The Zonda Wine Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Joaquín Hidalgo — Buenos Aires-based wine journalist, Vinous reviewer, and the first Argentinean to join the international wine critic elite. Joaquín covers Argentina, Chile, Spain, and Portugal for Antonio Galloni's world renowned publication, Vinous, and has written for La Nación, Playboy and other local newspapers. We talk about his journey from winemaker to wi...

This episode features the founders of California's Newfound Wines , Matt & Audra Naumann, in their Napa home. The fearless husband-wife duo started the nature-led project in 2016 after discovering a 40-acre Sierra Foothills property with a bonded winery and about 16 plantable acres. With roughly 20 years experience in the wine industry at renowned wineries, they chose to build a tangible, farm...

Boia De is one of Miami’s top restaurants. Bar none. How this 27-seat restaurant wedged between a coin laundry and supermarket in a strip mall rose to the top is a testament to the vision of owners and chef-partners Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer. And of course, Gabriela Ospina, the wine director responsible for putting together an esoteric wine list filled with hidden gems waiting to be discov...

Jeff Mausbach's lift changing wine was a bottle of Giacomo Conterno. A young kid scrapping for extra cash in the busy restaurant scene of Chicago, he took one sip and got hooked. Born and raised in Nebraska then studying in Chicago, Jeff was nowhere near wine country. But when he fell in love with an Argentinean during his European travels, destiny took him to his wife's hometown of Buenos Aires,...

What do Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Masseto, Castello di Bolgheri and Guado al Tasso have in common? They come from a small coastal wine appellation called BOLGHERI.  Clemente Zileri of Castello di Bolgheri delivers a masterclass on this paradise along the Tuscan Coast, which has captured the attention of Americans for the wines' approachable flavor profile and superior aging potential. We thought that...

"You'll have to drag my dead body out of here."  That's Maya Dalla Valle's mentality when asked if her family's critically-acclaimed winery will still be here in 40 years. Dalla Valle Vineyards is recognized as one of Napa Valley’s top family-run estates, founded in 1986 by Naoko and her late husband Gustav Dalla Valle along the eastern hillsides of Oakville. Today, Naoko and her daughter, Maya, w...

Vega Sicilia makes heads turn among collectors, celebrities, and serious wine people. Longtime CEO Pablo Álavarez doesn't take that responsibility lightly. Vega Sicilia was founded in 1864 by ambitious winemaker Don Eloy Lecanda and was passed through several hands before Pablo's father bought the estate in 1982 and put his son in charge at age 30.  For over 40 years now, Pablo has cemented a last...

There is no modern day Napa Valley without Tor Kenward. Many know him as the founder and proprietor of the critically acclaimed TOR Wines, but his five decades of experience in the heart of American wine country goes much deeper. This episode is loaded with Tor's fascinating stories alongside iconic characters like Robert Parker, Robert Mondavi, Andy Beckstoffer, and Andre Tchelistcheff, all of wh...

It's not easy keeping up with Laura Catena, the fourth generation steward of Argentina's icon estate, Catena Zapata. Luckily, we were able to sit down with her in Buenos Aires for an exclusive interview. Founded by Italian immigrants in 1902, the winery is known for putting Argentina on the global stage, and making Malbec a popular grape in the U.S. market.  This one-on-one interview contains excl...

Jancis Robinson wants to be known as a writer. But few figures have transformed industries with words like Jancis, which also makes her a transformative figure worth celebrating, knowing, and remembering. In this episode of the Zonda Wine Podcast, Jancis unveils where she gets her tireless work ethic, why she started JancisRobinson.com, why she sold it, and her biggest lessons from 50 years of wri...

Bern's Steakhouse is one of the world's most iconic restaurants, housing the country's biggest private wine collection at 650,000+. bottles! Head sommelier Brad Dixon got his dream job when he started working at Bern's in 2003, and has since catered to the mass of wine lovers that make pilgrimages to Tampa, FL every year to choose special bottles to celebrate. Listen to our interview with Brad to...

Ben Aneff is at the forefront of the fight against wine tariffs and the most knowledgable person on the subject today as it pertains to the wine industry. Ben is the managing partner of Tribeca Wine Merchants in New York City, named one of “America’s Best Wine Shops” by Food & Wine Magazine, and an “Editor’s Favorite” by Wine Spectator. He is also the director of the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance a...

Historian Adam Zientek is the author of A Thirst For Wine & War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front (2024), winner of the Tomlinson Prize for best First World War monograph. In this episode, Adam shares his groundbreaking research on the role of wine and distilled alcohol in the daily lives of French soldiers during World War I. From boosting morale to masking the stench...

Antonio Galloni founded Vinous in 2013. It is now regarded as one of the world's top wine publications boasting a team of highly respected wine critics that help experienced collectors, auction houses, retailers, and young wine lovers make informed decisions on what to drink and buy. Antonio joined The Zonda Wine Podcast in Miami to talk about starting Vinous, the key to building a successful team...

How do the world’s top wine tasters sharpen their palates? In this episode, we dive into 'Beyond Flavour', the award-winning book from Master of Wine Nick Jackson—a must-read for anyone serious about blind tasting, or needing to pass that WSET or Master of Wine (MW) exam. Nick, who aced all three parts of the MW exam on his first try, joins us to share why he trusts structure over flavor when iden...

In this episode, we sit down with one of the top players in fine wine glassware: Riedel, The Wine Glass Company . Our guest Julio Ruiz has been with the legendary family company for almost 20 years and shows us why your wine glass makes all the difference in experience and pleasure.  Riedel has been in the wine game for nearly 300 years, powered by 11 generations of one family. The most well-known...

The Zonda Wine Podcast brings entertainment to the world of wine. Hosted by industry insider Shawn Zylberberg and produced by Zonda Wine Services , this show dives deep into the basics of wine straight from the most influential figures in the business—glassmakers, sommeliers, celebrities, and the top names shaping the industry today. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a curious newbie, each...