Great Times Behind the Wines

A podcast that takes listeners behind the scenes to learn about the people, methods, and stories that have made Hazlitt among leaders in the distinctive collaboration and community friendliness of the Finger Lakes wine region.

Get to Know Gewürztraminer and Grüner Veltliner 09/01/2023

Get to Know Gewürztraminer and Grüner Veltliner They may not be easy to pronounce, but Gewürztraminer and Grüner Veltliner are aromatic white wines that are certainly palate-pleasers! This episode allows listeners to learn all about these unique white wines, including their extensive histories, their best food pairings, and how you can simply enjoy their distinctive qualities during a tasting, especially when soaking in some summer sunshine. Hazlitt's Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy covers these facts and more, including how Gewürztraminer can be enjoyed much more often than with Thanksgiving dinner. And perhaps you've never heard of Grüner Veltliner, one of the most widely-grown varietals in Austria. Michael discusses how it's being increasingly cultivated in the Finger Lakes, and how along with Gewürztraminer, it's rewarding to grow and craft into delicious wines. /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/27912849

Making Beautifully Blended Wines 07/21/2023

Making Beautifully Blended Wines What do winemaking and cooking have in common? More than you might think! Just as a professional or at-home chef is always looking for the right ingredient to enhance a dish, winemakers are also always considering how they can make a wine exemplify the best of what the harvest offers! However, winemakers can't exactly scour a spice rack to add flavors to their wines, so how do they adjust a wine's flavor profile? Thankfully winemakers can turn to a special tool that's been honed since the earliest days of winemaking—blending wines! Hazlitt's vinifera winemaker Michael Reidy shares his extensive knowledge and experiences related to blending wines, and some tips for finding a blend that fits your palate. Listeners will also get a special "taste" of Hazlitt's newest premium blend, Homestead Reserve Prestige! /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/27529890

Why Hazlitt's Cider Tree Is 'Honest to the Core' 10/06/2022

Why Hazlitt's Cider Tree Is 'Honest to the Core' When fall arrives, it's not only time to break out comfy sweaters and watch the leaves change to dazzling colors—for many, it's also time to sip on some crisp and refreshing hard cider! Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards makes a hard cider called Cider Tree that comes in several fun flavors, including the "staff favorites" Citra Hops and Cinnamon Spice (that pairs well with pumpkin pie)! For this podcast episode, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards winemaker Tim Benedict talks about what goes into making Cider Tree from 100 percent New York State Apples. He will also discuss other ways Cider Tree has earned its catchphrase, "honest to the core" and multiple awards, including GOLD at the 2021 Finger Lakes International and NY Spiced Cider Producer of the Year at the 2021 NY International Cider Competition. You can learn more about Cider Tree here: https://hazlitt1852.com/cider-tree/. Referenced in this episode is the "From the Grape to Your Glass" episode which you can find here: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/16713047. Cheers! /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/24609399

Hazlitt’s New Wine Seltzers Make a Splash! 07/08/2022

Hazlitt’s New Wine Seltzers Make a Splash! For this episode, learn about Hazlitt’s newest product: wine seltzers! They are made using the winery's most famous wines and include Red Cat Splash, White Cat Splash, Pink Cat Splash, and Red Cat Dark Splash. Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Director of Sales and Business Development, Brad Phillips, and winemaker, Tim Benedict, describe the behind-the-scenes work that went into the creation of Splash and why it might just become your favorite summer sipper! Wines mentioned in this episode also relate to past episodes of this podcast, including Every Barrel Has a Story: and Hazlitt's Fabulous Red Cat Fizz & White Cat Fizz /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/23689034

Hazlitt's Fabulous Red Cat Fizz & White Cat Fizz 02/03/2022

Hazlitt's Fabulous Red Cat Fizz & White Cat Fizz Bubbly beverages are becoming increasingly popular. They not only glisten beautifully in a glass, but they also provide pleasurable effervescent flavors to any palate. That's why Hazlitt offers bubbly versions of its bestselling wines, Red Cat and White Cat. For this episode, I chat with winemaker Tim Benedict about making Red Cat and White Cat Fizz—the bubbly versions of Red Cat and White Cat. Tim talks about everything from the sustainable methods used to grow the grapes to the process of making them bubbly and the uniquely-shaped Fizz bottles. To learn more about the Fizz products and all of Hazlitt's wines, in addition to visiting the two tasting room locations, you can visit Hazlitt1852.com. /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/22015481

Secrets to Growing and Making a Stellar Finger Lakes Sauvignon Blanc 10/15/2021

Secrets to Growing and Making a Stellar Finger Lakes Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc is grown worldwide. However, Sauv Blanc from the Finger Lakes is known for some unique characteristics. Hazlitt Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy talks about these qualities & what goes into making a distinctive Finger Lakes Sauv Blanc. Hazlitt's Vineyard Manager John Santos discusses the challenges of growing Finger Lakes Sauv Blanc, including its "rambunctious teenage phase." To buy Hazlitt Sauv Blanc: hazlitt1852.com /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/20824631

Remarkable Finger Lakes Rieslings: What You Need to Know 06/23/2021

Remarkable Finger Lakes Rieslings: What You Need to Know Today we are talking about Finger Lakes Riesling with Sommelier Paul Brady & Hazlitt's Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy. Brady is a prominent supporter of New York Wine and hosts a wine podcast called A Northern Wine Odyssey (https://apple.co/3x3FmDi) through The Cork Report (thecorkreport.us). Brady is also working on opening an urban winery & retail space in Beacon, NY (paulbradywine.com). /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/19579859

Sustainable Grape-Growing in the Finger Lakes 04/28/2021

Sustainable Grape-Growing in the Finger Lakes In this episode, Hazlitt's Vineyard Manager John Santos discusses current environmental challenges involved in growing grapes for a winery and innovative ways of making it more ecologically and economically viable. To learn more about these initiatives, including a composting program, visit hazlitt1852.com/about/vineyard-sustainability-practices. And to learn about how you can compost at home, check out: www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home and www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828918397/how-to-compost-at-home. /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/18901523

Every Oak Barrel Has a Story 03/17/2021

Every Oak Barrel Has a Story This episode is your 101 on using oak barrels in winemaking! Join Hazlitt’s Co-CEO & Owner Doug Hazlitt (the father of host Shannon Hazlitt Harts) and Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy as they discuss the role oak barrels play in making many wines, including Hazlitt's Barrel Fermented Chardonnay. They expertly describe the different types of oak barrels that are used in winemaking and the unique qualities they can impart to wines. /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/18368708

Discover Hazlitt's Dessert Wines: The Solera Sherry and Vidal Blanc Ice Wine 01/19/2021

Discover Hazlitt's Dessert Wines: The Solera Sherry and Vidal Blanc Ice Wine Hope you have your sweet tooth ready! In this episode, we’ll cover the unique processes and incredible flavors in the Hazlitt Solera Sherry and Vidal Blanc Ice Wine. First, we'll chat with Tim Benedict, the expert on the Solera Sherry which is aged in barrels using a special process he’ll explain called The Solera Method. Then we’ll hear from Michael Reidy, Vinifera Winemaker, about the Vidal Blanc ice wine that's made using the traditional method—which involves allowing the grapes to freeze on the /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/17608817

5 Winetasting Tips and Tricks 01/19/2021

5 Winetasting Tips and Tricks For this episode of Great Times Behind the Wines, we’ll be diving into some tips and tricks for winetastings with Hazlitt’s Vinifera Winemaker, Michael Reidy—who does it as part of his job! Michael runs through the five S's of winemaking: See, Swirl, Sniff/Smell, Sip, and Savor. /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/17608640

The Hurrah of Harvest! 12/14/2020

The Hurrah of Harvest! A behind-the-scenes look at what's involved in harvesting grapes to make the award-winning wines at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards! To understand the sights, sounds, processes, and community spirit that are all a part of the harvest season at this winery in Finger Lakes Wine Country, we speak with Tim Benedict, Vice President of Cider and Winemaking, and Vinifera Winemaker Michael Reidy. To learn more about the story of Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and its products, visit hazlitt1852.com. /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/17169824

From the Grape to Your Glass 11/06/2020

From the Grape to Your Glass Have you ever wondered about the work behind turning grapes growing out in a vineyard into the wine you sip and swirl in your glass? In this introductory episode of Great Times Behind the Wines, you'll learn straight from the vineyard manager and vinifera winemaker at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyard about the hard work and teamwork it takes to make every bottle of wine—including Hazlitt's most popular, called Red Cat. /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/16713047

Introducing Great Times Behind the Wines 11/06/2020

Introducing Great Times Behind the Wines Learn about how this podcast takes you behind-the-scenes of life at a popular family-owned winery—Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Winery—in the Finger Lakes wine region. This show reveals the people, methods, and stories that have made Hazlitt among the leaders in the distinctive collaboration and community friendliness of the Finger Lakes wine region. /episode/index/show/greattimesbehindthewines/id/16712753

Great Times Behind the Wines

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