Ep25 - Concannon Vineyards: 1963 Petit Syrah Originally uploaded by GuyandGirl.

Episode 26 - Concannon Vineyards (part 2)

This episode of A Guy, a Girl, and a Bottle wine podcast has us visiting the Concannon Vineyard in Livermore, California. This is part 2 of our interview with Jim Concannon. In case you missed the first episode, Jim Concannon's grandfather James Concannon started the winery, in 1883. Not only is the Concannon winery known as 'America's First Irish Winery' but the founder James Concannon was actually born on St. Patrick's Day in 1847. Pretty cool. Listen as Jim talks about the early days, when the Concannon Winery used to ship wine directly to Vatican city. Concannon has also been very proactive in the community and has struggled (much as their vines do in the rocky soil) to ensure that the property has been set aside in a trust to preserve it for future generations. The Concannon family is also starting a wine museum, and we will return later this year when the construction is complete and the museum is open. Until then, however, we hope you enjoy the second installment of our interview.

Our musical guest today is Joseph K, and the song is Out of Time. When we first heard this song, it reminded us of Jack Johnson, yet Joseph has a style that is all his own. (It doesn't hurt that he is originally from Santa Cruz, just down the road from us) We hope you like it, and if so, check out his website and drop him a line. www.jkmusic.us

Concannon Vineyard
23000 Congress Springs Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 741-5858
Google Map

Leave us some feedback! We now have voicemail, simply call 408-627-7796 and let us know if you like what you hear, have suggestions, or would like us to review a particular winery. If you prefer email, you can drop us a line at guyandgirl@gmail.com.

Cheers!
-A Guy & a Girl

Subscribe to our Wine Podcast at iTunes or Yahoo!

Happy St. Patricks Day! This episode of A Guy, a Girl, and a Bottle wine podcast has us visiting the Concannon Vineyard in Livermore, California. We talk to Jim Concannon, whose grandfather and family patiarch James Concannon started the winery, in 1883. Not only is the Concannon winery known as 'America's First Irish Winery' but the founder James Concannon was actually born on St. Patrick's Day in 1847! Talk about luck of the Irish! We spent a couple of hours with Jim, and the stories that he told were so rich, colorful, and passionate, we simply turned on the recorder and enjoyed his stories. (Due to the length, we decided to split this up in two parts, and this is part 1) While we do sample some wines during our conversation, we don't talk about them in great detail. We promise to return soon and concentrate on the wines themselves. If you are intrigued by the history of wine, then this is the podcast that you have been waiting for.

Originally planted with premium Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapevine cuttings from France's legendary Chateau Y'Quem, Concannon later imported the first cuttings from the hybrid Petite Sirah vine developed in 1880 by French viticulturist Francois Durif. James Concannon would become good friends with Archbishop Alemany, a powerful figure in the Catholic Church and a man whose influence would help shape the future of the winery. Archbishop Alemany suggested that James develop a line of sacramental wines for use in church services. It was a suggestion that proved to be a tremendous blessing, as during prohibition, the winery was able to continue production as they were suppliers to the Church, while many other california wineries were lost during those 13 years. James Concannons' grandsons (Joseph and James) would later make the decision to be the first to varietally label Petite Sirah from their 1961 vintage (released in 1964). Later in the 1970's, Concannon's vine clone 7 and 8 (a Cabernet Savignon clone) were planted in Napa, and as a result, the Concannon name has roots in the success of many winemakers that have followed.

It seems that once you visit, you may have a hard time leaving!

"Early in the morning and late at night, our lab technician will feel a cold breeze coming into the room and see a figure outside of the window where my father had his office in the 1920s," said Jim Concannon of Concannon Winery. "The lights go on and off regularly almost every day for no reason. None of the electricians can figure out why, because all of the wiring is in perfect condition," he continued. "One of our employees came into the winery in the morning, and all of the corks from the previous day's partial bottles in the tasting room were lying on the bar top. We have a burglar alarm, so no one could have gone in there. I think it is the ghost of my grandfather, James Concannon, looking over us. - Wine Institute

Musical guest today is Bloody Irish Boys, and the song is Drunk Tonight

In our opinion, this is a must visit on your wine travels throughout California.

Concannon Vineyard
23000 Congress Springs Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
(408) 741-5858
Google Map

Leave us some feedback! We now have voicemail, simply call 408-627-7796 and let us know if you like what you hear, have suggestions, or would like us to review a particular winery. If you prefer email, you can drop us a line at guyandgirl@gmail.com.

Cheers!
-A Guy & a Girl

Subscribe to our Wine Podcast at iTunes or Yahoo!

GNGNB Episode 24: Wine Blogging Wednesday #19 (When in Rhone)
OK Guys & Girls, it's a new month, it's Wednesday, that must mean - The next episode of LOST! Well, that isn't really the case, as it happens to be a re-run anyway. Rather it is time once again for Wine blogging Wednesday! the theme for this month is When in Rhone, and is hosted by Jathan over at Winexpressions.com. Although Jathan wanted us to check out some exotic Rhone Varietals, I took this occassion to go and visit a local wine shop here in Willow Glen (a Suburb of San Jose, CA) called the GrapeVine and asked them a few questions about Rhone varietals and sampled a two different wines. I won't give it all away here in the blog, but I did sample a French blend as well as a California 100% Syrah. Listen to the episode for all the wonderful details and won't you come a take a quick trip with me to the Rhone region of France.....

Musical Artist is Butterfly Catchers and the song is Morning. Check them out!
The Grapevine is located at:

1389 Lincoln Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: 408-293-7574
Fax: 408-293-7012
http://www.grapevine-wg.com
store hours
Tues - Fri: 12pm - 9pm
Sat: 10am - 9pm

You can check out all the results from WBW#19 by visiting the following link

- The Guy
guyandgirl@gmail.com

Subscribe to our Wine Podcast at iTunes
or
Yahoo!

Hey there Guys & Girls, in today's episode of A Guy, a Girl and a Bottle we listen to Kermit Lynch, as he reads a few pages of from his new book, Inspiring Thirst, Vintage Selections from the Kermit Lynch Wine Brochure. (You may remember on Episode 19 of A Guy, a Girl, and a Bottle wine podcast, Joe interviwed Kermit at his store in Berkeley California.) Kermit presented to the public back in December on behalf of Vintage Wine Merchants, and we recorded that session. Kermit's writing and reading style are very witty, and show a rare side of the wine industry. If you like what you hear, you can purchase an autographed copy of the book directly from Kermit at http://www.kermitlynch.com/pgbooks.html#1

We also plug a very entertaining and informative podcast, Amateur Traveller (http://amateurtraveler.com), and lastly a song by a GREAT artist we just discovered - Black Lab, and the song is "Remember".

00:00 Introduction
03:05 Kermit Lynch
03:05 Promo for Amateur Traveler Podcast
27:16 "Remember" by Black Lab

We have added a few new features to our website, including a Frappr map, and a voting button for podcast alley. If you like what you hear, please vote for us over at Podcast Alley, we really appreciate it!

About Kermit:
Kermit Lynch was born and raised in California. In 1972 he opened a retail wine shop and later began importing and distributing nationally. He has been named Wine Professional of the Year by the James Beard Foundation, and the French government presented him a medal and named him Chevalier de l'Ordre de Merite Agricole. His book Adventures on the Wine Route, won the Veuve Clicquot Wine Book of the Year award. In 1998 he purchased the historic Domaine Les Pallieres in Gigondas in partnership with his friends the Bruniers of Vieux Telegraphe.

visit his wine shop at :
1605 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, California, 94702
Google MAP

Phone: 510.524.1524
Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am to 6 pm

Thanks again to Julie Geer from Vintage Wine Merchants of San Jose, CA. Be sure to check out their shop located in Santana Row.

Cheers!

a Guy and a Girl
guyandgirl@gmail.com
Call us! 408-627-7796
Skype: aguyandgirl

Subscribe to our Wine Podcast at iTunes or Yahoo!

---PodShow's "Undition" Pays Off For a Host of New Shows Added to the PodShow Podcast Network---

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. March 1, 2006--- PodShow, Inc., the premier brand in podcasting, welcomes A Guy, a Girl and a Bottle, to the PodShow Podcast Network. The pioneering "Vinecast" is now available on the PodShow Podcast Network (http://www.gngnb.com), introducing the largest network of independent podcast listeners to Joe and Lori as they discuss wine tastings, deliver guided vintner tours and interview wine-experts sharing information and commentary suitable for all wine enthusiasts. Due to the popularity of the show and the greater exposure afforded by the PodShow Podcast Network, Podshow is already entertaining sponsorship inquiries from major brand marketers that intuitively understand the value of this media property.

"Joe and Lori have a really compelling chemistry and an excellent format that highlights podcastings' 'theatre-of-the-mind' charm,'said Adam Curry, PodShow Co Founder and President. I'm looking forward to the new vintage "cheers to Joe and Lori."

A Guy, a Girl, and a Bottle were exposed to PodShow through a November 2005 promotion named "The Undition" which enabled over 2000 podcasters to nominate their own shows for addition to the PodShow Podcast Network. Recent additions to the PodShow Podcast Network now enjoy promotion and feature placement across a network of millions of listeners in PodShow's leading directories, communities and listener destinations - PodShow.com, Podcast Alley, indiePodder.org, Podsafe Music Network, Sirius Satellite Radio and PodFinder for iTunes. Additionally, these shows are delivered from PodShowPDN, the first, truly high-performance content delivery network meeting the specific needs of podcasting. Over the coming months, the company will announce many additional shows that have joined PodShow via the PodShowPDN initiative, and the company is expected to release a series of technological innovations that will dramatically improve consumer discovery and enjoyment of podcasts in any environment.

"We're very excited to be a part of the PodShow family," said Joe Carpenter of A Guy, A Girl, And A Bottle. "We've just recently joined the network and we're already seeing results - these guys know how to develop commercial success."

About A Guy, A Girl and A Bottle
Hosted by Joe Carpenter and Lori Leahy, A Guy, a Girl and a Bottle is an innovative, experiential wine podcast exploring wineries and wine culture from a novice-wine-drinker's perspective. A Guy, a Girl and a Bottle profiles many wineries that are often overlooked as travel destinations, enabling more people to visit and enjoy the exclusive, rare and limited-production wineries treasured by collectors and industry insiders. Recording on location, Joe and Lori help their audience understand wine in plain terms with honest reviews, and, as a result, real people are discovering and sharing new favorite wines and entertaining with more confidence. The weekly show started in July 2005, and is available on the PodShow Podcast Network (www.podshow.com).

About PodShow, Inc.
The PodShow Podcast Network is the premier network in podcasting, assembling the leading communities in podcasting, as well as a host of the most popular personalities and podcasts in podcasting. PodShow also offers professional production and directory services to major media companies and traditional businesses. PodShowPDN is the first high-performance content delivery network meeting the specific needs of podcasting, delivering a comprehensive creation, production, delivery and monetization solution for independent podcasters and mainstream media companies. PodShow makes podcasts more accessible to a growing legion of listeners, provides resources for podcast producers, and enables marketers to take part in the podcast explosion. In the process, the company has greatly simplified the podcasting experience for artists, producers and listeners alike. PodShow is a privately-held company, backed by leading venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital and Sherpalo Ventures. For more, visit: http://www.podshow.com, and for all queries visit: http://www.podshow.com/contactus.html. PodShow and PodShowPDN are trademarks of PodShow, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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(Download a copy of the press release at http://www.gngnb.com/Press/GNGNB-PodShow.pdf)