You know, it's been hard to
ignore the strange weather thats
gripped the nation recently.
In fact, altered weather patters
are affecting wine regions and
vineyards all over the world.
From wildfires to floods to temperature
changes, it all takes a toll.
Travel and food writer Brian Friedman
is here with his book Crushed,
How a Changing Climate is
Altering the Way We Drink.
Welcome to the show.
Thank you for having me.
We when we first heard about your book,
we were all like, no.
No, but it is important to talk about this.
So first of Alltel,
us about your
book, right? So the book tells
the stories of producers and
growers in eight regions around
the world because it based,
these are human stories, right?
And the folks who grow the grains and grapes,
who make the wines and spirits,
they're living, the impacts of
climate change on a visceral,
personal level every day.
So I wanted to tell those stori,
and I'm really glad you did.
So give us a few examples,
real examples of how weather and climate
change are affecting these grow.
Look, all of us see the fires.
And the floods and the hail and the the
illtimed frosts on the news all the time.
But there are also some really frightening
systemic changes that are happe.
Bud break happening at different times.
Harvest has moved earlier in
many regions around the world.
But look, it's not all terrible news, right?
Because I genuinely believe thae
folks who are responsible for growing
these products and making them are at the
forefront of teaching us how to move forward.
And that's what I really discovd
traveling around the world
reporting on and writing this b.
Look, I actually come away with a real sense
of optimism for what the future holds.
That makes me feel so good
because you think about it.
I mean, winemaking is one of the
oldest traditions in the world,
but the fact that they're looking forward?
Absolutely to keep the tradition
alive and to keep us drinking w.
Is really something that is very
reassuring and you've brought se
incredible wines here that are
sustainable that are doing the
right thing and looking forward.
So what is this?
All right, So we're going
to start and I love,
I love tasting wine, you know,
first thing in the morning.
So we're starting off here.
This is the Tabor Adama Rose.
This is from Israel.
Now Israel is one of the most exciting
wine producing countries on planet earth.
They were growing wine there for
thousands of years and it's just
now really getting the respect
and the the the fame that it's .
Richly deserves,
and this wine is a great example of why.
So this is made out of 100%
of a grape called Barbera.
And this producer Tabor is an
absolute leader around the world
in this whole ecosystem approach
and bringing back the health
not just to their vineyard,
but to the land around it.
So cheers,
cheers. First of all,
that's like the best way
ever to start the day, right?
Wonderful fresh fruit,
mouth watering, acidity.
I don't usually like a rose A
Typically I feel like they're a little
hard or sweet. This is beautifu.
This is textbook of what both
Israel and high world class rose
A are doing right these days.
I think that's actually a
very good life decision.
While you're doing that,
we're next Moving on.
This is the Borsao Trace Picos garnacha, OK.
This is from Campo de
Borca in Northern Spain.
And this actually they're using%
renewable energy in their production, right.
So this is very important in a
world of dramatic climate change
producers who are making their
wines in a sustainable manner,
treating their employees well.
These are the things that are
going to help us produce wine
for another 5000 years.
So let's give this one a taste.
This is very high pressure
drinking this morning.
Go on here for that.
Oh, that smells delicious.
Again, that beautiful plummy fr.
Black cherries, vanilla, right?
Yeah, that is yummy. How much do
you want a hamburger right now?
I do. Oh, my gosh, A steak and
some chimney cherry sauce.
I'm here for that after the seg.
All right, this is where we're going.
Yeah. Beautiful wine.
Next. This is the root one.
Now, this is from Chile root on.
This is their cab from the Mypo Valley.
They were the first producer in
Chile to be certified as 100%.
Sustainable now sustainable.
That's one of those terms
that can get confusing,
Right. I was going to ask you, t
does that mean to be 100% sustainable?
Yeah. So sustainable wine growig
really means that, you know,
you are leaving the land in at least the
same shape as you got it and hopefully
better for subsequent generatio.
You might my rest. It can't.
Can I pour? I would pour.
OK All right. Don't judge.
My pour. I think you're
pouring is magnificent. OK All
right. So look, this is the kinf
wine also and all of these wines
are incredibly. Affordable, Rig.
I mean, they're all like I was
going to be. I didn't.
I was afraid to ask.
No, no, I was kind of afraid to
ask. All these wines prove that
you don't have to spend a fortu.
They're all under 2025 bucks.
Great wine that's responsibly made is
absolutely affordable these days. Yes.
Smells like the sea and the ear.
OK. Can I be honest with you?
I feel professionally threatened
with that tasting note.
That was an amazing tasting not.
It does. Yeah. There's a.
Alongside that really generous fruit,
there's a hint of savoriness,
of subtle salinity here, right?
A little bit of an herbaceousness this,
right this. Maybe you have like,
some chicken thighs with some sage in there.
Bring the herbs into this.
But again, responsibly made.
And delicious and doesn't cost a fortune.
This tastes alive. I love that.
I love your notes. Thank you. I'm hired.
Yes, I love it. I need someone to help
taste with me first thing in the morning.
Well, I'm there all the time.
You got it. All right.
Done this here. This is the Chau
de burn inspiration Rose A. OK.
And this is also being sustainably farmed.
And they're also a bee friendly estate.
Oh, I like hearing that because
these are saving the world.
They bees are absolutely saving the world.
So let's pour this.
I don't want to have to like, not pour it.
The hardest thing by the.
Is having great wine in front
of you and not drinking it?
So we want to make sure
we avoid that pitfall.
But look, you know, we were talking before.
Climate change is an absolutely
terrifying thing, right? It is.
But there are some places in the
world that are actually benefit.
There's some spectacular sparklg
wines coming out of South and
southeastern England right now.
Stop.
Yes, the chalky soils of
southeastern England.
Very similar geological origins
as the chalky soils of Champagn.
It's just northern France.
The Channel have gotten in the ,
right, because it broke off and
it said goodbye. Temperature
has gone up a couple of degrees.
All of a sudden they're making great wine.
So that's what I'm talking about in the book.
I'm telling the stories and
really looking at climate change
from 40,000 feet in the air.
And I think these wines are reay
exemplifying why we should all .
Have optimism moving forward. I
had to taste this because we're about out of
time and I think this one was my favorite.
That is delicious. Oh, my gosh.
Thank you so much for sharing
your expertise with us,
for sharing these delicious win.
It has been an absolute pleasurd
delight to learn about all this.
And thanks for leaving us
with a little bit of hope.
Absolutely thanks for having me.
Hopefully have you again soon.
We're on more new day after thi.