CrushCast

Blackthorn After Dark is our favorite place to unwind and share stories while sipping wine. We unravel mysteries and explore a variety of subjects we pull out of the shadows.  Allie shares a true story about an ancient treasure and the men whose obsession lasted their lifetimes. Tonight, we explore the Dead Sea Scrolls, and one particular scroll sparked a decades-long treasure hunt Curl up with a glass of your favorite wine and join us.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Some sparkling wines feel like a celebration. This one feels like a secret. Victorine de Chastenay’s Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé is a perfect example of Burgundy’s quiet brilliance—delicate, refined, and far more elegant than its price suggests. It’s the kind of bottle you open when you want bubbles that feel thoughtful rather than loud; joyful, but with a wink. A perfect addition to any holiday table, sparkling wine always adds something to a celebration. Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

December at Blackthorn is all about two things we’re usually terrible at: slowing down and actually letting ourselves shine. This is the month where rest meets celebration, where quiet winter mornings sit right alongside the clink of something bubbly. It’s the season of looking back, taking stock, and letting the year settle before we step into the next one with intention. In Blackthorn fashion, we’re treating rest as rebellion. Choosing to pause is its own kind of magic. And of course, we’re pairing that stillness with sparkle—because even witches, rebels, and rule-breakers deserve a bit of glitter in the dark. Pop open your go-to bubbly and sip along with us.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

As we approach the holidays, we often have more gatherings than normal, but whether you are hosting Thanksgiving Dinner or just having a mixed group dinner party, it can be difficult to decide how to pick wines that you think your guests will enjoy. Especially if you aren’t sure what they will like.  We are here to help you choose wine for a crowd without losing your mind or budget. My first bit of advice is not to overthink it.  Grab a glass of your favorite find and sip along with us. Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

We often look to the stars for inspiration, guidance, and the spectacular movements of the stars and planets. Space is often referred to as the final frontier, and man has been using space exploration to experiment with a variety of plants and animals.  As recently as 2021, a certain Bordeaux wine and its vines were sent up to space.  Julie brings you all the details on how wine and space intersect.  Grab a glass of wine you think is out of this world and join us! Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Allie went deep into the Blackthorn Cellar for one of our favorite finds. Crafted by husband and wife winemaking partners Peter Hunken and Amy Christine aren’t afraid to be out of step with fads in the wine business. They made a Pinot Noir that is delicious, and doesn't take itself too seriously. Their wine are proof that craft and care still matter.  Cozy up with your favorite Pinot Noir and join us. Cheers! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If our pod made you thirsty, check the cellar for yourself:  https://joinblackthorn.com/collections/everything/products/2023-amy-and-peter-made-this-pinot-noir?_pos=11&_fid=c16be85b4&_ss=c Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

This is the season of togetherness — of pulling another chair up, of pouring the good stuff even if the meal is humble. It’s about the generosity that comes from opening a bottle you love and saying, “Here, taste this.” For this Fall season, we are sharing a favorite sparkling red with you, Lambrusco. With wild and deep origins in Italy, this wine can be made from light, slightly sweet bubbly to serious, dark, and dry versions.  We pair this wine with a culture that has given us an endless legacy, but has long since disappeared from history.  The Etruscans didn’t divide life into sacred and secular the way we do. To them, everything was sacred. They believed the universe was a conversation — one between humans and the divine — and their job was to listen. Grab a glass of your favorite beverage to share with friends and join us. Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

We couldn't think of a better way to close out spooky season than some wine-inspired ghost stories.  Julie gathered a few short stories of haunted wineries and tasting rooms, with opinionated ghosts that love a little wine in their glass.  Allie tells the tale of one of the oldest wineries in California with its haunted tunnels and houses. The winery is famous for its very active ghosts.  Get your go-to Fall beverage ready and join us. Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Let’s be real… sometimes life is less 'rosé all day' and more 'crying in the bathtub with leftover pad thai.' We all spiral. Whether it’s doomscrolling at midnight, rage cleaning your kitchen, or staring into space, wondering if time is even real, chaos happens. And around here, we don’t shy away from the shadowy moods — we pair them. So tonight, we’re talking about wines for when you’re spiraling. Let your mood guide you to the perfect glass and join us.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

The rule is simple: 'Always start with bubbles.' Allie brings us a tasty example from France.  There is always so much information out there about whether wine or any alcohol, for that matter, can be good for your health. We believe that indulging moderately with something that brings you joy, you live longer and stay healthier.  Julie played one of her favorite games while shopping for her wine, "I like that bottle." Find out if Julie was successful or not.  Then, Allie asks the question, should wine tasting go back to the old school cheap prices? Will that help or hurt the industry?  In this episode, we share all of our opinions while sipping delicious wine. Who could ask for more?  Take a chance on something new or crack open an old favorite and join us.  CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Found hundreds of years after it is theorized to have been made, the pieces of the Antikythera Device still baffle the experts. It is greatly debated about when the device was made, who made it, and what it was made to do.  Tonight, Allie takes us on a journey through the centuries of both wild and practical theories that have yet to result in an answer.  Get cozy and grab a glass of something new and interesting. Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

In the Fall, we descend into shorter days and the transition from light to dark. We are walking in the shadows, searching for something we can connect with.  The name Xinomavro itself is a conjunction of the Greek words for acid and black which is a fairly accurate description for this grape which characteristically has both high tannin and high acid. This is the grape that can produce a beautiful, bright sparkling wine as well as an inky black, heavier red.  The only question left to ask yourself is which one do I want to try? Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

October is Libra giving way to Scorpio: balance slipping into intensity, charm into obsession, the mirror into the abyss. It’s the season of mystery, of hidden rooms, of long looks inward. We’re calling it The Shadow Cellar. So what does that mean in the glass? It means wines that feel a little uncanny, a little more textural, more emotional than intellectual. ​​It means wines that feel a little strange in the best way — wines that make you pause, tilt your head, and go, wait, what is this? Sometimes it’s a red that’s darker, moodier, and more intense than you’re used to. Other times it’s a white that smells like flowers, spices, or even incense — beautiful but polarizing, the kind of wine you either fall in love with or swear off forever. These are not wines designed to please everyone. They’re wines that ask: do you like this, or don’t you? And if you do, what does that say about you? This month is about tuning into your own taste. Your palate is not a performance — it’s an identity. Wine isn’t here to tell you who you should be; it’s here to reflect who you are when no one’s watching. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Short answer: No. We go over how people taste and how your personal taste is made up of a variety of factors. Wine is very subjective, and your taste is not the same as someone else's.  We drop some real-world knowledge and some facts that can help you trust your personal taste.  Grab a glass of something you are curious about and taste along with us. Cheers! Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Our September Subscriber Bonus is all about refreshing layered whites.  Wine and music are both sensory experiences, so we explore some pairing suggestions and how to enhance your wine-drinking experience further.  We then jump over to the Dolimites and learn about an ancient vine, lovingly called  “Old Lady.” Which has not only lasted centuries, but still makes wine.  Pick your favorite spot to curl up with a glass of wine and sip along with us.  CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Click here to Subscribe! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Many people think the mystical powers of the full moon induce erratic behaviors, psychiatric hospital admissions, suicides, homicides, emergency room calls, traffic accidents, fights at professional hockey games, dog bites, and all manner of strange events.  The moon features prominently in Witchcraft, Astrology, Myths and Legends, and Biodynamic winemaking. We wanted to know if there is scientific evidence to support these claims. Can we prove the moon itself has an influence on us?  Grab a glass of your favorite wine to drink in the moonlight and join us.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Gamay may not be the grape you run into every day at the wine shop, but it deserves a permanent spot on your radar. It’s versatile, food-friendly, and usually more affordable than its Pinot Noir cousin. And yet, it’s got this undeniable charm—that little “extra button unbuttoned” energy that makes you want to lean in closer. Sommeliers call it their “secret weapon,” partly because it plays so well with food, and partly because it brings joy without demanding all the attention in the room. Tonight, we wanted to share with you a favorite from our cellar. Sourced to bring wines from far-flung villages in Europe, Mary Taylor brings wines made with care and intention to your table.  Take a chance on something new or your tried-and-true favorite and sip along with us.  Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Wine education doesn’t have to feel like cramming for an exam. In this week’s episode of Renegade: A Blackthorn Podcast, we’re throwing out the textbook, ditching the pop quizzes, and starting fresh. September’s theme, Back to Blackthorn, channels all the best parts of back-to-school energy — sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks, that feeling of new beginnings — but applies them to your wine life. This isn’t about memorizing grape varietals or reciting pairing charts. It’s about reclaiming wine on your own terms: joyful, intentional, and just a little rebellious. Whether you’re brand new to wine or you’ve been drinking for years but still feel like you “don’t know enough,” this episode is your official initiation into the Blackthorn way of drinking. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

Tonight, Allie tells the story of the infamous Hellfire Club. It is a story full of lost secrets, hidden caves, and one man's stolen heart.  Join us as we sip an energetic and free-spirited wine to complement the lavish celebrations of the Hellfire Club.  Curl up in your favorite chair and grab a glass of something that makes you feel rebellious, and we will do the rest.   Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!

On this week's Nightcap, Blackthorn by the Glass pours something rare and radiant — the 2023 Bourgueil Rosé from Domaine Audebert et Fils in France’s Loire Valley. Crafted from 100% Cabernet Franc (the grape locals call “Breton”), this saignée-style rosé is bright with strawberry, blood orange, and a whisper of spice. We’ll wander through Bourgueil’s thousand-year wine history, explore why Cabernet Franc thrives here, and share why this fuller-bodied rosé isn’t just for sunny afternoons — it’s made for charcuterie boards, roast chicken, and smoky summer BBQs. Support the show CONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @joinblackthorn You can also reach out via email - gather@joinblackthorn.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, you can subscribe for $5 a month and get a monthly bonus episode in your feed just for subscribers. Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are an online wine club, a secret wine society and more. Discover the world of Blackthorn at www.joinblackthorn.com Cheers and thanks for listening!