Wine Behind The Scenes

This week, we uncork a standout episode from the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives featuring a story of passion, persistence, and building something unexpected in the world of wine. From the vineyards of France and Italy to the vibrant streets of Seattle, today's episode of  Wine Behind the Scenes  takes you on a remarkable adventure with Marilee Bramhall, the visionary founder of Iola Wines.  With...

From the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives, we're bringing back a captivating conversation about wine, sustainability, and the journey of starting over in France. From buying a vineyard in liquidation to transforming it into a sustainable and award-winning estate, Caro Feely's story is extraordinary.  Join us on this episode of Wine Beyond the Scenes as Caro shares her amazing story of passion, pers...

From the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives, we're revisiting a standout episode that makes navigating wine in social settings feel a whole lot easier. In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, I sit down with Juliette Han, a fellow wine lover who isn't afraid to ask the honest questions about choosing wine, especially in high-pressure moments like business dinners or group settings.  From decoding...

This week, we revisit a standout episode from the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives, one that invites you to break away from routine. Nothing could be more monotonous than sticking to the same flavours and combinations, meal after meal. Keeping your palate interested and excited through varying wine and food pairings can lead to a much more enjoyable experience.  That's where experimentation and per...

This week, we're revisiting the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives and bringing back one of our most popular episodes. In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, also known as The Wine Psychologist, to explore how celebrity culture and subtle psychological triggers shape our wine choices, whether we realize it or not. From wine-tasting experiments...

This week, we dive back into the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives to listen to one of our most popular episodes. Today, we step beyond the vineyard and into the world of tea with renowned expert Nicole Wilson. Tea and wine share more in common than you might think! Both are shaped by terroir, tradition, and time. Nicole, a passionate educator and writer with over 15 years of experience, takes us on...

This week, we dive back into the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives to listen to one of our most popular episodes.  Find out how one of the world's leading wine economists got his start in wine economics over 40 years ago during a budget vacation in Napa Valley.  Discover the amazing adventure Mike Veseth had, and let's enjoy the fascinating and surprisingly fun world of wine economics here at Wine B...

This week, we dive back into the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives to listen to one of our most popular episodes.    Imagine going from the stress of corporate life to the tranquillity of owning a winery.  Well not quite.  Marzia and Bob Murdoch, left their corporate careers in Toronto to pursue their dream of owning a winery in Niagara's scenic wine country. Their path was far from smooth. Just as...

This week, we dive back into the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives to listen to one of our most popular episodes, with Liesel Meissner, for a fun, informative, and completely unpretentious conversation about wine with host Laurel Simmons. Tired of feeling overwhelmed in wine shops and lost reading restaurant lists, Liesel came armed with questions, and Laurel delivered the answers. From understandin...

This week, we dive back into the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives to listen to one of our most popular episodes, exploring the captivating connection between wine and romance with the delightful Amy Riley, a leading expert in aphrodisiac foods and a passionate wine lover. From ancient myths to modern romantic dinners, wine has always played a key role in seduction. Amy shares her fascinating journe...

She's back and bolder than ever. In this episode of  Wine Behind the Scenes , Laurel Simmons reconnects with wine consultant, educator, and Master of Wine candidate Irem Eren for a conversation that's as honest as it is inspiring.  From the intense demands of the Master of Wine program (less than 5% make it through) to global shifts in consumer behaviour, Irem offers a front-row seat to what's hap...

What happens when wine becomes a vessel for memory, healing, and home? In this episode of  Wine Behind the Scenes , host Laurel Simmons sits down with Maba Ba, the storyteller and founder behind  Flying Whale Wine , a French wine project shaped by personal taste over tradition. Born in Dakar, Senegal, raised between cultures, and now based in New York City, Maba's journey into wine wasn't linear,...

What did a holiday feast look like in Edwardian England?  Think multiple courses, carefully decanted wines, and a strict social hierarchy governing every sip and bite.  In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons is joined by author Susan Jennings, whose historical novel, "The Blue Pendant," dives deep into life inside a grand seaside hotel in early 20th-century Britain. Inspired by...

In this special holiday episode, host Laurel Simmons invites you to slow down and indulge in two of the season's most comforting pleasures: chocolate and wine. But this isn't just about taste, it's about transformation, history, and the quiet rituals that make the holidays feel magical. Laurel takes us through the ancient origins of both chocolate and wine, connecting their sacred roots to modern-...

What do wine, cats, design, and career reinvention have in common? The guest this week, Jaime Drayer, will say everything. In this inspiring episode of  Wine Behind the Scenes , Laurel sits down with Jaime to talk about how she went from working as a graphic designer to building her own creative brand (hello,  Kitties and Cabernet !) before diving headfirst into the wine world. What began as a par...

In this warm and flavorful episode, Laurel reconnects with Csilla Janosi: winemaker, wine tour organizer, and passionate ambassador for Hungarian food and wine culture. Laurel recounts her recent visit to Hungary, where she explored centuries-old cellars, and where she visited Csilla's winery. Together, they dive into Hungary's unique wine regions, traditional grape varieties, and the cultural ric...

In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons is joined by Andrea Kaiser, founder of Drea's Wine Co. and daughter of the legendary winemaker Karl J. Kaiser, co-founder of Inniskillin Wines. Andrea shares her incredible journey, from growing up in the vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake to launching her own boutique label in tribute to her father. This heartfelt and inspiring episode explo...

In this special Halloween edition of  Wine Behind the Scenes , Laurel Simmons invites you to a hauntingly good time with spooky wine names, haunted cellars, ghost stories, and wine tips that are perfect for your next Halloween gathering. Whether you're curious about "ferocious tannins," looking to impress your guests with clever wine and candy pairings, or just want to discover some eerie bottles...

What starts as a story inspired by a grandfather's World War II experience with champagne turns into a full-circle journey through fine dining, wine education, and app development.  In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons is joined by Jeff Gillis, a certified sommelier, adjunct professor, and former food and beverage director at luxury hotels in Beverly Hills and Napa Valley.  Je...

In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons chats with Joel Droogh, whose path to the wine industry started on a dairy farm outside Ottawa. From chasing cows as a kid to crafting low-alcohol wines in Niagara, Joel shares how his hands-on background and entrepreneurial drive led him to a life among the vines. Joel opens up about his transition from brewing to winemaking, why Canadian...

In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with her niece, Liesel Meissner, for a fun, informative, and completely unpretentious conversation about wine. Tired of being overwhelmed in wine shops and feeling lost when restaurant lists, Liesel came armed with questions, and Laurel delivered the answers. From understanding residual sugar and decoding trendy terms like "orange...

In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons reconnects with Kit Pepper, a wine editor, educator, and founder of Cheers Croatia Magazine. Kit, who lives on the island that's a 50-minute ferry ride from the Dalmatian city of Split, returns to dive even deeper into Croatia's long, complex relationship with wine. From the ancient Greeks and Romans to the shadow of communism and the wars...

In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with wine educator Elaine Peters to explore the vibrant world of Ontario wine through the lens of personal experience, cultural connection, and joyful discovery. Elaine shares how she transitioned from corporate life to the tasting room, from Bell to the LCBO and now to Between the Lines Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Along the wa...

In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sat down with Yvonne Irvine, a long-time winemaker in Niagara and the co-founder of Maenad Wine Co. Yvonne shares her journey from studying biotechnology and business to launching a brand that's all about creative freedom, fun, and celebrating women unapologetically. Her wines are low-intervention, playful, and packed with personality from...

In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, also known as The Wine Psychologist, to explore how celebrity culture and subtle psychological triggers shape our wine choices, whether we realize it or not. From wine-tasting experiments with Olympic athletes to the endowment effect (a real thing!) and why we're more likely to buy something we've phys...