Ep 156

If you’ve ever assumed that a bottle labeled “red blend” or “white blend” must be lower quality than a single varietal wine, you’re not alone. But that belief leaves out a huge part of how great wine is actually made.

In this Mythbusters episode, I’m breaking down the idea that blended wines are somehow inferior. While it’s true that some inexpensive red blends and white blends can be made with lower quality grapes, blending itself isn’t the problem. In fact, blending has been part of winemaking for centuries and is often what gives a wine its balance, complexity, and structure.

You’ll learn why winemakers blend grapes in the first place, how different grape varieties contribute things like aroma, texture, and tannin, and why even wines labeled as a single varietal often involve blending behind the scenes. We’ll also look at famous blends like GSM and Bordeaux blends and explain why those grapes work so well together.

So the next time you see the word “blend” on a wine label, you might look at that bottle a little differently after you listen to this episode!

Thank you to our exclusive sponsor, First Bottle Wines, for sponsoring this episode. Go to www.firstbottlewines.com and use code CORKANDFIZZ for 10% off your order! (And be sure to sign up for their mailing list so you never miss a bottle!)

Episode Highlights:

• Why the myth about blended wines exists
• The difference between cheap blends and quality blends
• Why blending has been used in winemaking for centuries
• How blending improves balance, flavor, and structure
• Why even single varietal wines are often blended
• What makes a GSM blend work so well
• How Bordeaux blends are structured
• What field blends are and why they were historically used
• Why blending is both an art and a science in winemaking

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

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Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
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Email - hailey@corkandfizz.com

Ep 155

Most people think they know German wine, but they’re only seeing a small part of it.

If you immediately think of sweet Riesling or those super cheap bottles at the grocery store when you think of German wine, you’re not alone. That’s what most people think. But it’s not the full picture and, honestly, it’s why so many really good wines get overlooked.

In this episode, I’m sitting down again with Lisa Tupetz, importer and founder of Tupetz Wine Connection, along with German winemaker Max from Weingut Greiner, and we’re talking about what’s actually happening with German wine right now. We talk about how winemaking has changed over time, why this lesser-known region in the Black Forest is worth paying attention to, and what makes these wines different from what you might expect. We also get into how wine makes it from a small winery in Germany all the way to a shop or restaurant here in the US, because it’s not nearly as simple as you’d think.

You’ll walk away with a much better understanding of what to look for, what’s worth trying, and why German wine deserves a spot on your radar.

If you’ve been skipping over German wine or assuming it’s all the same, this might change that.

Thank you to our exclusive sponsor, First Bottle Wines, for sponsoring this episode. Go to www.firstbottlewines.com and use code CORKANDFIZZ for 10% off your order! (And be sure to sign up for their mailing list so you never miss a bottle!)

Connect with Lisa:

Website - www.tupetzwine.com

Instagram - @tupetzwine

Connect with Max:

Website: weingut-greiner.com

Episode Highlights:

• How winemaking evolves from first vintage to today
• Why the Black Forest region creates unique wines
• How forests impact vineyard climate and wine style
• The real process of importing wine into the US
• Why small producers struggle to get distribution
• How German wine perception is shifting in the US
• The difference between sweet and dry Riesling demand
• What “GG” wines actually mean on a label
• What it actually takes to build a wine import business
• Why distribution is one of the biggest challenges in wine

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Support the show

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - hailey@corkandfizz.com

Ep 154

You’ve probably seen “biodynamic” on a wine label and assumed it’s just another marketing term.

Most people do. It sounds complicated, a little vague, and honestly it’s easy to ignore. But what’s actually happening in biodynamic vineyards has a direct impact on how wine tastes, how it evolves, and why some wines feel more alive in the glass than others.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Lisa Tupetz, founder of Tupetz Wine Connection, along with German winemaker Max from Weingut Greiner, and we break down why biodynamic wine isn’t just a label and what it actually changes in the glass.

You’ll hear how soil health, farming decisions, and even things like animals in the vineyard all play a role in the final wine and why the real work of great wine happens in the vineyard, not the cellar. Plus, why some winemakers are willing to take on more risk to farm this way and what they believe it does differently compared to organic practices.

We also get into how these wines are being received in the US, why more drinkers are looking beyond familiar grape varieties, and what to pay attention to the next time you see “biodynamic” on a bottle.

So if you’ve ever wondered whether biodynamic wine actually matters or if it’s just another trend, this episode will change how you think about what actually determines the quality of the wine in your glass.

Thank you to our exclusive sponsor, Last Bubbles, for sponsoring this episode. Download the Last Bubbles app or go to www.lastbubbles.com and use code CORKANDFIZZ for 10% off your order! (And be sure to sign up for their mailing list so you never miss a bottle!)

Connect with Lisa:

Website - www.tupetzwine.com

Instagram - @tupetzwine

Connect with Max:

Website: weingut-greiner.com

Episode Highlights:

• What biodynamic wine actually means
• The difference between organic and biodynamic
• How soil health impacts wine quality
• Why biodynamic wines taste more “alive”
• The role of animals and natural systems in vineyards
• How US consumers are responding to biodynamic wines
• Why lesser-known grape varieties are gaining popularity

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Support the show

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - hailey@corkandfizz.com