Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to the Italian Wine Podcast Book Club and Episode 2581 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Richard Hough. In this episode, Richard is in conversation  with Professor Edward Slingerland about his book “Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization”. Amongst other things, this conversation explores Professor Slingerland’s academic background, his thoughts on effortless actions and the Chinese concept of Wu Wei, the Beer Before Bread Hypothesis, alcohol and creativity, how to emulate the Southern European drinking culture, the Evolutionary Hijack Hypothesis and Asian flush syndrome, as well as the rise of neo-prohibitionism and the importa...

Welcome to Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2580 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Mauricio de Chiaro IWA interviews Matteo Altare of Castell'in Villa in Chianti. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast.  Key Learning Objectives: Understand the history and identity of Castell’in Villa, including its origins, location in Chianti, and how heritage, climate, and soil shape the estate’s wines. Learn how organic viticulture and sustainability are applied in practice, through real examples from vineyard management, winemaking, and long-term estate stewardsh...

Welcome to episode 2579 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 226 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is in conversation with Andrea Girgenti, representative of Cantina Carlo Hauner, to explore the unique identity of one of Sicily’s most iconic island wineries, located between Salina and Vulcano in the Aeolian Islands. Together, they discover the winery’s deep connection to volcanic terroir, the artistic legacy of its founder Carlo Hauner, and the central role of Malvasia delle Lipari in shaping its history and wines. More about today’s guest: Cant...

Welcome to Episode 2578 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald discusses how Italian wines can succeed in international markets with Cristina Mercuri DipWSET by understanding consumers, crafting clear messaging, and choosing the right commercial partners. Key Takeaways: The importance of a precise, evidence-based understanding of consumer preferences, rather than relying on assumptions. Why clear and targeted messaging matters, and how wineries should shape and translate their stories for different international markets. How choosing the right importer can make or break a winery’s long-term success in a market. ...

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2577 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews Ettore Donadeo IWE to explore the Japanese wine market, the role of wine education, and practical insights for producers and wine professionals entering the market. Key learning objectives: Understand Japanese consumer taste preferences and identify which Italian wine categories perform best. Learn how wine education and institutions influence the market and support market entry. Gain practical guidance on cultural adaptation and communication strategies for sustainable success in Japan. Wine spots in Tokyo recommended...

Welcome to episode 2576 of the Italian Wine Podcast from wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum 2025, An inside look at wine competitions and 5StarWines - the Book. Speakers: Robert Joseph, Stephanie Johnson DipWSET & IWE, Yannick Benjamin This Tasting Session explores some of the “Top Scoring” wines selected for 5StarWines - the Book 2026. During the session, Robert Joseph, General Chair of the Selection, Stephanie Johnson DipWSET & IWE and Yannick Benjamin, Panel Chairs of the Selection, explain the tasting process and the rationale behind such exceptional scores, simulating the discussion that takes place during the evaluation proc...

Welcome to Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2575 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Stephanie Johnson IWE interviews the winemaker Marco Ferrari about his journey from Brescia to the Rhône Valley and Valtellina, the extreme challenges of Valtellina viticulture, and how Valtellina Nebbiolo differs from Langhe Nebbiolo in the context of climate change. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast.  Key Learning Objectives: Get more familiar with Valtellina and its subzones. Appreciate the challenges of making wine in Valtellina. Hear how climat...

Welcome to Episode 2574 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professor Attilio Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way!  These episodes are generally in Italian. Today’s question comes from Richard Hough. Today’s question(s):  🇬🇧 Wine education often relies on technical sheets and scores. But are we truly teaching people to feel a wine or merely to decode it like a technical object? 🇮🇹 L’educazione al vino si basa spesso su schede tecniche e punteggi. Ma stiam...

Welcome to episode 2573 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 225 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is in conversation with Rachel Roddy, British food writer & columnist, to talk about her life in Italy, her deep connection to Rome, and the way everyday food experiences shape her writing. They explore what it means to truly live a place through food from shopping at the local bakery to sharing meals around the family table. More about today’s guest: Rachel Roddy is a British food writer, cookery author, and lo...

Welcome to Episode 2572 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo speaks with Michael Laudenslager, a seasoned American sommelier, about his new role at Wine Enthusiast, current New York on-premise trends, how Italian wine and culture are communicated to restaurant guests, and what’s shaping consumer preferences - from Sardinia and Cannonau to natural wines, age-worthy bottles, and Italian spirits. Key Takeaways: Key trends shaping New York City’s on-premise wine scene, as seen through Peasant’s guest preferences. How wine professionals can better bridge the gap between wine media, scoring system...

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2571 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, McKenna Cassidy speaks with Elizabeth Terracina, a sommelier at Andros Taverna and Mano a Mano, about her experience working with wine in the Chicago food and wine scene. They also explore the intersection of wine and cocktail culture, the importance of staff training, and how thoughtful guest interactions shape meaningful hospitality experiences. More about today’s guest: Elizabeth is a sommelier at Andros Taverna and Mano a Mano whose approach to wine is shaped by working across a...

Welcome to episode 2570 of the Italian Wine Podcast from wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum 2025, Promoting wine - achieving success in a hostile environment. Speaker: Karen MacNeil The cumulative difficulties that the wine industry now faces are well known. They include negative and biased reporting about alcohol, generational down shifts, competition from cannabis and cannabis-infused beverages, the flattening of food and drink consumption by GLP-1 drugs, the proliferation of Ready to Drink cocktails, disruptions in distribution channels, the continued threat and impact of tariffs, and more. Yet despite these gale-force headwinds, a small team of professionals...

Welcome to Episode 2569 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professor Attilio Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way!  These episodes are generally in Italian. Today’s question comes from Anselmo Acquah. Today’s question(s):  🇬🇧 The taste of modern consumers has changed compared to 30 years ago. Has the scientific interpretation of wine quality evolved as well, or are we still chasing “good” with overly rigid categories? 🇮🇹 Il gusto dei consumatori è cambiato rispetto a trent’anni fa. Anche l’...

Welcome to episode 2568 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 224 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Today, Marc is in conversation with the author, food writer, and historian Mary Taylor Simeti. Mary reflects on moving to Sicily after her studies, inspired by her interest in Frederick II, and on building a life there with her husband Tonino, including taking over a family winery that became a passion. The conversation explores Sicily’s food and wine culture and their early commitment to organic farming and winemaking. More about today’s guest: Mary Tayl...

Welcome to Episode 2567 of the Italian Wine Podcast, Masterclass US Wine Market, The Year in Review with Barbara Fitzgerald and Juliana Colangelo. In this episode, they revisit the best conversations and key takeaways from 2025. Key Takeaways: The recurring themes and topics that shaped conversations about the US wine market in 2025. Tangible, real-world advice shared by their guests. Holiday wine picks from Barbara Fitzgerald and Juliana Colangelo. More about the series: Masterclass US Wine Market is a podcast series tailored to offer Italian wine producers and trade valuable...

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2566 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews Sanghamitra Banik in a conversation that focuses on the Indian market. Key learning objectives: Gain an overview of how wine importing and distribution work in India, including whether the market is centralized or state-based, how regulations differ across regions, and how import duties and taxation impact pricing and market access. Identify who the main importers and distributors are, how they operate, and which Italian wine categories and styles are currently performing best in the...

Welcome to episode 2565 of the Italian Wine Podcast from wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum 2025, Wine titles decoded: why MS and MW both matter. Speakers: Jessica Dupuy DipWSET, Doug Frost MW & MS, Jim Bube MS What’s the difference between a Master Sommelier and a Master of Wine? Is one more for blind tasting parlor tricks? And the other for breaking down the finer points on what soil compositions and export markets have in common? Join Jessica Dupuy, DipWSET, Certified Sommelier and seasoned wine journalist, for a dynamic discussion exploring the di...

Welcome to Episode 2564 of the Italian Wine Podcast and this On The Road Special Edition: Getting to know Albania with one of its most successful female entrepreneurs.  In this episode of the Italian Wine Podcast, Stevie Kim is in conversation with Erjola Braha, the founder and CEO of the Alehandro Group, one of Albania's most successful importing and distributing companies. With over 25 years of experience, the Alehandro Group represents over 70 Italian producers in Albania.  In this intimate conversation from the cellar of Château Braha, Erjola tells the story behind her business, describes the scope of...

Welcome to episode 2563 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 223 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Today, Marc is in conversation with Giulia Abbona of the Poderi Luigi Einaudi winery in Piemonte. More about today’s guest: The Poderi Luigi Einaudi winery, a historic estate known for its elegant wines, is located in the heart of Italy's famous Piedmont wine region, primarily in Dogliani (Cuneo province), with significant vineyards also in renowned areas like Barolo (Terlo, Cannubi) and other Langhe locations. Poderi Luigi Einaudi is  historic winery, established by Italy's second pre...

Welcome to Episode 2562 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Alder Yarrow, creator of the award-winning Vinography blog, to uncover how the wine review process works. Key Takeaways: How the wine review process works and the details producers often overlook. What critics value in communication with producers. What resonates with American consumers and gives producers a strategic advantage. More about the guest:  Alder Yarrow is a pioneering wine writer and one of the original voices of wine blogging. He launched Vinography on 15 January 2004 and continues to p...