Episode 11: A Monument(al) Conversation with Tyler Magyar of Monument

Episode 11: A Monument(al) Conversation with Tyler Magyar of Monument

Another episode of Wet Hot Wine is here and this one is a special one. We're sitting down with Tyler Magyar, founder and one-man operation behind Monument [https://www.ilikemonument.com/], to close out our first run of episodes in style. Tyler's path to winemaking is not a straight line. In fact it involves a few pretentious turns, and honestly that's what makes it so good. Growing up in his father's Jersey Shore chocolate business gave him a deep love of small, creative work. After years in New York wine retail, a move to Portland, and a series of harvest internships, Monument was born in 2018. On the tasting menu we have "Jenny," a world-debut pseudo-rosé and orange blend named for his mother, followed by "Daughter," a pinot noir and syrah blend with a label painted by his niece, and finally "Permanent Piece Syrah," an Applegate Valley syrah dedicated to a long-standing grower relationship and a vintage honoring Roger. Every bottle has a story, and Tyler tells them beautifully. Along the way we get into the appeal of Oregon syrah, co-fermentation, wine accessibility and gatekeeping, and what winemaking really looks like when you're a one-man show. Tyler also takes a confident swing at guessing horoscopes and birth order…and we think maybe he should probably stick to winemaking. This episode is equal parts silly and surprisingly introspective, and we close with a tasting-notes Mad Lib that goes exactly as unhinged as you'd hope. This is our last episode for a little while. We're taking a summer break from long-form episodes, but you can find us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wet.hot.wine/] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WetHotWine] all summer long and we'll be back in the fall with new episodes. Whether you're new to Oregon wine, curious about small Portland winemakers, or just want to spend time with someone who makes wine feel approachable and fun — this one's a great place to start.

Episode 10: Who Rules the World? Moms and Mom Winemakers!

In this episode of Wet Hot Wine, a wine podcast on a mission to make wine approachable, we're raising a glass to the women who do it all — and then some. This special Mother's Day celebration features some of the most inspiring mom winemakers in the Pacific Northwest. Laurie Lewis and Renee Neely of Hip Chicks Do Wine [https://www.hipchicksdowine.com/] share what it's really like to raise a son while running a winery, Cristina Gonzales of Gonzales Wine Company [https://www.gonzaleswinecompany.com/] opens up about building a legacy through low-intervention winemaking in the Willamette Valley, and Lisette Hrapmann of https://lagniappewines.com/https://lagniappewines.com/ [https://lagniappewines.com/] out of Hood River and the Columbia Gorge talks about motherhood as the ultimate balancing act. On the tasting menu: a Grüner Veltliner from Laurie and Renee's son Tiernan Connor, a Gonzales Wine Company Gewürztraminer, and Lagniappe's "Joie de Vivre" bubbly. The conversation gets real about the beautiful, messy, exhausting truth of motherhood — from bodily fluids and emotional regulation to sibling rivalry and shifting expectations. We talk about the traditions worth passing on, like music, art, and a love of the outdoors. And Laurie and Renee remind us that yes, any wine pairs beautifully with chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. We close with a heartwarming segment featuring the moms of the Wet Hot Wine ladies themselves — on video, describing their daughters and weighing in on the big questions: why they drink wine, how wine ages, and what to pour with Italian food. Whether you're a mom, you have a mom, or you just love discovering incredible women making wine in the Pacific Northwest — this one's for you. Go text your mom then hit play.

Episode 9: Pairing Budget Pours with Thrifted Scores

In this episode of Wet Hot Wine, one of your new favorite wine podcasts on a mission to make wine approachable, we're hitting the thrift stores and not hitting our budget — because good taste doesn't have to cost a lot. The conversation pairs two things we love: bargain wine and intentional consumption. For the wine lineup, we turned to our "Thriends" from Threads for their best bargain picks — and their response did not disappoint. In fact, all three wines we tried came straight from their recommendations. All under $15, we tried a Trader Joe's Bordeaux blanc, a rosé from Josh Cellars, and ended with a Kirkland Pinot Noir. And honestly? They were all ones we'd drink again. Win win! We swap thrifted outfit stories, chat about our favorite finds, and share our take on haggling — plus some genuinely useful tips like freezing used books or spraying vodka on fabrics to knock out stubborn odors. (Yes, really!) The conversation gets a little reflective too, touching on reducing our reliance on corporations like Amazon, buying things built to last, and why living in the Pacific Northwest is genuinely a gift when it comes to both wine access and thrift culture. It truly was a bargain episode! We close things out with a "spin the bottle" game that keeps it light and maybe a touch silly. Whether you're hunting for the best budget wines under $15, looking for thrift store tips, or just trying to consume a little more intentionally — this one's for you. Press play.

Episode 8: Art, Stories, and Getting Weird With Fossil & Fawn

In this episode of Wet Hot Wine, one of your new favorite wine podcasts on a mission to make wine approachable, we're sitting down with two of the most fun humans in the Pacific Northwest wine scene — Jenny Mosbacher and Jim Fischer of Fossil & Fawn [https://www.fossilandfawn.com/]. And yes, this is our very first winemaker interview, and we could not have picked better people to kick it off with. It all started at a three-hour private tasting at their Northwest Portland tasting room, and the whole thing was so much fun we knew we had to get them on the podcast. These two are artists first and winemakers second (or maybe equally both) and it shows in everything they do, from the wine in the glass to the stories on every label. Their motto is "Get weird, suck less," and honestly, we couldn't agree more. On the tasting menu: a Piquette that Jenny describes as a "spiritual hot dog," a field blend from Sunnyside Vineyard, and a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir — and every single one comes with a story that makes it taste even better. Along the way, Jenny and Jim share how they each fell into wine, how they met during a double-booked Whole Foods demo, and how Fossil & Fawn was born to honor Jim's dad's vineyard. Oh, and there's a story about an astronaut pizza pét-nat label photoshoot that you genuinely have to hear for yourself If you love Oregon wine, want to discover small Pacific Northwest wineries worth knowing, or just want to spend time with people who make you feel good about drinking weird and wonderful things — this one's for you. Press play.

Episode 7: Pairing Bubbles With Besties

In this episode of Wet Hot Wine, one of your new favorite wine podcasts on a mission to make wine approachable, we're popping bottles and getting personal. It's our very first pairing episode, and we're matching sparkling wine with something a little less tangible: adult friendships. We crack open three sparklers — Prosecco, Cava, and the king of them all, Champagne. Along the way, we break down the differences between these three wines, from production methods like tank fermentation vs. traditional method sparkling wine, to which glass actually does each one justice (coupe vs. flute vs. tulip, and yes, it matters). We also share a safer way to open sparkling wine without losing an eye, and try to settle the great bubble debate once and for all. We'll let you decide. But the real conversation? Adult friendships. How they actually happen in adulthood, how we met through our kids and meat parties (you'll have to listen), and what it really takes to show up for each other. Reciprocal effort, saying yes, staying flexible, and leaving room for people who are nothing like you. Whether you're new to sparkling wine and want to understand the real differences between Prosecco, Cava, and Champagne, looking for sparkling wine tips for beginners, or just navigating the beautiful mess of making friends as an adult — grab some bubbles and press play.