Belle & Bottle Podcast

Melissa Smith, sommelier and founder of Enotrias Wine Services, joins Laura this week to share her journey from fine dining chef to wine collection expert and her latest venture, PLAS, a wellness-focused event venue in Vermont. She discusses her unique work appraising wine collections for high-profile clients, including expert witness work for the Department of Justice, and her vision for creating...

Lisa Packer, founder of Warr-King Wines and now Mana Vintners, joins the Belle & Bottle podcast to share her inspiring journey of reinvention in the wine industry. From starting her winery at 40 to launching a new venture at 60, Lisa discusses her passion for winemaking, her travels through international wine regions, and her commitment to supporting women in wine. She delves into the challeng...

As Belle & Bottle grows from an online wine club to a robust community of women in wine, from winemakers to winery owners, industry association executives, retailers, and wine enthusiasts from around the world, we thought it was time to share the story of how the company was born. In this week’s podcast/video post, Founder Laura Huston tells us what drew her into the world of wine, how she got...

From episode 7 of the Belle & Bottle podcast, a clip from Laura’s conversation with Stacy about her approach to writing about wine and the importance of continuing education. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit belleandbottle.substack.com

Stacy Briscoe, Managing Editor of Wine Enthusiast Magazine, joins Laura this week to share her journey into wine journalism and wine education. She tells us how she got her start and discusses her focus on regenerative agriculture, which she has written about extensively. Laura and Stacy discuss the experience of being a woman in the wine industry and the importance of having a supportive network,...

This week’s guest is Lacey Lybecker, co -owner and president of Cairdeas Winery in Lake Chelan, Washington. Lacey joins Laura to talk about opportunities for women in the wine industry and why she and her husband decided to start Cairdeas Winery, despite limited resources. Lacey and Laura discuss the importance of hospitality, lessons learned from the restaurant business, and Lacey tells us about...

This week, Laura welcomes Luanne Boushey of Washington's acclaimed Boushey Vineyards . She and her husband Dick Boushey planted their first commercial vineyard in 1980. A former teacher, Luanne tells Laura about embracing all aspects of winemaking and why building relationships with small wineries has been a key aspect of their success. Luanne shares the story about her unexpected her journey into...

Lauren Buzzeo, founder /editor / and publisher of Full Pour Magazine , joins Laura to talk about her journey into the wine industry and the creation of her own publication. She shares her philosophy of providing a platform that tells the stories, history, and culture behind different categories of drinks. She also explains the unique advertising program of Full Pour Magazine, which includes spotli...

Sarah Goedhart, head winemaker for Hedges Family Estate, joins Laura to talk about the family vineyard, the difference between organic and biodynamic farming and the benefits it brings to the land and the wines. Hedges Family Estate is committed to producing high-quality wines with minimal intervention, including a biodynamic Cabernet and a single-varietal Syrah. Sarah talks about their strong foc...

Elizabeth Keyser, winemaker at Rocky Pond Estates, shares her unexpected journey into wine, from her days as a marketer in New York to wine innovator in Washington. Liz discusses establishing a new AVA, the sustainable practices implemented at Rocky Pond, and shares her perspective on being a woman in the wine industry. Liz and Laura also talk about standout wines from the Rocky Pond portfolio and...

In this episode, Hillary Sjolund shares her journey, from her introduction to wine at UC Davis to working at both Pine Ridge and Di Stefano Wineries, to starting her own business. She discusses her transition to Sonoma County, the key moments that shaped her approach, and the importance of balancing art and science. She shares her experience of building Aperture Winery alongside founder Jesse Katz...

For too long, wine has been presented as a special product reserved for those who can afford it, or those who can drink it “knowledgeably”. One thing is right - wine is special. But, good wine doesn’t require you to be an expert to drink it.  Belle & Bottle is committed to changing the conversation about wine, especially for women. To understand a bit more about what we mean when we say “wine...