The Wine CEO Episode 34: Beginner's Guide to New Zealand, Part 1

Non Alcoholic wines are really trendy right now...but are they good? When you're shopping for Non-Alcoholic wines, how do you know if some are better than others? In Episode 26, I dive into these questions and more! I also tried something I've never done before on the show - I invited 3 of my friends to taste 4 wines with me to get their LIVE reactions. We had some really fun thoughts on these wines, so you don't want to miss this hilarious (and interesting) episode! And be sure to hit subscribe so that you never miss an episode. ------------- Episode 26 Show Notes: The biggest thing to remember when you are shopping for non-alcoholic wines is that the label should say "de-alcoholized" or "alcohol removed". If the label simply states "non-alcoholic", then there's a good chance that this is simply grape juice (or a very loosely regulated sugary beverage). De-Alcoholized wines are wines that are made in normal wine making and fermentation processes. Then the alcohol is removed to leave a beverage that should still taste like wine, but has less than 1% ABV. (It is important to note that some non-alcoholic wines can still have a small percentage of alcohol in them! Unless the bottle says 0%, be mindful that it may have trace amounts of alcohol). Sadly, what we found from today's episode was that a lot of de-alcoholized wines on the market are just not as good as the real stuff. We only tried 4 wines, so there's definitely an opportunity to try other brands and explore a bit more. But, we tried 4 different brands and none were overly impressive. As a sommelier, I was really underwhelmed, but even my 3 friends were hoping for more flavor. They all agreed that you could use these wines as a mixer to make a mocktail or NA sangria, but none of the wines were delicious enough to polish a bottle off at your next mommy-to-be brunch. Below are the 4 wines that we tried as well as a brief review of each wine. Be sure to listen to the show to get our full reactions and why we rated each wine as below. 1. Almost Zero Ravishing Rose This wine label from South Africa makes a white, red, rose, and sparkling that are all de-alcoholized. They claim that all of their wines have 0.4%ABV and are lower in sugar than the average wine.  Sadly, we were underwhelmed by their rose. It had a very odd aroma and a weird aftertaste. Only 1/3 of my friends said that she would drink this while she was pregnant. The other 2 said that they would drink it over ice with some sparkling water or juice, but wouldn't drink it on it's own. Overall, we rated it a 5.5/10 as someone who likes dry rose and is desperate for a glass of wine during pregnancy may enjoy it.  2. Giesen 0% Sauvignon Blanc This was definitely the best NA wine we tried. I actually did a blind tasting where I gave everyone this wine and a regular sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. Everyone guessed correctly which one was non-alcoholic, but they did hesitate for a moment, which speaks to the quality of the dealcoholized wine. The aromas were pleasant and the flavor profile did remind me of a lighter sauvignon blanc. Sadly, it was a bit flat on the end though and lost so much flavor within seconds.  Again, only 1/3 of my friends said they would drink it on their own and the other 2 said they would turn it into a white sangria or mocktail.  Overall we rated this wine a 7/10 as it was the best of the 4 we tried. If you were looking for a glass of white wine, this is the best one I've found on the market.  3. Alternativa 0.0 Rosso  I can't beat around the bush....this wine was awful. We all agreed that it had almost no flavor. It had a very light scent on the nose and then no body at all.  Sadly it tasted watered down. Maybe we got a bad bottle, but it was truly terrible. I was disappointed since I love Italian red wines and this one was made from a fairly well known grape varietal (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo). But at the end of the day, we rated this a 0/10 as we could not in good faith recommend it to anyone! 4. St. Regis Cabernet Sauvignon Although this red wine was better than the Alternativa 0.0, we were still disappointed by the lack of flavor.  For a Cabernet Sauvignon, it had extremely light body and almost no structure. One of my friends said that it tasted like grape juice to her and not wine at all. We rated this wine a 3/10 because it has enough flavor that you could turn it into a red NA sangria, but it's not good enough to drink on it's own. It was suggested that we need to do a second episode that is solely on non-alcoholic sparkling wines and I agree this would be a popular topic! Sadly I think the final thought was that there are a few decent NA wines on the market that could be used as mixers in mocktails, but they can be hit or miss and surprisingly expensive for the quality. I will be on the lookout for better options and will continue to update you all as I'm determined to find a great NA wine for my pregnant friends and others who want to cut back on alcohol! So stay tuned!

2 Juni 202134min

Memorial Day weekend is here which means that summer is right around the corner and everyone is ready for a good old fashioned cookout. On today's episode, we aren't talking bbq....we're talking classic hamburgers and hot dogs and the wines that pair perfectly with them. Listen now for all of the details and be sure to subscribe to my show so you never miss an episode! Also head over to thewineceo.com to sign up for my monthly newsletter and get a free guide to pairing food and wine!  ---------------------- Episode 25 Show Notes: My top pick for a classic cheeseburger pairing is a Spanish Tempranillo.  Awesome regions in Spain for Tempranillo include: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Toro Tempranillo is given the following classifications based upon age: 2 Years: Crianza 3 Years: Riserva 5 Years: Gran Riserva *Some awesome Tempranillo to try include: Marques des Caceres Marques de Murrieta La Crimus (Less than $10 at Trader Joe's) Montecillo My perfect pairing for a classic hot dog is Gewüztraminer! This wine is extremely aromatic and can compete with strong flavors like mustard, sauerkraut, pickles, and relish.  Some of the best regions for Gewüztraminer are Alsace (France), Tentino Alto Adige (Italy), and The United States (California, Washington, and New York).  Some delicious Gewüztraminer to try include: Chateau St. Michelle (Washington State) Trimbach (Alsace) Albrecht (Alsace) Armani (Trentino) Don't forget to tag me on social media this summer if you try one of these wines with your cookout! @thewineceo

26 Maj 202118min

Springtime is here and the weather is finally getting nice enough for picnics! So what wines should you have in your picnic basket? Join me as I discuss 2 perfect wines for springtime - Gamay and Viognier. These aromatic wines both have amazing floral notes that complement this season so perfectly. Listen now to learn more about these two varietals and why they are perfect for your next picnic! Want to know why Little Red Riding Hood was drinking wine? You'll have to listen to find out! And don't forget to subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode! Want a personalized pairing for your next picnic menu? Send me an email Sarah@thewineceo.com or send me a private message on my website thewineceo.com.  --------------------------------- Show Notes: 10 Villages in the Beaujolais Cru: Morgon, Brouilly, St. Amour, Julienas, Chenas, Moulin-a-Vent, Fleurie, Regnie, Cote de Brouilly, and Chiroubles Great grocery store Beaujolais to try: Louis Jadot & Georges DeBoeuf Try a Viognier from the Northern Rhone (Condrieu and Chateau Grillet), California (Paso Robles is awesome), or Australia (Barossa Valley). Some great viognier to try: Sobon Estate (CA), Yalumba (Aus), Michel Gassier Les Piliers (FR) If you try a Gamay or a Viognier this spring, be sure to snap a picture and tag me on social! @thewineceo

19 Maj 202121min

For years people have been saying that 1 glass of red wine daily can reduce your risk of heart attacks and even keep your brain healthy. But is this actually true? Are there any real health benefits to drinking wine? And is there a difference between drinking red wine or white wine? This week on The Wine CEO Podcast I'm diving into The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of drinking wine. We discuss all of the health challenges and benefits from drinking wine, so hit play now to start listening! thewineceo.com Email me any questions at Sarah@thewineceo.com and don't forget to write a review for my show to tell other listeners how much you enjoy it!

12 Maj 202120min

Have you ever heard someone say, "I don’t drink red wine, because it gives me headaches.”? I’ve heard this a lot and usually from females. When I ask them what they think causes the headaches, they usually equate it to tannins or sulfites. It’s a commonly shared belief, but I'm here to break that wine myth and rock your world. Tannins and sulfites are NOT giving you headaches! In episode 22 I dive into the topic of tannins and sulfites and discuss what's actually giving you a headache. Listen now to learn more and be sure to hit subscribe so that you never miss an episode! thewineceo.com

5 Maj 202115min

This week on the Wine CEO Podcast we are celebrating Cinco de Mayo early by discussing some delicious wines that pair perfectly with tacos, guac, and all of your favorite Mexican foods. These wines can be a great substitution for a margarita and spoiler alert - I'm NOT talking about Sangria! Listen now for all of the details on these 2 amazing Spanish wines and don't forget to share this episode with a friend for your next fiesta! thewineceo.com  *Write a review so more wine enthusiasts can find my show! -------- Notes from today's show:  1. Albariño - crisp white wine from the Spanish region of Rias Baixas.  Great wines to check out: Martin Codas Rias Baixas Licia Albarino Burgeons Rias Baixas Albarino 2. Verdejo - crisp white wine from the Spanish region of Rueda.  Great wines to check out: Marques de Riscal Verdejo, Rueda Palma Real Rueda Verdejo Latitud 42 Rueda Ecologico Cheers to trying these wines this week for Cinco de Mayo and don't forget to connect on IG or FB so you can tell me what you think of this episode!

28 Apr 202115min

Today’s episode may seem like a simple question, but it’s actually a bit more complex when you think about it. There are over 1,000 different grape varietals (like literally, there are almost 1,300 to be precise) and there are dozens and dozens of countries that produce wine. So where do you even begin when you are looking to learn more about wine? And should you begin by reading or tasting? I answer these questions and many more today on episode 20 of The Wine CEO Podcast! thewineceo.com Email: Sarah@thewineceo.com ---------- Recommended Books from today's show: The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil Wine Folly, Magnum Edition by Madeline Puckett Windows on the World Wine Course by Kevin Zraly  The Oxford Companion to Wine by Janis Robinson

21 Apr 202131min

Spring is the perfect season to be looking for a medium white wine that has enough body to hold up to a crisp spring breeze, but is still refreshing to drink with a little sunshine. It's warming up around the country and everyone is looking for some lively wine flavors to brighten up their evenings, so this week on The Wine CEO Podcast I am telling you all about the best wine to drink this time of year! Don't forget to hit subscribe, so that you never miss one of my episodes and check out thewineceo.com for more amazing wine content! ----------- Quick Facts on Chablis: Chablis is located in Burgundy, France It is a region that exclusively produces Chardonnay wines Typically these wines are not aged in oak, so they have a crisp and refreshing flavor profile (unlike most California Chardonnays) Chablis is broken into 4 designations based upon vineyard classification and grape production quality: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru, and Chablis Grand Cru Chablis pairs well with lighter dishes like salad, chicken, pasta salad, and things with medium fat and citrus content. Try to avoid heavily spiced foods. Wines listed in today's episode:  - Chenevieres Chablis $20 from Total Wine -Sainte Celine Chablis $16 from Trader Joe's -Amazing Premier Crus and Grand Crus if you're looking for a higher end Chablis: Les Clos, Valmur, Raveneau, Laroche, Fourchaume, and Jean Dauvissat

14 Apr 202117min