Episodes

William Kelley, Deputy Editor of The Wine Advocate, expounds on the evolution of the business elements of Bordeaux, from La Place de Bordeaux to wine critics' score compression.

Deputy Editor of The Wine Advocate , William Kelley, who recently took over reviewing Bordeaux, as well as Burgundy and Champagne, amongst others, and former guest on E62 (Evolution of the Wine Critic) and E68 (Burgundy), takes a deep dive into the current state of Bordeaux in this two-part episode. First, William tackles the history of Bordeaux and how it achieved greatness as one of the top wine regions globally to its recent decline relative to Burgundy. Detailed Show Notes: Bordeaux was Wil...

Accidentally filling the big shoes of Michael Broadbent and Steven Spurrier, Jane Anson, wine critic, author of Inside Bordeaux , founder of janeanson.com, and former Bordeaux correspondent for Decanter for nearly 20 years, is one of the world's foremost experts on the wines, history, and region of Bordeaux. Having lived in Bordeaux since 2003, Jane shares her deep insights into how Bordeaux became as famous as it is, how the systems of La Place de Bordeaux and En Primeur work, and the complex t...

Checking in on how collectors are weathering current economic conditions with AttorneySomm, John Jackson

Trained in chemistry and born blind, Hoby Wedler , an entrepreneur and sensory expert, has trained his palate to pick up aromas and nuances in wine more acutely than most. Hoby describes how he does "Tasting in the Dark," which helps wineries connect with buyers and his thoughts on accessibility in the wine industry. Detailed Show Notes: Hoby's background Born blind, studied history and chemistry (Ph.D.) Francis Ford Coppola asked him to design a blindfolded wine experience, which became "Tasti...

Jessica Kogan, Chief Growth & Experience Officer of Vintage Wine Estates, gets into the trends, key success factors, and the opportunity that online grocery represents.

Originally released on January 19th, 2022

Kyle MacLachlan details his journey of starting Pursued by Bear

Peter tells us about the different levels of the WSET (from Level 1 to Diploma), the full costs of wine education, and the benefits.

The hardest wine exam in the world, an elite community of >400 wine professionals, and learning how to engage with wine more. All those elements describe the Institute of Masters of Wine and the Master of Wine (“MW”) exam. MW Mark DeVere tells us how becoming an MW landed him a full-time job in Napa to all the rigors required to pass the MW exam. This a must-listen episode for those considering applying for the MW program or those who love learning about challenging wine exams. Detailed Show Not...

Peter dives into the various messages embedded in a winery’s decision to set price.

Discussing the luxury wine price segments, the types of luxury wine buyers, and how you need everything to be working right to build a luxury wine brand.

With a lot of economic uncertainty in early 2023, the fine and luxury wine space has remained relatively robust. Charlie Fu, an LA-based lawyer, wine collector, Wine Berserkers moderator, and caviar purveyor , gives us his thoughts on the state of the wine-collecting market. From Dry January, how they find new wines, navigating price increases, and Berserker Day, Charlie provides a good overview of wine collecting from his group's point of view. Detailed Show Notes: Charlie's background - LA-bas...

Katie Jackson leads the Sustainability Team of Jackson Family Wines, she describes some of the major programs they’ve undertaken.

Bonterra has pushed well beyond that with sustainability processes and certifications such as Climate Neutral, True Zero Waste, and now focusing on Regenerative Organics.

Silver Oak, the 1st existing winery and new build winery to be LEED Platinum certified and be at the forefront of energy efficiency for the last 20 years.

Maryam shares how DEI creates access and relevance to new customers and markets for wine and how “doing the work” creates significant ROI for businesses.

From improving quality to increasing customer loyalty, they believe taking a long-term view on sustainability proves it is a good investment.

With an action plan that covers five key climate change strategies, Bordeaux can become carbon neutral by 2050.

Donum Estate is serious about sustainability, investing heavily in integrated pest management and biodiversity.

How a >€5M of investment has substantially reduced water usage and made the Raimat more sustainable, leaving it a better place for future generations.Photo by David del Val

Allocated wine offers are unique event-based sales methods, which limit how much customers can buy, create new challenges and best practices, unlike other sales channels.

Eva Horton, the owner of Flat Creek Estate, shares how they are creating more than a Texas winery but a destination.

Une Femme was supposed to be an in-house wine brand for their Champagne Bars The Riddler to now the fastest-growing sparkling wine in the US.