Topic: Wine

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.

The characteristics of Muscadine wine, made from large Southern grapes, are discussed. While the host generally finds the wine "rank" and difficult to drink, he identifies Post Familia Winery in Arkansas as a producer that makes a palatable version. He notes the grapes can grow to the size of large apricots.

John C. Dvorak describes Retsina, a Greek wine flavored with tree resin, as "the worst product in the world." He explains that the flavor originates from ancient times when resin was used to seal wine jugs, resulting in a taste similar to turpentine, yet he suggests everyone should try it once.

A wine tip is provided regarding the 2015 Beaujolais vintage, which experts consider the best since the 1940s. John C. Dvorak recommends looking for "Cru Beaujolais" from specific towns like Fleurie or Morgon, noting that even the inexpensive bottles from this year are of exceptional quality.

A culinary tip suggests pairing Sauternes, a French dessert wine, with foie gras. The host claims this specific combination is exceptionally effective and even jokes that serving Sauternes was instrumental in his personal romantic success.

The hosts joke about how they are perceived by outsiders when dining together in San Francisco. They discuss whether their shared interests in gadgets and fine wine would register on "Gaydar," concluding that the city's culture makes such distinctions irrelevant to most observers.

Sir Ollie of the Effervescent Quality shared how the hosts' personal journeys influenced his return to the Catholic Church. After listening to an argument between the hosts about recycling content in episode 1834, he felt moved to rejoin his faith and is now preparing for confirmation. He requested the prayers jingle and "Costco wine" for the show's virtual roundtable.

"Dude Named Muhammad" reflects on his time as a producer and his playful protests against John C. Dvorak's frequent wine tips. Jeff Coleman shares the news of his son's birth, naming the child "John Coleman" in honor of the late co-host. The baby was born at 7:33 p.m., weighing 8 pounds and 8 ounces, which the father notes as a significant coincidence.

Sir CB in Tokyo and Jansen Istra offer humorous and heartfelt tributes, with Istra imagining Dvorak critiquing the vintage of the wine Jesus produced in heaven. A donor from Switzerland describes Dvorak as a "mentor of life." The hosts continue to process international donations from New Zealand, Finland, and the Netherlands.

A formal knighting ceremony bestows new titles including Baron, Baroness, and Viscount upon various donors. The hosts describe a symbolic "Round Table" feast featuring John C. Dvorak's favorite foods, such as flank steak, basmati rice, and Costco wine, alongside more eccentric items like "peppery ants" and "squeaky cheese." Listeners are directed to a dedicated website for ordering their official rings.

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.