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Join us this episode on a road trip to New Mexico to visit the team at Vivác Winery. Brothers Jesse and Chris Padberg share their journey from college students and European explorers to winemakers. With an adventurous spirit and the perfect location for growing grapes, their story continues with award winning wines and a lot of fun.

Vivac Winery in Dixon, 45 minutes northeast of Santa Fe and 2 hours from Albuquerque, is known for producing high-quality wines in an artistic setting. Vivac focuses on sustainable winemaking and uses handpicked grapes to craft their wine.

The tasting room is set in a beautiful, scenic location near the Rio Embudo, making it a perfect destination for wine lovers looking for an authentic experience. Vivac’s picturesque property of 11 acres sits along the banks of the Embudo Creek.

While not the Rio Grande River or Rio Grande Valley, it’s a prime source for irrigation when needed and keeps the air flowing through the vineyards even during the hot summer heat. The vineyards are a few miles down the road from their winery tasting room off the main highway.

Wine isn’t the only delicacy at the tasting room! If you’re like me and crave chocolate with your Merlot, you’re in luck! Liliana, Chris’s wife, is a Chocolatier! Her Ek.Chuah Chocolates are serendipitously sold in the tasting room!

Cheers to the Vivác team and we cannot wait to go back for another visit. If NM is in your future travel, give Jesse and Chris a shout and we're sure they'd love to welcome you!

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Thanks for joining Somm Women Talk Wine! Check out our socials for more fun filled wine exploration!

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All episodes are also on our website:
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Charisse and Kristi

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You may never have heard of the Cotes of Bordeaux. Great, we're here to share this amazing Bordeaux appellation and Bordeaux wine with you through our interview with Bruno Lallemand from Chateau Couchebout in the Cotes de Bourg region. Neither Left Bank nor Right Bank, Couchebout produces amazing red wines in their own Bordeaux red blend style. Cabernet, Merlot, and Malbec taking center stage while Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc are more common grape varieties in other Bordeaux Appelations.

Wineries, or château, such as Couchebout thrive in the unpredictable weather patterns found in Bordeaux as they plant their hectares with the best red varietals for Mother Nature's surprises. Search Bordeaux maps for the Côtes and you'll find Blaye, Castillon, Cadillac and Francs, but Bourg plays it's own game keeping separate from the others. Bruno shares why this is so and also ties into our TRENDS series with stories on the winery's sustainability, alternative packaging for local wine and other stories of his wine adventure, travels and guide to the region!

Support the show

Thanks for joining Somm Women Talk Wine! Check out our socials for more fun filled wine exploration!

Instagram:
@somm_women_talk_wine
@kristiwinenerd
@charissehenryfw
@kmayfield109

All episodes are also on our website:
SommWomenTalkWine

Charisse and Kristi

Sip, share, shape our podcast!

In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of non alcoholic wines, a rapidly growing category with impressive stats. Alcohol free, zero alcohol, alcohol removed, whatever you want to call it, these wine alternatives are claiming a regular space on wine lists at tremendous rates. Beyond grape juice, these wines have the flavors and aromas of traditional wine.

But what exactly is non-alcoholic wine and should you make them part of your wine portfolio? It starts like any traditional wine, made from grapes, fermented through the sugar + yeast process to create alcohol. The magic happens when the alcohol is carefully removed, leaving all the delicious wine flavors nearly intact. We explore the three main methods: vacuum distillation, reverse osmosis, and the spinning cone technique, each with its own unique approach to preserving the essence of the wine.

Non-alcoholic wines, from red wine to white wine, and rosé to sparkling wines, they are a perfect fit for many occasions, whether you're looking to cut back midweek, enjoy a brunch without the buzz, or if you're taking Ozempic and need an alternative. Tune in to learn about the process, the taste, and why non-alc wine might just be your next favorite drink!

Episode Highlights:

• 237% growth in non-alc wine placements in just two years
• How non-alcoholic wines are made using vacuum distillation, reverse osmosis, and spinning cone techniques
• Great occasions for non-alcoholic wines: midweek resets, brunch mimosas, and more

Support the show

Thanks for joining Somm Women Talk Wine! Check out our socials for more fun filled wine exploration!

Instagram:
@somm_women_talk_wine
@kristiwinenerd
@charissehenryfw
@kmayfield109

All episodes are also on our website:
SommWomenTalkWine

Charisse and Kristi