Roadside Terroir

Roadside Terroir is an audio travel guide for wine lovers who want to dig in on the subject of terroir. Join geologist Brenna Quigley on a road trip as she explores the unique geologic history of wine regions around the world.

S2E10: Haute Future 08/02/2023

S2E10: Haute Future The Season 2 FINALE of Roadside Terroir focuses on the hopes, challenges, and terroirs that hint at what the future has in store for the Côte d’Or. The episode begins in the southern villages of Santenay and Maranges where we hunt for granitic terroirs and discuss the growing popularity of natural wines. We then head deep into the Hautes Côtes to find the spirit of this newly popular region and attempt to identify the characteristics of its taste. Next, we visit some unassuming vineyards with exceptional farmers in order to explore the relevance of terroir in a farmer’s world. Finally, we end up right where we began, in the center of Beaune, celebrating the history of the Ventes des Vins and the exciting future of this beloved region. Thank you to our guests: Talloulah Dubourg, Seiichi Saito, and Nicolas Faure. And thank you to all of the incredible experts who have provided their commentary and guidance in this episode and throughout the season: Paul Wasserman, Daniel Johnnes, Rajat Parr, Jasper Morris, Françoise Vannier, Aaron Ayscough, and Helen Johannesen. This episode was created by Brenna Quigley, Nick Canepa, and Jeff Alvarez. With support from Esa Eslami, Ali Massie, Julia Wiggin, and our Grand Cru Patrons Steven and Amy Lipin. This episode is sponsored by – thank you for your generosity and for championing innovation and the love of wine in Santa Barbara County, Burgundy, and beyond Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/27634851

S2E9: Top Dogs, Underdogs, and Scooby-Doo 06/28/2023

S2E9: Top Dogs, Underdogs, and Scooby-Doo Our penultimate episode of Season 2 takes us from the powerful Grand Crus of Gevrey Chambertin all the way to the urban sprawl of Dijon and the northern edge of the Côte d'Or. We visit with grand producers amongst the most prestigious vines in Gevrey, and then continue to Fixin and Marsannay with some newer vignerons determined to pull their lesser-known appellations out of obscurity. While exploring the classic rocks of the Côte de Nuits, we consider how world wars and human industry have shaped the landscape and the reputations of these unique villages. Thank you to our guests: Jean-Marie Fourrier, Bruno, Arthur, and Eduard Clair, Amélie Berthaut, and Sylvain Pataille. And to Paul Wasserman and Helen Johannesen for their commentary and guidance. This episode was created by Brenna Quigley, Nick Canepa, and Jeff Alvarez. With support from Esa Eslami, Ali Massie, and our Grand Cru Patrons Steven and Amy Lipin. This episode is sponsored by Lone Wolf Imports–our fabulous friends in Portland, OR, dedicated to bringing exceptional Burgundies to the Pacific Northwest. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/27291258

S2E8: Grands Crus and Grands Vignerons 05/24/2023

S2E8: Grands Crus and Grands Vignerons In this episode we continue our journey through the Grand Cru Territory of the Côte de Nuits--guided by some of the biggest names in the business. We focus on the world-renowned villages of Vougeot, Chambolle-Musigny, and Morey-Saint-Denis. Throughout the episode we focus on the personal connections between these incredible individuals and the famous plots of land they call home. We begin by discussing the history of the Cistercian monks in the famed Clos de Vougeot, and attempt to discover the truth behind these legends as we walk through one grand cru after another. The episode concludes as we contemplate the metaphorical Cistercian influence in the wines themselves–how to find beauty in space, stillness, and simplicity. Thank you to our guests: Marie-Andrée and Marie-Christine Mugneret, Jean-Nicolas Méo, Charles Lachaux, Jeremy Seysses, Cyprien Arlaud, and Fred Mugnier. And to Paul Wasserman and Daniel Johnnes for their commentary and expertise. This episode was created by Brenna Quigley, Nick Canepa, and Jeff Alvarez. With support from Esa Eslami, Ali Massie, and our Grand Cru Patron Steven Lipin. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this and future seasons. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/26938104

S2E7: Finding Magic in Vosne-Romanée 04/06/2023

S2E7: Finding Magic in Vosne-Romanée This episode of Roadside Terroir explores the human connection to the mythical vineyards of Vosne-Romanée. We test the boundaries of this world-renowned village – physically and politically, and explore how human actions have impacted the geology of the slope, and the character of the wines. We uncover the mythology of the village, and hear from legendary voices. In the vineyards, we shift our perspective to consider the individual vines, working together as a living, changing entity before tasting some of the most precious wines on the planet. This exploration opened our minds to a deeper meaning of terroir and the magic that can be found in a bottle of wine. Thank you to our guests: Marie-Andrée Mugneret, Pascal Mugneret, Charles Lachaux, and Aubert de Villaine. And to Rajat Parr, Paul Wasserman, Daniel Johnnes, Jasper Morris, and Françoise Vannier for your commentary and expertise. This episode was created by Brenna Quigley, Nick Canepa, and Jeff Alvarez. With support from Esa Eslami, Ali Massie, and our Grand Cru Patron Steven Lipin. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and We want to extend a special thank you to our Premier partner, Acker wines – the oldest wine shop in America, and the largest fine and rare wine auction house in the world. You can now get 15% off of your first order of $350 or more by entering the code ROADSIDE at check out. Check out their website, for details. Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/26467818

S2E6: Entering the Côte de Nuits 03/01/2023

S2E6: Entering the Côte de Nuits In this episode we venture into the world’s most hallowed ground for Pinot Noir, and the northern half of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or – the Côte de Nuits. While exploring the people and the wines of the Cote de Nuits Villages and the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges we explore the geologic differences that set apart the Côte de Nuits from the Côte de Beaune, search for a physical boundary between the two locations, identify the characteristics of the most famous vineyards, and see if we can taste these differences in the wines themselves. Featuring our guests Camille Thiriet, Charles Lachaux, Antoine Gouges, and Erwan Faiveley. With commentary by Paul Wasserman, Daniel Johnnes, and Françoise Vannier. This episode was created by Brenna Quigley, Nick Canepa, and Jeff Alvarez. With support from Esa Eslami, Ali Massie, and our Grand Cru Patron Steven Lipin. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and We want to extend a special thank you to our Premier partner, Acker wines – the oldest wine shop in America, and the largest fine and rare wine auction house in the world. You can now get 15% off of your first order of $350 or more by entering the code ROADSIDE at check out. Check out their website, for details, and go snag some delicious white Burgundy while you can! Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/26093667

S2E5: Vignettes en Blanc 12/09/2022

S2E5: Vignettes en Blanc What makes the difference between good and life-changing chardonnay? This episode dives into all things white Burgundy, and continues our extended road trip through the Côte d'Or by highlighting special moments with the people who live and breath what many consider to be the greatest expression of chardonnay in the world. In Meursault we peek into a geological study of Blagny with Benjamin Leroux, then explore the minerality of the Chassagne limestone with Anne Morey, and taste through premier crus with Dominique Lafon. We are guided through the vines of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet by Guillaume Lavollée of Domaine Genot-Boulanger, before hiking through the hallowed ground of Montrachet with fellow geologist, Françoise Vannier. Finally–we explore how different styles and philosophies of farming influence the expression of terroir with Olivier Lamy of Domaine Hubert Lamy and Jonathan Purcell of Vin Noë in Saint Aubin. This episode was created by Brenna Quigley, Nick Canepa, and Jeff Alvarez. With support from Esa Eslami, Ali Massie, and our Grand Cru Patron Steven Lipin. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and We want to extend a special thank you to our Premier partner, Acker wines – the oldest wine shop in America, and the largest fine and rare wine auction house in the world. You can now get 15% off of your first order of $350 or more by entering the code ROADSIDE at check out. Check out their website, for details, and go snag some delicious white Burgundy while you can! Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/25282116

S2E4: Harvest in Burgundy 10/19/2022

S2E4: Harvest in Burgundy This special episode documents our experience harvesting in Burgundy during Vendanges 2022. We spend our time picking grapes for our dear friends Tomoko and Guillaume of Chanterêves. Tomoko walks us through every step of their winemaking process -- from selecting in the vineyards, to fermentations, pressing, and barreling down-- allowing us to experience the metamorphosis of a great wine. Towards the end of harvest we stop in at Domaine Bruno Clair in order to get a vintage perspective from the Côte de Nuits. This unique episode is meant to capture the sounds and feelings of a true Burgundian harvest -- so you should expect it to sound a bit different, and a bit more off-the-cuff than our typical episodes. We'll be back with our full exploration of the Côte d'Or with a full episode dedicated to white burgundy next month! This episode is created by Brenna Quigley, Nick Canepa, and Jeff Alvarez. With support from Esa Eslami, Ali Massie, and our Grand Cru Patron Steve Lipin. This episode is sponsored in part by , a boutique travel and event planning company based in the Hautes Côtes de Beaune. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/24739926

S2E3: Ducs, Dolomite, and Double Espresso 06/17/2022

S2E3: Ducs, Dolomite, and Double Espresso Episode 3 continues our exploration of pinot noir in the Côte de Beaune by diving into one of the biggest rivalries of the Côte d'Or: Pommard and Volnay. We scour the vineyards, the rocks, and the history books in order to understand why these two neighbors produce such drastically different wines. After an intense discussion of some of our favorite sites, we veer off the beaten path of the Routes des Grands Crus, back into the western hills, making our way through Monthelie and Auxey Duresses as we head to St. Romain to consider Burgundian terroir from a different angle: through people who have made this place their home, in coffee, through barrels, and within music. Thank you to our guests: Thomas Bouley, Guillaume D'Angerville, Frédéric and Clothilde Lafarge, Françoise Vannier, Matt McClune of St. Romain Coffee, Max Gigandet of François Frères, to Paul Wasserman, Daniel Johnnes, and Jasper Morris for their commentary, and the Auxey Morons for the tunes and the pizza. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/23456711

S2E2: The Hill and the Valley 04/22/2022

S2E2: The Hill and the Valley Our second episode takes us out onto the RN74 on a hunt for both rocks and answers. We’re joined by our local geologist-hero, Françoise Vannier as we hike up the Hill of Corton, and down into the Valley of Savigny-les-Beaune and Pernand-Vergelesses. Our goal is to discover the truth behind the legends that intersect the worlds of soils, wines, and kings, but end up discovering much more. Guests featured in this episode include: Michael Sager (Sager and Wilde), Paul Wasserman (Becky Wasserman & Co.), Rajat Parr (Phelan Farm), François de Nicolay (Domaine Chandon de Briailles), Chisa Bize (Domaine Simon Bize), David Croix (Domaine des Croix), Aubert de Villaine (Domaine de la Romanée Conti), and a feature of our favorite Savigny restaurant Le Soleil. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/22879373

Burgundy Bonus Episode: David Croix 04/08/2022

Burgundy Bonus Episode: David Croix Established in 2005, Domaine des Croix organically farms 7.75 hectares /19.15 acres in the Côte de Beaune. We first introduced David in Part II of Episode 1 where he memorably told us about almost dying on his tractor on the steep, tilted slopes of Beaune Bressandes. In this bonus episode, we continue back to the cellar with David and taste through his Beaune wines. He describes the wines and terroirs we have just seen and discusses the winemaking philosophies behind each site. For access to all extended interviews and other bonus content sign up to be a Roadside Terroir Insider at - Interviews for S1 are available now, and S2 coming soon! Thank you to our Season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and . /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/22730069

S2E1: Entering The Rabbit Hole - Part II 03/11/2022

S2E1: Entering The Rabbit Hole - Part II Part 2 of our first episode of Season 2 picks up right where we left off, as we head into the vineyards of Beaune with the vignerons who know it best. This episode explores the connections between the land and the people that make Beaune so unique by looking into the role of the négociant over time, the history of Biodynamic Farming in the Côte d’Or, and the connections, or perhaps dis-connections, between wine quality and reputation. Thank you to our season 2 partners for making this season possible: , , and We would also like to thank for helping to make this episode possible–make sure to check out this newly renovated boutique hotel located just steps away from the beautiful Hospice du Beaune next time you’re in town. Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/22416548

S2E1: Entering The Rabbit Hole - Part I 03/04/2022

S2E1: Entering The Rabbit Hole - Part I Season 2: Burgundy's Côte d'Or starts out on the train from Paris to Beaune. On our ride, we describe the formation of the Paris Basin and the rocks that make up the slopes of Burgundy as we cruise through the French countryside. We dive into the history of the region, from Roman times to the Dukes of Burgundy to the French Revolution in order to understand where the reputation of Burgundy's wines originated. Once we arrive in Beaune, we tour the city, and stop for lunch at a favorite local spot before walking the ancient underground cellars beneath the city... This season of Roadside Terroir is sponsored by , , and . Check out our website for more details and a full transcript of this episode, plus information about our team and how to support this season. Thank you for listening--don't forget to hit subscribe! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/22334063

Season Two - Burgundy Teaser 02/04/2022

Season Two - Burgundy Teaser Season 2: Burgundy's Côte d'Or is coming soon! Are you ready for a sneak-peek? We've spent over 6 months exploring this historic region from every angle, and we can't wait to share it with you. Can you pick out any classic Burgundian sounds or voices in this teaser? Let us know Check out our website for more details on our team and how to support this upcoming season. Thank you to our Season 2 Sponsors: La Paulée, Acker Wines, and Becky Wasserman & Co. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you can be the first to hear Season 2 Episode 1! /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/22020023

S1E4 - Farming for the Future 04/10/2021

S1E4 - Farming for the Future Our final episode of Season 1 contemplates the future of this emerging region as we explore the eastern edges of Santa Barbara County, specifically the Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon American Viticultural Areas. The episode concludes with our final thoughts on the region, and a small reunion of guests from throughout the season. This episode is sponsored by Sei Querce Wines and listeners like you. /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/18671357

S1E3: The Heart of SB 11/20/2020

S1E3: The Heart of SB The third episode of our Santa Barbara season dives into the heart of Santa Barbara County. We start in Santa Maria, home of the oldest vines in the county, and head south on Highway 101. We stop in Los Alamos to explore this small-town culinary mecca, and then continue on to Ballard Canyon—the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley. This episode focuses on the people and the history of the valley, and how they frame the geology, terroir, and wines. /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/16893740

S1E2 - Rita's Balance 07/10/2020

S1E2 - Rita's Balance This episode explores the range of factors that contribute to the unique expression of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Rita Hills AVA. We are guided by a diverse group of winemakers, journalists, sommeliers, and friends from Point Conception to all corners of the appellation. We discuss everything from diatomite, to earth’s axial tilt, to the progression of winemaking styles in order to identify the components of balance in this extreme part of the world. /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/15164555

S1E1 - Episode 1 On The 1 05/15/2020

S1E1 - Episode 1 On The 1 Episode 1 of our Santa Barbara season takes us through the ancient vines of Los Angeles County, up the rugged coastline of Highway 1, and into the busy Funk Zone of downtown Santa Barbara. Along the way we discuss the tectonic history of Southern California and its influence on the terroir of Santa Barbara County. We sit down with winemakers and friends from LA to SB to discuss wine, geology, seafood, and surf breaks--all in search of an answer to the question: What is Santa Barbara's terroir? /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/14429870

Roadside Terroir Sneak Peek 04/25/2020

Roadside Terroir Sneak Peek Take a sneak peek of the first-ever episode of Roadside Terroir. Our first season takes place in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. The first episode will introduce the area as a wine growing region and describe the coastal geology along the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. /episode/index/show/roadsideterroir/id/14137976

Roadside Terroir

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