Michigan Wine Identity, Transparency Debates, and Duck Pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E2)
In episode two of season eight of The Real Wine Show, hosts Chaad Thomas and Matt Kuhr announce show sponsor Gabriel Group (www.gabrielgrp.com (http://www.gabrielgrp.com) ) and introduce panelists Alan Collins (Michigan vineyard project advocating risk-taking for a uniquely Michigan wine identity), wine traveler/judge Bobby Frank, and chef/winemaker Jason Berthold (promoting aging high-acid white wines). They discuss three news topics: billionaire winery acquisitions and their impact on wine’s “soul,” proposed 2026 U.S. ingredient-label transparency and consumer reactions to additives, and AI-driven wine recommendations in tasting rooms versus human sommeliers. During glass checks they taste wines including aged Muscadet and other bottles. The new “Grape to Plate” segment sees Chef Jason conjure a slow-rendered duck breast and swiss chard pan sauce from blind tasting a 2022 Famille Gras Côtes du Rhône. The show includes a Wine Cipher game, the popular emotive blind tasting (revealed as an Italian Ciliegiolo), and ends with Jason taking home the prize!
00:00 Welcome and Sponsor
01:05 Meet Alan Collins
03:42 Meet Bobby Frank
06:02 Meet Chef Jason
07:27 Glass Check
09:54 Billionaires Buying Wineries
15:51 Ingredient Label Transparency
21:14 AI Sommelier Debate
27:28 Grape to Plate Pairing
37:27 Duck Resting Plan
37:49 Chard Wine Pan Sauce
38:41 Jam And Duck Sauce
39:42 Wine Reveal Cote Du Rhone
41:51 Practical Hack: Low And Slow
42:44 Blind Notes Game Begins
42:54 Big Red Guess Chateau Pavie
45:39 Second Cipher Debate
49:56 Riesling Notes Too Easy
52:43 Glass Check #2
55:13 Michigan Wine Collaborative Events Update
56:33 Emotive Blind Tasting
01:03:12 Reveal Italian ciliegiolo
01:05:15 Favorite Wines And Scores
01:07:50 Final Wrap And Thanks
May is Michigan Wine Month:
Visit www.michiganwinecollaborative.com for event details.