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The Wines and the Region of Lombardia, Italy | S19E4

Release Date: 06/27/2025

Glass In Session® Winecast

(Originally released Oct 25, 2019) This orange (amber) wine episode discusses winemaking, the origins of the style, and what makes them unique. They aren't red wines, despite skin maceration and fermentation. They aren't white wines, despite being made with white grapes. And they are not rose' wines. They are their own thing, and are the subject of much more press and literature than a decade ago. Resources from this episode: Books: Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition [Kindle Edition], Robinson (2015) Uncorking the Caucases: Wines from Turkey, Armenia, and Georgia, Horkey & Tan, (2016)...

Wine (and other booze) in Space: Why, how, and some unexpected weirdness | S21E6

Glass In Session® Winecast

Why did researchers send wine to space? Why is wine normally not allowed in space? Why did astronauts smuggle hooch into space anyway? We answer all these questions and more, address wet burps, a toilet tea party, and bring it home with how to smuggle cognac into space in this Season 21 Finale of the Glass in Session® Winecast. Resources from this episode: Websites: BBC: Why astronauts are banned from getting drunk in space, Lufkin, B. (20 February 2017) Business Insider: Astronauts are banned from drinking alcohol at work, but this hasn’t stopped them from sneaking everything from...

Little Red Riding Hood's Wine: Fairy Tale Turned Drunk History? | S21E5

Glass In Session® Winecast

This episode explores some controversial silliness over a bottle of wine that shows up in a classic fairy tale. We take a look at the history, and then casually address the wine Little Red Riding Hood may have actually hauled through the woods to her ailing grandma in rural 19th century Germany. We end with a crazy pairing ... all in the spirit of entertainment. Resources from this episode: Websites: Banned Books Weekly: Guardians of The Fairy Tale - The Brothers Grimm, O’Niell, T. Britannica: Little Red Riding Hood DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office): Rotkäppchen Sparkling...

Booze Disasters | S21E4

Glass In Session® Winecast

This episode explores some of history’s tragic booze disasters, and while we're at it, lays down some geeky booze knowledge. It is first in a new series of potable potpourri podcast episodes this season. Resources from this episode: Websites: ABC 7 Chicago: 8,000 gallons of Prosecco spew out of tank after wine distillery explosion, CNN, (4 October 2018) All That’s Interesting: When Burning Whiskey Flooded Dublin’s Streets, 13 Died Drinking Booze Out of Their Boots, Margaritoff, M. (Updated 18 December 2024) Great Italian Food Trade: Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG: A guide...

Muscat Grape Love | S21E3

Glass In Session® Winecast

This episode explores main muscat wine grape varieties, the many wine styles, a little history, and terminology … all to help you fall in love with new styles of wine - and other beverages - made with this ancient grape that is still very much loved around the world. Just in time for Valentine's Day! Resources from this episode: Books: Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viticulture (Princeton Science Library Book 76) [Kindle Version], McGovern, P. (2003) Grapes and Wines: A comprehensive guide to varieties and flavours, Clarke, O. and Rand, M. (2010) The Oxford Companion to...

A Whisky Sweater for Burns Night (Whisky Re-Release)

Glass In Session® Winecast

In addition to this re-release of “Whisky, Burns Night, and … Beerhenge?” (Originally Released Jan 28, 2022 ) I give a new, quick introduction to Burns night before treating you to this episode on whisky, in which I discuss: what it is, a little history, how it’s produced, distinguishing the styles, and a little silliness (because your host cannot help herself). Just the thing for a cold, January in the northern hemisphere on this weird third rock from the sun. Resources from this episode: Books: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide, Society of Wine Educators,...

Chardonnay Rose | S21E2

Glass In Session® Winecast

This episode explores the pink mutation of the Chardonnay grape, and why it’s now in the pantheon of Champagne’s primary grape varieties. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013) Websites: Champagne Education [Comité Champange]: Chardonnay Rose (9 January 2026) Comité Champagne: Grape Varieties Ministère...

Sparkling Wines of Limoux | S21 E1

Glass In Session® Winecast

This episode explores some of the world’s first sparkling wines, their styles, and a little history from the "Soul of Southern France." Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Websites: Limoux AOC: Les AOP de Limoux Limoux AOC: Limoux Wines Medium: Exploring Echoes: The Birth of Champagne - How Monk Dom Pérignon Didn’t Actually Invent It, De Wolfe, A. (6 April 2025), Provence and Beyond: Saint Hilaire Abbey Collins, R. (2019) Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to...

The Eggnog Riot of 1826 (re-release)

Glass In Session® Winecast

"Get your dirks and bayonets... and pistols if you have them." A quote heard during the Eggnog Riot at West Point on Christmas Eve in 1826. This is a quick re-visit of part of the Booze Riots and Rebellions series from Season 7. Happy Holidays & Cheers ~ Resources from this episode: Websites: Big Think: The Boozy and Violent Story Behind America’s Eggnog Riot, Davis, M. (2018) How Stuff Works: Ridiculous History - When West Point cadets rioted over eggnog in 1826, Dove, L. L. (2015) US Army: The Eggnog Riot, Funck, C. S., (2010) Podcasts: Stuff You Missed in History Class: The...

A Happy Winter Wonderland Wine: Bugey-Cerdon [Re-Release]

Glass In Session® Winecast

This week I spied Santa Claus ... hanging out in a dumpster. I reflected on how something as cynical as identifying with Santa in a Dumpster can be a source of unexpected joy. Bugey-Cerdon, to me, is a holiday entertaining essential because of it fun fizz, sweetness, and its ability to rock everything from charcuterie to Christmas cookes. Oh, and the low alcohol is a bonus! I hope you enjoy this timely re-relase of this episode on Bugey, a wine region between Jura and Savoie in France, and that you spot the joy in unexpected places.

More Episodes

An exploration of the vast, diverse styles of wines, grapes, and the stunning region of Lombardia, Italy

Resources from this episode:

Books:

The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023)

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)

Websites:

Britannica: Lombardy https://www.britannica.com/place/Lombardy

Italian Wine Central: https://italianwinecentral.com/region-province/lombardia-3/

Quattrocalici: Wine in Lombardy https://www.quattrocalici.com/regions/lombardy/

Vini di Valtellina: https://www.vinidivaltellina.it

Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:

S2E1: Lambrusco Love Fest https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s2e1-lambrusco-love-fest

S2E2: Behind Botrytis - Beautiful Wines from Ugly Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e2-behind-botrytis-beautiful-wines-from-ugly-grapes

S2E5: Hello Vino Novello https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e5-hello-vino-novello

S3E1: Asti DOCG - Bubbles in the New Year, Decade and Season https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s3e1-asti-docg-bubbles-in-the-new-year-decade-and-season

S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes

S4E3: Valpolicella-Palooza https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/website/s4e2-valpolicella-palooza