Wine Line - Wine Education and Tasting Podcast

Under Italian law, the term "Montefalco Sagrantino Secco" defines a wine obtained exclusively from Sagrantino grapes, produced exclusively in the Province of Perugia, in the Umbria region of central Italy (although not necessarily in the comune of Montefalco). The word "secco" in the name is Italian for "dry". The wine is aged for 30 months, of which at least 12 months must be in oak barrels. The wine is a DOCG, the highest-ranking category of Italian wine denominations. The Montefalco Sagrantino secco has excellent storage characteristics.  We will be exploring and tasting the various incarnations of Sagrantino from sparkling wine through blends, 100% Sagrantino and a sweet dessert wine, Passito. Listen on www.overseasradio.com, www.winelineradio.com, www.stitcher.com and iTunes.

Giovanni Meschini is an exceptional gentleman as well as a very creative winemaker. Fattoria Colmone is stretching the boundries of wine. The Meschini family produces wines of unique character... The reds are exceptional. The "whites from red" offer the subtle characteristics of a white wine with the strength and complexity of a red wine. And, the sparkling Vernaccia IGT is refreshing and carefree.The Marche wine region extends from the Appenine mountain range until the Adriatic sea: offers excellent panoramic views over the gentle hills, where one can enjoy the genuinity of the aromas and essence of a terroir still rich in tradition. Fattoria Colmone is located in the territory of San Severino Marche in Central Italy, and area particularly vocated for wine production. The Fattoria vinifies grapes which come from single owned vineyards, managed under the highest standards to respect the environment, and earth’s natural rhythms. The yield in grape is low due to meticulous bunch-thinning and selection of

Sovereign Selection was founded by husband and wife team, Jay and Monica Sadie. Jay was born and raised in South Africa and has lived in the US for 17 years. Monica was born in North Carolina and moved to South Africa with Jay for 6 years. During their time spent in South Africa they fell in love with South African wines and the passion of the people who produce them. It is Jay and Monica's pleasure to represent wine farms that they have hand-selected for both quality and passion during their stay in South Africa and travels in the USA. Listen to the interview on www.winelineradio.com, www.overseasradio.com, www.stitcher.com and iTunes. TO VISIT Sovereign Selection: www.sovereignselection.com.

Enjoy our feature interview. Tim English is the winemaker for William Kavney Cellars in California. Tim is also the CEO of Vintage Selections Distributors. Serge De Maesschalack represents De Mour Family Wines in France. De Mour is both Proprietaire and Negociant producing wines from it's own estate and directing wine production/ sales of other Chateaux in Bordeaux and the Rhone. We will taste some of wines Serge represents. It's entertaining and packed full of useful information. On www.winelineradio.com, we are introducing a new page directed at "wine pros." If you produce, import, distribute, sell or serve wine, this page is for you. Check out our "WINEBIZ" page.

If you are in the business of wine… producer, importer, distributor or restaurant owner / server, you need to listen to this interview with Luis Torres, President of the Wine Business Academy. It may change the way you do business.Robert Scott, Host of WineLineRadio.com - "My featured interview is Luis Torres, President of the Wine Business Academy. I have been fortunate to know Luis for over 10 years. He is a consummate professional wine educator. His programs are filled with knowledge and humor. I always come away knowing more about wine and the business of wine every time I attend one of his sessions at the Pinehurst Food & Wine Festival, held every Labor Day weekend at the stunning and historic Pinehurst Resort in the Sandhills of North Carolina.His ability to "deliver the goods" to major restaurant and hospitality groups brings better, more knowledgable service to consumers and great bottom line results for his many clients. Visit: www.winebusinessacademy.com for more information. If you are i

Listen to Andrea Cecchi expound on the Cecchi family's dedication to quality. We have been friends with the Cecchi family for over 10 years. Now, they kindly treat us as family. It is always a pleasure to visit them in their state-of-the-art winery in Castellina in Chianti. The Cecchi family produces wine from a number of DOC regions in central Italy: Villa Cerna in Chianti Classico, Castello Montauto in San Gimiagiano, Val della Rose in the Maremma area of Tuscany and Tenuta Alzatura in Montefalco, Umbria. You will find links to the Cecchi website on WineLineRadio.com and you can listen as I taste the 2012 Villa Cerna Chianti Classico... please join me.

Guido Busetto and his wife Nobuko Hashimoto didn't come to Selvole by chance. The acquisition of this property in 1999 with 40 hectares of wineards and 10 hectares of olive trees, near Siena, represents fulfillment of a long lasting dream. The Chianti Classico was born in the valley around Selvole 300 years ago, and this was only one of the reasons for Guido and Nobuko to fall in love with this place. Their passion for good wine dates back to the time they lived in France where Guido was correspondent for "Il Sole 24 Ore", the most important Italian economic newspaper. There Guido and Nobuko studied at the Institute of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux. After 25 years in active journalism, and a fairly good knowledge of wine-making, Guido and Nobuko bought Selvole, decide to run it directly, and moved to Tuscany. They now belong to this place and their teenage daughter grew up here. Today the tasting panel deciding the assembly of our wines is made by Guido and Gianni Menotti. Menotti, who

Liu Pambuffetti of Scacciadiavoli de Pambuffetti joins Mary, Robert and the "Gang of Wine" for a tasting of wines made from the Sagrantino grape. We will be tasting a very unique sparking Brut wine made from 100% Sagrantino, Montefalco Rosso - a blended wine with Sagrantino, Sangiovese and a touch of other varities, and, Monterfalco Sagrantino - 100% Sagrantino, Vintage 2008. Liu will give us the history of the Sagranting grape and of her family winery, Scacciadiavoli (which means "chase away the devil").  Liu joins the gang vis skype from the beautiful Wine Room of Citrus Club, overlooking downtown Orlando, Florida.

Please listen to my interview with Liu Pambuffetti of Scacciadiavoli di Pambuffetti, a historic winery in Montefalco, Umbria. It's all about the Sagrantino grape.    The origins of Sagrantino are still debated, but one theory considers it originating in Greece and imported into Italy by Byzantine monks. Another theory is that it came from Asia Minor and was introduced to Montefalco by Franciscan monks. Sagrantino is a unique grape variety grown only in the areas of Montefalco, Bevagna, Gualdo Cattaneo, Castel Ritaldi and Giano dell 'Umbria. Sagrantino produces elegant, complex, large structured red wines. It is full of character and has excellent aging potential. Both "Montefalco Sagrantino Secco" (dry red wine) and "Montefalco Sagrantino Passito" (sweet red wine) are protected by the DOCG since 1992. Listen and learn about Sagrantino.

This week, listen to my interviews with Elena Oprea and Giovanni Alberio. Elena is the marketing wiz for Dievole and Giovanni is the master winemaker for Dievole. Two perspectives on one outstanding location for fine wine, luchious olive oil and tourism hospitality in heart of Chianti Classico. Dievole is wrapped in a magical atmosphere. The rolling Tuscan hills, the cypresses, the vineyards and olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see, the hidden hamlets and magnificent medieval buildings dominate the landscape. The entrance, at the gates to the medieval hamlet of Vagliagli, just 12 km from Siena, is formed by an avenue of century-old cypress trees stretching all the way to the historic Villa Dievole, surrounded by the estate’s nearly 400 hectares.Dievole looks out over the valley, providing a breathtaking view, but its beauty also lies in its many little details, starting with the gardens all around it forming picturesque corners. The complex looks like a small hamlet unto itself, with its ti

WineLine Radio is proud to present our friend, Les Kellen from Villa Saint Simon in Blaye, Bordeaux. Les knows wine and knows how to explain it without talking down to the listener.  Listen, and I think you will learn a thing or two plus, toward the end, you will learn how to amaze your friends by being able to guess the vintage of a wine you are tasting without looking at the label. It works!

WineLine Radio takes a detour beginning Friday, September 4th. Robert will be featuring an interview with Jill Ramsier and David Forrester, owners of Quantum Leap Winery in Orlando, Florida...What do you call two good friends, living in Central Florida, who decide to open a winery? CRAZY! Well, that's just what Jill and David did, after an evening of more than one glass of wine. Listen to my interview on: www.winelineradio.com, www.overseasradio.com, www.stitcher.com and iTunes.

Mary and I had a lovely luncheon and interview with Francesco Mazzei, Principle of Marchesi di Mazzei winery. The Mazzei family has been producing fine wine since 1435. Osteria Fonterutoli was the perfect setting to taste the Mazzei winery’s offerings from Chianti Classico to Super Tuscans. We had the opportunity to taste selected food pairings to match each wine. Tune in to listen to Francesco talk about the winery’s history and future. After lunch we were given a guided tour of the stunning new winery. To listen to my interview with Francesco, go to: www.winelineradio.com, www.overseasradio.com, www.stitcher.com and iTunes. You can download my recipe for pasta with Wild Boar Ragu at www.winelineradio.com. It pairs perfectly with a fine Chianti from Mazzei.

Coming Friday, August 21st is my interview with Giovanni Meschini. Giovanni is a good friend who's family makes stellar wines. "We had a dream and we made it come true: to create wines which express the same emotions and flavours that this very unique territory in the heart of Italy offers to its guests. This area rich in tradition and authentic taste is set on the gently rolling hills of San Severino in the Marches Region." Behind our wines is the Meschini family: Piero, Pierluigi and Giovanni. Tune to www.overseasradio.com, www.winelineradio.com, www.stitcher.com or iTunes. Enjoy.

Coming Friday, August 14th, "WineLine Radio in Italy" continues with PART 2 of my interview with Giuseppe Mazzocolin of Fattoria Felsina in Castelnouvo Beradenga on the southern edge of Chianti Classico. Listen as Mary and I have a lovely lunch with Giuseppe. Giuseppe is an articulate gentleman who brought Felsina to great heights in the world of wine. Now, he is aiming to do the same for their olive oils. Please tune in and listen, this Friday, August 14th on www.winelineradio.com, www.overseasradio.com, www.stitcher.com and iTunes.

"WineLine Radio in Italy" continues with a very special interview of Giuseppe Mazzocolin of Fattoria Felsina in Castelnouvo Beradenga on the southern edge of Chianti Classico. Giuseppe is an articulate gentleman who brought Felsina to great heights in the world of wine. Now, he is aiming to do the same for their olive oils. This was such an interesting interview, I will continue it with part two on Friday, August 14th.

Beginning Friday, July 31st are dual interviews with Giovanni Alberio, winemaker for Dievole and Elena Oprea, Marketing for Dievole Winery & Agriturism. You won't want to miss it so, go to www.winelineradio.com and enjoy both interviews. For more information on their wines, olive oils and agriturism, visit www.dievole.it

Guido Busetto and his wife Nobuko Hashimoto didn't come to Selvole by chance. The acquisition of this property in 1999 with 40 hectares of wineards and 10 hectares of olive trees, near Siena, represents fulfillment of a long lasting dream. Since they first entered the market, Selvole's products, centered on Chianti Classico and Sangiovese grapes, have gained national and international recognition.

Andrea, and his brother Cesare, have been our good friends for a number of years. They have a dedication to the wine industry and their products that few vintners can match. They are always striving to “go deeper” into the knowledge of wine and enhancement of the quality for their family wine estates. I have selected a special wine for the tasting this week. It’s a Montefalco Rosso 2009 from Tenuta Alzatura in Umbria. Also, I paired this wine with a recipe for Umbrian Porchetta. You can download the recipe and listen to the interview and tasting at www.winelineradio.com.

Giulia has been a good friend for a number of years. She introduced Mary and I to the wines of Fattoria Colmone della Marca in San Severino, La Marche. We will forever be grateful to her for that introduction. Giulia manages the the wine estates of S.Agri.V.it. - a large agricultural company owned by the Order of Malta -  Rocca Bernarda, a historical estate, belonging to the Perusini in the Friuli Colli  Orientali DOC area. Castello di Magione in Umbria, on the shores of Lake Trasimeno and Beato Gerardo in Veneto where the “Villa Giustiniani” prosecco is produced.   Find out more at: www.sagrivit.it.