Sip with Nikki

Check out more in depth show notes, pictures and links on this episode's webpage.Nikki sits down with Amy Bess Cook of Woman Owned Wineries and winemaker Kira Ballotta for an honest, emotional conversation about women in wine, hustle, and knowing when to let go.Links and How to Support:Everything mentioned in this episode is linked below. If you've been moved to put your money where your values are — and I hope you have — here's where to start:Woman Owned Wineries — Amy Bess has created a resources page for consumers who want to continue supporting women in wine now that the club is closing. Visit Amy Bess Cook's website to see her writing portfolio and work in the pressOlivia Brion Wines — Kira's Pinot Noir-centric brand celebrating trailblazing women from historyCantadora Wines — Kira's Rhône-focused brand featuring real women doing profound community workSollevato Wines — Nikki's wines, including the 2023 pink-label Grenache benefiting the V Foundation for Cancer ResearchGlup Glup— Amy Bess's Sip Spotlight $20 Spanish Grenache find, made for Barcelona Wine Bar and widely availableOther Links and Resources:Sollevato Wines: Nikki and Michael's first ever rosé — a single-barrel Grenache with a touch of Sangiovese is now available, as is their new exclusive wine club, Il Circolo.Their 2023 Petite Sirah (bold, inky, and great for BBQ season) is also coming this fall. Sign up for the mailing list at sollevatowines.com to be the first to know. use code PODLISTENER for 10% off all of Nikki's wines on sollevatowines.comOther resources and links: If you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy us a glass of wine! Please and Thank you!Follow Nikki on Instagram for more behind the scenes look at life in Wine CountryEnjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!

I'm re-releasing our episode from last November in honor of Beaujolais Nouveau Day! What's this fun made up Wine Holiday all about?The 3rd Thursday of November is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which has historically celebrated the end of Harvest. It also means the arrival of super young, fun and flirty red wines made from the Beaujolais region in Central France. But is Beaujolais as a category of wine, just about those bubble gum and grape popsicle tasting wines???(which are certainly cheap and cheerful...)Get the scoop here on what you might be missing... there are more complex beautiful wines that also come out of that regionSteal the tips for finding the right ones for you. Hear about our Sip Spotlight wine and how to try it for yourself! Other Links and Discount Codes:Purchase my small-lot, sustainably grown, super delicious Sollevato Sangiovese 2022! (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!)Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more! You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!Check out Sena Sea's website  to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions, suggestions and guest requests? nikki@sipwithnikki.com

Are you finding yourself dreaming of moving to Italy? (I am...) This episode brings you the inspiring journey of Ashley Bartner and her husband Jason, who traded their New York lives for an agriturismo in the enchanting La Marche region.They’re living the dream—running a farm, hosting cooking classes, and sharing their experiences with those curious about relocating to Italy. You'll hear how they navigated the challenges of moving abroad, from securing visas to finding the perfect property and starting up La Tavola Marche.Takeaways:Ashley and Jason moved from New York to Italy and started their agriturismo, inspiring others to pursue their dreams of living abroad.She shares their experience navigating the complexities of moving to another country, including visas, taxes, and local customs.They offer workshops on how to successfully transition to life in Italy, helping people turn their dreams into reality, and addressing common challenges faced by expats.We do a special Sip Spotlight on the unique local wine, Lacrima, and find a rare and exciting connection between Sonoma County and the La Marche region!Episode Links and Resources:Visit Ashley and Jason's Website to learn more about staying at the Inn, cooking classes and their Move to Italy Workshops!Check out their podcast "The Podcast From Italy".Follow them on Instagram Find the local LacrimaContact Ramazzotti Family Vineyards in Sonoma County to try their Lacrima!Other Links and Discount Codes:Purchase my Sollevato Sangiovese 2022 and Sollevato "Fortunato" Red Blend (last call!)(Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!)Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:Use my VIP Friends and Family Link to sign up for Wine Spies! And use the coupon code NIKKI for $50 off your order of $200 or more!You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!Check out Sena Sea's website to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions, suggestions and guest requests? nikki@sipwithnikki.com

Michael and I just binged watched the new Netflix series, "Next Gen Chef" which was filmed at the Culinary Institute of America in NY. We were excited to see an appearance from a long time friend, Chef Melissa Walnock, who was one of the first guests on the podcast back in Feb 2024!In case you missed it, or just want another dose of her badass wisdom and joy, I'm re- releasing a newly edited version of her episode in celebration of her Netflix debut!We talk about:How being a type 1 diabetic since childhood has shaped her career and artistryHow having an OCD brain serves her extremely precise creations Being a woman in some of the most famous kitchens in the country Her crazy practical exam to become faculty at the Culinary Institute What it’s like teaching the next generation (NextGen!)Get our Sip Spotlight wine through my affiliate partner website here: Check out her baking classes here Be sure to follow her gorgeous Instagram @chefwalnockIf you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine! Please consider Rating, Reviewing and Following Us on Apple Podcasts!“Delightful and fun. Now I love my Monday Commute” (kpjscarbs). Sound like you? I’d love for you to leave your own review!How? Click Here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with Stars and select "write a review" and let us know what you loved most about this episode! If you haven't already, please FOLLOW the podcast! We have so many more exciting episodes coming out, and if you're not following you might MISS then! Click here to Follow! Get my Wine Tips Cheat Sheet here: Questions, suggestions and guest requests? nikki@sipwithnikki.com

This week I'm revisiting an episode from one year ago where I shared a very exciting and rare experience that happened to me while in Bend, Oregon last summer. Enjoy a new intro and outtro to the original episode, where I look back on what has happened after a CRAZY year of life and reflect on if I would have done it differently if given the chance. Spoiler alert: I get a little emotional and a little philosophical. I'm also highlighting a STEAL of a wine (90 points from Wine Enthusiast and under $15!) that pairs beautifully with this story... and you'll hear about the connection between the two! Without giving away too much... You'll hear about:26 years of consistent passion and enthusiasm for ONE THINGHow being patient paid off My curiosity of how YOU think it went and what you would have done differently!Song lyrics referenced in the episode:Oh, how it happened, blew the lid and got a taste, it's some kind of magicIt could happen like it did, Like we awoke, we were still dreamingWhen it happened like it did , If I wasn't there, I wouldn't believe it-DJMThis week's Sip Spotlight wine is a Blast from the Past!Other Links and resources: Purchase my Sollevato Sangiovese 2022and Sollevato "Fortunato" Red Blend (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!)Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!Check out Sena Sea's website  to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions, suggestions and guest requests? nikki@sipwithnikki.comIf you'd like to Support the Podcast, you can buy me a glass of wine and get a shoutout on a future episode!

I recently learned about the powerhouse husband and wife duo Brian Ball and Laura Jones and their new Chardonnay focused winery, Sphaerics.I'm always interested to learn about other small family operated wineries, especially when we are neighbors here in Sonoma County AND they are also created by people who are both partners in Life AND Business, like Michael and I. Listen as I sit down with Brian and Laura and over spectacular vineyard views of the Alexander Valley, they share how 15 years of working in the wine business, him as a GM and her as a celebrated winemaker, led to the creation of their own brand highlighting coveted vineyard sites... and a new and exciting vineyard that will be part of their portfolio soon!Highlights: Brian shares what led him from Wall Street to Wine Country and Why..Laura shares her story of making wines around the world and why she is so passionate about Chardonnay We talk about the perceptions and misconceptions about Chardonnay and why it's so exciting to work with They share about the "Energy" in their wines and what that means to you, the wine drinkerHow to acquire these tiny production masterpieces in the futureEpisode Links: Sign up for their mailing list at Sphaerics WineFollow Sphaerics on Instagram Read the San Francisco Chronicle article (by Esther Mobley) that put them on my radarRead this awesome highlight of Sphaerics and Laura's winemaking in Wine SpectatorOther Links and resources: Purchase my Sollevato Sangiovese 2022and Sollevato "Fortunato" Red Blend (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!Check out Sena Sea's website  to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions, suggestions and guest requests? nikki@sipwithnikki.com

Proud Aunt Moment: My nephew Aidan is about to start his third year as a Cadet and rugby player at the West Point Military Academy in NY. He recently spent 3 weeks in Germany on an exchange training with their military and he was excited to share some of his stories from his time there. Being well trained from a young age by his aunt Nikki, he was curious about German wine, beer and spirits and brought home some different things that he wanted to share with us along with the stories of his time in the field. Listen to our 3 generation gathering as Aidan and I are joined my mom, Susan, and my sisters Dana (his mom) and Amanda as we listen, learn and taste all the German things. Takeaways:Aidan shares his insights from his military exchange in Germany, including cultural differences in drinking habits We talk about the generational shift in alcohol consumption, and I get his thoughts on Gen Z's preferences We taste a surprising Wine he brought back from the Baden regionWe do a side by side tasting of German and American Jagermeister He shares about military "patch culture" as we learn about an interesting (ahem) cocktail that was a staple for him during his training in the fieldLinks and resources: Purchase my Sollevato Sangiovese 2022and Sollevato "Fortunato" Red Blend (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off Nikki and Michael's Sollevato Wines!Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!Check out Sena Sea's website  to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions, suggestions and guest requests? nikki@sipwithnikki.com

Check out the upcoming Crush Collective Tasting in the Napa Valley on August 17th! Taste wines from podcast guest Sally Johnson Blum, including Abloom from episode 74! Get your tickets for this unique tasting experience here! We're diving into the delicious world of food and wine pairings, guided by the brilliant Dr. Hoby Wedler. Hoby, who’s blind since birth and armed with a PhD in organic chemistry, brings a unique perspective that’ll have you understanding why certain flavors click while others clash. As we gather in the kitchen with our partners and my lifelong buddy Kim, we explore the chemistry behind what makes our favorite dishes and wines bring out the best in each other (or not!). We've got some eye-opening tips as we tackle listener questions in Part 1 of a 2 part Series.Takeaways: How to describing cheese to someone who has never tasted it before?... Why Food and wine pairings are highly subjective, and what works for one person may not for another. How Our surrounding environment can significantly impact our perception of wine and its flavors. Using the right savory flavors can elevate the enjoyment of wine and fruit pairings. Episode Links:Follow Dr. Hoby on InstagramMounts Family VermentinoNikki's Links:Follow me on Instagram to get the scoop on upcoming episodes and behind the scenes looks!My Super Tuscan Inspired Blend, Sollevato "Fortunato" is available to be shipped to most US States. (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off.) It's a delicious, medium bodied, aromatic red wine that is perfect with pizza, pasta and your charcuterie spread!Our 2022 Sollevato Sangiovese just took the Gold Medal at the Sunset International Wine Competition! Get yours here! (Use the code PODLISTENER for 10% off.)Enjoy some of MY FAVORITE THINGS from our Sponsors:You NEED some delicious California Olive Oil from our awesome sponsor American Olive Farmer. Use code SipWithNikki for $10 off your order!Check out Sena Sea's website  to get your hands on some beautiful wild-caught Alaskan fish shipped right to your door! Use code sipandsea for 10% off your order and sign up for their email list (great recipes!) and be entered to win a monthly $50 gift card drawing.Questions, suggestions and guest requests? nikki@sipwithnikki.com