Wine Line - Wine Education and Tasting Podcast

This week's program continues with our eight interview in the series "WineLine Radio in France." This week, I am fortunate to have Les Kellen and Clarissa Schafer of Villa Saint Simon in Blaye, Bordeaux as my interview guests. Listen as they explain the adventure of building a very successful hospitality business in Blaye. Les is a wine pro and Clarissa is an artist. Together they make a fabulous team that has built a lovely B & B, an art gallery / wine bar / restaurant, and beautiful apartments on the right bank of the river that divides Bordeaux.The second segment of Friday's show features the "Gang of Wine" tasting another exceptional wine from www.nakedwines.com. this tasting is the Rasmussen Viognier. I have paired this wine with a "Steamed Clams with Bacon" recipe that you can download from my website, www.winelineradio.com where you can get a link to www.nakedwines.com that will save you $100. on your next purchase of wine.

This week, Friday November 28th is the seventh in my series "WineLine Radio in France" and features my interview with Jean-Charles Cazes of Chateau Lynch-Bages in beautiful Pauillac, Bordeaux. Chateau Lynch-Bages has been in the Cazes family hands since the eve of WWII. Jean-Charles is a gentleman, developer, winemaker and the face of the Chateau. Mary and I would like to express our thanks to Jean-Charles for hosting our visit. The second segment of the show features a tasting of 2007 and 2009 Chateau Lynch-Bages with Mylhene Martin. Tune-in Friday Nov. 28th at 1:00 PM EST to hear the interview on www.overseasradio.com. For more information, go to my website www.winelineradio.comWe wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!As always, go to www.winelineradio.com for a link to www.nakedwines.com that will save you $100. on your next purchase.

This Friday, November 21, I will be interviewing Yann Bouscasee of Chateau Cantinot in Blaye, Cotes de Bordeaux. I first met Yann and his wife and partner, Florence, in 2009 while visiting Villa Saint Simon in Blaye. I was very impressed with Chateau Cantinot wines and found Yann to be a very amusing fellow. This September, when we went back to Bordeaux, I knew I had to interview Yann and he did not disappoint. I hope you enjoy the show. For more information, go to www.winelineradio.com. You can download the recipe we made at a dinner party (Bucatini all Enzo) for Yann, Florence and Les and Clarrisa from Villa Saint Simon.As always, go to www.winelineradio for a link to nakedness.com that will save you $100. on your next purchase.

This Friday, November 14th, we are going to Fronsac in Bordeaux to meet our new found friend Thomas Herve of Chateau Moulin Haut Laroque and Chateau Herve Laroque. The family has been on the property since 1602 and began production of wine 288 years later. The first vintage was 1890 of which they still have a bottle. We met Thomas at the "Grand Cercle Des Vins De Bordeaux" in Miami. We found his wines to be exceptional expressions of the terroir of Fonsac and made plans to visit him when we went to Bordeaux in September. This is the 5th interview we recorded for "WineLine Radio in France." Please tune in Friday at 1:00 PM EST and meet this young man who is carrying on the family tradition. You can get more information at www.winelineradio.com. where you can download my recipe for Rack of Lamb with Herb Butter and, enjoy the show!AND, DON'T FORGET - Go to my website - www.winelineradio.com - for a link to NakedWines.com that will save you $100. on your next purchase of excellent value wines from www.nakedwines

This week's WineLine Radio program features my interview with Patrice Monmousseau, President and Director General of Bouvet-Ladubay in Saumur. Bouvet-Ladubay is a mega producer of fine sparkling and still wines. Patrice gave us the royal treatment and taught us some very interesting things about sparkling wines. You will find Patrice to be a great interview and the history of Bouvet-Ladubay most interesting. The second segment of Friday's show is a tasting of Bouvet-Ladubay sparkling wine.Tune in this Friday, November 7th at 1:00 PM EST on www.overseasradio.com. You can get more information at www.winelineradio.com. Enjoy the show!AND, DON'T FORGET - Go to my website - www.winelineradio.com - for a link to NakedWines.com that will save you $100. on your next purchase of excellent value wines from www.nakedwines.com

Interview #3 in my "WineLine Radio in France" Series. This week I interview Jean-Pierre Meslier of Chateau Raymond-Lafon in beautiful Sauternes, Bordeaux. Jean-Pierre and his family produce wonderful Sauternes wine that rivals his neighbor Chateau d'Yquem, just across the road. This is an opportunity for you to learn about Sauternes production. Sauternes is a French sweet wine from the Sauternais region of the Graves section in Bordeaux. Sauternes is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc, and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot. This causes the grapes to become partially raisined, resulting in concentrated and distinctively flavored wines. This is the perfect season for Sauternes, the classic holiday wine. Although most noted as a "dessert wine", I pair it with a classic recipe for Coquilles Saint-Jacques gratinées. You can download the recipe from my website - www.winelineradio.com.Go to my website - www.winelineradio.com - for a link to NakedWin

This week I interview winemaker Remy Eymas of Chateau Gros Moulin in Bourg, Cotes de Bordeaux. Chateau Gros Moulin has been in the Eymas family's hands since 1757 and Remy, along with his father, is producing some of the best wines from Bourg. The Bordeaux region is naturally divided by the Gironde Estuary into a Left Bank area which includes the Médoc and Graves and a Right Bank area which includes the Libournais, Bourg and Blaye. The Médoc is itself divided into Haut-Médoc (the upstream or southern portion) and Bas-Médoc (the downstream or northern portion, often referred to simply as "Médoc"). The Chateau, Gros Moulin is located on the right bank of the Gironde River. Listen as Remy talks about the history, today and the future of Cotes de Bourg and his winery. The last segment of Friday's show is a tasting of Remy's wines.Go to my website - www.winelineradio.com - for a link to NakedWines.com that will save you $100. on your next purchase.

This is the first of our series "WineLine Radio in France." Our good friend and wine pro Les Kellen holds forth on the myths surrounding wine and wine tasting. Listen and learn as Les takes you through the A B C's. And, when you are in Bordeaux, enjoy the comforts of Villa Saint Simon in Blaye. Say hello to Les and have a glass of wine.

I just returned from France and I will give you an overview on Friday's show. The question: Do you Bordeaux? Listen to what noted experts say for an answer. In the last segment, The Gang of Wine will taste "Lay of the Land" Pinot Noir 2013 from Marlborough, New Zealand... available only from www.nakedwines.com. Go to my website - www.winelineradio.com - for a link to NakedWines that will save you $100. on your next purchase.

The Wine of the Week for 10/03 is a spicy red blend by Small & Small called AT LARGE. I have paired the SB with a typically french dish of grilled scallops with herb butter sauce. The big bold red gets paired with grilled lamb chops. Both recipes are on www.winelineradio.com. There is lots of "Timely Wine News" to keep you up to date with the goings on of the wine industry. Tune in every Friday at 12:00 Eastern time.

This week's posting actually covers two shows - 9/26/14 and 10/03/14. That's because I am in France recording interviews with noted winemakers. You will be able to enjoy those interviews soon. Our Wine of the Week for 9/26 is Mont Blanc, a tasty Sauvignon Blanc made in the tradition of Val de Loire from California grapes. The Wine of the Week for 10/03 is a spicy red blend by Small & Small called AT LARGE. I have paired the SB with a typically french dish of grilled scallops with herb butter sauce. The big bold red gets paired with grilled lamb chops. Both recipes are on www.winelineradio.com. There is lots of "Timely Wine News" to keep you up to date with the goings on of the wine industry. Tune in every Friday at 12:00 Eastern time.

Lots to talk about this week… Timely Wine News features stories on (1) The beginning of harvest time in the Loire Valley, (2) Winner of the best sparkling wine, (3) Fraud in Montalcino (4) Sex drives Italian wine venture and more. “The Gang of Wine” will be tasting a new release – Tim Olson’s Cooper’s Art Pinot Noir, Monterey 2013. I am pairing Tim Olson’s Pinot Noir with a great Grilled Lamb Chop recipe. You can download the recipe at www.winelineradio.com and, get a link to www.nakedwines.com that will save you $100. on your purchase of wine… what a deal!

This week's show covers such topics as: A followup on the Napa Valley earthquake of a few weeks ago. A very small harvest this year in Italy, the smallest since 1950. France is set to retake the global wine crown with a bumper harvest. A Pennsylvania vineyard say competitor stole wine-in-paint can idea. The feature of this week's program is "Painting the Town." The lovely medieval hill town of Dozza in Emilia Romagna, near Bologna, holds a bi-annual festival where famous artists paint murals all over the town's walls... it's something to see. The "Gang of Wine" will be tasting a Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2012 by Matt Parish, the chief winemaker at NakedWines.com. I am pairing Matt's cab with a great Grilled Lamb Chop recipe.You can download the recipe at www.winelineradio.com and, get a link to www.nakedwines.com that will save you $100. on your purchase of wine... what a deal!

This week marks the beginning of a new format and a new time - 12:00 PM, Fridays on www.overseasradio.com. The "gang of Wine" will be tasting Petit Villebois, a sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley in France, made by noted winemaker Josst de Villebois. I have paired this wine with a recipe for Marinated Chicken Shishlik. You can download the recipe from my websitewww.winelineradio.com. Naturally, the new format will include "Timely Wine News" and a feature of the week.... "The Sagrantino Story."As always, you can find a link on www.winelineradio.com that will save you $100. on your purchase of wine from www.nakedwines.com so, tune-in on Fridays at 12:00 PM for the latest WineLine Radio.

This week I will discuss the recent earthquake in Napa Valley that sent chills throughout the wine community. Wine making experiments at Chateau Palmer in Bordeaux. A preface to my travels to Bordeaux in late September to record "Broadcasts from Bordeaux." Ancient wine found in jars unearthed from 3,700 year old cellar in Israel. The "Gang of Wine" will be tasting DRG a 2012 Shiraz from the Barossa Valley in Australia and I am going to pair that with my recipe for Braised Short Ribs with a Pomegranate BBQ sauce. You can download the recipe at www.winelineradio.com and, get a link to www.nakedwines.com that will save you $100. on your purchase of wine... what a deal!

This Friday, August 22nd… our 35th Wedding Anniversary, WineLine Radio will cover the following topics:New Wine Icons that are showing up. Yao Ming goes from the NBA to Napa Valley to produce wines of distinctive character. A homage to Nicolas Feuillatte of the famous Champagne estate. He passed away at the age of 88 but, continues his journey. Traveling the wine ways of Mallorca and, naturally, a tasting by the “Gang of Wine.”  This week we will be tasting JC van Staden’s Vermentino 2013 from Lodi California. Vermentino, a grape of distinction in the sunny areas of Italy, find its way to Lodi. Go to www.winelineradio.com to learn more about it and get the link to www.nakedwines.com that will save you $100. on your purchase.

This week, WineLine Radio brings you features on how new owners and preserving the heritage of Mayacamas Vineyards while carefully moving it into the future. Timely Wine News features the Chinese government's crackdown on "Wine corruption" and a feature on IPOB (In Pursuit of Balance) a group dedicated to lower alcohol levels in wine. This week's "Wine of the Week" is David Akiyoshi Sangiovese Rose, Lodi, 2013 from www.nakedwines.com. It's the perfect balance for my quick 'n easy Pad Thai Noodle dish. You can find it all at www.winelineradio.com.

This week I will talk about “Savoring Umbria’s Earthy Tastes”, How to make an “Espresso Tonic”, and “The Gang of Wine” will be tasting Rod Easthope’s Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke’s Bay New Zealand, 2013. Pair this refreshing wine with my recipe for Penne Pasta with Chicken, Peppers and Asperagus… it’s the perfect combo for a light summer dinner. You can download the recipe at my website www.winelineradio.com where you will find a link to nakedwines.com that will save you $100. on your purchase of $160. with of fabulous wines like this week’s Sauvignon Blanc.

Continuing with a theme of “All Things Italian”, I will talk about coastal Tuscany’s “Hidden” Treasure: Exploring Morellino di Scansano. I will give an overview of Sangiovese: Italy’s Most Ubiquitous Grape. A promo you should know about the Pinehurst Food & Wine Festival and the “Gang of Wine” will be tasting a sparkling rose from Sonoma County by Wayne Donaldson marketed exclusively by www.nakedwines.com.If you go to my website - www.winelineradio.com - you will find a link to Naked Wines that will save you $100. on your purchase of $160. or more. Take advantage and save some big bucks. I will pair this sparkling wine with “Seared Sea Scallops with Grapes and Almonds.” You can download the recipe from www.winelineradio.com.from www.winelineradio.com.

This week I will discuss the 4 methods of understanding Italian Wine Labels. I will give you a review of one of my favorite wines, Fattoria Felsina flagship Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia, 2007. Robert Parker rates it 96 points out of 100 and, it’s a bargain. There will be some “Timely Wine News” and a tasting of Matt Iaconis’ Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2012 by the “Gang of Wine.” It’s only available fromwww.nakedwines.com. If you go to my website - www.winelineradio.com - you will find a link to Naked Wines that will save you $100. on your purchase of $160. or more. Take advantage and save some big bucks. I will pair this wine with “Seared Sea Scallops with Grapes and Almonds.” You can download the recipe from www.winelineradio.com.