Shows
The Super Excellent Not Too Serious Bike That Goes Nowhere PodcastE57 - Lou Lentine, CEO and Founder of Echelon returnsAll kinds of hijinks! Sheldon runs a 10K for the first time in a long time and it's a fun goal for himself. Also, he got more old this weekend as well. Meredith - so, so proud of her - she earned her Master’s degree! Shoutout to Ottawa University for their program that helped make it possible.
[13:30] Our guest is the one and only Lou Lentine - CEO and Founder of Echelon. We talk about the journey the company is on and all of the super exciting products, partnerships, and great new content being...2023-05-082h 13
Major Crush Wine CastS7/EP1: The Jason Wine InterviewIt's finally time to share our full-length interview with director Jason Wise of SOMM TV! We've waited so long to share this interview, so we're extra excited about adding this episode to our collection. Jason is one of the best storytellers the wine world has to offer. So we want to invite you to dive into this episode head-first with Meredith and Lou and discover for yourself how delicious a conversation with Jason Wise can be!
New episodes of Major Crush will begin dropping later this summer, so be on the look out!
CONTACT US: If you have any questions...2023-04-0645 min
True Crime TrineBetty Lou Beets (Pisces) - ParlayJoin us this week as we head to the Lone Star State. Meredith shares with us the story of Betty Lou Beets. Some believe Betty was a black widow that killed her husbands for financial gain, while others believe that a lifetime of mental, physical, and sexual abuse led Betty to believe that murder was her only way out. It’s hard to know for sure, but we would love to hear your opinion on the case. For astrology, we talk about Pisces. We are still missing our resident Pisces for a few more weeks, but Sarah will be back so...2022-08-081h 35
Major Crush Wine CastS6/EP 8: Coming to the Wine Country (Reboot!)One of our most popular episodes of all time was when Meredith & Lou gave our listeners some tips on coming to the Wine Country. So we thought it was time to do a reboot of that show in this post-pandemic world to give you all a few more pointers on how to make the most of your time exploring the glorious world of wine!! So please enjoy this fun episode and then be sure and let us know how we can answer any of your questions or help you build your itinerary for YOUR visit to the California Wine...2022-05-1946 min
Major Crush Wine CastS6/EP4: Easter, Chocolate & WineIn honor of Easter, we wanted to share a different kind of episode with you - one where our producer, Sonja Zant, turns the tables on Mere & Lou by putting them in the "hot seat" with a challenge she already knows they'll find difficult: pairing wine and chocolate! But when you source the chocolates from the very best place, and you intentionally pair each bite with wines you already know you love, an adventure like this was certain to be fun!
We'd like to thank The Chocolate Cow in Sonoma for helping us pick out the most mind-blowingly delicious chocolates (t...2022-04-1425 min
Major Crush Wine CastS6/EP 3: Major Crush on Miquel PonsIt was an incredible honor for us to interview Pere Pons -- a beautifully spoken and kind-hearted winemaker from Spain! He is our very first international winemaker interview, and boy was he fabulous and fun to get to know! Join Meredith and Lou as they learn all about Cava and the DO of Penedès. Be sure to check out our Instagram feed this week, too, because we will be posting pictures that Pere shared with us so you can have a visual insight into how this family of winemakers has been making their Cava and still wines for 250 years! A...2022-04-0758 min
Major Crush Wine CastS6/EP 2: The Cathy Corison InterviewThere are a lot of winemakers to admire in the Napa Valley, but for us, there's this one person in particular who makes us stop in our tracks: Cathy Corison. She's been making wine since the 1970s when things really started to take off in the Valley, and so adding her story to the mix of interviews feels like more than just an honor. It feels like a privilege. Cathy's passion for Cabernet Sauvignon is something you can taste in her wines, but listening to her recollections and perspectives is a totally valuable use of time -- especially if you...2022-03-3140 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP 11: The Karen MacNeil InterviewThis might be the biggest interview we’ve ever had on Major Crush — and, it might also be the most major Major Crush we’ve ever had! Getting to interview Karen MacNeil was such a privilege because without her book, The Wine Bible, so many people in this world would still have no idea how to even get started with wine. In this very charming and inviting interview, Karen walks Lou & Mere through her origin story and shares so many details about her experiences, and she definitively proves to anyone who listens to this episode how wonderfully she welcomes people into t...2021-12-1647 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP 10: The WaterMark Wine InterviewIt's a pretty rare thing to meet a winemaker who has made THREE 100 POINT WINES, but that's how we roll! (Just kidding!!) But seriously? We were so honored to sit down to interview Phil Steinschriber of WaterMark Wine for our final winemaker interview of the season. In addition to making fantastic wine, Phil and his wife, Diane, are two of the kindest people you'll ever meet. They opened up their home to us and shared their wine, the story of Phil's journey into his career as a premier winemaker, the origin story of their relationship, and their mountain top estate...2021-12-0946 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP 9:The Orion Cooker InterviewHey Everyone and welcome back to another episode of Major Crush! If you’ve been a long-time listener of the show, then you know that the motivation behind the Major Crush Winecast is a genuine love of all things wine, and so as we’ve moved through five seasons, we’ve interviewed all kinds of crush-worthy people who have added so much to our show, and who have constantly reminded us why we love the world of wine so much! But this episode represents something brand new for us — it’s an interview with Christian Fitzgerald, the creator and founder of the Ori...2021-12-0238 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP7: The Well Being, Well Said with Sarah Malouf InterviewIt was such a pleasure to be able to interview a fellow podcaster like Sarah Malouf on our show! Sarah is the host of the Well Being, Well Said podcast and is an up-and-coming recipe developer who is relatively new to wine. After a visit to the Wine Country to visit her "affection uncle" -- our very own Lou Zant -- Sarah and her husband, Matt, left with a whole new appreciation for wine and all of the ways it can be added to life. In this interview, Meredith, Lou, and Sarah talk about the art of Southern hospitality, her...2021-11-1134 min
The Super Excellent Not Too Serious Bike That Goes Nowhere PodcastE18 - Lou Lentine - CEO, Echelon FitWell! What can we say about today's guest?! We are honored and excited to interview the CEO of Echelon Fit - the one and only Lou Lentine. We covered a wide swath of topics from Lou's journey as an entrepreneur, to the early Echelon days, to the exciting future of products, features, and content that lies ahead! We learn a LOT and it was wonderful to hear and (for us) see the passion that Lou has for Echelon and its members.
In the pre-interview we tackle Halloween and how badly Sheldon got slaughtered on the listener poll. Then...2021-11-082h 10
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP 6 The Gracie Peter InterviewIt was such a pleasure for Lou & Mere to interview Gracie Peter, Director of Operations, Kentucky LouVino locations and a Level 2 Certified Sommelier. Gracie is also the co-host of her own wine podcast called Better With Wine (Season One available now wherever you listen to your favorite shows). Chatting things up with Gracie added a unique perspective to the second half of Season Five because right now, we are all about wine and hospitality! And what better resource to find out exactly how it's done than the person who is in charge of making every moment of your time at...2021-11-0439 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP5: The Collective Light Interview with Meredith GriffinWe have something different to share with you this week — it’s a re-run of an interview Meredith gave to our good friend Amy Kathleen of the Collective Light Podcast earlier this year. You might remember AK from a few bonus episodes of Major Crush that dropped this summer. She’s this remarkably kind and insightful friend of the podcast, but she’s also a terrific interviewer in her own right. Throughout the five seasons of our show, we’ve done our best to help you get to know Mere & Lou, but there’s just something that happens when someone else turns t...2021-10-2848 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP 4: The Caddis Wines InterviewEach season when we’re working on our line-up, we make a pretty big list of wines we’re currently crushing on, and then we start pursuing the winemakers to see how we can fit an interview into their busy schedules. Caddis wines was on Lou’s list big time, and so it was pretty awesome to be able to have this one-on-one time with Chris so he could introduce Mere — and all of you — to his delicious collection of wines. At the time that we sat down for this interview, it was late August and Chris was mere days away from...2021-10-2145 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP 3: A Day in the Life of Mere & LouEpisode three of season five is a different kind of episode -- not just because Mere & Lou are tasting tequila with their cheese instead of wine! But the fact is, there’s always something interesting going on in the Wine Country and we love sharing our experiences with our listeners. So we want to thank James Ayers from the Sonoma Cheese Factory for inviting Major Crush to partake in such a fascinating pairing experience. Even though we typically keep our focus on wine and wine pairings, one thing we’ve learned from our times with James is how to experiment with...2021-10-1430 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP 3: BONUS A Day in the Life of Mere & Lou Producer's CutHey guys! It’s Sonja Zant, the producer of the Major Crush Winecast. As I was editing the final cut of Ep 3, I saved a few little gems in an outtakes file because I found them to be so charming. It’s an opportunity for me to share the side of Mere & Lou that only I get to see. The thoughtful asides and the tiny pivots they make when seeking ways to invite new experiences into our own little Crush Culture are what always help me know we’re on the right track with the show. It’s the fact that Mere...2021-10-1403 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5/EP2: The VINT InterviewThis is one of those interviews that just gave us one more reason to adore the world of wine! We got a chance to sit down with Nick King & Billy Galanko of Vint - the first fully transparent platform for anyone to invest in fine wine and spirits. To put it in their terms, Vint has the right approach to democratize this high-returning asset class with SEC-qualified collections. Meredith & Lou had a great time chatting with Nick & Billy on the back porch overlooking the vines while sipping on some incredible wines from Tasmania and a 1971 Madeira from Portugal. This is...2021-10-0751 min
Major Crush Wine CastS5:EP1 BONUS: The Famous Sideways QuoteIt's crazy how often we reference the movie Sideways in our interviews, but it really was a pivotal movie for wine varietals like Pinot Noir & Merlot. Every winemaker talks about it, but in our interview with Michael Muscardini of Muscardini Cellars, he brought up another part of this movie that is pretty meaningful. There is a monologue in the film where actress Virginia Masden (who played "Maya") sums up this poignant reality about wine and its ability to mark time. Just so you never feel left out, we had Lou share the quote with you in this short little bonus...2021-09-3002 min
Major Crush Wine CastSummer Bonus Series: Champagne Vs. SparklingWelcome to another Summer Bonus episode! In this fly-on-the-wall, Lou & Mere are reunited, and a good friend of our show, Morgan Fouss, joins them, too! Listen in as Mere & Morgan share the key differences between Champagne and Sparkling wine while roaming around the California Wine Country on their way to sip on something new!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us...2021-08-0506 min
Major Crush Wine CastB4: The Story Behind MadrigalThe fly-on-the-wall experience continues as Lou and Amy Kathleen of the Collective Light Podcast roll up to Calistoga -- the northernmost AVA in the Napa Valley -- to do a tasting at Madrigal Family Winery. Winemaker and winery owner, Chris Madrigal is an important friend to our show as he was the very first full-length winemaker interview we ever did! You can hear his full story in S1/EP2 any time, but for now, we hope you enjoy learning more about Madrigal's story, AND, we hope you gain a few new insights into how things roll here in the California...2021-07-2208 min
Major Crush Wine CastB3: Questions Are Always WelcomeOur Summer Bonus Series continues this week with more from Lou's private wine tour with Amy Kathleen from the Collective Light Podcast. In this short episode, AK asks Lou a frequently asked question about grapes, but ends up with AK sharing something personal about her own wine journey that only recently dawned on her!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us a...2021-07-1505 min
Major Crush Wine CastB2: THE BOUTIQUE WINE EXPERIENCEIt's another fly-on-the-wall mini-episode with Lou Zant and our good friend, Amy Kathleen of the Collective Light Podcast! This is a continuation of AK and her husband, Mike's, wine tour earlier this summer, and in this bonus installment, the topic of why boutique wines are so different from wines you can find in your local grocery store. Here, Lou has taken AK and Mike to one of our hands-down-favorite wineries, Madrigal Family Winery. Listen in as Lou starts to unpack some of the reasons why the wine industry has been so slow to embrace the realities of the new world...2021-07-0809 min
Major Crush Wine CastSUMMER SERIES B1: THE ADVENTURE BEGINSIn this bonus episode, you really are listening in like a fly-on-the-wall -- or maybe, safely on the window!! Lou is taking Amy Kathleen of the Collective Light Podcast and her husband, Mike, on a two-day wine tour! Listen in as Lou and AK, as her fans and followers call her, start up the conversation as they motor through the Dry Creek AVA of Sonoma County!
Please be sure to check out Amy Kathleen's podcast, Collective Light Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows! We will let you know when AK's interview with Meredith is available, too, as supporting o...2021-07-0114 min
Major Crush Wine CastSUMMER BONUS SERIES PROMOHey Everyone! Even tho we're on a break, we still have wine stories to share! Tune in on Thursdays throughout the summer to find out what Meredith Griffin & Lou Zant are up to!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at info@majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all four seasons of Major Crush -- a...2021-06-3001 min
Major Crush Wine CastS4/EP 11: The Earth Day EpisodeIt’s always better when Mere & Lou record these episodes in the same location, but we decided Earth Day is such an important day for those of us in the wine industry that no matter what, we needed to stop and reflect on the amazing world we live in and then remind ourselves of the responsibility we have to take care of it.
We’ll be back next week with a brand new winemaker interview, plus, Mere and Lou have a little something extra planned just fans, followers, subscribers of the show.
Have you ever heard of a Coravin? Well, if yo...2021-04-2227 min
Major Crush Wine CastSEASON FOUR BONUS EP: WORLD MALBEC DAYIt's WORLD MALBEC DAY today, so Mere & Lou had to drop what they were doing and create a little bonus episode to get the celebration started! But here's the thing: Just talking about Malbec didn't seem like enough of a way to truly honor one of the best wines you can possibly pick as we're heading into the Spring & Summer grilling season. So as a part of the Crush Collection & The Major Crush Wine Club, Mere & Lou decided to put together a special deal on two Malbecs from Argentina that they have been crushin' on for a while now. If...2021-04-1719 min
Major Crush Wine CastS4/EP 10: Smoke Masters BBQ InterviewWhen it comes to food and wine pairings, for most people, there's one obvious choice: steak and Cab! But for our own Lou Zant, almost all of his favorite food and wine pairings involve the grill, but that doesn't mean he's only about steaks or all about Cabs. In this episode, Lou is joined by good friends and grill aficionados Warren Hoover, head of our new SmokeMasters Wine Club, and Josh Martin, of Blank Wines and Rollin Blue BBQ. With the upcoming launch of our quarterly Smoke Masters BBQ Wine Club, we decided it would be fitting to sit down...2021-04-1536 min
Major Crush Wine CastS4/EP 9: Know Pain Know Gain on Major CrushWe had the best time with our good buddy, Jay Rooke, host of the podcast series "KNOW PAIN KNOW GAIN." He's an entrepreneur coach and fellow wine lover and when we sat down to chat with him over a picnic lunch and a few glasses of wine, it's safe to say we absolutely gained something from the experience! Listen in to learn more about how Jay approaches "failures" and "mistakes," and how easily he connected to Meredith and Lou because there was a common admiration for wine that always ties everything together!
Jay Rooke's website is: www.jayrooke.com
CONTACT...2021-04-0833 min
Major Crush Wine CastS4/EP8: The Law of Relevancy InterviewThis season, Lou and Mere have been expanding their horizons and using wine as a way to connect with other people who have podcasts that are totally worth listening to! So in keeping with this idea, this week we’re re-airing a podcast that my buddy Lou had the opportunity to be on. It’s called The Law of Relevancy with Cordes Owen. It’s not our typical kind of interview, but for the first time since the start of the show, you’re going to get to really learn all about Lou and his past, as well as all of the t...2021-04-0156 min
Major Crush Wine CastS4/EP 7: MAJOR CRUSH ON PETER MATHISWe're back this week and what an incredible interview we have to share with you this time around! Mere & Lou had the chance to sit down with one of the very best winemakers in Sonoma: Peter Mathis. Sometimes it's our relationship with the winemaker that leads us to the people we interview, but most of the time, it's their wine -- and when it comes to Peter, his wines introduced us to someone we are thrilled to call a friend of the show! Peter is a charming storyteller who happens to make the most beautiful wine you'll likely ever have...2021-03-251h 05
Major Crush Wine CastS4 / EP 6: Destined For GrapenessHey everyone! We're kind of excited because WE GOT NEW RECORDING EQUIPMENT for our show! It's been a long-time coming, but we finally found a system we can take with us on-location that we do hope will improve your listening experience! It's a lot more complicated than our old setup, so we thought it would be smart to do a simple Mere & Lou exchange to get the hang of things, but we also wanted to invite you into our world, too. Mere is going for her Level 4 Certification with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and so she decided to...2021-03-1141 min
Major Crush Wine CastS4: EP4 Guerrero Fernandez InterviewFor us, it was an incredible pleasure to sit down and chat with Olga Fernandez & Martin Guerrero about their family winery. Their story is heartwarming and deeply inspiring -- and their wines are some of the best we've tasted on the show. Following their dreams has certainly paid off and each wine in their collection has so much heart and a kind of devotion that you can taste in every sip. Lou has been personally crushing on Guerrero Fernandez wines for a couple of years, so to be able to feature Martin's wines on the podcast is something we feel...2021-02-2557 min
Major Crush Wine CastS4: EP 2 The Italian Wine GirlWelcome to the first interview of Season Four! We feel so fortunate to have had a chance to interview Laura Donadoni, AKA, The Italian Wine Girl! Her passion for Italian wine and teaching other people how to “crush on it” in her own way is absolutely beautiful to us, and we hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did. As Lou promised in the episode, we’ve got some details in these show notes to help you personally connect to the content Laura has to offer, and we do encourage you to dig into her blog. In addition, we've...2021-02-111h 05
Major Crush Wine CastS4: EP 1 Welcome Back to the Wine CountryWelcome Back to the Wine Country, and, Welcome Back to Major Crush! It feels amazing to be starting up our fourth season of the show! We decided to kick things off with an episode that eases us back into the swing by offering you an update on the state of the wine industry, as well as how Major Crush has started to expand to bring that Wine Country Experience to you at home! We love wine, and for us, the only way to express that love is to come up with new ways to invite you into our experiences in...2021-02-0423 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3/EP14: Season Three Wrap UpCONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com or send us a message on our website at www.majorcrushwines.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out all three seasons of Major Crush on Spotify, or wherever you access your favorite podcasts!2020-11-0537 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3//EP 13: The Crush CollectionIt's finally time to let you in on something Mere & Lou have been dreaming of since the end of Season One! We're finally ready to launch our very first Crush Collection wine club! Every time we put out another episode of this podcast, we get feedback from our listeners that our show tends to make people thirsty! So we decided we needed to come up with a way to get the wines they're crushin' on to our listeners -- and the rest of the world -- because when a wine is crush-worthy, it's so much fun to share it! In...2020-10-2929 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3//EP13: WTB BONUS - The Blank Wines CollectionWelcome to another bonus episode of the Major Crush Winecast called WHAT THE BLANK! All season long, Mere & Lou have been teaming up with Josh Martin & Lars Williamson of Blank Wines to explore topics that apply to the "Millennial & Gen Z" population of wine consumers. It's added so much to our season, and we can't tell you how much fun we've had getting to know these guys. So it seemed only fitting that we should do our best to help launch the Blank Wines Club by featuring their very first shipment of wines, too! Mere & Lou have spent hours tasting...2020-10-2926 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3/EP 12: Corks Vs. Screw CapsSeason Three is drawing to an end, but we had to put together an episode about one of the biggest controversies in the wine industry: Corks Vs. Screw Caps. Winemakers have strong and very specific reasons for picking a side in this internal battle, and throughout this season, the winemakers we've interviewed have openly shared their thoughts with us! So we pulled together outtakes of several of our interviews and bundled them up in a stand-alone episode so we can explore this topic with our listeners. Hear how some of the most storied winemakers in the California Wine Country have...2020-10-2229 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3//EP11: Wine & Hoops with David GriffinIf you've been following the Major Crush Winecast for any length of time, then you already know the name, David Griffin -- the Pinot Noir-loving husband of co-host Meredith Griffin. And, if you follow professional basketball, then you know this same David Griffin as the genius NBA executive who has a knack for putting together winning teams and fostering a sense of camaraderie wherever he goes! We thought it would be fun for us to put David in our very own "hot seat" to talk about wine culture inside the NBA, and to share a few other insights with our l...2020-10-1838 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3//EP10: The Peake Ranch InterviewWelcome to another episode of Major Crush! Meredith and Lou had such a great time down in Santa Barbara County, and the people they interviewed along the way are making some truly crush-worthy wines! So it’s no surprise that our last winemaker interview kind of blew us away. There’s this gorgeous place tucked away in the Santa Rita Hills called Peake Ranch. It’s one of the most beautiful settings we discovered on our road trip, and…the new friends we met at Peake Ranch make this a winery we’re sure to be visiting again!
When we recorded t...2020-10-0849 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3//EP9: The Lane Tanner InterviewYou already know that Meredith & Lou love to crush on wine, but this time around, the crush is personal. For several years now, Lou has had a sincere adoration for the wines made by Lane Tanner of Lumen Wines, so when we reached out to her for an interview, and she said "Yes!" it was a pretty big deal! Before they even entered her winery, Meredith and Lou were starstruck! From her taste in music (she was rocking out to Lou's favorite band, Little Feet) to her disarming approach to winemaking, everything about Lane Tanner just feels right. She has...2020-10-0143 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3//EP9 WTB BONUS: Lane TannerIt's always so much fun for Meredith & Lou to sit down with their buddies from Blank Wines to talk about one of their latest discoveries from Major Crush. Lou, of course, was pumped to tell the guys all about his big crush on Lane Tanner, but there was so much more than that to talk about! In this episode, we talk about a unique wine Lane is experimenting with; the movie Sideways and its profound impact on the wine industry; and, the value of having a mentor when you’re following your passion in life.
As always, this WHAT THE BL...2020-10-0123 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3//EP8: The Brewer Clifton InterviewThe Santa Barbara County Road Trip starts off with a huge win when we spent time with the one-and-only Greg Brewer of Brewer Clifton Wines. If you've been a fan of our show, then you already know that our absolute motto is this: wine connects people. And so when we met with Greg Brewer, of Brewer Clifton Wines, it shouldn't have surprised us to feel so drawn into his world, but somehow, it did! His ability to tell a story that carries you forward into a true understanding of his wines and the Santa Barbara County growing region is profound...2020-09-2447 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3//EP7: The Galante Vineyards InterviewEvery so often in life, you meet someone for the first time, and you just know you're going to be life-long friends. Such is the case for Lou when he first met Jack Galante of Galante Vineyards — and we think it's safe to say, Meredith had the same experience! Jack is undeniably one of the most generous and kind winemakers you're ever going to meet, and his cowboy hospitality means you can leave your worries at the door and relax with a good story and a delicious glass of his wine! This interview only scratches the surface of Jack's story, bu...2020-09-1752 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3 //EP6: The John Ash InterviewWe almost can't believe we landed an interview with THE Chef John Ash -- the Father of Wine Country Cuisine! But somehow, we did, and it turned out to be one of the most informative interviews we've done that brings the world of food and wine together in perfect harmony! In this episode, Meredith & Lou get to learn about Chef John's past experiences, but they also learn about one of the most fascinating topics for wine lovers: pairing wine and cheese! John was so generous to us as he walks us through some really valuable tips, and, he also provided...2020-09-1056 min
Major Crush Wine CastWhat the Blank Bonus: S3//EP6: The John Ash InterviewWe had so much fun discussing some of the things we learned from our interview with Chef John Ask with our buddies Josh Martin and Lars Williamson of Blank Wines. In this special bonus episode, Meredith set up a taste experiment inspired by Chef John Ash -- which turned out to be pretty enlightening -- and we advanced our discussion of how much more fun it is to enjoy wine (and food) when you keep things simple!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them...2020-09-1031 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush S3: The Indigené InterviewThe last stop on our Paso Robles road trip was a bonding experience for Meredith, Lou, and Josh Martin of Blank Wines. Meeting Raymond Smith, winemaker, and owner of Indigené Cellars added so much to this journey, and after you listen to this interview, we know it will be easy to understand why this new friend of the podcast means so much to us! In this interview, you'll learn how humility, hard work, dedication, and generosity come together to create an inspiring winemaker story, which in turn, offers up the world some of the most delicious wines we've EVER experienced!! W...2020-09-0351 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush S3 // EP 4: The War Room InterviewOur road trip through Paso Robles continues this week with a visit to War Room Cellars in Santa Margarita! This is not one of our typical winemaker interviews, mostly because there's nothing "typical" about Andrew & Evan Nelson! These two brothers are a couple of the most enjoyable people to spend an afternoon with, and they are truly living up to their motto: Wine for All, All for Wine!! The focus of War Room Cellars is marketing, distribution, and sales, and everything these two brothers do centers around creating the best value and easiest access to the wines they procure. Their...2020-08-2747 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3 // EP 4 // WHAT THE BLANK BONUS: Bubble ButtWe had so much fun tasting Bubble Butt! Every now and then, you come across a wine offering that combines kitsch with class, and that's exactly what you've got with this wine seltzer in a can! Listen in as Meredith & Lou talk to Josh Martin & Lars Williamson of Blank Wines about this happy sparkling rosé, and then learn how these four wine geeks help to round out their own understanding of the term "value wines."
If you're interested in finding Bubble Butt, check your local retailer and ask for it by name at your local Trader Joe's! Or, you can vi...2020-08-2713 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush S3 // EP3: Paso Road Trip // The Denner InterviewThe Major Crush Paso Robles Road Trip continues, and boy did we have fun at Denner Vineyards! Have you ever heard that saying, "I'd rather be lucky than good?" Well, in the case of this episode of Major Crush, we were able to experience both! Our good fortune started with access to the winemaker, Anthony Yount, and the winery owner, Ron Denner, but the tasty wine, the delicious stories, and the genuine camaraderie we experienced made everything about our time at Denner Vineyards truly special! Josh Martin of Blank Wines joins us again in this episode and together, Meredith and...2020-08-2044 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3 // EP 2: PASO ROAD TRIP // L'Aventure WineryWelcome to the first Major Crush Road Trip episode of the new season! We decided to branch out this time around and explore a different California Wine Country with our listeners, and our first stop was Paso Robles! We brought along Josh Martin from Blank Wines to serve as our tour guide — since he graduated from Cal Poly and knows so much about this unique growing region! Paso Robles is filled with terrific wines and the stories behind each one made this trip so much fun for us! And because of the constant comparisons that are made between Paso and th...2020-08-1345 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3 // EP 2 BONUS // WHAT THE BLANK: Elbling & L'Aventure WineryThis is a new bonus series spin-off where Lou & Mere start the conversation with Josh Martin and Lars Williamson from Blank Wines about how differently the Millennial & Gen Z generations approach all things wine. This first episode reaches back to our Summer Series where Lou interviewed Josh & Lars about their new company, Blank Wines. In that episode, these two winery guys spoke very highly of a wine varietal called Elbling, so it seemed fitting that the first time Mere & Lou tasted this wine, they should do it with Josh & Lars. Then, the four open up and talk about our trip...2020-08-1330 min
Major Crush Wine CastS3 // EP 1: The Adam Lee InterviewWelcome back to a brand new season of Major Crush! Boy do we have a great first interview to share with you — it's with Adam Lee, a total rock star of the winemaking world, and one of the most sincere people you'll ever meet. He has an incredible story to tell, and the wines he makes are some of the most well-made we've featured in any of our seasons. Adam is considered by many people in the industry to be a Pinot Noir expert — and in fact, he is the Pinot Noir Advocate for Jackson Family Wines. So when he talke...2020-08-0651 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Summer Series: Pairs Well with Others EpisodeOne thing everyone who knows anything about wine can agree on: it always pairs well with others! So in the final episode of our Summer Series, Meredith sits down with two of her favorite people -- her mom and dad, Jan & John Hale -- and Lou takes some time in the park with Ethan Glago, one of our favorite people, and, a bit of a Millennial wine expert! In this breezy and light episode, Meredith and Lou simply want to invite our listeners to see how easily people open up when you pair them with a good bottle of wine...2020-07-0233 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Summer Series: The Wine Shop Interview with Meredith GriffinNot everyone gets to hang out in the Wine Country -- and right now, that even includes Meredith! She's been sheltering in place in her new hometown of New Orleans, and so we decided it might be fun for her to interview someone "in the know" in NOLA about all things wine. We feel so honored to have an episode featuring Morgan Fouss, Director of Wine and Spirits for Langenstein's and Prytania Wine and Spirits. This interview is for anyone who has questions about retail wine buying, and it's packed full of terrific advice!
Morgan Fouss, Director of Wine and S...2020-06-2527 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Summer Series: BONUS with MeredithMeredith is the first one to have a "summer fling!" After listening to the BLANK Interview with Lou and his friends Josh Martin and Lars Williamson, she couldn't resist trying the unusual white wine they raved about from Luxembourg called Elbling! In this episode, eavesdrop on a call between Mere and Lou and hear a little bit more about this amazing summer white!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and...2020-06-2306 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Summer Series: The BLANK Interview with Lou ZantWelcome to our first full episode of the Major Crush Summer Series! We're excited for you to meet Lars Williamson & Josh Martin, two up-and-coming entrepreneurs who, we believe, are about to change the wine industry for the better! In this episode, Lou interviews these two down-to-earth and totally switched on guys to talk about the future of wine, and their unique wine brand, Blank Wines. One of the biggest mystery in the wine business today is how to attract more millennials to wine, and it just might be that Josh & Lars have the answer! We'll be inviting these two back...2020-06-1839 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2 / Ep: 14 Season RecapIt's shocking to us that we've just finished our second season of the Major Crush Podcast! But it's true, and this season was so much fun! In this final episode of the season, Meredith and Lou reminisce about all of the great people they met and recall all of the great topics they unpacked together. If you haven't listened to this season of Major Crush, this episode might be a fun way to get started -- because it gives you a glimpse into the season while wetting your whistle for more!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for...2020-04-3021 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush S2/Ep 13: The Jesse Katz InterviewIt was such a huge pleasure to be able to spend time with one of the most notable young winemakers Meredith & Lou have ever interviewed: Jesse Katz. His resume reads like someone who should be much older than 36, and his wines are so spectacular that it's only reasonable to assume this man is truly gifted. In this interview, Meredith and Lou are two of the first people to do a tasting with Jesse in his brand new tasting facility which is perfectly situated in a spot where three famed Sonoma County AVAs come together: Russian River, Dry Creek & Chalk Hill...2020-04-2350 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Ep 12: The Wine Snob* InterviewIf the name of this episode makes you wonder if Meredith & Lou have suddenly gone pretentious on you, well...think again! There's absolutely nothing snobby or unapproachable about Lindsey Blanchard & Ryan Kuhlmann — the husband and wife duo behind Wine Snob*! In this charming installment of Major Crush, you're going to get to meet two of the most sincere people who truly love wine and the journey it is taking them on. For two lawyers who have just started their own label, Lindsey & Ryan have an authentic talent for knowing how to make wines that are delicious, easy to drink, and so...2020-04-0956 min
Major Crush Wine CastSeason 2/ Ep 11: Meet the Foppoli BrothersVIRTUAL TASTING ALERT: You are invited to a Major Crush Zoom webinar!
When: Apr 3, 2020, 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: A Virtual Wine Tasting at Christopher Creek Winery / Hosted by Lou Zant & Meredith Griffin and Joe & Dominic Foppoli
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us04web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GnmRxqHHQUyjt1JhkJ2HBA
**After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.**
EPISODE SHOW NOTES: It's our second trip out to Christopher Creek Winery, and while this episode of Major Crush is still all about wine, it's also about so much more...2020-04-021h 03
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Ep 11: BONUSIn this Bonus episode of Major Crush, Dominic & Joe Foppoli, owners of Christopher Creek Winery, talk about the 2019 fires. As the mayor of the Wine Country city of Windsor, Dominic's experience during that harrowing time is truly something, but his love for his family, his community, and the wines Christopher Creek Winery can share with others makes this sidebar episode so worth the listen!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform...2020-04-0206 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Ep 10: Mixing It UpWelcome to a one-on-one chat between Meredith and Lou about wine varietals that are making a comeback in the US. Throughout the season so far, many of the winemakers we've interviewed are showcasing wines that are not so typical. Wines like Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec -- three wines that Meredith and Lou are absolutely loving, but perhaps people don't know all that much about. So sit back and have a listen as we explore these "come-back" wines that give you something new and exciting to taste, and ultimately, help you mix things up a little!
CONTACT US: If...2020-03-2641 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Ep 9: 750 WinesMeredith and Lou have this amazing friend named Monica Stevens. She and her husband, David, own 750 Wines -- a totally unique tasting studio located in St. Helena, CA. As you'll discover in this episode, when Monica curates a tasting for her guests, her attention to detail and her authentic desire to pick the perfect wines for her guests creates this extraordinary Wine Country experience very few people know how to orchestrate! As Meredith and Lou interview Monica in this podcast, it becomes apparent right away that the way people come together over a glass of wine brings out the best...2020-03-1932 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Ep 8: Feature Interview with Author Frances DinkelspielWhen host, Lou Zant, first moved to the California Wine Country, he came across a book called, Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California. Lou absolutely devoured the book because Frances Dinkelspiel is a marvelous storyteller, but also, this book mixes the history of winemaking in California — and, one of the most outrageous wine crimes ever — with a very personal quest to find out if the loss of a priceless family heirloom can ever be truly reconciled. Then, after Meredith Griffin read the book, it was obvious that these two were going to need...2020-03-1242 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Full Length Ep 7: Wine Club CultureTo join or not to join...?? That is the question of the day when people come out to the Wine Country! The whole "wine club culture" is actually pretty awesome, and the benefits to the winemaker and the wine drinker are mutually important. But since nearly every winemaker interview Meredith and Lou have done in Season 1 and Season 2 features a brand of wine you can't find on a shelf in a local wine shop or supermarket outside of Napa or Sonoma, we've been getting a lot of questions about the concept of joining a club to access these wines. So...2020-03-0520 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Feature Interview Ep 6: Pech Merle WineryYou gotta love a winery that leads with love and devotion, right? Well... Let's just say that's how things worked out for Meredith and Lou when they sat down to interview Bruce Lawton, owner of Pech Merle Winery. The attention to detail when it comes to how winemaker, John Pepe, approaches every wine he makes for Pech Merle starts in the vineyard and ends up in your glass. Like most of the winemakers and wineries featured in the Major Crush podcast, you can't get these wines in your local stores, and for the most part, you have to be a p...2020-02-2744 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Feature Interview Ep 5: Waugh Family WinesThe real world of wine is full of some truly incredible people, but two of the very best are Ryan and Crystal Waugh of Waugh Family Wines. Meredith has a very personal connection to this couple and their famous wine club, and so it was really important to her and to Lou to introduce all of our Major Crush podcast listeners to this very unique winery. Waugh wines are only distributed Direct to Consumer, so you will definitely want to check out their website to learn more about their VERY unique wine club, and to find out how you can...2020-02-2055 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Ep 5: Waugh Family Relief Wines BonusAs you may have already noticed in the feature interview with Ryan and Crystal Waugh, this winemaking family is all about connecting to others -- and that even means helping others in need. In this special bonus episode, Ryan and Crystal tell Meredith and Lou about their incredibly beautiful charity wine program called Relief Wines. The way the Waugh's set up this charity ensures that 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the Relief Wine labels go directly to the charities they have designated. You won't want to miss this extra time with Crystal and Ryan. To find out how...2020-02-2014 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Full Length Ep 4: Valentine's DayHappy Valentine's Day, everyone! In this episode of Major Crush, Lou and Meredith talk about wine and love. There's just something about the way a bottle of wine connects people -- no matter how you'll be spending time together on this special day! As promised in the episode, we've added a couple of varietal picks to help you zero in on some "sure things" to share with someone special this year! Lou's Picks: If you're spending a cozy evening in, and you really want a red wine that pairs well with just about every yummy food you can think of...2020-02-1320 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Feature Interview Ep 3: Christopher Creek WineryIt's the first winemaker interview of the new season, and boy this one is good! In this episode, Meredith and Lou interview Joe Foppoli, one of the owners of this family-run winery in the Russian River AVA of Sonoma County. Joe's Italian heritage and passion for family and wine make this one of the most personal interviews Meredith and Lou have ever done.
Most of the wines that Meredith and Lou tasted in this episode are pretty exclusive, and all of the wines offered by Christopher Creek are sold directly to their wine club members. But if you happen to b...2020-02-0644 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Ep 3: Christopher Creek Winery Bonus OneWe had to create a couple of bonus podcasts to go along with the Christopher Creek Winey episode of Major Crush because Meredith and Lou couldn't stop talking about the wines they tasted! There's just something about a well-made wine that pulls you in deeper, and when it comes to wines Joe Foppoli shared with us, Meredith and Lou still had more to say!
Be sure to check out the winery website to discover their collection of wines. // www.christophercreek.com //
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you...2020-02-0611 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Ep 3: Christopher Creek Winery Bonus 2One of the many things that make Christopher Creek Winery such a standout in the world of wine is their commitment to charity and giving back. In this bonus episode, Meredith, Lou, and Christopher Creek's owner, Joe Foppoli, talk about how wine and philanthropy go hand-in-hand while sipping on a beautiful Malbec under the winery's Benevolo label.
Be sure to visit www.christophercreek.com to learn all about their wines and their truly amazing family!
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us...2020-02-0605 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Full Length Episode 2: Debunking Wine MythsSometimes people overcomplicate the world of wine, and along with these overcomplications come some very useless myths. For Meredith and Lou, wine should always be fun, but getting hung up on the details often keeps people from freely enjoying and experiencing everything a great wine has to offer. So in this episode, these two wine geeks debunk some of the most common misconceptions.
CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and...2020-01-3041 min
Major Crush Wine CastMajor Crush Season 2/Full Length Episode 1: ABC - Anything but ChardThere's a pretty common saying in the California Wine Country called "ABC" -- Anything But Chard. People got a little burned out on the buttery Chardonnays that started to come out of Napa in particular, and wine drinkers seem to have long memories! But things have changed a lot over the years, and so in this episode, Meredith and Lou want to explore Chardonnays with listeners in a different way, and, they also want to help wine drinkers who think Cab is the only "C" word in the wine alphabet that's worth tasting!
NOTES: If you want to explore Chard's b...2020-01-2333 min
Major Crush Wine CastSeason Two TrailerIt's time for another season of Major Crush, and we're excited to be back! This season we're letting the experiences take us where we need to go, so we hope you'll join us! CONTACT US: If you have questions or comments for Meredith and Lou, and you're listening on the Anchor App, you can send them to us directly. If you're listening to this podcast on any other platform, and you want to reach out, you can email us at majorcrushpodcast@gmail.com // Follow us on Instagram: @majorcrushwinecast. // Be sure to check out the entire first season of Major C...2020-01-1502 min
Brave New Girls - Well Beings, Well PlanetLet's Talk about How to Fix your Sh*t with Shaa Wasmund MBEThis month Lou Hamilton interviews Shaa Wasmund MBE live at Radio Rooftop Cafe. In a heartfelt and inspiring conversation, Shaa reveals the journey from poverty and childhood violence to working with Chris Eubank & becoming the first licensed woman boxing promoter, to working with Sir James Dyson, and beyond that to building a multi-million pound business. But it was only when she was brought to her knees through a terrible tragedy that she discovered her true mission. She overturned her belief that she couldn't be creative and a successful entrepreneur, wrote three best-selling books including her latest "How to Fix...2019-12-2049 min