VinePair Podcast

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss data that shows that people are going out earlier in the day and concentrating their drinking on the weekends. What are bars and restaurants supposed to do in the Early Bird Economy: can they create more demand for later seatings, or do they just have to concentrate on the times and days when people want to go out now? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and revie...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach suggest that more wineries should (where possible) add full-service dining options to their amenities, as doing so allows restaurants to showcase their wines in an ideal setting and also keep guests on-site longer, both crucial to bringing in visitors and boosting wine sales. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever y...

Joanna and Zach marvel at the fact that airlines and hotels increasing their non-alcoholic options is being spun as some totally new form of travel instead of another reminder that as long as people will pay premium prices for non-alcoholic drinks, vendors will stock them. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and...

Joanna and Zach discuss the growing prominence of hop water in the NA drinks space: what kind of drinker are these products aimed at, are they hoppy enough for beer lovers, and is their steep price point a barrier to further growth. Then, they taste one of the more widely-distributed versions, the Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcas...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether bartender snobbery is a real issue, and if it threatens the ascendency of cocktails in the American drinking firmament. If we concede that sommeliers, and the entire culture around them, served to turn some drinkers away from wine, will bartenders do the same? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever y...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach explore the possible reasons behind Uber's surprising decision to shut down the alcohol delivery platform Drizly just over two years after acquiring it. Does this mean that there's no market for alcohol delivery, or did Uber just want to eliminate a competitor. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your epi...

Adam and Joanna speak with Michael Tipps about the upcoming Bar and Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas (March 18-20), including how Tipps first got involved, what potentially attendees can expect to get out of the experience, and why Las Vegas is the ideal setting for this event. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach wonder if rising restaurant wine prices are due to a raft of new, arguably predatory loans that have targeted restaurants of late, offering quick infusions of cash in exchange for a cut of all credit card transactions. Do operators think that guests are less likely to notice price hikes when it comes to booze? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on App...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach reflect on the fact that after years of trying to hype up Sherry, the wine trade seems to have largely forgotten about it, relegating it to producing casks for Scotch and an occasional cocktail ingredient . Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach examine recent survey data that shows that, contrary to popular belief, the audience for non-alcoholic drinks is overwhelming made up of people who also drink alcohol, and that the growth in the NA sector is not in fact a sign that more Americans are turning away from alcohol, but in fact are looking for other interesting drinks to supplement, not supplant, the alcoholic dri...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach are joined by VinePair assistant editor Hannah Staab to discuss her recent article about a growing trend of wine programs that exclusively serve American wine: to what extent is it driven by a lack of consumer demand, to what extent does it reflect bias within the wine industry, and to what extent is it a byproduct of our complicated and antiquated liquor laws. Please rememb...

To kick off 2024, Adam, Joanna, and Zach share some of their predictions for the drinks industry in the new year, including a banner year for Mexican spirits, even outside of agave, continued confusion around what consumers want with regards to ABV in various drinks, and the continued erosion of wine as a restaurant mainstay. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podc...

To close out 2023, Adam, Joanna, and Zach highlight some of the biggest stories in the drinks industry from the year that was, including a crisis in the wine industry and the concurrent ascendancy of spirits, changes in the hard seltzer landscape, a massive quagmire for Bud Light, and lots more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you...

On this special episode, members of the VinePair team share some of their favorite drinks and most memorable drinking experiences of 2023. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and be well. Instagram: @adamtee...

With holiday season in full swing, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the shady world of unregulated hangover cures, and why we just can't help ourselves when it comes to trying to dodge the consequences of a boisterous night out. Plus, an in-depth discussion of family holiday traditions. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your ep...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach react to the news that Gruppo Campari will be purchasing Courvoisier from Beam Suntory for $1.32 billion. Does this mean that the recent dip in Cognac sales is just a a blip on the radar? Will this allow Campari to take on Hennessy in the American market? And why do we need to be very careful when analyzing sales data from 2020-2022? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, an...

Zach is joined by VinePair managing editor and Cocktail College host Tim McKirdy to break down some of the bottles and trends showcased on The 50 Best Spirits of 2023 list, including dynamism in Cognac, a range of Mexican spirits, and a very strong year for seasonal and special releases in American whiskey. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or w...

In light of the news that Diageo is intending to sell off all of its beer brands besides Guinness, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what this says about the future of global beer brands, and why imports were the true casualties of the craft beer boom. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comm...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach react to a recent essay stating that the wine industry should double down on marketing to the oldest part of the wine-consuming crowd. Does it make sense for wine to further focus its efforts on a generation it has a longstanding and lucrative relationship with, and does marketing to younger generations really turn off others? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and revie...

Zach is joined by dairy farmer Jean-Francois Marmier and winemaker Raphael Pommier to discuss the interconnected legacies of Comté cheese and Côtes du Rhône wine, how these artisanal products are the result of a great deal of human labor and ingenuity, and some of the best ways to enjoy them. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach debate whether restaurant and bar hospitality has changed since Covid, and if so, why - could the increasing importance of TikTok and Instagram be driving a different sort of customer engagement, or has attrition in the work force since the pandemic had a lasting impact? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you ge...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the baffling comments from the managing director of Bollinger about the future of Champagne being still Pinot Noir and vineyard-designate sparkling wines. Could this approach, which flies in the face of Champagne's tradition branding, actually work? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episode...

Zach is joined by dairy farmer Jean-Francois Marmier and winemaker Raphael Pommier to discuss the interconnected legacies of Comté cheese and Côtes du Rhône wine, and how their distinctive terroirs shape and enrich these Protected Designation of Origin goods. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any quest...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss how several recent wine industry transactions plus trend data suggest that white wine is surging in popularity, driven by a mix of health consciousness, red wine fatigue, and maybe an assist from one of the most famous humans on the planet. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and se...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach briefly discuss Duckhorn's acquisition of Sonoma-Cutrer, then delve into a discussion of why exactly the period from Thanksgiving to New Year's is the most crucial stretch of the year for the drinks industry, as well as what categories and brands are best positioned to crush Holiday 2023. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,...