Don’t drink, just listen

Want to learn more about wine but, like me, don’t have time for a complete wine course? Listen to these podcasts, then visit your favorite wine shop and before you know it you’ll know exactly what to order when you’re faced with one of those endless wine lists.

When Serial came out a few years ago, I became completely hooked on podcasts. Super exciting and the ultimate cure for boredom while running. By now I’ve moved my sporting activity to the gym around the corner and only listen to podcasts when I’m on the go. I also no longer listen to the mysterious riddle behind a murder in a suburb of Baltimore, but to I’ll Drink to That and Wine for Normal People. Indeed, podcasts about wine. Because, honestly, I still know far too little about it. Those lessons will definitely come, but for the time being these podcasts are excellent free lectures about my all-time favorite drink:

I’ll Drink to That

Get ready, because I’ll Drink to That really is next level on every front. First of all: the enthusiasm alone of sommelier and host Levi Dalton is worth listening to. Secondly: there are now 442 episodes online in which Levi talks to winemakers from all over the world. So, do you want to know what’s happening in the international wine scene and also learn how to taste? Levi is your man. He records every show in his small living room in New York, so the atmosphere is always laid-back and super informal. That’s how we like it when it comes to wine. By the way, also read his pieces for Bon Appétit Magazine: every bit as enjoyable as his podcasts.

Also read: How to recognize a good wine shop

Wine for Normal People

Most episodes of Wine for Normal People are about American wine culture, but if you take the trouble to scroll through the episodes, there’s quite a bit of interesting listening in there. During the episode How to develop your wine palate you’ll learn more about the biology behind common wine aromas and how to put that information to practical use while tasting wine. I don’t know how much you know about wine, but this is incredibly useful to me. Cheers to that.