Wine Access Unfiltered

Oregon Pinot, Washington Syrah, and… heavy metal? Believe it or not, all three fit right into this episode’s deep dive into the Pacific Northwest, one of the world’s most exciting (and misunderstood) wine regions.Fresh off a National Geographic wine cruise through the Columbia and Snake Rivers, host Amanda McCrossin is joined by journalist, educator, and senior editor at JancisRobinson.com [http://jancisrobinson.com/] Samantha Cole-Johnson. In this enlightening (and, of course, unfiltered) conversation, Amanda and Sam get into Washington’s red-hot Rocks District, where to eat and drink in Portland, and—HOT TAKE ALERT—why Oregon might actually be best suited to white wines. Whether you’re Pinot-obsessed, Syrah-curious, or just wondering what to do on your next trip to the PNW wine country, this one’s for you 2023 Tior Pinot Noir Willamette Valley [https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/2023-tior-pinot-noir-willamette-valley_190e6119-e7d8-40b1-8be4-b7e137df0ceb/] 📢 Links & Mentions * Follow Samantha Cole-Johnson on Instagram For updates on her wine reviews, blind tasting series, and more. 👉 @samanthacolejohnson [https://www.instagram.com/samanthacolejohnson/] * Read Samantha’s work on JancisRobinson.com Check out her writing and the “Wine News in Five” feature. 👉 📰 Wine News in Five – read on JancisRobinson.com [https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/wine-news-5] 👉🎧 Wine News in Five -- listen to the Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/4yTOPypWDbKSRe3D9PEvWW] * Nat Geo x Lindblad Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise The wine-adventure cruise Amanda went on. 👉 Columbia & Snake Rivers Journey [https://www.expeditions.com/expeditions/columbia-and-snake-rivers-food-wine-and-history?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=G-US-BRAND-Search-Branded_LEX_Destinations&utm_term=lindblad%20pacific%20northwest&utm_content=&device=c&network=g&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1839094553&gbraid=0AAAAAD23KRlNKVjBq3JKYXw_iEWvva6aH&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlrvBBhDnARIsAHEQgORRkHJ80WmZNe-SzIG32dyDuNRM7hgwtqIja_o_0yxrd2sTl0F0BQ4aAnqYEALw_wcB] * Kann Restaurant (Portland) Amanda’s top meal of 2024. 👉 Kann Portland [https://www.kannrestaurant.com/] * Coquine Restaurant Highly praised spot in Portland mentioned by Samantha. 👉 Coquine Portland [https://www.coquinepdx.com/] * Bar Casa Vale For Spanish wine and Sherry in Portland. 👉 Bar Casa Vale [https://www.brcasavale.com/] * St. Jack & Lovely’s Fifty Fifty Favorite neighborhood spots also mentioned in the episode. 👉 St. Jack [https://www.stjackpdx.com/] | Lovely’s Fifty Fifty [https://www.lovelysfiftyfifty.com/] * Blood of Gods Wine x Metal Festival (Walla Walla) Yes, it’s real—and Samantha is speaking at it. 👉 Blood of Gods [https://www.bloodofgods.wine/] 🛳️ Travel & Wine Adventure:🍴 Food & Wine in Portland: ⁠⁠Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club⁠⁠ [https://www.wineaccess.com/podcast/?utm_source=unfiltered&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=episodedescription&utm_campaign=unfilteredwc] * 4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda * Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year * $120 + tax * Shipping Included * Cancel anytime * 10% off all Wine Access purchases  Follow us on social! IG: ⁠⁠@wineaccessunfiltered⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/wineaccessunfiltered] Twitter: ⁠⁠ @wineaccesspod⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/wineaccesspod] Host: ⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/sommvivant] Shop all the wines at ⁠⁠Wine Access⁠ [https://wineaccess.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

What happens when one of the most legendary Champagne minds on the planet leaves a Champagne icon… to make sake? In this special bonus episode, Amanda sits down with Richard Geoffroy, former Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon, to discuss his newest—and to many, extremely unexpected—venture: IWA 5, a cutting-edge Junmai Daiginjo sake born in Japan’s Toyama Prefecture.Recorded in NYC during a rare stateside visit, this conversation with Richard explores his bold leap from the structured tradition of Champagne to the boundless creative freedom of sake brewing. From the moment he first encountered a transformative Kyoto sake in 2000 to the experimental, terroir-redefining blending process behind IWA, Richard opens up about creativity, culture, and why sake might be the most versatile beverage on the planet. Plus, sake expert Eduardo Dingler joins the conversation to help unpack the world of premium sake—so whether you’re merely sake-curious or a seasoned enthusiast, you should consider this rare glimpse into the world of top-level to be a must-listen! 📺 Watch the episode in full on YouTube [https://youtu.be/VOqjsADSQuI] 🍷 Wine Featured On This Episode: NV IWA 5 Assemblage 5 Junmai Daiginjo Toyama [https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/iwa-5-assemblage-5-junmai-daiginjo-toyama_eec7a38c-3028-4c74-a341-270a1bf5d59e/] **Note, this is not a wine club wine 👉 Explore IWA Sake ⁠⁠Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club⁠⁠ [https://www.wineaccess.com/podcast/?utm_source=unfiltered&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=episodedescription&utm_campaign=unfilteredwc] * 4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda * Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year * $120 + tax * Shipping Included * Cancel anytime * 10% off all Wine Access purchases Follow us on social! IG: ⁠⁠@wineaccessunfiltered⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/wineaccessunfiltered] Twitter: ⁠⁠ @wineaccesspod⁠⁠ [https://twitter.com/wineaccesspod] Host: ⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠ [https://instagram.com/sommvivant] Shop all the wines at ⁠⁠Wine Access [https://wineaccess.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Midwestern tax-preparer Steve Hoffman moved his family to the South of France to live out his dream of being a French-speaking bon vivant. But when life abroad fell far short of his expectations, he found himself at a loss for what to do—until his vigneron neighbor started him on a new and uncharted path. Steve swapped his spreadsheets for soupe à l’oignon, and his outstanding memoir A Season For That [https://www.amazon.com/Season-That-Found-Southern-France/dp/0593240286/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28UQTZZSTRISD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MTkSe4i6ZSHiTmP8XztRmYbTVSeh9-X29UB-DafLwteA39xIm7x11lW_r8FNjmxesc_TUIz48ujLktNUENcYAfqW_nJ3SG99vgYueNEUz1I.uecGJFZpB5gxHqw13kbU_fCJjOhH53hIAENG2KLR3aY&dib_tag=se&keywords=a+season+for+that+steve+hoffman&qid=1746118469&sprefix=a+season+for%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1]—which NYT Wine Critic Eric Asimov called one of the best wine books of 2024—recounts his transformative experience with humor and heart. In his conversation with host Amanda McCrossin, Steve touches upon the magic of shared meals and the importance of “terroir” in both food and life—plus how to cultivate a “bon vivant” attitude, even if you can’t move to France! 🍷 Wine Featured On This Episode: 2022 Clos Venturi 1769 Corsica [https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/2022-clos-venturi-1769-corsica_fb78c86b-27e9-48c3-a7a9-78d09fea4aec/] Links & Mentions * ⁠Learn more about Steve here [https://www.sjrhoffman.com] ⁠Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club⁠ [https://www.wineaccess.com/podcast/?utm_source=unfiltered&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=episodedescription&utm_campaign=unfilteredwc] * 4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda * Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year * $120 + tax * Shipping Included * Cancel anytime * 10% off all Wine Access purchases Follow us on social! IG: ⁠@wineaccessunfiltered⁠ [https://instagram.com/wineaccessunfiltered] Twitter: ⁠ @wineaccesspod⁠ [https://twitter.com/wineaccesspod] Host: ⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠ [https://instagram.com/sommvivant] Shop all the wines at ⁠Wine Access [https://wineaccess.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How does a wine lover who started at the bottom shelf end up with a fine-tuned taste for fine wine? Master of Wine (and former Unfiltered Co-Host) Vanessa Conlin [https://instagram.com/vanessaconlinmw] joins us for a candid conversation about how our palates evolve. We share our own cringe-worthy wine moments, debate the value of “flashy” vs. “ethereal” wines, and get real about why some expensive wines might fall flat for newer drinkers. You’ll also get pro tips on how to avoid getting stuck in a rut, plus an exclusive invitation to drink Napa wine with a bona fide celebrity! 🍷 Wine Featured On This Episode: NV Maurice Grumier Jônt Special Edition Extra-Brut Champagne [https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/maurice-grumier-jont-special-edition-extra-brut-champagne_e4d3f35f-5726-4fd6-8c78-fe7518839f31/] Links & Mentions * From Ashes to Hope [https://www.fromashestohopeauction.com/tickets] benefitting Save the Children [https://www.savethechildren.org] * The Wine Independent [https://thewineindependent.com] Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club [https://www.wineaccess.com/podcast/?utm_source=unfiltered&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=episodedescription&utm_campaign=unfilteredwc] * 4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda * Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year * $120 + tax * Shipping Included * Cancel anytime * 10% off all Wine Access purchases Follow us on social! IG: @wineaccessunfiltered [https://instagram.com/wineaccessunfiltered] Twitter:  @wineaccesspod [https://twitter.com/wineaccesspod] Host: Amanda McCrossin [https://instagram.com/sommvivant] Shop all the wines at Wine Access [https://wineaccess.com/]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Helen Keplinger [https://keplingerwines.com/winemaker/] is one of the most sought-after winemakers in Napa Valley, but she’s taking a break to take us on a California road trip with her Vermillion wine. Vermillion, sourced from the high-elevation Sierra Foothills to the sea-sprayed vineyards of Santa Barbara, captures the diverse terroirs that make this state so special, and we pop a bottle with Helen to identify how each component plays a unique role. She fills us in on why one of her secret, prized grape sources is like Wagyu beef and why Paso Robles might just be the most exciting region in wine. Plus, we reveal the one “can’t miss” event in Napa Valley that Helen’s been attending for over a decade—and how you can get in on the action as well!  📺 Watch the episode in full on YouTube [https://youtu.be/9JcqyVPtZF8] 🍷 Wine Featured On This Episode: 2022 Vermillion Red Wine [https://www.wineaccess.com/catalog/2022-vermillion-red-blend-california_8ab16582-8f57-451b-a63f-872a84e81faf/] Links & Mentions * Wineapawlooza [https://www.jamesonanimalrescueranch.org/2025-wineapawlooza] benefitting Jameson Humane [https://www.jamesonanimalrescueranch.org] * Guide to Santa Barbara [https://sommvivant.me/santabarbara] * Guide to Napa Valley [https://sommvivant.me/napavalleycover] * Guide to Paso Robles [https://sommvivant.me/pasorobles] * Restaurants/Bars in Paso Robles * Les Petits Canailles (LPC) [https://www.lpcrestaurant.com] * In Bloom  [https://www.inbloompasorobles.com]   * Finca [https://fincapasorobles.com]    * Etto Pasta Bar [https://www.ettopastabar.net]    * The Alchemists' Garden [https://www.alchemistsgarden.com] Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club [https://www.wineaccess.com/podcast/?utm_source=unfiltered&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=episodedescription&utm_campaign=unfilteredwc] * 4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda * Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year * $120 + tax * Shipping Included * Cancel anytime * 10% off all Wine Access purchases Follow us on social! IG: @wineaccessunfiltered [https://instagram.com/wineaccessunfiltered] Twitter:  @wineaccesspod [https://twitter.com/wineaccesspod] Host: Amanda McCrossin [https://instagram.com/sommvivant] Shop all the wines at Wine Access [https://wineaccess.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]