Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2357 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews the leading digital and content strategist, Erica Duecy.  Key takeaways: Why are younger consumers shifting away from alcohol? What are younger consumers looking for from the alcohol sector? NOLO and their key characteristics More about the guest: Erica Duecy is founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and consultancy, and one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. She has built publishing and marketing programs for Drizly, VinePair, SevenFifty, and other hospitality and drinks tech companies. Erica also has led digital editorial teams at Architectural Digest and Saveur magazines. Her content, podcast and video programs have won more than 40 digital and editorial awards. She is a WSET Advanced-certified wine and spirits communicator, and author of the cocktail book Storied Sips (Random House), about the real-life stories behind the world’s most famou

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2356 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today, Giulia Stocchetti interviews Giovanni Correggia.  More about today’s guest:   Giovanni Correggia represents the second generation of the Matteo Correggia winery. His father, Matteo, founded the winery in 1985 but sadly passed away in 2001 following an accident. For many years, his mother, Ornella, managed the estate with dedication and passion.   In 2012, after completing his winemaking studies in Alba, Giovanni took over the winery. In 2014, he spent a few months in Australia, working a harvest season at a winery in the Barossa Valley.   Today, Giovanni is primarily responsible for winemaking, sales (he took 45 flights in 2024), and the daily operations of the estate. Together with his team, he organically farms 21 hectares of vineyards, continuing the legacy of quality and innovation that defines Matteo Correggia. Connect:  Website: https://www.matteocorreggia.com/en/homepage/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.co

Welcome to Episode 2355 of the Italian Wine Podcast On the Road Edition, an interview with Olivier Bernard. More about the guest: Olivier Bernard is a prominent figure in the French wine industry, best known for managing the historic Domaine de Chevalier, located in Léognan, in the Pessac-Léognan region south of Bordeaux. Since 1983, when his family acquired the estate, Bernard has poured passion and expertise into restoring this cru classé to excellence in both red and white wine production. Under his leadership, the domaine has embraced sustainable farming practices, focusing on quality and respect for the terroir. Actively involved in the wine community, he also served as president of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, promoting Bordeaux’s great wines around the world. Olivier is recognized for his innovative spirit as well as his deep respect for winemaking tradition. His wines are known for their elegance, balance, and aging potential. Through his vision, he has helped reinforce Bordeaux’s rep

Welcome to Episode 2354 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professor Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These episodes are generally in Italian. Today’s question comes from Cynthia Chaplin. Today’s question(s):  Do you think more regulations would be positive or negative for the Etna Contrade system? Does the region need a DOCG? Ritiene che più leggi avrebbero un impatto positivo o negativo sul sistema delle Contrade dell’Etna? La regione ha bisogno di una DOCG? More about Professor Scienza: Professor Attilio Scienza is the one who checks all the facts and regulates when we mistakenly type “Verdicchio” instead of “Vermentino.” He is a full professor at the University of Milan in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences where he teaches courses on genetic improvements to the vine; he also teaches Viticulture in the Master’s program of the University of Turin in Asti.  He has

Welcome to Episode 2353 and the fourth episode of this special series focusing on the Asian Wine Market. In today’s episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews Roman Chsherbakov of Eco Trade. Key Learning Objectives: Explore EcoTrade’s import strategy and its focus on premium artisanal wines Learn about The Bottle, EcoTrade’s retail and on-premise project, and how it connects consumers to wine culture Understand key consumer trends and identify opportunities for Italian wines in Kazakhstan’s evolving market Asia Wine Market is a new podcast series from the Italian Wine Podcast that explores the fast-growing wine markets across Asia. Designed for wine professionals, importers, and producers, the series highlights regional trends, consumer behavior, and business opportunities for Italian wine exports. Through 10 exclusive episodes, this series offers insights from key industry players and builds up to the Vinitaly Kazakhstan Roadshow 2025 — a strategic event connecting Italian wineries wi

Welcome to Book Club and Episode 2352 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Richard Hough. Today Richard is in conversation with wine expert, consultant, producer and industry analyst, Robert Joseph.   Amongst other things, the conversion covers Robert’s memories of the summer of love of wine, his role as a General Chair of 5StarWines, the challenges of wine production, and playing devil’s advocate and questioning the status quo    On the bookshelf:   The books discussed in today’s show include:    The Last American Road Trip by Sarah Kendzior The Mick Herron Slough House series O. Henry (AKA William Sydney Porter)   About today’s guest: Robert Joseph is an associate editor of Meininger’s Wine Business International, which he helped to launch in 2006. In 1983, after living in Burgundy for five years, he launched the Wine International magazine; set up the International Wine Challenge; became a wine writer for the Sunday Telegraph, and wrote The Wine Lists, the first of his 25 books. He has chaired and

Welcome to episode 2351 of the Italian Wine Podcast, and episode 191 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Marc’s guest today is Annabella Pascale, CEO of Tenuta di Artimino. More about today’s guest: Tenuta di Artimino covers approximately 700 hectares in the heart of Tuscany, including 80 hectares of vineyards and 16,000 olive trees. Situated across the provinces of Prato and Florence, the estate benefits from the unique ability to produce both Chianti DOCG and Carmignano DOCG wines. Acquired in the late 1980s by Giuseppe Olmo, a distinguished Italian cyclist and entrepreneur, the estate has since flourished under the guidance of the Olmo family. Today, the third generation—Annabella Pascale and Francesco Spotorno Olmo—continues to manage the estate with a commitment to excellence, sustainability, and the preservation of Tuscan winemaking traditions. Connect:  Tenuta d’Artimino  Website: https://www.artimino.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artimino/ Annabella Pascale  Instagram: https:

Welcome to Episode 2350 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo interviews the wine communicator, content creator, and Master of Wine candidate, Cokie Ponikvar.  Key takeaways: How is GenZ consuming wine? What is GenZ's perception of Italian wine in particular?  How to better appeal to GenZ drinkers? What makes Italy so exciting? More about the guest: Cokie Ponikvar is a wine communicator, content creator, and Master of Wine candidate passionate about making wine education approachable, rigorous, and inspiring for a new generation of drinkers. With a background in academic excellence, studying English and Classical Civilizations at University of Toronto and a drive for clarity, she combines technical knowledge with engaging storytelling across social platforms. Her work bridges deep industry insight and fresh, Gen Z relevance—highlighting both classic producers and emerging trends through a lens of sustainability, inclusivity, and fun. Connect: Instagram

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2349 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today, Karla Ravagnolo interviews Elisa Rezzano.  More about today’s guest:   Elisa Rezzano, 28, is a passionate Italian wine enthusiast and dedicated professional in the hospitality and wine industry. Her journey began at the age of 19, when she became a certified sommelier through the Associazione Italiana Sommelier (AIS) and collaborated with her family to open a restaurant called L'Agave, located along the scenic Italian Riviera in Framura (SP), Italy. The experience of managing a family-run restaurant deepened her appreciation for fine wine and the art of hospitality. After a few years, driven by a desire to expand her horizons, Elisa decided to take a new path—traveling the world and gaining international experience in the hospitality sector, where she continues to grow both personally and professionally. Connect:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisarezz/?hl=it More about the host: Born in the Dominican Republic,

Welcome to Episode 2348 of the Italian Wine Podcast On the Road Edition, Discovering Château Smith Haut Lafitte Florence Cathiard. In this special On the Road Edition, Stevie Kim is back in Bordeaux, where she sits down with Florence Cathiard, co-owner of Château Smith Haut Lafitte in the Pessac-Léognan appellation of Bordeaux. Florence explains the history of the chateau, the importance of organic and biodynamic agriculture, and the contribution of George Smith, the Scottish merchant who acquired the property in the mid-18th century, as well as the hidden symbology behind the chateau's distinctive label.  Join Stevie on a backstage tour of the historic underground cellar as she learns about a very important guest who visited the chateau in 2023, and meet the next generation behind Les Sources de Caudalie, the luxury hotel adjoining the chateau.   Website: https://www.smith-haut-lafitte.com/en/home/ More about the host: Stevie Kim Stevie Kim is an Italian Wine Marketing & Communication Expert, Brand Pos

Welcome to Episode 2347 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professor Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These episodes are generally in Italian. Today’s question comes from Giorgia Rangoni. Today’s question(s):  AI and machine learning are being increasingly applied in viticulture, from analyzing satellite imagery for vineyard health to optimizing irrigation and disease prevention. How do you see these technologies evolving in the genetic improvement of grapevines? Could AI accelerate crossbreeding programs or even predict ideal genetic traits for future climate conditions? L’intelligenza artificiale e il machine learning vengono applicati sempre più spesso alla viticoltura, dall’analisi delle immagini satellitari per monitorare la salute dei vigneti all’ottimizzazione dell’irrigazione e della prevenzione delle malattie. Come vedi l’evoluzione di queste tecnologie nel miglioramento gene

Welcome to Episode 2346 and the third episode of the new special series focusing on the Asian Wine Market. In today’s episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews Svetlana Fedoseeva of Nachalo Wine Group to dive into the wine scene in Uzbekistan. Key Learning Objectives: Understand the evolution of wine culture and consumer awareness in Uzbekistan Learn about the country’s import and distribution landscape.  Identify current trends, gaps and opportunities in Uzbekistan’s wine market.  Asia Wine Market is a new podcast series from the Italian Wine Podcast that explores the fast-growing wine markets across Asia. Designed for wine professionals, importers, and producers, the series highlights regional trends, consumer behavior, and business opportunities for Italian wine exports. Through 10 exclusive episodes, this series offers insights from key industry players and builds up to the Vinitaly Kazakhstan Roadshow 2025 — a strategic event connecting Italian wineries with Central Asian wine im

Welcome to Episode 2345 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this installment of Voices, Cynthia Chaplin interviews Lia Falconieri of the Chiek winery in Piemonte. About today’s guest: The Chiek winery is located in San Giorgio Canavese, Piemonte, between the towns of Turin and Ivrea, and includes 13 hectares of vineyards. The grapes are almost all Erbaluce, an ancient white grape variety native to the Canavese district, cultivated using the “pergola” vine training system, which creates large canopies in the vineyard. Lia Falconieri is responsibile for administration, commerce and communications. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BlackGirlsWine  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackGirlsWine  About today’s host: VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassador and sommelier with FIS, Cynthia Chaplin is a professor of Italian Wine and Culture, with 20 years experience in the wine industry. Cynthia is a wine content creator, author and judge for several international wine competitions. She designs and p

Welcome to episode 2344 of the Italian Wine Podcast, and episode 190 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon and the first part of this Giro d’Italia Special Edition. The 2025 Giro d’Italia kicks off in Durrës, Albania, and crosses into southern Italy for nine early stages through cities like Lecce, Matera, and Naples—offering a rich taste of regional food, wine, and culture before the race heads north. More about the host: Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is a celebrated expert in the world of wine, food, and travel, boasting nearly 40 years of experience. Born in Mexico to a diverse family—his mother hailing from Hawaii via Korea and his father, an anthropologist, from New York via Paris—Marc was introduced to a rich tapestry of flavors from an early age. Together with his talented photographer wife, Kim, Marc has authored 14 acclaimed books, including the groundbreaking illustrated series The Wine Roads of Europe, The Wine Roads of France, The Wine Roads of Italy (winner of the Pr

Welcome to Episode 2343 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Honore Comfort, vice president of international marketing at the Wine Institute, public policy association of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses.  Key takeaways: What are the generational disconnects at play when inviting young consumers into the wine category?  How can brands engage young consumers in a meaningful way?  How can wineries think outside of the box but inside their budgets? More about the guest: Honore draws on 18 years of international wine marketing, association management, and brand strategy experience to promote export sales of California wines and build the California Wines brand on a global scale. Prior to joining Wine Institute in 2019, she served for nearly 10 years as the executive director of the Sonoma County Vintners, a trade marketing organization for Sonoma County wineries. Previously with Foster’s Wine Estates Americas (now Treasury Wine Es

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2342 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today, McKenna Cassidy interviews the award-winning sommelier Alberto Rabachin.  More about today’s guest: Alberto Rabachin, born in 2000 in Vigevano and now based in Milan, was awarded the title of “Best Sommelier of the Year 2024” by FISAR (Federazione Italiana Sommelier Albergatori e Ristoratori) during their 52nd National Congress held aboard the Costa Diadema cruise ship in Savona. His victory was attributed to his exceptional service, deep knowledge, and emotional storytelling that transcended traditional tasting notes.  Rabachin's journey into the world of wine began at the age of 20 during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired by his mother, a delegate for FISAR's Pavia section. He currently represents the FISAR Milano Duomo delegation. Beyond his sommelier duties, Rabachin is an emerging wine influencer, sharing educational and engaging content on his Instagram account, @notjustasommelier, where he connects with a growing audien

Welcome to Episode 2341 of the Italian Wine Podcast On the Road Edition, Understanding Les Grands Crus Classés En 1855 with Philippe Casteja. In this special On the Road Edition, Stevie Kim is back in Bordeaux to meet Philippe Casteja, the president of Les Grands Crus Classés En 1855, the official Bordeaux classification body. Stevie is at Chateau Lynch-Moussas to meet the long-serving president who explains the history and origins of the classification, the challenges currently facing producers in Bordeaux, particularly in relation to attracting new generations of consumers, and how the region is responding to changing consumer habits. More about the host: Stevie Kim is an Italian Wine Marketing & Communication Expert, Brand Positioning Specialist, and Public Speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines and Wine Without Walls. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist,

Welcome to Episode 2340 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professor Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These episodes are generally in Italian. Today’s question comes from Wim Sas (part 2). Today’s question(s):  It has been a while since we had a new DOCG. Some are suggesting Casauria from Abruzzo or Ciro Classico could be next. What is/are in your opnion the wine(s) nominated as next DOCG? È passato un po' di tempo da quando abbiamo avuto una nuova DOCG, alcuni suggeriscono che Casauria dall'Abruzzo o il Cirò Classico potrebbero essere i prossimi. Quale/i sono, secondo te, i vini nominati come prossimi DOCG? More about Professor Scienza: Professor Attilio Scienza is the one who checks all the facts and regulates when we mistakenly type “Verdicchio” instead of “Vermentino.” He is a full professor at the University of Milan in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences where he tea

Welcome to Episode 2339, where we present a session recording from the wine2wine Business Forum 2024. Today’s session is entitled “A Blind Tasting Journey exploring the nature of Natural Wine” with Isabelle Legeron MW and Robert Joseph. This 45-minute blind tasting, led by Isabelle Legeron MW, a globally recognized expert in natural wine, guides participants through an immersive experience designed to demystify natural wines and help tasters get to grips not only with the subtle differences between conventional organic/biodynamic wines and those that are made naturally, but also help them gain an insight into the distinct flavor profiles that make wines that are made naturally so unique. Isabelle Legeron MW is France’s first female Master of Wine and a pioneer in promoting transparency in the wine industry. Raised in a Cognac-producing family, Isabelle grew up immersed in wine culture. After receiving accolades such as the Madame Bollinger Award for Excellence in Tasting and being named Paris’ Wine Woman of

Welcome to Episode 2338 and the second episode of the new special series focusing on the Asian Wine Market. In today’s episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova IWA interviews Ratmir Akhmetov of Kazakhstan Wines & Spirits.  Key Learning Objectives: Explore how sommelier training and competitions are raising the bar for wine professionals in Kazakhstan. Learn about Kazakhstan Wines & Spirits and potential opportunities for Italian wineries. Get a glimpse into consumer trends in Kazakhstan through wine events and experiences. Asia Wine Market is a new podcast series from the Italian Wine Podcast that explores the fast-growing wine markets across Asia. Designed for wine professionals, importers, and producers, the series highlights regional trends, consumer behavior, and business opportunities for Italian wine exports. Through 10 exclusive episodes, this series offers insights from key industry players and builds up to the Vinitaly Kazakhstan Roadshow 2025 — a strategic event connecting Italian winer