The Boozy Biddies Podcast is a fun, irreverent exploration of all things boozy - wine and spirits focused - with an emphasis on drinking as you learn. Join your hosts, Kara and Calla, two long-time friends (and boozy biddies) for a discussion of all things wine and spirits. We'll be going over wine and spirits 101 and things like: -How is wine made? -What is the difference between different kinds of wine? -How do I make sense of French wine? -What is distillation? -How are different spirits made? And from what? So grab a glass and join us, because the best way to learn about wine and spirits is to drink as you learn!
The biddies round out the noble grapes series with Chardonnay – either you love it or you hate it, but this full bodied white takes on most of its characteristics from the winemaker! Learn what to expect from Chardonnays from around the world. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/154
3/28/24 • 28:13
The biddies revisit Super Tuscans! Learn about the big three – Sassichaia, Ornellaia, and Tignanello – as well as some more affordable options. Learn why they’re cool and how to spot them in the store. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/69
3/21/24 • 25:41
The biddies maybe should have saved the best for last but due to typical organization dysfunction, we’re talking about the king of grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon today! Tune in to learn about this grapes origins, the France versus California battles, where you can find Cab Sauv today, and how to pick one you’ll like. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/153
3/14/24 • 32:24
The biddies finally record the New York episode that got lost from 2021. Tune in to learn about wine in New York state from the Finger Lakes to the Hudson Valley. The oldest operating winery in the United States is in New York, as well as the nation’s largest wine cave. New York is also home to cold-hardy hybrids! For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/152
3/7/24 • 28:13
The biddies return to the noble grape close up with Riesling – the only noble grape that does not originate from France. Tune in to learn about the different styles, the primary growing countries and how to pick out a riesling that isn’t too sweet (or is just sweet enough!). For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/151
2/29/24 • 35:57
On the heels of our Prohibition and the mob episode, we're re-releasing Episode #77 The Queen of the Bootleggers which takes a look at the role women played in bringing about Prohibition, rum-running and bootlegging during Prohibition, and eventually in helping to bring about its end. You'll also meet one of our favorite badass biddies ever, a bootlegger by the name of Cleo Wade. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/77
2/22/24 • 32:33
The biddies take a little detour from their noble grapes series to discuss how prohibition and illegal alcohol to the American public basically made the mob. Tune in to learn more about Al Capone, Lucky Luciano and the other mobsters that helped keep America boozy while raking in MILLIONS. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/150
2/15/24 • 32:49
The biddies continue their tour of the noble varieties with merlot. Merlot produces very smooth wine which is often blended with other varietals to lessen any harshness. It’s featured in some of the biddies favorite Super Tuscan wines. Tune in to learn about where to find 100% merlots, the best blends, and the Sideways movie fallout. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/149
2/8/24 • 30:11
The biddies profile a favorite white noble variety of theirs: Savvy B! Learn about the differences in Sauvignon Blanc from different countries and why this crisp white is a perennial favorite. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/148
2/1/24 • 31:56
The biddies are having a time already in 2024, so we thought that instead of recording something new half-a$$, we'd re-release our interview with Mari Jones of Emeritus Vineyards (California) on the heels of our All About Pinot Noir episode. Emeritus Vineyards focuses exclusively on estate grown Pinot Noir. Mari Jones is the President (of Fun) and we loved the conversation we had with her back in 2021. Here's what you can expect: a deep dive on the concept of terroir and why it helps to create interesting wines with a story why Pinot Noir is awesome info about some cool wines Emeritus produces including a white pinot noir a bit about sustainable winemaking and climate change in California and most importantly, why terroir isn’t just a word for wine snobs
1/18/24 • 53:54
Pinot Noir is a food friendly, versatile grape that is also kind of a b*tch to grow. The biddies dive into what you can expect from Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France versus the United States versus New Zealand, best vintages and more. If you’re wondering how to pick out a pinot, this is for you. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/147
1/11/24 • 31:13
If you’re looking to cut back on alcohol for damp (or dry) January, we’ve got you covered! The biddies dive into a little bit of dry January’s history before sharing some of their favorite adaptogenic drinks and mocktail options. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/146
1/4/24 • 28:28
The biddies dive into the story behind Gruet – an American-made champagne-method sparkling wine, and the state with the longest winemaking history in the United States: New Mexico. Need lots of bubbles for your New Years’ Eve party? Look no further! For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/145
12/28/23 • 24:46
It’s a holiday beverage having a moment this year. Whether you love it or hate it, eggnog has a long history and dates back to traditional English beverages called possets. The biddies have some theories about how it should be made if you actually want to enjoy it. Tune in to learn more about how eggs and whiskey (or rum) just might mix. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/144
12/21/23 • 28:52
Join us for a topic near and dear to the biddies: Chartreuse. It’s been hard to find lately, so the biddies dive into whether there really is a shortage (spoiler alert: there is), if the monks have stopped making it, and alternative liqueurs to try in your favorite cocktails. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/143
12/14/23 • 24:22
Today the biddies dive into the beer that once had the largest brewery in the world and beat a country to register its national symbol: Guinness. Guinness started out as a family-owned company and quickly became the national beer of Ireland and beloved throughout the world. Tune in to learn why the dark brew is so refreshingly light and how to properly pour a Guinness (it's really important!). Full show notes: boozybiddies.com/142
12/7/23 • 31:28
South African wine is regularly exported all around the world, but what about wine from the rest of the continent? The biddies look into wine from different countries throughout Africa, including from Zimbabwe, where the subject of the documentary Blind Ambition are from. Full show notes: boozybiddies.com/141
11/30/23 • 32:42
The biddies talk about the documentary Blind Ambition, about 4 Zimbabwean refugees who flee to South Africa, become sommeliers and participate in the World Blind Tasting Competition. They also detour through the science of blind tasting and ways you can test your own blind tasting skills at home, or at the bar with a bartender who will probably quickly become annoyed. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/140
11/23/23 • 24:09
The biddies talk about Francis Ford Coppola, American film writer, director and producer – perhaps best known for his work on The Godfather, and also someone who became a force in the American wine industry. He and his daughter Sofia Coppola run a veritable wine empire, own a legendary wine estate, Inglenook, and are also credited with being the first to put sparkling wine in a can. Tune in for the full scoop! For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/139
11/16/23 • 29:42
We all know it (and maybe love it) – Yellow Tail wine. The biddies talk about how Yellow Tail, out of Australia, was basically invented for the American market. It’s a really interesting story and a tour de force of product development and marketing strategy that changed the wine label game worldwide and the Australian wine industry forever. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/138
11/9/23 • 28:13
Goon of Fortune…. That’s all you need to know. The biddies revisit Australian wine, its history and regions, and the best worst drinking game you’ve never heard of, Goon of Fortune. Grab a glass and join us! For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/137
11/2/23 • 25:24
The biddies return to the bubble train and take a look at Austrian and German sparkling wine. Both countries predominantly produce bubbles labeled “sekt”, however there are many different kinds and quality levels within the category. Tune in to learn more and hear about 5 too many “sekt” jokes. Full show notes: boozybiddies.com/136
10/26/23 • 28:57
This week there was a new wine heist down in Florida. We won't have the full scoop on that one yet, so we're re-airing Wine Heists, Part 1 to share some of the craziest times sh*t got stolen. The full show notes are here: boozybiddies.com/123
10/19/23 • 27:48
The biddies chat with Travis Gale, a friend of Calla’s who also imports mezcal from Mexico. We chat about why it’s his favorite spirit, the difference between mezcal and tequila, and why not all (in fact not most) mezcal is smoky, amongst other things. Tune in to learn how Calla is responsible for Travis’ worst hangover ever and more! For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/135
10/12/23 • 51:57
The biddies stay on the bubble train and turn their attention to Italian sparkling wine. Like there is more than Cava in Spain, there is also way more than Prosecco in Italy – including one gentleman who ages his wines hundreds of feet below sea level on the ocean floor. Grab a glass of something sparkling and tune in! boozybiddies.com/134
10/5/23 • 29:57
Because there’s more out there than cava! Tune in to learn more about cava and why not every Spanish sparkling wine is actually cava… There are a number of producers making different levels and kinds of sparkling wine. Many of them are budget friendly and all of them are delicious. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/133
9/28/23 • 25:49
It would be these people… the “first families of wine”, also known as the Primum Familiae Vini, consists of some of the biggest winemaking families in Europe, although one American label was amongst their number at one time. Learn all about these 12 families and the rules of this super exclusive club. For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/132
9/21/23 • 23:47
On the heels of the cult wine episodes, the biddies take a deeper dive into Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. Tune in to learn all about this highly sought after (and very expensive) Burgundy wine. While you may never get to try it, you’ll be in the know! And you'll also learn about the time all the vines were almost poisoned by a crazy guy demanding a ransom - yikes!! For the full show notes: boozybiddies.com/131
9/14/23 • 29:32
The biddies chat with William Allen and Karen Daenen of Two Shepherds. Located in Sonoma County, Two Shepherds focuses on artisanship and quality without excessive manipulation. This mostly means they make the wines they want to drink! Tune into the episode to learn more about Two Shepherds, winemaking, the hunt for bucket list varietals, the Two Shepherds menagerie of animals and why you should never ask William how he came up with the name ‘Two Shepherds’ (but don’t worry, we did it for you), and more! We had so much fun with these guys and we know you will too. Full show notes: boozybiddies.com/112 Two Shepherds website: twoshepherds.com
9/7/23 • 63:11
The biddies take a look at one of the most badass women in winemaking history, the widow Clicquot - and how she created a veritable champagne empire, invented new technologies to get her champagne to market faster, and was just a generally awesome lady. Full show notes: boozybiddies.com/76
8/31/23 • 17:13
