Sip & Grow The Podcast

Nicole Di Pasquale
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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 discussions revolve around the art and science of wine tasting, the cultural significance of wine, and the appreciation of its craftsmanship. As a responsible host, Nicole would like to emphasize that she does not condone or promote underage drinking. This podcast is based in the United States where the legal drinking age is 21. She strongly encourages all listeners to adhere to their local laws and regulations regarding alcohol consumption. Whether you're a seasoned wine connoisseur or simply curious about the world of wines, Sip & Grow the Podcast is the perfect companion for your sensory exploration. So grab a glass, savor the aromas, and join us on this insightful and delicious adventure! The content provided in Sip & Grow the Podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the wine industry is constantly evolving, and individual experiences may vary. We recommend consulting certified wine experts or professionals for specific inquiries or concerns. By listening to Sip & Grow the Podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers of this podcast shall not be held liable for any actions, decisions, or consequences resulting from the use or interpretation of the information provided. Drink responsibly, be mindful of your limits, and always prioritize your health and well-being. Sip & Grow the Podcast is a production of Serene Illumination LLC. For more information and updates, visit our stan store at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale or our socials @sipandgrowpodcast.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    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 blend made up of 42% Syrah, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 2% Cinsaut.    Junio has been in the industry for 15 years and has learned everything from his dad and brother who also have worked in the industry most of their life. The grapes used to make their wines are all sourced from Paso Robles. His brand is inspired by a saying from his grandmother: "Ni tanto que queme al Santo ni tanto que no lo alumbre" which translates to " Don't be so harsh that people shy away from you, nor so kind that you become vulnerable to exploitation. Seek a balanced approach."  This philosophy is reflected not only in his winemaking but also in life.   Tune in now to get the full details on this wine, the taste profile and where you can get yourself a bottle to try.   Cheers!   1:30 - Launched wine brand in 2025 3:10 - Be proud of who you are & where you came from 3:30 - Where did the inspiration for Santo Diablo come from 4:30 - Junio learned everything from his dad & brother 6:25 - Red blend of five grapes 6:40 - Sourced grapes from Paso Robles 8:20 - Unfiltered & minimal intervention wine 9:40 - Visual analysis 10:10 - Olfactory analysis 11:30 - Tasting notes 12:42 - Rating of the wine       Today's wine: 2023 Santo Diablo Red Blend $45 (Go on Santo Diablo IG, send DM)   Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Connect with Santo Diablo on IG @santodiablowine   Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale    Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

    14 min

  2. 29 APR

    "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. It is a holistic approach to viticulture and truly laid down the foundation for sustainable viticulture practices. They are located in an area in the Agly Valley called Maury which is in the region Roussillon. This area is known for having a hot climate and lots of wind.   "Oiseau Rare" translates to rare bird and this specific wine was created to represent the landscape and terroir. It not only sums up the vineyard plots but also reflects the true nature of wines from the south of France.   Tune in now and get all the details as I open up this "rare bird" Grenache.   1:35 - Introduction to today's wine 2:55 - Rousillon, south of France 3:11 - Known for producing Grenache 3:55 - Biodynamic vineyard 4:18 - Perfect for growing Grenache 5:15 - Holistic approach to farming 7:25 - Visual analysis 7:38 - Olfactory analysis 7:58 - Tasting notes 8:45 - Hidden gem 9:37 - Rating on the wine     Today's wine: 2020 Mac Amiel Oiseau Rare $35 (Plum Market)   Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast   Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale    Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

    11 min

  3. 17 APR

    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 region in the face of urbanization. This project is a way of giving back to the region.   They have some of the coldest weather in the region being at 3,500ft. Altitude with soil diversity throughout the vineyard (5 different soils). Today's wine is limited production, they make around 416 cases a year. Tune in now to get all the details on this producer and here my thoughts on this South American Cabernet Franc.   2:05 - Introduction to today's wine 3:40 - El Almacén  5:00 - Proyecto Las Compuertas 7:45 - Organic farming & limited production 8:15 - Fermented in concrete eggs 9:25 - Visual analysis 9:42 - Olfactory analysis 10:10 - Tasting notes 11:30 - Rating of the wine   Today's wine: 2023 Proyecto Las Compuertas Durigutti Cabernet Franc $32 (El Almacén)   Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast   Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale    Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

    13 min

  4. 9 APR

    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 that scare you. We are never fully ready to do things but opportunities will present themselves to us when we are ready for them (even if we feel like we aren't).  Everything happens for a reason and presents itself to you when you are ready to move forward in your growth journey. If it didn't feel scary, it wouldn't be growth.   Tune in now and try Etna Bianco with me!   1:15 - Intro to today's wine 2:00 - Made up of four grape varietals 4:22 - Main theme of the week 5:20 - You are never fully ready 7:15 - Visual analysis 7:25 - Olfactory analysis 8:05 - Tasting notes 9:45 - Rating of the wine     Today's wine: 2024 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco 2024 $32 GET WINE HERE    Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast   Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale    Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

    11 min

  5. 1 APR

    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 winery's name reflects their philosophy towards winemaking; getting their hands dirty with a hands on approach. They do have organic farming practices being used and are located in the southern part of the Uco valley.   Tune in now as I talk about this winery, taste the wine and give you an update on my puppy Titus.  Hope you enjoy this episode with a glass of wine (or bottle) as always.   1:30 - Introduction to today's wine 2:50 - Manos Negras 4:22 - Titus tore his ACL 8:15 - Visual analysis 8:30 - Olfactory analysis 9:00 - Tasting notes 10:05 - Rating of the wine 11:22 - South American Pinot Noirs are not my jam       Today's wine: 2014 Manos Negras Pinot Noir $20 (Vintage Liquors Pinecrest)   Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast   Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale    Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

    13 min

  6. 25 MAR

    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 (episode 111) who just launched his own wine brand and how I will bring you all more episodes like the one I did with him.  The biggest theme for me that has been coming up lately is the power of resilience and how what you do can impact others. Special thank you to Shawn for complimenting me on being inspired by my resilience, those words definitely meant more than you will ever know.   Tune in now to drink this nice crispy, highly acidic Italian white wine with me and let's catch up.     2:10 - Intro to today's wine 5:40 - New space, new puppy 6:30 - Pour the wine 7:05 - Olfactory analysis 7:55 - Tasting notes 8:35 - What I would pair this with 9:30 - Life pause that was necessary 10:30 - Resilience 11:11 - Is what I am doing really impactful? 12:15 - What is resilience? 13:35 - I don't give up 15:40 - My life flashed before my eyes  19:12 - Rating of the wine   Today's wine: 2023 Sartarelli Verdicchio Classico Superiore Tralivio (Plum market Aventura)   Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast   Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale    Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

    20 min

  7. 11 MAR

    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 restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale, FL called Theo's Estiatorio. We go into detail in regards to his wine brand, music career, gaming career, food, wine and much more.   As we wine and dine at the restaurant, we end up ordering some delicious food and a 2022 Boutari Assyrtiko. Boutari is considered one of the top leading Greek wine companies and is located in Megalochori, Santorini (southwestern part of Santorini). Assyrtiko is an indigenous grape varietal to this area and it is one of my faves because it tends to be highly acidic with strong citrus notes coming through giving us some nice minerality and texture.   Tune in now as we pair this delicious bottle with some dips, sardines and fried calamari and dive deep into conversation.   1:50 - Introducing today's wine, Assyrtiko 2:45 - Tasting notes with Shawn 3:22 - Pairing highly acidic wines with oily foods 4:03 - Elevyn Cellars 6:30 - Shawn doesn't really eat food 8:40 - First five varietals 11:11 - Fashion is a passion 11:25 - Target audience for his wine brand 12:45 - You don't know what you don't know 14:00 - Safe space for everybody 17:00 - Brand launch 2026 17:40 - Shawn's music career 19:05 - Olives are a no for us 20:15 - Gaming career 28:30 - Trying mediterranean dips with the wine 33:33 - On & off camera 34:22 - Shawn continues to try dishes 37:50 - Man of many hats 38:40 - Sardines and calamari  40:45 - Meeting at Avaline 41:51 - Ties to France, left bank Margaux 43:15 - One of his introductions to wine 46:30 - James Suckling event 47:50 - Shawn's nugget of knowledge for the people     Today's wine: 2022 Boutari Assyrtiko    Restaurant: Theos Estiatorio 1826 E Sunrise Blvd Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304   Connect with Shawn on IG, TikTok & YouTube @foundshawn   Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast   Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale    Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

    51 min

  8. 29/10/2025

    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 vessel used for wine fermentation.  The crushed grapes, stems, skins and seeds are placed in the qvevri then buried underground to maintain a stable temperature during the fermentation and aging process. This traditional method dates back 8,000 years.   Tune in now to get the full details on this winemaking style and try out this bold Georgian wine with me.     1:10 - Introduction to today's wine 2:00 - Old Georgian winemaking process 3:30 - Egg like vessel 4:44 - Natural wine practice 7:30 - Olfactory analysis 8:08 - Tasting notes 10:08 - Rating of the wine 11:11 - It's different   Today's wine: 2021 Togonidze wine Saperavi Red $29 (Plum market Aventura)   Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast   Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale    Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale

    12 min
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About

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 discussions revolve around the art and science of wine tasting, the cultural significance of wine, and the appreciation of its craftsmanship. As a responsible host, Nicole would like to emphasize that she does not condone or promote underage drinking. This podcast is based in the United States where the legal drinking age is 21. She strongly encourages all listeners to adhere to their local laws and regulations regarding alcohol consumption. Whether you're a seasoned wine connoisseur or simply curious about the world of wines, Sip & Grow the Podcast is the perfect companion for your sensory exploration. So grab a glass, savor the aromas, and join us on this insightful and delicious adventure! The content provided in Sip & Grow the Podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the wine industry is constantly evolving, and individual experiences may vary. We recommend consulting certified wine experts or professionals for specific inquiries or concerns. By listening to Sip & Grow the Podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers of this podcast shall not be held liable for any actions, decisions, or consequences resulting from the use or interpretation of the information provided. Drink responsibly, be mindful of your limits, and always prioritize your health and well-being. Sip & Grow the Podcast is a production of Serene Illumination LLC. For more information and updates, visit our stan store at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale or our socials @sipandgrowpodcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicole Di Pasquale
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Sip & Grow The Podcast