Libsyn Directory

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

Release Date: 03/13/2026

Montefalco Sagrantino: Wine, Birds, and the King of Everything [re-release]

Glass In Session® Winecast

Bird nerd meets cork dork in this summer break re-release of Montefalco Sagrantino, a beloved wine named for a king's beloved birds. Since your host is on break this month, most likely engaging in her new kink, bird watching, we're reaching back into the archives for bird-themed episodes that you can enjoy anywhere you find yourself this summer ... even on the back deck with a glass of wine in one hand, and a bird app in the other. Originally released in July 2022, this episode explores the wines of Montefalco Sagrantino. A unique grape, cool birds, and a special growing region, along...

Arak: The Spirit of Distillation and History | S22E6

Glass In Session® Winecast

In this episode we explore the history of the alembic pot still and distillation on our way to discovering Arak, an anise-flavored spirit from the Middle East, which most likely inspired your favorite anise tipple. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails [Kindle Edition], Wondrich, D & Rothbaum, N., (2022) Websites: Atlas Obscura: Thank These Master Alchemists for the Magic of Alcohol, Eubank, A. (12 February 2018) Britannica: Arak, Payne, L. Dharma Dispatch: Bengali Arrack and Bouleponge - A Glimpse into the Savage Lifestyle of...

Once upon a Wine Grape Iran | S22E5

Glass In Session® Winecast

An exploration of the rich history and culture of wine and grape-growing in Iran, the regions, and the hope that the Iranian diaspora offers us … in a glass. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Papers: Grapes Production in Afghanistan, Khasrow, A. (January 2016) Websites: Britannica: Achaemenid Empire, Young, T. C. (22 May 2026) Classical Wisdom: Wine as pharmakon: Persian drinking in the Histories, McLaverty, R. (7 October 2020) Country Reports: The...

American Rosé: The Story of our Red, White, and Blush [Rebroadcast for America's 250th]

Glass In Session® Winecast

[originally aired May 26, 2023] This episode explores the history of American rosé wine culture and the events that led to the blush rush of the last three decades of the 20th century. When is it blush, when is it rosé? We tackle these questions in this story of America’s pink kink or crush on the blush. Resources from this episode: Books: Exploring Wine, 3rd Edition, Kolpan, S. Smith, B., and Weiss, M. [The Culinary Institute of America] (2010) Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition, Robinson, J. and Harding, J. (2015) Rosé: A Guide to the World’s Most Versatile Wine,...

Armenian Wine: Of caves, mountains, wars, and resilience | S22E4

Glass In Session® Winecast

An exploration of Armenia's wine from an ancient cave, to a mountain, through wars and occupations to the present, and how events over millennia are fermented and aged into something beautiful that tells its story in the glass today. 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: Absolute Armenia: Areni-1 Cave: How to...

Wine in Albania: In the spirit of eagles ... and flamingos? | S22E3

Glass In Session® Winecast

An exploration of the history, grapes, and styles of Albanian wine. And what do eagles and flamingos have to do with any of it? 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: Albanian Blogger: Albania’s Path to the EU - Where Things Stand in 2026, Plaku, E. (20 April 2026) Albania Secrets: Albanian Wines - A Journey...

Wine in Poland: What the Little Ice Age Taketh Away Climate Change Giveth Back | S22E2

Glass In Session® Winecast

This episode explores Poland’s wine history, regions, grapes, and potential as a wine region on the rise. What the Little Ice Age taketh away, Climate Change giveth back. 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) Journals: Maciejczak, Mariusz & Mikiciuk, Jakub. (2018). Climate change impact on viticulture in Poland....

Wine in Lebanon: Wine, War, & Rising | S22E1

Glass In Session® Winecast

Thousands of years of wine history and culture, covering everything from boiled sea snails to Roman Temples, religious influence to vineyard bombings, we arrive at one of the most emotionally resonant wines on the planet that embody courage and the resilience of the human spirit. Resources from this episode: Books: Chateau Musar: The Story of a Wine Icon, Academie du Vin Library, Keevil, S. (2020) 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...

Vodka: Wars, Empires, and Culture (wars) [Re-Release]

Glass In Session® Winecast

[Originally Released: 25 March 2022] Vodka: What it is, where it's from, its role in the rise and fall of empires and … barbarians? Again? This episode is especially relevant to current events, and hopes to elucidate otherwise confusing issues around boycotting Russian Vodka: it has history, scandal, and irresistible international intrigue, especially considering the host isn’t even a fan of the neutral spirit itself. Resources from this episode: Books: Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide, Nickles, J. (2020) Grossman’s Guide to Wines Beers,...

Orange / Amber Wines [Re-Release]

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)...

More Episodes

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. https://bannedbooksweek.weebly.com/the-banning-of-grimmsrsquo-fairytales.html

Britannica: Little Red Riding Hood https://www.britannica.com/topic/Little-Red-Riding-Hood

DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office): Rotkäppchen Sparkling Wine (Updated 10 December 2025) https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/about_us/history/30yearsofgermanunity/eastbrands/rotkaeppchen/index.html

Daily Gazette: Calif. Elementary School Bans Little Red Riding Hood (19 May 1990) https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19900519&id=SWMhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bIkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3413,5003771

Forbes: This Sparkling Wine Survived Nationalization and Privatization to Become Germany’s Favorite, Persio, S. L. (Updated 14 November 2019) https://www.forbes.com/sites/sofialottopersio/2019/11/11/this-sparkling-wine-survived-nationalization-and-privatization-to-become-germanys-favorite/

Mirriam-Webster: Bocksbeutel https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bocksbeutel

Seattle Times: Little Red Riding Hood Banned, AP, (19 May 1990) https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900519/1072598/little-red-riding-hood-banned

Smithsonian Magazine: There Are 58 Versions of Little Red Riding Hood, Some are 1,000 Years Older Than the Brothers Grimm’s, Nuwer, R. (15 November 2013) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/there-are-58-versions-of-little-red-riding-hood-some-1000-years-older-than-the-brothers-grimms-180947704/

University of Pittsburgh: Folklore Archives, The Grimm Brothers’ Children’s and Household Tales (Grimms’ Fairy Tales), [No. 26, Little Red Cap], Ashliman, D.L. https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm026.html

University of Pittsburgh: Grimm Brothers’ Home Page, Ashliman, D.L. https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm.html

Wine Atlas: Saale-Unstrut https://www.wine-atlas.org/regions/saale-unstrut

Wines of Germany: Franken https://winesofgermany.co.uk/regions/franken/

Wines of Germany: Rotkäppchen Sparkling Wine Cellar https://www.winesofgermany.com/our-regions/highlight-of-wine-culture/354/rotkäppchen-sparkling-wine-cellar

WorthPoint: Little Red Riding Hood Wine Advertising Rotkappchen Freiburg Germany 1010s https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/little-red-riding-hood-wine-4577027708

Glass in Session Episodes Relevant to this Episode:

S7E2: Wines of Anjou, the Musketeers … and a Salad to Go? https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s7e2-wines-of-anjou-the-musketeers-and-a-salad-to-go

S16E1: Austrian and German Sekt https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/austrian-and-german-sekt-s16e1

Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

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