Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 218: Nalle Winery of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA -- Elegant Zinfandel like no other

Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 218: Nalle Winery of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, CA -- Elegant Zinfandel like no other

Author: Elizabeth Schneider February 5, 2018 Duration: 49:38

In this episode, I talk to the Zinmasters of the Dry Creek Valley, Andrew & April Nalle. Nalle has been making Zinfandel in a milder style than most other wineries -- with balance, acidity, & finesse for nearly 40 years. Andrew recently took over the winery from his dad, Zin legend Doug Nalle. The Nalle story -- it's past and future -- is a family story and one that represents the small producers of Sonoma well. 

A few things we discuss...

  • Nalle's 100+ year family history in Dry Creek Valley and its history with making wine.
  • The power of Zinfandel and how it doesn't have to be what you traditionally think of when you think of the grape.
  • April Nalle's fascinating background in grower relations, and how she made it as one of the only women in a male dominated field
  • Andrew's winemaking philosophy, what he's learned from his dad and how he will carry forward the Nalle Zin tradition
  • We nerd out about Zin, about the land, and about the mother of the Zin vine, Crjlenak Kastelanski, which Andrew has tried!
  • Finally we wrap by talking about Andrew and April's thoughts for the future, as they take over from Andrew's folks. 

 

Truly normal people, who make great wine! www.nallewinery.com

 

 


Elizabeth Schneider hosts Wine for Normal People, a podcast built on the idea that you can enjoy wine deeply without the pretension. It’s for anyone who finds the world of wine intriguing but is put off by the jargon and gatekeeping. Here, conversations about wine are just that-conversations. Elizabeth approaches topics with a fun and straightforward perspective, aiming to spark genuine excitement and help you discover more interesting bottles to enjoy. Roughly half of the episodes feature guests, but these aren’t formal interviews. Instead, they’re relaxed, educational discussions with passionate friends from the wine world, all people Elizabeth knows personally or through close connections. This creates a uniquely authentic and comfortable atmosphere, as if you’re listening in on a chat between friends who happen to know a lot about what’s in your glass. The focus is always on practical knowledge and shared enthusiasm, stripping away the snobbery to make wine feel accessible and endlessly fascinating. Tune into this podcast to hear honest talk about regions, grapes, and tasting, all designed to make your own journey with wine more rewarding and a lot more fun.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 98

Wine for Normal People
Podcast Episodes
Ep 608: The Grape Miniseries -- The Barbera Refresh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:08
Barbera is one of Italy's most widely planted red grapes and an essential part of Piemontese wine culture. It is native to the Monferrato hills, where it has been grown for centuries and important to the overall wine lan…
Ep 604: Six Alternatives to Expensive Wines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
This time I give you six wine regions that make very expensive wines and then provide ideas of less expensive bottles that you could sub in when you don't want to splurge. From Champagne to Barolo, I give you some ideas…
Ep 603: The Veneto Region of Italy (2026 Update) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:13
I haven't given an update to the Veneto region in more than a decade. With an upcoming Patron trip to the region, I think it's high time! Veneto is in northeastern Italy and is famed for wines like Prosecco, Valpolicella…
Ep 602: Wine Legends - Émile Peynaud, The Father of Modern Enology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:10
This is the start of a new series, suggested by Patron Keith S.! Thank you, Keith! I'll cover people who have made a huge difference in the wine world —figures whose contributions have shaped how wine is made, understood…
Ep 600: Nine Short Wine Stories -- How WFNP Listeners Got Into Wine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:27
600 episodes of WFNP! I am grateful to you for listening, for reading the book, for learning with me and gracefully accepting the changes over the years, and I'm especially grateful to my sponsors, guests, and travel par…