VinePair Podcast

Adam and Zach discuss the fact that even as demand for restaurants and bars ramps up, operators face real challenges when it comes to staffing, as many seasoned restaurant veterans have moved on: away from the restaurant industry entirely, onto their own ventures, or out of big cities to places with lower costs. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Zach is drinking: L'Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup "Cuvée Sainte Agnès" Languedoc RougeAdam is drinking: Spindrift Paloma Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Jeff Segal and Meri Lugo of Domestique Wine in Washington, D.C., about their efforts to connect with customers and create a more inclusive wine culture through their natural wine shop. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Miranda DIckson, Global Brand Director for Absolut Elyx, about the super-premium vodka market, how Absolut Elyx was born, why it appealed to bartenders and the on-premise trade, and what the last year has been like for a bar-focused brand. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach discuss the incredible disconnect between many wine professionals and the bulk of the wine-drinking public when it comes to red wine: how many somms and journalists love to emphasize lighter, higher-acid styles of red wine even while the public continually shows a strong preference for full-bodied blends and varietal wines. Plus, Zach shares some thoughts on the closing of his longtime restaurant home, Dahlia Lounge. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Zach is drinking: 2012 Abeja Cabernet SauvignonAdam is drinking: Mayacamas kosher wine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Brian Connors, Director of the Bacardi Center of Excellence at Florida International University about the school's latest venture, Bar Project 2021, which attempts to give FIU students the tools and training to explore the future of bars, restaurants, and the drinks industry more broadly. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with restaurateur Adam Dunn, co-owner of The Pheasant on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, about his decision to move away from Brooklyn, and the challenges and opportunities of moving to a smaller community. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach are once again joined by Lift Collective co-founder Rania Zayyat to discuss the just-completed Lift Collective Virtual Conference, including how all of us can learn to not just listen, but take action to help marginalized peoples and build a more inclusive, stronger, and better hospitality industry. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Allison Wilson, Director of Vineyard Operations at Cliff Lede Vineyards in Napa Valley about the challenges of the 2020 vintage, what establishing a new vineyard is like, and how Napa and other regions are preparing for the future. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with second-generation winemaking sisters Hilary and Megan Cline about their collaborative venture, Gust Wines, which focuses exclusively on wines from California's Petaluma Gap AVA. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach are joined by Chris Poldoian, certified sommelier and trade educator for the wines of Ribera del Duero and Rueda, to discuss the many great wines made from Tempranillo and Verdejo in the two neighboring regions, their extensive old vine heritage, and some dynamic and exciting pairings for each wine. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any comments, questions, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.This episode is sponsored by: Ribera y Rueda. If you purchase 2 or more bottles of Ribera y Rueda from online retailer Mr. D’s, you can get 15% off with the discount code RR2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Maximilian Riedel, 11th-generation CEO of Riedel Glass, about his family's long history in the glass trade, the complexities and challenges of making a fine wine glass, and how innovation happens within the company. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Check out a bonus episode of our newest podcast, End of Day Drinks. In this episode, we talk to iconic filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, who’s known not only for his legendary films but for The Family Coppola wine. We’ll hear how he first fell in love with wine through his Italian heritage in New York, and how he used his earnings from The Godfather to buy his first winery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with H. Joseph Ehrmann, Chief Mixologist for Fresh Victor, a San Francisco-based company specializing in fresh juices designed for at-home craft cocktail creation about the origins and growth of the brand. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach discuss the growing number of ready-to-drink/ready-to-serve cocktails coming from some of the biggest names in the spirits industry: Tanqueray Gin, Crown Royal Whiskey, and many more. Will these beverages crowd out the existing smaller players? Will drinkers show the same brand loyalty they have with these individual spirits? How will other brands try to capture a canned cocktail market that might offer many similar offerings? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Zach is drinking: Big Table Farm Pinot NoirAdam is drinking: Mayacamas Chardonnay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam is joined by Bev founder Alix Peabody and E & J Gallo Winery CMO Stephanie Gallo to discuss their partnership on the canned wine brand and how Bev is looking to expand beyond DTC sales to wholesale markets. Please send suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Speed Rack co-founder Lynnette Marrero about the organization's many educational and informational opportunities during Women's History Month. Please send suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach are joined by Rania Zayyat, sommelier and co-founder of Lift Collective, to discuss the upcoming Lift Collective Virtual Conference, including a discussion about the expansion of the focus of the organization, highlights of panels and discussions, and more. Tickets are now on sale for the conference, held March 23rd and 24th. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Brooks Reitz, founder of Jack Rudy Cocktail Co., about the surge in home bartending during the Covid-19 pandemic, the challenges of creating at-home cocktail products, and life as a restaurateur in 2021. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Carlos de Jesus, director of marketing and communications for Amorim Cork, the world's largest cork manufacturer, about the technological evolution of cork production, what challenges still exist in preventing spoilage and cork taint, and why cork is such a sustainable, renewable resource. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach answer a question they've been asked a few times: with wine drinkers mostly relegated to drinking at home since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, how will they behave once they can safely go out to bars and restaurants again? Will they balk at restaurant list prices for wines they've been buying at retail? Will they crave discovering new wines, or want to stick to familiar classics? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with sommeliers Allie Nault and Jarad Slipp about their new venture, Knead Wine in Middleburg, Virginia, including their creative approach to wine pricing, why pizza has been so popular during the Covid-19 pandemic, and why even in smaller communities there's a market for adventurous wines. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Alexandra Dorda, a second-generation spirits entrepreneur and founder of Kasama Rum which hails from the Philippines and aims to highlight rum's long history and cultural importance in Asia. Please send suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach once again discuss the power of TikTok as an engine for both drinks discovery and the creation of new drinks personalities. They explore why drinks trends on TikTok have evolved rapidly over the last year, how the platform seems to be creating new influencers, not just bolstering existing social media stars, and why the spirits side is far more developed than beer or wine. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Gage Siegel and Simone Schroeder, co-founders of New York City's Non Sequitur Beer Project, about their emphasis on charitable giving and the transition from a pop-up brewery to establishing their own taproom. Please send suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach discuss the sudden surge in popularity of lemonade-flavored hard seltzers, and why their popularity presages a spike in demand for all things boozy lemonade in the summer of 2021, and how lemon in general is set to dominate drinks trends this year. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send and questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Zach is drinking: Alpha Estate "Hedgehog" XinomavroAdam is drinking: Industrial Arts Brewing "Wrench" NEIPA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Brenae Royal, vineyard manager at the iconic Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma Valley about the vineyard's history, its unique growing conditions, and why working with 135-year-old vines is both a remarkable opportunity and a tremendous challenge. Please send any suggestions or requests for future conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with wine educator and podcaster Natalie MacLean about the explosion of online wine content since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and whether demand for online education will remain strong once the pandemic eventually subsides. Please send suggestions and requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach take in the big drinks industry news from last week, Uber's purchase of Drizly for $1.1 billion in cash and stock. They discuss whether Uber will maintain Drizly's role as a sales platform in full compliance with the existing three-tier system for alcohol distribution and sales, or whether they will just as eager to break the rules in this industry as they have been in many others. Plus, a bit about Vivino's massive fundraising haul. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Zach is drinking: Fremont Brewing Space Rex Hazy IPAAdam is drinking: Etna Bianco Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Caitlin Braam, founder of the newly-launched Yonder Cider, about cider's journey through the drinks world over the last decade, where it's going, and how she hopes to marry the price point of larger-production ciders with the complexity and intrigue of more artisanal ciders. Please send and suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach respond to a listener who read Zach's recent essay and is curious if sommeliers and bartenders would find working in smaller cities and towns more appealing in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, when fewer beverage-focused jobs might exist in restaurants and finding somewhere with an eager audience and a lower cost of living might appeal. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Zach is drinking: Q Tonic WaterAdam is drinking: Glendronach Scotch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Ali Schmidt, co-founder of Zuzu, a ready-to-drink sparkling cocktail made with agave spirit and real fruit, about the value of transparency in sourcing, the appeal of low-alcohol cocktails, and more. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

***Check out VinePair's most recent podcast***In the second episode of EOD Drinks, VinePair staff writer Tim McKirdy and the editorial team are joined by Ken Austin, co-founder of Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Teremana Tequila. Austin shares his experience launching two of the world's most successful celebrity spirits brands, and explains why star status alone doesn't guarantee success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While freshly-inaugurated Joe Biden has called to increase the federal minimum wage in the US to $15/hour and eliminate the concept of the tipped minimum wage, the restaurant and bar industry has largely claimed that such changes would adversely affect efforts to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. This week, Adam and Zach discuss whether there's any validity to these claims, and why everyone from restaurateurs to diners should support the idea of a living wage for all workers. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.This episode is sponsored by: Mind & Body WinesZach is drinking: Spindrift sparkling waterAdam is drinking: Mary Taylor Wine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Josh Jacobs, co-founder and CEO of Speakeasy Co., about how the digital platform opens up direct-to-consumer sales and shipping options for craft distilleries, and how crucial that ability has been for those producers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the midst of Dry January, Adam and Zach discuss the rise of mindful drinking, not just in January but at all times. Plus, how non-alcoholic and reduced alcohol wine, beer, and spirits can play a role in a more thoughtful approach to drinking. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Today's episode is sponsored by Mind & Body WinesZach is drinking: Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Cabernet SauvignonAdam is drinking: Highland Park Brewing "Strata Aerobics" IPA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with GN Chan, co-founder of New York's Double Chicken Please, about how his background in design influences everything that the bar and restaurant does. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with award-winning sommelier Belinda Chang about her remarkable career as a wine director and floor sommelier, and her pivot to providing online experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, Virtual Boozy Brunch. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach are joined by VinePair Senior Editor Cat Wolinski to break down VinePair's recent Top 50 Beers list, including why high alcohol beers might have been helped by stay-at-home orders, how can art took on even more importance, and how the Hazy IPA remains the unstoppable juggernaut of craft beer. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Crafthouse Cocktails co-founders Matt Lindner and Charles Joly about their almost 10-year-old canned cocktail brand, why they decided to venture into the RTD space, and some of the challenges and choices they've faced along the way. Please remember to send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with sommelier Kristin Olszewski, co-founder of Nomadica Wine, about her path to launching a canned wine brand, how can design and artwork is central to the brand's identity, and how venues for canned wine continue to expand. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach ring in the new year with some predictions about what 2021 will look like for the drinks industry: fancy cocktail bars, massive wine tourism in the fall, and the explosive growth of ready-to-drink and ready-to-serve cocktails, and much more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send your questions, comments, critiques, and suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Today's episode is sponsored by Mind & Body WinesZach is drinking: M. Marengo "Bricco delle Viole" BaroloAdam is drinking: Paper Plane, The Last Word Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach break down many of the biggest happenings in the beverage alcohol world in 2020: huge booms in home bartending and takeout/delivery cocktails, scandals in the Court of Master Sommeliers, incredible demand for direct-to-consumer everything, and lots more. Plus, the VinePair team shares their favorite drinks of 2020. PLEASE SEND YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR 2021 (AUDIO RECORDINGS PREFERRED) TO [email protected]. Also, please subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or criticisms to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Thanks to this episode's sponsor, Tequila OchoZach is drinking: The White Negroni: equal parts gin, Lustau "Papirusa" Manzanilla Sherry, and Contratto Vermouth BiancoAdam is drinking: La Biancara - Angiolino Maule "Sassaia" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach are joined for a bonus episode of the VinePair podcast by Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein to talk about the wines of Alentejo, an historic and complex wine region in the southern part of Portugal, including a discussion about the most important varieties in the region, some of the most popular styles, and a few producers to seek out on store shelves or online. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.This episode was sponsored by the Wines of Alentejo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach break down VinePair's Top 50 lists of wine and spirits, including why Xinomavro and the wines of Sicily deserve your attention, why high-end brown spirits still reign supreme, and how the diversity of gin makes it both exciting and almost impossible to rank. Please subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Master Sommelier Jill Zimorski about the potential opportunities and challenges facing sommeliers in a post-Covid landscape, as well as the scandals that have rocked the Court of Master Sommeliers and her new podcast reviewing wine books. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach are joined by Jesse Estes, Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Ocho, to discuss the search for terroir in Tequila, and why focusing on single fields of agave when distilling can help heighten that sense of place. Plus, thoughts on the value of being additive-free and a few suggestions for how to best highlight quality tequilas in cocktails.This podcast was sponsored by Tequila OchoZach is drinking: Hot Toddies. More podcast discussion of the Hot Toddy.Adam is drinking: The Ten Best Champagnes for Any Occasion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Zidanelia Arcidiacono, Pinot Noir winemaker at Sonoma-Cutrer, and Elizabeth McCall, Assistant Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve, about their collaboration on a bourbon barrel-finished Pinot Noir. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Romain Teyteau, export director for the acclaimed Beaujolais négociant Georges Deboeuf, about how Beaujolais Nouveau and Cru Beaujolais have both become such popular wines in America, and what the future looks like for the region. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach discuss the urgent need for federal aid and relief for American restaurants and bars, and why this is a cause that all of us should support. Independent restaurants and bars not only employ tens of millions of people, but they add richness, character, and diversity to our cities and towns that corporate behemoths can never replicate. Contact your Senators. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.Sponsored by: Tequila OchoWhat Zach is Drinking: Kopke 1985 Colheita Tawny Port, Jefferson's Ocean BourbonWhat Adam is Drinking: Kir-Yianni Xinomavro, Eden Rift Chardonnay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Goose Island Brewmaster Keith Gabbett and Old Forester Master Taster Jackie Zykan about how the two producers collaborated on the most recent version of the Chicago brewery's iconic Bourbon County Stout. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.