The Wine Pair Podcast

Etna Rosso is sometimes referred to as the “Burgundy of the Mediterranean” and for good reason. This wine, made on the slopes of Mt. Etna in Sicily from the grape Nerello Mascalese, is a serious gastronomic wine, loved by sommeliers and wine nerds for its complexity, depth, acidity, and firm tannic structure. While it is not quite at the level of demand as Barolo, Brunello, or Aglianico, just give it some time. Nerello Mascalese is an up-and-coming grape whose parentage includes Sangiovese - that’s right, the same grape in Brunello and Chianti - and it makes powerful wines that have a lot of aging potential. In fact, we thought both of the wines we tasted and reviewed in this episode could age for a while before they are truly at their prime, and need some good decanting to really open-up. Plus, if you are a White Lotus fan and remember the season where they were in Sicily, in one of the episodes they went to a winery and drank Etna Rosso and Etna Bianco (which just happens to be the subject of our episode next week!). Wines reviewed in this episode: 2021 Masseria Setteporte Etna Rosso, 2019 Nicosia Etna Rosso Lenza di MuntiSend us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you!Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: https://thewinepairpodcast.com/Follow and DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewinepairpodcast/Send us an email: [email protected]

Welcome to our very own version of Spotify Wrapped! In this episode, we review the best and worst wines we drank this year, and share with you why we thought they were so good or so bad. In 2025 we drank 80 wines from 12 different countries and 3 different states in the US, interviewed 8 winemakers from all over the world, and released 5 minisodes on a variety of subjects. Listen in to learn about how many downloads we got this year, in how many countries our podcast was downloaded in, and how much money we spent on wine for the podcast this year. That’s right, we buy all of our own wine, we do not accept wines sent to us from wineries or distributors because it is really important that we share real, honest reviews with you and help you to find authentically good wines - or avoid bad wines - that are reasonably priced. It’s just what we do! You’ll hear excerpts from episodes where we rated our top 5 and bottom 5 wines, some of which are pretty darn funny! Thank you all for a fantastic 2025, and we can’t wait to hear from you in 2026! We have tons of fun in store!Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you!Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: https://thewinepairpodcast.com/Follow and DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewinepairpodcast/Send us an email: [email protected]

Sometimes known as the “other” white wine of Burgundy, Aligoté is the bargain white from one of the world’s most famous wine regions. It is the child of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, the latter of which is a wine that many think is now extinct because French nobility hated it so much they burned and banned it. Aligoté is often used in sparkling wine, and as a standalone varietal, it is often described as acidic and neutral, making it a very good food wine. We agree with that description. It is not a complex wine, but it is a wine that is easy to drink and would be fantastic with fish, white meat, creamy sauces, and spicy foods. If you are looking for a reasonably priced alternative to expensive Burgundy wines, this may be right up your alley! We also talk about the latest red wine and ice cream craze and give our two cents about it, and we have a guest appearance from Frank Racioppi from Ear Worthy. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2022 Domaine de Rochebin Bourgogne Aligoté, 2017 Maison Chanzy Bouzeron Les Trois.Send us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you!Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: https://thewinepairpodcast.com/Follow and DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewinepairpodcast/Send us an email: [email protected]

Forget what you think you know about Lambrusco, because this wine slaps! We walked away from this episode with one of our very few 10/10 rated wines! If you are looking for something fun, festive, and delicious to add to your Holiday table or bring as a special gift, Lambrusco is the answer! For many years, Lambrusco was the top selling imported wine in the United States, but it did not come with a great reputation. It was known as a sweet “soda-pop” wine, but today, great winemakers are making serious, gastronomic, and wonderful wines. We found these wines to be great food wines that would go with any part of the meal, from charcuterie through the main meal all the way to dessert, and would also be fantastic cocktail wines. It is hard for us to express how much fun we had in this episode and how much we liked the Lambrusco we drank. This wine is a must-have for your next Holiday celebration. Wines reviewed in this episode: Venturini Baldini Montelocco Lambrusco, 2024 Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena Premium SeccoSend us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you!Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: https://thewinepairpodcast.com/Follow and DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewinepairpodcast/Send us an email: [email protected]

Known as the King of Sicily, Nero d’Avola is a wine that can be very approachable and fruity, and might just be the wine that you need to serve your friends and family who have not found a wine they like yet. Historically used as a blending grape, sometimes called a ghost grape and “medicine wine” by the French, Nero d’Avola was added to blends to add structure and alcohol. But today, it is finding its legs as a standalone varietal. If you or someone you love is a fancy wine drinker, they will probably not love Nero d’Avola, but if you want a casual cookout or party wine, Nero d’Avola may do the trick. Listen in to learn more about this most famous of Sicilian wines, and see if it might be something you want to try. We also talk to another listener to get their tribe name for the week, and we learn about a brazen wine heist in our Wine in the News This Week section. Wines reviewed in this episode: 2023 Purato Nero d’Avola, 2022 Planeta La Segreta Nero D'AvolaSend us a Text Message and we'll respond in our next episode!Contact The Wine Pair Podcast - we’d love to hear from you!Visit our website, leave a review, and reach out to us: https://thewinepairpodcast.com/Follow and DM us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewinepairpodcast/Send us an email: [email protected]