Serious boss ladies get into it with Paper Bottles, Fake Wine Trains, and why stickies rule, plus a grenache-to-lamb pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E4)

Special thanks to our sponsor Gabriel Group (gabrielgrp.com) for helping us make another great episode!

The show opens with intros to panelists Elisa Weber-Saintin (Little Guy Wine Company, celebrating 19 years; critic of predictable three-Michelin-star dining), Anna Nolan (Russian-born sommelier and co-owner of Vino and Vibes in Utica, aiming to “un-snob” wine), and Kristen Jonna (Michigan wine family royalty and owner of Vinology in Ann Arbor; she follows the moon!). In news debates, they discuss the viability of low-carbon “Frugal Pack” cardboard bottles versus glass, and a (fake) story about Japan’s underground wine trains, prompting talk of Michigan wine trains. Glass checks feature wines including Los Malditos Tempranillo, a Cremant de Loire sparkling wine, and a Slovenian pét-nat. The Wine Cipher note matches Château d’Yquem. On the Grape to Plate segment, Chef Jason Berthold pairs a 2022 McLaren Vale Grenache from Worlds Apart with grilled lamb loin crusted with black trumpet mushroom powder and pomegranate molasses plus chickpeas and grilled onions, sharing a grilling meal-prep hack. An emotive blind tasting generating Sound of Music vibes is revealed as a 2021 Lulu “BB1” Chardonnay/Savagnin blend from the Jura, and a 1975 Rivesaltes dessert wine stands out; Kristen takes home the big win!

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor

01:01 Meet the Panel

02:10 Elisa on Dining Hype

05:09 Anna Unsnobs Wine

07:54 Kristen’s Wine Royalty

10:40 Glass Check Tasting

17:36 Debate Paper Bottles

24:30 Fake News: Wine Trains

31:34 Wine Cipher Challenge

36:12 Dessert Wine Revival

38:22 Grape to Plate

38:44 Chef tastes

40:18 Food Pairing Pivot

42:01 Grilled Lamb Plan

43:41 Mushroom Pomegranate Crust

46:00 Chickpea Ragu Sides

48:09 Bottle Reveal: Grenache

49:07 Practical Hack: Grill Extras

50:22 Second Glass Check

54:20 Somm Slam Event Plug

59:05 Emotive Blind Tasting

01:06:39 Unveiling Lulu BB1

01:08:13 Wines of the Show

01:09:47 Final Scores; Farewell