Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2179 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professo Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These shows are generally in the Italian language.  Today’s question comes from Marco Nordio. Today’s questions:  What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a small winery when it comes down to being financially sustainable? Are there sufficient incentives for small wineries to merge or join forces with wine consortia or other partnerships?  Quali sono i vantaggi e gli svantaggi di una piccola azienda vinicola quando si tratta di essere finanziariamente sostenibile? Ci sono sufficienti incentivi per le piccole aziende vinicole a fondersi o ad unire le forze con consorzi vinicoli o altre partnership? The lesson from Bolgheri: how likely is it that more territories could be found in Italy with a similar heroic development from pastoral land to the production of superstar wines?  La lezione

Welcome to Episode 2178 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Stevie Kim’s Ambassadors’ Corner on Clubhouse. In this episode Luis Reyneri interviews Raffaele and Marianna Gregu of Tenute Gregu winery in Sardinia. Today’s learning objectives: Introduce listeners to Sardinia, in particular the region of Gallura, with an emphasis on location and wine production focused on Vermentino and Cannonau. Co-Moderator – Luis Reyneri  Cuban-born Advanced Sommelier, Italian Wine Professional, Certified Wine Educator, and Certified Wine Specialist Luis Reyneri brings over three decades of wine and hospitality experience to his upscale Italian eatery. As the owner, operator and wine director of The Grove Cucina & Wine in Hobe Sound, Flordia, Luis and wife Jen are on a mission to transform small-town dining into world-class experiences. Luis’s cultural adaptability and multiple foreign language skills have helped him achieve proven results as a well-respected international hospitality professional. Luis' extensive background in

Welcome to Episode 2177, in which Cynthia Chaplin interviews Nikki Lamberti in this installment of Voices on the Italian Wine Podcast. Nikki Lamberti is a certified wine professional (CWP), educator and owner/winemaker based in Napa Valley.    About today’s guest: Nikki Lamberti is a dynamic and entertaining Certified Wine Professional (CWP), wine educator and owner/winemaker of a boutique wine brand in Sonoma County, CA.  As a New Jersey native, she earned a BS in Environmental Science from Rutgers University before working in animal husbandry and conservation education for the Disney Company in Orlando. She eventually moved into hospitality, sales and recruitment and traveled the world on the Disney Cruise Line, where she discovered a deep passion for food and wine and the places and people that bring them to life! After vacationing in Napa and Sonoma and feeling drawn to wine country, she made a life-changing move to St Helena to study wine and work as a wine educator, completing her Winemaking Certificat

Welcome to episode 2176 of the Italian Wine Podcast, and episode 168 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Marc’s guest today is the Lebanese wine maker Sami Ghosn of Massaya winery in the Beqaa, a fertile valley region in eastern Lebanon. More about today’s guest: Lebanon's association with wine is as old as time. It is well established that wine making was already prevalent there thousands of years ago and that it was one of the joys of early civil society. From the first miracle of Christ, turning water into wine, to the Romans who built a temple in honour of Bacchus, the god of wine in the Beqaa valley, this tradition has been continuously present with over 50 winemakers operating today in Lebanon. One of the clear stand-out producers of the new generation celebrating its 25th anniversary is award-winning Massaya. Sami Ghosn, literally a renaissance man. He created Massaya from the wreckage of his family's estate in the Beqaa. Since returning from the United States in 1992 after civil war devastation

Welcome to Episode 2175 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode of Masterclass US Wine Market, host Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Tom Wark, Founder of Wark Communications. More about today’s guest: Tom Wark He is a wine industry marketing and media relations specialist. He founded his Wark Communications consultancy in 1994 and has worked with numerous wineries, media firms, wine tech companies and associations. He is a founder of the Wine Bloggers Conference, the founder of the American Wine Blog Awards, and a longtime champion of alternative wine voices in the media. Wark also serves as the executive director of the National Association of Wine Retailers. He lives in Salem with his wife Kathy and son Henry George.  Connect: Website: https://warkcommunications.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomcwark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-wark-0011071/  More about today’s host: Barbara Fitzgerald With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara specializes in D2C marketing

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2174 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today Giulia Stocchetti Interviews Santiago Marone Cinzano of the Col d'Orcia winery in Tuscany. More about today’s guest: Santiago Marone Cinzano is an 11th generation winemaker, with his family managing vineyards since 1568. The Marone Cinzano family comes from Piemonte, pioneering the commercialization of Vermouth in the late 1800s and of sparkling wines in the 1900s. The family has been active in Montalcino for over 50 years, being one of the early believers in Brunello di Montalcino. Santiago was raised on the organic vineyards the family owns in South America (Maule Valley, Chile) until the age of 12, and joined the family business shortly after university. After a few years following production at the estate, today Santiago is active on the sales side of the family’s wineries, both in the domestic Italian market and abroad. In 2019, Santiago produced the first Brunello di Montalcino which bears the family name (Lot.1 by Cont

Welcome to Episode 2173 of On The Road Edition with Stevie Kim. Today Stevie meets Gabriella Favara from the Donnafugata winery at Sicilia Enosimposio 2024. Gabriella is the sixth generation of a family that has been able to innovate the style and perception of Sicilian wine in the world. The Enosimposio of Assoenologi Sicilia took place in Pollina from 5 to 7 July 2024. The theme for this year’s annual event was: ‘The winemaker between history and future: territory, research and culture’. The event explores the evolution of the sector and the role of the modern winemaker. More about today’s guest:  Donnafugata produces tailor-made wines with a focus on small, prestigious productions from unique territories and vineyards. It produces environmentally friendly wines that appeal to enthusiasts and collectors from all over the world. Its trademark labels tell the colours of Sicily and the character of the wines in a distinctive and fantastic feminine style. Giacomo Rallo, the fourth generation of a family wi

Welcome to Episode 2172 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professo Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These shows are generally in the Italian language.  Today’s questions come from Giulia Stocchetti & Veronica Pimazzoni. Today’s questions:  Piwi or Indigenous varieties - what’s the best answer to climate change and new climate conditions? Piwi e varietà indigene: quali sono le risposte migliori ai cambiamenti climatici e alle nuove condizioni climatiche? More about Professor Scienza: Professor Atillio 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 been the lead for many

Welcome to Episode 2171 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Stevie Kim’s Ambassadors’ Corner on Clubhouse. In this episode Cameron Jones interviews Alessia C. Travaglini from the historic Travaglini winery of Gattinara in Piemonte, northwestern Italy. Today’s learning objectives: listeners will gain insights into how Travaglini balances tradition with innovation, the unique terroir of Gattinara, and the winery’s adaptations to climate change. They'll also learn about the impact of recent investments on Travaglini’s approach, Alessia’s future vision for the winery, and her deep personal connection to Italian wine culture. To top it all off, Alessia shares her favorite wine-pairing comfort food, her first memory tasting wine, and a beloved Italian proverb that captures her family's winemaking philosophy. Expect a mix of inspiration, knowledge, and some fun along the way! Co-Moderator – Cameron Jones  Cameron spent his first 25 professional years as an investment banker in London, Sydney, Mumbai, and Singapore be

Welcome to episode 2170 of the Italian Wine Podcast, and episode 167 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Marc’s guest today is Valentina Todino. Valentina is Marc’s Italian teacher (for the past 20 years or more), is originally from the province of Avellino in Campania, and has a great knowledge and love of her area. In this episode they talk about life, wine and food in Irpinia (Avellino and Benevento) and also about life, wine and food in general in Campania. More about today’s guest: Valentina Todino is Honorary Associate Research Fellow for the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures (MLC) and MA in Applied Translation, at University of Exeter (UoE), following her BA Hons in Modern Foreign Languages at the University of Rome, La Sapienza.  Being herself a migrant to the UK since 2002, her interest has focused on migration and translation of identity for several years. Since 2017, she worked on a project called Transcultural Devon. This draws inspiration from her central role of community connec

Welcome to Episode 2169, in which Jessica Dupuy interviews Shelley Lindgren live from TEXSOM 2024! Shelley is an award-winning restaranter and writer based in San Francisco.   Join us as Texas-based wine journalist Jessica Dupuy interviews top writers, journalists, sommeliers, and wine professionals at this renowned event. In this special series, Jessica will delve into the experiences and insights of key attendees, exploring career paths, challenges, and the latest trends in the wine industry.   More about today’s guest:   Shelley Lindgren is the wine director and founder of San Francisco’s A16 restaurant, established in 2004 with locations in Oakland, SF Ferry Building, and Japan. She has won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program and the 2023 Slow Wine Fair International Award for Best Italian Wine Selection. Knighted by the Italian government, she received the "Cavaliere dell’Ordine Della Stella Italia" distinction. Her third book, Italian Wine, was published in August 2023. Shelley co-founded

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2168 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today McKenna Cassidy interviews Marc Pfitscher of Cantina Girlan. Marc shares his experience in how to grow wineries through marketing and how to increase sales through effective strategies from his years of expertise.  More about today’s guest: As a results-driven sales and marketing specialist, Marc Pfitscher brings a wealth of expertise in creating and implementing a broad set of projects, strongly focusing on brand growth and visibility for Cantina Girlan. Pfitscher gained professional experience at wineries such as Corte Pavone in Montalcino and Tenuta Pfitscher as well as at the Research Centre Laimburg in Alto Adige. He collected further experience in sales at Austria’s largest wine merchant Wein&Co., before joining Cantina Girlan in 2018. Since 2018, he has been Vice President of the Concorso Nazionale del Pinot Nero, a national Pinot Noir competition in which more than 120 wines from all over Italy and around 700 wine lover

Welcome to Episode 2167 of On The Road Edition with Stevie Kim. Today Stevie’s guest is Vincenzo Russo, Professor and Researcher at IULM University in Milan. On today’s episode Vincenzo talks Stevie through a typical Sicilian recipe for ‘pasta con le sarde a mare’ for under 5 euros in Cefalù, Sicily. More about today’s guest:  Vincenzo Russo is an expert in neuromarketing and consumer behavior and serves as the Coordinator of the Research Center on Neuromarketing, *Behavior and Brain LabIULM*, at IULM University. With extensive experience in the field, he has made significant contributions to both academic research and the practical application of neuromarketing techniques. Vincenzo is the author of several influential works, including *Psicologia della Comunicazione e Neuromarketing* (2017, Pearson), *Psicologia dei Consumi* (2013, McGraw-Hill), and *Neuroscienze a Tavola* (2020, Guerini). He is also an editor for *Frontiers in Psychology*, where he oversees a Research Topic on Neuromanagement and Neuroma

Welcome to Episode 2166 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professo Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These shows are generally in the Italian language.  Today’s question about vegan wine comes from Manuela Clarizia. Today’s question:  Is there a scientific definition of vegan wine? How is it produced? Historically, did any population produce vegan wine?  Esiste una definizione scientifica di vino vegano? Come viene prodotto? È stato storicamente prodotto da qualche popolazione?  More about Professor Scienza: Professor Atillio 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 ha

Welcome to Episode 2165 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Stevie Kim’s Ambassadors’ Corner on Clubhouse. In this episode Anna Obuhovskaya interviews Graziano Nicosia from the historic Tenute Nicosia winery in the Etna region of Sicily. Today’s learning objectives: To discuss and understand factors of quality for Etna Bianco wines and perspectives of these wines on markets outside of Italy.  Co-Moderator – Anna Obuhovskaya Anna has 15 years of experience  in wine retail, marketing & sales. She worked in a number of large wine importing companies and independent projects, and founded the Italian Wine Tasting Club in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In 2023 she became an Italian Wine Ambassador. Driven by passion for European wines she moved from Saint Petersburg to the charm of Slovenia. Currently holding the position of a portfolio development and sales specialist at Dobro Vino, a wine importing company in Ljubljana. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wine_it_anna LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/an

Welcome to Episode 2164, in which Cynthia Chaplin interviews InHaeng Jung in this installment of Voices on the Italian Wine Podcast. InHaeng Jung is an assistant professor in Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. In this episode of Voices InHaeng talks about her challenges and triumphs as an Asian woman in the international wine industry.    About today’s guest: InHaeng Jung is an Assistant Professor at Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute, within the School of Business and Economics. Specializing in brand management and the marketing of spirits, beer, and wine, her research focuses on sustainability and consumer food choices, particularly how these choices affect both environmental and social aspects of food systems. At Sonoma State, she has developed courses in wine marketing, sustainability, and hospitality for both undergraduate and MBA students. She founded the Grape Expectations Research Lab to integrate academic study with industry practice, providing students with practical

Welcome to episode 2163 of the Italian Wine Podcast, and episode 166 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Marc’s guest today is Marco Schiavo of Distilleria Schiavo in the Vicenza region of Veneto in northeastern Italy. Amongst other things, they discuss the history of the family-owned grappa distillery, the secrets behind the production process, how grappa is appealing to a new generation of consumers, and some delicious food pairings. Warning: this show will leave you feeling hungry and thirsty! More about today’s guest:   Marco Schiavo is the fifth-generation of distiller at the Distilleria Schiavo in the Vicenza region of Veneto in northeastern Italy. The distillery has been producing high quality grappa, liquors and vodka since 1887. Marco has been working for the family business since 1998. Connect Website: https://www.schiavograppa.com/en/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/distilleria_schiavo/ More about the host Marc Millon: Marc Millon, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador 2021, has been travellin

Welcome to Episode 2162 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode of Masterclass US Wine Market, host Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Michael Traverso, Vice President of Business Development at the iconic wine importer Wilson Daniels. In this episode Barbara and Michael discuss In this episode, Barbara talks to Michael about his insights working for a leading importer and wholesaler of high quality wines and spirits. They also dive deep into his experience in working with family-owned producers worldwide, especially Italy, and learn how this team really adapts to shifting market’s dynamics in maintaining the company’s commitment to long-term partnerships.   More about today’s guest: Michael Traverso Michael Traverso serves as Vice President of Business Development at the iconic wine importer Wilson Daniels. Michael graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration & Marketing from University of Southern California, and earned a Sensory Evaluation of Wine Certificati on from University of Califo

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2161 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today Karla Ravagnolo interviews Abe Zarate. With the help of Abe Zarate, a sober sommelier from New York City, Karla explores the meaning and implications of ‘sobriety’ and what does opting for a ‘sustainable carrier’ look like. Moreover, Karla and Abe discuss how to pair Caribbean, West-African and Soul food with wine. More about today’s guest: Abe began his career in wine after noticing the many parallels with his past experience in music publishing. He has gone on to run beverage programs at Corkbuzz, Intersect by Lexus, and Contento, as well as a sommelier stint at two Michelin-starred restaurant The Modern. As a sober sommelier, he's dedicated to fostering conscious consumption and a more inclusive wine community. Connect:  Website: https://www.corporateperolatinos.org/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober_somm/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrahamzarate/  More about the host: Born in the Dominican Re

Welcome to Episode 2160 of On The Road Edition with Stevie Kim. Today Stevie’s guest is Matteo Zoppas, President of ITA - Italian Trade Agency. On today’s episode Stevie and Matteo meet in Chicago for Vinitaly USA, to talk about the event, the rationale behind it and its impact so far.  More about today’s guest:  Born in 1974 in Pordenone, Matteo Zoppas graduated in Business Economics at Luigi Bocconi University in Milan, and subsequently obtained two Masters at CUOA, in Lean Manufacturing and in Business Administration. Analyst at the Mediobanca Shareholding Office from 2002 to 2003, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Operation Smile Italia and was a member of the Central Council of Confindustria Nazionale. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Acqua Minerale San Benedetto SpA. Elected President of Confindustria Venezia in 2013, from May 2015 he was President of Confindustria Venezia Metropolitan Area of ​​Venice and Rovigo and then, from 2017 to 2019, President of Confindustria Veneto. T