Quench! Mark Spivak

Burgundy has the reputation of being the hardest wine region in the world to understand, as well as being a notoriously closed society—a place where upwards of one dozen generations of the same family have worked the same parcels of land for centuries. With that background, consider the amazing saga of Alex Gambal. Alex went […] The post Quench! – An American in Burgundy appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

When Americans hear about Madeira wine, they usually think of spinsters , maiden aunts, and cobwebbed bottles in ancient sideboards. This is a shame, since Madeira can be some of the most glorious wines in the world—supple, elegant, and capable of pairing very well with a wide range of foods. Mark begins by reminiscing about […] The post Quench! – A Glass of Madeira, My Dear appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

On Bizarre Beverage News, Mark investigates the severe decline in wine drinking among the French, and also explores Grand Theft Champagne: the strange tale of burglars who broke into Domaine Jacques Selosse in the middle of the night, and stole eight pallets of Champagne worth approximately $500,000. Then he has an extended conversation with Peter […] The post Quench! – Charles Krug and the Mondavi Family Legacy appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

More Americans are eating sushi all the time, and the popularity of sake is exploding. Sake presents an aroma and flavor profile that is very different from wine, and many consumers are confused about exactly what it is, how it’s made, and how best to appreciate it. Mark speaks with John Gauntner, an American living […] The post Quench! – Sake appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

We hear a great deal about molecular gastronomy and molecular mixology, but how many people have actually experienced these techniques at the hands of a master? Mark speaks with Eric Anderson, a consumer who visited Chicago for his tenth wedding anniversary and had a pair of extraordinary experiences. First they dined at Alinea, the Michelin […] The post Quench! – Alinea and The Avairy appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

On Bizarre Beverage News, Mark investigates the severe decline in wine drinking among the French, and also explores Grand Theft Champagne: the strange tale of burglars who broke into Domaine Jacques Selosse in the middle of the night, and stole eight pallets of Champagne worth approximately $500,000. Then he has an extended conversation with Peter […] The post Quench! – Charles Krug and the Mondavi Family Legacy appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

It’s true that Cru Beaujolais and Beaujolais Nouveau share a common parentage: As with humans and apes, some people believe there’s a difference between the two. Cru Beaujolais, from ten superior growing regions just south of Burgundy, can be some of the most complex and glorious red wines in the world. Beaujolais Nouveau comes out […] The post Quench! – Beaujolais Nouveau and Real Beaujolais appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

What does a former porn star have in common with an Italian family that has been making wine for 800 years? They’re both producing wine in the Brunello region of Tuscany, although in very different styles. The Frescobaldi clan, with a legacy going back to the 1300s, is making a cutting-edge blend of Sangoivese and […] The post Quench! – Brunello di Montalcino appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

Most of the time, the neighborhood watering hole is far more than a bar: It’s a place for conversation, connection and therapy, a location that knits a community together. For 35 years, Joe Danno’s Bucket O’Suds in Chicago was all those things and more. Danno was one of the legendary barmen of 20th century America, […] The post Quench! – Scott Schiller and the Legacy of Joe Danno appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

You’re cruising down the aisles of your favorite wine shop, past hundreds of bottles—some familiar, many not. One label in particular catches your eye. You pick up the bottle, look at it, read the back label, decide to try it and place it in your cart. Was this a random occurrence? Not at all: You’ve […] The post Quench! – Wine Label Design appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

What do whipped cream, bacon, and peanut butter and jelly have in common? Believe it or not, they’re all popular flavors of vodka. Flavored vodka has exploded in the U.S. over the past few decades, causing some purists to wonder how far the trend will go. Mark interviews Tim Voss, master distiller for Van Gogh […] The post Quench! – Flavored Vodka appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

Listen to a tale of two Frenchmen. The first, David Henault, is the cellarmaster at Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte; the second is Jean-Jacques Bonnie, son of the owners of Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere in Bordeaux, who is now spending most of his time making wine in Argentina. What do these two men have in common? They are both […] The post Quench! – Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte and Bodega Diamandes appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

Is the creation and branding of a super-premium spirit any different from marketing potato chips, chocolate chip cookies or nutritional supplements? Gary Shansby, who spent his career developing brands, didn’t think so, and he turned out to be correct. The result was Tequila Partida, one of the finest spirits on the market. Mark explores Gary’s […] The post Quench! – Tequila Partida appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

Can the shape of your wine glass affect the aroma and taste of the wine? How can its design impact the way the wine is delivered to your palate? Maximilian Riedel, 11th generation proprietor of the world’s most famous stemware company, expounds his controversial theories to host and skeptic Mark Spivak. On Viewer Mail (emails […] The post Quench! – Riedel Stemware appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

Would you cough up $2,500 for a bottle of California Sauvignon Blanc? That’s what some people are paying at auction for Screaming Eagle: Bizarre Beverage News indeed. On Viewer Mail (mail sent in by people who enjoy watching their iPods), Mark discusses the thorny issue of bringing wine into restaurants. Should you do it, and […] The post Quench! – 021113 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

Yellow Tail, a bottled substance frequently confused with wine, is in financial trouble—could we be lucky enough to see it disappear? Why are the French bent out of shape over a wine served at the Inaugural luncheon? Mark doscusses these stories in Bizarre Beverage News. Then we explore the legacy of Prohibition: Scott Bush describes […] The post Quench! – 020413 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

Did you know that more than half of the wine sold in the U.S. is controlled by just three companies? Were you aware that there were individuals on the planet spending $1,300 for a bottle of beer? Join Mark Spivak as he explores the ramifications of these strange tales in Bizarre Beverage News. Are you […] The post Quench! – 012813 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

How did an Italian porn star become a famous winemaker? How is beer helping to rebuild an abandoned Trappist monastery? What’s a day in the life of a whiskey expert or craft distiller like? Join Mark Spivak as he explores these and other burning questions in the beverage universe. We begin with an installment of […] The post Quench! – 012113 appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.