This podcast was recorded during an Alsace tasting in Chicago at Smyth Restaurant.  Just before dinner we interviewed Sommelier and James Beard award winner Belinda Chang. The dinner was exceptional and we were treated to a spectacular line up of fantastic wines from Alsace.  This program gives you a bit of background on those special people we call SOMMS.

You can learn more about Belinda on social media and Instagram.

Learn about Smyth at www.smithandtheloyalist.com

The final stop for our trip to the Piedmont region of Italy was Marenco Winery. It was there that our entire group climbed a seriously high and steep vineyard hillside, chatted to the background sounds of a local accordion player, ate classic homemade Italian food and drank several exceptional wines. Before the evening was over I was able to record a brief interview with Andrea Costa as well at the three Marenco Sisters. It was a magical night few of us will ever forget.

Learn more by visiting www.marencovini.com

Our visit a few weeks ago to the Piedmont region of Italy gave us a real insight to the excellent wines made by many families. For this podcast we met with Michele Chiarlo of Michele Chiarlo Winery in Piedmont. Michele began vinifying the wines of Piedmont the year I was born and is still active with his family to this day. It was an honor to talk with a man with so much winegrowing history.

Learn more by visiting www.michelechiarlo.it

Continuing with podcasts from our trip to the Piedmont region of Italy, this week we feature Luigi Coppo of the Coppo Winery in Canelli. Like most of the wineries in Italy, this is a family operation with Luigi focusing on tours and tastings. The wine caves are a must see and their property is beautiful, even including a stone encased family chapel. Time was precious during the visit but Luigi is a very relaxed guy and you can hear how he loves to tell the family story.

Learn more by visiting www.coppo.it

Wine, is incredibly diverse. If you are open to it, you’ll make discoveries from all over the world. The gift of fermented juice is abundant. The trick is to learn. That door, can be opened at any time. It’s up to you to walk through it. We suggest you do so, because it’s going to be a heck of a lot of fun.  This is the first of four podcasts featuring interviews with Winemaker’s from the Piedmont region of Italy. We visited several wineries in the Asti DOCG and our eyes were opened.

We begin with Federico Ceretto of Ceretto Wines.

Learn more by visiting www.ceretto.com