Wine Situation Final Five (Now With Drunk Dialing!)

The Wine Situation hosts everyone from winemakers to writers to find out what a person’s situation is…with wine. It’s the solo season, as host Ellen Clifford is in quarantine, but if you listen in with a glass, then nobody is drinking alone! You can play along with the WhoWhatWhereWhenWhyWine quiz, weigh in on a poll and just join in with Ellen drinking a lovely J Vineyards Pinot … In lieu of guests, at the end of every action packed episode, Ellen is phoning a friend with her Final Five questions. This week she has artist and fellow former St. Louisan, Matt Hirscheld (check out his art here ) on the phone to talk wine, food, and joy. Click here for the full episode. THE FINAL FIVE (edited for length): QUESTION ONE Ellen: Whachu drinking? These days. It can be alcoholic or not. Like, what are you enjoying? What beverage…. Matt: You know I have been getting into mochas a lot, lately. Ellen: Oh! Like the coffee with chocolate? Matt: Yes, that’s my drink in the morning. It gets me up and going so it has been the drink of my choice, and obviously, being a St. Louis guy you’d think I’d say Bud Light is my alcoholic drink…if I was going to pick a wine I’d say a Sauvignon Blanc is what I’d go with. QUESTION TWO Ellen: Cool cool, okay question number two is—and I think I know what you are going to say—what’s the best pairing between food and drink? Matt: Best pairing—Bud Light and Imo’s. (Note from Ellen: Imo’s is a thin crust pizza place in St. Louis) Ellen: I know you so… Matt: There’s not a better pairing than that. I can’t think of anything; those two go hand in hand. Ellen: I honesty have never tried those side by side but I’ve had those both and not liked them by themselves. If I had them together would I change? Matt: Yes. QUESTION THREE Ellen: Okay. You’re on next time we’re in St. Louis. Speaking of St. Louis, where do you drink in St. Louis? That’s the next question. Matt: When I’m back in St. Louis, I usually stay around the neighborhood. Either I go to the Loop [Note from Ellen: St. Louis has a Loop too, not just Chicago!], to Blueberry Hill, or I’ll go to Lester’s in Ladue…you know it’s funny, every time I go back it seems like there’s a bunch of new places that opened up that I was never aware of, so I’m always finding new spots whenever I go back. QUESTION FOUR Ellen: Question number four, of the final five, is there a wine whose label—you’re an artist—is there a wine whose label you’ve seen, and you’re like “oh that’s good art”? Matt: You know, I don’t know what it is, but the Coppola brand always sticks out to me. I know they have different variations of the logo, but they always sort of stand out. Ellen: Director’s Cut ? Matt: Yeah I don’t know how that applies, but it always stands out. I can always spot those things. QUESTION FIVE Ellen: And now I’ll ask you the final “what’s giving you joy” question… Matt: Well I think, especially given the times we’re in right now, I think it’s being able to keep in touch with my friends and being able to check in on everybody and see how everyone’s doing. I think now more than ever it is more important to get in touch with people who maybe you haven’t talked to in a while. Just reach out to them and say hi, and it really goes a long way. Check out the previous Wine Situation podcast with Punam Patel here .