Shows / If Vines Could Talk

If Vines Could Talk
We believe Michigan makes great wine. It is an up-and-coming region, already producing world-class award-winning wines. Our mission is to help the world learn about and to enhance the prestige of Michigan wine.
Episodes
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 46: Nancie Oxley, St. Julian
Nancie Oxley is my guest today. Listen in to this fantastic discussion with Michigan’s first female winemaker, and the head of winemaking at the state’s…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 45: Three Michigan White Blends
Jayme and I are tasting three white blends from the State of Michigan. Represented today are Cody Kresta and St. Julian in the Lake Michigan Shore and Rove…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 44: Sherry Seston of the Vintage Inn at Veritas Estate
Sherry Seston is my guest today. Sherry is probably the newest winemaker here in the Lake Michigan Shore. Her husband Tim and she moved to South Haven from…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 43: Wine Label Legal Requirements
Jayme and I talk about legal requirements for wine bottle labels in the United States. We also share our opinions on what we’d also like to see on labels. Pop…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 42: Kristy Wenz of Kristy's Wine Travels
Welcome to podcast #42. Kristy Wenz is my guest today. Kristy is a wine and wine travel writer who is no stranger to Michigan wine and the Lake Michigan Shore…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 41: Three Viogniers from the Lake Michigan Shore
Jayme and I are tasting three Viogniers from the Lake Michigan Shore, and specifically, all from the same area east of Baroda. The Wineries? Domaine Berrien…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 40: Tom Knighton, Blustone Vineyards
Tom Knighton is the founder and owner of Blustone Vineyards located on the Leelanau Peninsula northwest of Traverse City. Tom and his team have a beautiful…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 39: Tasting Room Experiences
Jayme and I are sharing things we look for when we visit a tasting room. We hope this offers insight for you to consider for your next world-class experience…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 38: Meredith George, The St. Joe Wine Shoppe
Meredith George is my guest today. Meredith owns the St. Joe Wine Shoppe, located in the Market in downtown St. Joseph Michigan. Relatively new to wine…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 37: Amy Birk, Domaine Berrien Library Wines
Today's special episode is Amy Birk from Domaine Berrien Cellars returning to the podcast to share a few of her library wines. Listen in as we taste recent…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 36: Kacey Wierzba and Maddie Vint, Shady Lane Cellars
Kacey Wierzba and Maddie Vint are my guests today from Shady Lane Cellars located in the Leelanau Peninsula near Traverse City, Michigan. Listen in as the two…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 35: Fermenting Red, White, Rose', and Orange Wines
Jayme and I discuss the four types of winemaking – and in particular, the fermentation process – for red, white, rose’ and orange wines. We also share some of…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 34: Maxx Eichberg of Stranger Wine Co.
Maxx Eichberg of Stranger Wine Company is my guest today. Maxx and his partner Sidney purchased the vineyard from James Lester – known as the Avonlea vineyard…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 33: Three Michigan Chardonnays
Jayme and I are tasting three amazing Michigan Chardonnays. We have one each from Ciccone, Chateau Chantal and White Pine – each representing the three main…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 32: Brent Kroll of Maxwell Park Wine Bar
Welcome to podcast #32. Brent Kroll is my special guest today. Brent is the Founder and Sommelier of Maxwell Park Wine Bar in Washington DC. With strong…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 31: A Further Look at AVAs
Today Jayme and I share our opinions about four sub-AVAs of the Lake Michigan Shore, and we highlight a few other Midwest AVAs. Pop open a bottle of Michigan…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 30: Charlie Edson of Bel Lago
Charlie Edson is the founder of Bel Lago Winery in the Leelanau Peninsula AVA. He started planting vineyards in the late 1980s and opened the tasting room in…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 29: Blind Tasting of Three Pinot Gris/Grigio
Jayme and I are conducting a blind tasting of three Pinot Gris, or Pinot Grigio. Those three come from Pasqua in Italy, Elk Cove in Oregon and Dablon, here in…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 28: Rudy Shafer of Dablon
In episode #6 I interviewed Bill Schopf, the owner of Dablon, a beautiful winery and tasting room perched on a hill overlooking acres of vineyards. Today Rudy…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 27: Other Michigan Grape Varieties
Today we close out the series about Michigan grapes. Jayme and I talk about the important place the Concord has in our history. We also discuss other juice…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 26: Lemon Creek Winery
Lemon Creek Winery celebrates 40 years of business this year. Listen in as Kait Lemon and Jerardo Bocanegra talk about everything from nearly two centuries of…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 25: Three Red Blends from the Lake Michigan Shore
Today Jayme and I are tasting three red blends from the Lake Michigan Shore – all from the Baroda region. We have Big Chill Red from Chill Hill, Vineyard Red…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 24: Dave Miller of White Pine Winery
Dave Miller and his wife Sandy own and operate White Pine Winery with their tasting room located in downtown St. Joseph Michigan. Dave is one of our veterans…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 23: The Grape Varieties Found in the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula AVAs
Jayme and I continue our conversation about grape varieties and today focus on those most commonly found in the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 22: Gunnar Olson of Baroda Founders
Gunnar Olson is the owner and winemaker at Baroda Founders Winecellar. Join us as we talk about all the things going on at Baroda Founders, and as we take a…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 21: Three Lake Michigan Shore Cabernet Sauvignons
Today Jayme and I are tasting three Cabernet Sauvignons, one each from Domaine Berrien, Fenn Valley and Lemon Creek. https://www.domaineberrien.com/…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 20: Lauren Kniebes of Lazy Ballerina Winery
Lauren Kniebes is one of the owners of Lazy Ballerina Winery located in beautiful downtown St. Joseph Michigan, at 321 State Street. Lauren and her partner…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 19: The Grapes of the Lake Michigan Shore
Happy Thanksgiving! This week Jayme and I discuss the grape varieties found in the Lake Michigan Shore AVA (American Viticultural Area). We discuss juice…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 18: Amy Birk, Domaine Berrien Cellars
Amy Birk is the operations director and co-winemaker at Domaine Berrien Cellars, arguably one of the best fine wine producers in the Baroda area. Amy and her…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 17: Three Michigan Cabernet Francs
Join Jayme and me as we taste three Michigan Cabernet Francs. The three wineries represented are Baroda Founders (www.founderswinecellar.com), Dablon…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 16: John Braganini of St. Julian
This week John Braganini is my guest. John is the Chairman of the St. Julian Wine Company in Paw Paw, Michigan - the oldest and largest winery in Michigan.
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 15: The Grapes of Michigan
Jayme and I discuss the numerous varieties of grapes that earn a spot in Michigan's horticultural and winemaking history.
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 14: Andrew Backlin of Modales Wines
This week I am joined by Andrew Backlin, winemaker at Modales Wines in Fennville, Michigan. Andrew is doing great things showing the kinds of outstanding wines…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 13: Three Michigan Rieslings
Join Jayme and me as we taste three Michigan Rieslings.
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 12: Chalet Sturgeon of Local Pour, A Tasting Room with a Twist
This week Chalet Sturgeon joins me to discuss her new venture, Local Pour, located in Sawyer, Michigan. Local Pour opened in June, 2021, and offers an…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 11: Michigan Wine History
Jayme and I talk about the fascinating history of wine in Michigan with a focus on the Lake Michigan Shore.
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 10: Joe Herman discusses regenerative agriculture
This week I have a conversation with Joe Herman of Karma Vista about regenerative agriculture and how grape growers can become more environmentally responsible.
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 9: Blind Tasting Three Sauvignon Blancs
This week Jayme and I are conducting a blind tasting of three Sauvignon Blancs. They are in order from Michigan, California and France, but we don’t know that…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 8: Glen Greiffendorf of 12 Corners
This week I talk with Glen Greiffendorf of 12 Corners. Glen is responsible for both vineyard and winery operations, and is a veteran southwest Michigan grape…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 7: Michigan's American Viticultural Areas
Jayme and I discuss the AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) of Michigan and some of what they have to offer.
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 6: Bill Schopf of Dablon Vineyards and Winery
This week I interview Bill Schopf of Dablon Vineyards and Winery. Dablon is one of our newer wineries in the Lake Michigan Shore, having opened in 2015.
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 5: Three Lake Michigan Shore Pinot Noir Wines
Join Jayme and me today as we sample three Pinot Noirs from the Lake Michigan Shore.
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 4: Analisa Leppanen of Golden Muse Winery
Golden Muse Winery is Baroda's newest winery and tasting room, having opened in late 2022. Please listen in to an interview with co-owner and winemaker Analisa…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 3: The Lake Michigan Shore AVA
This week Jayme and I discuss the Lake Michigan Shore AVA. AVA stands for American Viticultural Area. Listen today as we talk about all the great things this…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 2: Michael Moyer of Lake Michigan College
Lake Michigan College opened the Midwest's first viticulture and wine making teaching winery in 2015. Listen to this interview with Michael Moyer, the director…
If Vines Could TalkEpisode 1: Introducing If Vines Could Talk
Welcome to If Vines Could Talk, a podcast series dedicated to increasing the prestige of Michigan wines. In this episode we introduce ourselves; your host…