Welcome to the Winervana podcast! People and topics of interest to the curious wine drinker.
No pretense.
No snobbery.
No numerical ratings.
Hosted and toasted by
Stephen Hawk.
Episodes (details below)
Akhil Reddy, pioneering Indian-American winemaker in the Texas panhandle
Chrishon Lampley, of Love Cork Screw and The Lampley
Jim Laughren, Author and Certified Wine Educator
Paul Wagner, Wine Educator and Marketer
Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery
Brian Carter of Brian Carter Cellars
Brandy, Cognac, and Armagnac
Varietal-specific Wine Glasses
Wine Facts and Foibles
Unusual and Exotic Wines
DIY Beer and Wine
White Wines for Summer
Wine in Cans
Old World vs. New World Wines
Wine and Robbery at Restaurants
Welcome to the Winervana Podcast
The Winervana podcast is produced by Habanero Media.
Starting as pioneering Texas grape growers in 1997, in 2019 the Reddy family launched an estate label with eight wines. “My family has a deep-rooted passion for wine, winegrowing, and the Texas high plains,” said son Akhil Reddy. “I’m honored to work alongside my parents to bring their lifelong pursuit of estate grown, sustainably farmed, 100% Texan wines to life.”
Episode 16 – Akhil Reddy – April 17, 2022
The founder and proprietor of Love Cork Screw and Lampley Reserve is Chrishon Lampley, a remarkable African American woman, and the first in the Midwest to go national with a wine brand. She is also one of the less than 1% of wine industry negociants, vineyard owners, or winery owners who are black females in the traditionally Euro-centric, male-dominated world of wine.
Episode 15 – Chrishon Lampley – March 13, 2022
Jim Laughren is a Certified Wine Educator, a member of the Society of Wine Educators, and the award-winning author of 50 Ways to Love Wine More and A Beer Drinker’s Guide to Knowing and Enjoying Fine Wine. He is known for his irreverent approach and abiding enthusiasm for all things fermented. He is founder of Chicago-based WineHead Consulting and a former importer and distributor of fine wines from around the world.
Episode 14 – Jim Laughren – September 30, 2021
Paul Wagner has dedicated his life to wine as an educator, award-winning author, competition judge, guest lecturer, owner of a wine-marketing firm, consultant, magazine columnist, and public-radio personality. In this episode he discusses his teaching approach, and provocatively debunks a major myth about wine.
Episode 13 – Paul Wagner – June 20, 2021
One of a growing number of women in the world of wine, Nicole Walsh is both the winemaker and owner of the boutique Ser Winery near Santa Cruz, California.
Episode 12 – Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery – May 23, 2021
Brian Carter is one of the pioneers of the Washington State wine industry, having worked there for over 40 years. He is a champion of the art of blended wines, as well as sustainability.
Episode 11 – Brian Carter of Brian Carter Cellars – February 25, 2021
Brandy is one of the world’s oldest distilled spirits. Learn about what it is, plus what distinguishes its best-known subgenre, Cognac, and Cognac’s lesser-known country cousin, Armagnac.
Episode 10 – Brandy, Cognac, and Armagnac – January 29, 2021
My second guest on the Winervana podcast is me! My long-time friend Rob Young sits in the host’s chair, and we talk about varietal-specific stemware made by Riedel, and why you should consider buying some of these glasses.
Episode 9 – Varietal-specific Wine Glasses – December 31, 2020
Few products of human labor are as old as wine. With such a rich history, quite a lot of facts and foibles have come to be associated with it. I touch on just a few of those in this episode.
Episode 8 – Wine Facts and Foibles – November 11, 2020
The wine universe is huge, and goes way beyond the usual varieties. Some creative winemakers don’t even use grapes at all! Learn more about some wines you’ve probably never heard of in this episode.
Episode 7 – Unusual and Exotic Wines – October 18, 2020
Beer and wine are readily available for purchase at a full range of quality and price points. But some people choose to make their own. My first-ever guest Pat Helmers explains why you might want to do the same.
Episode 6 – DIY Beer and Wine – October 1, 2020
Chardonnay is great, of course, but when the weather is warm, it’s not often the best choice. You want something crisp and refreshing. You want ABC: Anything But Chardonnay. In this episode, I discuss grape varieties and some specific suggestions from around the world for perfect summer sippers.
Episode 5 – White Wines for Summer – September 15, 2020
Yes, wine in cans is a thing. A very big thing as it turns out. Although canned wine has been around for almost 20 years, it has seen explosive growth since 2015. You can hear the story in Episode 4.
Episode 4 – Wine in Cans – August 6. 2020
Is there a difference between wines from the Old World (Europe and the Middle East) and the New World (everywhere else)? If so, does it matter? Find out in Episode 3.
Episode 3 – Old World vs. New World Wines – June 4, 2020
Ordering wine in a restaurant can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Stephen shares some tips on approaching the wine list, and how to get help if you’re uncertain. But mainly, he rants about the wine price gouging far too many restaurants are guilty of.
Episode 2 – Wine and Robbery at Restaurants – February 18, 2020
Stephen introduces the Winervana podcast. He explains his point of view on wine and how it frames the podcast. He shares his story on how he became interested in wine. And, reviews a Chardonnay.
Episode 1 – Welcome to the Winervana Podcast – October 4, 2019