Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2617 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo is in conversation with the wine sales and brand development leader, Kevin Di Lucente, focusing on small regional markets in the Northeast US. Together, they discuss promising cities and areas, the advantages these markets offer compared to major metro areas, price “sweet spots”, and the common mistakes brands make when entering these markets. Key Takeaways: Why smaller Northeast markets offer strong growth potential. How to adapt portfolio, pricing, and positioning for regional markets. What to understand about distribution, depletion, and velocity outside major metro areas. More about the guest:  Kevin Di Lucente is an experienced leader in wine sales and brand development, with over 16 years of experience growing premium portfolios. He is an ambassador for the Vinitaly International Academy and a specialist in Italian wines. Kevin has focused much of his career on expanding distribution for family-owne

Welcome to #openbarstevie and Episode 2617 of the Italian Wine Podcast.  It’s a casual video podcast filmed in the office, where wine people drop by, open a bottle or two, and hang out with moi!

Welcome to episode 2615 of the Italian Wine Podcast from wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum 2025: The end of an era: what the collapse of traditional wine media means for communicators - and the industry. Speaker: Robert Joseph With traditional critics losing ground to influencers and peer reviews, Joseph examines what this shift means for brand visibility and consumer trust in today's fragmented media landscape. The Italian Wine Podcast is proud to be a media partner of wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum and is pleased to present this series of conversations from Vinitaly.USA in Chicago. wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum is an international wine business event, held annually since 2014. This year the Forum was held alongside Vinitaly.USA in Chicago, taking it outside of Verona for the first time. Full details about this and all other wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum sessions available online at: https://www.vinitaly.com/en/forum/wine2wine-vinitaly-business-forum/programme/.      _________________________

Welcome to Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2614 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Mauricio de Chiaro IWA interviews Christian Carlevero of Marchesi Alfieri winery in Piedmont. The conversation focuses on the Terre Alfieri DOCG, its history, terroir, wines, and the winery’s exciting new project recently introduced at Grandi Langhe. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast.  Key Learning Objectives: History of Marchesi Alfieri and their ties to Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour. Location, terroir, and wines made at the estate. An overview of their new project presented at Grandi Langhe. More about today’s host:  Mauricio de Chiaro, Italian Wine Ambassador based in Brazil and Piemonte, has visited more than 150 wineries across Italy and actively promotes Italian wines to Brazilian audiences worldwide, with a strong focus on lesser-known native grape varieties. With a 30+ year career in finance, he brings solid business exper

Welcome to Episode 2613 of the Italian Wine Podcast and the third episode of Pellegrinaggio Enoico con Professore Attilio Scienza! This series is recorded in Italian. Episode 3: Quando l’Italia imparò a fare il vino. A true oenological journey led by Professor Attilio Scienza in the company of Stevie Kim, winding its way across the peninsula, following ancient Roman roads, paths of faith, and historical itineraries. Genetics, morphology, climate change, and the concept of viticulture vocation come together to tell the story of our grape varieties and their inextricable bond with the territory. Expect amazing stories, random digressions, curious anecdotes, and a new way of thinking about wine.  Join us on A Wine Pilgrimage with Professor Attilio Scienza. 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 a

Welcome to episode 2612 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 231 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is in conversation with the renowned Sicilian chef Salvo Lo Castro. Salvo shares stories from his remarkable career, including his experience cooking at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, preparing meals for NATO, and his journey from Sicily to New York, where he opened coffee shops and later launched his restaurant project. The episode also explores his signature dishes, the wines most popular with his guests, and why Italian cuisine deserves its place as UNESCO heritage. More about today’s guest: Salvo Lo Castro is a renowned Sicilian chef, best known for having cooked at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI for ten years (2000–2010). After gaining international experience, including work in Romania and in luxury hospitality, he moved to the United States and launched CasaSalvo in SoHo, New York, in July 2025, bringing authentic Medit

Welcome to Episode 2611 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo is in conversation with Luca Venturelli, Account Director at Colangelo & Partners, to explore the topic of OCM funding and how Italian wineries and consortia can use it strategically to promote their wines in the U.S. market. Key Takeaways: Designing regional marketing programs that genuinely resonate with U.S. trade professionals and consumers. Most effective channels and activities for promoting Italian wines in the U.S. market. Common mistakes to avoid when allocating OCM budgets and how to make the most of subsidized resources. More about the guest:  Luca Venturelli is an Account Director at Colangelo & Partners in New York, where he leads the Italian Division and oversees integrated marketing and PR programs for some of Italy’s most prominent wine regions and brands. He specializes in U.S. market strategy, OCM-funded initiatives, trade and media engagement, and large-scale consumer events. Luca has

Welcome to episode 2610 of the Italian Wine Podcast recorded live at Grandi Langhe e il Piemonte del Vino 2026. As an official media partner, Italian Wine Podcast brings you firsthand insights from Grandi Langhe e il Piemonte del Vino 2026, Piedmont's premier wine event that took place on January 26-27, in Turin. Join top producers, buyers, and experts to explore emerging styles, winemaking innovations, and market trends shaping the region's future. From Barolo and Barbaresco to hidden gems, this series offers in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes insights, revealing Piedmont's impact on the global wine scene. Today’s guest: Francesco Monchiero, President of Piemonte Land of Wine More about Piemonte Land of Wine: Piemonte Land of Wine was founded on July 29, 2011, with the aim of providing Piedmontese wine protection consortia with a meeting point where they could exchange ideas, identify shared operations, and develop common strategies to promote Piedmont wine in Italy and around the world. Today,

Welcome to episode 2609 of the Italian Wine Podcast from wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum 2025: The promise and the perils of Generative AI in wine. PLEASE NOTE: THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED ON 6 OCTOBER 2025 Speaker: Felicity Carter Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are democratizing access to sophisticated data analysis and marketing capabilities. Felicity Carter explores how wineries, large and small, can harness AI's potential while avoiding the pitfalls of generic and unoriginal content. The Italian Wine Podcast is proud to be a media partner of wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum and is pleased to present this series of conversations from Vinitaly.USA in Chicago. wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum is an international wine business event, held annually since 2014. This year the Forum was held alongside Vinitaly.USA in Chicago, taking it outside of Verona for the first time. Full details about this and all other wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum sessions available online at: https://www.vinitaly.com/e

Welcome to Episode 2608 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Book Club with Richard Hough. In this episode, Richard is in conversation with the award-winning wine and beer writer Katie Mather to talk about Katie’s career in hospitality, the wine scene in Tenerife, South Tyrol and Le Marche, as well as the meaning of pub culture and how natural wines can provide a more accessible entry point into the sometimes mystifying world of wine. The places mentioned in the conversation: Pubs: Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton and the New Inn in Clitheroe. The craft beer brewery: Bowness Bay Brewing in Kendal. The natural wineries: Rita & Rudolf Trossen and Staffelter Hof in Mosel and Katla Wines in Rheinhessen.  WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a global, non-profit program that connects volunteers ("WWOOFers") with organic farmers for educational and cultural exchange. You can learn more here: https://wwoof.net/. Other writing referred to in the conversation include: Close to the Tree

Welcome to Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2607 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Stephanie Johnson IWE interviews Matej Skerlj of Skerlj winery in Carso, Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The conversation explores the challenges for growing wine grapes in the Carso, the region’s main grape varieties and styles of wine, and the cultural traditions of the region. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast.  Key Learning Objectives: Understand the challenges for growing wine grapes in the Carso area. Recognise the region’s  main grape varieties and styles of wine. Appreciate the cultural traditions of the region. More about today’s host:  As well as being a certified Italian Wine Expert (IWE), Stephanie Johnson holds a WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits. Her wine career spans the journalism, retail and restaurant sectors. She joined Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2013 and later served as Italian Wine Editor from 2016 to 2024. Stephanie has

Welcome to Episode 2606 of the Italian Wine Podcast and the second episode of Pellegrinaggio Enoico con Professore Attilio Scienza! This series is recorded in Italian. Episode 2: Dalla Rivoluzione dei Vitigni alle Vie dei Pellegrini. A true oenological journey led by Professor Attilio Scienza in the company of Stevie Kim, winding its way across the peninsula, following ancient Roman roads, paths of faith, and historical itineraries. Genetics, morphology, climate change, and the concept of viticulture vocation come together to tell the story of our grape varieties and their inextricable bond with the territory. Expect amazing stories, random digressions, curious anecdotes, and a new way of thinking about wine.  Join us on A Wine Pilgrimage with Professor Attilio Scienza. 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

Welcome to episode 2605 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 230 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is in conversation with Enzo Barbi of the Decugnano dei Barbi winery in Orvieto, Umbria.  Their discussion explores the history and geography of Orvieto, the region’s unique tufo soils and underground caves, and the estate’s signature wines - going beyond the white wines Orvieto is best known for. Listeners will also discover Decugnano dei Barbi’s distinctive Muffa Nobile wine and learn how to distinguish noble rot from grey rot. More about today’s guest: Enzo was introduced to wine and winemaking by his father, Claudio, who founded Decugnano dei Barbi in 1973 in Orvieto, Umbria. Raised in Lombardy, Enzo spent his summers at the winery, helping in the cellar and with the harvest. His education took him to Milan, where he studied business administration. After graduation, he worked in international corporate finance. During that time, Enzo had the opportunity to live in five d

Welcome to Episode 2604 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald is in conversation with Peter Yeung, a leading wine business consultant, to discuss the current state of the wine industry and the national and regional trends shaping the US market. They explore today’s distribution landscape, the key challenges facing importers and producers, and how tariffs are affecting Italian wines in particular. The conversation also touches on the so-called “Swiftie Effect,” wine labelling, and how Gen Z and millennials are changing the way wine is perceived and consumed. Key Takeaways: Strategic opportunities that still exist despite market challenges and the current slowdown. A clearer understanding of today’s US distribution landscape. How to gain competitive advantages in a slow market environment. More about the guest:  Peter Yeung is a leading wine business consultant and was named one of Wine Business Monthly’s 2020 Wine Leaders. Together with Robert Vernick, he co-hosts

Welcome to #openbarstevie and Episode 2603 of the Italian Wine Podcast.  It’s a casual video podcast filmed in the office, where wine people drop by, open a bottle or two, and hang out with moi!

Welcome to episode 2602 of the Italian Wine Podcast from wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum 2025: Navigating Tariff Turbulence: Strategies for Italian Wine Producers Amid U.S. – Italy Trade Shifts PLEASE NOTE: THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED ON 6 OCTOBER 2025 Speaker: Benjamin Aneff, Moderator: Marzia Varvaglione The U.S. currently imposes a 15% tariff on all products from the EU, including Italian wine, with no immediate relief in sight. This tariff deeply affects the U.S. distribution system, where EU wines account for 75% of revenue and contribute $24 billion annually, supporting 200,000 American jobs and 47,500 wine stores. In this 30-minute session, Ben Aneff will explain how these trade dynamics impact Italian producers and their U.S. partners, and why Italian wine has a particularly strong case for tariff exclusion given its origin specificity and non-substitutability. Attendees will learn how to strengthen collaborations with U.S. importers, leverage advocacy messages in Washington, and emphasize their un

Welcome to Episode 2600 of the Italian Wine Podcast and the first episode of Pellegrinaggio Enoico con Attilio Scienza! This series is recorded in Italian. Episode 1: Costruire le Fondamenta A true oenological journey led by Professor Attilio Scienza in the company of Stevie Kim, winding its way across the peninsula, following ancient Roman roads, paths of faith, and historical itineraries. Genetics, morphology, climate change, and the concept of viticulture vocation come together to tell the story of our grape varieties and their inextricable bond with the territory. Expect amazing stories, random digressions, curious anecdotes, and a new way of thinking about wine.  Join us on A Wine Pilgrimage with Professor Attilio Scienza. 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

Welcome to Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2601 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Anna Obukhovskaia IWA interviews Isabella Pelizzatti Perego of ARPEPE winery in Valtellina. This fascinating conversation explores the history of the winery and winemaking in Valtellina, the impact of climate change, and typical food to pair with the region’s wines.  These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast.  Key Learning Objectives: Understand the Valtellina wine region, with a focus on its unique microclimate and alpine topography. Learn how Nebbiolo adapts and expresses itself in a high-altitude, mountain environment. Recognise the impact of climate change on Valtellina’s vineyards and how local cuisine and traditional food pairings complement the region’s wines. More about today’s host:   Anna Obukhovskaya has over 15 years of experience in wine retail, marketing and sales. She has worked in several large companies and independent p

Welcome to episode 2599 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 229 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc speaks with Dr. Jamie Goode, award-winning wine communicator, author, and host of the Wine Masters TV series, about the intersection of wine, science, and culture. Their conversation spans Jamie’s early career and the rise of online wine media, the science of aroma and perception, modern winemaking choices from barrels to ungrafted vines, and today’s biggest debates around natural wine, climate change, regenerative viticulture, and wine’s social role. More about today’s guest: Jamie Goode is a London-based wine writer, author, lecturer, and judge with a PhD in plant biology. He is the founder of wineanorak.com, one of the world’s most respected wine websites, and spent nearly two decades as a wine columnist for the Sunday Express. Jamie is the author of several influential books on wine science and tasting, a regular contributor to leading international wine publications, and

Welcome to Episode 2598 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald is in conversation with Emily Carlson, a wine buyer and sommelier based in Healdsburg, California. The discussion focuses on e-commerce in the wine industry, with a special emphasis on the US market. Together, they explore how digital platforms are reshaping wine sales, how producers can choose the right e-commerce partners, and why storytelling plays a crucial role in building lasting connections with consumers at scale. Key Takeaways: How e-commerce, especially in the US market, helps wine brands expand their reach and access new consumers. The main e-commerce models in the wine industry and how they work. How to use storytelling at scale to turn consumer interest into emotional connection and loyalty. More about the guest:  Emily Carlson is a Wine Buyer and Sommelier based in Healdsburg, California, currently splitting her time between Barndiva, a Michelin-recommended restaurant, and Last Bottle, Inc.