Wine Access Unfiltered

Oregon wine country is closer, more accessible, and more delicious than you think. In this episode, we sit down with AJ Resnick—former Wine Access colleague, podcast co-creator, and current Ponzi Vineyards Chief of Marketing—to explore Portland and the Willamette Valley through the eyes of someone who left California to make Oregon home. From why Ponzi is only 20 miles from downtown Portland to which pizza shops deserve a permanent spot in your rental car, AJ breaks down how to plan your Oregon wine trip, where to eat in Portland, and why these Pinot Noirs deserve more age than they're getting. We taste Ponzi's Laurelwood Chardonnay, compare Oregon to Burgundy and California, and get AJ's insider list of restaurants, wine bars, and hidden gem wineries. Whether you're planning your first trip to the Pacific Northwest or wondering if Oregon wine lives up to the hype, this episode proves it absolutely does.

2023 Ponzi Vineyards Chardonnay Laurelwood District, Willamette Valley

Restaurants - Portland:

Pizza:

Scottie's Pizza Parlor

Baby Doll Pizza (keeps well in car trunk, per AJ)

High-End/Fine Dining:

Canard (Le Pigeon's sister restaurant)

Kann (chef Gregory Gourdet, James Beard winner, Top Chef alum)

Nodoguro (omakase)

Ox (Argentine-inspired)

International:

Kachka (Russian)

Janken (Japanese izakaya)

Akadi (Portland African cuisine)

Luc Lac (Vietnamese)

Casual/Other:

Matt's BBQ

Coquine (mentioned by AJ)

Gabbiano's

Reel M Inn

Breweries:

Breakside Brewery (AJ's first stop in Portland)

Bakeries/Coffee:

Nuvrei (bakery Amanda couldn’t remember name of)

Willamette Valley

Restsaurants/food

The Allison Inn & Spa, Newberg (burger highly recommended for brunch)

Sushi Kichi (Vale - small town sushi)

Joel Palmer House (mushroom-focused)

Nick's Italian Cafe (Dundee Hills)

Red Hills Market (Dundee)

Wineries Mentioned:

Must-Visits:

Ponzi Vineyards

Domaine Drouhin

Domaine Serene

Bergström

Lingua Franca (Thomas Savre)

Soter

Hidden Gems:

Artist Block Winery (sparkling, Syrah, creative tastings)

Carlton Winemakers Studio (collective/incubator for multiple producers)

Historic Oregon Producers (aged well at Press Restaurant):

Domaine Drouhin

Rex Hill

Eyrie Vineyards (pioneering Oregon winery)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mexico is making world-class wine—and most people have no idea. In this episode, we head to Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California with Eduardo Dingler to explore one of North America's most exciting (and accessible) wine regions. From Nebbiolo that tastes like Napa Cab to fresh Chenin Blanc perfect for fish tacos, Valle de Guadalupe is rewriting the rules on what Mexican wine can be. We break down which grapes thrive there, why it's an easy weekend trip from San Diego, how to plan your visit, and what makes this region so special. Plus, we taste Mama Mama Chenin Blanc from winemaker Lulu Martínez Ojeda—a wine that proves Mexico deserves a spot on your wine travel bucket list. Whether you're curious about emerging wine regions or just want an excuse to drink wine with tacos by the ocean, this episode is for you.

Wine:

2024 Towns Wine Co. Mama Mama Chenin Blanc, Viñedo Kompali, Baja California

📦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda

Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year

$120 + tax

Shipping Included

Cancel anytime

10% off all Wine Access purchases

Follow us on social!

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wineaccessunfiltered⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Wine Region:

Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico

Parras, Coahuila, Mexico (oldest winery in the Americas, 1597)

Winemaker/Producer:

Lulu Martínez Ojeda (Mama Mama winemaker, studied in Bordeaux)

Alicia Towns Franken (Towns Wine Co., championing underrepresented winemakers)

Key People Mentioned:

Hugo d'Acosta (pioneering winemaker in Valle de Guadalupe)

Camillo Magoni (Italian winemaker from Alto Adige, came to Baja in 1960s, planted Italian varietals)

California Chenin Blanc Producers Mentioned:

Jurassic Vineyard

Gamling & McDuck

Lang and Reed

Crigley Family (100 cases production)

Napa Restaurants Mentioned:

La Choza (tacos)

Don Carlos

Mothers Tacos

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time travel exists—and it comes in a bottle. In this solo deep dive, we're exploring everything you need to know about older wines, from what actually happens as wine ages to how to find, store, and serve bottles with serious age on them. Drawing from years of working with Press Restaurant's legendary cellar—one of the largest collections of Napa Valley wines dating back to the 1950s—we break down which wines are worth cellaring, what "good funk" really means, and why you don't need a million-dollar cellar to enjoy the magic of aged wine. Whether you're curious about that 2015 Rioja in your glass or wondering if your closet can double as wine storage, this episode answers your most-asked questions about drinking through time. Spoiler: sediment is your friend, and no, you don't have to finish the bottle in one sitting.

Wine: 2015 El Centimo Real Rioja

Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda

Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year

$120 + tax

Shipping Included

Cancel anytime

10% off all Wine Access purchases

Follow us on social!

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wineaccessunfiltered⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Previous Episode Reference:


"Corked and Uncorked" Episode with PJ Awe from Amorim Cork America (about cork and wine storage misconceptions)

Wine Regions/Styles Discussed for Aging:

Regions Known for Age-Worthy Wines:

Napa Valley, California (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Bordeaux, France

Burgundy, France (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir)

Rioja, Spain (Reserva, Gran Reserva)

Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Champagne, France (can age 50-70+ years)

Mosel, Germany (Riesling)

Sauternes, France (sweet wines)

Grapes That Age Well:

Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo

White: Chardonnay, Riesling

Sparkling: Champagne

Grapes/Styles That Don't Age Well:

Rosé (with rare exceptions)

Sauvignon Blanc

Pinot Grigio

Albariño

"Chillable reds"

Wine Storage & Serving Tools Mentioned:

Repour wine savers (wine preservation)

Coravin (wine preservation system)

VinSling Wine cradle (for serving bottles with sediment)

Decanter

Flashlight (for checking wine color/condition in bottle)

Key Concepts Covered:

Oxidation in wine aging (controlled vs. uncontrolled)

Temperature control for wine storage (55°F ideal)

Sediment formation and handling

Decanting aged wines

Color changes in aged wine (browning, brick-red hues)

Primary vs. secondary vs. tertiary aromas/flavors

Tannin and acidity's role in aging

Cork storage myths (lying down vs. standing up)

Vintage variation

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Forget the usual suspects—we're taking you off the beaten path with the top five most exciting wine destinations for 2026. From Portugal's incredible diversity beyond Port to Germany's underrated food scene, Argentina's high-altitude Malbecs in Mendoza, California's dynamic Paso Robles, and the UK's surprising sparkling wine regions, these are the places where wine, food, and culture collide in the best possible way. Whether you're planning your first wine trip or looking for your next adventure, this solo episode is packed with firsthand insights, travel tips, and why visiting wine regions beats any classroom education. Plus, we share what makes each destination uniquely exciting—and why now is the time to go.

2021 Catena Zapata Catena Alta Malbec Historic Rows Mendoza

📦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda

Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year

$120 + tax

Shipping Included

Cancel anytime

10% off all Wine Access purchases

Follow us on social!

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wineaccessunfiltered⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wine lovers don't just travel—they travel differently. And in this episode, Amanda sits down with Candice Mathis, founder of Vintage Departures and wine travel expert, to explore exactly how. From what makes a wine trip worth booking to why a great hotel bar matters more than you think, Candice shares her hard-earned wisdom from planning itineraries across Napa, Burgundy, Champagne, and beyond. They dig into the logistics of traveling with kids, why sleep is always worth the splurge, the unspoken rules of wine region etiquette, and how to unlock hotel perks you didn't know existed. Whether you're planning your first wine trip or your fiftieth, this conversation will change the way you think about where to stay, what to book, and how to make every moment count.

Wine Featured on This Episode:⁠⁠⁠

2022 Louis Millet Sancerre Rouge

📣 Links and Mentions

Candice Mathis - Vintage Departures

🤳 @vintagedepartures

📧  [email protected]

Hotels

Napa Valley

Four Seasons

Meadowood

Alila

Auberge du Soleil

Carneros Resort

Le Petit Pali

Champagne

The Royal Champagne

Piedmont (Alba)

Casa di Langa

📦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda

Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year

$120 + tax

Shipping Included

Cancel anytime

10% off all Wine Access purchases

Follow us on social!

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wineaccessunfiltered⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @wineaccesspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda McCrossin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Shop all the wines at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wine Access⁠⁠⁠⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices