The Wine Down Podcast

Hosted by Certified Sommelier, Beverly Crandon

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Step into the world of wine without the pretension. Hosted by certified sommelier Beverly Crandon, this podcast uncorks the stories, science, and surprises behind every bottle. Each episode dives deep into how wine connects to culture, food, and history. culturedcork.substack.com

Oct 18

Halloween Candy and Wine: 10 Pairings That Actually Work

🎥 Watch the video version📋 Get the infographic with all 10 pairings: Every October, someone tells you to pair your favourite Halloween candy with a nice dry red. Don’t. That’s the trick, not the treat. In this Halloween episode of Wine Down, I explain why sweet candy makes dry wine taste thin and sour, and the one simple rule that fixes it. Then I walk you through ten candy and wine pairings that actually work, from Skittles with off-dry Riesling and Sour Patch Kids with Prosecco to Reese’s with Oloroso Sherry and Coffee Crisp with Tawny Port. Plus this year’s breakout candy, NERDS Gummy Clusters, with an easy-to-find Pink Moscato. You’ll also get tips on serving temperature, why fortified wines are a smart buy for a small household, and no-alcohol options so everyone can join in. I’m Beverly Crandon, a Court of Master Sommeliers sommelier, and on Wine Down I make wine approachable for everyone. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show and leave a rating. It helps new listeners find us. Instagram: @beverlycrandon | TikTok: @beverlyloveswine Get full access to The Cultured Cork at culturedcork.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 21

Crete, Ancient Grapes, Sea Air & a 3,500-Year-Old Wine Press

This episode of Wine Down takes us to Crete, one of the oldest wine-producing places on Earth, and Europe’s Region of Gastronomy for 2026. I’m tasting through three wines and telling the story of a wine culture that nearly lost its own grapes in the 20th century, only to bring them roaring back. We start with Vidiano, Crete’s flagship white, rediscovered in a forgotten, nearly 80-year-old vineyard outside Rethymno. From there we get into Liatiko, sometimes described as a cross between Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo, with notes of dried flowers, red fruit, and warm spice. Then I share a firsthand story from my recent trip to Michalakis Estate near Heraklion: standing in vineyards right next to a 3,500-year-old wine press, tasting the region’s essential red blend of Kotsifali and Mandilari, with the sea air and olive groves close enough to taste in the wine itself. I close out with a rapid-fire tour of Crete’s lesser-known grapes: Vilana, Muscat of Spina, Malvasia di Candia, Dafni (which genuinely tastes like bay laurel), and the nearly-extinct Romeiko, plus a few pairing notes if you want to build a meal around any of these bottles. Find more Wine Down episodes wherever you get your podcasts, and on YouTube under Beverly Crandon on wine. https://www.youtube.com/@beverlyonwine Get full access to The Cultured Cork at culturedcork.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 5

Podcast: A deep dive into Pinot Grigio

The video of this podcast can be found here. Pinot Grigio has a reputation problem. It’s the wine people love to write off as boring, safe, and forgettable, and honestly, a lot of the time they’re right. But that reputation comes from one narrow, mass produced style, not the grape itself. In this episode of Wine Down, I’m digging into why Pinot Grigio became the punching bag of the wine world, what the traditional “ramato” style actually is and why it was originally made completely differently from what most people picture today, and where to find the bottles that prove this grape has way more range than it gets credit for. I’m tasting through Vie di Romans’ Dessimis, a single vineyard Pinot Grigio from Friuli Isonzo, Italy, and walking through where else in the world to look for the good stuff, from Alto Adige to Alsace to Oregon. If you’ve ever ordered Pinot Grigio out of habit without really knowing why, this episode is for you. Topics covered: * Why Pinot Grigio’s reputation took a hit in the 90s and 2000s * What “ramato” style Pinot Grigio actually is * What to look for on a label to find quality Pinot Grigio * Where else in the world to find great versions of this grape The video of this podcast can be found here. Get full access to The Cultured Cork at culturedcork.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 8

Building Your First Wine Rack: 8 Bottles for Almost Any Occasion

You don’t need a wine cellar. You don’t need fifty bottles. And you definitely don’t need to spend a fortune. What you need is eight bottles, each one covering a different occasion, so a last-minute dinner guest, a date, a forgotten celebration, or a random Tuesday never catches you off guard. The mistake almost everyone makes when they start buying wine is finding one bottle they like and buying eight of that same thing, then getting stuck when someone shows up who doesn’t drink red, or it’s too hot for a heavy Cab, or there’s nothing to pop for a toast. A starter rack isn’t about your favourites. It’s about range. In this episode we talk about the eight slots every beginner rack needs and exactly what to put in each one: your easy, no-questions-asked house red, a crisp everyday white, a food-friendly white built for spice and takeout, a bold red for big meals, a sparkling wine that’s for way more than celebrations, a dry rosé that surprises people every time, one “impress” bottle worth saving for the right moment, and a sweet wildcard that quietly becomes the best part of the night. We also get into how to actually store the rack so your wine doesn’t go bad while you’re waiting for the right occasion. The full episode is up now as a podcast and on YouTube. Which slot are you filling first? Drop a comment and let me know, and tell me what your ninth bottle would be, because I read every one. You can catch the video version here. Get full access to The Cultured Cork at culturedcork.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 12

5 Wine Rules You Should Stop Following

I need to talk about some things that have been living rent free in my head. Every week I see people making wine decisions based on stuff that just is not true. Rules they heard somewhere, read on the internet, or got told by someone who sounded very confident but was absolutely wrong. The wine world has this way of making you feel dumb for asking questions, like there’s some secret code you’re supposed to already know, so instead of asking, people just follow these “rules” forever. Not today. In this episode we talk about what “natural” actually means on a wine label (it’s not what you think), why that “room temperature” advice for red wine is centuries out of date, whether rosé is really as sweet as everyone assumes, what’s actually behind that wine headache if it isn’t sulfites, and the myth I care about most, the one that convinces people they need to be an expert before they’re allowed to enjoy a glass. None of these are the “gotcha” you’re expecting, and a couple of them might genuinely change how you shop or how you serve what’s already in your fridge. I get into the specifics, the why behind each one, and what to actually do differently, in the full episode, which is up now as a podcast and on YouTube. Which of these five do you think you’ve been believing? Drop a comment and let me know, and if there’s a wine myth I didn’t cover, tell me, because there might be a part two in this for us. Video version can be found here. Get full access to The Cultured Cork at culturedcork.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 7

Best Red Wines for Summer (5 You Need to Try)

In this episode of The Wine Down, we break down five red wines that were made for warm weather. They are lighter-bodied, lower in tannin, and yes, some of them can actually be chilled. From a fizzy Italian red that’ll make your jaw drop to an Austrian grape nobody talks about enough, this is your guide to drinking red wine all summer long without apology. In this episode: * Beaujolais: the juicy, chill-able crowd-pleaser * Pinot Noir: elegant, versatile, and summer-ready * Lambrusco: yes, sparkling red wine is a thing, and it’s incredible * Grenache: the underdog under $20 you need immediately * Zweigelt: the Austrian conversation starter nobody sees coming This episode is your permission slip to skip the rosé for one night and try something new. Wine should be fun, approachable, and absolutely shared, and that’s exactly what The Wine Down is here for. Subscribe, leave a review, and let us know which summer red you’re reaching for first. Get full access to The Cultured Cork at culturedcork.substack.com/subscribe
May 16

Wine and Curry Pairings: Is Off-Dry Riesling Really the Winner?

In this episode, I’m exploring one of the most debated food-and-wine questions out there: what wine really works best with curry? I’m breaking down pairings for three very different curry styles - traditional Indian curry, Thai curry, and Caribbean curry, and challenging the internet’s favourite claim that off-dry Riesling is always the answer. There’s also a full video version of this episode available, so you can watch the pairings in action and follow along visually. https://youtu.be/DEquh-cZ8x4 Get full access to The Cultured Cork at culturedcork.substack.com/subscribe
Apr 17

Does the Right Wine Glass Make a Difference?

Does the right wine glass really make a difference? In this episode of the Wine Down, we explore why glassware matters and how the shape, size, and style of a glass can change the way wine smells, tastes, and feels. From bold reds to crisp whites and sparkling pours, this conversation breaks down the basics of wine glassware in a simple, approachable way. If you’ve ever wondered whether all wine glasses are created equal, this episode will help you understand what really matters when choosing the right glass for the occasion. Get full access to The Cultured Cork at culturedcork.substack.com/subscribe

Step into the world of wine without the pretension. Hosted by certified sommelier Beverly Crandon, this podcast uncorks the stories, science, and surprises behind every bottle. Each episode dives deep into how wine connects to culture, food, and history. culturedcork.substack.com

Creator

Hosted by Certified Sommelier, Beverly Crandon
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

17
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Beverly Crandon
Show Website

The Wine Down Podcast