An exploration of the Salta, Argentina's wine history and high-altitude styles paired with their unique hummingbird population.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

The South America Wine Guide: A definitive guide to wine in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, & Peru, [Kindle Edition] Barns, A. (2021)

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)

Websites:

Birds Canada: Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World - Salta, (17 February 2026) https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=ARsa&list=howardmoore

Bodega Colomé https://bodegacolome.com/en/about-us/

Ebird: Giant Hummingbird https://ebird.org/species/giahum1/AR-A

One Earth: The majestic Patagonian giant - A closer look at the world's largest humminbird, Encina, G.P. (15 March 2025) https://www.oneearth.org/species-of-the-week-giant-hummingbird/

South America Wine Guide: Calchaquí Valleys Wine Guide, Barnes, A. (6 May 2022) https://southamericawineguide.com/calchaqui-valley-wine-region-guide/

Glass in Session Episodes Referenced in this Episode:

S14E1: Argentina's Sparkling Wine https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/argentinas-sparkling-wine-s14e1

S21E3: Muscat Grape Love https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/muscat-grape-love-s21e3

S23E1: Merlot, the blackbird, and who isn't drinking any fuqing Merlot https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/merlot-the-blackbird-and-who-isnt-drinking-any-fuqing-merlot-s23e1

S23E2: Black Swans, Swan Valley Wine, and a Roman Poet https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/black-swans-swan-valley-wine-and-a-roman-poet-s23e2

S23E3: The Wines and White Storks of Alsace https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/the-wine-and-white-storks-of-alsace-s23e3

Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: "Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

An exploration of the history of the wine region, the wine styles, and what a Roman poet and Black Swans have to do with any of it.

Resources from this episode:

Websites:

Académie du Vin Library: Swan Diversion - an unsung Australian wine valley, James, A. (2 May 2024) https://academieduvinlibrary.com/blogs/vinosity/swan-diversion-an-unsung-australian-wine-valley

Australian Atlas: Swan Valley https://www.australianatlas.com.au/wine-regions/swan-valley

Australian Wine: Swan District https://www.australianwine.com/our-places/western-australia/swan-district-wine-region

Britannica: History of Western Australia https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Australia/History

Britannica: Juvenal https://www.britannica.com/biography/Juvenal

Britannica: Swan River https://www.britannica.com/place/Swan-River-Australia

Britannica: Western Australia https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Australia/People

Ebird: Black Swan https://ebird.org/species/blkswa

Gutenberg: The Satires of Juvenal, Persius, Sulpicia, and Lucilius (Literally translated into English Prose, with notes, chronological tables, arguments, etc.), Evans, L. (1881) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/50657/50657-h/50657-h.htm

Houghton Wines: Our Story https://houghton-wines.com.au/pages/about-us

International Fund for Animal Welfare: Swans https://www.ifaw.org/international/animals/swans

Marketing Mag: A big bloody controversy, McConnell, S. (2016) https://www.marketingmag.com.au/hubs-c/big-bloody-controversy/

Olive Farm Wines: https://www.olivefarmwines.com.au/our-story

Pond Informer: Seven Swan Species and Swan Type (How to Identify) H. R. (14 June 2020) https://pondinformer.com/swan-species-guide/

Swan Valley Wine: History in the Making https://swanvalleywine.com/

Vineyards: Wine Map of Western Australia https://vineyards.com/wine-map/australia/western-australia

Western Australia Now and Then: Swan River (Updated 17 August 2026) https://www.wanowandthen.com/Swan-River.html

Wine Australia: Swan Valley Geographical Indication https://www.wineaustralia.com/labelling/register-of-protected-gis-and-other-terms/geographical-indications/swan-valley

Wine With Seth Wine Wiki: Swan Valley https://www.winewithseth.com/winewiki/swan-valley/

Glass in Session Episodes Referenced in this Episode:

S6E3: A Sweet, Sticky Story - Rutherglen Fortified Wines https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s6e3-a-sweet-sticky-story-rurtherglen-fortified-wines

Glass in Session® swag mentioned in this show: https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: "Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Originally released Nov 11, 2022

Exploring Malta's wines, the history, grapes, and styles. And what's the bird got to do with any of it?

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition, Robinson, J., Harding, J. (2015)

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours, Robinson, J., Harding, J., Vouillamoz, J. (2013)

Websites:

Around the World in 80 Harvests: Heroic Viticuluture and Wines from Malta and Gozo, Barnes, A. (3 December 2020) https://aroundtheworldin80harvests.com/2020/12/03/heroic-viticulture-the-wines-from-malta-gozo/

Brittanica: Malta, Busuttil, S. (6 October 2022) https://www.britannica.com/place/Malta

CIA World Factbook: Malta - Country Summary (3 October 2022) https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malta/summaries

Internet Archive: The Maltese Falcon [full movie], Huston, J. (1940) https://archive.org/details/the-maltese-falcon-1941

Malta Products: https://www.maltaproducts.com/product-category/drinks-beverages/maltese-wine/

Michelin Guide: A Roundup of Malta's Wines, (30 December 2020), https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/travel/a-roundup-of-malta-s-wines

National Endowment for the Arts: The Maltese Falcon (24 November 2013) https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/nea-big-read/maltese-falcon

Order of Malta: History https://www.orderofmalta.int/history/

Slo Wine Country: Maltese Wine - A guide to the island's best wines (4 November 2022), Rosamie https://www.slowine.com/maltese-wine-a-guide-to-the-islands-best-wines/

Times of Malta: The Order of St. John's arrival in Malta in 1530, Grima, J. F. (24 October 2021) https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/the-order-of-st-johns-arrival-in-malta-in-1530.909655

Welcome Center Malta: Maltese Terroir - A guide to its history, terroir, and varietals, https://www.welcome-center-malta.com/maltese-wine-a-guide-to-its-history-terroir-and-varietals/

Wines of Malta: https://winesofmalta.gov.mt

Related or Referenced Glass in Session® Episodes:

S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes

S5E2: Getting Medieval - Wine and Holy Warriors https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s5e2-getting-medieval-wine-and-holy-warriors

S10E3: Getting Our Grappa On https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s10e3-getting-our-grappa-on

S10E5: Montefalco Sagrantino: Wine, Birds, & the King of Everything https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s10e5-montefalco-sagrantino-wine-birds-the-king-of-everything

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: "Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Bird nerd meets cork dork in this summer break re-release of Montefalco Sagrantino, a beloved wine named for a king's beloved birds. Since your host is on break this month, most likely engaging in her new kink, bird watching, we're reaching back into the archives for bird-themed episodes that you can enjoy anywhere you find yourself this summer ... even on the back deck with a glass of wine in one hand, and a bird app in the other.

Originally released in July 2022, this episode explores the wines of Montefalco Sagrantino. A unique grape, cool birds, and a special growing region, along with a rich history, make this one of the host's favorite wines.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours [Kindle Edition], Robinson, J., Harding, J., & Vouillamoz, J. (2013)

Websites:

Agraria: Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Atlante dei Prodotti Tipici, (n.d.) https://www.agraria.org/vini/montefalcosagrantino.htm

Biodiversity Library: The Birds of Asia - Saker Falcon, Falco Sacer, Gould, J. (1850 - 1853) https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/partpdf/323332

Consorzio Montefalco: https://www.consorziomontefalco.it/

Forbes: Two Italian CEOs Discuss the Joys and Trial of Taming the Sagrantino Wine Grape in Umbria, Thach, L. (29 June 2022) https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizthach/2022/06/29/two-italian-ceos-discuss-the-joys-and-trials-of-taming-the-sagrantino-wine-grape-in-umbria/?sh=4eb3d26d1292

Italian Wine Central: Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, (n.d.) https://italianwinecentral.com/denomination/montefalco-sagrantino-docg/

Italian Wine Chronicle: The Rise of Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Sesto, R. (26 January 2017) https://www.italianwinechronicle.com/rise-montefalco-sagrantino-docg

The Pasta Project: Strozzapreti, Debono, J. (8 March 2017) https://www.the-pasta-project.com/strozzapreti/

Sagrantino di Montefalco: Montefalco - La Ringhiera dell'Umbria (n.d.) https://www.sagrantino-montefalco.it/montefalco.php

Strada Del Sagrantino: Vini http://www.stradadelsagrantino.it/montefalco-sagrantino-docg.php

Glass in Session® Episodes Mentioned in this Session:

S3E4: Wine from Dried Grapes https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s3e4-wine-from-dried-grapes

Glass in Session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC.

Music: "Write Your Story" by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)

Glass in Session® merch mentioned on this show (including new wine & bird themes): https://www.teepublic.com/user/glass-in-session