Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has launched the sixth episode of its podcast series, Spirited Discussions: A Podcast by Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services. The series educates residents and businesses about alcohol products, trends, and policies in the county.
The latest episode, “Selecting French Wine,” delves into France’s winemaking regions, pairing wine with food, and ABS’s customer support. Host Jocelyn Rawat welcomes ABS Retail Store Manager Abdul Jones and Adventure Wine founder Robert Cavanaugh to discuss the impact of climate on wine flavors. The episode also shares tips for pairing French wines with seasonal dishes, local seafood, and desserts.
The podcast highlights ABS’s extensive selection of French wines, including bottles ideal for gifts. ABS stocks more than 100 French wines in its 27 retail stores. Tasting events across the county provide opportunities to sample French wines, with event details available on the ABS website.
Rosé remains the top-selling French wine in ABS stores, but other varieties are gaining popularity. ABS recently became the exclusive Mid-Atlantic retailer of eight highly rated wines from Domaine de Galuval, a Rhône Valley winery. Direct imports enable ABS to offer these wines at competitive prices.
“Each of our stores tailors its selection to customer demand,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin in a statement. “The Potomac store has the largest French wine collection, including 2020 First Growth wines. Our trained staff, thanks to programs like those from Robert Cavanaugh, are ready to help customers find the perfect wine.”
The Spirited Discussions podcast is available on the ABS website and major platforms, including Amazon, Apple, and Spotify. Listeners can subscribe by clicking the “follow” or “plus” button on their podcast app.
ABS encourages listeners to email questions and ideas for future episodes to abs.spiriteddiscussions@montgomerycountymd.gov. Previous episodes covered whiskey barrel picks, local beers, and the county’s alcohol control model. Episode seven will feature premium sipping tequilas.
