The Real Wine Show

California Cab Fatigue, Hybrids vs. Classics, and a Chillable Minervois Red with Roast Chicken on The Real Wine Show (S8E6)

In the season eight finale of The Real Wine Show, we thank our sponsor , the Gabriel Group (www.gabrielgrp.com) and introduce panelists Jason Lyons (assistant winemaker at Social Vines), House Alpens’ Midwest sales manager Megan Heinowski, and Red Wagon Rochester Wine Shop wine director Mick Descamps. 

Panelists shared their “hot takes,” including boredom with oversaturated California cabernet, appreciating vermouth/oxidative and fortified styles as “wine,” and big suppliers narrowing restaurant lists while accelerating market decline. News topics debate how to position cold-climate hybrids, whether influencer “thirst posting” drives demand, and the Sancerre price/availability pivot to nearby Loire appellations. 

Glass checks include Bayernmoor Pinot Noir, J.B. Becker Riesling, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Saint-Aubin, and Leflaive Mâcon-Verzé. 

Chef Jason’s Grape to Plate pairs a light Minervois blend from Clos Centeilles with brined roast chicken, potatoes, and kale; Wine Cipher is won by Mick; an emotive blind reveals a multi-vintage Austrian Grüner blend from aged barrels that were left without being topped, and Megan brings home the big prize!

00:00 Season Finale Kickoff
00:17 Sponsor Spotlight Gabriel Group
01:06 Meet Jason Lyons 
01:48 California Cab Debate
03:30 Meet Megan Heinowski
04:24 Vermouth Is Wine
06:19 Meet Mick Descamps
07:11 Big Suppliers Backlash
09:52 Glass Check Tasting Notes
13:39 News Segment Hybrids Future
17:00 Selling Hybrids Smartly
20:28 Social Media Thirst Posting
24:04 Influencers Versus Craft
28:43 What Is Carcavelos
30:37 Rare Carcavelos Deep Dive
31:05 Tasting Notes and Rancio
32:01 Taylor Swift Bottle Banter
32:07 Sancerre Solution Debate
36:45 Downselling and Climate Shift
39:45 Glass Check and Score Update
42:29 Mystery Red Wine Analysis
45:28 Roast Chicken Pinot Pairing
48:13 Sides Potatoes and Kale
52:44 Reveal Minervois Blend
53:18 Chillable Red Reveal
53:56 Brining Poultry Practical Hack
55:13 Why Not Brine Steak?
56:41 Wine Cipher Game
57:10 Decoding Tasting Notes
01:00:45 Emotive Blind Setup
01:04:09 Springtime Wine Stories
01:09:39 Scores and Winner
01:10:22 Blind Wine Unveiled
01:12:21 Wrap and Final Toast

America Still Doesn’t Get Wine:  Three Wine Biz Owners on Culture, Community, and the Magic We're Missing.  Discover why South African wine is poised to win, if America has a problem appreciating wine, and find out which Friulian chardonnay gives sunny, Greek beach vibes! (The Real Wine Show S8E5).
Episode five of season eight opens with a shout-out to sponsor Gabriel Group (www.gabrielgrp.com)  and introduces panelists Tommy York (owner of Ann Arbor wine hotspot and cafe, York), Emily Dorr (Flint community developer and owner of Queen’s Provisions), and Lori Herron (founder of Social Vines Vineyard and Winery in Dexter). Their hot takes include Emily calling for a 2026 “Judgment of Paris” redo with South Africa challenging California, Tommy arguing wine’s “magic” is underappreciated versus beer and spirits, and Lori defending Riesling’s range beyond sweetness. 
Glass checks include Lalarge-Peugeot Champagne Tradition, Cartell Serena Prosecco, and a Bayernmoor Cellars Pinot Noir from Puget Sound. They discuss a fake “ancient cellar” story and SV Bank’s wine report on hospitality-driven sales and pricing, plus the perils and benefits of NA wine. 
Chef Jason Bertold’s triple-blind tasting leads to a French style, spring-vegetable risotto matched to rare Coloma Alarije Dorado from Extremadura, Spain. The Wine Cipher identifies 2016 Lynch-Bages and Andre Cold Duck! Emotive blind tasting surprises with a delicious 2020 Pierpaolo Pecorari Chardonnay from Friuli, and Lori wins the game!

00:00 Welcome And Sponsor
00:53 Meet Tommy York (York Ann Arbor)
04:23 Meet Emily Dorr (Queens Provisions Flint)
08:56 Meet Lori Herron (Social Vines Dexter)
11:20 Riesling’s Reputation
12:41 Glass Check!
15:11 Fake News: Ancient Cellar
21:30 NA Wine Debate
24:14 Wine Industry Future
36:13 Score Update Segment
37:20 Grape to Plate w/ Chef Jason
40:34 Springy White Wine
41:31 French Style Risotto
42:52 Aged Carnaroli Rice
43:47 Risotto Cooking Plan
44:56 Vegetable Garnish Prep
46:11 Wine Reveal: a Spanish Alarije
47:57 Practical Hack: Blanching
50:01 Wine Cipher: Bordeaux
55:09 Candy Sparkler comes to the Cipher
01:00:03 Emotive Blind Tasting
01:08:25 Reveal: Friuli Chardonnay
01:09:35 Wines Of The Show
01:11:23 Scores And Farewell

Serious boss ladies get into it with Paper Bottles, Fake Wine Trains, and why stickies rule, plus a grenache-to-lamb pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E4)
Special thanks to our sponsor Gabriel Group (gabrielgrp.com) for helping us make another great episode!

The show opens with intros to panelists Elisa Weber-Saintin (Little Guy Wine Company, celebrating 19 years; critic of predictable three-Michelin-star dining), Anna Nolan (Russian-born sommelier and co-owner of Vino and Vibes in Utica, aiming to “un-snob” wine), and Kristen Jonna (Michigan wine family royalty and owner of Vinology in Ann Arbor; she follows the moon!). In news debates, they discuss the viability of low-carbon “Frugal Pack” cardboard bottles versus glass, and a (fake) story about Japan’s underground wine trains, prompting talk of Michigan wine trains. Glass checks feature wines including Los Malditos Tempranillo, a Cremant de Loire sparkling wine, and a Slovenian pét-nat. The Wine Cipher note matches Château d’Yquem. On the Grape to Plate segment, Chef Jason Berthold pairs a 2022 McLaren Vale Grenache from Worlds Apart with grilled lamb loin crusted with black trumpet mushroom powder and pomegranate molasses plus chickpeas and grilled onions, sharing a grilling meal-prep hack. An emotive blind tasting generating Sound of Music vibes is revealed as a 2021 Lulu “BB1” Chardonnay/Savagnin blend from the Jura, and a 1975 Rivesaltes dessert wine stands out; Kristen takes home the big win!

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor
01:01 Meet the Panel
02:10 Elisa on Dining Hype
05:09 Anna Unsnobs Wine
07:54 Kristen’s Wine Royalty
10:40 Glass Check Tasting
17:36 Debate Paper Bottles
24:30 Fake News: Wine Trains
31:34 Wine Cipher Challenge
36:12 Dessert Wine Revival
38:22 Grape to Plate 
38:44 Chef tastes
40:18 Food Pairing Pivot
42:01 Grilled Lamb Plan
43:41 Mushroom Pomegranate Crust
46:00 Chickpea Ragu Sides
48:09 Bottle Reveal: Grenache
49:07 Practical Hack: Grill Extras
50:22 Second Glass Check
54:20 Somm Slam Event Plug
59:05 Emotive Blind Tasting
01:06:39 Unveiling Lulu BB1
01:08:13 Wines of the Show
01:09:47 Final Scores; Farewell

Champagne Semantics, Vibe Vocabulary, and Howell Mountain Vineyards Zin Pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E3)
In episode three of season eight of The Real Wine Show, the hosts thank sponsor Gabriel Group (gabrielgrp.com) and introduce panelists Arturo (Mexico-born wine enthusiast pursuing WSET Level 3 with the hot take that there’s no bad champagne), Taylor Johnson (wine director/sommelier in Ann Arbor who rejects seasonal drinking), and journalist/filmmaker Mark Kurlyandchik (arguing wine jargon turns off new drinkers). 
In glass checks they discuss Lambrusco, a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and a Côte des Bar vintage Champagne. A debate explores replacing technical wine terms with “vibe vocabulary,” emphasizing meeting drinkers where they are while preserving expertise. Another story covers biodynamics and EMF-shielding products, leading to discussion of spirituality, labeling, and consumer information. Wine Cipher and an emotive blind tasting follow, plus Chef Jason Berthold’s Grape to Plate pairing a 2019 Howell Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel with charcoal-grilled dry-aged ribeye, beef-tallow potatoes, and black-garlic chimichurri; the blind wine is revealed as 2019 Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc, and Arturo wins the game!

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor
01:10 Meet Arturo Champagne Take
03:49 Meet Taylor No Seasons
06:44 Meet Mark Storytelling
09:04 Glass Check What’s Pouring
12:52 Vibe Versus Vocabulary
22:18 Biodynamics and Spirituality
31:04 Wine Cipher Tasting Game
35:55 Grape to Plate Setup
36:46 Color and Aromatics
37:26 Tannin and Fruit Structure
38:18 Red Wine Temperature Talk
40:47 Grill Pairing Vision
41:40 Dry Aged Beef Breakdown
44:17 Salt and Seasoning Sidebar
46:04 Wine Opens Up Notes
47:26 Black Garlic Chimichurri
50:19 Bottle Reveal Zinfandel
52:21 Live Fire Cooking Hack
53:37 Emotive Blind Tasting Returns
58:57 Reveal Von Winning Sauvignon
59:44 Wines of the Show and Wrap

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Stop playing it safe—it's time for Michigan to find its unique identity through small, thoughtful production. The "Grape to Plate" segment is a masterclass on slow-rendering duck breast with lavender, and we learn the tells of "tasting room theatre".
In episode two of season eight of The Real Wine Show, hosts Chaad Thomas and Matt Kuhr announce show sponsor Gabriel Group (www.gabrielgrp.com) and introduce panelists Alan Collins (Michigan vineyard project advocating risk-taking for a uniquely Michigan wine identity), wine traveler/judge Bobby Frank, and chef/winemaker Jason Berthold (promoting aging high-acid white wines). They discuss three news topics: billionaire winery acquisitions and their impact on wine’s “soul,” proposed 2026 U.S. ingredient-label transparency and consumer reactions to additives, and AI-driven wine recommendations in tasting rooms versus human sommeliers. During glass checks they taste wines including aged Muscadet and other bottles. The new “Grape to Plate” segment sees Chef Jason conjure a slow-rendered duck breast and swiss chard pan sauce from blind tasting a 2022 Famille Gras Côtes du Rhône. The show includes a Wine Cipher game, the popular emotive blind tasting (revealed as an Italian Ciliegiolo), and ends with Jason taking home the prize!

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor
01:05 Meet Alan Collins
03:42 Meet Bobby Frank
06:02 Meet Chef Jason
07:27 Glass Check
09:54 Billionaires Buying Wineries
15:51 Ingredient Label Transparency
21:14 AI Sommelier Debate
27:28 Grape to Plate Pairing
37:27 Duck Resting Plan
37:49 Chard Wine Pan Sauce
38:41 Jam And Duck Sauce
39:42 Wine Reveal Cote Du Rhone
41:51 Practical Hack: Low And Slow
42:44 Blind Notes Game Begins
42:54 Big Red Guess Chateau Pavie
45:39 Second Cipher Debate
49:56 Riesling Notes Too Easy
52:43 Glass Check #2
55:13 Michigan Wine Collaborative Events Update
56:33 Emotive Blind Tasting
01:03:12 Reveal Italian ciliegiolo
01:05:15 Favorite Wines And Scores
01:07:50 Final Wrap And Thanks

May is Michigan Wine Month:
Visit www.michiganwinecollaborative.com for event details.