Wine Enthusiast Podcast

20 years after the release of the award-winning book, Sideaways, author Rex Pickett reflects on its film adaptation and poignant statement against Merlot producers.

Like Miles Raymond, the main character in the book and film, Pickett was an unpublished author living in L.A. and a devoted disciple of Pinot (which he spent hours talking about with Richard Sanford). Listen as he shares how the success of Sideways launched an unexpected journey into the wine world and the creation of a beloved cinema classic.

And before you ask: No Merlot was consumed in the making of this episode.

Shop Pickett's new release, Sideways: New Zealand, and the complete Sideways collection here.

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Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!  FOLLOW US:

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Find out what happens when two wine drinkers with different levels of experience start getting real about wine storage. Discoveries include, but are not limited to: the most expensive custom wine cellar requests, what someone's wine storage says about them and the hardcore facts one needs to know before making any storage solution purchase. 

Starring: 

• The Wine Collector: Marshall Tilden III, DWS, CSW, Wine Enthusiast Chief Revenue & Education Officer 
• The Casual Wine Drinker: Dara P. Kapoor, Wine Enthusiast VP of Content 

 

Guest appearance by:

• The Wine Enthusiast Wine Storage Consultants. They're waiting by the inbox and phone for you!

This interview was also recorded live at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. You can watch it here—and see some of our previous cellar work!

Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!  FOLLOW US:

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Armenia is considered one of the birthplaces of winemaking, with archaeological evidence dating back at least 7,000 years. Tragically, the country’s wine culture was decimated under Soviet rule. Things finally started changing about a dozen years ago: Today, more than 200 wineries are operating in the country, and their bottles can now be found in markets and restaurants around the United States and Europe. 

In this episode, Writer-at-Large Matt Kettmann speaks with two leaders of the Armenian wine renaissance, father-daughter duo Vahe and Aimee Keushgerian. In 2021, the pair also made the first commercial wine from grapes grown in Iran in more than 40 years. 

Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!  FOLLOW US:

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On the surface, winemakers appear to lead a glamorous, jet-setting life of international travel, fancy wine dinners and a never-ending supply of enviable bottles. But what is it really like to work in wine?

Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Christina Pickard speaks to three well-respected winemakers from Australia and New Zealand on their entry into the industry. Hear from Paul Pujol, whose early experiences include a too-close-for-comfort experience with toxic chemicals; Jenny Dobson, who punched through the glass ceiling to produce her own wine label; and Helen Masters, who improbably scored a gig at a lauded winery, where years later she became the head winemaker.

Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!  FOLLOW US:

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What drinks trends will reign supreme in 2024? To know our future, we must know our past. Wine Enthusiast’s Tasting Director, Anna-Christina Cabrales chats with our spirits reviewer and writer-at-large Kara Newman about the important things like: Will the espresso martini fall out of fashion? Will canned wine continue its reign? Find out where they land with year's predictions after a candid round of "Love Its" and "Hate Its" of 2023. 

Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.    Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!  FOLLOW US:

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  Can sommeliers be sober? That's a question we sought to answer recently on Wine Enthusiast. As more people reevaluate their relationships with alcohol, so, too, is a growing contingent of wine industry professionals. Many of them—including sommeliers—are choosing sobriety. But what does that look like in practice? Wine Enthusiast's digital managing editor Rachel Tepper Paley talks with sommelier Laura Vidal about challenging the stereotype of what somms should be.     Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.    Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!      FOLLOW US:

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Some of the longest-living people in the world drink upwards of two glasses of wine daily, according to Dan Buettner's research for the best-selling Blue Zones books and program, which are also the basis of a Netflix documentary, ' Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.'

As some of us cut back on our alcohol consumption during 'Dry January,' Wine Enthusiast producer Sam Sette talks to Buettner about whether temporary abstinence is the answer to long-term health. Listen to find out how Buettner’s findings from the Blue Zones can shape a more informed approach to drinking in the new year.

Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.    Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!      FOLLOW US:

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Despite early naysayers who suggested she develop a different kind of sparkling wine, the award-winning actress, writer–and now Viarae Prosecco creator–Issa Rae believes in the drink’s power of authenticity.

In this episode, she talks to @Jacy Topps about why she prefers Prosecco over Champagne, whom she’d most like to share a glass with, and what it’s like to break into the wine industry. 

Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.    Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. (Don't miss our holiday deals!) And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today! (Makes for a nice gift for the wine lover in your life.🍷)       FOLLOW US:

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Cara Morrison of Sonoma-Cutrer shares what she wishes more people knew about the disputable grape and how her team continues to craft a wine for the ages.

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Wine and Hip Hop podcast host and star of Street Somm, Jermaine Stone explains why the best wine pairings are about meeting people where they are.      FOLLOW US ON:

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Writer at large, Christina Pickard sat down with Maureen Downey, to discuss the latest on one of the largest wine fraud cases in modern history. In 2013, Rudy Kurniawan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for selling millions of dollars in fake rare vintages.

For the full back story, check out Wine Enthusiast’s true crime podcast, Vinfamous.

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Future 40 Tastemaker Marie Cheslik shares how education and community can help overcome barriers and get more people comfortable around wine.

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Future 40 Tastemaker Martha Cisneros Paja, founder of the Latinas Wine Club, shares how education and empowerment can open doors to a more inclusive wine industry.

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The the first in our 3-part series highlighting some of this year’s Future 40 Tastemakers,we sit down with Alice Achayo, who founded The Wine Linguist, a consulting company created to educate wine professionals and drinkers to broaden how they think and talk about wine.

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The story of climate change is not just one of elevated temperatures. Smoke taint, droughts, frost, flooding, hailstorms and excessive rainfall all are impacting the vineyards. And the impact of wine production is becoming more obvious. So, just how is it affecting wine production? 

This week, Editor Jacy Topps sat down with Steve Peck to discuss. Peck is the VP of winemaking at J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines in Paso Robles, California, in which he oversees the full portfolio. 

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Orange wine is still a bit of an enigma, despite the style being centuries-old. So, Wine Enthusiast editor, Jacy Topps sat down with Doreen Winkler to discuss all things orange wine. Doreen Winkler is a sommelier, orange wine expert and the founder of Orange Glou, the only brick and mortar wine retail shop in the world solely dedicated to the category.

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This week we’re highlighting the amazing world of Portuguese wine. Author and Wine Enthusiast’s Spanish wine reviewer, Mike DeSimone sat down with John Sumners to discuss one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. 

Sumners is a freelance wine writer and California and Portugal wine specialist based in Lisbon. He is also the author of There’s More Than Port In Portugal: The Unpretentious Guide to Portuguese Wine.

 

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Writers-at-large Danille Callegari and Jeff Porter and Camillia Bellini, owner of Enoteca Bellini, examine what's at the heart of the Italian wine bar experience.

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In this episode, Jacy Topps sits down with Laura Silverman and Emily Heintz to discuss the NA culture in the beverage space. Laura is the founder of Zero Proof Nation, a platform highlighting non-alcoholic beverages and the culture driving their growth. And Emily is the founder of Sèchey, a retail bottle shop in Charleston, specializing in no-low-alcohol beverages.

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Fourth-generation winemaker Jake Bilbro discusses the benefits of his new sustainable wine brand, Revelshine and how it's shaking up the canned- wine category. 

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Peter Mondavi Jr, third-generation co-proprietor of Charles Krug Winery and Jeremy Carter, winemaker and founding partner of Tarpon Cellars sit down to dicuss what the future may hold for the iconic region. 

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Award-winning author Jon Bonné discusses his newly released book The New French Wine and what’s changing throughout one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world.

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Writer at large and spirit’s reviewer, Kara Newman chats with Ali Bolourchi to discuss the rise of caviar throughout the U.S. Ali Bolourchi is the owner of Tsar Nicoulai, a sturgeon ranch in Wilton California, right outside of Sacramento. Sacramento County produces most of the caviar made in the United States.

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The 80s was an important decade for wine in the U.S. It was also an important time for Wine Enthusiast Companies because the magazine was launched in the decade.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the magazine, not only did the print team create an amazing May issue, which is out now, managing print editor John Capone sat down with, chairman and cofounder of Wine Enthusiast Companies, Adam Strum to discuss the transformative decade.

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What is rosé? Where did it come from? How is it produced, and why is the trendy category not dying down? I sat down with Katherine Cole to discuss the diverse category.

Cole is a wine writer, executive producer and host of the James Beard award-winning podcast, The Four Top and author of the book Rosé All Day: The Essential Guide to Your New Favorite Wine

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Certification programs can be a great experience for those who want to learn more about wine. However, to make wine more accessible, the wine community has been questioning traditional educational programs as they currently are.

With pricey courses and curriculum rooted in Eurocentric language, are certification programs creating barriers in the industry? Will expanding how we view education remove some of those barriers? We sat down with Layla Schlack and Larissa Dubose to discuss the wine education landscape.

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From permitted varieties and grape yields to hand-picked harvests, CEO of Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Mathieu Billecart gives insight into the world-renowned region.

 

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Whether you’re in media, sales, winemaking or the public relations sector, the wine industry can be intense. So, this week, we’re taking on work-life balance. 

Is there such a thing or are they buzzwords? We sat down with Rebecca Hopkins to find out. Hopkins is a PR and communication specialist, who has worked in wine for nearly 30 years. In 2018, she launched A Balanced Glass, an online community providing tools to maintain a healthy lifestyle while working in the beverage industry.

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Wine Enthusiast presents a special presentation of its new true crime podcast. Follow the podcast at https://winemag.com/vinfamous-podcast or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Join us every other week as we delve into the twists and turns behind the all-time most shocking wine crimes. For more content from Wine Enthusiast, visit winemag.com.     *Heads up. This episode talks about murder and suicide and might not be suitable for all listeners. 

 

What is TikTok? How does it work? And why is the wine community successfully jumping on the bandwagon? Editor Jacy Topps chats with Amanda McCrossin to find out. McCrossin is a certified sommelier and former wine director, and she has amassed nearly two hundred thousand followers on the platform in a short amount of time.

 

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Every glass of wine tells a story. These stories reveal hidden histories and techniques, flavors and passions. And sometimes they unravel our darkest desires. In Vinfamous, Wine Enthusiast dissects the underbelly of the wine world and what it means when the product of love and care becomes the source of greed, arson, and even murder.   Follow the podcast at https://winemag.com/vinfamous-podcast or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Join us every other week as we delve into the twists and turns behind the all-time most shocking wine crimes. For more content from Wine Enthusiast, visit winemag.com.   https://winemag.com/vinfamous-podcast

NBA-champion Tony Parker shares why he chose to team up with entrepreneur and vintner Michel Reybier—and what he drinks the most.

 

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This week we sat down with 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony and his long-time business partner and entrepreneur, Asani Swan. Together, they co-founded The Seventh Estate VII(N), a new global wine label.

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Jason Wise of SOMM TV and editor Jacy Topps of Wine Enthusiast tell the story of a 270 year old vine in a very unlikely place that has the amazing distinction of being the oldest vine still making wine. 

The story starts with the arrival of Mission grapes and ends with several talented winemakers in Los Angeles collaborating to keep history alive. 

Make sure to sign up for SOMMTV.com to watch the documentary "The Oldest Vine" on all streaming devices.

 

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Editor Jacy Topps chats with Adam Hines, cofounder of High Bank Distillery Co., about his award-winning blended whiskey.     FOLLOW US ON:

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Actor Sam Neill may be in the “celebrity wine” camp, but he’s one of the very few celebrities who is hands on at every stage of the winemaking process. 

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From curating diverse wine lists to maintaining vendor relationships, three beverage directors from Union Square Hospitality share how they decide what goes on the menu.

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Tawnya Faulkner, founder of Le Grand Courtâge, explains how she created an affordable sparkling brand that still delivers on French cache and elegance.

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Appellations, approachability, innovation and sustainability: Future 40 Francophile Katie Melchior discusses all things French wine and culture.

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Writer at large and wine reviewer Christina Pickard talks with winemaker and sustainability advocate Dr. Irina Santiago-Brown.

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Jenny Lefcourt, founder of Jenny & Francois Selections, a wine importing company, discusses natural wine.

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Stacy Briscoe chats with Vivianne Kennedy, winemaker and proprietor of RAM Cellars, and the only openly transgender winemaker. They discuss diversity within the industry, winemaking and more.

 

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Kara Newman talks with 'Future 40' Dr. Nicola Nice about her women focused gin liquor, Pomp and Whimsy.

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Talking with the beer tastemakers about education, DEI efforts, collaboration beers, and initiatives that are increasing awareness in the beer space and among drinkers to create an inclusive industry.   

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Jacy talks with Marvina Robinson, CEO and founder of Stuyvesant Champagne. She is one of the few African American women owning a Champagne brand. 

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Assistant Editor Jacy Topps talks with Wanda James, former President Barack Obama's 2008 National Finance Committee member and founder and CEO of Simply Pure Dispensary. James, along with her husband, became the first Black people legally licensed in America to own a dispensary. And as a leading advocate in the cannabis industry, she also worked to get sentences dropped for people in jail for cannabis. 

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Just what is regenerative agriculture? It’s not just another trendy buzzword meant to entice consumers. It’s an ancient form of agriculture that is making its way back into mainstream farming. It’s successful, not only in producing and sustaining quality agricultural products, like wine grapes, but it’s also successful in combating climate change, the effects of drought, and (most commonly overlooked) creating a healthful environment for all living things within the farm—microorganisms, plants, animals, and people. FOLLOW US ON:

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We talk with husband-and-wife duo Melkon Khosrovian and Litty Mathew, founders of LA’s Greenbar Distillery about sustainability in spirits.

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In this week’s episode Assistant editor Jacy Topps talks with Iris Rideau who is recognized as the first black woman to establish a winery in the United States. But that’s not where this trailblazing vintner and author's story begins. 

Jacy Topps talks about Rideau’s childhood during Jim Crow, how she became an activist fighting for other marginalized people and how everything came full circle after she opened her winery. They also discuss Rideau's memoir entitled From WHITE to BLACK: One Life Between Two Worlds. 

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There’s been a lot of talk about millennials and Gen Z, and what their changing consumption habits mean for the wine industry. In an era that offers an increasing variety of styles to chose from, do younger generations still care about traditional wines like Napa Valley’s iconic Cabernets and Chardonnays?

And, perhaps more importantly, should they?

In this episode, Contributing Editor Virginie Boone talks to Napa winemakers Blair Guthrie and Bertus van Zyl talk about the wine world’s shifting demographics, the impact younger drinkers are are having on traditional production techniques, and what consumers are getting right—and wrong—about Napa Valley wine.

 

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As New World regions grow older and more established, and many areas of the Old World not previously known for wine have come into their own as high-level producers, traditional terminology and boundaries have begun to shift. This may be most prevalent in England, where changing climates, heritage grapes and an ascendant sparkling wine scene have created what some are calling the newest of New World wine.

Wine Enthusiast Contributing Editor Christina Pickard talks with Oz Clarke, renowned British wine critic, author, broadcaster and expert on all things fermented grape, about the future of English wine and the how we should approach an ever-changing industry.

 

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In 2011, a case of mistaken identity resulted in hundreds of acres of Graciano being planted on California's Central Coast. The problem? Winemakers thought they were getting something else entirely—Mourvèdre.

But in a surprising twist, these vineyards ended up yielding wines more intriguing than anyone expected. Now, thanks to this fortuitous accident, winemakers may have discovered a new superstar grape particularly suited to this California wine region.

Contributing editor Matt Kettmann talks to Andrew Jones of Sunridge Nurseries and Justin Smith of Saxum Vineyards about how this strange situation came to be and, a decade later, how the wines have measured up.

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Clean water is critical—for life, of course, but also for beer. This episode of the Wine Enthusiast Podcast explores how beer's most important ingredient is often overlooked by consumers, and why chemistry, conservation and cleaning are front-of-mind for brewers.

Beer Editor John Holl speaks with three beer professionals who are working toward making water a larger part of beer conversations: John Kimmich of The Alchemist in Vermont, Cody Reif of New Belgium Brewing in Colorado, and Luke Wortendyke of Wrenhouse Brewing in Arizona.

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From regenerative farming and eco-friendly packaging to water treatment, wellness-centered employee policies and beyond, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to talking sustainability in wine.

In this episode, Assistant Editor Jacy Topps speaks with two industry experts—Katie Jackson of Jackson Family Wines and International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), and Tobias Webb of Sustainable Wine and the Sustainable Wine Roundtable—about the current and future initiatives the wine industry has and/or hopes to implement to mitigate climate change.

 

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In this episode, the last in our three-part series in honor of Women’s History Month, we take a look at the varied yet related experiences of female winemakers.  

There are many remarkable female winemakers throughout the wine world that blazed new paths to the benefit of generations to come. As the industry evolves, we assess the similar issues several of them faced, versus what points of differentiation may have affected their vision or outcome. 

Senior Editor Stacy Briscoe speaks with Dr. Lucia Albino Gilbert, coauthor of the book Women Winemakers: Personal Odysseys, about the journeys of many of these women, and how they largely demonstrate a commonality of purpose and direction despite occurring in different times and cultures.

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In this episode, the second in a three-part series on women in drinks history, we take a look at the magnificent grandes dames of Champagne. Many great women have stood behind some of the most prominent Champagne houses in history.

Associate Digital Editor J'nai Gaither speaks with Rebecca Rosenberg, author of Champagne Widows, about the role these leading ladies, especially Madame Clicquot, or Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, played in building such sparkling empires, from work in the vineyard and innovations in the cellar to savvy growth and international marketing strategies.

Who rules the sparkling world? Grab a glass of bubbly and listen in for the remarkable answer.

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Evidence suggests that humans have been brewing and drinking beer for at least 13,000 years. Whether or not you’re a staunch believer in the theory that it was beer, not bread, that prompted our early ancestors to transition from hunter-gathers to farmers, the beverage has clearly played a key role in mankind’s history.

Additionally, while brewing in the United States is largely a male-dominated field, women have been integral parts of the brewing process throughout history. From goddesses to tavern operators, we see evidence of women and brewing throughout the ages. We can see it in ancient religion, art and texts from around the world.

In this episode, the first in a three-part series on women in drinks history, we take a look at women’s role in brewing throughout the ages.

Digital Editor Kristen Richard, a wannabe history buff, and Travis Rupp, the Beer Archeologist and lecturer in classics, art history, anthropology and mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, talk about the magnificence of women’s history in brewing.

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While the idea of a warm alcoholic beverage might be generally unappealing to some, there are classics, like the hot toddy or mulled wine, that have stood the test of time and proven themselves to be very necessary wintertime staples.

In this episode, we’re trying to shake off the remaining days of winter by warming up with a tasty hot drink.

Senior Digital Editor Dylan Garret and Spirits Editor Kara Newman have a very real, very candid conversation about the powers—and pitfalls—of this unique category of beverage enjoyment. This lively exchange covers the fun, the fandom, the failures, the fantasies and just about everything else in between when it comes to hot drinks.

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While winter across America might be unwelcome for those who prefer sunshine and warmth, for others, the frosty conditions present a unique world of opportunity.

For our three guests this week—Dave Breeden from Sheldrake Point Winery, Karlton Graham from KC Bier Co., and Eleanor Leger from Eden Specialty Ciders—the polar temperatures mean the perfect conditions for creating ice beverages like ice wine, cider and beer.

With the help and expertise of our guests, Contributing Editor John Holl leads a curious exploration into this frost-loving category, including talking about the process, history, innovation and flavors.

So grab a glass of your favorite cold-weather pour and listen up to learn more about the magic of ice drinks of all types.

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If you or someone you know isn't drinking alcohol for any reason at all, you have options. The non-alcoholic drinks space is evolving. Bars dedicated to booze-free hospitality offer creative menus, and there are scores of spirit-free bottles of booze, beer and wine at specialty shops and digital retailers.

In this episode, Associate Managing Editor Emily Saladino explores non-alcoholic drinks culture with John deBary, a semi-retired bartender who is also an author, creator and CEO of Proteau, and cofounder and board president of Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation. They're joined by Dylan Garret, another semi-retired bartender and senior editor at Wine Enthusiast. 

They discuss how the cocktail lounges of the early aughts and 2010s precipitated the rise of non-alcoholic drinks, and how those of us who do and don't drink alcohol can't raise glasses to a more inclusive scene moving forward. 

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With the new year here, so are resolutions to make the most of the 12 months ahead. Sure, there are many classic goals to try and achieve a better version of you, but today, we’re talking resolutions for what you pour, sip and enjoy in your glass.

There are countless ways to try and drink more adventurously in the year to come, including popping open precious bottles now; exploring new drink categories or emerging regions, varieties and styles; or learning more about the products you love and the people who make them.

In this episode, we take a fresh look at what lies ahead, specifically for our glasses.

Managing Editor Lauren Buzzeo talks with Tasting Director Alexander Peartree and Beer Editor John Holl about how we plan to drink better and broader in the year to come. Wine, beer, cider, spirit, seltzer or just about anything else—we have a lot of ideas about how we can make the year ahead more delicious than the last.

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As the end of another year rapidly approaches, one seasonal drink seems to be top of everyone’s mind: Sparkling wine.

But with so many types of bubbles to choose from, how do you know where to turn? From different production techniques and variety compositions to questions of food pairings and glassware, the possibilities seem near endless.

In this episode, Associate Managing Editor Layla Schlack talks with Assistant Tasting Director Fiona Adams and Assistant Digital Editor J’nai Gaither about all things sparkling, including their fave picks and tips for bubbly bliss.

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People love to talk about wine and food pairings, pairing complementary foods and invoking the tried-and-true mantra of “what grows together, goes together.”

But maybe it’s time to take a fresh approach to pairings.

When Napa Valley-based wine consultant Jean Hoefliger is asked how to pair wine and food, he responds by saying, “I don’t pair wine and food. I pair wine and mood. For me, it’s about the moment and the company. Nobody drinks a bottle of wine looking at their watch. You stop time and focus on the moment and the people you are in conversation with.”

Sounds so fantastically obvious and brilliantly genius, right?

Contributing Editor Virginie Boone taps Hoefliger for the best tips to pair wine and mood with a variety of personalities and occasions around the holiday season.

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What makes a drink festive? What makes it unique, or holiday-worthy? Is it the ingredients? The history? The people you enjoy it with?

Maybe it’s a little bit of everything.

In this episode, we take a look at festive drinks for the holiday season.

Spirits Editor Kara Newman speaks with beverage pros Jackie Summers, founder of Jack from Brooklyn and creator of Sorel Liqueur, and Joanna Carpenter, a bartender, beverage consultant and equity, diversity and inclusion educator. They discuss what makes a drink festive, including the traditions behind it, the people who make it, and how and with whom to best enjoy it.

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Producers being known for just one thing is rapidly becoming a dated concept. “Beverage companies” is the new “it” term. While breweries diversifying their drink portfolios have become quite common, wine production is also finding a place in this new mixed-up world of wonder.

In this episode, we venture down the path of blending beverage worlds. Beer Editor John Holl speaks with three winemakers who are beer-space adjacent to get the latest info on this exciting crossover space: Jennifer Currier, head winemaker for Vīdl Wines in North Carolina; Mitch Ermatinger, owner of Native Species Winery in Michigan; and Travis Green, winemaker at the Odell Wine Project in Colorado. 

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In this episode, we explore the world of aromatic white wines from California's Central Coast.

Contributing Editor Matt Kettmann speaks with John Niven, Owner/Winemaker at Cadre Wines, about these delicious and exciting selections. 

From super racy and stony Rieslings to strong examples of Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner and Albariño, there's a bevy of beautiful, ethereal pours from the expansive region to behold, all deserving of your attention.

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In honor of making it to our 100th episode, we have something special in store: We turned to some of our most opinionated staff editors to collect 100 recommendations for wines we love.

Whether it’s a special occasion, an achievement earned, a milestone reached or just plain-old making it through a Monday, we talk about some of our favorite pours to pop and enjoy right now to make every moment, no matter how big or small, deliciously count.

From Baja Garnacha and Special Club Champagne to Riesling from all around the globe and, stellar South African pours of all types and styles, it’s such an exciting time to be a wine lover, with so many wonderful bottles to try and stories behind them. Here are some of our faves.

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While we all love getting out and about, the past year has forced us to rethink the communal status quo and consider how we can connect without being in the same physical space. Enter the internet and all of the possibility it holds to create virtual gathering spaces for a variety of needs, including sharing a glass and building your wine community online. In this episode, we speak to two of this year's 40 Under 40 Tastemakers—Laura Brown, Cofounder of Uncorked Access and Wine Educator at Vin Social; and Alex Schrecengost, founder and CEO of Virtual With Us and Culture With Us—about our redefined expectations on what it means to wine together while remaining apart.

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Above all other established styles, all of the trends, all of the brewer wishes, the India pale ale remains the best-selling style in the craft beer space. Why is it so popular and why is it seemingly unstoppable?

In this episode, the second in our three-part series highlighting some of this year’s 40 Under 40 Tastemakers, we dive into everyone’s favorite love-it-or-hate-it beer style: IPA.

Beer Editor John Holl speaks with three people from this year’s 40 Under 40 list—Lisa Allen of Heater Allen Brewing in McMinnville, OR; Bill Shufelt of Athletic Brewing in Stratford, CT; and Doug Veliky of Revolution Brewing in Chicago, IL—about the good, the bad and the in between on all things IPA.

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In this episode, Associate Managing Editor Emily Saladino speaks with 40 Under 40 honorees Shanika Hillocks and Isis Daniel about the role of social media in wine business and culture. What makes for compelling social content in the wine world, and how can wine companies, professionals and casual drinkers better harness the power of Instagram, TikTok and beyond? Hillocks and Daniel share tips from their work as social media experts and discuss where they see social wine communities headed.

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Over the past few years, hard seltzer has taken over the drinks world. Has the bubble burst? Or, is it about to take a different shape?

Say hello to wine-based seltzers. While most hard seltzers are made from fermented sugars, specifically malt, these drinks use wine as a boozy base. And more winemakers are getting into the seltzer game.

To explore this space, Managing Editor Lauren Buzzeo speaks with Andrew Nelson, Managing Partner and President at War Room Cellars, a company that produces the wine seltzer Bubble Butt, among others.

 

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A lot has happened in the South African wine industry over the past year-plus. Since the start of the global pandemic, it has faced numerous obstacles.

The first Covid-19-related restrictions came in March 2020. Since then, there have been multiple starts and stops to alcohol sale, transport and export. Figures have estimated billions of dollars of revenue lost, as well as hundreds of thousands of drinks-industry jobs.

But simultaneously, the country has maintained international relationships, improved global standing and further honed-in on its own brand and messaging, leading to improved quality overall.

Managing Editor Lauren Buzzeo catches up on the current state of affairs for South African wine with Jim Clarke, Marketing Manager for trade group Wines of South Africa USA as well as author of the book The Wines of South Africa.

There’s clearly been a lot of recent change in the South African wine industry. Some good, some bad, some still to be fully determined. But at the end of the day, the takeaway remains—there’s truly never been a better time to drink South African wine.

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With summer in full swing and many eager to return to in-person gatherings, we take a look at how to make summer entertaining extra special this year. In this episode, Associate Managing Editor of Print Layla Schlack talks to two sommeliers about crowd-pleasing bottles that go with anything you might be serving at your barbecue or picnic, as well as what to bust out to make any summer gathering feel like a party.

Joining Layla is Cory Holt, a sommelier with Union Square Hospitality Group and founder of Bridges Wine Culture consulting, and Tahiirah Habibi, founder of Hue Society and a previous 40 Under 40 honoree. They’re both serving up bubbles, magnums and more this summer, so grab your glass and get ready for all the pro tips to making this summer wine sensational.

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Though largely associated with big, international brewing companies, lagers are having a craft moment.

To tap into the trend, Beer Editor John Holl speaks with Todd DiMatteo, owner and brewer of Good Word Brewing & Public House in Georgia, and Khristopher Johnson, founding brewer and co-owner of Green Bench Brewery in Florida, about the current state of American craft lagers, and where to turn for your next delicious sip.

From familiar styles with new-age hops to collaborations that revive forgotten substyles, there sure is a lot of love for lagers these days. So grab a pint of your favorite cold one and enjoy the lager lowdown.

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Winemakers across Italy produce a wide range of sparkling wines. From assorted appellations and using different grape varieties and techniques, a beautiful array of offerings can be found from the country.

But with so much variety, it can be a little tricky to know exactly what kind of final wine you should expect in any given glass.

To help break it down, Tasting Director Alexander Peartree talks with Giuseppe LoCascio, Chief Everything Officer of Vntners and Lucidity Wine Merchants, about four of the country’s prominent sparkling wine selections: Prosecco, Franciacorta, Trentodoc and Lambrusco.

They cover what sets each of these sparkling wines apart, and why they are great go-tos for any occasion.

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In this episode, Associate Managing Editor of Digital, Emily Saladino, speaks with sommelier and natural wine consultant Margot Mazur and The Lotus and the Vines founder Larissa Dubose. The three discuss how climate change and last year’s wildfires played a vital role in how winemakers pivoted from full-bodied reds to rosés with minimal skin contact. They also explore the style’s recent history, popularity and where might the great pink wave be off to next. Dubose also highlights the importance of exploring food inclusivity by pairing rosé with dishes from different cultures and locales, like the Caribbean and Philippines.

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Australia has a long history of wine production, dating back around 200 years. In that time, the country has built a reputation for quality offerings that can compete globally.

But broad understanding of Australia’s winemaking origins, especially the influence of Aboriginal culture, is sparse, and the contributions of the First Nations People of Australia are often overlooked or undervalued.

To understand more about the country’s drinks history and its impact on Australia’s wine world today, Contributing Editor Christina Pickard speaks to drinks industry veterans Curly Haslam-Coates and Gary Green.

Their conversations demonstrate how programs and producers are advancing modern dialogues.

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In this episode, we go a little deep and talk about a somewhat philosophical question. Is wine art? Wine drinkers often romanticize the art and poetry of winemaking, but it’s impossible to ignore the science behind wine production. At the end of the day, perhaps wine is just a product, a commodity, based in science and with a clear method for optimal production?

Care to fall down this rabbit hole with us?

Managing Editor Lauren Buzzeo speaks to Winemaker/Vineyard Manager Rachel Rose of Bryn Mawr Vineyards in Salem, Oregon, to discuss the reality of making wine, and if what’s in the bottle can truly be considered art.

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“Natural wines” are increasingly bantered about these days, but in cool-climate regions like Germany, with highly challenging weather and disease issues, making wines “au naturel” can be a risky proposition. For some, it's a must-do labor of love, and we explore why. Contributing Editor Anna Lee Iijima speaks with two producers from the Pfalz wine region in western Germany who champion such change: Bettina Bürklin-von Gurazdi of Dr. Bürklin-Wolf, and Hans and Valentin Rebholz from the Rebholz Estate.

 

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Natural wine often falls into a love it or hate it conversation, but why? In search of answers, we talk to Meri Lugo of Domestique Wine shop, a retailer from the natty side, and Charles Springfield, a somm who deals in more traditional bottles, to find out what it is about this category that inspires such heated debate. We discuss some of the perceptions and misunderstandings among natural and conventional wine lovers, as well as how one can get over the hump to expand your palate.

 

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