The Connected Table Live

The Loire Valley is the third largest wine region in France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that extends west to east from the Atlantic Ocean to the peaks of the Massif Central. This diverse landscape along France's longest river produces many world-class wines, including whites Muscadet, Vouvray, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and Savennières, Rosé d'Anjou, Chinon and Saumur-Champigny reds, Crémant de Loir...

The 7th woman in the USA, and first in California, to become a Master of Wine (MW), Dr. Liz Thach serves as President of the nonprofit Wine Market Council (WMC) which produces heavy hitting research data of interest to anyone in the role of producing, buying and selling wine and building and retaining wine customers. Dr. Thach keeps her finger on the pulse of the wine industry and her eye on consu...

New Orleans is renowned for its oysters and signature dishes like Oysters Rockefeller and Oyster Po-Boys. Established in 1876 in the historic French Quarter, P&J Oyster Co. is the nation's oldest oyster processor, cultivating the finest oysters throughout Louisiana. P&J Oyster Co was started by two immigrant families from Austria and Italy. Fifth generation family proprietor, Sal Sunseri,...

Spain is the world's third largest wine producer after Italy and France. With more than 100 wine appellations and over 200 grape varieties, Spain offers a diverse range of wines to taste. Tempranillo is Spain’s most renowned red grape, widely planted in Rioja, Ribera Del Duero and other areas. But how familiar are you with Spain’s other major red grapes such as Bobal, Garnacha, Mencía, Carignan (M...

Barboursville Vineyards in Virginia was the 18th century estate of statesman, James Barbour. In 1976 Italian vintner, Gianni Zonin, acquired the estate to establish Barboursville Vineyards, the Zonin family's only winery outside Italy. Barboursville celebrates 50 years in 2026, now with new owners. Luca Paschina, Barboursville's winemaker and general manager since 1990, now serves as CEO and Presi...

The fifth largest region in Italy, Tuscany is renowned for its wines, notably its Sangiovese-based reds, including Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Melanie and David explore a few wine production subzones close enough to Florence for either a day trip or an overnight, including DOCG Carmignano, DOCG Chianti Rufina, DOCG Chianti Classico, and DOC V...

The Moretti Cuseri family achieved success producing luxury goods in Italy. Hand-crafted luxury is also their approach to making wines at their five wine estates in Tuscany and Sicily. Export director and third generation, Alberto Moretti Cuseri, discusses each estate and wines starting with flagship Sette Ponti in Valdarno di Sopra DOC near Arezzo, which his grandfather acquired in 1951 and where...

Tujague's in the French Quarter was established 1856 by French immigrants, Guillaume and Marie Abadie Tujague, making it New Orleans' second oldest restaurant. Tujague’s is where the iconic Grasshopper cocktail and Bourbon Milk Punch were created. It also conceived the first "brunch," originally a generous late breakfast for French Market workers. Mark Latter's family has owned Tujague's since 198...

Castello Brolio in the hills of Chianti Classico's Gaiole subzone, is home to Barone Ricasoli, documented as the oldest winery in Italy (est 1141) and the fourth oldest family business in the world. Francesco Ricasoli, family steward and company president since 1993, discusses the Ricasoli family's role in originating the formula for what is now Chianti Classico wine. He highlights the microclimat...

A trip to Portugal would not be complete without a visit to Porto and the Douro Valle, home to the world’s production of Port wines and the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. Kopke, established in 1638, is Portugal’s oldest Port houses and now has a stunning, art-filled hotel in Villa Nova de Gaia across the Douro River in Porto. Carla Tiago, longtime winemaker at Kopke, discusses the tim...

At Penner-Ash located in the Northern Willamette Valley’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Winemaker Kate Ayres crafts several expressions of single estate Pinot Noir as well as Chardonnay, Viognier and Riesling. Penner Ash was established in 1998 by Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash with a vision to producer lush, layered Pinot Noir. In 2016, the winery joined the Jackson Family Wines portfolio. The same year, Oregon...

Working in wine and traveling the world to visit wine regions and producers can be invigorating and exhausting. But that doesn’t Yannick Benjamin, a respected New York-based sommelier and co-founder of Beaupierre Wines & Spirits. What sets him apart is that manages this all from a wheelchair- with no limits. Paralyzed from a car accident in 2003, Benjamin advocates for individuals living with...

Michele Chiarlo in Italy’s Piedmont region is a world-class producer of single vineyard wines. The family-run winery has vineyards in the Langhe, Monferrato and Gavi. Patriarch Michele Chiarlo helped to establish standards of quality for DOC Piedmont and was among the first to introduce green harvest practices in Italy in 1984. His winemaker son, Stefano, continues his father's legacy and discusse...

Peter Merriman is one of 12 chef-pioneers of Hawaii regional cuisine, a movement which emphasizes locally sourced ingredients from farmers and fisherman throughout the islands and elevated the local dining scene. In 1988 he opened his signature restaurant, Merriman’s, in Waimea (Big Island). This acclaimed restaurant now has locations in Maui (Kapalua), Oahu and Kauai (Poipu). Merriman’s casual co...

Lisbon, Portugal, is a feast for palate. Portuguese cuisine brings flavors of Africa, Brazil, Iberia and the Far East to its dishes. Examples include piri piri chicken, roast pork in red wine, sopa de mariscos, grilled sardines, Bacalhau (dried salted cod) with potatoes and Lisbon’s sweet gift to the world, Pastel de Nata. Portugal produces a range of outstanding wines, from crisp Vinhos Verde to...

Lisbon, Portugal, is a feast for palate. Portuguese cuisine brings flavors of Africa, Brazil, Iberia and the Far East to its dishes. Examples include piri piri chicken, roast pork in red wine, sopa de mariscos, grilled sardines, Bacalhau (dried salted cod) with potatoes and Lisbon’s sweet gift to the world, Pastel de Nata. Portugal produces a range of outstanding wines, from crisp Vinhos Verde to...

Doug Frost's storied career in wine and hospitality began a new chapter in 2018 when he cofounded Echolands Winery in Washington's Walla Walla Valley AVA with fellow Kansan Brad Bergman. Frost is the first individual to attain both the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier certification, He discusses his career as an educator, wine director at the American Restaurant in Kansas City and now as vintne...

Established in 1926 by Achille Paltrinieri, family-run Cantina Paltrinieri is located in the heart of Lambrusco di Sorbara D.O.C. in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. One of numerous varieties of the Lambrusco grape variety, Lambrusco di Sorbara produces a crisp, elegant, lighter wine similar to a sparkling rosé. Cantina Paltrinieri produces different styles of Lambrusco di Sorbara. The Paltrini...

Alfredo Bertolani founded his namesake winery on April 27, 1925, in Italy’s Reggio Emilia. 2025 marks the winery's centennial. In Scandiano where Bertolani is located, the family helped establish the D.O.C. Bianco di Scandiano in 1976 to protect Spergola, an ancient native white grape variety often used in sparkling wine. Bertolani also produces Lambrusco sparkling wines and is certified organic a...

Travel the world with Melanie and David to discover sparkling wines for the holidays and every day from price points starting at $18.99 (SRP). With a focus on classic sparkling wines made in the traditional method, discover their recommendations from France, Italy, Spain, Austria, England, South Africa, South America and New Zealand based on their global travels and wines tasted from producers and...

Founded in 1962, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery's namesake founder planted the first vinifera vines in the Eastern United States, forever changing the course of winemaking in New York. In 1985, Dr. Konstantin Frank became the first winery in the eastern U.S. to release a traditional method sparkling wine made from classic Champagne grapes, setting a new quality standard for the region. Meaghan Frank...

Giulia Di Cosimo oversees Argillae, her family’s winery located in the northwest of Orvieto in Umbria. Argillae was established in 1993 by Giulia’s grandfather who initially found success making distilled spirits and grappa. Argillae is the Latin word for “clay,” which also reflects the link between the winery and its terroir, primarily calcareous-clay soil which contribute to the wines' complexit...

For over 40 years, Drew Nieporent conceived many hit dining concepts under his Myriad Restaurant Group including Nobu, Tribeca Grill, Rubicon, Montrachet, Corton, Bâtard. In his 2025 memoir, “I’m Not Trying To Be Difficult,” Nieporent shares how a kid from New York’s East Side pursues his dream of working in hospitality and, ultimately, delivers customers memorable dining experiences. He shares st...

Produced exclusively in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region between Modena and Bologna, Lambrusco is a versatile, low alcohol sparkling wine. Lambruscos are made in a spectrum of colors, styles and sweetness levels, from pale pink to salmon rosé ("rosato") to deep garnet and almost blackberry red ("rosso"). Styles range from crisp dry and floral to fruity and juicy to semi-sweet – called amabile. A comm...

A third-generation New Orleans restaurateur of the famed Brennan family, Dickie Brennan is Owner/Managing Partner of Dickie Brennan & Co. whose restaurants include Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, Bourbon House and Tableau (French Quarter), Pascal's Manale and The Commissary Kitchen + Market (Garden District), Acorn Café (Louisiana Children’s Museum) and Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan & C...