On the Fringe
When I started this project I envisioned something just a bit different. However, my penchant for day-drinking off-the-wall creative side got the better of me, and Glass in Session® started taking on a shape – and a voice – of its own. As the episode boards for each season came together a theme was emerging. All indicators pointed toward wines that were made from rare grapes, regions in the remote corners of our wine maps, or those made in a way that distinguishes them from what’s normally laying around on the grocery store shelves. Some of these wines are known as “fringe wines.” Others were just wines that had a unique nugget of history or tradition. Either way, I was going for wines with a story … and I waded into the the deep end. There was no turning back from the fringe fest of corkdorkery.
Corkdork Alerts
Season One began with an exploration of table wines aged under flor, a yeast strain and winemaking process associated with the wines of Jerez – or Sherry. Little did many of us suspect there were unfortified wines around the world that were either steeped in the flor tradition or trying the process as a new spin on modern wines. This was also where I introduced the “Corkdork Alerts” and added a bubbling noise effect. It is apparently a popular feature with listeners, so expect to see (hear) them again in Season Two.
From the flor-inspired “yeast feast” we moved on to Apéritif wines. I honestly had forgotten that addition to the other categories of wines: sparkling, table (“light” wines if you study with the WSET), and fortified wines, there was a fourth category known as aromatized wines. This session was a little challenging as I tried to sort through apéritif and aromatized styles.
River of Rosé
By Episode Three we were swimming in the pink river of my rosé fever dream that wound its way through Italy, France and Spain. I hope you were able to float away with a cool morsel that was brand spanking new to your summer sipping repertoire. I certainly learned a lot through the hours of research that shaped each episode. It’s very gratifying to know that some of you were inspired to take a closer look at the wine shelves in your own area for wines that you may have overlooked in the past.
Even with a strong emphasis on rosé wines in Season One, I still think there is still much more to explore. I, too, was inspired to take second and third looks at the wall of pink wine during the warmer months of the year, as evidenced by the two cases of rosé from around the world I recently scored at a fundraiser. Imagine my happiness at finding a Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo rosato (Episode 3) among them!
A Mid-Summer’s Pink Fever Dream
The Season One finale on the Clairette de Die was never meant to be its own episode. In fact, there was supposed to be only one “Rhône Outlier” episode on Tavel, Die, and Grignan Les Adhemar. As with many of my bright ideas, reality slapped me upside the head set in quickly, as there was so much material – enough for three separate sessions. Between the Méthode Dioise ditties and the capes of the Confrérie (brotherhood), how could this not have its own 20 minutes of pontification? Plus, it was bubbly. There’s always a good reason to slide in an episode on bubbly.
Additionally, as I was working on splitting out the Rhône content, the opportunity to taste and feature DOP Cariñena wines (sponsored content) popped up. I thought, “Well, if I can focus on rosé, then it would play nicely with my mid-summer’s pink fever dream.” Again, this was not part of the original season lineup. It all just fell into place.
What’s New and Weird?
When I visit my wine purveyor I often ask him, “What’s new and weird?” before he turns me loose in his store. It’s my approach for drinking, and it was my approach for Glass in Session®. While there may sometimes be some sponsored content from my friends in the PR world who send awesome samples, I promise this is not going to be a wine review show. There are plenty of those. Glass in Session™ may have some interviews in the future, but there are plenty of those too.
Glass in Session® Winecast is a fun, creative exploration of the delicious – and sometimes funny – world of wine. It’s in my true – sometimes irreverent – voice, and fresh from my wine-soaked heart. It’s a podcast like no other. One might just say … it’s new and weird.
Season Two begins Friday, 13 September. Friday the 13th – should be a good time. You’ve been warned.
Cheers and enjoy your summer ~
Val
