Be Inspired.

Episodes

With $25 In His Pocket, He Left Iran at 13 Years Old. This Is His Story. Zaya Younan.
June 12, 2025

With $25 In His Pocket, He Left Iran at 13 Years Old. This Is His Story. Zaya Younan.

I was asked to taste a wine and give an opinion of its quality. It was very good. A St. Emilion from a Chateau I did not know. The wine had never been in the US, and the wholesale company was new to the idea of even carrying ...
Investing Part Of Your Portfolio In Wine? Speak With Marc LeFleur First. He Gets It.
June 10, 2025

Investing Part Of Your Portfolio In Wine? Speak With Marc LeFleur First. He Gets It.

Investing in wine might seem risky. Might seem like a horizon uncrossed. There is growing success rate in wine investments and it takes a trained and experience broker/agent to know where and when. Marc Lefleur might be the o...
Make The Best That Represents New Zealand. Meet Josh Hammond of Tiraki WInes.
June 5, 2025

Make The Best That Represents New Zealand. Meet Josh Hammond of Tiraki WInes.

When you hear a New Zealand accent, what do you try and do? I try to figure is it Aussi or English? Maybe South African. Regardless of where you land with this interpretation, you always settle into a nice comfort zone with N...
He Wants To Quit HIs Day Job To Be In Wine. Meet Armen Ghazikhanian
May 27, 2025

He Wants To Quit HIs Day Job To Be In Wine. Meet Armen Ghazikhanian

If you have thought about entering the wine trade but really don't think you would be much of wine winemaker...but you really feel like you are going to love it. It actually took me many years to "love" it but hear this story...
Wine Takes You Places. That Is The Point. Hear From Pauline Wlodarzyck of Chateau Giscours
May 22, 2025

Wine Takes You Places. That Is The Point. Hear From Pauline Wlodarzyck of Chateau Giscours

When last in Bordeaux, I spent some time with Veronique Sanders-Van Beek, the Director of Chateau Haut Bailly. And as a result, she offered an internship to one of my favorite interns who graced the Wine of the Month Club. Th...
So You Want To Create An Ready To Drink Cocktail. Have A Listen To Rob and Leslie Levy.
May 20, 2025

So You Want To Create An Ready To Drink Cocktail. Have A Listen To Rob and Leslie Levy.

I have known the Levys for years. I've known them as restauranteurs and gracious people. They fell in to the restaurant business and it was sink of swim; swim they did, creating an iconic establishment in heart of Southern Ca...
Family Philosophy Plays In The South Of Francee. Gerard Bertrand Credits His Father For The Passion.
May 17, 2025

Family Philosophy Plays In The South Of Francee. Gerard Bertrand Credits His Father For The Passion.

I am halfway through Gerard Bertrands new book: "Multidimensional Wine" and realize it is a must read for wine professionals and novices alike..get it here: https://academieduvinlibrary.com/products/multidimensional-wine Gera...
From IT To Wine. Garry And Joanne Brooks Could Not Shake The Dream Of A Winery
May 16, 2025

From IT To Wine. Garry And Joanne Brooks Could Not Shake The Dream Of A Winery

Gary Brooks doesn’t just make wine—he turns the whole idea of winemaking on its head and brings it back down to earth, reminding us that, after all, it’s just “rotting fruit.” But don’t be fooled by the humility. In this epis...
Robert Foye Has Worked All Across This Globe. Amazing Trek And Landed With The Love Of Wine
May 13, 2025

Robert Foye Has Worked All Across This Globe. Amazing Trek And Landed With The Love Of Wine

On a podcast with Emilie Steckenborn of LVMH China, she insisted that I meet with Robert Foye to discuss a podcast appearance. She insisted. After 2 minutes on a call with Robert, I moved from chatting to scheduling. Despite ...
Americans Don't Make Sake. Unless You Are Ben Bell. Unreal Story.
May 8, 2025

Americans Don't Make Sake. Unless You Are Ben Bell. Unreal Story.

I was approached by a PR firm to put Ben Bell on the show. Certainly seemed like an interesting thought. Afterall, domestic Sake is a rarity and one from the heart of Little Tokyo, Arkansas! (that was a little tongue-in-cheek humour). There were so...
With a Phd. In History, Chad Ludington Speaks The History Of Wine. Really Quite Fascinating.
May 1, 2025

With a Phd. In History, Chad Ludington Speaks The History Of Wine. Really Quite Fascinating.

One of the more intriguing elements of wine is that it can appeal to a wide range of people. In wide range, I mean it has appeal on so many different levels; a novice can just enjoy their favorite wines from the supermarket and delve into the history...
Phil Long Learned It The Hard Way. Without The Headwinds Of Racism.
April 29, 2025

Phil Long Learned It The Hard Way. Without The Headwinds Of Racism.

We I frist met Phil Long, I was tasting at the African American Association of Vintners and we just happen to stumble across the fact that we literally grew up around the corner from each other in Inglewood, California. Granted that was many years...
Smart. Intoxicating. LVMH Ambassador....In China. Emilie Steckenborn.
April 24, 2025

Smart. Intoxicating. LVMH Ambassador....In China. Emilie Steckenborn.

I couldn't help myself. I mean, how American can you be? In fact, I do what I can when travelling to absorb culture and not compare to the American lifestyle.  But I had to ask "Is the Chinese food in China the same as it is in the states?" The...
You Wont Believe His Story Until You Hear It. Master of Wine Tim Hanni
April 15, 2025

You Wont Believe His Story Until You Hear It. Master of Wine Tim Hanni

What I didn't expect when we first logged into Riverside.fm for the podcast...was his opening remarks. "I am a bit bi-polar, dyslexic, a recovering alcoholic, and diagnosed with ADHD." and my response was "Is that it?" Then that turned into what I...
Wine As It Is Stated In The Bible. She Clears Up The Discussion. Meet Dr. Gisela Kreglilnger
April 8, 2025

Wine As It Is Stated In The Bible. She Clears Up The Discussion. Meet Dr. Gisela Kreglilnger

I had to take the call. When a PR firm reached out to Wine Talks to ask if Gisela Kreplinger would be an appropriate guest...I jumped all over the opportunity. We all have questions about wine as it is discussed in the Bible. Is it hypocratic? DId...
A Master Of Wine, A Master Of Fine Arts..And Common Sense, Meet Susan Lin
April 1, 2025

A Master Of Wine, A Master Of Fine Arts..And Common Sense, Meet Susan Lin

When I saw ske with Susan to see what we might talk about, I was taken by her passion to share her life's pursuits: WIne and music. After speaking for just a few minutes, the connection between the two was clear. Then I remembered an study done by the...
Sometimes The Solution Is Looking You Right In The Face. Moshe Weizman Saw The Solution.
March 27, 2025

Sometimes The Solution Is Looking You Right In The Face. Moshe Weizman Saw The Solution.

Though different parts of the wine world (geographically) present their own headwinds, many of the difficulties in the wine trade are universal.  And sometimes the solution is at hand, but just not realized or acted upon. Moahe Weizman saw the...
He Was Told To Get His Affairs In Order. Not So Fast Says Jean-Noel of Chateau Potelle
March 25, 2025

He Was Told To Get His Affairs In Order. Not So Fast Says Jean-Noel of Chateau Potelle

I went back into my archives and found a newsletter from 1998. I had featured the Chateau Potelle 1995 Zinfandel and I remember the wine well. On a recent trip to Napa, after 28 years, I decided it would be nice to check in with Jean-Noel. I am not...
Elegance? Smarts? Athleticism? Yes. She Has It All. Meet Florence Cathiard...
March 20, 2025

Elegance? Smarts? Athleticism? Yes. She Has It All. Meet Florence Cathiard...

There is elegance, there is smarts, and there is athleticism...rarely do you find them in one person. Meet Florence Cathiard, half of the husband-wife team that owns and transformed both Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux and Cahtiard Vineyards in...
Do You Want To Understand Tuscan Wines? Claudia Callegari Is Where You Should Start.
March 18, 2025

Do You Want To Understand Tuscan Wines? Claudia Callegari Is Where You Should Start.

I am always intrigues with entrepreneurs, particularly ones that venture in the the space that I occupied for over 35 years. That is the curation of fine wine to expose people to fine wine. It can be a thankless job at times because you only seem to...
She Is Needed Throughout The World To Educate. Hear From Tanya Morning Star.
March 11, 2025

She Is Needed Throughout The World To Educate. Hear From Tanya Morning Star.

Our first attempt at this resulted in catastrophic audio quality...but I was so intrigued by her enthusiasm and thoughtful approach to wine and wine education that I had to find the time to get her back on the show.  Meet Tonya Morning Star. I am...
One Of The First Five Wineries In Napa. Meet The Winemaking Team At Inglenook.
March 6, 2025

One Of The First Five Wineries In Napa. Meet The Winemaking Team At Inglenook.

What up?  wine enthusiasts! It's your host, Paul K, and welcome to another episode of Wine Talks with Paul Kay. Today, we're on a thrilling away game in the picturesque Napa Valley, home to some of the finest wineries in the world. Join me at the...
She Can Write About Food...And Wine. And She Gets It. Ani Duzdabanyan.
March 4, 2025

She Can Write About Food...And Wine. And She Gets It. Ani Duzdabanyan.

I was at a wine tasting minding my own business when this attractive young Armenian woman approaches and asks if I am Paul from the Wine Talks podcast, as I straighten-up and look scholarly (as far as I know), we engaged in such a great conversation...
Are Food Critics Still Vogue? Hear From Peter Dills...A Legacy.
Feb. 28, 2025

Are Food Critics Still Vogue? Hear From Peter Dills...A Legacy.

In this enlightening episode of Wine Talks with Paul K, we dive deep into the ever-evolving world of food and wine with renowned critic Peter Dills. Discover the legacy and insights of old-school restaurant criticism, the impact of digital media on...