VinePair Podcast

To celebrate Hanukkah, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the rise of kosher-labelled whiskies from around the world, and why whiskey in particular has become so popular with observant Jews. Plus, a discussion of the top Hanukkah foods, and the team tastes three different kosher whiskies: Ardbeg 10, Larceny Bourbon, and Journeyman Last Feather Rye. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review Vin...

In this special episode of the podcast, Zach speaks with two up-and-coming winemakers in Bourgogne: Aurélie Berthod, from Domaine Aurélie Berthod in Pernand-Vergelesses and Arnaud Desfontaine from Château de Chamilly in Chamilly, about their very different paths to becoming winemakers, some of the challenges of making wine in this iconic region, and much more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate...

In the wake of the expulsion of six Master Sommeliers from the Court of Master Sommeliers for sexual harassment, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether the punishment was sufficient, why the other 16 men accused did not face similar disciplinary action, and whether the organization has any remaining credibility. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,...

To decompress from Thanksgiving, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the drinks and paraphernalia they're hoping to score for themselves and others on Black Friday. Then they taste the ultimate digestivo, Fernet-Branca . Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or sugg...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach take time to dig into VinePair's list of the Top 50 Wines of 2021 , from a conversation about how the list is created in the first place, to highlighting some of the more unusual wines on the list, to looking at which bottles would be best at the Thanksgiving table. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever y...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the remarkable surge of popularity in the cream-based liqueur category, where Bailey's is no longer the dominant force. Newcomer RumChata has experienced explosive growth , while Bailey's has added multiple flavors and even other spirits like Disaronno are getting in on the act. Then, the team gives RumChata a taste test and discusses the best way to enjoy it. Please...

After much debate following a recent " Ask Adam " column, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss why tipping is such an essential action for diners and drinkers, how to properly register your displeasure if something in your experience goes awry, and why the model of tipping for service might be changing. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or w...

Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair tastings director and " Wine 101 " host Keith Beavers to discuss five of the most confusing terms in the world of wine, including "tight" and "funky." Plus, the team tastes Korbel California Champagne. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, com...

In this special episode, Zach speaks with Anne Dempsey, winemaker at Skyside Wines , about her journey in the wine industry, how Skyside attempts to showcase the potential of a range of California AVAs, and the importance of blending to create the best possible wine. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts,...

Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair senior staff writer and 'Cocktail College' host Tim McKirdy to discuss the recent resurgence of interest in that 1990s staple, the Espresso Martini. They discuss why it might be regaining popularity, new approaches to making the drink, and more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you ge...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach chat about how some airlines have really upped their game when it comes to in-flight and lounge beverage service, not just in premium cabins but throughout the plane. Then, Joanna speaks with members of the Tip Top Cocktail team about the early days of the brand, and how a partnership with Delta Airlines changed their trajectory as a company. Finally, the team tastes the Tip...

To kick off VinePair's American Wine Month coverage, Adam, Joanna, and Zach dive into to the pressing question of whether or not we can even define "American Wine" with anything besides geography: is there something stylistic or philosophical that unites the wines of the country? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get yo...

With Halloween right around the corner, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the puzzling persistence of the pumpkin beer trend. Then, Joanna speaks with VinePair's managing editor Cat Wolinski about the origins of the trend and why it went from craft darling to near-universal condemnation. Finally, the team tastes one of the original pumpkin beers, Elysian Brewing's The Great Pumpkin. Please remember t...

Adam is joined by third-generation winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi of Zuccardi Wines to discuss his family's long history in Argentina's Uco Valley, his site-focused style of winemaking , and why it's so important to push the frontiers of Argentinian wines further and further. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your pod...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach dive into VinePair's inaugural Next Wave Awards : how they were created, why it was so important to highlight the various winners, and why many of their stories are so remarkable. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to po...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss their own experiences with shots and why shot culture remains popular even if it also can be problematic at times. Then, Adam speaks with Jägermeister director of innovation Jack Carson about how the brand was in many ways built around the shot. Finally, the team tastes Jägermeister and discusses why it remains appealing. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and re...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach survey the range of many recent purchases and moves in the beverage alcohol industry, from Winc's upcoming IPO to the sale of Francis Ford Coppola Winery , and a trio of moves in the food and beverage media landscape, in an attempt to understand how the Covid-19 pandemic and the public response to it has potentially altered the landscape. Please remember to subscribe to, rat...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the current surge in popularity for flavored spirits, in particular flavored whiskey and tequila. Then Joanna interviews VinePair senior writer and host of Cocktail College about how flavored spirits and cocktails work together. Then, the team tastes one of the most popular flavored spirits on the market, Skrewball Peanut Butter-flavored whiskey. Please remember to s...

In light of the wildfires throughout much of the West Coast in 2020, and subsequent concerns from producers that wine buyers will en masse avoid the vintage, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss how that fear might or might not come to pass, and whether wine consumers actually really pay attention to vintages in the first place. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcast...

With the hop harvest in full swing, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether or not the increased emphasis on individual hop varieties is helping or hurting the craft beer industry. Then, Zach talks with Ryan Hopkins, CEO of Yakima Chief Hops , about how his company is pushing the envelope on both hop breeding and preservation technology. Finally, the much-awaited moment as the team tastes the Bud L...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach ruminate on Dave Infante's recent piece about how hard seltzer is impact college keggers and whether hard seltzer will displace cheap beer more broadly across the drinking landscape. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to...

Adam, Zach, and Joanna discuss the rising trend of celebrity alcohol brands: why they've become so prevalent, how they reach consumers, and whether they're truly changing the beverage alcohol landscape. Then Adam speaks with Brett Berish, CEO of Sovereign Brands and the creator of brands with celebrities like Jay-Z and Rick Ross. Finally, the team tastes a celebrity wine, Snoop Dogg's 19 Crimes "C...

Adam speaks with winemaker Marcus Notaro of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley about the impact that the iconic 1976 Judgement of Paris had on the winery, how the brand has developed and evolved over the intervening 45 years, and what the future holds for this legendary wine estate. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever yo...

With wildfires, drought, and other affects of climate change making many famous wine regions less hospitable to Vitis vinifera , and evolving aesthetics around how wines taste and smell, is now the time when hybrid and non- vinifera grapes can have their moment? Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss this, plus how hard seltzer has taken over college campuses. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and re...

Adam, Joanna, and Zach each discuss a largely-unappreciated wine region that they think has major promise, then Zach speaks with VJ Gandhi, owner of Kascadia Wine Merchants , a wine importer and retailer focused on the wines of British Columbia, another underappreciated region. Finally, the team tries Twisted Tea for the first time and travels back to the pre-hard seltzer era. Please remember to s...