VinePair Podcast

As the drinks landscape continues to evolve, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether brands that develop a strong following in a particular region or part of the country still have as clear a pathway to national appeal as they once did. Are the differences in how Americans drink based on geography and density insurmountable, or does it just require savvier marketing and an understanding of who your...

On this special episode of the podcast, Adam speaks with Barefoot Wine winemaker Jen Wall about her long history with the brand, how it has grown into one of the largest players in the American wine industry, their ongoing partnership with the National Football League, and their recent launch into TetraPak single-serves. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on App...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach unpack Constellation's purchase of spiked sports drink brand SpikedAde: is the drinks giant smartly positioning itself to grab share of a small but booming category? Who exactly is the target demographic for these drinks? How pervasive is the "health halo" when it comes to alcoholic beverages and what people choose to drink? Please remember to subscribe to, rat...

In the wake of a bit of a social media firestorm within the bar community, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether there's a backlash coming for The 50 (formerly 50 Best) within that community. Are bartenders who aspire to recognition tiring of the need to work guest shifts at far flung bars, endlessly politick, and generally focus on brand-building and vote-wrangling more than actually making...

Zach is joined by Joe O'Sullivan, master distiller at Minden Mill Distillery to discuss the many aspects of their distinctive estate whiskey program. From why the Carson River Valley in Nevada's high desert is a dynamic place to grow grain to the opportunities and challenges of having every aspect of the process under their direct control, it's a look at how forward-thinking and dynami...

In the wake of a recent viral video showing celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck repeatedly calling a specific cocktail "girly," Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss why this outdated and sexist way of classifying drinks remains present in some elements of the drinks industry, what harm it causes, and how in the end it can only serve to deepen some of the struggles that the industry is facing. Please...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the etiquette of splitting checks: is this something that only young adults can and should do? Is there a threshold point where it becomes acceptable? Do things like Venmo make this better or worse? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, cr...

Sometimes, it feels like a product needs a brand refresh. A new label, a new design, a new bottle -- something. Yet as Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss, moving away from an established design aesthetic can serve to confuse and even alienate consumers - did you not just change the packaging but the product inside as well? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple...

Adam and Zach contemplate whether collecting beer, spirits, and wine has gone from a hobby associated with class and refinement to something that comes off as weirdo behavior. Did craft beer nerds delude themselves into thinking there would be a market for decade-old beer? Are there just too many specialty bottles of whiskey? Do people actually want to drink old wine? Please remember to subscribe...

Recession indicators abound, from robust inflation to consumer sentiment. Within the hospitality industry, it's the rise of all-you-can-eat restaurants and drinks specials. How can bars and restaurants entice wary consumers, and does "value" always have to mean "cheap as hell?" Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get yo...

With recent doomerism about the most popular red grape variety in the world, Adam, Joanna, and Zach take stock of Cabernet Sauvignon - is it in fact going through a bit of an identity crisis, or does its continued status as a red wine behemoth belie those concerns? Additionally, can producers and regions that built their success on the backs of a bold, ripe, assertive style of Cabernet actually pi...

With Adam back from his European adventures, he, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether America's general dismissal of hotel bars as nothing more than places for mediocre drinks and clandestine assignations is changeable. If Londoners can continue to view hotel bars as legitimate spots for top cocktail bars, why can't Americans? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on A...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach ponder Grupo Campari's latest stateside foray into the spritz space - SARTI Rosa. Can this new aperitivo further expand their hold on the spritz category? Why do they think this flavor (blood orange, mango, passionfruit) and color (pink) are the right ones for the market? Is it kind of weird to be launching a spritz in September? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and re...

Inspired by a couple of recent pieces about restaurant green and red flags, Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair contributor Dave Foss to discuss some of their red and green flags on restaurant menus and when they sit down to dine. From a cohesive menu to considered pricing to...soup (?), what are the signs that you're in the right (or wrong) spot? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and revi...

In the wake of yet another flare-up in the trade war/war of words between the United States and Canada, Joanna and Zach discuss the current state of Canada's boycott of American drinks, and ponder what it will take to get those brands back into the Canadian market if relations ever normalize. Will Canadian drinkers re-embrace drinking American, or will years of bad blood and changed habits make it...

Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair managing editor Hannah Staab to discuss the merits and ethics of the "secret" wine list: special bottles that for one reason or another aren't listed normally, but might be available if you know the right person or ask the right question (or stalk the wine bar on Instagram). Is this a harmless and fun way to reward wine lovers and devotees, or is it yet anoth...

Joanna and Zach discuss a recent survey that found that many would-be wine drinkers, particularly younger ones, are put off by the rules, traditions, and lack of customization that seem endemic to the category. While totally forswearing tradition seems like a losing play, can wine producers, professionals, and vendors find ways to bring a bit more playfulness and flexibility to wine? Please rememb...

Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair spirits editor Aaron Goldfarb to discuss the rise of so-called "weird" spirits, particularly unusual or unexpected flavors in established categories like gin, vodka, and whiskey. Who is the target market for these bottles: curious consumers, bartenders, or what? Will spirits that are targeted at a very specific cocktail or food pairing find a home on back bar...

Joanna and Zach discuss how American winemakers and grape growers should react to consumer preferences swinging more towards white wines and more decisively away from full-bodied red wines. While the latter have been the backbone of the domestic industry at all price levels, will changing tastes, changing foodways, and changing conditions force US producers to not just make more white wine, but ma...

Adam and Joanna respond to a couple of hospitality hot takes : first, is it a betrayal of your customers to close earlier than your posted hours, even if business is slow? With labor costs at an all-time high, how should a restaurant or bar balance the need to remain cost-efficient with the fact that few things can turn off a potential customer more than showing up during posted hours only to be t...

Adam and Joanna discuss some of the more intriguing parts of Diageo's recently-announced plans to change and modernize their approach, from finally taking RTDs seriously to expanding their focus to some of their more value-oriented brands. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, co...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss a recent occurrence while filming The Wait - a trendy NYC restaurant telling people to come back at 11 pm for dinner and then informing them when they did come back that the kitchen was closed. Was this just a random bit of bad hospitality or a perhaps ill-founded attempt to make this restaurant feel more exclusive and pretentious? Who does that kind of pretention ap...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach take a look at another reason why wine is struggling in restaurants: the drinking public is unable to perceive value with much of what's on offer. While restaurants decry the high prices that wineries and distributors charge, and producers and drinkers cringe at the major markups restaurants apply to wine, is it possible that there's another solution besides just "someone ge...

With Joanna back from Scotland, she rejoins Adam and Zach to discuss her takeaways from visiting Panda & Sons , the iconic and world-class bar in Edinburgh. Do bars at that level tend to seem more similar than you'd think given that they're located in countries around the world? How tough is it to balance trying to be a place that locals might go to with being such a tourist destination? Pleas...

Wine has long relied on tradition to sell itself: traditions surrounding wine producers and regions, traditions surrounding drinking occasions and traditions surrounding how all of that is used to market wine. Yet do those stories still matter to consumers? Do they get people excited about wine, or do they serve as barriers that keep some people out of the category? Adam and Zach discuss all that...