Wine Pros on the Go

What do the Bronx, Burgundy, and hip-hop have in common? More than you might think. This week on Wine Pros on the Go, Lauren Crim sits down with Jermaine Stone — better known as the Wolf of Wine — the charismatic creator of The Original Wine & Hip Hop, host of Street Somm, and one of the most influential cultural voices reshaping the wine industry. From aspiring rapper...

Born and raised in Ecuador, Pablo Aguilar brings a perspective on wine rooted in agriculture, food, culture, and the table. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , Pablo joins Lauren for a conversation that strips wine back to its roots — grapes grown by farmers, transformed through fermentation, and ultimately meant to be enjoyed alongside a meal. They explore why wine is too often treated as so...

Why does a glass of wine somehow taste better on a terrace in Tuscany, beside the ocean, or halfway through a trip you never want to end? In this episode, we get into the psychology, neuroscience, and suspicious magic behind why wine can feel more delicious when we’re somewhere beautiful. From memory and mood to expectation, environment, music, company, and the way our brains process pleasure, the...

What happens after the story you wrote changes the way an entire generation thinks about wine? In Episode 33 of Wine Pros On the Go, Lauren sits down with Rex Pickett, author of Sideways, for a fascinating conversation about the novel that became a cultural phenomenon—and the ripple effects that are still being felt throughout the wine world today. Rex takes us behind Sideways:...

There are people who build careers, and then there are people who build entire worlds around the things they love. Eric Flanagan is firmly in the second category. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , we sit down with Eric Flanagan, founder of Flanagan Wines in Sonoma County, California. Over decades, Eric has built Flanagan Wines around a deep respect for place—farming vineyards across Sonoma...

Bobby Stuckey has spent his career proving that great hospitality isn't about perfection—it's about making people feel something. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go, Lauren sits down with the legendary Master Sommelier, restaurateur, and co-founder of Frasca Hospitality Group for a conversation about wine, restaurants, leadership, and the art of taking care of people. Bobby shares the journey...

Eric Asimov has spent decades asking one of wine's most important questions: What makes a bottle worth paying attention to? As Chief Wine Critic of The New York Times , Eric has helped shape the way generations of readers think about wine—not through scores or status, but through culture, place, people, and the simple pleasure of drinking something meaningful. In this episode of Wine Pros on the G...

We like to believe our wine choices are simply matters of taste. Yet the bottles we return to often carry something more: memory, aspiration, habit, even identity. In Episode 29, Wine Pros on the Go considers what our favorite wines may reveal about us—not as a scientific exercise, but as an affectionate study of the people behind the glass. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, rosé an...

Greece has been making wine for thousands of years—and still knows how to keep things interesting. Journey through volcanic vineyards, ancient myths, seaside tables, and remarkable native grapes, from Santorini's electric Assyrtiko to Xinomavro's brooding charm. Expect gods, great food, modern winemakers, and at least one uncle determined to teach you the circle dance. It's part wine masterclass,...

How many great bottles are waiting for a “special occasion?” What if the special occasion is today? Most of life doesn't happen on birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. It happens on Tuesdays—in ordinary dinners, unexpected conversations, and quiet moments with the people we love. Years from now, you may realize those little moments were the big moments all along. Join Wine Pros...

Think you know Chenin Blanc? Think again. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , we're diving into the wine world's ultimate overachiever—a grape that somehow manages to be crisp, rich, dry, sweet, sparkling, age-worthy, budget-friendly, and world-class, often all in the same bottle. Meet Chenin Blanc: the Swiss Army knife of wine. From the misty castles and ancient vineyards of France's L...

What Shark Diving Taught Me About Hospitality —A Wildly Human Side Quest About Sharks, Wine, Service, Fear, and Wonder I didn't expect one of the most important lessons of my wine career to come from a shark. But somewhere between open water, racing heartbeats, and a healthy respect for creatures with far better PR problems than they deserve, I discovered something surprising about hospitali...

Portugal is a country shaped by explorers, carved by the Atlantic, and rooted in some of the oldest wine traditions on Earth. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , we journey through a land where terraced vineyards cling to dramatic river valleys, ancient grape varieties thrive against all odds, and every bottle tells a story centuries in the making. From the misty hills of Vinho Verde to the s...

Burgundy isn't a place you simply visit—it's a place you spend a lifetime trying to understand. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , Lauren sits down with Antonin Aidinian, owner of Clavelin Imports, WSET Diploma educator, and private Burgundy tour guide based in the heart of Beaune. Living and working among some of the world's most celebrated vineyards, Antonin offers a rare insider's p...

In this special International Women's Day episode of Wine Pros on the Go , we sit down with Sarah Pierre , founder of Atlanta's beloved 3 Parks Wine Shop and one of the most influential voices shaping the city's wine culture today. Sarah has built more than a wine business—she's built a movement. Through hospitality, education, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion, she's transformed the...

If wine has a conscience, a compass, and a rebel streak, it might sound a lot like Rajat Parr . From the dining rooms of the world's most celebrated restaurants to the windswept vineyards of California's Central Coast, Rajat Parr has spent a career challenging assumptions about what great wine should be. Sommelier, author, farmer, winemaker, and visionary, he has become one of the most influential...

Rioja doesn't chase trends. It doesn't need to. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , we journey into Spain's most iconic wine region—a place where time is an ingredient, aging is an art form, and patience is rewarded in every glass. From ancient roots and legendary Tempranillo vineyards to the cellars that helped define modern fine wine, Rioja has spent centuries perfecting the long game...

At the intersection of hospitality, wine, and human connection sits the 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist , Taurean Philpott — Co-founder, Sommelier, and Director of Hospitality of Atlanta's Michelin-recognized restaurant, Avize. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , Lauren Crim sits down with one of the most respected hospitality leaders in the Southeast to explore what it truly takes...

Beaujolais is one of the most beloved—and most misunderstood—wine regions in France. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , Lauren Crim sits down with Philippe Audibert, founder of Old Creek Imports , importer of fine French wines, and lifelong ambassador of French wine culture. Together, they explore the vibrant region of Beaujolais, where Gamay thrives on granite soils and generati...

In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , we sit down with the team behind Through the Grapevine , one of Atlanta's fastest-growing wine communities. We discuss the inspiration behind the brand, its mission to make wine more approachable and inclusive, and how it's building meaningful connections through curated events, hospitality, education, and shared experiences. Join us for an engaging convers...

Join Wine Pros on the Go for a conversation with one of the most respected voices in hospitality and wine: Juan Fernando Cortés , recipient of the 2023 MICHELIN Guide Atlanta Sommelier Award , and Co-Founder of the David Bowie-Inspired Atlanta Wine Bar, Under Pressure . Known for his thoughtful approach to service, fearless creativity, and deep respect for both food and wine, Juan has spent...

Join Wine Pros on the Go as we uncork the fascinating story of Pinot Grigio —the crisp, refreshing white wine that became a global phenomenon while quietly hiding one of wine's most surprising identities. Often dismissed as simple, Pinot Grigio is anything but. From the dramatic alpine vineyards of northern Italy to the historic wine regions of France, Germany, Oregon, and beyond, this chame...

Join Wine Pros on the Go as we sit down with Eric Palmer — Fine Wine Specialist with RNDC , newly minted Advanced Sommelier , and one of the most thoughtful voices in today's wine community. Earning the Advanced Sommelier credential is no small feat. It requires years of relentless study, tasting thousands of wines, mastering service, and developing a deep understanding of the world's most i...

Join Wine Pros on the G o as we hop on an imaginary Vespa and head straight for the rolling hills of Tuscany to meet one of the wine world's greatest characters: Sangiovese . This isn't just a grape. It's the heartbeat of Italy. Sangiovese is the force behind Chianti, the soul of Brunello di Montalcino, the backbone of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and the reason countless trattorias around the wo...

Forget everything you think you know about Riesling. In this episode of Wine Pros on the Go , we're pulling back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood—and most beloved—grapes in the wine world. Often dismissed as simply “sweet,” Riesling is actually one of wine's greatest shape-shifters, capable of producing wines that are bone dry, lusciously sweet, sparkling, age-w...