Sip & Grow The Podcast
by Nicole Di Pasquale
Welcome to Sip & Grow the Podcast, where we have unfiltered conversations with host Nicole Di Pasquale while exploring and tasting different types of wines from around the world. Join us as we embark on a journey of learning how to understand each of the wines unique flavors while discussing our experiences, struggles, life, entrepreneurship and more!Welcome! My name is Nicole and I created this podcast in hopes of inspiring you to learn and grow with me through the world of awesome wines. If you are just getting into wines or are a seasoned expert, this is a safe space for all. I really just want to create a simple and easy way for you to learn all about wines while trying to encourage you to follow what you are truly passionate about. This is a podcast for knowledge, growth, motivation, support and, most importantly, enjoying ourselves in the process.Please note that Sip & Grow the Podcast is intended for mature audiences of legal drinking age in their respective countries. Our
Episodes
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Pinot Noir from Quebec
My friend Dakota gifted me a Pinot Noir she found during her trip in Quebec… let's try it! Leon Courville, was a wine enthusiast and decided to buy land when he retired in 1999 and converted it to a vineyard. Although he passed away in 2023, the winery still runs to this day honoring his legacy....
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Solomon Hills Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is near and dear to my heart and one of the most difficult grapes to cultivate. She's a feisty grape but when done correctly makes beautiful wine. I came across Optik vineyards through my job and loved their wine. The Miller family is a multi-generational farming family that has owned...
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Torrontes from Uruguay
My friend brought me back some wine from Uruguay… let's try it! Pisano wines is fourth generation owned and currently being run by three brothers. This family has been making wine since the 1900s and they have always had a passion for winemaking. They LOVE what they do. If you want more details…
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Old Vines, High Altitudes
Found this Spanish wine to try at Plum Market and was sold once they told me it was old vines, high altitude. Cesar Mate, the winemaker, originally planned on just growing grapes on the land and selling them but when they made their first vintage in 2008 (3,000 bottles) he was like "hold up, we...
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World Cup talk with some Vermentino
Vermentino is a well known white grape varietal in Italy and is very important in Tuscany and Sardinia. Today I open up a delicious Vermentino from Sardinia. Think Mediterranean vibes with some tropical notes and zesty-ness coming through. Located in the southwestern corner of Sardinia, Cantina...
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"Iconic" Red Blend
This was a cool find from Mendoza, Argentina. Las Susanas are dedicated to making high quality, sustainable wines that align with their values while always striving for improvement. High Altitude wines from the Uco valley are one of my fave and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try a new one....
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White wine from Campagna
Pallagrello Bianco is an indigenous white grape varietal to Campagna. It has been around since the 1700s and is linked to important historical figures and events over the centuries. Fun fact, it was King Ferdinand's favorite grape. When the phylloxera spread happened around the 1860s nearly…
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Celebrating your success + Ripasso
Ripasso, aka "baby Amarone", is probably one of my favorite go to's when it comes to Valpolicella wine. It is produced in Valpolicella located in Veneto, Italy. Bertani has been around since the 1800s and today's ripasso consist of 70% Corvina Veronese, 20% Corvinone and 10% Rondinella. This one...
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Zesty white for the summer
New Zealand is known for it's intense, zesty, fruit forward wines. Marlborough is the go to place for sauvignon blanc. This area is known for having lots of sunshine, cool breezes and stoney river valleys which ultimately aid in bringing vibrant acidity and distinct tropical and herbal notes in…
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Santo Diablo Wine Co.
Who loves themselves an unfiltered wine made with minimal intervention? … Yes please! Junio Vargas Ojeda, winemaker and brand owner of Santo Diablo, reached out to me to try out his wine. He launched his brand in 2025 and this bottle is officially his first batch out in the market. It's a red…
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"Rare Bird" Grenache
South of France is always a good idea… We have 100% Grenache from the south of France and what I love about this producer is that they are organic and incorporate biodynamic practices. Biodynamic farming goes beyond organic farming and focuses on vineyard ecology, natural cycles and soil health.…
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Two brothers, one project
Pablo & Hector Durigutti purchased 5 hectares of old vine Malbec vineyards in Las Compuertas, Mendoza. They came up with a project called "Proyecto Las Compuertas". With this project they aim to support local growers who proudly maintain the vineyards and traditional practices of the historic...
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Sicilian White Wine
We get into the south of Italy today with a beautiful white blend of native grapes to the area. Tenuta Delle Terre Nere is exposed to the northern slope of Mount Etna. This blend consists of 70% Carricante, 20% Catarratto, 5% Grecanico and 5% Inzolia. I also dive into the power of doing things…
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South American Pinot Noir
Two friends worked together for 25 years at Bodega Catena Zapata and decided to open up their own winery. Manos Negras was created by Alejandro Sejanovich, a viticulturist (one of the most knowledgeable experts on the terroir of South America) and Jeff Mausbach (an American born sommelier). Their...
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Life update with some Verdicchio
Moved into a new space, got a puppy and had a crazy high season during the holidays… it's good to be back and I definitely needed a glass of wine and chat with you guys asap. Today we drink 100% verdicchio white wine from Marche, Italy. I dive into my experience with filming my EP with Shawn...
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Elevyn Cellars with Shawn Valbrun
Today I am joined by Shawn Valbrun who came down from Brooklyn, New York. We met about a year ago at a wine event and ever since then have stayed connected. He is currently launching his wine brand this year called Elevyn Cellars. I decided to bring Shawn to one of my recent favorite greek...
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Georgian Winemaking Style
Saperavi is one of the oldest varietals and most important in Georgia's commercial winemaking industry. This grape tends to produce big, rich wines with a dense tannic structure. This specific producer uses an old Georgian winemaking technique called Qvevri. Qvevri is a large, ceramic egg-shaped...
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Croatian Wines
Malvasja Istrijana is a native grape to Istria, Croatia located in the northwestern part of the Istrian peninsula bordering Italy and Slovenia. As we all know, wine is a product of the soil they come from and this area is known for it's mediterranean style climate aiding the grapes to produce a...
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Coravin + Spanish blend
I bought a wine preservation system… aka a Coravin. The Coravin system basically pours the wine out of a bottle without removing the cork and ultimately keeps the wine fresh in the bottle. Today I showcase this new tool I bought on a fabulous red blend from southeastern Spain. Juan Gil has become...
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Picpoul de Pinet
Fresh, dry white wine from the South of France has now become one of my favorites. In the Languedoc region there is a native grape called Picpoul that has been around since before the reign of Louis XIV. In this area, the terroir is made of Limestone, right by the mediterranean sea, which will...
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Red Blend from Argentina
Mosquita Muerta Wines have been around since 2009. I remember first trying them in Buenos Aires when visiting my family and honestly have loved every wine I have tried from them. After trying the wine in Argentina, I saw they started importing their wines to the US. This winery hand harvests…
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Vintage wine vs. Reserve wine
Extra Brut sparkling wine from Northern Italy… yes please! I tried this wine about a month ago and fell in love. Franciacorta is a sparkling wine from the Italian province of Brescia located in Lombardy which is a certified DOCG area. It is produced using the traditional method and is made up of...
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Orange Wine from Sardinia
Orange wine from Sardinia made with three different grapes… need I say more? Not only did this cool label design on the bottle hook me in to buying it but also when I heard Cannonau (Grenache) was one of the three grapes involved, I had to get it. This blend consists of Vermentino, Cannonau &...
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Maremma Tuscany
Maremma is located in the southern part of Tuscany. This area is where the famous Sassicaia is produced. It's safe to say this is a great alternative that won't cost you an arm and a leg and can be easily accessible for everyday drinking. Muralia, today's producer, practices organic farming and…
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Mountain Juice
Nosiola is a white grape varietal native to the region Trentino and derived it's name from the Italian term for hazelnut (nocciola) due to it's natural flavor profile. Founded by two friends in 1975, Mario Pojer and Fiorentino Sandri set out to protect and revive the local grapes of the area and...
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Garganega Grape
"I admire wine, I respect it and try to bring out what is already written in the soil it is born and grows in." This is the perspective that the grandfather of Graziano Pra passed down from generations to him and his father. I just love that they are all about how great wine reflects the land it...
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EPISODE 100
We made it to the hundredth episode!!! Overall, super grateful to continue to bring you all these episodes and excited to see the podcast continuously grow. I am just out here having fun, tasting delicious wines and bringing you the knowledge I learn on a daily basis when it comes to the industry...
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Granacha under $10
Spanish wine under $10… another Trader Joe's find. I want to make it a point to bring on different wines at different price points and also find the perfect day to day wine that won't break your bank. Today's wine is from a town in Aragon, Spain called Calatayud. This wine region is known for big...
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Pinot Noir from Oregon
Willamette Valley, Oregon is well known for producing Pinot Noir in Oregon. I am very particular about my Pinot Noirs, as you may know, so this one will be judged harshly. As I open up this Pinot Noir from Oregon I get into my fairly new transition into a new company. I am doing the same thing…
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Cabernet Franc from Mendoza
Antigal Winery & Estates is one of the oldest wineries in Mendoza, Argentina. One of their most well known bottles is the UNO Malbec. Today, I open up their 2019 Aduentus Cabernet Franc to give a try. I give you all the details on this wine while getting into the importance of being present and…
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One bottle, eleven grapes
Skin contact wine made from 11 different grapes… yes please! I found this wine at trader joe's for $12 and had to try it out. This is made up of 34% Chenin Blanc, 18% Pinot Gris, 12% Colombard, 9% Xarello, 8% Verdelho, 6% Vermentino, 3% Gewurtztraminer, 3% Semillon, 3% Trousseau Gris, 2% Riesling...
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Central Maipo Cabernet
Maipo Valley in Chile is considered the "Bordeaux" of South America. Within the Maipo valley there are three sub regions known as Alto Maipo, Central Maipo and Pacific Maipo. I get into detail about each of the sub regions and the wine we open up today is actually from the Central Maipo area…
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Summer Time Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio from Veneto, Italy located in the Alto Adige region. This particular family has been growing vines in the Northeast of Italy since 1607. Their philosophy is to respect nature, grapes, territories and people living in them. I love that they are all about sustainable practices and...
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Different perspectives, same results ft. a red blend
Pinot Noir - Malbec blend…. Let's try it out! In my Graziano's market quest, I came across this red blend and was immediately intrigued. This producer is known for high altitude wines and I love the story behind how this label was created. Five friends that love wine basically created Gen del…
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Appassimento Technique
I came across a red blend from Argentina that uses the appassimento technique. The most known wine for using this method is Amarone (from Italy) but this is the first time I try this style wine from another country. Today's blend is made up of 45% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Bonarda and…
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Land of Wine
Southern Italian wines have never disappointed me and today I open one up from Calabria. This grape is called Greco and is known for it's rich, velvety texture and aromatic bouquet. Apparently, this grape descended from greek settlers. They brought their vines and winemaking skills to this area…
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Gewurztraminer
Have you ever tried a Gewürztraminer? It's a medium bodied dry (with a sweet bouquet) white wine from the northeastern part of France. Alsace, France is known for having the best environment for this grape varietal along with the Alto Adige region in Italy. Today I open a producer that has been...
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Rare Italian Grape Varietal & Failing Faster with Dakota Wallace
I saved this episode for a rainy day and funny enough it's been raining a lot this past week. This is part two of when I was in Lincoln, New Hampshire with my good friend Dakota Wallace. We opened up an Italian wine made primarily with the Ruche grape varietal (this trip was the first time I had...
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Pouring his own path: Joe Wagner
Sonoma county Pinot Noir… one of the best places for this grape. I talk about Joe Wagner, a very well known 5th generation winemaker in California. Joe comes from the Caymus family (vineyard founded in 1972), a very well know wine label in Napa and the United States. He grew up around vineyards…
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What is orange wine?
Have you ever been to a restaurant and seen a section for orange wine on the wine list and wondered what is that? Is it made from oranges? How does it taste? Well hate to break it to you, it's not made from oranges but it definitely has a unique taste. Orange wine, in simple terms, is a type of...
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Paso Robles Cab
Jim and Bob Varner, founders of Foxglove, are devoted to the production of low intervention wines in Santa Barbara and Paso Robles. Today's Cab is from the Paso Robles area in California coming in hot at a great price point (for California Cab LOL). Remember, low intervention winemaking means...
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Friulano - Indigenous Italian Grape
Today I try an indigenous grape from Italy called Friulano. It is most similar to a Sauvignon Blanc but tends to be more full bodied and has less acidity than a Sauvignon Blanc. The Terlato family is very well know in the industry and I go over their history and growth which has ultimately led…
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Unlocking life levels + Random Wine
Random find at a bakery leads to either a great wine or a not so great wine LOL. Today we open up a random Malbec I came across at Milanos Bakery. This one is specifically from a micro-region called Agrelo located at the foot of the Andes in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza Argentina. As I open up this...
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Non-Alcoholic Wine
What is non-alcoholic wine (NA) or alcohol free wine? In this new episode, I open up an alcohol free French sparkling wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes and explain what it actually means when you drink a NA wine. You may think this is just sparkling grape juice but I assure you it's not. It...
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High Standards & Evolution + High Altitude Malbec @ $9
Another Trader Joe's find… we love that. This Malbec cost me $8.99 and I had to pick it up to see if it was worth the price point. I love the fact that this producer hand harvests their grapes and is grown in the sub region called Gualtallary which is the high altitude wine region in Tupungato on...
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Stop & Smell the Roses... and this Red Blend
Today I get into story time of getting a nail in my tire while I open up a wine from Avaline. Avaline was founded by Cameron Diaz and Kathrine Power and they basically source out wine growers and winemakers around the world that stick to the natural process of winemaking and practice sustainable...
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Napa Cab
Fun find today, $26 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley is small in size compared to other regions but has diverse offerings when it comes to wines. There are a total of 16 AVA's (American Viticultural Areas) / sub-appellations in the valley. Each of these AVA's are important, allowing…
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Full Circle Moment with a White Pinot Noir
THE TIME HAS COME. I finally get to try a wine from the harvest I worked back in 2023!! My team at Emeritus Vineyards sent over six different bottles from the 2023 vintage and today I open up the Halberg Blanc. Emeritus Vineyards is a winery located in Sebastopol, California where they produce...
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"Baby Amarone"
WE FOUND A RIPASSO FOR $12… THIS IS NOT A DRILL. As part of a well known historic Veronese winery, Pasqua wines was looking to acquire more vineyards and increase their investments. Cecilia Beretta estate was founded in the 1980's in the wine village of Valpolicella. Ripasso is known as "baby...
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Trader Joe's Barolo
$15 dollar Barolo… I had to give it a try. Known as the king of wines or the wine of kings, Barolo comes from Piedmont (northern Italy) located in Langhe and is one of the most prestigious, age worthy and collectible wines. It's safe to say that Barolo is the "Burgundy" of Italy. Patience is the...
About this show
Welcome to Sip & Grow the Podcast, where we have unfiltered conversations with host Nicole Di Pasquale while exploring and tasting different types of wines from around the world. Join us as we embark on a journey of learning how to understand each of the wines unique flavors while discussing our experiences, struggles, life, entrepreneurship and more!Welcome! My name is Nicole and I created this podcast in hopes of inspiring you to learn and grow with me through the world of awesome wines. If you are just getting into wines or are a seasoned expert, this is a safe space for all. I really just want to create a simple and easy way for you to learn all about wines while trying to encourage you to follow what you are truly passionate about. This is a podcast for knowledge, growth, motivation, support and, most importantly, enjoying ourselves in the process.Please note that Sip & Grow the Podcast is intended for mature audiences of legal drinking age in their respective countries. Our
Hosted by
Nicole Di Pasquale
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