Wine Enthusiast Podcast
by Wine Enthusiast Magazine
The Wine Enthusiast Podcast takes you on a tantalizing trip into the world of wine and spirits. Drink up engaging, behind-the-scenes stories reported and recorded by Wine Enthusiast's editors. In each episode, we explore emerging trends, provide educational tidbits, and introduce you to the passionate people who craft, shake, ferment, and pour their beverage of choice. After all—inside every bottle is a story.
Episodes
-
Episode 228: China Is Finally Falling in Love with Its Own Wines
After decades of imported wines ruling the marketplace, China's wine drinkers are discovering the wonders of homegrown reds, whites, and sparklers. Read more at https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/podcasts/wine-enthusiast-podcast/chinese-wine-podcast/. Is there a guest you want us to…
more -
Episode 227: An Infamous Cult Nearly Upended Oregon Wine
The Rajneeshees, the 1980s religious group known for taking over a small town and poisoning salad bars, were well on their way to usurping the state’s wine industry, too. Read more at https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/podcasts/wine-enthusiast-podcast/rajneeshpuram-wine/. Is there a guest you...
-
Episode 226: How NBA Legend CJ McCollum Turned Wine into the Family Business
McCollum and his wife, Elise, join the WE Podcast to discuss running a family vineyard, the bottle(s) they'd pop if the Hawks took home a championship, and why the NBA is embracing wine. Read more at…
more -
Episode 225: What’s Really Going On with Restaurant Wine Pricing?
Wine director Michael Laudenslager and importer Peter Andrews join the Wine Enthusiast Podcast to discuss how restaurant wine pricing became so expensive. Read more at https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/podcasts/wine-enthusiast-podcast/restaurant-wine-pricing/ Is there a guest you want us to...
-
Episode 224: Franciacorta Is the Sparkling Wine Powerhouse We've Been Waiting For
Writer-at-Large Jeff Porter sits down with Laura Gatti, VP of the Consorzio Franciacorta, to talk tradition, innovation, and bubbles on the WE Podcast. This episode is brought to you by the Consorzio Franciacorta. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to...
-
Episode 223: The New Age of Wine Has Begun—Just Ask the SuperVinoBros
Wine Enthusiast 2026 Rising Stars Ryan and Chris Goydos, better known as the SuperVinoBros, are leading the charge of new-age wine advocates who champion sustainability and approachability. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us...
-
Episode 222: And Just Like That... Sarah Jessica Parker Makes Jalapeño Wine
On this week's episode of the Wine Enthusiast Podcast, we couldn't help but wonder: what drew the Sex and the City star to jalapeño Sauvignon Blanc? Listen in to find out. 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...
-
Episode 221: 3 Up-and-Coming Italian Wine Regions You Absolutely Need on Your Radar
Magazine Director Ryan Grim sits down with WE Writers-at-Large for a chat about Bardolino, Maremma, and Mamoiada. 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...
-
Episode 220: 'It's Meant to Be a Good Time, Guys': Elizabeth Banks Is Over Wine Snobbery
We spoke with Banks and Archer Roose CEO Marian Leitner-Waldman about being women in wine, industry woes, and which wines they (probably) drink in the Hunger Games. 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...
-
Episode 219: Want to Eat and Drink Like a President? We're Not So Sure
On the Wine Enthusiast Podcast, we chat with Bennett Rea, creator of Cookin' with Congress, about the Founding Fathers' drinking habits, their weirdest recipes, and how food brings us together. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you!…
more -
Episode 218: I Transitioned at the Peak of My Wine Career—and Wine Tastes Different Now
We're joined by Tyler Balliet, a wine pro who has spent 20 years changing the way Millennials and Gen Z experience wine. (Remember Rosé Mansion? Yeah, she started that.) She's also one of the few out trans women in the wine industry. We chatted with Tyler about how her transition–and hormone...
-
Episode 217: Australia's Most Coveted Wine Has No Website, Tasting Room, or Marketing
On this episode of the Wine Enthusiast Podcast, we chat with WE Australia reviewer Christina Pickard on the myth and magic surrounding Wendouree. 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...
-
Episode 216: If ACOTAR Taught Us Anything, It's 'Don't Drink the Faerie Wine'
On this episode of the Wine Enthusiast Podcast, we chatted with Spirits Podcast co-hosts Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini about all things Faerie wine. 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]....
-
Episode 215: Moscato d'Asti Is the Moment
Consorzio dell'Asti DOCG director Giacomo Pondini lets us in on why Moscato d'Asti is so much more than a "sweet wine." 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…
more -
Episode 214: Is Oregon the Champagne of America?
On this episode of the Wine Enthusiast Podcast, we spoke with WE writer-at-large Michael Alberty about "Method Oregon" and the state's top-notch sparklers. 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]....
-
Episode 213: What's Next for the Wine Importer Who Took Down the Trump Tariffs at the Supreme Court?
Amazon or Walmart didn't defeat the tariffs. Victor Schwartz, the small New York-based wine importer who founded VOS Selections, filed suit shortly after they were announced. He took the case all the way to Supreme Court and won. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to...
-
Episode 212: After 10 Grammy Wins, Norah Jones' Pivot to Wine Is Hitting the Right Notes
With ten Grammy wins and twenty nominations, it's safe to say that Norah Jones has had a successful career in the music industry. The epitome of a multi-hyphenate artist, Jones has released nine solo albums, made appearances in movies like Wong Kar Wai's My Blueberry Nights and Seth McFarlane's...
-
Episode 211: Everyone in Hollywood Has a Spirit Brand—But Are They Making Any Money?
After months of debate over who should win "Best Actor," "Best Actress," and "Best Picture" (and "Best Film Editing," for all you cinephiles out there), the results will finally be announced this Sunday evening at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, allowing us to finally fill out our Oscars bingo...
-
Episode 210: Meet the Somm Who Brought Wine to Life in 'Drops of God'
Seb Pradal is a wine Renaissance man—a vin-aissance man, you could say. An acclaimed French sommelier and owner of the Parisian restaurant La Petite Régalade, Pradal also co-owns a wine-importing company that operates in Mexico and Colombia while simultaneously working as a viticultural…
more -
Episode 209: Ashley Graham Upended the Fashion World. Next Up? Wine
Supermodel Ashley Graham has already changed the fashion world, and now she's setting her sights on Lambrusco. She joins us this week on the podcast to introduce her newest venture, Lucci: a crisp, fruit-forward Lambrusco. We chatted with the supermodel about the winemaking process, her favorite...
-
Episode 208: Super Bowl Champion Will Blackmon Proves That Wine and Football Belong Together
Wine and football have been on the same team for some time now, with notable players like Charles Woodson, Drew Bledsoe, and Dan Marino stepping into the world. Joining that lineup is Will Blackmon, former Super Bowl champion, 12-year NFL veteran, and founder of Blackmon Cellars and The Wine MVP....
-
Episode 207: Sobriety Looks a Little Different for This Sommelier
According to Abe Zarate, known as @sober_somm on Instagram, "sobriety" can mean different things for different people. 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...
-
Episode 206: Our Resident Cocktail Expert Predicts the Biggest Drink Trends of 2026
From sensory maximalism to heightened drink-flation, we predict the drink trends that could be heading our way in 2026. 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…
more -
Episode 205: We Reviewed 25,000 Wines This Year—These Are the Top 3
It's officially the best time of the year—and we're not talking about the holidays. We just dropped The Enthusiast 100, the mother of all year-end wine lists. Every year, our reviewers blind-taste 25,000 wines from all over the world. This annual list, ranked from 100 to 1, celebrates the bottles...
-
Episode 204: An Insider's Guide to the Best Drinks at Disney World
You don't have to be a Disney adult to enjoy the growing wine and spirits scene at Disney World. Listen to learn all about Disney's best drinks and all the pro tips you need—including where to watch the fireworks with a martini in hand. We're joined by two professional Disney enthusiasts: AJ…
more -
Episode 203: Two Decades in, Bravo Is a Window Into How America Drinks
Over the past 20 years, Bravo has secured a firm grasp on the reality TV landscape—but it's not just a one-way screen. It's a mirror, too. Drinking culture has evolved dramatically, and that shift is clearly reflected in the Bravo universe. In this episode. Wine Enthusiast and Elissa Halperin...
-
Episode 202: 'Witchy' Winemaking Traditions Date Back Millennia
On this episode of the Wine Enthusiast Podcast, we sit down with historian Julia Schifini of Spirits Podcast to discuss the deep roots of spiritual winemaking practices. Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to…
more -
Episode 201: You Should All Be Drinking Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
It's hard to stand out in a field of giants, and when it comes to Tuscan wine, the landscape is populated by Titans. But Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, crafted from the Sangiovese grape planted around the tiny town of Montepulciano, has always managed to catch the eye of connoisseurs. From a...
-
Episode 200: Why Is Oregon Producing So Many High-Quality, Affordable Wines?
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about wine is that the more you spend on a bottle, the better it will be. The truth is, there is astounding value to be discovered from wine regions around the world, and you can find great bottles for $20 or less. You just need to know where to look....
-
Episode 199: In Defense of Grocery Store Wines
In this week's podcast episode, we sit down with Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Emily Saladino to talk Trader Joe's, Costco, Tyler, the Creator, and more. 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]....
-
Episode 198: It's Time to Retire These Wine Terms
The way we talk about wine is important. Language is a living, evolving thing that changes to suit shifting whims and needs. That means that some wine terms become less, er, useful over time. In other words, they need to get the axe. There are so many reasons a term could be considered outdated.…
more -
Episode 197: How the Wine Industry Can Appeal to Gen Z, According to Future 40 Pros
Wine Enthusiast just released its 2025 Future 40 list, a celebration of emerging talents and tastemakers in the drinks space. On this week's podcast episode, Magazine Director Ryan Grim talks to Future 40 honorees Luke Anderson and Justine Osilla about the state of the wine industry. Is there a...
-
Episode 196: Regina King's New Orange Wine Tells a Deeply Personal Story
Academy Award-wining actress Regina King opens up about her new orange wine label, MianU, the bottles that made her fall in love with wine, how winemaking is like directing and all the ways she's continuing to celebrate with her son, Ian. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you…
more -
Episode 195: How the Fake Somm on 'The Bear' Learned Real Skills
When The Bear first premiered, it was widely-hailed for accurately capturing the high-intensity chaos of restaurant life. With each new season, the show has dived deeper into the emotional complexities that come with working in the industry for characters who have made it their life's work. But,...
-
Episode 194: Out With Low-Alc? BuzzBallz and XXL Lead a Growing Trend
The siren call of a BuzzBall is hard to ignore. The neon sphere at your checkout counter is the $5 (or less) cocktail fueling a $500 million empire. In 2024, RTD sales spiked 16.5% while other booze categories stayed flat, and they show no signs of slowing down. In the wine world, XXL, the...
-
Episode 193: Will Gen Z Ever Drink Wine?
The young people, it seems, are usually to blame. In 1998, The New York Times said, "Young people, the 21- to 29-year-olds, are turning away from wine…For the $13-billion-a-year wine industry, the loss of so many potential consumers couldn't come at a worse time." In 2016, The New York Post ran a...
-
Episode 192: What Does the Pope Drink? Inside the Vatican's Quietly Influential Wine Scene
The May announcement of the first-ever American Pope, Leo XIV, still has the whole world buzzing. While Robert Francis Prevost's hometown of Chicago has its own distinct wine and spirits culture (Malört, we're looking at you), his move to Vatican City has landed him in the center of the biggest...
-
Episode 191: The Next Great Nation of Wine Lovers? India, Says the Country's First Master of Wine
Sonal Holland, India's first-ever master sommelier, had a feeling that wine would be big business on the subcontinent back when she first entered the wine scene nearly 20 years ago. "I could see that it was going to grow, and there were no qualified wine professionals in the country," she tells…
more -
Episode 190: In 'Blood Vines,' a Tale of Wine Fraud, White Zinfandel and Murder
While rosy-hued bottles of White Zinfandel were fixtures on dinner tables and at parties in the 1980s, the seemingly buoyant beverage sparked an infamous dark story, one involving fraud and the killing of one of California's most famous grape brokers. Chris Walker, an investigative journalist…
more -
Episode 189: Actor Kyle MacLachlan and Dan Wampfler are Pursued by Bear
Actor Kyle MacLachlan didn't just want to slap his name on a bottle of wine, the quality is the most important thing to him. He and his partner/winemaker, Dan Wampfler, join this week's Podcast to discuss their Washington winery, Pursued By Bear, and what makes it and their chemistry so special.…
more -
Episode 188: Cannabis Beverages Are Actually Really Good Now
Interested in trying cannabis-infused drinks but not sure where to start? This week's episode follows two conversations between Digital Managing Editor Sara Ventiera and two leaders in the cannabis beverage space for expert tips and insights into exploring the growing trend, where to get them…
more -
Episode 187: A New Generation in Thailand Is Falling in Love with Wine
This week's episode follows two conversations between writer-at-large Danielle Callegari and an American somm working in Thailand and a Thai somm working in Brooklyn to discuss the burgeoning wine scene in Thailand. While the rest of the world raises concerns over what's to come for the wine...
-
Episode 186: Are $30 Margaritas the Future? The Spirits Industry Reacts to Tariffs
In this installment of the Wine Enthusiast Podcast, spirits reviewer Kara Newman reveals what industry insiders are whispering about as Trump's tariffs take hold. 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...
-
Episode 185: Decoding the Vintage Chart in an Age of Climate Chaos
Every year, Wine Enthusiast releases a new edition of the vintage chart, a tool that's long been critical to collectors. Vintage charts help pinpoint bottles peaking in quality—and those that may be past their prime. The most recent version debuted in the Winter Issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine....
-
Episode 184: The Big Problem with Anti-Alcohol Studies
Wine's impact on health has been under the microscope for the past few years, with numerous headlines citing its cancer-causing potential. Sales are down across the industry and consumption has dropped substantially. These stories certainly are fear-inducing, yet many don't paint the full…
more -
Episode 183: Is Water Ruining Your Wine?
It's likely that in many people's minds, water resonates as a neutral, possibly the ultimate neutral. However, water does contain quite a bit of nuance—everything from tasting notes to mouthfeel. Knowing that means understanding that the water you're drinking can affect the taste of whatever…
more -
Episode 182: Is a Neo-Prohibitionist Agenda Shaping Alcohol Policy in Oregon?
For more than a year now, Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Michael Alberty has been tracking a story about the Oregon Health Authority and some questionable PSAs it ran at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. At that time, the spots—running widely in Oregon—seemed at the very least...
-
Episode 181: How Will Wine Fare Under Trump?
With Donald Trump set to take office in January, many wine industry folks are wondering what tariffs the president-elect might impose and how they could affect the industry. This time around, we have the benefit of experience—Trump's first term—to guide our thinking. Is it all doom and gloom, or…
more -
Episode 180: The Art of Spiked Baking with Cookbook Author Jessie Sheehan
Incorporating alcohol into baked goods can happen a handful of different ways, says our latest podcast guest, Jessie Sheehan, a food writer, recipe developer and the author of cookbooks including Snackable Bakes, The Vintage Baker and Icebox Cakes. Her latest cookbook, Salty, Cheesy, Herby…
more -
Episode 179: Going Deep on Our 2025 Drink Predictions
Like it or not, there are a multitude of reasons behind why we drink what we drink. What may at first seem like an expression of personal preference is, in fact, a result of the complex interactions between financial markets, social and political movements, climate change and too many other…
more
About this show
The Wine Enthusiast Podcast takes you on a tantalizing trip into the world of wine and spirits. Drink up engaging, behind-the-scenes stories reported and recorded by Wine Enthusiast's editors. In each episode, we explore emerging trends, provide educational tidbits, and introduce you to the passionate people who craft, shake, ferment, and pour their beverage of choice. After all—inside every bottle is a story.
Hosted by
Wine Enthusiast Magazine