Another Bottle Down

In this episode, Mark and Jessica discuss the results for the Texas Vintner's Cup, an evaluation of more than 200 Texas wines organized for the Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas Monthly magazine. The goal: Narrow down a case of 12 Top Texas Wines for 2022. Joining Jessica for the evaluation were Master Sommeliers Craig Collins of Vintus wine imports and Jack Mason of RNDC. They'll discuss their impressions of the evaluation and some of their thoughts on Texas Wine in general. Below are the winners of the 2022 Texas Vintner's Cup: 2019 Adelphos Cellars Chenin Blanc 2019 C.L. Butaud Blanc de Noir 2021 Lost Draw Cellars Picpoul Blanc Rising Sun Vineyard Morning Dew White (Non Vintage) 2021 Hilmy Cellars Rosé 2019 Château Wright Liévre Red Blend 2019 Longhorn Cellars Petit Verdot 2019 Pebble Rock Cellars Sagrantino 2019 Llano Estacado Winery Sangiovese 2019 McPherson Cellars Petite Sirah 2019 Pedernales Cellars Texas Tempranillo Reserve 2019 Pedernales Cellars Touriga Nacional Honorable Mention: Hilmy Cellars, 2020 Tempranillo Reserve, Kubacek Vineyards McPherson Cellars, 2019 Syrah, Lahey Vineyards Newsom Vineyards, 2019 Malbec Pedernales Cellars, 2018 Valhalla Peters Prairie Vineyards, 2019 Barbera Ron Yates Winery, 2019 Tempranillo, Friesen Vineyards Spicewood Vineyards, 2019 Tempranillo William Chris Vineyards 2018 Mourvèdre, La Pradera Vineyards William Chris Vineyards 2018 Syrah, High Cross Vineyard Wine For the People, 2020 La Valentia Dolcetto Rosé Arché Winery, 2021 Rosé Becker Vineyards, 2021 Provençal Rosé Adega Vinho, 2020 Chardonnay, Texas Hills Vineyard English Newsom Cellars, 2021 Moscato Duchman Family Winery, 2020 Roussanne, Oswald Vineyard Llano Estacado Winery, 2020 Chardonnay, Dell Valley Vineyards Llano Estacado Winery, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Signature Series Pebble Rock Cellars, 2020 Roussanne

On today's show, Jessica and Mark break down all facets of wine education, from the three major certification organizations to self-study and everything in between. *Note: since the recording of this episode, Jessica has passed WSET Level 4 and now holds the WSET Diploma, yay!!! The top 3 organizations for wine certifications: The Court of Master Sommeliers The Wine and Spirits Education Trust Society of Wine Educators Links and suggestions for learning more: GuildSomm.com Peter Liem- Champagne Guide and Sherry

In this episode, Jessica and Mark talk a bit about climate change in the wine and spirits industry. For more insight, Jessica catches up with Brian Freedman, the author of the new book "Crushed: How A Changing Climate Is Altering The Way We Drink." Freedman is a wine, spirits, travel, and food writer, restaurant beverage consultant and event speaker based in Philadelphia. He is a contributing editor at Food & Wine digital, contributes to SevenFifty Daily, writes the Wines of the Week column at Forbes.com and also covers spirits there, has had pieces at Travel + Leisure online, Departures online, Whisky Advocate Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, The Bourbon Review, and more. He has traveled to more than 50 countries experiencing the food, drink, and culture for his work. Today we'll be talking with Freedman about how climate change has affected regions throughout the wine and spirits industries. Crushed: How A Changing Climate Is Altering The Way We Drink is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Follow Brian on Instagram @freedmanreports, Twitter @fdtreport, or through his website, https://www.briandfreedman.com/

As the 2022 Texas Harvest begins to wind down, Jessica revisits a trip she took to West Texas at the beginning of the growing season with William Chris Vineyards owner, Chris Brundrett. Just along for the ride in a tiny Cirrus Sr22 plane, Jessica shares about visits with grape growers in the Texas High Plains, Sotol producer, Marfa Spirit Company in Marfa, and Dell City, home to one of the state's most unique vineyards. Note: During the podcast, we mention Jay Hill, a partner in the Dell Valley Vineyards in Dell City and his far-reaching Instagram presence. Since recording this podcast, Hill has removed his accounts from social media to focus on family and has stepped back from his central role at the operation. However, his influence within the broader farming industry remains impactful. The Dell Valley Vineyard continues to be a key site for Texas viticulture. Handy Links: GuildSomm Podcast: with Jessica Dupuy William Chris Vineyards The Marfa Spirit Company Cibolo Creek Ranch Visual Viti on Instagram Dr. Dylan Grigg (gdylla) on Instagram Make sure to like and follow the podcast on your favorite podcast platform!

Justin Vann has been selling wine and spirits in his native Houston for more than 11 years. He started around the age of 22, on the floor at Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse as well as in retail and as a wine consultant for Houston-area liquor stores and restaurants. He was the owner and wine buyer for Public Services Wine & Whisky in the city's Downtown area, as well as the wine buyer for James Beard Award–winning chef Justin Yu's Better Luck Tomorrow and Theodore Rex. Today, he is the beverage director for Nancy's Hustle on Houston's east side. With a sharp wit and an encyclopedic mind for wine, Vann helps break down the white wines of Spain from Rias Baixas and Rioja, to Txakoli, Sherry, and Cava. A conversation wine professionals can sink their teeth into, this episode may have an "inside baseball" feel, but it's a perfect primer for understanding the white wines of Spain. Notable producers mentioned: Rias Baixas, Albariño Bodegas Zarate Nanclares y Prieto Do Ferreiro White Rioja R. Lopez de Heredia Cvne Blanco Txakoli Ameztoi Bodega Sherry Bodegas Alvear Toro Albala Cota 45 Catalunya Cava Recaredo Gramona Clos Lentiscus Godello Val de Sil Canary Islands Las Bermejos Mallorca Cati Ribot Public Service Announcement: Moscato Bera Paolo Saracco Vietti

Revived from a previous iteration in 2022, Another Bottle Down explores the when, what, why, and how of the wine and spirits world. Get to know hosts Mark Rashap and Jessica Dupuy as they share a little about their backgrounds and what you can look forward to with Another Bottle Down. Follow along: www.anotherbottledown.com Instagram: @anotherbottledowncast

Rania Zayyat comes on the show to talk about the Wonder Women of Wine Conference to be held March 2nd & 3rd in Austin, Texas. Rania came up with the concept of an event that explored gender equality a year ago and has worked tirelessly to put together a program that celebrates women role models and many gender topics in the wine industry. We talk about the program, the speakers, #FemmeFriday, and so much more. I'll see you there, March 2 & 3rd. More info and tickets at: www.wonderwomenofwine.com

Michel and Marla are the wonderful people behind MichelThibaultWine.com and TravelCuriousOften.com, they have an incredible selection and well-priced offerings of French wine ( really, wine from around the world) and particularly Bordeaux through their online store. Additionally, they take customers several times a year to Bordeaux to visit iconic properties that you wouldn't be able to see without "knowing someone." We dig into so many hot topics in the Bordeaux wine industry, from tourism to consultants and international investors and so much more. Finally, to start off the episode, I provide some thoughts on collecting wine. (Skip to 6:52 to start right at the interview). Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Henry Crowson, owner of Crowson Wines, is new to the Hill Country of Texas in Johnson City with his tasting room being open for about 3 months. Henry is quite the dynamic personality with very strong opinions on how he wants to be making Texas wine. He is a proponent of natural fermentations, no use of sulfites, no filtration, and high acid wine-making. He's making some delicious rosé, Malbec aged in oak and concrete, and some dry Malvasia Bianca. Such great conversation about what is possible in Texas! www.crowsonwines.com

Jennifer McInnis Fadel, from Bending Branch Winery, and Ron Yates, from Spicewood Vineyards and Ron Yates Winery, come on the show to talk about the start of the 2018 harvest in Texas. They are part of the Texas Fine Wine association and always have great perspectives on the industry. Early ripening grapes are starting to come in for the Hill Country, with the High Planes still a bit further out. Hear all about the regions of Texas, the hot grape varieties, and the madness of Harvest!