Taste The World Podcast

This week we kicked with James Beard Award-winner and Senior NBA writer for ESPN, Baxter Holmes. We discussed his iconic story about wine culture in basketball, rap spirit animals, wine life in the NBA bubble, and much more!

This week we kicked it with Jeremy Seysses, Winemaker for the legendary Domain Dujac. We talked about; Jay Z name dropping his wine,  Dujac meetings at Roc Nation, his favorite vintage, and all things Burgundy in this classic episode.

This week we kicked it with Dlynn Proctor, Director at Fantesca Winery, Associate Producer of the Netflix #1 hit movie “Uncorked”, and co-founder of the not for profit organization “Wine Unify”. We spoke with Dlynn about his layered life in wine, hip hop, advice for budding connoisseurs, and how Wine Unify stands to change the wine industry. Pour up with us and enjoy! 

Today with throwing it back to a pre-COVID interview with Regine Rousseau, Founder of marketing, promotions, and event company Shall We Wine. Regine drops many jewels in our thought-provoking conversation about; her creative approach to brand activations, financial freedom, and females in hip hop. Cheers! 

 BONUS BTS - Andre Mack and the Cru discuss their favorite vintages in hip hop. Listen to the full interview on Episode 11: Deeply Rooted. 

This week we kicked it with Rsonist, frontman for the multi-platinum production team The Heatmakerz. We break down the art of sampling aka the Cuvee of hip hop, rappers transitioning from spirits to wine, his relationship with the late Freddagodson, Dip Set, and how his classic album with Jim Jones “El Chapo” came to be.

This week we kicked it with Shakera Jones AKA @blackgirlsdinetoo about her love affair with wine, what to expect at a virtual wine tasting, and being an ally to the black community in the fight against racial injustice #BlackLivesMatter

This week we chopped it up with Kelly Mitchell, wine consultant, and sales rep for Skurnik Wines. Kelly broke down how she manages to host wine dinners, crush wine sales, and still enjoy the fruits of her labor

BONUS BEHIND THE SCENES - Derrick Westbrook and the Cru discuss being "outside" as a kid and how hip-hop (urban) culture prepared them for the careers they have. 

This week we celebrated the connectivity of wine and hip hop with two influencers from very different walks of life. Amelia Singer of The Wine Show, and Rapper, Jr Boss. Join us as we recap our feature on this upcoming season on season 3 of “The Wine Show”. Valid AF on all sides. Tune in to check them out this month on Hulu, Ovation, and Amazon Prime.

This week we chopped it up with newlyweds, Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Associate Managing Editor, Print, Layla Schlack, and beer writer, Jay C. Williams, for a blend of wine, beer, and hip hop. Jay and Layla pair beer with Jermaine’s music pick, “OverDose” by Conway The Machine, and Jermaine selects a wine to go with Layla and Jay’s pick, “Keep It Thoro” by Prodigy of Mobb Deep, an artist whose music was at the foundation of their union.

In this special two hour episode, we linked up with Derrick Westbrook, sommelier, culture curator, and owner of 1340 Beer, Wines & Spirits. Between his wine and music pairing tour, Samples & Samples, and his cover feature for Wine Enthusiasts Magazine’s 40 under 40, Derrick has the wine world lit with no signs of slowing down. This is a conversation you have been waiting for: Jermaine and Derrick, two masters of wine and music pairing talk about everything from wine pairings to Kanye West, to Derrick’s dating life.

THIS WEEK WE KICKED IT WITH COMEDIAN, DIRECTOR, AND PRODUCER JACK THRILLER, AKA “THE GOSPEL SEX SYMBOL,” ABOUT HOW HE WENT FROM STRIPPER AND STAND UP COMEDIAN TO CREATING CONTENT FOR 50 CENT, A RECURRING ROLE ON NICK CANNON’S WILDING OUT, AND A COMEDY TOUR WITH MARTIAN LAWRENCE. IT GETS A LITTLE SPICY SO PUT THE KIDS AWAY. WINE: WINE - 2013 THE ALEX COOPER PROJECT HIP HOP: “PONY” - GINUWINE

THIS WEEK THE WHH TEAM KICKED IT WITH @SHITTYWINEMEMES FOR THEIR ANNUAL YEAR-END SALUTE TO THE CULTURE WITH THE WINE & HIP HOP AWARDS THE NOMINEES ARE: BEST WINE REFERENCE IN A RAP SONG 1. WALE  ON CHILL FEATURING JEREMIH 2. JAY-Z ON BEYONCE’S ON “MOOD 4EVA” FEATURING JAY Z AND CHILDISH GAMBINO 3. BLACK THOUGHT ON BENNY THE BUTCHER’S “CROWNS FOR KINGS” 4. CONWAY THE MACHINE ON GRISELDA’S  “MOSELLE” PRODUCER / BRAND OF THE YEAR 1.LUC BEL AIR 2. MOD SELECTION RESERVE CHAMPAGNE 3. ARMAND DE BRIGNAC AKA ACE OF SPADES 4. TRUE WINE CONNOISSEURS 5. LE CHEMIN DU ROY CHAMPAGNE 6. MAISON NIOR - ANDRE MACK THE MOMENT IN WINE & HIP HOP AWARD 1. DABABY’S WINE DINNER IN THE “INTRO” VIDEO 2. DRAKE’S INTERVIEW WITH THE RAP RADAR INTERVIEW 3. JOEY BAD ASS GQ FAVORITE THINGS  INTERVIEW WINE AND HIP HOP CONNOISSEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD WHH FOR THE CULTURE AWARD WINE & HIP HOP GOAT AWARD

THIS WEEK WE KICKED IT WITH RYAN BAILEY, WINE DIRECTOR AT THE NOMAD HOTEL LOS ANGELES, HOLDER OF THE LARGEST CHAMPAGNE LIST IN THE WORLD. WE DISCUSSED RYAN’S RUN THROUGH THE NY WINE SCENE, HIS SMALLWARES COMPANY PORTAE-LA, AND JERMAINE IS COMPELLED TO DUB RYAN, KING SOMM OF WINE AND HIP HOP AFTER HEARING AN AMAZING STORY ABOUT HOW HE SERVED AS A SOMMELIER FOR FREDDY GIBBS AND MADLIB AT A RECENT CONCERT. WINE: JEAN LOUIS CHAVE 2011 DOMAINE ST JOSEPH HIP HOP: “GIANNIS” - FREDDIE GIBBS & MADLIB

THE WHH CRU IS BACK FROM HIATUS! THIS WEEK WE SAT DOWN WITH SOMMELIER AND MANAGING PARTNER AT NYC HOT SPOT COMPAGNIE VINS SURNATURELS, CALEB GANZER FOR A PROFOUND CONVERSATION ABOUT NEW WORLD WINES AND NEW SCHOOL HIP HOP. CALEB BREAKS DOWN LOW INTERVENTION WINES AND INTRODUCES THE CRU TO AN ECLECTIC SELECTION HIP-HOP FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. WINE: BOSMAN FAMILY VINEYARDS 2017 CHENIN BLANC PÉT-NAT HIP HOP: “3005” - CHILDISH GAMBINO

THIS WEEK WE CHOPPED IT UP WITH JACKIE SUMMERS, CREATOR OF THE AWARD-WINNING SOREL LIQUEUR AND CHAMPION FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN HOSPITALITY. IN THIS EPISODE, JACKIE TELLS US HOW HIS SCARE WITH CANCER MOTIVATED HIM TO BRING THE CARIBBEAN HOLIDAY CLASSIC, SORREL, TO THE AMERICAN MARKETPLACE. WINE: SOREL HIP HOP:  “CHRISTMAS IN HOLLIS” - RUN DMC

THIS WEEK WE CHOPPED IT UP WITH EMILY SALADINO, WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE’S NEW ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR FOR DIGITAL AND FORMER EDITOR IN CHIEF AT VINEPAIR. EMILY TALKED WITH US ABOUT PRINT MEDIA VS DIGITAL, HER HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS A JOURNALIST, AND HOW HER ARTICLE ABOUT WINE & HIP HOP SHOOK UP THE WORLD. WINE: AYALA BRUT NATURE CHAMPAGNE HIP HOP: “AUDITORIUM” - MOS DEF FEATURING SLICK RICK

KICK·BACK /ˈkikˌbak/ A group of friends getting together to engage in party activities such as drinking etc., without the hassle and drawbacks of a big party. This week we kicked it with Chasity Cooper - A wine enthusiast and freelance journalist for publications like Essence and VinePair, just to name a few. In this episode, we discussed female MC’s, cancel culture, the legacy of Jermaine Dupri, and wild times as a wine journalist. We crack a bottle of Ampeleia Unlitro Rosso Toscano 2018 and learn about what motivated her to launch #WineWithChas, a weekly blog dedicated to wine stories that speak to those who want to learn about wine in a fun, non-intimidating way. WINE: AMPELEIA UNLITRO ROSSO TOSCANO 2018 HIP HOP: XSCAPE - JUST KICKIN IT

HOW DOES A YOUNG PRODUCER MAKE SOME OF THE BEST CHARDONNAY ON THE PLANET? THIS WEEK, WE CHOPPED IT UP WITH SOMMELIER AND AUTHOR. SARAH THOMAS, ABOUT HER NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK SERIES, KALAMATA’S KITCHEN, DIVERSITY IN WINE, AND LIFE AS A SOMMELIER. SARAH AND THE CRU FOUND PARALLELS BETWEEN BURGUNDY WINEMAKER FRANCIOS MIKULSKI AND MUSICIAN YBN CORDAE, TWO RISING STARS GIVING YOU THE QUALITY OF LEGEND WITH A MODERN APPROACH. WINE: 2017 DOMAINE FRANCOIS MIKULSKI MEURSAULT HIP HOP: LOST & FOUND” YBN CORDAE