Last summer, one of our UGA Winegrower Interns asked me for some podcast recommendations to listen to while she was leaf pulling. I hate to say that I haven’t listened to too many, but I encouraged her to try out a bunch and let me know what she thought about them! Amelia Lyons just started her senior year at UGA and her interest in viticulture has continued! You may recognize her from the recent article celebrating the UGA internship (https://stories.uga.edu/viticulture-uga), then she aced my senior-level class on vineyard production and management this past spring, and has now worked directly with three different wine producers in GA. Recently, we were talking about podcasts again, so I asked her to write up something to share with you all on the blog about her thoughts on all the podcasts she’s been listening to over the last many months. If you’re interested in trying out a new podcast, see Amelia’s thoughts on some of them below!
Getting into Podcasts by Amelia Lyons:
- Vineyard Underground Podcast hosted by Fritz Westover
Vineyard Underground is highly educational in all aspects of vineyard management. It is hosted by Fritz Westover, a renowned vineyard consultant. Fritz interviews professionals from the field in this research based, lighthearted channel. I particularly enjoy this podcast because it walks the listener through each season and its requirements for management in the vineyard. Not only does it cover vital practices, but it also tackles complex challenges within specific growing areas. I think that if a listener knew absolutely nothing about growing or maintaining a vineyard, they’d have the knowledge to get them started after listening. Fritz does a great job with covering all aspects of grape growing. I appreciate that he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balanced, well cared for vineyard where his focus is less on the wine and more on the health of the vines. Any listener can expect episodes to cover practices such as shoot thinning, pruning, disease and pest management, leaf removal, hedging, and irrigation. He emphasizes the need to ensure the wellbeing of the root systems as well as soil health. Additionally, he addresses issues growers run across and talks through solutions. He has such a deep understanding of techniques and philosophies in the vineyard and that allows him to positively help with a wide variety of challenges presented in growing. As someone fresh to the industry, I find his podcasts engaging and informative. I am drawn to this channel simply for the access he provides to research developments. He discusses trends within the industry with products used in the vineyard and even proposes alternatives to common practices. I think that this is a great listen for anyone who has a desire to stay up to date with current research encompassing the vineyard from A-Z. It serves a dual purpose: to educate and entertain- which Fritz executes very well. I can’t express enough how much I have learned from just taking the time to listen.
- Cork Talk hosted by NC Wine Guys
Cork Talk is a podcast hosted by Matt Kimberling and Joe Brock- better known as the NC Wine Guys. They spend their time developing interpersonal relationships with winery owners all over North Carolina. Their episodes are styled as meet and greets and are conversational pieces discussing the overall atmosphere of each winery. I really enjoy this podcast, for it is relative to the industry that has grown in Georgia. I’ve always appreciated the individuality and uniqueness of boutique wineries in the state and clung to the statement that no winery is the same as the last or the next. The same is true for North Carolina and these guys do a great job of shedding light on that. I am fond of listening to winery owners talk about their inspirations to start this adventure, what they have learned, and how they’ve overcome certain challenges we all know too well. I also appreciate listening to a diverse spread of philosophies in how they’re growing their industry (pun intended). The interviewees discuss some of their favorite estate wines and their styles as well as the different varieties they chose to grow and why. I found that many of the North Carolina wineries are growing the same varieties that I’ve had the pleasure of working with and the podcast offers some beneficial insight. They eventually started hosting professionals of the industry to break up the episodes.This offers bits of education specifically on how certain styles are made and degree programs/initiatives in the state along with the interviews of owners/staff. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy this podcast for its relaxed demeanor and its driving purpose. I fell in love with this industry for the sole reason that wine (for so many people) is a focal point of gathering and to make it is an art unique to each individual. These guys convey just how special it is- an attribute I find admirable in this form of media.
- Inside Winemaking hosted by Jim Duane
The Inside Winemaking Podcast, hosted by Jim Duane, highlights the intricacies of winemaking. The episodes along his channel are often centered around interviews from winemakers who have an integrated philosophy to winemaking. Although Jim is discussing and mostly hosting professionals based out of California, I enjoy this podcast because it examines a wide array of topics, introducing backgrounds from production regions around the world. Jim interviews viticulturists as well as winemakers and it’s been really enjoyable to listen to winemakers talk through vineyard challenges. I appreciate this perspective from the winemakers because I think it properly expresses the importance of the balance needed between the two, with lack of separation. Simply for the fact that for some reason, I keep hearing how rare (maybe not the best choice of words) it is that I have an interest in both the vineyard as well as winemaking. Yet, anything I have read or listened to stresses the importance of how those entities coexist. Typically, you have the vineyard, the wine cellar, and the tasting room/business. Having spent time in all three, I have come to recognize that the health of one is crucial to the health of the others. The head, the heart, and the soul – if you will. Each separate entity plays a vital role in the success of the business as a whole. What I love about this podcast is hearing people of the industry help support each other. It seems that they’re all one unit encouraged by overall growth and not deceived by ‘competition’. It is very humbling to get a taste of that from a well established industry and I look forward to further encountering that within Georgia as the network continues to grow. Afterall, who doesn’t love a sense of community? This podcast emphasizes how critical it is to take care of the vineyard as the wine will work itself. That is not said to debunk any winemakers- but to appreciate the accomplishment of a well structured wine that speaks to the environment in which it’s grown.
- HiRes Vineyard Nutrition Podcast | OSU Extension Service hosted by Dr. Patty Skinkis
HiRes Vineyard Nutrition is hosted by Viticulture Extension Specialist with Oregon State (University), Dr. Patty Skinkis. This podcast channel is one part of a federally funded grant to enhance research efforts of mineral nutrition in vineyards. The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) has a mission in funding research, providing solutions to some of the major challenges in grape growing as a whole. Being a national effort, it is not solely focused on small local regions. Upon the introduction of the channel, Skinkis hosts Dr. Russ Smithyman,chair of NGRA, to discuss some of the major goals of the initiative for the industry. Their conversation highlights the importance of the role of such organizations to the industry. The goal being to allow the advancement of technology and to well-establish the understanding of vineyard health for the benefit of all. For one, the concept of this is brilliant. I think that there is only so far you can go as an industry without the support of researchers. And research costs money. So having the proper resources to allow further development, is vital to the success of the industry- whether it is nationally focused or on a smaller scale. It is noted, though, that many of these organizations encourage the union of smaller regions and their industries in order to strengthen the impact of research projects and the outreach it provides: a concept represented as the gift that keeps on giving. ATTENTION GROWERS… food for thought: how many of you frequently rely on consultants? Published works of a University? Your county extension agent? Sarah Lowder, UGA Viticulture Extension Specialist? Additionally- how many of you have faced challenges within your county when you were going through the initial permit process upon opening your winery? Do you feel you have adequate representation within the state? What are your priorities within the GA Wine Producers Association and do they reflect these needs for more research? Be honest. And know that outreach within those confines can only be made widely available to you with funding and active support. And the know-how, with research. This channel specifically speaks on research findings. It is educational and progressive. There are episodes that break down the fundamentals of site health and integrate the importance of nitrogen on a microbiological level. It is devoted to the development of vineyard health, with growers in mind. It allows well informed decision making processes through economic benefits of certain mechanisms, products used in alignment with agricultural philosophies, as well as explaining the importance of tools used in gathering data. Dr. Skinkis incorporates the nitty gritty of processes carried out that make the research available from professionals in the field to educators and students of the profession. That itself, takes a much larger look at the industry and its needs. I appreciate the insight from this forum as it allows for a long-term look at the requirements needed to continue to tackle challenges in the vineyard. Additionally, it paves the way for individual production regions in regard to interdisciplinary education. As a student, I argue how important it is to take a big picture look at how the Georgia wine industry might work to ensure research opportunities are supported for our own local regions in the future. As an employee, I argue the importance of working as a whole to ensure needs are met and voices are heard when broaching the subject of funding and access to such resources. Georgia, as a wine region, is relatively young and rapidly growing. HiRes Vineyard Nutrition is a great example of the benefit of collective effort to a local industry that is as diverse and expeditious as Georgias. I appreciate the perspective of such an important aspect and have chosen to specifically share this podcast for the growers/owners who might also feel it important to have access to educational programs and adequate representation.
- The Wine 101 Podcast | VinePair hosted by VinePair
Hosted by VinePair, Wine 101 allows me to break up some of the podcasts focused more on the vineyard and listen in on all things wine. It does a great job of bringing me back to the basics in the process of winemaking. I tend to sometimes feel overwhelmed with the amount of information I consume in regard to the different microbiological processes happening during fermentation alone. Or overwhelmed by the plethora of different products made available to tailor a wine to one’s perception of perfection (as if that’s a thing). Although having such resources available is necessary, after a while of researching and reading, it all tends to wind me up a bit. That said, I enjoy being able to play a few episodes of Wine 101 and really get back to a seemingly simple process. The relationship between a wine maker and their wine is an intimate one, like a parent with their children. That said, sometimes I get lost in thought and it can feel like I am in the eye of a hurricane with bands whipping all things wine: barrels and vats, yeasts, clarifying agents, Bretts, pH, acid blends, brix, anthocyanins, TA, sulfites, nutrients, polysaccharides, enzymes, gasses, bottle shapes and purposes, corks vs. screw caps, etc. (whew)… SO I listen to Wine101 and take a huge step back for a moment and restart. For those of us in the wine world, this channel is packed with general information. Things we’ve heard of and worked with and done time and time again. It’s easy to talk about wine to those who know it up and down and in and out. But I often tend to lose people who aren’t familiar with the process after a certain point in conversation- as I can see the gears in their brains are trying to wrap around all of its intricacies. Wine 101 reminds me how to better speak to others about wine.This is important for me to recognize, specifically in the tasting room. I would recommend that anyone working a tasting room give this a listen. Not only does it talk about the basics of wine tasting, there’s a lot of information on wine tasting tips moving from the fundamentals of “look, smell, swirl, sip” to different characteristics to pick up on and why those aromas may be present in the structure of the wine. It is a great resource to, again, get back to the basics of analyzing wines- which I believe to be significant to the aspect of sales. In my experience, consumers tend to like to be told what they will enjoy and why (aside from market regulated favorites- because come on! We’re working with terroir and not against it). Any time I get the chance to guide a customer through a tasting and offer the chance for them to leave with a well rounded understanding of the wine they chose to purchase, I’ve done justice to everything it took to get it in that bottle. Additionally, it serves a second purpose- you’ve created a unique experience for the customer that further reflects the ambiance you’ve created within your business model. They will certainly be back. I believe that this channel can be enjoyed by anyone. It is relatable, easy listening, and fun.
To conclude, I feel it pertinent to reflect on how much these podcasts have offered growth in my knowledge, skillset, and experience in regard to this industry. Readers, you might have gathered that there was a different takeaway expressed from each channel. My goal in sharing these specific podcasts was not only to convey how beneficial they are as educational resources of different subsets, but also to bring them together in a way that encompasses the industry as a whole. I felt obliged to include these because they have collectively allowed me to articulate my own personal interests for development and the benefit of our industry, as well. As a first generation college student with a non-traditional background as a pupil, to say I am honored to have such opportunities for professional development by way of education is an understatement. I’ve had the pleasure of accessing resources from the University that have further driven my passion in what it means to be a part of this local industry. If it weren’t for Dr. Lowder’s course, I don’t know that I would have the capacity to appreciate how resilient we are in the lens of offering estate wines. Had I not been an intern, I may not have had the opportunity to experience the glory that is vineyard management hands-on. To add, I would not have had the chance of meeting some truly amazing people. Without the desire to learn more through these channels, I would have been deprived of every one of the outward perspectives offered through each podcast. I feel that they have genuinely given me so much to appreciate and to look forward to in continuing my career. I cannot express just how humbling it is to experience a network as special as the GA wine industry, especially now that I have a more rounded idea of how much work goes into its success. It is truly difficult to encapsulate how encouraging it is, as a student, to recognize the progression of this network without paying tribute to each individual entity of which it is composed of- the premise of this project for me. I would like to imagine that this, for the most part, covers those roles in our industry as Georgians. So, thank you for doing what you’ve been doing, are doing, and what you will do for our world. If nothing else, I hope these podcasts are something you can also enjoy simply for entertainment.
