Topic: Wine

A producer known as Dude Named Ralph reaches the status of Earl. In honor of John C. Dvorak's "tip of the day," he requests that the roundtable menu include Costco wine and rotisserie chicken. He expresses gratitude for the media deconstruction skills learned over 11 years of listening.

Dana Brunetti describes how he first met John C. Dvorak after Dvorak looked up his address on Zillow following a donation. Brunetti recounts a wine-tasting trip to Verite Winery where Dvorak berated the winemaker, telling him the wine would "make good vinegar one day." He notes that Dvorak always insisted on picking the most expensive restaurants and ordering from the bottom of the wine list.

Producers continue to send in donations in memory of John C. Dvorak, often referencing his love for Costco wine and his "cranky" persona. One donor, the Duke of San Francisco, organizes a meetup at the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Cupertino. The hosts reflect on the "DNA" of the show and the challenge of carrying on Dvorak's legacy.

A food recommendation is given for Nash's Produce on the Olympic Peninsula, specifically for their exceptionally sweet and crunchy bred carrots. The discussion shifts to Muscadine wine, a Southern specialty made from large grapes. While generally described as "rank" and difficult to drink, the Post Familia winery in Arkansas is cited as one of the few producers making a palatable version.

Retsina, a traditional Greek wine, is described as having a flavor profile similar to turpentine due to the use of tree resin. Historically, resin was used to seal wine jugs, and the flavor eventually became a characteristic of the style. Despite its low cost and historical significance, the hosts characterize it as one of the worst wine products available.

John C. Dvorak offers a wine tip regarding Cru Beaujolais, specifically recommending the 2015 vintage as one of the best since the 1940s. He advises listeners to look for specific "townie" labels like Fleurie, Brouilly, or Morgon rather than the lower-quality Beaujolais Village. These wines are praised for offering high quality at a relatively low price point.

Responding to a message from Eli the Coffee Guy in Bensonville, Illinois, the hosts discuss a culinary tip regarding the pairing of Sauternes dessert wine with foie gras. One host jokingly credits the wine pairing with his success in marriage.

The hosts engage in a humorous debate about whether they would register on "Gaydar" while dining out in San Francisco. They discuss their habits of talking about gadgets and wine, with one host suggesting their dynamic might be misinterpreted by outsiders.

Dame Vigil Annie makes a toast to John C. Dvorak with a teaspoon of Manuka Gold honey. Nick and Dame Tabitha Mitchell Rogers celebrate Dvorak's success in outliving the relevance of the New York Times, which they label a "garbage rag." Drew Burrows of Lake Geneva shares how Dvorak's fish sauce tip helped him at the grocery store.

Dude Named Muhammad reflects on his playful protests against John C. Dvorak's endless wine tips as a Muslim producer. Jeff Coleman from Minnesota shares that his wife gave birth to their third child shortly after he learned of Dvorak's passing; they named the baby John Coleman in his honor.

The discussion turns to Dvorak's legendary status as a wine connoisseur and his promotion of affordable "Kirkland crate" Bordeaux from Costco. Will Hearst and Dana Brunetti share conflicting stories of Dvorak's wine habits—ranging from seeking $10 bargains to running up $8,500 bills at the Bellagio. Dvorak's background as a taster for Bon Appetit is noted as the source of his extensive knowledge.

Will Hearst recounts a humorous story from the 2000 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Dvorak led a group of wealthy investors to the Bellagio for dinner, where he proceeded to order thousands of dollars worth of expensive wine on their tab. Hearst describes Dvorak "skinning them alive" while entertaining the table with expert commentary on the wine's "nose" and characteristics.

Mimi and JC Dvorak discuss the upcoming memorial services and John's recent health struggles following heart surgery. JC shares how John would "test" people's wine palates during their final Friday dinners, sometimes secretly serving California wines to see if they would trigger a reaction. Mimi notes the irony of choosing a funeral home that John had previously inspected in his professional capacity.

Sir Doc Nelson contributed $350.93, noting that John C. Dvorak had "ridden shotgun" in his car via the podcast for over a decade. He offered a humorous tribute regarding Dvorak's well-known distaste for muscadine wine. The donor expressed his condolences to the Dvorak family and the production team for the loss of their friend.

Dame Lindsay of the House Hunters shared her disappointment that she would not be able to use her planned "somebody shut that baby up!" line on John C. Dvorak at an upcoming meetup. She and her sister Lauren still plan to attend the Northern Silicon Valley gathering to honor Dvorak by "fisting some nuts" and drinking his recommended Costco wines.

Janet Kostrevsky of the Goumenissa Project shares her dream of having Dana Brunetti fly Dvorak to northern Greece to taste Xinomavro wines. She reflects on hearing the news of his death while at a wine tasting and offers a toast to his "wit and curiosity."

John C. Dvorak describes a complex research task performed by the Kimi AI regarding California wineries that use native yeast. The AI spent two hours cross-referencing winery websites with actual reviews to identify stable, non-vinegarized wines. The report identified Ridge Vineyards as a top producer. The segment concludes with a plug for the "Unrelenting" show.

The show concludes with audio from the Berlin meetup, featuring a diverse group of attendees from Brazil, Poland, and France. A "Tip of the Day" recommends the 2024 Ferrari Carano Sonoma County Chardonnay at Costco for $15.99, described as an "unobtrusive" choice for those who typically dislike buttery Chardonnays. The hosts sign off, announcing a trip to the Netherlands for a family birth.

The hosts discuss the proliferation of scam websites offering celebrity AI voice clones. The show concludes with a "Tip of the Day" recommending Kirkland Signature Moscato d'Asti, described as a sweet, low-alcohol, spritzy Italian wine perfect for summer, compared favorably to vintage "breezer" drinks.

John Dvorak provides a wine tip featuring a $4.99 Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio from Italy, recommending it be decanted to hide the budget label. He also suggests a $12 "Italo Cescon" bottle that comes with a decorative grapevine, which can be used to impress guests with a fabricated story about its origin.