Everyday Sommelier - Wine Stories with Kristi Mayfield

Send us Fan Mail Crush business dining anxiety and turn every client dinner into an opportunity for meaningful connection and professional influence. My guest, and etiquette consultant Molly Tomlin, joins me to unpack how high-impact women can transform simple wine and dining skills into a commanding business advantage. Unleash the power of strategic etiquette at the table—from how to never feel a...

Send us Fan Mail Red wine blends are often misunderstood—are they a last resort for leftover grapes or the winemaker’s secret weapon for crafting unforgettable wines? In this episode, I dismantle the misconceptions, revealing how blends have shaped the wine world from ancient field blends to today’s Bordeaux and Super Tuscan legends. Explore how intentional blending unlocks consistency, complexity...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock wine mastery as your hidden leadership skill and social capital advantage! In this episode, I join Cheryl Fischer, host of Mind Your Midlife , to share her journey from defense sales exec to founder of Sip Society Collective, revealing how high-impact women can leverage wine as a strategic power skill. This episode bursts open the gates to accessible wine fluency, breaking...

Send us Fan Mail Are you curious about non-alcoholic wine but skeptical of the taste, mouthfeel, and overall quality? Wondering why alcohol-free wines seem pricier and how they compare to traditional wines?  This episode of Everyday Sommelier dives deep into the world of low- and no-alcohol wines—answering the burning questions wine lovers have and busting the most common myths. In this episode, I...

Send us Fan Mail Struggling with the pressure of Dry January or feeling stuck between social trends and your love of wine? This episode relaunch of Everyday Sommelier with Kristi Mayfield empowers you to rethink restrictive trends like Dry January and Sober October. Dive deep into practical, approachable strategies for creating mindful wine habits—without sacrificing the joy and connection wine br...

Send us Fan Mail Hybrid grapes are unlocking new frontiers in American wine, revolutionizing what’s possible from sparkling and dessert wines—especially from cold climate regions.  Join me as I uncork the secrets behind high-acid, aromatic varietals like La Crescent and Frontenac, with winemaker Mark Wedge and wine professional James, at the innovative Dancing Dragonfly winery. Discover how these...

Send us Fan Mail Wave goodbye to wine intimidation—this episode of Everyday Sommelier uncorks a future where hybrid grapes and cold climate winemaking take center stage. Yes, you should try them. Now! Join me as I sits down with James Peterson and Mark Wedge at Dancing Dragonfly Winery in Wisconsin, unlocking the secrets behind critically acclaimed Midwest wines made from grapes like Marquette, Fr...

Send us Fan Mail Forget what you know about Champagne and mass-produced bubbly—Texas is rewriting the rules with grit, creativity, and uncompromising passion. In this episode, Kristi Mayfield goes deep into the real story inside a bottle of Torr Na Loch’s traditional method sparkling wine. If you’ve ever questioned why some sparkling wines are $10 and others command triple digits, you’ll uncover t...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt Champagne prestige was out of reach or reserved only for special occasions? This episode dismantles the intimidation factor and reframes Champagne as an approachable drink for any day of the week. Kristi Mayfield is joined by David Aferiat, luxury Champagne importer, who reveals why you should enjoy bubbles with pizza, chips, or even burgers—not just weddings and milesto...

Send us Fan Mail What does "Old Vine" on a wine label really promise? Is “Old Vine Zinfandel” truly better, or is it just marketing? In this wine stories episode of Everyday Sommelier, host Kristi Mayfield uncorks the truth about old vine wine, decoding industry buzzwords and cutting through the confusion surrounding one of wine’s most romantic—yet undefined—labels. Explore why “Old Vine...

Send us Fan Mail When even seasoned wine experts and collectors are fooled, how can everyday wine lovers, like you, feel confident that the bottle in their cart (or on their table) is real? This episode of Everyday Sommelier with Kristi Mayfield exposes the unsettling rise of wine fraud—from multimillion-dollar counterfeit scandals to fake wine labels infiltrating mainstream shelves and online ret...

Send us Fan Mail Tired of letting half-open bottles of wine go to waste—or waiting years to open a special bottle, only to find it’s past its prime? Wine preservation becomes exhilarating as Coravin inventor Greg Lambrecht joins Kristi Mayfield to reveal the transformative power of this breakthrough wine gadget. Uncorking more than preservation, Greg and Kristi dig deep into wine technology and th...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered if that special bottle in your wine rack is destined to become legendary—or just flat? Let Kristi Mayfield, certified wine expert, arm you with everything you need to confidently answer, “Should I age this wine, or pop it tonight?” Learn why only 1-5% of wines truly benefit from aging, and unravel the confusing myths surrounding vintage dates, price, and label claims...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered if your prized bottles are safe on that decorative wine rack? This episode of Everyday Sommelier reveals the biggest wine storage mistakes most collectors make (hint: that gorgeous spot on top of your fridge is a disaster for your wine) and gives you the wine storage strategy you need—no cellar required. Kristi Mayfield breaks down how to choose the best wine storage...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel overwhelmed when handed the wine list at a business dinner, worried about making the wrong choice—especially when it comes to tannin in wine? This episode of Everyday Sommelier with Kristi Mayfield dives deep into what tannins really are, why they’re not the enemy of great wine, and how understanding them can become your superpower at any table. Kristi shatters the myth...

Send us Fan Mail Ordering wine at a restaurant is changing fast, and traditional glass bottles are no longer the only option on the table. This episode of Everyday Sommelier dives into the hottest restaurant wine trend: alternative wine packaging—from wine on tap and kegs to cans, Bag-in-Box, and eco-friendly recycled bottles.  Kristi Mayfield explores what’s driving this seismic shift, including...

Send us Fan Mail Cringe at the sight of boxed wine at a party? Think twice. Episode 41 of Everyday Sommelier breaks down everything you know—and don’t—about alternative wine packaging. Host Kristi Mayfield pulls back the curtain on why glass bottles aren’t the only (or best) way to store and enjoy your favorite wines. Explore the facts behind boxed wine, canned wine, Tetra Pak, paper bottles, ligh...

Send us Fan Mail Wondering why the Sauvignon Blanc wine style you pick never tastes the same twice? If you’ve ever grabbed a bottle expecting vibrant citrus and got stone fruit—or vice versa—this episode is for you. Kristi Mayfield, host of Everyday Sommelier, unpacks the three major Sauvignon Blanc styles: New Zealand’s zesty citrus, a lush oak-aged warm climate version, and France’s mineral-driv...

Send us Fan Mail Struggling to enjoy wine without feeling lost or out of place? Dive into this episode as Kristi Mayfield and sommelier Hennex Vigo confront wine’s intimidation factor and reveal how to make wine approachable for Millennials, Gen Z, women professionals, and curious drinkers. Learn why traditional wine education feels outdated and discover actionable strategies that empower you to d...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling overwhelmed the moment someone starts talking about “lemons, limes, or wet rocks” in your wine glass? You’re not alone. Wine tasting can seem like learning a foreign language—especially if you struggle to put words to what you taste or smell. In this episode of Everyday Sommelier, Kristi Mayfield is joined by neurodiversity educator, Russell Van Broecklen, to reveal revolu...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling intimidated by the idea of solo travel or dining out alone? Episode 37 of the Everyday Sommelier podcast is your go-to guide for transforming solo wine tasting into a gateway for genuine connection and cultural immersion. Host Kristi Mayfield welcomes seasoned solo traveler Tsvety Roo, who shares her real-world experiences leveraging wine tasting as an effortless “ice brea...

Send us Fan Mail Is your favorite red wine suddenly undrinkable when you pair it with dessert? You’re not alone. Sugar in wine and food is one of the biggest sources of wine pairing fails—and most people have no idea why!  In this episode of Everyday Sommelier, expert Sommelier, Richard King, joins host Kristi Mayfield. The goal? To decode the complexities of sweet wine pairing and how sugar chang...

Send us Fan Mail Tired of puckering up when sipping high acidity wines or feeling lost when pairing bright, crisp whites (and reds!) with dinner? You’re not alone. In Episode 35 of Everyday Sommelier, host Kristi Mayfield teams up with wine expert Richard King to break down why acidic wines can taste overpowering and exactly how to make them shine with the perfect culinary match. Get expert, step-...

Send us Fan Mail Can artificial intelligence truly enhance your wine experience, for example in food wine pairings? And where does human intuition still reign supreme? This episode dives into the fast-evolving world of AI in wine—from vineyard management and weather prediction to the rise of AI-powered wine recommendations and digital pairing apps like Wine Wize. Kristi Mayfield unpacks real fears...

Send us Fan Mail Feeling overwhelmed by complicated wine lists and want nothing more than your own personal wine selector? Defaulting to cocktails, beers, or seltzers because wine just never seems “right” for your palate? If wine shopping feels as tricky as assembling furniture without instructions, this episode of Everyday Sommelier is for you. Host Kristi Mayfield breaks down the confusion and h...