When You Just Want A Glass Of Wine

When you just want a glass of wine… and your daughter shows up with a microphone, a bottle of Virginia sparkling and a bowl of caramelized onion dip.

Zena surprises her mom, Elaine, with a sparkling twist for Virginia Wine Month: a Thibaut-Jannison tasting paired with Beauty’s famous caramelized onion dip and salty potato chips. There’s musing and memories of France, including that time her parents took a Harley across Bordeaux.

Elaine is inspired and gifts us this magnificent quatrain:

“The fruit of the vine,

Virginia’s sparkling wine,

A dri...

Zena and Renée take an Acid Trip through the wonderful world of Riesling! A Noble Grape dating back to 1435 in Germany. Naturally high acidity make it a perfect venue for terroir to shine. Ranging from bone dry to sweet - find your niche - rich, aromatics, lime and minerality, stone fruit and honey...and petrol? Yes, petrol. Pair it with your favorite seafood or spicy Indian! These are imminently quaffable, lower alcohol , food-loving, expressive and ageable wines! Pair it with your favorite version of "White Rabbit" (To no one's surprise, Renée's is by P!nk!) and take yo...

A little swirl, a little sniff....Is that petrol? Why, yes it is! Remember, go with your first instinct! What a gorgeous Argyle Riesling!

Today's podcast is a sensorial journey through Switzerland - tasting regional wines and pairing each with a rejuvenating skincare ritual. Guest Ada Polla - CEO of Alchimie Forever - brings her expertise in holistic beauty, while we pour wine and soak it all in. Use our special code: SIPANDSPA for 20% off Alchimie Forever til Oct. 30!

Pairings:

Charm Sparkling White Merlot from Deleaa in Ticino, Switzerland and the Alchimie Forever Peptide Lip Booster.

Château d'Auvernier Pinot Noir from Neuchâtel, Switzerland and the Alchimie Forever Gentle Refining Scrub.

Château Constellation Fen...

Shout out to the fabulous Michelle Lim Warner of DCanter Wine Boutique in DC for bringing it today with the bottle for What's in Renée's Glass? A 2016 Château Tour Calon from Montagne Saint-Émilion, Premier Des Tours. What a Merlot! Indigenous yeast, organic, one year in oak. Dark Merlot fruit, fantastic acid and tannin. As it opened up we got leather, earth, smoke. Long finish. OUTSTANDING WINE!!!

This week we’re pouring stories with our friend Nycci Nellis - the voice behind Industry Nights, Foodie & the Beast, and TheListAreYouOnIt.com. She joined us at National Landing to talk about the people, the places and the pours that make the DMV so vibrant. Together, we laughed, swapped insider stories and toasted with two incredible Barboursville wines.

We’re also so excited for Chefs for Equality, where Zena and frequent podcast guest, Andrew Stover, will be pouring wine at a special Perry’s Drag Brunch.

It’s an episode full of friendship, storytelling, and plenty o...

Acid, acid, acid...Riesling is the Acid Queen! In this episode of “What’s in Renée’s Glass?” Zena pours four very different Rieslings: Left Foot Charley (Michigan), Influence (Finger Lakes), Tegernseerhof Smaragd (Austria), and Rolly Gassmann (Alsace). The challenge? Renée has to sniff, swirl and sip her way to the right region.

Along the way, they explore how Riesling is one of the most expressive grapes in the world, and is capable of showing completely different personalities depending on where it’s grown and how it’s made.

And yes… it’s also the start of...

Beauty's Bellezza Wine Club goes on the road to Slater Run Vineyard in Upperville, VA. We started with a walking tour of the winery led by owner/vineyard manager, Kiernan Slater, whose family has owed the property for 300 years. From a welcome Pet-Nat blanc in the open airy tasting room to an "old world" Sauvignon Blanc and a view of the vines from the patio to a crisp, beautiful stainless Chardonnay on the crush pad, Kiernan and Slater Run's sales representative Petra Stolfa, led us through the first round of our tasting. Round two was a seated lunch (catered...

What's in Renée's Glass? Elegant with a little bit of rusticity on the edges. Pretty. Complex. A New World Old World wine? Yep. A new fave! The McPherson 2020 Cinsault!

Wine writer, wine drinker and raconteur, Dave McIntyre, joins Zena and Renée and their good friend Nick Materese for a lively discussion on everything from the early days of a couple Napa legends to the back breaking work of harvest, to the emotional connections and history made through the stories of wine...and a favorite Columbo episode!

#whenyoujustwantaglassofwine #senseofplace #43minutes #comeoveroctober

Cheers to our very own Liquid Storyteller Nick Materese, Dave McIntyre, Dave McIntyre's WineLine Substack, Alcesti Vibrari Frizzante, 61 Vineyard, Silver Oak, Left Foot Charley, BorgonsanDaniele Isonzo del Friuli, Glen M...

Zena's giving Renée an easy one in her first episode back. Her favorite varietal. What's herbaceous and bright with subtle citrus? An old world Loire Valley, Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. A perfect sipper on a hot August afternoon.

Join us live at the Westin in Crystal City where we have the lovely Molly Finnegan of Laurent Perrier helping us raise a glass to Season 2! The Bellezza Wine Club from Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique invited some of their favorite people to celebrate the season 2 launch of When You Just Want a Glass of Wine. There may have been sabering....

#whenyoujustwantaglassofwine #thefrencharegonnafrench #sabered #playwithyourwine

Cheers to Molly Finnegan of Laurent Perrier, McCealaig O'Clisham, Sebastian, Tee, and Jorge of The Westin Crystal City, Bellezza Wine Club from Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique, Julia Coney and...

Do we have something special in store for you in season 2!

On the road on home at Beauty, what were your favorite episodes?

What does it really take to get your WSET Level 3. Find out in Season 2!

Guests, guys and good times.

Exciting times at Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique. We're launching Season 2 with champagne and a live podcast from the Westin, a VIP Road Trip to Slater Run Vineywards, Sip & Cinema back for another show, Halloween parties and the annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Tasting!

What's coming up in Season 2?? Magic in a glass!

How do you find a good glass of wine when you’re dining at a corporate restaurant like Hard Rock Cafe? We’ll decode the wine list, help you spot hidden gems and suggest the perfect pairing for a burger, a glass of wine and a blast of rock and roll. You'll learn the biggest difference between a corporate wine list and a curated wine list, how price points can influence perceptions on quality, whether to order a glass or a bottle, and finally, what to pair with the Legendary Burger!

Cheers to Nick Materese, Siem...

Our friend Klaus Wittauer returns with an Austrian red blend. Cherries and wildness and acid oh my! The three biggies of Austrian reds: a blend of 40% Blaufrankisch, 30% Sankt Laurent (St. Laurent), and 30% Zweigelt from Burgenland. A 2022 Steindorfer Blend.

Cheers to Klaus Wittauer again!

This week, everything's coming up Rosés! Zena and Renée welcome Renée's long-time friend Marquette Rogers to discuss his favorite style of wine. We're "pretty in pink" in this week's episode. Join us and discover why rosé is a perfect year round versatile wine. Pair it with food, friends or any given Tuesday. #roséallday #pinkiesdown

Cheers to Marquette Rogers, Hillinger Secco, Old Westminster Rosé, Haywater Cove Rosé, Château Minuty, Rose et Or, Graham Beck Brut Rosé NV, Underwood Rosé Bubbles.

Special Guest Klaus Wittauer - expert in Austrian Wine - brings a beautiful example Austria's leading varietal, the Queen of Austrian wine, Grüner Veltliner. High acid, stone fruit, floral and white pepper. What's in Renée's Glass? A new style Paul D Grüner Veltliner.

Cheers to Klaus Wittauer and Austrian wines!

Join Zena and Renée on a hot day at the beautiful Loew Vineyards. 5th generation winemaker, Rachel Lipman, talks about her remarkable family history in winemaking from Mead in the Hapsburg Empire to a dry sparkling red in Mount Airy, MD. Discover how the diverse climates in Maryland express a sense of place and legacy at Loew Vineyards.

Cheers to Rachel Lipman at Loew Vineyards,

Did you know there are 300 molecules that make up cherry aroma and taste? Cherry cola? Bing cherry? Red cherry? Black cherry? Fresh cherry? Cooked cherry? Maraschino cherry? Actually, it's a beautiful aromatic, 2023 Barboursville Merlot.

Cheers to: The Amazing Holly Feraci at Barboursville Vineyard and John Peters of Winebow.

Zena and Renée welcome the man, the myth, the Austrian Wine Legend, Klaus Wittauer for a full on deep dive on Austrian wines! Accounting for about 1% of the world's wine production, but responsible for some of most magical wines on earth, where else can you stay in the historic city where Beethoven wrote his 9th Symphony, which is also its own designated wine region, and within one hour you can reach all the wine regions in the country? Trust us, you're not drinking enough Austrian wines!

Cheers to K...

Light pale lemony, and Italian or is it? Ah, a 2023 Barboursville Pinot Grigio - a beautiful example of Virginia winemakers bridging the gap between Old World and New World. Wanna score cool points with Luca Paschina? Ask for a Pinot "Gree Joe".

PRO TIP: Lessons learned - Heavy dishwashing soap can impact the aroma of your wine. Check before you pour - does your glass have a "nose" of its own?

Cheers to: The amazing Holly Feraci of Barboursville Vineyards and John Peters at Winebow.

For our first in a series on Virginia wines, Zena and Renée take a road trip to the astonishingly beautiful Glen Manor Winery in Front Royal, VA. Nestled beneath the epic views of Skyline Drive, and family owned for 4 generations, making it a Virginia certified "Century Farm", Glen Manor Winery is a true "glen". Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains (elevation ranging from 1400 and 3400 feet above sea level) on three sides, Glen Manor's vineyards boast elevation changes from 1000 to 1400 feet above sea level. All of this combines to create a unique and perfect microclimate for growing grapes. Farm o...

Zena finally gets into the hot seat! The best part of wine is bringing people together. Zena, Renée and their friends take on a blind vertical tasting of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Hawkes Wine Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Renée has been a wine club member of Hawkes Wine for over a decade, which, as it turns out, does not guarantee success! The group has the tasting notes courtesy of Hawkes. Can they match the vintage with the wine?

Pro Tip: Don't think, meat. Pitch. In a blind tasting, don't over think it. Say what you think ou...

"A Deep Dive into Flavors and Aromas aka is there bacon in my wine?" In this episode, we chat about the fascinating world of wine flavors and aromas — demystifying why your glass might smell like cherries, freshly cut grass, butter or cat’s pee.

Where Do These Aromas Come From? We break down how wine’s scents aren't added, but come from a mix of grape variety, fermentation, aging methods and terroir. From primary aromas of the varietal (fruity, floral, spice) to secondary aromas courtesy of fermentation and winemaker decisions (yeasty, buttery), and tertiary aromas derived from bottle...

Cherry, tannins and a hint of balsamic. Oregano and thyme, and tomato leaf. A pink label with a black rooster. Special Guests Geoff and Jimi. Put them all together and you have a lovely 2023 Gellina Chianti Classico Reserva. Aged a minimum 24 months. Pair it with a Sunday Sauce, a pizza or just a smile. SPOILER ALERT: No fava beans were hurt in the making of this podcast. This week's What's in Renée's Glass features Geoff's first chianti and it was worth the wait. Geek Alert: This Tuscan region was named Chianti and recognized as a wine-region since the 13t...

In this episode of Guy Talk, we’re sipping bold Amarone and getting real about wine. What do guys love about it? What do guys hate? We break down the stereotypes around men and wine drinking—because wine isn’t just for swirling and sniffing, it’s for enjoying. From boxed wine to pricy favorites, we talk about how wine culture is shifting and share tips on making it less intimidating for guys who just want a glass of wine. Plus, we share easy tips to help guys feel more confident around wine, whether ordering at a restaurant or bringing...

We talk old and new. Fruit and forest floor. Volcanic and limestone. What's in Renée's Glass? The wonderful world of pinot noir! Spoiler Alert: Renée still hasn't found a wine from Mâconnais that she likes.

Cheers to: Andrew, Holly, Côte de Nuits, (Côte-d’Or), Gevrey-Chambertin 2021 Vieilles Vignes, Belle Glos 2023 Balade, Domaine Drouhin 2023 Rose Rock, Mâconnais, Côte de Beaune, Sideways .

Pinot Noir is a diva in the vineyard but a rockstar in the glass. In this episode, we take a "deepish" dive into the history, mystery and sheer drama of this beloved grape. From its Burgundian roots to surprising New World hotspots, we explore why Pinot is both a winemaker’s heartbreak and a wine drinker’s joy. What are you looking for tonight? Old world? New world? Mushrooms and forest floor or strawberries and raspberries? "God made Cabernet Sauvignon, the devil made Pinot Noir".

Cheers to: Drappier Brut Nature, 2021 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Doma...

Old world elegance....a classic Left Bank Bordeaux from Château Verdignan. Ever wondered how those wine experts know if it's a left bank or right bank Bordeaux? Do you taste more Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot? Left Bank Bordeauxes are Cab Sauvignon dominant and Right Banks feature Merlot more.

Here's a tasting tip - when your red wine starts to get a slightly brown tinge on the edge or has some sediment, it's usually a pretty good indicator that it's an older wine.

Dry champagne or DRY champagne? Do you want a "brut" wine or a feminine wine? When does half sweet actually mean more sweet? Why are the French so brilliant and challenging! Join Zena and Renée along with the amazing Andrew Stover of Siema Wines for this light flight as we decode the language of wine, starting with wine labels and ending with winemaking techniques.

Cheers to Siema Wines, Brimoncourt, Bedell Cellars, Ondarre, Moet & Chandon, Veuve Cliquot, Drappier, Steininger, Caduceus Cellars, Merkin Vineyards, Pinino, Chateau Verdignan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Chateau Beaucastel.

What do you get when you blend Chenin blanc with Roussanne, Viognier, Semillon and ducks??? Well, you get the 2022 Avondale Jontys Ducks Pekin White from Paarl, South Africa.

Round 2 of Guy talk with Jimi features a "Taylor-Made" conversation with a raconteur with the AM radio voice, DC Brau's own, Steve Taylor! Join the guys (and Zena and Renée!) for a discussion of rosés for brunch, beer for breakfast and who's bringing Snoop's 19 Crimes to the BBQ.

Cheers to our special guest Steve Taylor (and DC Brau's Dueling Grounds Lager, and The Citizen Belgian Pale Ale), 19 Crimes, Chevalier Famaey Malbec Rosé, Müller and Grossman Rosé of Zweigelt.

When you're dancing with a beautiful red wine, sometimes it's best to start with what it's not...This glass ended up being a fantastic Grenache from Yountville, CA. The 2020 T-Vine Winery Santa Rita Hills Hills Grenache. A big gorgeous wine at 14.9% abv.

Cheers to: Nick Materese - Liquid Storyteller, Siema Wines, Lodali Dolcetto D'alba, Hillinger Secco, Cuvée Klaus, Lakewood Vineyards, Slater Run Vineyards, Glen Manor Vineyard, Loew Vineyards, Little Bosco, Lodali Moscato, SER, Lopez de Heredia, Two Wolves Wines, Clos Rougeard, Raptor Ridge, Domaine Drouhin Rose Rock, Elk Cove, Carlton Winemaker Studio, Castello di Bolgheri Superiore, Laurent Perrier, Cathy Corison, Chateau d'Yquem, Karen MacNeil,

What do you get when your vineyard used to be covered in a glacier? You get an amazing high acid, beautiful pinot blanc from Michigan. Michigan? That's right, Michigan. A single acre punching above its weight class.

The Left Foot Charley 2018 Island View Pinot Blanc.