In this episode of Uncork Your Mind, I chat with Shawn Pearce from Familia Vicente Pearce, a winery with roots in both Buffalo, New York, and Mendoza, Argentina. Shawn shares his fascinating journey from studying wine in college to creating a family-run vineyard with his wife, Celia, in Argentina’s renowned wine region. We explore their sustainable…

In this episode of 'Winephabet Street,' co-hosts Lori and Deb welcome guests Jim Quarrella and Larry Coia from Bellview Winery in New Jersey. The discussion revolves around the San Marco grape, a unique variety being cultivated by Bellview Winery in the United States. Jim and Larry share the grape's history, how they imported it from Italy, and its…

So excited about this episode of Winephabet Street. We are exploring the letter 'R' with one of the wine world's hidden gems, the Rkatsiteli grape. This ancient varietal, which hails from the storied vineyards of Georgia, offers a captivating blend of history and unique flavors that few other wines can boast. Joining us is a very special guest, Mea…

In this episode of Winephabet Street, Debbie and Lori tackle the questions you've been hesitant to ask about wine. Remember, in the world of wine, no questions are considered foolish. Whether you've been pondering about tannins, wine pairings, or curious about corks, now is your opportunity to gain clarity without hesitation. We had such a good sho…

Welcome to another engaging episode of Winephabet Street, where the world of wine becomes more accessible, one letter at a time. In this episode we're delving into the letter "P" with a focus on Petit Manseng, a varietal that may not be on every wine lover's radar but certainly deserves a spotlight for its distinctive qualities and growing populari…

In December on Winephabet Street we learned about the Orange Muscat grape with our special guest, Andrew Quadi of Quadi Winery. Nestled in Madera, California, Andrew and his wife have been crafting exceptional wines since the late '70s, transitioning from an engineering background to the art of winemaking. Orange Muscat, is a grape variety that boa…

Back in the fall, I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Michael Migliore, owner of Whitecliff Vineyard and Winery, at their Olana Vineyard in Hudson, NY. This is a 10 acre site just over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge on the Hudson side, in the shadows of the Olana Estate and on the banks of the Hudson River. Michael established and started f…

I wanted to talk to you today about an article that was in the Daily Catch. org. It was written by Scott Davis and full disclosure, I am quoted twice in the article. The article is about Milea Vineyard's plans. with Clinton Vineyards. And if you're not already aware, Clinton Vineyards was purchased by Malaya in 2022. And it was a great article, tal…

I’m taking you on a virtual journey down Winephabet Street, where we dive deep into the world of N for Nero d'Avola, a red wine varietal from Sicily. In this episode of Winephabet Street, our special guest comes from the heart of Sicily, Gaetana Iacono from VALLE DELL' ACATE Winery. Gaetana hails from a family in the wine business for six generatio…

Join us on our journey to South America, where the rich soils of Argentina have produced some of the world's best Malbec wines with guest Veronica Kathuria from Wines of Argentina. Argentina it's located in the southern most corner of South America the South American content And it's about in a better way I have I will speak kilometers and miles be…

In the heart of Alto Adige, a region nestled amidst snow-capped mountains and verdant valleys, thrives a grape as bold and characterful as the landscape itself - Lagrein. Join us on Winephabet Street, as we delve into the fascinating world of this indigenous Italian variety, accompanied by a very special guest - Karoline Walch from the esteemed Ele…

The Kotsifali grape is an indigenous red grape variety from the Greek island of Crete. This grape is an essential component of many Cretan wines and is highly prized for its unique qualities.It is known for producing wines with medium to full body and moderate acidity. The grape is often blended with the Mandilaria grape to create wines with a deep…

The Jampal grape, also known as Jampel or Malvasia Fina de Jampal, is a unique and rare grape variety native to Portugal. It is believed to have originated in the Douro Valley region. It is predominantly grown in the Terras do Dão region, located in the country's central northern part. The Jampal grape is a white grape known for its high acidity an…

In this episode of Winephabet Street, we learned about the Isabella grape with Stephen Casscles, a viticulturist and winemaker from New York's Hudson Valley. His project is Hudson Valley Heritage Wines where he works with indigenous, native or historically notable grapes and re-introducing them and a national audience to bring these grapes back. Wi…

Have you heard of the Txakoli region of Spain and/or the Hondarrabi Zuri grape? First let me tell you how these words are pronounced. Txakoli is pronounced chah-kuh-lee and Hondarrabi Zuri is pronounced ohn-dah-rah-bee Zoo-Ree. Our January episode of Winephabet Street we explored the Txakoli region of Spain and the Hondarrabi Zuri grape with specia…

Have you heard of the Graciano grape? I didn’t until we featured it on Winephabet Street in November. Graciano is mainly grown in the Rioja and Navarra regions of Spain. It is difficult to grow, is low-yielding, late harvesting and susceptible to mildew. It is used a lot as a blending grape for its deep color, strong aromas and ability to age. Wine…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 3, Episode 6- F is for Frappatto. In this episode of Winephabet Street, we talk about the Frappatto grape with Pietro Russo, the winemaker at DonnaFugata Winery. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one lett…

If you haven’t tasted wines from the Jumilla region of Spain, you must. You will become a fan instantly! Trust me! On October 12, I had the opportunity to attend Spain’s Great Match at the Mercado Little Spain, NYC, and learned a little more about the wines from this region of Spain. The Jumilla region has some beautiful wines, and the predominant …

I got invited to a Madeira wine tasting a few weeks ago. Madeira? I realized I didn’t know much about this type of wine. I went to the tasting and attended the seminar and educated myself all about Madeira. Madeira is very versatile and pairs well with many foods. I’m going to give you 7 facts about Madeira and at the end is a podcast that will giv…

Located 35 miles from Sacramento, California lies the El Dorado AVA. Designated in 1983 it covers the majority of El Dorado County with beautiful views of the Sierra Foothills. There are 40 wineries that grow 76 grape varietals and the highest altitude vineyards is 3,500 feet above sea level. We welcomed Kara Sather, Executive Director of El Dorado…

The Delaware grape is an American hybrid. While its dark purplish skin would make you think it produces red wine, it’s typically used in the production of white and rose wines. For this episode of Winephabet Street we were joined by Abby Wilkens (Stamp), Assistant Winemaker at Lakewood Vineyards in Watkins Glen, New York. I first met Abby when she …

Last month on Winephabet Street we explored the Carignan grape with Tana Cole, Winemaker at Jessie’s Grove Winery in Lodi, California. We were also joined by the big boss - Owner Greg Burns. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one l…

Are you familiar with Baco Noir. It’s a French-American hybrid grape but don’t let that scare you. It makes a really nice red wine with aging potential. Think of it as a poor man’s Barolo. In this episode of Winephabet Street Lori and I spoke with Carlo DeVito, former owner of Hudson-Chatham Winery in Gent, New York. Carlo grew Baco Noir as well as…

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Dana Spaulding the Founder of Wander + Ivy. Wander + Ivy are classy single-serving wine bottles. Dana made the transition from the financial service industry to the wine industry after feeling that she was wasting wine. She would sit down at the end of the day and have a glass of wine while her husband w…

Areni is a grape that is grown in Armenia and for our first episode of Winephabet Street, we got a double A. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you …

In 2006 when Dan and Jacqui Heavens purchased their wine trail event ticket, they had no idea 14 years later they would own a winery. It was during that event that they discovered Glorie Farm Winery. They kept coming back. When Jacqui saw that Glorie Farm Winery was for sale, she jokingly sent it to her husband Dan. That “joke” soon led the two to …

Zweigelt is not a grape name you hear often, let alone are familiar with. It’s a grape I always wondered about. I knew of its Austrian roots and for the first time tasted a Zweigelt from the Finger Lakes not to long ago. But still, knowing a bit about grapes, I knew Zweigelt’s home is in Austria. For the final episode in Season 2 of Winephabet Stre…

We don’t get to drink or taste many Turkish wines and I was so excited when we chose Yapincak for the letter Y on Winephabet Street. We reached out to Andrea Lemieux who is known as the Quirky Cork and a champion in Turkish Wines to be our guest. She has just published a book The Essential Guide to Turkish Wine and it’s available on Amazon. Winepha…

Xarel-lo is a Spanish grape used in the production of Cava and grown in the Catalonia region of Spain. It is indigenous to Spain and I personally only thought of it as a blending grape. Little did I know……A little research, special guests on Winephabet Street an Xarel-lo is more than just a blending grape. Winephabet Street is a monthly series wher…

On the 23rd episode of Winephabet Street we visited the Waitaki Valley of New Zealand. Well virtually, with the help of Jim Jerram, owner of Ostler Wines and David Harlow of NZ Wine Navigator. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 22 V is for Villany Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Exploring the Wine Glass and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your cal…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 21- U is for Ugni Blanc Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar,…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 20- T is for Tavel Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour…

Sancerre is a wine region located in the central Loire Valley. It looks over the river Loire. It’s basically known Sauvignon Blanc, but Pinot Noir also grows there and they produce a Pinot Noir and a Sancerre Rose. The Loire Valley is quite large and Sancerre is closer to Burgundy than it is the center of the valley. They were granted AOC status in…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 18- R is for Riesling. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, …

Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with us. The month of Q we…

This past weekend I ventured out to some area wineries and took advantage of the nice weather. Wine tasting is a lot different today. Appointments are needed and you need to think out your route and stops. Gone are the tastings where you belly up to the bar and tasted 5-8 1 ounce pours and dump or spit in the dump bucket. But you know what, I like …

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 16- P is for Petite Sirah Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calenda…

We are coming up on Spring, nice weather where we will be hanging outside gardening, boating, going to the beach, hiking and more. What goes best along with those activities, music and wine. As we know wine is an important part of my life and so is music. I worked in radio for many years. Well, I actually grew up in radio. My dad had a dream of own…

Cambourcin isn’t a grape that you hear about in daily wine conversation. I’ve had Chambourcin before grown in the Hudson Valley. Many wineries use it in a blend with other red varieties. I wasn’t really a fan and a wine made with the Chambourcin grape wasn’t one that I would reach for. That all changed recently on a media tour of the New Jersey Win…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 15- O is for Orange Wine Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar…

The first time I had a South African wine I didn’t know what to expect. I remember it clearly, it was a Sauvignon Blanc from the Stellenbosch region. I liked it so much I went and ordered a case. That was years ago and frankly, I don’t think I’ve tasted many since. I am very eager to learn more about this wine-producing country. I got invited to a …

My team the Buffalo Bills made the playoffs. I was so excited for game 1. I was thinking chicken wings and beer. But, quite frankly, beer fills me up and I wanted something I could drink and celebrate with, or drown my sorrows. I though bubbles in keeping with the carbonated beverage and Vilarnau Cava because even if they lost, their beautiful labe…

Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with us. With no special g…

Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pour yourself a glass of wine and hang out with us. We were so excite…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 12 L is for Lugana. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pou…

September is a great month. I usually spend most of it in the Hudson Valley. I begin with the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition at the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival followed by a seminar or two at the festival. Then there is harvest and apple picking. By the end of September, my sister can’t wait to get rid of me. Boy is this year diffe…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 11 - K is for Kabar. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, po…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 10 - J is for Jura. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your calendar, pou…

Welcome to Winephabet Street Season 2 Episode 9 - I is for Indigenous Yeast. Winephabet Street is a monthly series where Lori Budd of Draceana Wines and I work our way through the alphabet exploring wine and wine regions one letter at a time. The show is live on the third Monday at 8pm and is free, but you must register to attend. Put it on your ca…