I Thought I Knew Wine… Then This Happened | Andrea Lemieux

About this episode

The episode explores the depths of Turkish wine culture with expert Andrea Lemieux, revealing its history, flavors, and challenges in the U.S. market.

Episode Overview I thought I understood Turkish wine — its history, its grapes, its culture — until wine writer and educator Andrea Lemieux, known as The Quirky Cork, opened the door to a world I didn’t even know existed. In this episode, we explore the ancient roots and modern realities of Turkish wine, the emotional and cultural layers behind it, and the surprising flavors that make Turkey one of the most overlooked wine regions on earth. Andrea is the author of The Essential Guide to Turkish Wine, the first English‑language book dedicated entirely to Turkey’s native grapes, wineries, and wine culture. She brings a rare combination of deep research, lived experience, and sensory storytelling — and she takes us on a journey through Istanbul life, food traditions, and the evolving identity of Turkish wine. What We Cover How Andrea went from chef → wine writer → Turkish wine expert What daily life in Istanbul really feels like The emotional reality of inflation and constant change in Turkey Why Turkey has more than 1,400 native grape varieties How to taste wine like a pro: aeration, glassware, technique The surprising world of Turkish desserts and wine pairings Why Turkish wine…

People in this episode

Host: Matthew Gray

Guest: Andrea Lemieux

Topics covered

• Turkish wine
• wine culture
• food traditions
• native grape varieties
• wine tasting techniques
• cultural significance of wine

Keywords

• Turkish wine
• wine education
• grape varieties
• Istanbul
• wine tasting
• cultural history
• food pairings

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Essential Guide to Turkish Wine

Places: Turkey, Istanbul

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