VinePair Podcast

Traditionally, summer (and the 4th of July specifically) have been opportunities for drinks brands of all kinds to (sometimes literally) wrap themselves in the American flag to move product. Yet even with the country's 250th anniversary just days away, it seems like relatively few are doing so this year. Is that because the current American political landscape is so fractious? Is patriotism and American pride at a low point, especially amongst the types of folks who tend to make that kind of decision? Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss that, plus how that kind of branding compares to more overtly targeting one political party or movement. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: Is It Time to Retire the Oversized Steakhouse Martini?Joanna is reading: VinePair's Best New Bartenders Class of 2026Adam is reading: Why Is New York City’s Hottest Cocktail Bar Serving Steak Frites?Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Busy restaurants have imposed time limits on diners for decades. Yet bars have, historically, operated in such a way that once you get a seat, and as long as you're behaving, you can generally stay as long as you like. Well, in this new era of reservation-only bars, some are starting to impose time limits on patrons. Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether this is inhospitable, how bars should communicate this policy, and why bars in particular struggle to juggle the seating plans for a given evening. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: Henschke "Hill of Grace" ShirazJoanna is drinking: Frozen Cherry Cola at Kinda NiceAdam is drinking: Old King Cole Martini at Maison PremiereInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the siren's song of online wine sales, and in particular the idea of affiliate marketing and referrals. So many businesses have taken aim at this potential market, yet when even Amazon decides that selling wine online is a non-starter, why do people continue to try? What are the specific challenges that make selling wine (and other beverage alcohol) online so difficult. Plus, an extended discussion of flavored whiskey. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: With the Industry Under Pressure, Should Bartenders and Sommeliers Finally Join Forces?Joanna is reading: Why Is Everybody Making Blackberry Whiskey?Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With two Gen Z-directed movies lighting up the box office, it turns out that despite the doom and gloom, young people do want to go to the movies...if the movies are made for them. Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what the drinks industry might be able to learn from this recently phenomenon, and whether in fact it can be applied at all. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: PacificoJoanna is drinking: Vesper from Bar GotoAdam is drinking: Champagne BollingerInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many winemakers the world over aspire to make world class wines. Yet the wines that are generally regarded as such have never been more expensive or difficult to source. So - can you make great wine if you almost never get to drink it? That's what Adam, Joanna, and Zach debate: can you even know what your wine is capable of if you don't know what the absolute pinnacle of the category tastes like? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: How Social Media Propelled the ‘Cult’ Wine World Into AbsurdityJoanna is reading: Wine Is Swinging for the Fences With Sports Advertising — Is It Working?Adam is reading: One Tequila Brand Has an Official World Cup Bottle. The Others Have Pricey Knock-OffsInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach comment on the fact that while many publications (including VinePair) love to interview bartenders about their favorite places to drink, it's an open question as to whether that serves as good advice for the drinking public when it comes to whether they should seek those places out. While bartenders might prioritize a relaxed vibe and an industry-friendly ethos, that might not serve those seeking out the pinnacle of cocktailing. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: Torbreck Vintners MarsanneJoanna is drinking: Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale from Dogfish HeadAdam is drinking: Light Cone Pilsner from Grimm Artisanal AlesInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might have heard that apparently, smoking cigarettes is cool again. Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what might be influencing this trend, why the health consequences of smoking might not resonate right now, and how that could impact the alcohol industry. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: 21 Liqueurs to Know to Read a Cocktail Menu With ConfidenceJoanna is reading: Here’s How 7 Top Bartenders Make Spritzes at HomeAdam is reading: Legendary Bartender Shingo Gokan on Hype, Humility, and Sip & Guzzle’s Big WinInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether the brands and bars that are counting on the upcoming World Cup as a central park of their marketing push or as a major driver of business over the next month might be let down. Just how big is the American appetite for soccer? Will the many obstacles and objections for international tourists harm hospitality properties in host cities? Plus - how do you tell if you kid's friend's parents are cool? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: Vesper Sentinel at DriftwoodJoanna is drinking: Rice Lager from Saltfields BrewingAdam is drinking: Martini at Le Veau d'OrInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether people looking for a wine country outing actually care about being able to see vineyards, or even winery facilities, or if nice amenities and easy access are more appealing. Can urban tasting rooms and concentrated wine districts be a better bet for tourism than scenic vistas that also come with long drives and hard-to-access experiences? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: Happy Hour Isn’t Dead, But It Could Be Going Late-NightJoanna is reading: We Asked 14 Bartenders: What’s the Most Overrated Bourbon Cocktail?Adam is reading: The 15 Beers That Defined American Craft Brewing — and Where They Are NowInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Joanna are joined by VinePair Spirits Editor Aaron Goldfarb to break down his list of the 20 Best Mezcals for 2026 and the general state of Mexico's other great agave spirit. While bartenders and aficionados remain deeply enamored with mezcal, commercial success has been limited in scope and confined to a few specific brands. Is the wild, small batch nature of the spirit an insurmountable roadblock to a larger audience? Is the complexity and variety, the very thing that draws some in, a turnoff for most? Plus - what's the deal with pechuga anyhow? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Joanna is drinking: Guinness NegroniAdam is drinking: Grimm Artisanal Ales "Lambo Door" Double IPA Aaron is drinking: Heaven Hill "Deatsville" BourbonInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Joanna dive into why the proliferation of reservation-only bars is hurting the industry, and has a surprising root cause. How is it that credit card companies and their desire to provide high-end perks for big spenders are changing the way that bars have always operated? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Joanna is reading: Malört Was Made for the Shot. Bartenders Are Changing That.Adam is reading: It’s Been 50 Years Since the Judgement of Paris — It’s Time to Move On.Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Memorial Day marking the traditional start of summer, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether bars having seasonal cocktails that get tremendous acclaim is actually a good thing for those bars when drinkers can't have said cocktails year-round. Do you end up disappointing more than delighting when your limited-time offering goes bye-bye, or is this just a matter of drinkers needing to respect the calendar more? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: Tantalus Vineyards Sparkling RieslingJoanna is drinking: Wild East Brewing Co. ESBAdam is drinking: Petit Chablis at Bar HereticInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the quandary that faces the alcohol industry at the moment: people generally want to drink, but are drinking less than they used to. Instead of ascribing this to theories about wellness trends or shifting demographics, what if we looked at the friction points that are keeping people from drinking: cost, social media pressure, an overwhelming array of choices, and more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: With LYTT Electric Coolers, Boston Beer Co. Is Running Out of Bright IdeasJoanna is reading: Form Over Function: Why Some Wineries Are Rethinking the Shape of the BottleAdam is reading: AI Won’t Replace Sommeliers, But It Could Help Save WineInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After his time in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Zach poses a question to Adam and Joanna: is there a real market for domestic sparkling wine, particularly wine that aims to be priced close to Champagne. Can a region well-known for Pinot Noir, and increasingly Chardonnay, parlay that into demand for bubbles, or do you need to be price-competitive with Prosecco to stand a chance?Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: 2024 Remy Wines DolcettoJoanna is drinking: Widow Jane 10 Year Tequila Ocho Cask Finish BourbonAdam is drinking: Castello di Verduno PelavergaInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach puzzle over New York City's recently launched "Buzzkill" campaign, ostensibly to inform the public about the health risks of alcohol. Why is this a priority for any city, especially one that relies so heavily on the food and beverage industry as a source of revenue and jobs? Doesn't this cut against at least a sizeable swath of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's political constituency? Does this open him, and his administration, up to mockery? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: The 30 Best Cabernet Sauvignons for 2026Joanna is reading: 5 of the Most Shockingly Bad Guinness Pours We’ve Seen OnlineAdam is reading: Bartenders Can’t Outrun the Spicy MargaritaInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of The VinePair Podcast, Adam is joined by Dave Phinney, the founder of Orin Swift, to discuss his storied career in the wine industry, why he's so committed to traveling to sell and support his wines, what reaching new consumers means in this day and age, and much more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In light of the news that workers at the iconic New York City bar Attaboy have unionized, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what might have led this unionization effort to succeed where previous ones have failed, whether this will spur similar efforts at other well-known bars and restaurants, and why the hospitality industry has largely not been union-friendly, particularly in smaller restaurants and companies. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: Nightingale Martini 2.0 at NightingaleJoanna is drinking: "The Localist" New York State Cream Ale at Grimm Artisan AlesAdam is drinking: Domaine Barge "Les Côtes" Côte-Rôtie Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether wine drinkers still need every red wine to be deep and inky in color, or can brands and producers that have typically relied on Mega Purple and other additives instead get away from that practice? What made such wines so desirable in the first place, and have tastes changed enough to allow brands to phase out this approach to winemaking? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: Stone Brewing Flew Too Close to the Sun. It Still Hasn’t Hit Rock BottomJoanna is reading: The Best MLB Drinks Souvenirs to Take Home This SeasonAdam is reading: Is Mole Pechuga Mezcal About to Have Its Moment?Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of The VinePair Podcast, Adam is joined by Nicole Hitchcock, the estate director of J Vineyards & Winery in Sonoma, California about her background in wine, what's so exciting about California sparkling wine, and the current state of Sonoma. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair spirits editor Aaron Goldfarb to discuss his recently-published list of the Best Tequilas of 2026, including a growing number of bottlings proclaiming the use of tahona in the crushing process, a surprisingly strong set of reposados, and even a tequila that isn't technically a tequila. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: Sacred Shore AlbariñoJoanna is drinking: Dry Stout from Forever BrewingAaron is drinking: House Martini at La Tête d'Or by DanielInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanna and Zach discuss the recent news that Sazerac has taken a minority stake in Kendall Jenner's 818 Tequila. Despite persistent questions about whether celebrity tequila has peaked, as well as the controversy that surrounded the brand's launch, it has been performing well of late, perhaps making it a smart pickup for the New Orleans-based company. Does the price-conscious, youth-oriented brand have the potential for broader reach, and can it stay relevant with the younger cohort it clearly clamors for? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: Pittsburgh Is Aggressively Courting Cocktail Enthusiasts. Will Other Secondary Markets Follow?Joanna is reading: Canada Dumped U.S. Alcohol Amid Tariff Turmoil. Here’s What Canadians Are Drinking Now Instead.Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.