Episode 187 – Bridging the Gap Between Vineyards and the Glass with Jesse Balsimo from Truvino

In today’s episode, join Shelley and Phil as they dive into the world of exceptional wines with Jesse Balsimo, the mastermind behind Truvino—an importer and distributor based right here in Idaho. Tired of the mundane wine-buying experience from a spreadsheet instead of a bottle, Jesse founded Truvino to bring a new level of excitement to the bottle. Get ready for a taste adventure as we explore the remarkable and emerging wines of South Africa! These wines showcase an unparalleled dedication to quality, surpassing Certified Sustainable Certification. Jesse proudly represents wines that are organic, biodynamically farmed, and naturally produced—earning them the title of “anti-hangover wines,” as Jesse puts it. Out of the six featured wines, five hail from South Africa, and the sixth is a gem from Beaujolais, and all are perfect for your Thanksgiving feast this year! If you’re eager to sample before you splurge, join Bottle Joy’s Tuesday Tasting on November 21—they’ll be pouring all six wines! #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime! #Cheersing #AntiHangoverWines

*You will want to check out the YouTube video of this conversation because much of the first 12 minutes was pointing out places on the map which I removed from this audio. You can find the link at the bottom of this page. -Phil

South African Wine Industry Information and Systems https://www.sawis.co.za/sealsearch.php

From the 2010 vintage, South African wines have had a new official seal. For more information on that program, please visit https://www.wosa.co.za/Sustainability/Environmentally-Sustainable/Sustainable-wine-South-Africa/

Wines this episode:   

• 2019 Spioenkop Sara Raal Chenin Blanc (approximate retail: $60)????
• 2023 Andrea Sauvignon Blanc  (approximate retail: $15)????
• 2022 Ciena Chardonnay / Pinot Noir (approximate retail: $15)????
• 2022 Gry-Sablon Morgon (approximate retail: $20)????
• 2020 Arendsig Single Vineyard Pinotage (approximate retail: $27)????
• 2018 Waterkloof Cabernet Franc ????

A HUGE thanks to our sponsors:  Bottle Joy, Eternal Wine, Naked Wines and also parallel 47 for loaning us three elegant and amazing wine glasses!

At Parallel 47 you will find a casual atmosphere and upscale menu, there is something for everyone to love! Visit parallel 47 in person at 9021 N Government Way in Hayden or online at https://www.theparallel47.com/

Naked Wines: Straight from the winemaker right to your door, premium wine without the premium pricing is what Naked Wines is all about. Save big on wines from the world’s best winemakers! Visit https://us.nakedwines.com/winetimefridays to get $100 off your first 12 pack case. With Naked Wines, discovering new wines is truly risk-free!

Eternal Wine.  Are you a Rhone Ranger or just really love Syrah? Then you need to check out Eternal Wine! Their focus is on single vineyard Rhone valley wines in Washington State. Also check out their Drink Washington State brand of approachable wines! Visit https://eternalwine.com for more information or simply call 509-240-6258. Eternal Wine: Drink Wine, Be Happy.

Bottle Joy: Looking for a premier libation establishment in Coeur D’alene to enjoy premier wine and beer? Look no further than Bottle Joy. Located at 1208 East Sherman in Coeur D’alene, Bottle Joy is a libation establishment for folks to peruse and enjoy. And this Tuesday, November 21, they will be pouring all of the wines featured on this episode during their Tuesday Tasting event that starts at 6PM!  Visit https://bottlejoycda.com or call 208 930 1922. Bottle Joy: The Inland Northwest’s Premier Bottle Shop & Tap House.

And of course, a HUGE thank you to Tod Hornby who wrote and recorded our official Wine Time Fridays theme music, which is ANYthing but average.  Please visit https://todhornby.com or contact him at veryaveragemusic@gmail.com

The Social Web Wine Word of the Week – Elegant

An elegant wine is one that is balanced, refined and harmonious. It has a complex structure and a long finish. The flavors are well-defined and not overpowering. Elegant wines are often described as being “seamless” or “effortless” to drink.

The Social Web is helping small businesses untangle the web of social media marketing. For more information, please visit https://thesocialweb.news  

Wines we enjoyed this week: Waterbrook Syrah, Vinium Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Charles Krug Merlot, Dunham Cellars Trutina and Ryan Patrick Naked Chardonnay.

Mentions:  parallel 47, Andrea Robinson, MS, The Business Zone, Curt Grady, Koen Roose, Kristin Luu, Jody Elsom, Elsom Cellars, Alain Junguenet, Brazos Wine Imports and Gary Vaynerchuck.

Curious about some of the wine tools and accessories we use? Check out our new Things We Use page!

Please find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WineTimeFridays), Twitter (@VintageTweets), Instagram (@WineTimeFridays) on our YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/@winetimefridays and on Threads, which is @winetimefridays. You can also “Follow” Phil on Vivino. His profile name is Phil Anderson and will probably “Follow” you back! Check out all of our current sponsors by visiting our Wine Time Fridays Resource Page as well as check out all of the 2023 Wine Days coming up!

*If you are a winery, restaurant, bottle shop and/or wine bar and want to look at how easy and affordable it is to become a sponsor and/or you are a winery and want to have your wines featured on an episode, please contact us through our Contact Page or email us at itistimeforwine@gmail.com.

If you want to watch this episode on YouTube, here you go!

© 2023 Wine Time Fridays – All Rights Reserved