It's August. It's Leo season. It's time to drink some more Pét-Nat. This month we're drinking through Alex's wine fridge and all of the bottles bought during travels. If you remember the infamous spring break trip that involved nine bottles of wine in a suitcase and a $100 heavy bag fee, this is one of those bottles. The 2020 Pét-Nat from Caduceus Cellars is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Malvasia. Perhaps what is most interesting about this wine is where it is produced - Jerome, Arizona. Arizona might not be the place where you'd expect to find any wine, let alone good wines, but this small region is home to several wineries that grow a wide range of varietals. Caduceus is owned by Maynard James Keenan, who is best known as the vocalist for Grammy Award-winning progressive metal band Tool (not Bent, we misspoke). We talk a bit about Malvasia and some of the distinguishing characteristics of the grape. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Today we're drinking one of our favorite wines, and one that we've repurchased many times. Lioco's 2019 "Sativa" is Carignan from Mendocino County. While Carignan isn't a well know varietal, this particular bottle is a great example of this grape. We discuss dry farming and regions where you might find dry farmed grapes. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

We're back after an untended summer break. And today we have wine that is truly an on brand Witches brew. We're drinking the 2021 Poilu's Pinard from Florez Wines. This blend of 55% Picpoul and 45% Pinot Noir was maybe not an intentional blend. The Picpoul had a few aging problems, the Pinot Noir came in at a very high sugar level that would not ferment to dryness without the addition of water. But when blended together the two troubled wines on their own became a delicious light red. Not only do we love this story and honesty about winemaking, but the wine itself is a delicious chuggable red wine that is perfect for the summer. We talk a bit about Picpoul and where the grape is grown.

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Today we're featuring the 2020 Field Blend Piquette from Old Westminster Winery. While Piquette is not technically a wine, it’s made by adding water to grape pomace (the leftover skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit) and fermenting what’s left of the sugars. Piquette can be made from countless numbers of grapes that winemakers are left with after bottling their traditional wines. Think, reuse and recycle leftover biproducts of winemaking. We love it because it's low in alcohol content (typically between 5-9% ABV) and has a zippy acidity perfect for summer day drinking. 

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What could be more feral than canned wines? One of our favorite producers, Las Jaras, has three incredible options under their Waves label. The 2021 Waves Rosé is a blend of 43% Zinfandel, 40% Carignan, 9% Viognier, and 8% Petite Sirah, leading to a bright, zippy wine you'll want to drink all summer. This is a great alternative to beer or hard seltzer, or for any scenarios when you don't want a glass bottle. We give you some other canned wine options that we love as well! 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

We're back with another weird natty wine. Today we're featuring the 2021 "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" from Scotty Boy Wines! This is a co-ferment of 65% Grenache Noir and 35% Grenache Blac, all grown in Santa Barbara County, resulting in a wine that is ripe with fruit on the nose, bright acid and plush tannins on the palate. Is it over the top? Sure. But it's feral girl summer. We discuss the history of Garnacha/Grenache and the multiple varieties of the grape. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Happy Pride Month! And happy feral girl summer. All June we'll be bringing you our feral girl wine picks, which is whatever the heck we want to drink. We're kicking things off with a quintessential summer wine - Txakolina. The 2021 Ameztoi Txakolina is a beautiful (and admittedly classed up) expression of Txakolina. Txakolina, or Chacolí, is a slightly sparkling, very dry white wine with high acidity and low alcohol content produced in the Basque Country, Cantabria and northern Burgos in Spain. Made from hondarrabi zuri grapes, this wine has a natural effervescence that makes it so fun to drink in the summer. We discuss the traditional method of drinking Txakolina from a porron and give a few recommendations of where to find it around Charlottesville. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Coming to you a little late and basically live on this Memorial Day with our final rosé for PINK WINE SZN. I know, we're sad to see it end too. Today we're drinking the perfect summer rosé from Latta Wines. The 2021 Kind Stranger rosé is a delicious blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Cinsault. We bought it for the label but love that some of the proceeds to go Mary's Place and the International Rescue Committee. Wine that also gives back? Sign us up. We end PINK WINE SZN by discussing the history of rosé and it's origination in Provence. We'll be back next week for the official start of feral girl wine summer. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

We made it to one year and fifty episodes! To celebrate, we had to pick a special rose and a special place. We're drinking the 2021 Los Bermejos Listan Negro Rosado from the Canary Islands. This wine is particularly special because the grapes are grown in Lanzarote, one of the hardest places in the world to grow grapes. The little wine that was produced is a stunner with its minerality, salinity, and elegance. We discuss the climate and terroir of the Canary Islands and how wine producers are able to grow grapes in such extreme conditions. We also reflect upon some of our favorite memories from the last year. We hope you've enjoyed this ride as much as we have. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

#witchespinkwineszn is back with another weird rosé outlier. The 2019 "Vinudilice" rosé from I Vigneri is a field blend of Alicante, Grecanico, and Minella. If you haven't heard of these varieties, don't worry they aren't the common grape - Nerello - that we think of from Etna. We discuss what makes wines from Etna so unique and some typical characteristics of these wines. This isn't the typical, chuggable rosé we often feature. Instead it has a lot of character and body, likely having undergone malolactic fermentation. It's a more serious wine if you're looking for an option to take to a nice dinner with friends or to enjoy by yourself with a good book. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Prepare your eardrums for today's intro. Pink Wine SZN can only start one way - rowdy. Alex got day drunk being a horse girl and forced Mads along for the ride. But we do have a beautiful bottle of rosé to start Pink Wine SZN with. That's right, season is still szn. Don't at us. The 2020 Lemonade Rosé from Day Wines is a gorgeous Pinot Noir rosé from the Willamette Valley of Oregon. It has a great textural body while still maintaining a bright acid that makes this wine super chugable. We discuss food pairings with various types of rosé and launch our first instagram "contest." Tag us in your pink wines this May using the hashtag: #witchespinkwineszn for the chance to wine our love and affection. We hope you're ready for the adventure that is pink wine szn, it's sure to be a damn good time. 

PS! Our recommended soundtrack for this year's pink wine szn is "We Find Ourselves" from JODA and Above & Beyond.

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

We're finishing off Australia April (slash May) strong with a beautiful example of Riesling grown in the Eden Valley. Pewsey Vale's 2013 "The Contours" Riesling has everything we'd want in an aged Riesling - beautiful, integrated acid, a delicate palate, and the distinguishable smell of diesel. We talk about typical Riesling "tells" on both the nose and palate as well as what makes this bottle unique after nine years of age. Madeleine gives us an educational section on the Eden Valley and horse girl culture. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Ok, we're back back. After spring break and COVID we're getting it together. Australia April continues with the 2017 Mathilda Shiraz from Tournon. This is a beautiful example of a classic Syrah or Shiraz as the Aussies call it. Interestingly, grapes in Australia are being harvested as we speak. We discuss the major wine growing regions of Australia and some of the grapes you'll find in those regions. We loved this bottle and it is very reasonably priced. Let's all drink more Australian wine!

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

We're baaaacck! After two long weeks, we're reunited and back on our organized chaos of wine drinking. Today we're sharing the 2021 Rainbow Juice from Gentle Folk Wines. Could there be a more adorable name? This blend of five grapes uses the saignée method for rosé, by incorporating a small amount of Syrah to Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc. While it drinks a lot like a white wine, it has everything we want in a rosé - easy drinking, bright acidity, and a soft palate. We discuss the climate of Australia and where the major wine regions line within the continent. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

It's our last week of mythical March and we're going out with a funky bottle for all of our natty wine lovers. The 2019 "Portela do Vento" blanco from Daterra Vitticultores is a blend of Spanish grapes - Palomino, Doña Blanca, Colgadeira, Godello - that undergo skin contact giving this wine tones of texture and complexity. If you like skin contact, or orange, wines and don't mind some funk this bottle is for you. We also discuss the differences in bottle sizes and why wine makers choose to bottle in large formats. We're taking a break next week but will be back on April 11th for the start of Australia April!

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Today we're talking Italian Frizzante wines with the gorgeous 2021 Il Mostro 'Longana' Rosato Frizzante. This wine is everything we want in a bubbly rose. It's fruity with minerality and bubbles that last. Made from 100% Montepulciano grown in Chieti, Italy, this wine underwent two stages of fermentation. We discuss the Frizzante designation, and some differences between how this wine was made compared to a Pet-Nat or Champagne. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

We sprung ahead this weekend with an extra chatty episode. Today we're drinking the 2021 "Car Car Glou Glou Akashita" Carignan from Birichino. Made from 100% old vine Carignan, this wine underwent carbonic fermentation in a Beaujolais nouveau style, which is what allows us to drink a 2021 red wine. This wine is all about the acid, which we love. When we opened this bottle we found wine diamonds on the cork, which was a great surprise. Wine diamonds are tartrates, specifically potassium bitartrate, also known as cream of tartar. They form naturally when potassium and tartaric acid in wine bond to form a crystal. They are completely harmless and most often form around the cork. They form in both white and red wines, although they are more noticeable in whites because white wines typically contain more acid than reds and are cooled when served, which helps the crystals form.

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

It's March, and not just any regular March, but Mythical March. Maybe we don't know what that means, but we'll be bringing unicorn bottles, witchy labels, or wines from mythical places this month. And we're starting off with the 2020 "Roggae" rose from Pax. This whole cluster wine is 60% Gamay Noir and 40% Pinot Noir. Made in Sonoma County California, we talk about the influence of terroir on wines and a bit about volcanic soils. Terroir is the complete natural environment where a wine is produced, including soil, topography, and climate. We also go completely off of our rocker with the theme and recommend adding "Normal Gossip" into your podcast rotation.

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Well, let's just be honest. We forgot we hit 40 episodes, we drank nearly the entire bottle of wine before starting to record, and therefore get about as chaotic as possible on today's episode. We're drinking the 2020 Bulbille (or young bud) from Claire Richaud. This gorgeous red blend is 51% Grenache, 34% Counoise, and 15% Syrah from Côtes du Rhône. We discuss one of the indigenous varietals from this region of France, Counoise. While not often seen as a single varietal, Counoise is a dark skinned grape that produces a lighter bodied, acidic wine. We love how it blends in this bottle!

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.

Happy Pisces season! While we're reaching the end of the Lunar year, spring is still on our minds and getting closer each day. Today we're drinking the 2020 Sleepless Nights field blend from Subject to Change Wine Co. Field blends are made from a variety of different grapes grown together in the same field or vineyard, then picked and fermented at the same time. Today, we specifically talk about Muscat and all of the different wines produced from this one grape. While often thought of a a sweet wine, Moscato, Muscat can also be used in sparkling wines, aged white wines, or dry, crisp wines. It's a grape worth trying in whatever your style preference is. 

If you liked this episode or wine we hope you'll rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @witcheswinecast and now TikTok @witcheswinecast! As always shoot us an email with your wine questions - witcheswinecast@gmail.com.