Sip & Grow The Podcast
86 episodes Last Updated: Apr 23, 25
Welcome to Sip & Grow the Podcast, where we have unfiltered conversations with host Nicole Di Pasquale while exploring and tasting different types of wines from around the world. Join us as we embark on a journey of learning how to understand each of the wines unique flavors while discussing our experiences, struggles, life, entrepreneurship and more!
Welcome! My name is Nicole and I created this podcast in hopes of inspiring you to learn and grow with me through the world of awesome wines. If you are just getting into wines or are a seasoned expert, this is a safe space for all. I really just want to create a simple and easy way for you to learn all about wines while trying to encourage you to follow what you are truly passionate about. This is a podcast for knowledge, growth, motivation, support and, most importantly, enjoying ourselves in the process.
Please note that Sip & Grow the Podcast is intended for mature audiences of legal drinking age in their respective countries. Our discussions revolve around the art and science of wine tasting, the cultural significance of wine, and the appreciation of its craftsmanship.
As a responsible host, Nicole would like to emphasize that she does not condone or promote underage drinking. This podcast is based in the United States where the legal drinking age is 21. She strongly encourages all listeners to adhere to their local laws and regulations regarding alcohol consumption.
Whether you're a seasoned wine connoisseur or simply curious about the world of wines, Sip & Grow the Podcast is the perfect companion for your sensory exploration. So grab a glass, savor the aromas, and join us on this insightful and delicious adventure!
The content provided in Sip & Grow the Podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the wine industry is constantly evolving, and individual experiences may vary. We recommend consulting certified wine experts or professionals for specific inquiries or concerns.
By listening to Sip & Grow the Podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers of this podcast shall not be held liable for any actions, decisions, or consequences resulting from the use or interpretation of the information provided. Drink responsibly, be mindful of your limits, and always prioritize your health and well-being.
Sip & Grow the Podcast is a production of Serene Illumination LLC. For more information and updates, visit our stan store at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale or our socials @sipandgrowpodcast.
Episodes
Apr 23, 2025
Paso Robles Cab
Jim and Bob Varner, founders of Foxglove, are devoted to the production of low intervention wines in Santa Barbara and Paso Robles. Today’s Cab is from the Paso Robles area in California coming in hot at a great price point (for California Cab LOL). Remember, low intervention winemaking means minimal manipulation and additives… literally my favorite type of wines to drink. I love low intervention wines because it’s all about trusting the grapes, the soil, the season, etc. to do it’s thing. Tune in now to hear about these two brothers who created this brand and try out this $22 Cab with me to see if it lives up to the hype and price point. 1:40 - Not a big California cabernet girl 3:25 - Central Coast, Intro to Foxglove 3:55 - The Varner Brothers 4:52 - Dedicated to low intervention winemaking 5:25 - Go with the flow 6:40 - Surrender to the present 7:55 - Trust that being you is enough 9:35 - Visual analysis 9:55 - Olfactory analysis 10:40 - Tasting notes 12:15 - Rating of the wine Today’s wine: Foxglove Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 $22 GET WINE HERE Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Apr 17, 2025
Friulano - Indigenous Italian Grape
Today I try an indigenous grape from Italy called Friulano. It is most similar to a Sauvignon Blanc but tends to be more full bodied and has less acidity than a Sauvignon Blanc. The Terlato family is very well know in the industry and I go over their history and growth which has ultimately led them to creating an empire within the wine and spirits industry. Robert Mondavi comes up because he was actually very close friends with the Terlato family. It’s overall very impressive what this family has built. Tune in now as I try this grape varietal for the first time and give you my insight if it’s worth the buy. 1:11 - Liquor Land II 1:45 - Introduction to today’s wine 2:15 - Northeastern Italy 2:25 - Friulano, indigenous grape 4:20 - Terlato humble beginnings 5:00 - Robert Mondavi 6:40 - Importing fine wines 8:08 - High yield grape 10:05 - Malolactic fermentation 11:25 - Olfactory analysis 12:11 - Tasting notes 14:00 - Best price at Liquor Land II 14:45 - Rating of the wine Today’s wine: Terlato Vineyards Friulano 2018 $16 GET WINE HERE Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Apr 09, 2025
Unlocking life levels + Random Wine
Random find at a bakery leads to either a great wine or a not so great wine LOL. Today we open up a random Malbec I came across at Milanos Bakery. This one is specifically from a micro-region called Agrelo located at the foot of the Andes in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza Argentina. As I open up this Malbec, I get into the topic of how daydreams are not distractions they are instructions. Usually, whatever we think about most is probably what we should be doing. Everything happens for a reason and it all becomes clearer when you are fully aligned with yourself. Life is about unlocking levels and being ok with being a starter at the next level. Start embracing each moment for what it’s teaching you while using what you have learned to keep on aligning and becoming who you are. Tune in now to listen to the full episode. 1:35 - Random wine with no information 2:00 - Details on today’s wine 2:45 - Argelo, micro-region 5:25 - Daydreams are instructions 7:45 - Olfactory analysis 8:18 - Tasting notes 10:50 - Rating of the wine 11:45 - Everything is about alignment 12:40 - Unlocking life levels 14:40 - Everything comes at the perfect time Today’s wine: E Especial Class Malbec Reserva 2018 $21 (Milanos in Tamarac, FL) Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Apr 02, 2025
Non-Alcoholic Wine
What is non-alcoholic wine (NA) or alcohol free wine? In this new episode, I open up an alcohol free French sparkling wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes and explain what it actually means when you drink a NA wine. You may think this is just sparkling grape juice but I assure you it’s not. It actually goes through the same vilification process that wine goes through, the only difference is the alcohol is taken out at the end. Tune in now to get all the details on this process called vacuum distillation and see if this NA wine is worth the buy. 1:45 - Introduction to today’s wine 2:45 - Sparkling grape juice 3:15 - Vacuum distillation 5:25 - Background on the producer 7:20 - Sauvignon Blanc sparkling wine 8:50 - Visual analysis 9:10 - Olfactory analysis 9:55 - Tasting notes 12:35 - Rating of the NA wine Today’s wine: EthicDrinks Alcohol Free French Sparkling Wine $27 (Bought at Sprouts) GET WINE HERE Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Another Trader Joe’s find… we love that. This Malbec cost me $8.99 and I had to pick it up to see if it was worth the price point. I love the fact that this producer hand harvests their grapes and is grown in the sub region called Gualtallary which is the high altitude wine region in Tupungato on the Northern side of Valle de Uco located in Mendoza, Argentina. As I open this Malbec, I dive into how we can’t have evolution without discomfort. Being uncomfortable is part of the growth process and we need to remember that we are always in control of what we are becoming. Tune in now as I dive into detail on this topic and try out this Malbec from Tupungato. Hope you enjoy… and sip a glass while listening to this episode. 1:30 - Introduction to today’s wine 2:22 - Hand harvested grapes 3:45 - Evolution requires discomfort 5:55 - Life is about the journey 6:20 - Ego keeps you in the comfort zone 8:10 - Transformation 8:55 - Go with the flow 10:00 - Everyone’s growth journey is different 11:45 - Visual & Olfactory analysis 12:25 - Tasting notes 14:05 - Rating of the wine Today’s wine: Belhara Estate Malbec $9 (Bought at Trader Joe’s) Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Mar 19, 2025
Stop & Smell the Roses... and this Red Blend
Today I get into story time of getting a nail in my tire while I open up a wine from Avaline. Avaline was founded by Cameron Diaz and Kathrine Power and they basically source out wine growers and winemakers around the world that stick to the natural process of winemaking and practice sustainable farming. They make sure all their wines are made with organic grapes, have 0g of residual sugar and have no unwanted additives. This red blend comes from a producer in France called EthicDrinks. They offer ethical wines with a sustainable approach and place the environment at the heart of it’s winemaking. Tune in to this new episode as I try this blend and emphasize the importance of slowing down, reassessing and taking the time you need for yourself in order to find balance and move forward with full force. 1:15 - Vibin with the wine 2:50 - Organic & Natural wine brand 3:55 - Four grapes in this blend 5:10 - Nail in my tire 6:21 - Everything happens for a reason 7:25 - A sign to slow down 8:40 - Olfactory analysis 9:00 - Tasting notes 11:00 - 15% off avaline Today’s wine: Avaline Red Blend $24 GET WINE HERE 15% Off Avaline Code - 15FORMARCH Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Mar 12, 2025
Napa Cab
Fun find today, $26 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley is small in size compared to other regions but has diverse offerings when it comes to wines. There are a total of 16 AVA’s (American Viticultural Areas) / sub-appellations in the valley. Each of these AVA’s are important, allowing winemakers to differentiate their wines based on the specific terroir in which the grapes grow. It ultimately helps consumers identify and appreciate unique characteristics of each wine while maintaining the region’s reputation for producing high-quality, distinctive wines. There are strict regulations the AVA’s must stick to in order to ensure the wines meet the standards of quality and authenticity of the area. Overall, even though Napa Valley is known to have a big ego, they ultimately have a hunger for success when it comes to creating spectacular wines. Tune in now as I briefly go over the AVA’s and dive into what makes a California cabernet a “Cabernet Sauvignon” while opening up this 2020 vintage I found at Total Wine at a great price point. 2:35 - Don’t judge a wine by it’s label 3:08 - Expensive wine region in the US 3:55 - Wappo Indians 4:44 - Perfect climate for vines 5:15 - American Viticultural Areas 6:30 - Open the bottle 8:05 - Visual analysis 8:40 - Olfactory analysis 9:20 - Tasting notes 11:00 - Cabernets in California 12:28 - Rating on the wine Today’s wine: 2020 District Series Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $26 GET WINE HERE Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Mar 05, 2025
Full Circle Moment with a White Pinot Noir
THE TIME HAS COME. I finally get to try a wine from the harvest I worked back in 2023!! My team at Emeritus Vineyards sent over six different bottles from the 2023 vintage and today I open up the Halberg Blanc. Emeritus Vineyards is a winery located in Sebastopol, California where they produce solely Pinot Noir grapes. I personally have a deeper appreciation for Pinot Noir because of them. Today, we get into the Halberg Blanc which is basically a white Pinot Noir. This is one of my faves because I honestly never was introduced to a white Pinot Noir until I worked with them and I think it has unique and complex flavors for a white wine. Tune in now to hear me talk about the process of making this wine as I reflect on my journey and full circle moment of working the harvest all the way to receiving a bottle I helped create delivered to me at home. If you enjoy a highly acidic white wine with crisp citrus notes coming through, you will definitely enjoy this one. 1:30 - Grateful for Emeritus Vineyards 3:10 - Amazing packaging 3:30 - Blanc made from Pinot Noir grapes 4:15 - How this blanc is made 5:25 - The run off juice 7:10 - Oxidation 8:08 - Full circle moment 10:55 - 95 points on wine enthusiast 12:40 - Visual & olfactory analysis 14:15 - Tasting notes 16:45 - Follow your passions & dreams Today’s wine: 2023 Halberg Blanc Emeritus Vineyards $45 GET WINE HERE Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Feb 26, 2025
"Baby Amarone"
WE FOUND A RIPASSO FOR $12… THIS IS NOT A DRILL. As part of a well known historic Veronese winery, Pasqua wines was looking to acquire more vineyards and increase their investments. Cecilia Beretta estate was founded in the 1980’s in the wine village of Valpolicella. Ripasso is known as “baby amarone” and tends to be less expensive than Amarone because in a nutshell the leftover grapes used to make amarone are “repassed” to make ripasso. You are essentially getting the same quality of grapes but just using the pomace of the grapes used for amarone a second time to get the most out of it to make the Ripasso. I explain the whole process in this episode and go into detail as I pour a glass to try this one out from Trader Joe’s. Tune in now to get all the details on the producer, the process of making amarone and ripasso and see if you are intrigued to pick this one up at your local Trader Joe’s. Cheers Sip & Grow Fam! Hope you enjoy this one. 1:15 - Trader Joe’s journey 1:55 - Italian Classifications 101 3:35 - Valpolicella 5:10 - $12 ripasso 5:45 - Difference between ripasso & amarone 7:30 - “Appassimento” 8:00 - Two ways of drying the grapes 9:45 - Control the mold 10:50 - “Baby amarone” 12:50 - Re-passed grapes 14:20 - Open the bottle of wine 15:35 - Valentine’s Day 18:35 - Olfactory analysis 19:45 - Tasting notes Today’s wine: 2021 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Cecilia Beretta $12 (Bought at Trader Joe’s) Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale
Feb 19, 2025
Trader Joe's Barolo
$15 dollar Barolo… I had to give it a try. Known as the king of wines or the wine of kings, Barolo comes from Piedmont (northern Italy) located in Langhe and is one of the most prestigious, age worthy and collectible wines. It’s safe to say that Barolo is the “Burgundy” of Italy. Patience is the name of the game when it comes to a good Barolo because it needs a good amount of time to reach it’s full potential. Coming across this price for a Barolo at Trader Joe’s, I couldn’t resist. This episode is short, sweet and to the point. Listen to the full episode to see if it’s worth the buy. 1:05 - The wine of kings 2:22 - $15 Barolo 3:00 - Where is Barolo 3:20 - Nebbiolo grape 4:16 - Age-worthy wine 7:10 - Garnet red color 7:35 - Olfactory analysis 8:30 - Tasting notes 10:19 - Rating of the wine Today’s wine: 2020 Rosa Dell Olmo Barolo $15 (Bought at Trader Joe’s) Connect with me on IG @sipandgrowpodcast Get your FREE Wine Aroma Wheel at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale Check out my Italian Wine Guide at https://stan.store/nicoledipasquale