Vodka: Wars, Empires, and Culture (wars) [Re-Release]
Release Date: 04/24/2026
![Montefalco Sagrantino: Wine, Birds, and the King of Everything [re-release] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/205108995?height=50&width=50)
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...
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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...
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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...
info_outline![American Rosé: The Story of our Red, White, and Blush [Rebroadcast for America's 250th] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/203786775?height=50&width=50)
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,...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
info_outline![Vodka: Wars, Empires, and Culture (wars) [Re-Release] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/201167905?height=50&width=50)
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,...
info_outline![Orange / Amber Wines [Re-Release] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/200639505?height=50&width=50)
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)...
info_outline[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, and Spirits (7th Edition) Grossman, H., (Revised by Harriett Lembeck), (1983)
The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails [Kindle Edition], Wondrich, D & Rothbaum, N., (2022)
Websites:
CNN Business: States want to boycott Russian vodka: Here’s why that won’t work, Valinsky, J. (27 February 2022) https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/27/business/russian-vodka-boycotts/index.html
Eater: The Empty Politics of Stoli’s name change, Saxena, J. (7 March 2022) https://www.eater.com/2022/3/7/22965518/stoli-vodka-made-latvia-russian-name-change-stolichnaya
Forbes: Ditching Russian Vodka? Here’s where other favorite vodkas are produced, Micallef, J.V. (26 February 2022) https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2022/02/26/ditching-russian-vodka-heres--where-your-favorite-vodkas-are-made/?sh=392f30382350
Russia Beyond: What’s the Story Behind the Iconic Stolichnaya Vodka Brand? Zubacheva, K. (4 February 2020)
https://www.rbth.com/history/331637-stolichnaya-vodka-history
Stoli Group: Stoli Group Denounces Russian Aggression and Shares History of Opposition https://stoli.com/
Time: Tsar Nicholas II thought vodka was hurting Russians - but banning it helped destroy his empire, Schrad, M. L. (20 July 2021) https://time.com/6082058/russian-revolution-vodka/
Wine, Wit, and Wisdom - The Official Blog of the Society of Wine Educators: New for Norway - Norsk Vodka and Norsk Akavit PGI, Nickles, J.. (6 February 2020) https://winewitandwisdomswe.com/2020/02/06/new-for-norway-norsk-vodka-and-norsk-akvavit-pgi/
Glass in Session® Episodes Mentioned in this Session:
S9E4:The Silk Roads Lead to Samarkand & Uzbek Wine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e4-the-silk-roads-lead-to-samarkand-uzbek-wine
S9E2: Whisky, Burns Night, and … Beerhenge? https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e2-whisky-burns-night-and-beerhenge
S8E3: Once Upon a Wine Grape in Afghanistan https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s8e3-once-upon-a-wine-grape-in-afghanistan
Glass in Session® merch mentioned on 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.)