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Glass In Session® Winecast

Glass In Session® Winecast

Written by: Val Caruso
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Glass In Session® is a bi-weekly wine education podcast by Val Caruso DWS, CWE, FWS. She's a wine educator, a lifelong learner, and shameless corkdork. There's a Glass in Session® every 2nd and 4th Friday where we explore the fun - sometimes funny - aspects of wine and spirits education, culture, and history.2025 Art Cooking Food & Wine
Episodes
  • Wine in Poland: What the Little Ice Age Taketh Away Climate Change Giveth Back

    Wine in Poland: What the Little Ice Age Taketh Away Climate Change Giveth Back
    May 22 2026
    This episode explores Poland's wine history, regions, grapes, and potential as a wine region on the rise. What the Little Ice Age taketh away, Climate Change giveth back. Resources from this episode: Books: The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013) Journals: Maciejczak, Mariusz & Mikiciuk, Jakub. (2018). Climate change impact on viticulture in Poland. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management. 11. 10.1108/IJCCSM-02-2018-0021. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328481231_Climate_change_impact_on_viticulture_in_Poland Websites: Britannica: Little Ice Age (LIA), Jackson, S.T., (12 May 2026) https://www.britannica.com/science/Little-Ice-Age Grape Collective: Wine in Poland, Kuderski, A. (17 November 2016) https://www.grapecollective.com/wine-in-poland/ Falstaff: Polish Wine - The next big thing, Bońkowski, W. (4 May 2023) https://www.falstaff.com/en/news/polish-wine-the-next-big-thing Polish Wine: Are there Wine Appellations in Poland? Gatecki, M. (1 May 2025) https://polish.wine/are-there-wine-appellations-in-poland/ Notes from Poland: Whites and reds: why Polish winemaking is thriving again, Wrońska, I. (19 November. 2021) https://notesfrompoland.com/2021/11/19/whites-and-reds-a-guide-to-polish-wine/ Velo Vino: Polish Grapes from A to Z, Shevela, N. (2 March 2023) https://www.velowino.pl/en/blog/polish-grapes-from-a-to-z/ Velo Vino: Radiant Renaissance of Polish Wine, Shevela, N. (11 February 2023) https://www.velowino.pl/en/blog/polish-wine-regions/ World Atlas: Poland https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/poland Glass in Session Episodes Referenced in this Episode: S2E4: Orange (Amber) Wines https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s2e4-orange-amber-wines S5E1: A Pét-Nat Chit-Chat https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s5e1-a-pt-nat-chit-chat S9E6: Vodka Wars, Empires, and Culture https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e6-vodka-wars-empires-and-culutre S10E4: Wines of Ukraine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s10e4-wines-of-ukraine-yesterday-today-and-a-hopeful-tomorrow S16E1: Austrian and German Sekt https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/austrian-and-german-sekt-s16e1 S16E3 (Re-release) Belgian Wines (updated) and Piwi Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/belgian-wines-updated-and-piwi-grapes-s16e3-re-release S17E1: Wine of the Czech Republic https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/wine-of-the-czech-republic S17E2: Wine of the Slovak Republic: https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/wine-of-the-slovak-republic-s17e2 S17E3: Hungarian Wine and Feasting While Crying https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/hungarian-wine-and-feasting-while-crying-s17e3 S21E3: Muscat Grape Love https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/muscat-grape-love-s21e3 S17E5: Wine from Bulgaria https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/wine-from-bulgaria-s17e5 Link to my new audiobook narration on audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0GZ89935Y/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWU-BK-ACX0-509956&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_509956_pd_us Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC. Music: "Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)
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    20 mins
  • Wine in Lebanon: Wine, War, & Rising

    Wine in Lebanon: Wine, War, & Rising
    May 8 2026
    Thousands of years of wine history and culture, covering everything from boiled sea snails to Roman Temples, religious influence to vineyard bombings, we arrive at one of the most emotionally resonant wines on the planet that embody courage and the resilience of the human spirit. Resources from this episode: Books: Chateau Musar: The Story of a Wine Icon, Academie du Vin Library, Keevil, S. (2020) The Oxford Companion to Wine [5th Edition, Kindle Edition], Harding, J., Robinson, J., Thomas, T. (2023) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013) Websites: Agenda Culturel: Lebanon Wine Map (2020) https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/213dd374/files/uploaded/wineries-map-web.pdf Britannica: Baalbek https://www.britannica.com/place/Baalbeck Britannica: Lebanon https://www.britannica.com/place/Lebanon/Lebanon-in-the-Middle-Ages Britannica: Tyre https://www.britannica.com/place/Tyre Chateau Kefraya: https://chateaukefraya.com/en/kefraya Chateau Ksara: Merwah https://shop.chateauksara.com/product/merwah/ Chateau Musar: https://chateaumusar.com/ Chateau Musar: The Story of a Wine Icon https://chateaumusar.com/chateau-musar-the-story-of-a-wine-icon/ Coteaux du Liban: Obeideh https://www.coteauxduliban.com/wines/obeideh Decanter: Torrid times for winemakers in the Middle East - Decanter speaks to producers in Lebanon and Israel about how their day-to-day life and work has been affected by conflict in the region, Kochan, N. (Updated 9 October 2024) https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/torrid-times-for-winemakers-in-the-middle-east-540466/ Domaine des Tourelles: About the Winery https://www.domainedestourelles.com/pages/a-love-story-since-1868 Eater: We Should All Be Drinking More Lebanese Wine - How an why we tali about it, though needs to change, Berrou, F. (27 April 2021) https://www.eater.com/22369382/lebanese-wine-history-drinking Executive Magazine; Lebanon must learn from New World wines' successes, Kahale, H. (10 October 2019) https://www.executive-magazine.com/special-report/lebanon-must-learn-from-new-world-wines-successes Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Lebanon: Agricultural damage and loss assessment on the impact of conflict (2025) https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/8cc256b6-f2c9-4667-8c5d-f66102ddd6d9/content Food Republic: What is Arak, The Trendy Middle Eastern Liquor? Sands, C. (1 August 2023) https://www.foodrepublic.com/1352851/what-is-arak-trendy-middle-eastern-liquor/ Institut National de la Vigne et du Vin (INVV): http://invv-lb.org/ Lamma: Guide to Lebanese Arak https://www.bylamma.com/arak-guide Libanon Weine: Lebanese Wine Regions Map https://libanonweine.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Lebanon-Wine-Regions.jpg L'Orient-LeJour: Les années libanaises de Charles de Gaulle, Goursaud, L. (18 June 2024) https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1417567/les-annees-libanaises-de-charles-de-gaulle.html L'Orient Today: In the Vineyards of Southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, 'War is not over,' Gemayel, F. & Goursoud, L. (8 September 2025) https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1476530/in-the-vineyards-of-southern-lebanon-and-the-bekaa-war-is-not-over.html The New Arab: 'Our Identity, Heritage, and History': The Damaged Lebanese wineries reclaiming their legacy after Israel's war, Rayday, R. (4 December 2024) https://www.newarab.com/features/damaged-lebanese-wineries-reclaiming-their-legacy-after-war Organisation International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) Lebanon's viniviticultural sector in the spotlight (28 September 2018) https://www.oiv.int/lebanons-vitivinicultural-sector-in-the-spotlight Roman Empire Times: Born in the Purple: The Imperial Color of the Roman Empire, Athanasiou, C. (17 September 2024) https://romanempiretimes.com/born-in-the-purple-imperial-color-roman-empire/ Seven Fifty Daily: Exploring the World of Lebanese Wine - Beyond Chageau Musar, Magrini, C.S. (28 February 2022) https://daily.sevenfifty.com/exploring-the-world-of-lebanese-wine-beyond-chateau-musar/ Union Vinicole du Liban https://www.lebanonwines.com/ World Atlas: All 195 Countries Ranked By Total Area (Smallest To Largest) https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/the-smallest-countries-in-the-world.html#h_3361032045781699280567109 Glass in Session Episodes Referenced in this Episode: S12E2: Algerian Wine Then and Now https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/algerian-wine-then-now-s12e2 S11E4: Corsican Wine, Grapes, History … and a Grave with Goblets! https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s11e4-corsican-wine-grapes-history-and-a-grave-with-goblets S8E5: Wines of Cyprus, Kings, and Commandaria https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s8e5-wines-of-cyprus-kings-and-commandaria S8E4: Let's Absinthe https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s8e4-lets-absinthe S5E6: Wines of Israel and Giving Thanks https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s5e6-...
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    29 mins
  • Vodka: Wars, Empires, and Culture (wars) [Re-Release]

    Vodka: Wars, Empires, and Culture (wars) [Re-Release]
    Apr 24 2026

    [Originally Released: 25 March 2022]

    Vodka: What it is, where it's from, its role in the rise and fall of empires and … barbarians? Again?

    This episode is especially relevant to current events, and hopes to elucidate otherwise confusing issues around boycotting Russian Vodka: it has history, scandal, and irresistible international intrigue, especially considering the host isn't even a fan of the neutral spirit itself.

    Resources from this episode:

    Books:

    Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide, Nickles, J. (2020)

    Grossman's Guide to Wines Beers, and Spirits (7th Edition) Grossman, H., (Revised by Harriett Lembeck), (1983)

    The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails [Kindle Edition], Wondrich, D & Rothbaum, N., (2022)

    Websites:

    CNN Business: States want to boycott Russian vodka: Here's why that won't work, Valinsky, J. (27 February 2022) https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/27/business/russian-vodka-boycotts/index.html

    Eater: The Empty Politics of Stoli's name change, Saxena, J. (7 March 2022) https://www.eater.com/2022/3/7/22965518/stoli-vodka-made-latvia-russian-name-change-stolichnaya

    Forbes: Ditching Russian Vodka? Here's where other favorite vodkas are produced, Micallef, J.V. (26 February 2022) https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2022/02/26/ditching-russian-vodka-heres--where-your-favorite-vodkas-are-made/?sh=392f30382350

    Russia Beyond: What's the Story Behind the Iconic Stolichnaya Vodka Brand? Zubacheva, K. (4 February 2020)
    https://www.rbth.com/history/331637-stolichnaya-vodka-history

    Stoli Group: Stoli Group Denounces Russian Aggression and Shares History of Opposition https://stoli.com/

    Time: Tsar Nicholas II thought vodka was hurting Russians - but banning it helped destroy his empire, Schrad, M. L. (20 July 2021) https://time.com/6082058/russian-revolution-vodka/

    Wine, Wit, and Wisdom - The Official Blog of the Society of Wine Educators: New for Norway - Norsk Vodka and Norsk Akavit PGI, Nickles, J.. (6 February 2020) https://winewitandwisdomswe.com/2020/02/06/new-for-norway-norsk-vodka-and-norsk-akvavit-pgi/

    Glass in Session® Episodes Mentioned in this Session:

    S9E4:The Silk Roads Lead to Samarkand & Uzbek Wine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e4-the-silk-roads-lead-to-samarkand-uzbek-wine

    S9E2: Whisky, Burns Night, and … Beerhenge? https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s9e2-whisky-burns-night-and-beerhenge

    S8E3: Once Upon a Wine Grape in Afghanistan https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s8e3-once-upon-a-wine-grape-in-afghanistan

    Glass in Session® merch mentioned on this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session


    Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

    Music: "Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)
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    26 mins
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