House Wine

Ok, most of this episode is dedicated to Cava - all the things that make Cava what it is that we didn't cover last episode: Appellations, ageing requirements and sweetness levels of Cava all make an appearance in this episode.
But we can't finish talking about Cava without wading through the quagmire of conflicting information that answers the question, "What is Classic Penedès and why is it not Cava?"
I would say that it is a question for the ages... but these appellations and rules are so fresh they have rules for wines that haven't even had the time to be made yet.
So, as promised this is a deep dive into Cava. If you were not satisfied at the end of the last episode, here you go!
I used some great resources for this:
The Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition by Jancis Robinson
http://www.dopenedes.cat/en/classicpenedes.php
https://www.decanter.com/do-cava/cava-de-paraje-calificado-cava-top-classification-378655/
http://www.the-buyer.net/insight/new-cava-de-paraje-what-difference/
And of course I mention a few key producers (though we are more producer heavy in Cava part 1) :
Gramona:
https://www.gramona.com/en/
Codornieu:
http://arscollectacodorniu.com/en/
If you spot something that needs correcting or you would like to request an episode you can reach out at [email protected] or check out the House Wine Instagram @housewinepodcast
This podcast is 100% independent, it is written, narrated and produced by myself, Rachael so if you heard something you liked then scroll down and leave a comment or review, that is the best way that you can support the show.
Until next week, I hope you drink something delicious!
Music Credit:
Too Cool by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4534-too-cool
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome back wine friends, this week our House Wine is all wines Beaujolais. From the light bodied and quaffable, but ever scandalous, Beaujolais Nouveau all the way the Cote du Py in Morgon, this episode goes deep. We learn that the Gang of Four is not just another post punk band and that not all press is good press, especially when there are 1,000,000 bottles of wine on the line.
I was very saddened this week by the passing of Steven Spurrier, truly a larger than life legend in the wine world and I don't do justice at the top of the show relaying his contributions - so if you would like to know more the words of one of his friends and colleagues Jancis Robinson best serve his memory:
https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/steven-spurrier-1941-2021
My resources for this show are as follows:
The Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition by Jancis Robinson
The World Atlas of Wine 8th Edition by Jancis Robinson.
https://www.kermitlynch.com/
https://vinepair.com/articles/somms-love-cru-beaujolais/
I also talk about A LOT of wines and winemakers! Here is the list:
Marcel Lapierre:
https://www.marcel-lapierre.com/en/home/
Hubert Lapierre:
(No website) https://www.larvf.com/domaine-hubert-lapierre,10452,401065.asp
Jean Paul Thevanet:
https://www.kermitlynch.com/our-wines/jean-paul-thvenet/
Jean Foillard:
https://www.kermitlynch.com/our-wines/jean-foillard/
Guy Breton:
https://www.kermitlynch.com/our-wines/guy-breton/
Clos de la Roilette:
https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/france/burgundy/domaine-coudert-clos-de-la-roilette-fleurie-beaujolais-40755
Jules Chauvet:
https://www.morethanorganic.com/jules-chauvet
Louis Jadot:
https://www.louisjadot.com/
Georges DuBouef:
http://www.duboeuf.com/
If you spot something that needs correcting or you would like to request an episode you can reach out at [email protected] or check out the House Wine Instagram @housewinepodcast
This podcast is 100% independent, it is written, narrated and produced by myself, Rachael so if you heard something you liked then scroll down and leave a comment or review, that is the best way that you can support the show.
Until next week, I hope you drink something delicious!
Music Credit:
Too Cool by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4534-too-cool
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Just like when we talked about Cognac, I will preface this episode with saying that I know this is not a wine. BUT, Armagnac like it's more famous younger brother Cognac does in fact come form grapes and therefor it has a spot here on house wine. Not only that but there is a lot to unpack here. Including history and Cardinals (which are basically fancy monks!)
I used some great resources here:
http://www.armagnac.fr/en
https://www.cyranoarmagnac.com/blog/2016/the-history
https://ilovewine.com/the-virtues-of-armagnac/
https://www.alcademics.com/2015/03/whats-the-difference-between-cognac-and-armagnac.html
I also mentioned some great producers:
Cardinal du Four:
https://cardinaldufour.com/
Chateau Laubade:
https://chateaudelaubade.com/article/welcome-to-chateau-de-laubade?lang=fr
Pomes Pèbérère:
https://www.armagnac.com/en/producteur/chateau-pomes-peberere.html
If you spot something that needs correcting or you would like to request an episode you can reach out at [email protected] or check out the House Wine Instagram @housewinepodcast
This podcast is 100% independent, it is written, narrated and produced by myself, Rachael so if you heard something you liked then scroll down and leave a comment or review, that is the best way that you can support the show.
Until next week, I hope you drink something delicious!
Music Credit:
Too Cool by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4534-too-cool
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Welcome back! This week our house wines are from the Southern Rhone.
The Southern Rhone is an incredibly varied and diverse region with a lot going on. And we cover a lot of it in this episode. If you haven't checked out the episode last week about Chateauneuf du Pape, please give that a listen before this episode because we reference it quite a bit and it will provide a lot of context for the Cotes du Rhone, Gigondas and Vacqueras, and some of their less famous friend appellations.
We also go full in and talk about rosé and the sweet wines of Rasteau and Muscat Beaumes de Venice.
So if you have ever found yourself wondering what GSM is or how dry IS a dry rosé, then I can't wait to share this episode with you.
I used my favorite book, the Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition by Jancis Robinson. i also looked at maps in the World Atlas of Wine 8th Edition, by Jancis Robinson. I also used the website https://www.chateauneuf.dk/ and Decanter Magazine.
If you are interested in any of the wines I talk about in this show:
Stephane Ogier:
http://www.stephaneogier.fr/
Chateau Trinquevedel:
https://www.chateau-trinquevedel.fr/en/
Chateau D'Esclans:
https://esclans.com/
Kirkland Brand Gigondas:
https://costcowineblog.com/2018-kirkland-signature-gigondas/
OK that last one has no website of it's own but there is a whole blog that just reviews Costco Wines.
This is an independent podcast, written, narrated and produced by me, Rachael so if you are going to do the Gigondas Pepsi challenge then make sure to review and rate and I will see you next week.
If you spotted a correction or would like to request and episode you can reach out at [email protected] or on instagram @housewinepodcast.
Music Credit:
Too Cool by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4534-too-cool
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

If you have been sitting at home waiting for the day when I begin comparing grapes to the fame level of early 2000's pop stars then you are in luck, or maybe you will just roll your eyes when you realize that I am a millennial.
This episode is all about Merlot, a grape that has had a lot of ups and downs over the last twenty years but has never left the hearts and minds of wine makers on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, though it was shunned in California for the better part of the 21st century.
Why does a grape that get's so much hate make one of the worlds most expensive wines?
Well... we're going to get into it.
As usual, I got help:
The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson.
The Complete Bordeaux by Stephen Brook.
Inside Bordeaux by Jane Anson.
I talk about a lot of wineries, so here is the list of all the Saint Emilion Classified Chateaux:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classification_of_Saint-%C3%89milion_wine
AND:
Here is the website for Chateau de la Rivière in Fronsac:
http://www.chateau-de-la-riviere.com/en/our-grands-vins-de-bordeaux/
If you spot something that needs correcting or you would like to request an episode you can reach out at [email protected] or check out the House Wine Instagram @housewinepodcast
This podcast is 100% independent, it is written, narrated and produced by myself, Rachael so if you heard something you liked then scroll down and leave a comment or review, that is the best way that you can support the show.
Until next week, I hope you drink something delicious!
Music Credit:
Too Cool by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4534-too-cool
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/