VinePair Podcast

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss gin's surge in popularity in 2020: is this the long-promised "Gin Boom?" If so, is it being driven by more interest in the gin and tonic, or other gin-based cocktails? Can craft distilleries grab a bigger share of the gin market? And will consumers ever find spots on their the shelves of their liquor cabinets or bar carts for a wide range of different gins? 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 Bulleit Distilling blender Eboni Major about her path to working for the iconic whiskey producer, how the job has changed since the onset of Covid-19, and her newest release, Bulleit Blenders' Reserve. 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 long-time New York Sommelier Kim Cavoores (Maialino, Marta, Blue Hill at Stone Barns) about her new venture, One Kourt Studio in Greenport, New York, and what it was like to realize that she was going to be opening her wine shop in the midst of a pandemic. Please remember to 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.

This week, Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss the looming battle over direct-to-consumer alcohol sales: as the economy shifts more and more to an online, direct-shipping model, America's antiquated and inconsistent alcohol laws are a massive hindrance on growth, particularly for distilleries. Why exactly is it so difficult to ship spirits, and reasonably difficult to ship wine and beer? Why do we give distribution companies a huge cut of profits just to move alcohol around? Is this finally the time that producers and consumers can unite to effect change? Plus, Erica and Adam survive a hurricane and Zach worries about earthquakes. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else 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 UPS Global Director of Innovation Robin Hooker about how the shipping company has experienced a massive spike in alcohol shipments since mid-March, what new approaches and technologies it's deploying to meet that heightened demand, and whether he expects this level of online commerce to continue even when Covid-19 recedes. 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 speaks with Campbell Brown, President of Old Forester, about how the bourbon producer is continuing to see evolution and expansion in their customer base, as well as preparing for the return of whiskey season and the challenges of supporting bars and bartenders during this time. 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 Tequila Herradura Senior Brand and Integration Manager Jennifer Simmonds about how the company is experiencing tremendous growth across its line of expressions, as well as how they're celebrating their 150th anniversary and a few home cocktail ideas. 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 summer 2019, the hard seltzer category was basically White Claw, Truly, and no one else. A year later, those two remain the biggest brands, but dozens of challengers and competitors have emerged from small producers and multinational behemoths alike. What does this evolution and fragmentation mean for consumers, and what additional innovations are still out there? That's what Adam, Erica, and Zach are discussing on this week's episode of the VinePair podcast. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, 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, Erica, and Zach dive into the controversy surrounding the newly-trendy "clean wine" term: why it means next to nothing and yet still resonates with some wine drinkers, especially with celebrities like Cameron Diaz creating brands specifically to capitalize on the trend, even when the actual details of said wine are shrouded in mystery. So how should wine consumers and wine media handle the 'clean wine' trend and term, and can it ever actually mean anything concrete? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, 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 Will Whelan, VP of Wine at Winestyr, a Chicago-based direct-to-consumer wine platform, about how DTC ecommere has changed and grown since the onset of Covid-19. 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 dig into VinePair's proprietary data to try to tease out what the future holds for current trends in the drinks world, like the surging popularity of the Margarita, the demise of Champagne, and of course hard seltzer's continued reign. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, 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 Winesellers, Ltd. Co-president Adam Sager about the changing meaning of the term "value wine" and how the family-owned wine importer and marketer is tackling the challenges of Covid-19. 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 Anheuser-Busch Vice President of Innovation Jake Kirsch about how the company is handling new product launches in the Covid-19 era, what consumers seem to be looking for, and the ways in which the crisis is accelerating existing trends. 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, Erica, and Zach discuss the latest controversy surrounding the Court of Master Sommliers - Americas, including the high-profile resignation of several Master Sommeliers in the wake of a number of allegations surrounding racial insensitivity and a lack of emphasis on diversity and social justice, as well as lingering bad feelings surrounding the 2018 cheating scandal. Plus, why the current state of the economy means that many well-known brands might change hands. 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 Jagermeister US Chief Marketing Officer Chris Peddy about how the brand, synonymous with shots at bars, is focusing on reaching consumers at home, as well as their many efforts to support bars, bartenders, and artists through their Save the Night campaign. 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 ex-NFLer and Super Bowl champion Will Blackmon about his new venture, The Wine MVP, as well as his own journey in the wine world and what it's like building private collections for athletes. 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, Erica, and Zach discuss the current state of bar reopenings in light of the spike in Covid-19 cases in the US: why reopening bars is riskier than reopening restaurants, how the federal government and many state and local governments have done little to protect this industry, and how that has to change to ensure that the entire bar industry doesn't disappear. Plus: what posters did you have on your childhood bedroom walls? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else 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 Victor Urrutia, CEO of Spain's iconic CVNE, about the challenges and opportunities facing Spanish wine in America, as well as how Spanish wineries can do a better job with their online presence and accessibility to visitors. 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 Bill Shufelt, founder of Connecticut-based Athletic Brewing, about his company's exclusive focus on non-alcoholic beers, how being heavily online has helped them get their beers to customers, and how the non-alcoholic trend is growing despite the Covid-19 crises. 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 are joined by acclaimed actor Kyle MacLachlan, owner and proprietor of Pursued By Bear and winemaker Dan Wampfler of Pursued By Bear and Abeja for a live podcast recording as a part of VinePair's Great Drinks Experience to discuss how Kyle got started in the wine industry, why Washington State is such an exciting source for world-class wine, and to answer some viewer questions. 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 Matt Crafton, winemaker at Napa Valley's iconic Chateau Montelena, about how reopening to the public has forced changes in the guest experience, and what impact health and safety concerns might have on the upcoming harvest. 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, Erica, and Zach preview all the sessions and seminars for the upcoming VinePair Great Drinks Experience, including talks with Dwyane Wade, Kyle MacLachlan, Shannon Mustipher, Marc Farrell, Casey O'Neill, and many more. Get a preview of what to expect from these and other sessions, which run from June 24th-June 26th and are totally free to attend! Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else 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 Greg Doody, President and CEO of Vineyard Brands, about the return of on-premise sales in the United States, the realities of being an employee-owned business, and why Champagne is poised for a comeback. 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, Erica, and Adam are joined by Goslings Brand Director Andrew Holmes to talk about the iconic Dark and Stormy cocktail and the crucial role that Goslings Black Seal Rum and Stormy Ginger Beer plays in it, as well as how best to prepare, serve, and even modify the drink in advance of Dark and Stormy Day on June 23rd. 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 Alexi Cashen, CEO of Elenteny Imports, about how the twin challenges of Covid-19 and US tariffs have affected her business, and how all of us in the beverage community can still fight to get those tariffs repealed. 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 Whistlepig CEO Jeff Kozak about how the Vermont-based rye whiskey distillery has relied on virtual blending sessions and customer outreach to forge a new path in the current landscape. 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 longtime California winemaker David Ramey, owner and winemaker at Ramey Wine Cellars, about the ways in which his experiences in previous economic downturns are helping him chart a course for his winery moving forward. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Next Round conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss what exactly we mean when we talk about barbecue, grilling, cooking out, and the like, and offer pairing suggestions and general tips for elevating your drinking experience this summer. 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 Taylr Cuneo, Managing Director at Ram's Gate Winery in California's Sonoma Valley, about how their experience with bringing guests back into the winery is going, and what strategies and tools they are using to make the experience as safe and enjoyable as possible. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Next Round conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Casey McGrath, co-founder and CCO for Night After Night, a spirits marketing firm, about how brands are having to embrace unorthodox marketing strategies during the Covid-19 crisis, and how some of them might become new industry standards. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Next Round conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss why it is that a certain segment of the wine industry seems more interested in a wine's novelty than its quality. Plus, what is it that makes a wine trendy and why revisiting classic regions can be rewarding for drinkers of all experience levels and ages. 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 Sam Leotta, Brand Director Americas for The Macallan, about how the Scotch producer is coping with the loss of on-premise and duty-free channels and using social media to stay connected with its customers. Please send 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 Jeffrey Morgenthaler, bar manager at Portland, Oregon's Clyde Common, about efforts to get the legendary bar back open for service, how Covid-19 will change the bar industry, and why it will ultimately bounce back. 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 Hanna Raskin, Chief Critic and Food Editor at the Charleston (SC) Post and Courier, about how Charleston's restaurants are operating without any restrictions despite the Covid-19 pandemic, and how the city's nascent food scene is dealing with the crisis. 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 Mario Enriquez and Eric Prato, co-owners of Garagiste Wine Room & Merchant in Las Vegas, about how the city is responding to the Covid-19 crisis and how social media is saving their business. 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, Erica, and Zach discuss what is rapidly shaping up to be the biggest trend of Summer 2020: blended and frozen drinks. From why looking to the classics like the Piña Colada and Hemingway Daiquiri to innovative tricks like using frozen fruit and frozen juice, they've got all the angles covered. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Full Pull Wines owner Paul Zitarelli about how his online wine retail business is faring during the Covid-19 crisis, how customer buying habits have shifted, and why now is the time to take risks, if you can. 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 Joe Campanale and Dave Foss, owners of the Brooklyn wine bar Lalou, about their efforts to still sell wine during the Covid-19 crisis and why reopening in New York looks much more difficult than in much of the country. 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.

Today, a sneak preview of VinePair's latest podcast: Wine 101. Join VinePair's Tastings Director Keith Beavers as he breaks down how to sit down and taste wine. You can subscribe to Wine 101 on the podcast platform of your choice. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Eric Bernheim, partner at Halloran & Sage, about ways that restaurant and bar owners can negotiate rent reductions and abatements with their landlords, as well as why following governmental health and safety best practices should protect them from legal issues. 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, Erica, and Zach take a brief break from the world of alcohol to talk about coffee: how Covid-19 has affected their consumption, how they prepare coffee at home, and some tips for upping your at-home coffee game. Plus, further confirmation that Summer 2020 is going to require a blender. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe to VinePair on Apple Pocasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send any comments, questions, 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 Bacardi Senior VP of Marketing Ned Duggan about how they're helping home bartenders and the trade, why this summer will be all about blended drinks, and how bars might re-open. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be wel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Intelligentsia Coffee CEO James McLaughlin about how they've pivoted their business to direct-to-consumer and contactless sales, and what individuals and goverments need to do to get coffee shops re-opened when it's safe to do so. 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.

Erica speaks with Ivy Mix, co-owner of Brooklyn's Leyenda, co-founder of Speed Rack, and author of Spirits of Latin America, about how Covid-19 is challenging her bar, and might reshape American hospitality. 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 Kate Shapira Latts, CMO at Heaven Hill Brands, about how her company is responding to the Covid-19 challenge, what they expect consumers to do as the crisis continues, and how marketing in these times has added complications. 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.

With Summer 2020 almost upon us, Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss what trends, ingredients, and drinks they expect to dominate this most unusual summer. Will quarantine drive drinkers to more classic cocktails? Will blended drinks make a comeback? What beer will people be drinking? Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe to VinePair 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 John Dantzler, co-founder of Manhattan's Torch & Crown Brewing Company, about the specific challenges facing craft beer during the Covid-19 crisis, and how his brewery is focusing on same-day beer delivery. 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 speaks with Robert Furniss-Roe, co-founder of craft spirits marketer Samson & Surrey, about how craft spirits can survive the Covid-19 crisis. Please remember to 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 speaks with Josh Wyatt, CEO of NeueHouse, about how his business has dealt with Covid-imposed shutdowns, what rebuilding the coworking space will be like, and how businesses need to take a long-term approach on the road to recovery. 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 speaks with Ben Pundole, Vice President of Brand Experience at Edition Hotels, and the founder of A Hotel Life, about how Covid-19 has shuttered many of their properties, what recovery is looking like in China, and what the future of the hotel industry will entail. 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.