Uncork Your Mind

Uncork Your Mind

In this episode of Uncork Your Mind, Debbie Gioquindo, the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess, travels virtually to Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region to speak with Francesca Mecchia of Vigna Petrussa Winery. Together, we dive into the story of Schioppettino, one of Italy’s most fascinating indigenous red grapes known for its black pepper spice, elegance, freshness, and incredible food pairing versatility. Francesca shares the history of her family’s all-female winery, how Schioppettino was brought back from near extinction, and why preserving indigenous grapes is so important for the future...

Uncork Your Mind

What do wine appreciation and parenting have in common? More than you might think. In this episode of Uncork Your Mind Conversations, Debbie Gioquindo, the Hudson Valley Wine Goddess, sits down with Danielle Frank, author of A Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting: The Fine Art of Wine & Whine Management. Danielle shares the inspiration behind her book and explains the surprising parallels between raising children and appreciating wine — from patience and perspective to learning how to embrace life’s unpredictable moments. This conversation blends wine, humor, and real-life parenting,...

Uncork Your Mind

In this episode of Uncork Your Mind, I chat with David Sheldon, owner of Hampton Roads Winery in Surry County, Virginia, and author of You Can Wine Too, about how he and his wife Diane transformed retirement into a life of winemaking, farming, and creativity. We talk about: 🍇 Lessons from starting a winery from scratch 🏠 Turning a Victorian mansion into a tasting room 🐐 Building the world’s tallest Goat Tower 🐄 Raising cattle and saving a calf named Nicholas 💡 The passion that keeps them pouring 🎧 Listen & read more → 📘 Buy You Can Wine Too on Amazon or Barnes...

Uncork Your Mind

Welcome to another episode of Winephabet Street, where we explore the world of wine one letter at a time! This episode features the elusive and extraordinary Usakhelauri – a rare Georgian grape known for its deep color, natural sweetness, and limited production. Join us as we dive into: ✅ The history and origins of Usakhelauri 🍇 ✅ What makes it so rare and highly sought after  ✅ Tasting notes and food pairings 🍷🍽 ✅ How it represents the rich winemaking traditions of Georgia 🇬🇪 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more exciting wine explorations! Have...

Uncork Your Mind

If you missed the live episode of Winephabet Street’s this month we talked all about Traminette, Our guest was Michael Migliore, owner and winemaker of Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery. Michael brought 45 years of winemaking expertise to the table, providing invaluable insights into this fascinating grape known for its floral, fruity, and spicy characteristics What is Traminette? Traminette is a hybrid grape, a cross between Gewürztraminer and a French-American hybrid. It boasts the aromatic intensity of Gewürztraminer while offering the hardiness and disease resistance of hybrids....

Uncork Your Mind

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Kopke 1638 Port House with winemaker Carla Tiago. Carla discusses the 400-year history of Kopke, from its German roots to becoming a staple of Portugal’s port wine legacy. She explains the various port styles, including the unique Colheitas, aged solely in barrels and bottled only upon request, preserving their distinct vintages for decades. Carla also shares how Kopke is bringing port into the modern era, with innovative projects like their limited library collection of century-old vermouth and quinine-infused ports. With insights on...

Uncork Your Mind

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 vineyard practices, the artistry behind their wine labels, and their delicious range of wines, including a rare Gamay Rosé and a bold Cabernet Sauvignon. Tune in to hear more about how passion for wine shaped Shawn's path and what makes Familia...

Uncork Your Mind

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 resilience and characteristics that make it promising for New Jersey's climate. The conversation touches on the grape's disease resistance, vibrant acidity, and fruit structure, drawing parallels to well-known varieties like Syrah. As they taste...

Uncork Your Mind

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, Meaghan Frank from Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Meaghan represents the fourth generation of her family's winemaking legacy, bringing both a deep respect for tradition and a fresh perspective to the craft....

Uncork Your Mind

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 show and didn’t get to all the questions, we have a part 2 coming up.  I hope you enjoy!