Spin The Bottle: A Round Table of Wine Experts

The game I remember…

When I first heard about the new web show series named Spin the Bottle, I immediately thought of a game we used to play in high school…you know the one. However, the image that had so quickly appeared from my memory bank, quickly disappeared when the host, Chris Kern, of the Spin The Bottle show explained his purpose for contacting me to participate in this new web series based in Los Angeles.

“Spin The Bottle, presented by Chris Kern’s ForgottenGrapes.com, is a bi-weekly wine-themed round table discussion show in which we collect a small group of wine experts from around the country and briefly chat about the latest wine news and trends going on that wine lovers should know about.”

Kern went on to explain that the setting of the show would be similar to a cross between ESPN’s Around The Horn and The McLaughlin Group, which are basically round table settings of experts in their fields discussing the sports and news trends for the day. I was thrilled to become a part of this exciting, innovative show where I’d be able to discuss issues regarding one of my favorite things: wine.

Chris Kern is the owner of an on-line wine shop and store front named Forgotten Grapes, where uncommon varietals are commonly found – he’s considered America’s Uncommon Wine Expert. If you’re ever on the prowl for varietals like Aligote, Xarel-lo and Inzolia, Chris Kern is your man.

The first taping of the new Spin The Bottle show was just a couple days ago, and it was a real hoot. Not only did we each pop the cork on a wine of our choice, but we also took a few minutes to talk about what was in our glasses. The host, Chris Kern, was drinking an Urban Legend Cellars 2009 Clarksburg Teroldega – a varietal rarely seen outside of it’s native Italy. Northern Virginian, Stub, the witty brains and wine connoisseur behind the wine blog CorkEnvy.com, was the other panel guest for the evening. Stub was drinking a Virginian red wine. Since I’m in the Willamette Valley, and I truly am an Oregon wine gal at heart, I popped the cork on a 2009 Barrel Select Syrah produced by a south Willamette winery named Sweet Cheeks. Grapes for this beauty of a Syrah came from Southern Oregon, where warmer climate varietals thrive. Vigorous aromas of ripe plums and black currants flow onto the palate with flourishing added flavors of cocoa and white pepper. Fruit forward with a nice long finish – the kind of Syrah I love. 

After we showed off the wines we were enjoying, we got right into the hot topics for the night: the disheartening Beaujolais 2012 harvest in France, Amazon.com entering into the direct-to-consumer wine game, and diet wine –  a new line of wines with the Weight Watchers sticker attached. Those are some pretty hot topics that can garner some differening opinions, for sure. So, be sure to check back on WineJulia.com next week for the video of the show. Cheers!