The Road Less Traveled: Victor O. Schwartz’s Never Ending Story
Explicit content warning
06/30/22 • 100 min
1 Listener
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
_____________________________________________________________
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’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
_____________________________________________________________
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.
Previous Episode
Live from Hospice du Rhône, Part 2
Part 2 of MJ’s live chats from 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!
___________________________________________________________
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:
Wine Critic, James Suckling
Keep up with his reviews and wine tastings at https://www.jamessuckling.com/
Follow him on IG: @james.suckling
Frédéric Chaudière of Château Pesquié
Keep up with his wines at: https://chateaupesquie.com/
Follow them on IG: @chateaupesquie
Dave Miner of Miner Family Wines
Keep up with his wines at: https://minerwines.com/
Follow them on IG: @minerfamilywinery
Mikael Sigouin of Kaena Wines
Keep up with his wines at: https://www.kaenawine.com/
Follow them on IG: @kaenawines
Guillaume Fabre of Clos Solène
Keep up with his wines at: https://www.clossolene.com/
Follow them on IG:@clossolene
____________________________________________________________
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.
Next Episode
Riesling Study. Why Stephen Bitterolf Bet on Himself and German Wines.
MJ’s guest is artist, an art historian, a wine collector, a salesman, an importer, and the founder of Vom Boden, Stephen Bitterolf. Stephen came to NYC in the early 00s to get his PhD in Northern Renaissance painting - during which time his fascination was born. In 2005, he landed a job as a salesperson at the newly opened Crush Wine & Spirits, one of New York City’s sleekest wine stores at the time.
In 2012, he became an importer of German wines which led to his founding of Vom Boden. Vom Boden is a small company, focusing on small growers. He later founded Rieslingfeier, an annual event that seeks to celebrate German Rieslings, to provide a greater context for this incredible history of winemaking – to re-emphasize the historical importance of terroir.
Stephan, self proclaimed German wine “dork” take listeners (and MJ!) on a deep dive into the wines he’s so passionate about. From the Kabinett to the Spätlese to the Auslese. Stephen’s personal journey from art history to German wine importer is as fascinating as the wines he loves.
A huge thank you to Stephen Bitteolf!
Follow Vom Boden @vomboden
Follow Rieslingfeier on IG at @rieslingfeier
Check out Vom Boden’s website: https://www.vomboden.com/
Get more information about Rieslingfeier at their website: https://rieslingfeier.com/
This episode’s in studio wine:
Schloss Reinhartshausen
1969 Erbacher Brühl
Riesling Kabinett
____________________________________________________________
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. Learn more at www.taubfamilyselections.com
Thank you to our sponsor: Independence Wine and Spirits - or IWS. 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
Thank you to our sponsor: Grapes The Wine Company. Looking to special order that bottle you had on vacation? Need to find a bourbon your boss has never tried? How about wrapped bottle gifts for teachers, coaches or your salesforce? Grapes The Wine Company can provide all this and more! Zoom tastings, winemaker dinners, wine driven charity events, cellar consultations, stellar suggestions... they do it all. To learn more about GTWC go to: https://www.grapesthewineco.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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