Wines of the Pacific Northwest featuring Samantha Cole-Johnson
Oregon Pinot, Washington Syrah, and… heavy metal? Believe it or not, all three fit right into this episode’s deep dive into the Pacific Northwest, one of the world’s most exciting (and misunderstood) wine regions.Fresh off a National Geographic wine cruise through the Columbia and Snake Rivers, host Amanda McCrossin is joined by journalist, educator, and senior editor at JancisRobinson.com Samantha Cole-Johnson. In this enlightening (and, of course, unfiltered) conversation, Amanda and Sam get into Washington’s red-hot Rocks District, where to eat and drink in Portland, and—HOT TAKE ALERT—why Oregon might actually be best suited to white wines. Whether you’re Pinot-obsessed, Syrah-curious, or just wondering what to do on your next trip to the PNW wine country, this one’s for you
2023 Tior Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
📢 Links & Mentions
Follow Samantha Cole-Johnson on InstagramFor updates on her wine reviews, blind tasting series, and more.👉 @samanthacolejohnson
Read Samantha’s work on JancisRobinson.comCheck out her writing and the “Wine News in Five” feature.👉 📰 Wine News in Five – read on JancisRobinson.com
👉🎧 Wine News in Five -- listen to the Podcast
Nat Geo x Lindblad Columbia & Snake Rivers CruiseThe wine-adventure cruise Amanda went on.👉 Columbia & Snake Rivers Journey
Kann Restaurant (Portland)Amanda’s top meal of 2024.👉 Kann Portland
Coquine RestaurantHighly praised spot in Portland mentioned by Samantha.👉 Coquine Portland
Bar Casa ValeFor Spanish wine and Sherry in Portland.👉 Bar Casa Vale
St. Jack & Lovely’s Fifty FiftyFavorite neighborhood spots also mentioned in the episode.👉 St. Jack | Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
Blood of Gods Wine x Metal Festival (Walla Walla)Yes, it’s real—and Samantha is speaking at it.👉 Blood of Gods
🛳️ Travel & Wine Adventure:🍴 Food & Wine in Portland:
Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda
Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year
$120 + tax
Shipping Included
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10% off all Wine Access purchases
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IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
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Host: Amanda McCrossin
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48:40
Bonus Episode: From Dom Pérignon to Daiginjo — a Sake-Fueled Reinvention featuring Richard Geoffroy
What happens when one of the most legendary Champagne minds on the planet leaves a Champagne icon… to make sake? In this special bonus episode, Amanda sits down with Richard Geoffroy, former Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon, to discuss his newest—and to many, extremely unexpected—venture: IWA 5, a cutting-edge Junmai Daiginjo sake born in Japan’s Toyama Prefecture.Recorded in NYC during a rare stateside visit, this conversation with Richard explores his bold leap from the structured tradition of Champagne to the boundless creative freedom of sake brewing. From the moment he first encountered a transformative Kyoto sake in 2000 to the experimental, terroir-redefining blending process behind IWA, Richard opens up about creativity, culture, and why sake might be the most versatile beverage on the planet. Plus, sake expert Eduardo Dingler joins the conversation to help unpack the world of premium sake—so whether you’re merely sake-curious or a seasoned enthusiast, you should consider this rare glimpse into the world of top-level to be a must-listen!
📺 Watch the episode in full on YouTube
🍷 Wine Featured On This Episode:
NV IWA 5 Assemblage 5 Junmai Daiginjo Toyama
**Note, this is not a wine club wine
👉 Explore IWA Sake
Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda
Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year
$120 + tax
Shipping Included
Cancel anytime
10% off all Wine Access purchases
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
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52:42
How to Wine and Dine like a Bon Vivant featuring Steve Hoffman
Midwestern tax-preparer Steve Hoffman moved his family to the South of France to live out his dream of being a French-speaking bon vivant. But when life abroad fell far short of his expectations, he found himself at a loss for what to do—until his vigneron neighbor started him on a new and uncharted path.
Steve swapped his spreadsheets for soupe à l’oignon, and his outstanding memoir A Season For That—which NYT Wine Critic Eric Asimov called one of the best wine books of 2024—recounts his transformative experience with humor and heart. In his conversation with host Amanda McCrossin, Steve touches upon the magic of shared meals and the importance of “terroir” in both food and life—plus how to cultivate a “bon vivant” attitude, even if you can’t move to France!
🍷 Wine Featured On This Episode:
2022 Clos Venturi 1769 Corsica
Links & Mentions
Learn more about Steve here
Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda
Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year
$120 + tax
Shipping Included
Cancel anytime
10% off all Wine Access purchases
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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55:20
From Boone's Farm to Burgundy: Palate Evolution, Wine Cringe, and the Magic of Discovery featuring Vanessa Conlin MW
How does a wine lover who started at the bottom shelf end up with a fine-tuned taste for fine wine? Master of Wine (and former Unfiltered Co-Host) Vanessa Conlin joins us for a candid conversation about how our palates evolve. We share our own cringe-worthy wine moments, debate the value of “flashy” vs. “ethereal” wines, and get real about why some expensive wines might fall flat for newer drinkers. You’ll also get pro tips on how to avoid getting stuck in a rut, plus an exclusive invitation to drink Napa wine with a bona fide celebrity!
🍷 Wine Featured On This Episode:
NV Maurice Grumier Jônt Special Edition Extra-Brut Champagne
Links & Mentions
From Ashes to Hope benefitting Save the Children
The Wine Independent
Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda
Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year
$120 + tax
Shipping Included
Cancel anytime
10% off all Wine Access purchases
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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55:00
A Love Letter to California Wine: Exploring Terroir featuring Winemaker Helen Keplinger
Helen Keplinger is one of the most sought-after winemakers in Napa Valley, but she’s taking a break to take us on a California road trip with her Vermillion wine. Vermillion, sourced from the high-elevation Sierra Foothills to the sea-sprayed vineyards of Santa Barbara, captures the diverse terroirs that make this state so special, and we pop a bottle with Helen to identify how each component plays a unique role. She fills us in on why one of her secret, prized grape sources is like Wagyu beef and why Paso Robles might just be the most exciting region in wine. Plus, we reveal the one “can’t miss” event in Napa Valley that Helen’s been attending for over a decade—and how you can get in on the action as well!
📺 Watch the episode in full on YouTube
🍷 Wine Featured On This Episode:
2022 Vermillion Red Wine
Links & Mentions
Wineapawlooza benefitting Jameson Humane
Guide to Santa Barbara
Guide to Napa Valley
Guide to Paso Robles
Restaurants/Bars in Paso Robles
Les Petits Canailles (LPC)
In Bloom
Finca
Etto Pasta Bar
The Alchemists' Garden
Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda
Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year
$120 + tax
Shipping Included
Cancel anytime
10% off all Wine Access purchases
Follow us on social!
IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wine Access Unfiltered—The Official Podcast and Wine Club of Wine Access—goes deep into what we really love about wine: the intimate moments, unforgettable occasions, and hilarious stories that a great bottle brings about. Hosted by former PRESS wine director and Napa Valley insider Amanda McCrossin with appearances from our team of unrivaled experts, we’re popping our favorite bottles and sharing them with you.
The Wine Access Unfiltered Wine Club delivers a completely new wine education experience. Once every two months, you’ll receive four bottles. They will all be featured and discussed on the Wine Access Unfiltered podcast. That way, you can drink along with us as we tell stories, share knowledge, and answer your questions!