Wine Wednesdays with KDKA Radio
Thrilled to kick off a new monthly radio segment I'm doing with Rick Dayton on KDKA 1020 in Pittsburgh. Rick is a colleague from KDKA-TV, he has a terrific sense of humor, and is just such a generous and genuine friend and colleague. It's such a pleasure to check in with him, and I absolutely love the concept of our time together on air:
🍷 Once a month on Wednesdays we talk about wine. That's it.
Simple, but perfect.
🍾 Yesterday, Rick wanted to talk Champagne because he knows it's the number one way to wind me up and watch me go on and on about wine. Here are a few of the things we chatted about for all you Champagne lovers and learners:
1️⃣ Champagne isn't just for toasts and celebrations. It's an excellent wine to pair with food, even if you never thought of it that way. (And we're not just talking about fancy food.)
2️⃣ Champagne is insanely delicious with some really basic foods: pizza, fried chicken, french fries, even Chinese takeout. In fact, I think Champagne and KFC might be the greatest high-low combo in the world. Definitely think about cracking a bottle the next time you order in. The bright acid and bubbles in Champagne cut beautifully through pizza cheese, chicken grease, and any number of fried foods.
3️⃣ Champagne is gorgeous with fancy high-end foods too: lobster, oysters, caviar. It's just beautiful with raw seafood and shellfish. I also love it with pastas in white sauces or garlic and olive oil. Champagne and fettucine alfredo? Sign me up! (Champagne is also delicious IN your alfredo sauce, especially if you add some shrimp...I'm just sayin'!)
4️⃣ Climate change is a big problem for the Champagne region. Champagne grapes like Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay thrive in cooler climates, like Northern France. As our world warms up, it's becoming harder for these grapes to thrive and for winemakers to produce crisp, acidic Champagnes. So PLEASE, at the very least, recycle your Champagne bottles and add Champagne to the list of so many things we threaten when we're reckless with our precious planet. 🌍
5️⃣ Drink what you love. For me, that's Champagne, and I drink it often because it brings me joy every time I pop a bottle. If we're drinking wine the way we're meant to, we're pouring it in great company, communing with one another, and enjoying life. It doesn't need to cost a fortune. It doesn't need to be fancy. It doesn't even need to be wine! Just drink what you love, what works for you, and don't apologize.
Chin!
And Chin to my friend, Rick, for inviting me to chat with him and his awesome Pittsburgh audience. I love the time with all of you. I’ll be sharing some of the segments on the site, so stay tuned!
