The Wine CEO Podcast
by Sarah
Ever feel overwhelmed when buying wine at the grocery store? Or maybe you've been to a restaurant and felt completely intimidated by the wine server? Welcome to The Wine CEO - a podcast dedicated to making wine fun and approachable! Each week, certified sommelier Sarah Roth covers a different wine topic that helps you feel more confident as a wine consumer. From exploring 'What wines are sweet?' to 'What wine should I cook with?' and so much more, each episode helps make wine less intimidating. Friends, there are so many wine varietals, fancy tools, and trends out there that it can be difficult to navigate the wine world. Consider me your personal "pocket sommelier" to help you learn more about wine and feel comfortable entertaining with, shopping for, and drinking your favorite vino! Subscribe today so that you never miss an episode and be sure to check out thewineceo.com for more amazing wine content!
Episodes
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The Wine CEO Episode #213: Is Texas America's Next Great Wine Region? Podcast Interview with Ab Astris + Adega Vinho
Is Texas becoming America's next great wine region? Two neighboring Texas Hill Country wineries just earned Gold medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards, and today we're talking about what that recognition really means for the future of Texas wine. I'm joined by Kristen from Ab Astris and Andy...
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The Wine CEO Episode #212: Is California Growing the Wrong Grapes?
What if the future of California wine isn't Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay—but grapes like Sangiovese and Vermentino? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Dan Fitzgerald, winemaker at AVIVO Wines in Lodi, California, to talk about how a changing climate could reshape what we...
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The Wine CEO Episode #211: What's Really in Your Wine? Michael Honig on the Future of Wine Labels
What's actually in your glass of wine — and should wineries be required to tell you? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Michael Honig, President of Honig Vineyard & Winery in Napa Valley, for a fascinating conversation about transparency, sustainability, and the future of…
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The Wine CEO Episode #210: They Said This Napa Vineyard Was Impossible: Dr. Jan Krupp's Incredible Story
What does it take to turn an "impossible" piece of Napa Valley land into one of the region's most influential vineyards? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jan Krupp, founder of Krupp Brothers Winery and the visionary behind Napa Valley's legendary Stagecoach Vineyard.…
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The Wine CEO Episode #209: Can Christians Drink Wine? What the Bible Actually Says About Alcohol
Can Christians drink wine? Is alcohol inherently sinful? And if the Bible speaks openly about wine, why has drinking become such a controversial topic in parts of the American church? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Pastor Randy Frazee for a thoughtful conversation about...
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The Wine CEO Episode #208: Why Burgundy Wine Is So Special | Terroir Explained with Domaines Albert Bichot
What makes Burgundy wine so special—and why does terroir matter so much? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Matthieu Mangenot of Domaines Albert Bichot to explore the philosophy behind one of Burgundy's most respected family-run wineries. With over 20 years of sustainability...
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The Wine CEO Episode #207: What made Rombauer an iconic Chardonnay? An interview with Senior Winemaker, Richie Allen
Discover why California Chardonnay is one of the most talked-about wines in the world—and why it shouldn't be so polarizing. In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Richie Allen of Rombauer Vineyards to break down what truly makes great wine: the right grapes grown in the right...
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The Wine CEO Episode #206: One Wine. One Vision:How ETHOS is elevating Washington's Columbia Valley with one Cabernet Sauvignon
What happens when a wine brand focuses on just one wine and does it exceptionally well? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with winemaker Tristan Butterfield to explore ETHOS, a newly launched wine brand from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates that is taking a bold, focused approach:...
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The Wine CEO Episode #205: From Loss to Legacy: the risk that changed everything. Interview with Debra Mathy, Dutcher Crossing
What would you do if life forced you to stop waiting? In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Debra Mathy, Proprietor of Dutcher Crossing Winery, to talk about the deeply personal moment that led her to leave the corporate world and pursue her dream of owning a winery in Sonoma...
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The Wine CEO Episode #204: Redefining Luxury: How a marketing expert reinvented Lambrusco
In this episode of The Wine CEO Podcast, I sit down with Myisha Moore, Co-Founder and CMO of Saint Enzo—the modern luxury Lambrusco brand that sold out its first release in minutes. With a background leading marketing strategy for global brands like Nike, Ferrari, and Vogue Singapore, Myisha…
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The Wine CEO Episode #203: From Abusive Marriage in India to Winemaker in Bordeaux | Namratha Stanley's Inspiring Story | IWD 2026
In this special International Women's Day 2026 episode of The Wine CEO, I sit down with Namratha Stanley — French author, wine merchant, and founder of the Bordeaux wine brand Solicantus — to share one of the most powerful stories I've heard in the wine world. After surviving more than a decade…
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The Wine CEO Episode #202: Visit the Oldest Port House with me, an interview at Kopke
🍷 Inside Kopke: How Port Wine Is Made | Styles of Port Explained | Oldest Port House in Portugal In this exclusive interview filmed in Portugal's Douro Valley, I sit down with the viticulturist and marketing manager at Kopke, the oldest Port wine house in the world, founded in 1638. Together, we...
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The Wine CEO Episode #201: 2025 Holiday Gift Guide for the wine lover, The Wine CEO - Certified Sommelier
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the wine lover in your life? In this video, Sarah from The Wine CEO shares her 2025 Holiday Gift Guide featuring elegant wine accessories, must-read wine books, fun wine-themed gifts, and travel-ready wine finds that elevate entertaining at home and on the...
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The Wine CEO Episode #200: Lessons I've learned from 4.5 years of Podcasting!
Have you ever thought about starting a podcast? Or maybe you've just listened to my show for months now and you want a behind the scenes look into why I started @thewineceo? Then today's episode is for you! With over 4.5 years of podcasting and 200 episodes, I'm sitting down for the first time on...
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The Wine CEO Episode #199: Portugal 101, A wine overview of regions, grapes, labels, and more!
Did you know that Portugal is only 1/4 the size of California, but has over 250 indigenous grape varieties? This country is most known for the production of the fortified wines Port and Madeira, but there's so much more to this amazing wine region! Watch the full video to learn everything you…
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The Wine CEO Episode #198: Tariffs Climate Change and more hot topics in the wine industry - Summer 2025
This last week I traveled to Miami for one of North America's largest wine conferences and I got to speak with over 50 winemakers, producers, and industry professionals in 2 days. Today I'm sharing 5 interesting things I learned from the conference! Don't forget to hit subscribe so you don't miss...
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The Wine CEO Episode #197: $10 vs $100 - Can you really taste the difference in wine?
Is there really a difference between a $10 bottle of wine and a $100 bottle of wine? Or what about a $40 bottle of wine? And if there is a difference, what determines price point for a wine? Join Sarah as she dives into this hot topic that makes every wine consumer curious! Watch this episode on...
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The Wine CEO Episode #196: 5 things I wish I'd known before becoming a Certified Sommelier
Thinking about becoming a sommelier? Or maybe you are just really into the wine world? I've been in the beverage industry for 15 years and a sommelier for almost 8, so in today's episode I'm share about the top 5 things I wish I had known at the start of my journey. Hopefully these tips will help...
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The Wine CEO Episode #195: America's first spa dedicated to bathing in wine & vintherapy!
If you love wine and massages (who doesn't, right?) then today's episode is for you! Today, I'm sitting down with Kelly Lewis, CEO of The Wine Spa - America's first vintherapy spa. Kelly has curated treatments that integrate the healing antioxidants and medicinal properties of the grape vine with...
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The Wine CEO Episode #194: Is sake only for sushi? An interview with craft sake producer Ben Bell of Origami Sake
If you are only drinking sake with sushi (or not at all), then today's episode is for you! Join me as I chat with Ben Bell, co-founder of Origami Sake, an American craft sake company out of Arkansas.....and yes, you heard that right - AMERICAN sake. Ben actually moved to Japan for 2 years to…
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The Wine CEO Episode #193: Why are wine trade shows important? An interview with Vinexposium
Why are wine trade shows important? Join me today in an interview with the Marketing director of Vinexposium, one of the largest providers of wine industry events around the globe! In early May I'm attending the Vinexposium event for North and South America in Miami and I'm so excited to network...
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The Wine CEO Episode #192: Wine Tech Disruption with WINEing
Have you ever tried to purchase wine from a winery but the minimum to ship prohibited you from completing the sale? Winemakers and distributors are limited by shipping costs, import taxes, and fees that make it impossible to sell single bottles to consumers around the globe. BUT, one tech company...
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The Wine CEO Episode #191: Single Serve Luxury Wines with Wander + Ivy
If you have been shopping for single serve wine options recently then you may have noticed that they're mostly in cans, boxes, or plastic bottles. Packaging not only has marketing impact on buyer perception, but it also impacts the taste of the wine! That's why Dana Spaulding created Wander +…
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The Wine CEO Episode #190: Napa 101: A Beginner's guide to America's top wine region
Even if you know nothing about wine, you've probably heard of Napa Valley. This region is by far one of the most well known wine regions in the United States, but did you know that it only makes up for 4% of the wines coming out of California? There's so much to discover about Napa Valley and in...
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The Wine CEO Episode #189: REMIX Wine & Chocolate Pairings for Valentine's Day
This episode was one of my original podcasts from way back in 2021! but the pairings are just as delicious now as 4 years ago. If you love chocolate - this episode is for you! Listen now and don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more wine content! https://youtu.be/H_HlrHHlfiA ------ Sign up...
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The Wine CEO Episode #188: What happened to rosé wine?!
For the last 5-10 years rosé has seen a lot of attention. But before that, it was often considered low quality, cheap wine. So what happened?! How did this minor wine style become so popular? And who is responsible for the top quality rosé wines being made today? Join me as I sit down with the...
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The Wine CEO Episode #187: Orange Wine in Napa with The Vice
Is anyone in Napa making orange wine? Since the region is mostly known Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, why would anyone be making natural wine from Albariño and Gewürztraminer? I sat down with Malek Amrani from The Vice Winery in the heart of Napa to learn why he is making natural and orange...
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The Wine CEO Episode #186: America's Darling Chardonnay, An Interview with Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena is probably one of the most well known American wineries in the world because its Chardonnay won a historic blind tasting in 1976 against some of the top wineries in France. This blind tasting competition, The Judgement of Paris, changed the perception of California wine forever...
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The Wine CEO Episode #185: Food & Beverage Trends Shaping 2025
2025 is here and there are some food and beverage trends coming this year that you need to be aware of! Press play now to listen to the top 5 trends affecting the wine industry and what you need to know as a consumer! This episode is best enjoyed on my Youtube channel…
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The Wine CEO Episode #184: Visit the Marne Valley with me and taste at 3 small champagne producers!
Have you ever heard of "anti-champagne"? Curious if 2024 will be a good vintage for Champagne? Wanting to level up your knowledge around small grower producers in Champagne? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then today's episode is for you! In September, I traveled to Champagne and...
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The Wine CEO Episode #183: Top 3 Christmas Wines
The holidays are here and everyone is asking for the best Christmas wine pairings! I've pulled together my favorite wines to stock for the holidays that are absolute crowd pleasers and delicious food pairing wines! Listen now to get a head of your Christmas shopping! This episode is best enjoyed…
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The Wine CEO Episode #182: Two Champagne Alternatives and more Affordable Holiday Bubbles
Around the holidays, everyone is looking for affordable sparkling wine options for large parties, cocktail mixers, and mimosas. While we would love to pop a bottle of $75+ champagne for these occasions, it's not always practical or financially feasible. So today's episode brings you some top...
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The Wine CEO Episode #181: Champagne tips for the Holidays
Whenever you're celebrating, a nice bottle of champagne feels like the best way to treat yourself and enjoy the moment. That's why so many people look for Champagne during the holiday season as they are celebrating with family and loved ones! In today's episode, I'm coving some of my top tips…
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The Wine CEO Episode #180: Holiday Gift Guide 2024
It's that time of the year again and everyone is preparing for the holiday season! If you are just starting your shopping list, I've got you covered for the wine lover in your life! (or yourself)! This year's 2024 holiday gift guide is full of top wine gifts that I'm asking Santa for or buying…
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The Wine CEO Episode #179: Tips to look like a wine expert
Have you ever been intimidated at dinner with someone who is a self-proclaimed wine expert? Or maybe you work with someone who really seems to know their stuff about wine regions? Today's episode will give you a few tips that will instantly help you feel more like a wine pro! Press play now to...
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The Wine CEO Episode #178: What wines are Keto? (And are they actually low sugar or just marketing?)
Are you on a keto diet? Or have you ever tried to cut out sugars and carbs to lose weight? It may surprise you that there are keto wines, but they aren't just the ones marketed as "Keto" or "Low Carb". Join me today as I discuss wine label marketing, keto wines, sweet wines, and more! And don't...
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The Wine CEO Episode #177: Why is Gen Z not drinking wine? And is the industry worried?
Did you know that Gen Z is not drinking wine? It's a trend that has a lot of winemakers scared as they watch sales plummet and sober culture rise. In today's episode, I talk about this new trend, my thoughts on why it's happening, and if I think it will change. Press play now to listen to this…
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The Wine CEO Episode #176: The Beige Bra of Wine (and how to step out of your comfort zone!)
You've probably found yourself reaching for this wine on a regular basis. You don't have to think about it. You order it when you aren't sure what else you want. It's safe. It's comfy. And you don't need to put much effort into it. BUT, wine is sexy friends and you don't want to find yourself in...
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Return from Sabbatical - I'm back!
I'm back! After 4 months away, @thewineceo podcast is back with more amazing wine content and relatable tips to help you learn and enjoy wine more. From winemaker interviews to regional travel reviews, food and wine pairings, and more - I hope you subscribe to my channel so that you don't miss…
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Sabbatical Break
After over 3.5 years of podcasting, 175 episodes, and over 100k downloads - it's time to take a break. I'm so grateful for each and every one of you who tunes in each Wednesday morning to my show! I love this podcast and enjoy creating new wine content every week for you, but I also recognize…
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The Wine CEO Episode #175: Are old wines always better? Taste a 65 year old Beaujolais with me!
Old wines are very different from young wines, but are they always better? Join Sarah and fellow wine expert @david_bikes_and_wine as they debate this topic while tasting a 65 year old Beaujolais! If you've ever considered starting a wine cellar or you just want to learn more about old wines…
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The Wine CEO Episode #174: Modern Aussie wines with Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross
For many years, it's been difficult to get great quality Australian wines in the US. But a husband and wife sommelier duo is working to change this! Legend Imports is an amazing brand focused on Aussie wines and Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross are working to share some of the top Aussie finds around...
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The Wine CEO Episode #173: Australian Wine 101
If all you know about Australian wines are the cute kangaroo labels in the grocery store, then today's episode is for you! Australia is making some incredible wines and in today's podcast, Sarah is giving you an overview of the top regions and grape varities you want to be familiar with. So grab...
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The Wine CEO Episode #172: Event Planning and Wine Hosting with Darbie Angell
Have you ever planned a party and felt totally lost at how many bottles to purchase, which wines to buy, how to display them, or which glasses to use? Well whether you are hosting a bridal shower, mother's day brunch, or birthday party this spring, today's episode is for you! In this episode…
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The Wine CEO Podcast Episode #171: 21st Generation Winemaker & Great Great Grandson of Spanish Sparkling Wine
Can you imagine your family doing something for 21 generations?! The Raventos family can! They have been making wine in Northern Spain for hundreds of years and the current owner/ operator Pepe is determined to continue this amazing legacy. Not only are they one of the oldest wineries in the…
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The Wine CEO Episode #170: Penedes and Cava 101, Spain's Top Sparkling Wines
Did you know that Spain has been making sparkling wine in the Traditional Champagne method for over 150 years? So what makes it different from Champagne? And is it worth it to travel to this region in Spain? Join Sarah in today's Wine CEO Podcast episode as she covers these topics and more,...
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The Wine CEO Episode #169: The Widow Clicquot Book Review
What would you do if you were widowed at 27 and had to run a struggling wine business all by yourself while raising your small child? Combine this difficult scenario with 2 wars, global trade restrictions, plagues, economic turmoil, and cut throat competition - and you have the life of…
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The Wine CEO Episode #168: Finding Top Women Winemakers with Marilee Bramhall of Iola Wines
Did you know that only 15% of wines around the world are made by women winemakers?! In celebration of International Women's Day this week, Sarah interviews Marilee Bramhall, owner of Iola wines. Iola is a Wine Distribution company that only sources wines from top female producers in France and...
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The Wine CEO Episode #167: Texas makes wine?! An Interview with Brian Heath, Founder Heath Family Wines
Did you know that Texas makes wine? And while this emerging region may not be known by many wine consumers, it is making some outstanding wines! Join Sarah in today's episode as she interviews Brian Heath, founder of Heath Family Brands - a conglomeration of wine labels producing some of the top...
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The Wine CEO Episode #166: Napa's Micro Winery fighting Human Terroir
If you've never heard the terms "human terroir" or "cocktail wine" then this episode is for you! Join Sarah as she chats with Sam Baron from Complant wine, a father/ son winemaking team that is shaking up Napa Valley with a commitment to transparent winemaking and truth in terroir. Sam was the...
About this show
Ever feel overwhelmed when buying wine at the grocery store? Or maybe you've been to a restaurant and felt completely intimidated by the wine server? Welcome to The Wine CEO - a podcast dedicated to making wine fun and approachable! Each week, certified sommelier Sarah Roth covers a different wine topic that helps you feel more confident as a wine consumer. From exploring 'What wines are sweet?' to 'What wine should I cook with?' and so much more, each episode helps make wine less intimidating. Friends, there are so many wine varietals, fancy tools, and trends out there that it can be difficult to navigate the wine world. Consider me your personal "pocket sommelier" to help you learn more about wine and feel comfortable entertaining with, shopping for, and drinking your favorite vino! Subscribe today so that you never miss an episode and be sure to check out thewineceo.com for more amazing wine content!
Hosted by
Sarah