Our common nature is a musical journey with Yo-Yo Ma and me, Ana Gonzalez, through this

complicated country.

We go into caves, onto boats, and up mountain trails to meet people, hear their stories,

their poetry, and of course, play some music, all to reconnect to nature and get closer to the things we're missing.

Listen to Our Common Nature from WNYC, wherever you get podcasts.

Hey, I'm Frances Lamb, and this is Splendid Table Selects. Our mini podcast will we serve at one interview that's made us better cooks and eaters,

or in this case, drinkers.

Our presenting sponsor is Bob's Red Mill.

They're an employee-owned company that for decades has offered organic, gluten-free, stone-ground

products, and they're experts at making healthy taste amazing.

Winter is coming.

I mean, winter holidays are coming, and that means joy, festivity, and cases of wine

bought on your credit card.

So let's be honest, being a host is great.

Being a host who doesn't have to take a bath on the bill is greater. So we call it an expert to help us find bargain bottles that people will love. Madeline Paquette is that expert. She's a certified Somalié. She's written two books on the subject of wine. And she talked with our managing producer, Sally Swift. Have a listen.

Madeline, great to have you here.

Hi, thanks for having me.

So we are in a time of year when people who don't ever entertain are entertaining and we're bringing wine in and out.

And I would love to talk to you today about some unexpected wine buys from unexpected places.

You know, we look for unexpected places and unexpected wines for a couple of things.

An unexpected wine is like, hey, if you really like this Cabernet Savignal that you've loved and

always loved for your whole life, you might try this other great variety you've never heard of, and it tastes very

...