics the Napa Valley Wine Academy is the place to be.

To learn more about NVWA go to: https://napavalleywineacademy.com/

Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media.

www.necessarymediaproductions.com

@necessary_media_

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ brings his listeners a front row seat to the Hospice Du Rhône’s flagship event in Paso Robles, California.

This bi - annual event brings together an international community to celebrate Rhône wines and winemakers.

The 2022 event featured over 120 international Rhône producers, seminars on the forefront of Rhône thinking, an exclusive live auction and delicious meals paired with Rhône wines .. and MJ was there recording live with many of the brilliant winemakers and other prominent wine folks attending this year.

These conversations are lively, poignant and full of the energy that happens when winemakers convene to drink and celebrate the wines they love dearly. Cheers!

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A huge thank you to Hospice du Rhône for inviting us to record!

For more information on upcoming Hospice du Rhône events https://www.hospiceduRhône.org/

Very special thanks to all our guests:

Anne-Charlotte Mélia Bachas of Château de la Font du Loup

Keep up with her wines at: https://lafontduloup.com/

Follow her on IG: @anne_charlotte_lafontduloup

Russell P. From of Herman Story Wines

Keep up with his wines at: https://www.hermanstorywines.com/

Follow them on IG: @hermanstorywines

Christophe Baron of Bionic Wines

Keep up with his wines at: https://bionicwines.com/

Follow them on IG: @bionicwines

Don Burns of Turtle Rock

Keep up with his wines at: https://www.turtlerockvineyards.com/

Follow them on IG: @turtlerockvineyards

Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Critic

Stay up on all things Rhône at: https://jebdunnuck.com/

Follow him on IG: @jebdunnuck

Jordan Fiorentini of Epoch Estate Wines

Keep up with her wines at: https://epochwines.com/

Follow them on IG:@epochwines

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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers!

Huge thanks to Jeremy Leffert and Melissa Burns for their generous support in bringing you these special episodes.

Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.

For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at

Blackwineguy.com

Follow MJ @blackwineguy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s guest is seasoned sommelier, wine educator and founder of Volcanic Selections, Jeff Porter. Jeff has been featured in numerous major food and wine publications, such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Eater and The Financial Times. Jeff’s sommelier career began in Napa Valley, where he worked at Tra Vigne Ristorante in St. Helena. He joined the Bastianich Hospitality Group in 2009 at Osteria Mozza under the auspice of James Beard Award winning chef Nancy Silverton.

Jeff is back! On this week’s episode, he and MJ talk all about turning a passion for wine into a successful career. Jeff details making the move from LA to NYC, and the differences in wine culture that he discovered once he arrived. Jeff shares about the process of making Sip Trip, his web series about wine life and culture that aims to show anyone can get be passionate about wine. He reflects on starting an import and distribution business just before the pandemic hit, and opens up about what’s next for him and his business.

A huge thank you to Jeff Porter!

Follow him on IG @jeffporterwine

Check out Volcanic Selections

https://volcanicselections.com/

Follow them on IG @volcanicselections

This episode’s in studio wine: 2019 Natte Valley Stellenbosch Cinsault

______________________________________________________________

Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers and wine drinkers!

Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.

For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at

Blackwineguy.com

Follow MJ @blackwineguy

Thank you to our sponsor: Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles is a region with so many diverse microclimates that allows for a stunning array of grapes to thrive in. It’s made up of over 200 family-owned wineries, making a beautiful variety of wines.

Learn more at https://pasowine.com/

Tune in to their podcast Where the Wine Takes You - which explores the people, places and wines of Paso Robles Wine Country!

https://pasowine.com/where-wine-takes-you/

Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media.

www.necessarymediaproductions.com

@necessary_media_

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MJ’s guest today has been named by The New York Times as the “foremost authority on hamburgers,” and “America’s biggest burger name,” by Eater LA; he’s a well-traveled Emmy Award-winning freelance filmmaker, author, and photographer - George Motz. George shot, produced, edited, and directed his documentary, Hamburger America which was nominated for a James Beard Award and recognized by the US National Archives as an integral part of American food history. In 2016, George authored his first cookbook, “The Great American Burger Book.” He hosted and co-executive produced Travel Channel’s Burger Land, based on his book “Hamburger America, a State-by-State Guide to Great Burger Joints.” You can watch George on his show Burger Scholar Sessions on Complex Media’s First We Feast, now in its 5th season.

In this episode, MJ and George discuss his time at Catholic University, his career in commercial photography and filmmaking. George gives us a history lesson in the origins of the original burger, and talks about some of the best burgers (without playing favorites) in the Midwest and out West, including In-N-Out Burger’s Double-Double to the Triple Double. George discusses his documentary Hamburger America, his Motz Burger pop-up, wherein 2 hours he sold over 150 burgers from his burger window slide at his Brooklyn home; his Niche Niche pop up where Jean-Georges stopped by and why he started The Food Film Festival. Grill or pan-fry a burger your way and grab a cold one because this is a juicy one!

A huge thank you to George Motz!

Follow him on IG at @motzburger

Check out his website: georgemotz.com

Watch his current episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0AH7h9zZ_4

This episode’s in-studio wine:

Garnier et Fils Chablis 2019

Ragtime Rye - New York Straight Rye Whiskey

_____________________________________________________________

Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers!

Don’t forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.

For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at

Blackwineguy.com

Follow MJ @blackwineguy

Thank you to our sponsor: Taub Family Selections. Taub Family Selections is a dynamic fourth generation, family-owned wine import company with a truly enviable portfolio of fine wines from 11 countries. They are proud to represent an exceptional portfolio of high quality, terroir centric and historic producers from around the world, including Italy and France - where they have an exciting roster of burgeoning vignerons from Burgundy coming your way soon.

Learn more at www.taubfamilyselections.com

Thank you to our sponsor: Independence Wine and Spirits - or IWS. IWS is one of the hot up-and-coming distributors of fine wines and spirits headquartered in New York City. Like Taub Family Selections, IWS is owned by the Taub family, who have re-entered the NY wholesale market, bringing the family back to its roots in distribution where they held court from 1951 – 2004.

To learn more about IWS go to: https://independencewine.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.