Wine for Normal People

By: Elizabeth Schneider
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  • Summary

  • A podcast for people who like wine but not the snobbery that goes with it. I talk about wine in a fun, straightforward, normal way to get you excited about it and help you drink better, more interesting stuff. About half the shows feature guests and are informal but educational discussions between me and a passionate wine friend –they aren't interviews. All guests are personal friends or friends of friends in wine so like any conversation between friends, we’ll talk back and forth, interrupt each other, laugh and have fun, debate tough questions, voice our opinions, and most of all, enjoy sharing our time together and with you! The Wine For Normal People book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many local booksellers. Back catalog available on Patreon.com/winefornormalpeople
    Copyright © 2024 Wine for Normal People®. All rights reserved.
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Episodes
  • Ep 556: Back to Basics -- European Classification Systems

    Ep 556: Back to Basics -- European Classification Systems
    Mar 12 2025
    This week I take a fresh look at European Classification Systems, going into detail on the history of how and why they evolved, what the current EU scheme is based on, and what the major wine nations’ systems are structured (and how they differ from what the EU would like them to look like!). I discuss: How Europe classified its wines to protect the names of specific products and link them to their place of origin, to the benefit of consumers and producers.A history of wine classifications from the monks in medieval Burgundy to the winemakers of Tokaj in the 1600s to Chianti, Port, and Bordeaux in the 1700s and 1800s.A detailed look at the evolution of the French classification system. I go through the steps that the French took to prevent fraud, protect the origin of their wines, and ultimately create the system off which the EU system is based. I address the EU system with its two main categories: -Wine without a geographic origin (table wine) -Wine with a geographic origin: Protected Geographical Indication (PGI): At least 85% of the grapes used have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is actually made. These wines cover large areas, and a lot of grapes and winemaking methods are permitted. There is only a minor influence of place of origin Protected Designation of Origin (PDO): Every part of the production, processing and preparation process must take place in the specific region. Grapes have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is made. Origin and terroir are essential to the identity of the wine. Then I review the major countries’ classification categories France: Vin de France=Table wineIGP, indication géographique protégée (PGI)AOP=appellation d’origine protégée, often called AOC (contrôlée) (PDO) Italy: Vino=Table WineIGP=indicazione geografica protetta, producers frequently use the old IGT = indicazione geografica tipica (PGI)DOC = denominazione di origine controllata (PDO)DOCG = denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (PDO)DOP = denominazione di origine protetta, the new name, conforming to the EU standard that includes DOC and DOCG. DOP is rarely used (PDO) Spain: Vino de España=Table wineIGP / VT = indicación geográfica protegida, usually called vino de la tierra (VT) (PGI)VC = vino de calidad con indicación geográfica (PDO)DO (DOP) = denominación de origen, sometimes called DOP (PDO)DOCa = denominación de origen calificada (PDO)VP = vino de pago (PDO) Germany Deutscher Wein =Table wineLandwein =PGIQualitätswein (also called Qba from the 13 regions, PDO)Prädikatswein – Prädikat means special attribute and refers to the ripeness of the grapes and the type of harvest. Pradikat levels: Dry or sweet: Kabinett, Spätlese, AusleseSweet (expensive and rare): Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, Eiswein Other terms: Trocken is dry, Halbtrocken is “Half Dry” or “Off-Dry, “Feinherb” is an unofficial term for off-dry wine The VDP is a German marketing organization that includes many of the country’s top producers. Producers can use the VDP eagle and the VDP classifications WITH “Qualitätswein” or “Prädikatswein” · Gutswein: First wines of a wine year to be bottled and sold, Estate-grown grapes · Ortsweine: Village wines · Erste Lage: Premier Cru wine from first-class vineyards · Grosse Lage: Grand cru or highest quality German vineyards. Dry wines within this category are called Grosse Gewächs or GG Portugal (I don’t discuss in the show because it follows the French/EU model) Vinho=Table WineIGP = indicação geográfica protegida, often called vinho regional (PGI)DOP = denominação de origem protegida, still sometimes called DOC, denominação de origem controlada (PDO) _________________________________________________ Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________ Check out my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access. They have an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club for wines I select delivered to you four times a year! To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
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    50 mins
  • Ep 555: Château Talbot - The Saint-Julien 4th Growth Bordeaux Estate with GM Jean-Michel Laporte

    Ep 555: Château Talbot - The Saint-Julien 4th Growth Bordeaux Estate with GM Jean-Michel Laporte
    Mar 5 2025

    Château Talbot is a 4th Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Julien in the Médoc of Left Bank of Bordeaux. It’s an historic and large property – its vineyards extend over 110 hectares/272 acres in a single block. The story of Talbot is a long and interesting one, but the chapter being written by the current family and management of the Château may be the best yet. With extreme dedication to quality, an eye towards the environment and careful winemaking, Talbot has a focus on making unbelievable wine that overdelivers for the price, vintage after vintage.

    In this show, General Manager of Château Talbot, Jean-Michel Laporte, joins to discuss Saint-Julien and Talbot.

    Photo: Jean-Michel Laporte. From Château Talbot.

    We discuss:

    • Saint-Julien and it's terroir. We talk about how it stacks up to the other communes on the Left Bank and even discuss comparisons with the Right Bank, where Jean-Michel got his start

    • The history and terroir of Talbot. The château is hundreds of years old, but got it's name from an English general who won Bordeaux back from the French in the 1400s!

    Photo: The Chai of Château Talbot. From the Château site.

    • Winemaking, aging, their amazing chai (barrel room, pic above), spectacular vintages and how long to hold both the Grand Vin -- Chateau Talbot and the second wine, Connetable de Talbot. We also discuss Caillou Blanc, their fascinating white wine!

    Château Talbot makes excellent wines. They are around US $70 and although that will set you back, it is so high quality and over delivers for the price. If you have some extra money at some point, and want to invest in a wine to age, this is one to seek. I love the floral and dark fruit aromatics, the complexity, the medieval church notes, the earth, and the perfect tannin and acidity. Saint-Julien is indeed, incredibly balanced, and Château Talbot is a great example of the AOC.

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    Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!

    www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople

    _______________________________________________________________

    Check out my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access. They have an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club for wines I select delivered to you four times a year!

    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Ep 554:The Wines of Alto Adige, Italy

    Ep 554:The Wines of Alto Adige, Italy
    Feb 26 2025

    Alto Adige, in the far northeast of Italy, is a small wine region that makes incredibly high quality reds and whites. In this episode I discuss the unique terroir, grapes, and mixed culture of this region, with its heavy Germanic and Austrian influences.

    I cover:

    • The long history of Alto Adige wine
    • The varied soil types and geology
    • The range of climates and growing conditions
    • The unique grapes (including Kerner, Schiava and Lagrein)
    • The DOCs and subzones of Alto Adige

    A truly beautiful and unique Italian wine region, and one I hope I've convinced you to explore!

    Copyright: Wines of Alto Adige

    Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!

    www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople

    _______________________________________________________________

    Check out my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access. They have an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club for wines I select delivered to you four times a year!

    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins

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