The Drinks Business Podcast

A dynamic dialogue with leading brands and writers about how AI is creating truly personalized experiences in wine and spirits destinations, and how an AI-first world is creating new opportunities for the industry to reframe its approach and turn challenges into triumph. Topics How Leaders Are Creating Personalized Experiences Meet the Transformation Economy What Makes an Experience Ecosystem Sens...

Db’s Bordeaux correspondent Colin Hay speaks to Arabella Mileham about the 2025 Bordeaux en primeur campaign. Noting the surprising quality of the wines despite challenging weather conditions, he shares his top picks of the vintage as well as the challenges ahead. This year, more than ever, pricing discipline will be crucial, and a successful campaign is vital for Bor...

In a wide-ranging interview with Patrick Schmitt MW, Michelle Brampton outlines her vision for the future of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET): a more inclusive, digitally-enabled, sustainability-focused, and globally-connected organisation that remains the benchmark for drinks education worldwide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Schmitt MW discusses the past, present and future of Spain’s diverse wine scene with Ferran Centelles, the drinks manager at the El Bulli foundation, and Maria Naranjo, the director of food and drink at Spanish trade organisation ICEX. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Panellists include Danny Cooper, chief information and digital officer at Virgin Wines; Rachel Wilson, general manager of Napa Valley Marriott; and Patrick Comiskey, Master of Fine Arts, wine writer and critic. As AI capabilities evolve at speed – enabling increasingly sophisticated product recommendations, targeted communications and data-driven insights – drinks businesses face a particular chal...

Château Galoupet managing director Nadine Fau tells Patrick Schmitt MW about the steps needed to produce wine sustainably in Provence and why premium rosé packaging doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to CellarTracker founder Eric LeVine, “Dry January does not exist” – at least among his audience – though drinkers are exploring far more wine regions than in the past. He tells Patrick Schmitt MW about the trends from his 'Year in Review'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Schmitt MW hears from David Furnish why he and his husband decided to enter the drinks sector with an alcohol-free alternative to Champagne called Elton John Zero Blanc de Blancs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A look at the state of the UK drinks market and where the wines of the Centre Loire could fit in, as well as why, and with what. As an umbrella region, the Centre Loire encompasses eight appellations, most famously Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, as well as gems such as Quincy and Menetou Salon, along with two IGPs – one of them the wonderfully named Côtes de la Charité. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Patrick Schmitt MW speaks with Julian Braithwaite, chief executive of the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), to find out whether scientific research really supports the idea that a month without beer, wine or spirits is good for our health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following his appointment as MD at Champagnes & Chateaux UK in September last year, Charles Taverner tells Patrick Schmitt MW how he intends to raise awareness and ramp up distribution for Bordeaux and Champagne Canard-Dûchene in GB's competitive market for fine wine and fizz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What eight drinks, book and sole luxury would you take if cast away to a desert island? Patrick Schmitt MW speaks with Eran Pick, Israel’s first Master of Wine, who divides his time between managing the cellars at Tzora Vineyards in the Judean Hills and Château Tour du Haut Moulin in Bordeaux, which he purchased with two friends in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

Patrick Schmitt MW talks to Robert Mondavi Winery's Laura Diaz Munoz, who has held the role of winemaker at the famous Napa wine producer for the last two years. Born in Spain, and now settled in Santa Rosa with her family, Laura opens up about promoting the brand worldwide, converting to organics, dealing with a warming climate in California, and developing wine tourism to entice a new generation...

What eight drinks, book and sole luxury would you take if cast away to a desert island? Master of Wine Patrick Schmitt speaks with Lenz Maria Moser, the Austrian Gruner Veltliner specialist, who also makes wine in Tokaj, Portugal, and, perhaps most notably, China – where he began advising the country’s largest wine producer Changyu exactly 20 years ago. Hosted on Acast. Se...

Brought in to oversee the acquisition of great Napa Valley wine estate Joseph Phelps by global luxury group Moët Hennessy, former Opus One CEO David Pearson has taken on a permanent role at the producer. Why? He sees a bright an exciting future at the property based on regenerative viticulture – a farming philosophy Joseph Phelp's new owners want to back, and consumers want to hear about. Hosted o...

What eight drinks, book and sole luxury would you take if cast away to a desert island? Master of Wine Patrick Schmitt speaks with Paul Schaafsma, founder and MD at Benchmark Drinks, the business behind several successful celebrity-backed brands such as Kylie Minogue Wines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While it’s widely held that binge drinking is detrimental to a fitness regime, record-breaking former American football quarterback Drew Bledsoe tells Patrick Schmitt MW that fine wine and professional sport form a perfect pairing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Schmitt MW interviews Austrian winemaker Lenz Maria Moser on the potential for white wine in China and why the wine industry needs 'an iPhone moment' to excite a new generation of drinkers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

with Patrick Schmitt MW and Laura Willoughby Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

with Patrick Schmitt MW, James Miles and Justin Gibbs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Schmitt MW interviews Château Lascombes winemaker Axel Heinz on his move from Bolgheri to Bordeaux and why he's promoting Merlot in Margaux.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WineFi founder Callum Woodcock tells Patrick Schmitt MW how market data can trump the traditional human expert when it comes to investing in fine wine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Db’s Bordeaux correspondent  Colin Hay  speaks to  Arabella Mileham  about the complexities of this autumn's ‘Hors Bordeaux’ campaign amid a difficult market, how La Place’s strategy reflects the evolution of demand, while giving his top picks from this year's releases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What eight drinks, book and sole luxury would you take if cast away to a desert island? Master of Wine Patrick Schmitt asks James Simpson MW, Managing Director of Pol Roger Portfolio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick speaks to tech expert Nick Martin, the CEO at Wine Owners, on how to better your business and why he's optimistic for the long-term health of the wine trade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.