Laura Levy Shatkin

Thank you for selecting Wine Talks on your journey to learning about wine. We know that the most effective learning and appreciation comes through interactions. Rather than craft a book of written words on wine, of which there are many, we educate you through live conversations. We discuss wine from many angles so you’ll walk away with a solid grasp on how it’s made and how to buy it, all the way to how to taste for maximum enjoyment. We break wine down by regions across the globe, from the New World to the Old World, with a point of reference in France, where most grapes have their humble beginnings.

With the help of a few experts along the way, I talk with winemakers Blair & Caroline Guthrie about trendy wines that the restaurant Sommelier’s favor from offbeat regions to explaining why Napa Valley, one of the smallest regions in the world, continues to spawn cult wines that collectors can’t get enough of. We help you understand the primary flavors of each popular grape varietal and how they express so differently in various parts of the world. It’s what makes wine so much fun: there’s always something new to try.

We also chat about the important aspects of serving wine, along with stemware, handling and storing for aging or just for tomorrow. We discuss the styles of wine, distinguishing by body and flavor, not just by color white or red, and the fundamentals of food and wine pairing. Finally, we invite you to our dinner party where you can sit back and listen to how and why certain wine styles work with particular food styles. It’s a guideline that will help you find the wines you like with foods you eat regularly. We then encourage you to have a similar party and your own group discussion to discover what you like best. Then please send in your newfound wine and food pairings to us. We’d love your feedback.

Our addendum is full of wine tastings with the pros recast from Podcast SommTalks.com. These put some of the lessons you’ve learned in Wine Talks into full action. You’re only 23 conversations away from being a wine connoisseur. Cheers and grab a glass!

Laura Levy Shatkins

Wine Talks: 23 Conversations to Becoming a Wine Connoisseur

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