Wine Podcast: The Honest Pour with John Lenart

John Lenart
  • 4.8 (12)
  • Society & Culture

The Honest Pour with John Lenart is a wine podcast taking you beyond the bottle to connect you with the people who make the wines you love and the places they come from.

  1. 05/15/2020

    Philippe Rolet, Bodegas Caro

    Philippe Rolet was born into wine in Jura. Following a passion for South American wines he eventually ended up as Estate Manager of Bodegas Caro, a partnership between the legendary Rothschild and Catena houses. Argentina didn't start producing wines until 1850 but in the years since, it has claimed it's space in the international wine market. In fact one of Caro's wines is one of the best in it's category I have ever tasted. Listen to this episode to find out about it.

    Philippe Rolet, Bodegas Caro

  2. 03/29/2020

    Hugh Davies, President, Schramsberg Vineyards

    Among aficionados California sparkling wine has always played a bit of a second fiddle to sparklers from other parts of the world.  While that is changing over the past few years with the emergence of Grower Champagne-like wines coming from the likes of Under the Wire and the cult wine Ultramarine, among others, the one exception to this notion has always been Schramsberg. Gaining prominence going back to 1972, when Nixon used the Blanc de Blanc to toast the Chinese Premier at the White House, wines from this historic estate have been served by every administration since. I met with Hugh Davies to talk about his family's commitment to sparkling wine, why they tore up their historic estate vineyard and replanted with Bordeaux varieties in the late 1990's and of course to taste some delicious wine.

    Hugh Davies, President, Schramsberg Vineyards

  3. 10/30/2019

    Diane Flamand, Winemaker, Bordeaux Collection Wines Domaines Barons de Rothschild [Lafite]

    Bordeaux can be expensive. At it's lower price points it can present uninspired wines. But Diane Flamand and Domaines Barons de Rothschild [Lafite] have closed the price and quality gap with their Légende line of wines. These bottles take wine drinkers around Bordeaux, from blanc and rouge wines made from grapes grown throughout the iconic wine region, to bottlings from more specific areas like Medoc and Saint-Emilion and Paulliac. These wines present fantastic value and would be a great jumping off point for your own study of Bordeaux.  I met with winemaker Diane Flamand to talk about what it's like to make these approachable, reasonably priced wines that you don't have to wait decades to drink. all while maintaining the Lafite Spirit.

    Diane Flamand, Winemaker, Bordeaux Collection Wines Domaines Barons de Rothschild [Lafite]

  4. 10/21/2019

    Marie-Christine Osselin, Wine Quality and Communications Manager, Osselin, Moët & Chandon

    Way back in episode 7 of The Honest Pour I interviewed Elise Losfelt of Moët & Chandon. In this episode I revisit the wines from this classic Champagne house with her colleague Marie-Christine Osselin. We sat down to discuss the task of creating consistency and quality for Moët & Chandon's Non-vintage Imperial from over a hundred base wines, and expressing the quality of  each vintage Champagne,  while still distinguishing the bright fresh fruity house style of Moët & Chandon.

    Marie-Christine Osselin, Wine Quality and Communications Manager, Osselin, Moët & Chandon

  5. 10/07/2019

    Francesco Ricasoli, President and Owner, Ricasoli

    Earlier this year I had the pleasure of visiting a number of producers in Chianti Classico. To hear those shows check back to episodes 61 - 67. Sadly, while there I missed the chance to visit one of the region's most iconic estates, Ricasoli at Castello Brolio in Gaiole. Fortunately, when I returned home, I had the opportunity to meet with Francesco Ricasoli.  During his visit he previewed the release of Raritas, a line of three single vineyard Chianti Classico wines that are the highest most distinguished expressions of wines produced on the Brolio estate. Technically Gran Selezione wines, Francesco calls these "Cru" bottlings.  We met to discuss this project and how it fits into the idea of Gran Selezione, his research from which these wines were born, and of course to taste some delicious wines

    Francesco Ricasoli, President and Owner, Ricasoli

  6. 09/19/2019

    Matt Crafton, Winemaker, Chateau Montelena

    Chateau Montelena will forever hold a special place in Napa Valley wine history after famously winning Steven Spurrier's 1976 Paris tasting. In 2014 Matt Crafton was named winemaker there and today he maintains the heritage of this iconic producer. With a strong belief in sustainability Crafton is paving the way to the future while staying true to the legacy of Chateau Montelena. We sat down to discuss this and also to taste some delicious wine.

    Matt Crafton, Winemaker, Chateau Montelena

  7. 09/04/2019

    Brook Bannister, Bannister Wines

    Cool climate pinot noir is a widely used buzz phrase today. But in the late 80's Marty Bannister was one of the pioneers of the segment. She made these wines for over a decade when health concerns forced her to let the family label go dormant. In the early 2000's her son Brook decided to revive the brand and continue working with these cool climate wines, maintaining his mother's legacy.  So many of the stories told through wine are about, place, history, or farming. This episode is about a son's love of his mother and his dedication to making sure her place in wine history is maintained.

    Brook Bannister, Bannister Wines

  8. 08/01/2019

    Paul Hobbs, Paul Hobbs Winery

    After a short break we return to the U.S. following our Chianti Classico series to visit with a most thoughtful California wine maker. While many interviews are about history, culture or estate terroir, Paul Hobbs is a guy who I can geek out with about wine. And that makes me happy. Despite his impressive resume, talking with him about soil types, climate, and grape variety is something that is really exciting and makes you want to taste and enjoy his wines. What I really loved about talking with Hobbs is that his passion extends beyond California to Argentina, Spain, France, and Armenia, not because he wants to globalize his brand but  in order to hone his craft. I sat down with Paul to talk about this and of course to taste some delicious wines.

    Paul Hobbs, Paul Hobbs Winery
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4.8
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The Honest Pour with John Lenart is a wine podcast taking you beyond the bottle to connect you with the people who make the wines you love and the places they come from.

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