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PODCAST · education

Up Your Wine Game!

by Todd Alexander

Todd Alexander, with over 3 decades in the world of food and wine, tastes, discusses, reviews, and otherwise helps wine drinkers increase their wine IQ, discover new wines, and find more ways to enjoy wine.

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Episodes

  1. Chardonnay: Italy Does It Too!

    Chardonnay is grown all over the world and when it comes for bang for the buck, Italy is at the top of the list. While white Burgundy rules the elegance roost, and California delivers fruit bombs, Italy offers some of the most affordable and drinkable chards on the market.

  2. Don't Call It A Comeback: Bolla Valpolicella

    Bolla Valpolicella helped put Italian wine on the map in the U.S. over 50 years ago. It's still here and as good as it ever was. Tasting the new release of their flagship Valpolicella Classico. A real winner for around $10.

  3. White Sangiovese? Yessir!

    99% of all made in Italy is red wine. But Trader Joe's is offering a $10 Sangiovese made as a white wine that is excellent. A perfect match for spicier Thai or Chinese cuisine, this little spinner makes a great substitute for Riesling.

  4. Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico

    If you are just getting into Chianti Classico, or need to revisit a classic, Antinori's Peppoli never lets you down. Antinori has been making Peppoli for around 40 years and it's always been the stellar lil' bro in the family's Chianti Classico line-up. Excellent bottle for around $30.

  5. Low Alc. Vino, No Bueno

    Italian wine imports continue to decline in the U.S. Low alcohol wine production is up in Italy, but it just doesn't taste good. Not buying. If people are drinking better, but less, the low thing is not the answer. Tasting a brilliant white from Trader Joe's.

  6. Introducing Todd Drinks Italian

    After nearly 40 years I'm going all in on Italian wine. Not that I won't ever speak about other wines again, but Italy just offers the variety that is unmatched in the wine world, but it still confuses most people. Let's put a stop to that.

  7. Nebbiolo: My Fave & LeBron Likes It Too!

    I taste two nebbiolos: one from Trader Joe's and the other is a cat-daddy nebbiolo from the Valtellina. Nino Negri makes powerful and seductive wines, while Trader Joe's delivers an under $10 excellent value that gives you a peek inside the nebbiolo tent at a fair price. See why LeBron James digs...

  8. Veuve Clicquot V. Kirkland Champagne

    I taste the most popular champagne in the USA, Veuve Clicquot, side by side with Kirkland for $20. My mind is made up!

  9. Before You Start A Wine Collection….

    I offer tips on steps to take before you invest time and money into putting together a wine collection.

  10. White Rioja: It's Not What You Think

    I taste Muga Rioja Blanco 2019 which is a beautiful wine but has nothing to do with the white Riojas of yesteryear. Old school white Rioja used to be oaked within an inch of its life. Now producers are cutting back on the use of oak and releasing beautifully structured and balanced wines that…

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  11. Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon: Let the Fruit Bombs Rain Down

    I taste two cabernet sauvignons, True Myth and Paso Dragon (a Trader Joe's exclusive) both from Paso Robles and compare and contrast them. Both excellent values but both having a fruit forward style that may not be for everyone. Paso Robles is known for a lot of things but restraint is not one of...

  12. Sparkling Rose': It's The Deal in Fizz

    I taste Lucien Albrecht Cremant Brut Rose', which for under $20 is a hell of a bottle of sparkling rose'. I also talk about why you should seek out sparkling rose' as they provide a lot of bubbly for the buck.

  13. Bread & Butter: The Most Popular Pinot Noir in the Land

    I taste Bread and Butter pinot noir, which is the fastest growing pinot noir brand in the United States. Honestly it's not my style of pinot noir but I try and understand why it's so flipping popular.

  14. PSA- Chablis is chardonnay! You're Welcome!

    For all of you who love Chablis but don't like chardonnay, I have a message for you!

  15. Trader Joe’s Strikes Again at $4

    Grifone Bianco is a hell of a value if you’re looking for that crisp, balanced, cocktail party white wine. And it happens to be organic!

  16. PSA-Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc!

    For all of you who love Sancerre but don't like sauvignon blanc I have a message for you!

  17. Two Amazing Portuguese Reds from Trader Joe's

    Todd Alexander tastes two Portuguese reds, both under $10 a bottle at Trader Joe's, and invites you to try them.

  18. The Basics of Food and Wine Pairing

    Todd Alexander takes you through the basics of food and wine pairing!

  19. Why You Buy The Wine You Do!

    Todd Alexander covers the basics of why you buy the wine you do!

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Todd Alexander, with over 3 decades in the world of food and wine, tastes, discusses, reviews, and otherwise helps wine drinkers increase their wine IQ, discover new wines, and find more ways to enjoy wine.

HOSTED BY

Todd Alexander

CATEGORIES

education

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Up Your Wine Game! have?

Up Your Wine Game! currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Up Your Wine Game! about?

Todd Alexander, with over 3 decades in the world of food and wine, tastes, discusses, reviews, and otherwise helps wine drinkers increase their wine IQ, discover new wines, and find more ways to enjoy wine.

How often does Up Your Wine Game! release new episodes?

Up Your Wine Game! has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Up Your Wine Game!?

You can listen to Up Your Wine Game! on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Up Your Wine Game!?

Up Your Wine Game! is created and hosted by Todd Alexander.
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