Ep. 2533 Becoming an Italian Grape Geek: Course Breakdown | Italian Grape Geek

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Shenghan Karla Wang, Chinese wine influencer originally from Chengdu in the Sichuan province. Shenghan is the founder of the Lady Penguin brand, the most active wine community in China on various digital and social media platforms. Shenghan tells Monty her personal and family story. She talks about her Lady Penguin project and provides her insight into the Chinese wine market. Tune in also to learn about Shenghan’s memorable visit to an Italian winery with her mother!

15 Jan 201926min

In this episode, Monty Waldin meets Angela Maculan, whose family owns the Maculan Winery in Breganze, near Vicenza. Angela tells Monty about their famous Torcolato and Acini Nobili sweet wines. They also discuss local grape varieties such as the distinctive Vespaiola grape and the climate of the area. Angela also provides some very interesting historic information about the cultivation of French grape varieties in the area, documented in a pamphlet dated 1855! Tune in to learn more also about food and wine pairings for Torcolato!

14 Jan 201910min

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Georgia Panagopoulou a.k.a. Wine Gini, wine influencer and communicator based in Greece whose Instagram profile @wine.gini counts over 85,5 k followers. Wine Gini, who is a chemical engineer by trade, started her wine love affair by studying WSET courses and by working for a winery in the Greek island of Santorini. Wine Gini talks about the way wineries can find their own voice on social media by following… “the hero’s journey.” Tune in also to learn more about Greek native varieties and Wine Gini’s love for Italian wine!

8 Jan 201916min

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Bianca Ferrini, whose family owns Podere Giodo in the Montalcino area of Tuscany. Bianca tells Monty about the winery’s production of Sangiovese-based Brunello di Montalcino and Toscana Rosso IGT. Bianca talks about the winery’s location and soil and the most important markets for their wines, namely the United States, Norway, and Sweden. Tune in to learn more also about Poderi Giodo’s new endeavor in Sicily in the Etna area with Nerello Mascalese grapes!

7 Jan 20197min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Viviana Malafarina at the Basilisco Winery in the Aglianico del Vulture area of Basilicata in the South of Italy. The winery produces Aglianico and Fiano based wines. Viviana and Monty talk about vineyard soils that in her estate are made of 95% volcanic lava stones and located on 620mt on the sea level. Viviana also tells Monty about one of their vineyards that is more than 85 years old. Tune in also to learn about the local vine growing method called “a capanno” or “accannato” and to discover Aglianico’s potential for ageability.

10 Des 201813min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Michaela Morris, wine educator from Canada and Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Expert. Michaela tells Monty about how she got into wine and, in particular, how she fell in love with Italian wine in Piemonte despite some initial diffidence. Michaela also talks about the latest trends for Italian wine in Canada and what difficulties foreign students have in learning about Italian wine. Tune in also to hear about her cycling trips around Italy and her love for Bologna!

4 Des 201814min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Jeanette Servidio, CEO of Campo alle Comete, a winery in the Bolgheri area and a recent acquisition of the Capaldo family from the Campania region in the South of Italy. Monty and Jeanette discuss the poetic name of the winery that means "fields of comets" and the distinctive soil conditions of the Bolgheri area. Tune in to learn more about their wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vermentino, and various blends Bolgheri-style!

2 Des 201814min

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Elisabetta Geppetti owner of Fattoria Le Pupille in the Morellino di Scansano area, in Tuscany. Elisabetta tells Monty about the history of her winery which developed at a time when there weren't many producers of Morellino. Monty and Elisabetta also talk about the Morellino di Scansano denomination and some of Fattoria Le Pupille's iconic wines, Poggio Valente and Saffredi.

27 Nov 201816min