Welcome to the third episode of our 2019 / 2020 wrap up and look ahead series! This interview features Jeff Siegel, wine writer, judge, and owner of winecurmudgeon.com. In this episode:

• Jeff shares his background and explains why he goes by the Wine Curmudgeon.
• We talk about wine trends in 2019 including what ‘premiumization’ is, how it affected much of the wines that are available on the shelves of retail stores, and some of the hot regions during 2019.
• Looking forward into 2020, we discuss the effect of proposed tariffs on the wine world, plus we discuss regions that we think will be producing great wines in 2020.

You can listen to the episode online using the player below, or you can use the links in the player to listen on your favorite podcast player.

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Wine Picks based on regions we discussed in this podcast

We discussed a number wine producing regions in this episode, and they’re almost all represented at Lake Geneva Country Meats. Here are some bottles that you can pick up and try for yourself!

Spanish Whites

• Kentia Albariño – this is a deliciously aromatic white wine with apple and peach notes. It’s full bodied, but still crisp, with a bit of salinity on the finish. Great with all sorts of seafood or chicken dishes. $11.99/bottle.

Dry Portuguese Reds

• Duorum Colheita Red – this has been super popular this year every time we have tasted it out. It’s a blend of 3 grapes native to Portugal, and has black cherry, mocha, and violet flavors in a rich, full body. Great with steaks, stews, and more. $17.99/bottle.
• J. Portugal Ramos Loureiro – this is a single grape Vinho Verde made from the Loureiro grape, which is a bit of an oddity; they’re often blends. Zesty, fresh, with citrus and floral notes. Super refreshing all the time. $8.99/bottle.
• Silk & Spice Red Blend – we love this blend of 4 different grapes that has ripe red fruit flavors with vanilla, mocha, and spices on the finish. It’s a perfect burger or pizza wine. $11.99/bottle.

Central & Northern Italian Reds

• G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba – vibrant cherry and blackberry fruit in a medium body. We like this as a versatile dinner wine that pairs with lots of food form pork to beef to roast chicken, and can be enjoyed by all red wine drinkers. $18.99/bottle.
• Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore – a deliciously dry red from Northern Italy with tart cherry flavors balanced by dried spice notes. Great with a spaghetti bolognese. $15.99/bottle.
• Valle Realle Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – made with organic grapes, this is medium bodied with dark cherry, licorice and spice notes with plenty of acidity. Great with pizza or pastas with tomato sauce. $12.99/bottle.

South African Wine

• M•A•N Chenin Blanc – crisp, light bodied, with vibrant aromas of pear, stonefruit, and apple with mineral notes on the finish. Always refreshing, and a great pairing with poultry or seafood dishes. $9.99/bottle.

Australian Wine

• Pewsey Vale Riesling – this dry Australian Riesling absolutely shines for lovers of aromatic white wines. Dried herbs, white flowers, lemon, and lime with lots of acidity. Perfect pairing with Asian dishes. $17.99/bottle.
• Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay – a Chardonnay of incredible quality from Western Australia, this has pineapple, nectarine, vanilla, and lemon curd flavors. Lovely finish with touches of oak and acidity in equal balance. $25.99/bottle.

Argentinian Appellation Specific Wines

• Catena ‘Agrelo’ Cabernet Sauvignon – we enjoy this appellation specific Cabernet from the Agrelo sub-region of Mendoza. We think this wine has riper red fruit flavors than a lot of Argentinian Cabernet, and really enjoy it! $17.99/bottle.
• Zuccardi ‘Serie Q’ Malbec – one of my favorite wines from Argentina, this Uco Valley Malbec has beautiful floral aromatics paired with red fruit flavors and fine tannins. Great with beef steak! $16.99/bottle.

As always, feel free to stop in, ask for Nick and we’ll find a great bottle of wine for you!

links

• winecurmudgeon.com – Jeff’s website where he posts 5 times a week about great bottles of wine, shares wine news, and offers his opinion on what’s trending in wine. Subscribe to get it emailed to you.
• Wine Curmudgeon Podcast – Jeff publishes podcasts that are usually between 10 – 15 minutes, feature interesting guests from the wine industry, and are well worth a listen.
• The Wine Curmudgeon’s Guide to Cheap Wine – this book is a steal of a deal for just $12.95. In the book, Jeff offers practical advice on how to find cheap wine that tastes good. It’s a great read, and I highly recommend it!

contact us

Have feedback on this episode? Wine questions? Suggestions for our next guest? Drop us a line using the form below!

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