Many NYers know that Il Bacco Italian Restaurant in Queens has sponsored the construction a shrine to Italy’s Modern Saint Padre Pio. By fortunate coincidence, David Kohl had the pleasure to meet estate owners of Tenuta Fontana winery based in Pietrelcina Italy, birthplace of Padre Pio and tonight we taste their 100% organic white wine offering aged 8 months in terracotta amphora, produced from the unique Asprinio grape which is native to Campania region. The tasting experience reflects a rich golden color highlighted by almond-marzipan notes, pairing perfectly with Il Bacco’s special halibut + scallops dish. #winepodcast #padrepio #pietrelcina #organicwine #queensnyfoodie #winetasting

What a great special occasion place : Il Bacco in Queens NY has a terrific wine list of boutique Italian offerings that feature regional native grapes such as this crisp white wine / Pecorino selection from Abruzzo, that pairs perfectly with the chef’s special tuna tartare. #winepodcast #pecorinowine #italianwinegrapes #tunatartare #nycfoodie #queensny

At NYC’s Russian Tea Room, the specialty of the house is this marvelous Chicken Kiev dish along with a side of Mushroom Stroganoff. The dining experience is enhanced by the top wine list which features some values such as this Aligote White Burgundy produced by Pierre Morey. #russiantearoom #winepodcast #winetasting #burgundywine

David Kohl enjoys an evening in NYC at the world renowned Russian Tea Rrom, with a glass of sparkling Pinot Noir wine “ Cremant de Jura” from France, produced by Benedict & Stephane Tissot in the high elevation region close to The Alps. This wine pairs perfectly with one of the menu appetizer highlights : lamb dumplings in a warm herbal broth. #russiantearoom #frenchregion #cremant #winelover #sparklingwine

Clear Creek Distillery based along The Columbia River Gorge in Hood River, Oregon produces fruit infused spirits such as this Calvados-style Apple Brandy that is aged for 8 years in French Oak Casks. Perfect for a winter evening ! #applebrandy #hoodriver #oregonbrandy #frenchoakcasks #agedbrandy

Kip Bedell was a pioneering figure during the 1980’s founding of Long Island’s wine industry. Today Bedell Cellars produces a crisp + citrus toned Chardonnay in a style reflecting Long Island's answer to Chablis, that has been recognized by The Wine Spectator as a 91 Point offering. #wine #winepodcast #chardonnay #longislandwinery #northforkwine

Today we highlight Royal Prince brand of Pinot Noir, produced in The Santa Lucia Highlands as a collaboration between two talented veterans of California’s wine industry: David Green & Maayan Koschitzky. Santa Lucia Highlands’ proximity to Monterey Bay provides a unique micro climate that enhances the quality of these wine grapes. Royal Prince Pinot Noir 2019 offering reflects a lovely spice tone & bright cherry notes, over delivering for its price in the $30 range. #wine #winepodcast #pinotnoir #californiawine #santaluciahighlands

The perfect holiday gift for wine lovers : “Crystal Clean” plant based, 100% bio-degradable cleaner for wine glasses & decanters. Highly concentrated formula with just a few drops needed to produce amazingly clean + shiny results. Developed by Doug Savage of Mill River Company in NYs Hudson Valley. Use promo code grapeexplorer10 for a 10% discount on this $39 product at www.restaurantcrystalclean.com

The Loire Valley of France produces an impressive selection of Sauvignon Blanc offerings Sancerre is the best known Loire region, but value-conscious consumers should also discover Touraine's refreshing white wines such as "Les Lunelus" which can be found at Hampton Wines in Westhampton NY for under $20. #winelover #wine #whitewine #sauvignonblanc #touraine

David Kohl is proud to represent Burgundy wine estate Domaine Perraud, and today presents a 100% Chardonnay selection “Les Cadoles” from Macon’s Pouilly-Loche region. A top value in the $25 range, highlights include stone fruits + a vanilla spice tone. #wine #winepodcast #chardonnay #whitewine #pouillyloche

David Kohl visits the newly restored Peacock Alley Hotel Bar ay NYC’s iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Holiday decor is glorious, and the wine list features by-the-glass gems like this mineral rich golden Chablis produced by Drouhin Vaudon, to pair with our hearty bar bites selection of beef fat fries. #wine #winepodcast #waldorfastoria #nycholidays #peacockalleyloungenyc #winelover #nycfoodie #chablis

David Kohl was excited to review the wine list at Peacock Alley, Waldorf Astoria’s newly re-launched hotel lobby lounge. What a wonderful surprise to find Bordeaux’s iconic Chateau Margaux’s 3rd wine offered by-the-glass : “Margaux du Chateau Margaux” a truly exquisite selection that provided a new tasting discovery for David, because the vineyard estate only produces this value line during selected bountiful harvests. The elegant & liquid mineral character of Chateau Margaux shines through, for a smooth as silk experience that pairs perfectly with brioche beef sliders. #wine #winepodcast #chateaumargaux #margauxwine #waldorfastoria #nycholidays #nycfoodie #beefsliders

David Kohl visits Insignia Steakhouse on Long Island, where the excellent wine list includes by the glass pours of iconic Napa selections such as this 2022 Joseph Phelps offering. What a perfect pairing for a 16 oz Australian Wagyu Ribeye. This is a terrific place to celebrate a special occasion. #wine #winepodcast #napacabernet #winelover #wagyuribeye #longislandfoodie #australianwagyu #steakhouse #josephphelps

Today’s wine trade is very much interested in the younger generation of drinkers, and is producing low alcohol brands to appeal to a broader audience. Traditional White Bordeaux is 12% alcohol content but today we taste a Sauvignon Blanc @ only 6% from Tutiac wine cooperative in Bordeaux’s Blaye region. A nose of strong citrus tones is fresh and appealing. The fruity taste is easy to drink and works well as a food wine, although lower acidity due to the restrained alcohol. #wine #winepodcast #lowalchoholwine #6%wine #tutiacwine #whitebordeaux

While Prosecco has long been a dominant force in the marketplace, Italy produces a vast range of sparkling wine including Spumante. David Kohl had the pleasure of tasting a crisp + citrusy Spumante with notes of honeycomb, orange blossom & ginger known as “ Olmo” upon meeting Antonio Fontana who now runs his family’s historic wine estate Tenuta Fontana, nearby to Napoli in Southern Italy. Produced from the regional native grape Asprinio, “Olmo” is named for the lush elm trees that grow along the vineyard. #wine #winepodcast #spumante #sparklingwine #tenutafontana #italianwineregions #campaniawine

Burgundy's region of Pernand Vergelesses is situated less than 2 miles from prestigious Aloxe Corton, producing sumptuous Pinot Noir offerings that are perfect pairings for an Autumn picnic of artisan cheese. #wine #winepodcast #wineandcheese #winelover #burgundywine #pernandvergelesses #pinotnoir #aloxecorton

David Kohl pairs a roasted lamb lunch at Brooklyn’s Sea Pearl restaurant in Brighton Beach, with a Bordeaux wine from the region of Graves : Chateau Fourgeres 2nd wine known as “Rouge des Fourgeres “. #wine #winepodcast #bordeauxwine #bordeauxlunch #brightonbeach #brooklynnewyork #brooklynlunch #coneyisland

Julien Queytens is a 6th generation winemaker at his family's Bordeaux vineyard : Chateau Grand Peyruchet. Today he presents a varietal unique to the region as 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in a highly mineral terroir infused with stone soils. #wine #winepodcast #bordeauxwine #cabernetsauvignon #loupiac #redwine #terroir #mineralterroir

David Kohl introduces Clemence Medeville, winemaker at Chateau Bel Air in Bordeaux's region of St. Croix du Mont. Today we discover a dry white wine produced from 100% Semillon grapes, what a surprisingly unique flavor profile for this barrel aged offering that features notes of toasted brioche. #wine #winepodcast #winelover #bordeauxwine #winetravel #semillon #stcroixdumont #saintecroixdumont #winemaker #uniquewine #wineeducator