The Wine Lab

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The Wine Lab

Andreea Botezatu

15 episodes

4 days ago

Send me your thoughts at ibotezatu5@gmail.com What do Port, Sherry, Madeira, Marsala, and Vermouth all have in common? They’re wines with an extra ingredient — spirit. In this episode of The Wine Lab, Dr. Andreea Botezatu explores how fortification began as a practical solution for preserving wine on long sea voyages and evolved into a craft that shaped trade, taste, and culture. From Shakespeare’s Falstaff praising “sack” to George Washington’s love for Madeira, we’ll travel through history ...

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All content for The Wine Lab is the property of Andreea Botezatu and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Send me your thoughts at ibotezatu5@gmail.com What do Port, Sherry, Madeira, Marsala, and Vermouth all have in common? They’re wines with an extra ingredient — spirit. In this episode of The Wine Lab, Dr. Andreea Botezatu explores how fortification began as a practical solution for preserving wine on long sea voyages and evolved into a craft that shaped trade, taste, and culture. From Shakespeare’s Falstaff praising “sack” to George Washington’s love for Madeira, we’ll travel through history ...

Show more...

Episodes (15/15)

The Wine Lab

Wine with Spirit: The World of Fortified Wines

Send me your thoughts at ibotezatu5@gmail.com What do Port, Sherry, Madeira, Marsala, and Vermouth all have in common? They’re wines with an extra ingredient — spirit. In this episode of The Wine Lab, Dr. Andreea Botezatu explores how fortification began as a practical solution for preserving wine on long sea voyages and evolved into a craft that shaped trade, taste, and culture. From Shakespeare’s Falstaff praising “sack” to George Washington’s love for Madeira, we’ll travel through history ...

4 days ago

8 minutes

The Wine Lab

Dom Perignon - The Monk Who Didn’t Invent Champagne

Send me your thoughts at ibotezatu5@gmail.com Everyone knows the story of Dom Pérignon — the monk who invented Champagne and declared he was “tasting the stars.” But history tells a very different tale. In this episode of The Wine Lab, we uncover the truth behind one of wine’s most enduring myths. Dom Pérignon didn’t create sparkling wine at all! In fact, he spent much of his life trying to eliminate bubbles from the Abbey of Hautvillers’ wines. Yet his innovations in grape selection, blendin...

1 week ago

7 minutes

The Wine Lab

Roots of Disaster: The Phylloxera Story. A tiny insect nearly erased wine from history — discover how science, stubbornness, and a Texan saved it.

Send us a text In the late 1800s, an almost invisible insect began destroying Europe’s vineyards. This episode of The Wine Lab takes you inside the phylloxera crisis — from the first mysterious vine deaths in France to the desperate experiments, scientific breakthroughs, and global collaboration that saved wine from near extinction. Along the way, we meet the heroes of the story, including Texan horticulturist T.V. Munson, whose work with American rootstocks helped rescue French viticulture. ...

2 weeks ago

10 minutes

The Wine Lab

From Bark to Bottle: The Cork Chronicles

Send us a text Cork is everywhere in the world of wine, from the quiet of a cellar to the noise of a celebration. But how did this small stopper come to influence the way wines age, the rituals of opening a bottle, and even the way we think about quality? In this episode of The Wine Lab, we explore the science, the history, and the culture wrapped up in every cork, and ponder why it remains central to wine today. Support the show For more detailed wine science checkout my YouTube channe...

3 weeks ago

10 minutes

The Wine Lab

Sweet Lies and Dry Truths: Sugar in Wine

Send us a text Is wine really “full of sugar”? What about those “zero sugar” labels, or the idea that wine is keto-friendly? In this episode of The Wine Lab, Andreea breaks down what you need to know about sugar in wine — from grapes on the vine to yeast in the tank, from chaptalization in Burgundy to back-sweetening in Riesling, and from Champagne dosage to carbs and calories. Along the way, we’ll uncover what’s legal, what’s marketing, and what really ends up in your glass. Glos...

1 month ago

8 minutes

The Wine Lab

Wine in Art – From Ancient Gods to Pop Culture

Send us a text Wine shimmers across the history of art: painted on Egyptian tomb walls, poured into Greek amphorae, celebrated in Roman mosaics, lifted in Renaissance chalices, and glowing in Impressionist picnics. In this episode of The Wine Lab, we follow its journey through image, poetry, and song, tracing how wine has carried sacred meanings, earthly joys, and artistic inspiration across millennia—ending with Pablo Neruda’s luminous Ode to Wine. 🍷 Glossary of Lesser-Known TermsAmp...

1 month ago

15 minutes

The Wine Lab

Headaches, Hipsters, and the Myth of Sulfite-Free Natural Wine

Send us a text In this episode of The Wine Lab, host Andreea Botezatu unpacks the misunderstood world of sulfites in wine — what they are, what they do, and why that warning label exists. From antioxidant chemistry to ancient winemaking tricks, we look at how sulfur dioxide protects wine, explore common myths - like the one about sulfites and headaches - and even dive into the science of those rare sulfite sensitivities. Expect a splash of history, a little rock ‘n’ roll, and a few nerd...

1 month ago

7 minutes

The Wine Lab

The Oldest Wines Ever Discovered – Stories from the Ancient World

Send us a text From Neolithic pottery shards to golden amphorae sealed for millennia, the world’s oldest wines tell us more than just what ancient people drank — they reveal how wine shaped trade, ritual, and daily life across civilizations. In this episode, we journey through some of the most remarkable archaeological wine finds, explore the science used to identify them, and imagine what these ancient vintages might have tasted like. Glossary Qvevri (also spelled Kvevri) Large, egg-shaped...

1 month ago

9 minutes

The Wine Lab

Under Pressure: The Craft and Chemistry of Sparkling Wine. How do the world’s finest bubbles get into your glass? We explore the science, regions, and traditions of sparkling wine.

Send us a text From royal courts in 17th-century France to today’s celebrations around the world, sparkling wine has captured attention for centuries. In this episode of The Wine Lab, host Andreea Botezatu explains how sparkling wines are made, from traditional Champagne techniques to Prosecco’s Charmat method and beyond. We’ll look at the role of secondary fermentation, explore different sweetness levels, highlight the major regions producing sparkling wine, and share the story of La V...

2 months ago

10 minutes

The Wine Lab

Native Rebels and Cultured Icons: Yeast in the Cellar - How yeast drives complexity, unpredictability, and style in winemaking.

Send us a text In this episode of The Wine Lab, we explore the unseen world of yeast—the microscopic winemakers transforming grape juice into wine. From lab-selected commercial strains to wild, spontaneous fermentations and even wineries culturing their own native yeasts, we uncover how these tiny organisms shape wine’s flavor, texture, and identity. Along the way, we touch on yeast’s long history in human culture—from bread to beer to Bordeaux. Support the show For more det...

2 months ago

8 minutes

The Wine Lab

Smells Like Wine Spirit: The Science of Aroma

Send us a text Why does a glass of wine smell like blackberries, jasmine, or freshly cut herbs—when it’s made entirely from grapes? In this episode, we explore the complex and fascinating science of wine aroma. From compounds naturally found in grapes and flowers to the transformative role of fermentation and microbes, we trace how scent molecules form, evolve, and interact with our senses. We’ll also examine how genetics, memory, and culture shape the way we experience wine...

2 months ago

10 minutes

The Wine Lab

Malolactic: Magic or Mayhem?

Send us a text In this episode of The Wine Lab, we swirl through the science of malolactic fermentation (MLF), the process that can soften wine and elevate complexity, but also invite spoilage and instability, especially in high pH wines. We break down what MLF actually is, why winemakers use it, when they avoid it, and how to manage its benefits and risks with precision. Perfect for winemakers, wine students, and curious wine lovers. For more in-depth information on this topic you can watch ...

2 months ago

11 minutes

The Wine Lab

Sour Grapes, Sweet Solutions: How Verjus Could Help Winemakers Beat the Heat

Send us a text Can a splash of sour grape juice make wines better in a warming world? In this episode, we explore how verjus—juice from unripe grapes—can improve wine chemistry, reduce alcohol, and enhance sustainability in hot-climate winemaking. Based on research from Texas A&M University. 👉 Read the full paper Support the show For more detailed wine science checkout my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@Enology_channel

2 months ago

5 minutes

The Wine Lab

Uncorking Haloanisoles in Wine

Send us a text We’ve all heard of “corked” wine — but what if that wet dog smell isn’t the cork’s fault at all? In this episode of The Wine Lab, we explore the fascinating and frustrating world of haloanisoles: TCA, TBA, TeCA, PCA, and their highly aromatic footprint in wine. These powerful compounds can travel through the air, cling to barrels and insulation, and even sabotage stainless steel tanks. Learn about their origins, their impact on sensory perception, the limits of closures like sc...

2 months ago

6 minutes

The Wine Lab

Cluster Thinning and Wine Quality: Myth, Method, or Must?

Send us a text Can fewer grapes mean better wine? In this episode of The Wine Lab, Dr. Andreea Botezatu explores the science behind cluster thinning, a time-honored but hotly debated vineyard practice. Drawing from a recent narrative systematic review, we break down what the research really says about its impact on wine aroma, phenolics, sensory quality, and economic viability. Whether you’re managing a vineyard or just love wine science, this episode offers practical insights to help you mak...

2 months ago

6 minutes