Pour Temecula: A Local Wine, Beer, and Beverage Podcast

After a month-long summer break, we’re pouring something a little different. We’re stepping outside Southern California wine country and heading north. Way north. Yep, this episode is all about Danish wine. That’s right—Denmark makes wine. And we’re diving into it thanks to a special delivery from Shannon’s in-laws, Christian and Sarah, who brought us a lineup straight from the vineyards of Denmark. We’ll talk about how wine can even grow in a country better known for pastries and long winters. From PIWI hybrids to the rise of cool-climate winemaking, there’s more going on in Denmark than you might expect. We had a lot of fun exploring this fascinating comparison to our local region, and we hope you do too. Cheers, or in Danish, Skål!

In this episode we taste the following wines from Guldbaek Vingaard: 

• Lush Green - a dry white wine made from the varieties Cabernet Blanc, Riesel, and Solaris.
• Riesel - a single-varietal wine made from the Riesel grape—derived from the Riesling grape.
• Solaris Blok 3 - a single-varietal wine made from Solaris from a single vineyard block.
• Gentle Pink - a rosé wine made from a selection of red and green grapes, predominantly Cabaret Noir. 

Ever tried wine from Denmark or a hybrid wine? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Think You Know Rosé? Shannon and Kylie are popping pink corks and busting myths in this fun, fact-packed episode devoted to all things rosé. They answer listener questions about production methods (direct press, saignée, and more), explore rosé food pairings, and then participate in a blind tasting of four Temecula rosés, attempting to guess how each one was made. From crisp and pale to bold and berry, they sip, swirl, and sleuth their way through the lineup.

Wines featured on this episode: 

Nude from Matin du Bois/Corbeaux Wine and Tea House

Blush from Bottaia Winery

Garnacha Blanca from Masia De La Vinya

Estate Parlez Vous Rosé from Akash Winery

 

Do you have a favorite rosé from Temecula? Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

The Short Pour is your quick, approachable take on the wide world of wine and beverages—served in 15 minutes or less. Each episode explores a focused topic, from regional deep dives and grape spotlights to beverage trends, tasting tips, and food pairings. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned sipper, The Short Pour delivers smart, engaging insights without the snobbery. It's your perfect pour of knowledge, ideal for commutes, kitchen prep, or that first glass of the evening.

Today, we're staying home and cracking into a style that helped build the modern craft beer movement—the West Coast IPA. Think bold bitterness, bright citrus, piney aromatics, and a bone-dry finish. And to showcase the style, we're pouring one of the originals that's a stone's throw from our hometown: Stone IPA from San Diego, a beer that didn't just ride the West Coast wave—it defined it.

In this episode of Pour Temecula, we’re tackling a deceptively simple question: What should Temecula wine be known for? From bold reds and Italian varietals to sun-drenched tasting patios and almond fizz, everyone seems to have a different take. To find some answers, we spoke with key voices from the local wine scene—Vito LaFata, Walter Carter, Dirk Uys, and Devin Parr—about whether Temecula has true terroir and what identity the region should lean into.

Co-hosts Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole break down their own takes on Temecula’s future. Along the way, we bust some myths, explore the challenges of regional branding, and invite you to tell us what Temecula means to you. Whether you're in the trade, a local fan, or just Temecula-curious, this episode uncorks the passion and complexity behind the valley's evolving identity.

We invite you to tell us what Temecula means to you. Leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or message us (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Rob Crissell is back on Pour Temecula—and this time, he’s setting the record straight. In this episode, we explore some of the biggest myths and misconceptions surrounding Temecula Valley wine. Is it too hot for quality white wine? Are the wines overpriced? Do winery owners care more about profits than passion? Rob tackles these questions and more, drawing from his recent talk to area servers and his deep experience as a local wine author and producer. We also take a quick dive into Sagrantino, one of the most underrated grapes out there. It’s a frank and refreshing conversation about Temecula’s potential, challenges, and how the narrative around this region is finally starting to shift.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

The Short Pour is your quick, approachable take on the wide world of wine and beverages—served in 15 minutes or less. Each episode explores a focused topic, from regional deep dives and grape spotlights to beverage trends, tasting tips, and food pairings. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned sipper, The Short Pour delivers smart, engaging insights without the snobbery. It's your perfect pour of knowledge, ideal for commutes, kitchen prep, or that first glass of the evening.

Today, we’re headed to the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany—winding roads, rows of cypress trees, the smell of hearty, rustic dishes and wild herbs in the air—and at the heart of it all: Chianti Classico. But don’t expect a dusty old straw-covered bottle. We’re tasting a Gran Selezione level wine with real pedigree… and it just so happens to be from Costco. That’s right—the 2020 Kirkland Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. So, let’s take a quick sip into Chianti Classico.

Welcome back to Pour Temecula! This week, we’re following up on our recent episode about wine certifications by taking the conversation one step further—with someone who bridges both the academic and professional sides of wine education.

Today’s guest is Stephanie Staab—a Sommelier, WSET Diploma Candidate, and luxury wine consultant with over a decade of experience in winery business, marketing, and education right here in Temecula Valley. She teaches Winery Business Principles at Mount San Jacinto College, NYU graduate, holds an MBA in Luxury Brand Management from ESSEC in Paris, and runs her own consulting company, The Luxe Sip, where she brings wine to life through events, strategy, and personalized advising.

In this episode, Stephanie shares with Shannon how collegiate-level wine education differs from programs like WSET and the Court of Master Sommeliers—offering insight into how real-world experience intersects with theory. We talk about keeping non-wine students engaged, the unexpected career paths that aren’t often highlighted in traditional wine tracks, and what the next generation of wine professionals really needs to thrive.

It’s a thoughtful, informed look at what it means to teach wine today. 

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Wine certifications—are they a must-have, a nice-to-have, or just one path among many in the world of wine? This week on Pour Temecula, we dive into that question with two local industry voices who’ve taken very different but equally passionate routes. Heather Rankin, better known as HB, is a seasoned tasting room pro at Danza del Sol Winery who pursued her studies to deepen her understanding and better serve guests. Nate Rivera, co-owner of The Goat & Vine, Two Travelers Wine Bar, and Little Goat Bakery, shares how certification played a role in shaping his palate and building credibility across multiple businesses.

We explore how these certifications—from WSET to CMS—have impacted their careers, the way they talk about wine, and even the way they drink it. Whether you're considering your first wine course or just curious about what all the acronyms mean, this episode shines a light on the personal motivations behind professional wine education. And stay tuned—next week we continue the conversation with Stephanie Staab, a longtime industry veteran and wine instructor at Mount San Jacinto College, for a deeper look at wine education in the classroom.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

What makes a wine collectible? And how do you navigate a marketplace built on provenance, rarity, and trust? In this episode of Pour Temecula, we’re joined by Powell Yang, Director of Sales and Consignment for Spectrum Wine Auctions. Powell’s wine journey spans continents and decades—he’s worked in Napa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and now bridges the U.S. and Asian markets. Along the way, he’s helped build some of the world’s most serious cellars and brokered the sale of legendary bottles.

We get into the nuts and bolts of the fine wine auction world—how consignment works, what makes a wine auction-worthy, and what collectors look for beyond just age and prestige. Powell shares insights on buying vintage bottles, spotting storage issues, and what to know if you're ever tempted to sell part of your cellar. We also talk about the emotional side of collecting—why someone might want a birth-year wine, and how to balance sentiment with drinkability.

Of course, we had to bring it home to Temecula. Does Southern California wine have a place in the secondary market? Not yet—but Powell offers an honest take on what it would take for a region like Temecula to gain traction with collectors. Whether you’re a seasoned buyer or just wine-curious, this is a rare peek behind the curtain at a world where every bottle has a backstory—and every cork pulled can mean thousands of dollars on the line.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!

Ever feel like wine lingo is its own secret language? In this episode of Pour Temecula, we’re demystifying the terms that swirl around your glass. Your hosts, Rick DeLucio and Shannon Cole, are joined by Sam Capaldi (@samanthasommelier), wine writer Devin Parr, and Heather Rankin of Danza del Sol to answer real listener questions about wine terminology. From the difference between “dry” and “sweet” to what makes a wine “balanced,” we’re breaking it all down in a way that’s fun, approachable, and totally judgment-free.

Whether you're a casual sipper or diving deeper into the world of wine, this episode will help you talk the talk—and sip with confidence. Plus, don’t miss our giveaway for a $25 gift card to Corbeaux Wine and Tea House! Cheers to learning something new.

We’d love to hear from you! Whether it’s your favorite winery, a memorable story, a question, or let us know what topics you’d like us to cover — leave us a voice message on Speakpipe, and you might hear yourself on a future episode! Contact us on Instagram (@pourtemecula) or send us a message (info@pourtemecula.com)—we're always excited to connect with fellow wine, beer, and beverage lovers!