Be Inspired.

Episodes

Is Champagne Overrated? Why French Winemakers Are Betting on California’s Anderson Valley: Arnaud Weyrich
June 9, 2026

Is Champagne Overrated? Why French Winemakers Are Betting on California’s Anderson Valley: Arnaud Weyrich

I think one of my big mistakes in life was to teach my son-in-law about Champagne and Sparkling wine. My depletion rate has doubled. The intrigue for me to speak with Arnaud Werrich is hard to describe. I am fascinated with w...
Bringing Georgia to Your Glass: Mallory Tsipouria’s Journey Promoting Ancient Wines in the US
May 28, 2026

Bringing Georgia to Your Glass: Mallory Tsipouria’s Journey Promoting Ancient Wines in the US

Georgian wines have been around...well, I suppose over 6000 years. In fact, it is a disputed fact between the Armenians and the Georgians as to which country made wine first. The best analysis I can come up with is that 6100 ...
Beyond Luxury: Exploring Bordeaux’s True Essence with Jane Anson
May 26, 2026

Beyond Luxury: Exploring Bordeaux’s True Essence with Jane Anson

Wine Talks had tried...tried to get Ms. Anson on the show. But being the quintessential author and historian of the vineyards and wines of Bordeaux, it took a bit of scheduling. Jane Anson is the real thing. And we could have...
From the Plate to the Brain: The Neuroscience of Taste and Harmony: Dr. Peter Klosse.
May 21, 2026

From the Plate to the Brain: The Neuroscience of Taste and Harmony: Dr. Peter Klosse.

The idea of food and wine pairing is elusive at best. If you gave five Sommeliers the same dish and a host of wines to pair with the dish, you could very easily get five different suggestions. I know for me, when I pair wine ...
Navigating Wine Lists and Confidence: A Conversation with Natalie McLean
May 19, 2026

Navigating Wine Lists and Confidence: A Conversation with Natalie McLean

I find her refreshing. I find her intriguing. I find her wise: In wine. Natalie brings to the proverbial table an unabashed view of wine and she will tell you like it is. I have to tell you that having Natalie McLean on the s...
Behind the Bottle: The Human Stories and Craft of Tuscan Winemaking with Ivo Assanelli
May 14, 2026

Behind the Bottle: The Human Stories and Craft of Tuscan Winemaking with Ivo Assanelli

This is what is so interesting about the wine trade. It takes a ton of passion to do this, it is hard work and sometimes, without the passion, it just feels like a vanity project. At Caiarosa in Italy, the passion extends fr...
Behind the Lens: How Klaus de Jong Brings Wine Culture to the World
May 12, 2026

Behind the Lens: How Klaus de Jong Brings Wine Culture to the World

I have been watching, waiting, watching and waiting again...to talk with Klaas De Jong. He produces some of the most unique and cinematic wine footage in the trade. But it isn't just about the footage, it is the story telling...
Uncorking Wine Fraud: Maureen Downey on Counterfeits, Crime, and Blockchain Solutions
May 7, 2026

Uncorking Wine Fraud: Maureen Downey on Counterfeits, Crime, and Blockchain Solutions

She is the worlds preeminent authority on wine fraud. If you weren't even aware that wine fraud exists, if does...in a big way. Wait until you her Maureen's disdain for Rudy Kurniawan, the famed and jailed wine fraudster (he ...
Exploring the World of Wine Competitions and Armenian Winemaking with Quentin Havaux
May 5, 2026

Exploring the World of Wine Competitions and Armenian Winemaking with Quentin Havaux

The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is coming to Yerevan, Armenia. It is a huge feather in the cap of the Armenian wine trade and the story of how and why it landed there is inspiring. Quentin Havaux is the 3rd generation of th...
How the Judgment of Paris Changed the World of Wine with Stephen Spurrier
May 4, 2026

How the Judgment of Paris Changed the World of Wine with Stephen Spurrier

He changed everything...without a clue on what can of worms he was going to open. Steven Spurrier, the architect of the Judgement of Paris, checked in with Wine Talks to tell his and it's story. He passed only weeks after. St...
Breaking Barriers: How Ten Ten Wine Bar Champions Black-Owned Wines
April 30, 2026

Breaking Barriers: How Ten Ten Wine Bar Champions Black-Owned Wines

I am proud when I say I was born in Inglewood, California. So were Li and Leslie Jones. When I was 5 or 6 years old, my father would take me to work as I sat and stamped brochures with the name Van Ness Pharmacy. Then the per...
Growing Wine Brands: Digital Strategies and Innovation with Molly Bossardt
April 28, 2026

Growing Wine Brands: Digital Strategies and Innovation with Molly Bossardt

I watch social daily. I guess we all have to. Besides the interaction with peers, it keeps you aware of what people are thinking and doing. Once you get past the chaf and get to the honest opinions and outlooks, you get folks...
Building Wine Experiences: Kerrin Laz on Napa, Innovation, and Giving Back
April 21, 2026

Building Wine Experiences: Kerrin Laz on Napa, Innovation, and Giving Back

Relentless in her pursuits would be an understatement because Kerrin Laz is a force of nature. Kerrin is the type of person the wine trade needs...now. She is chock full of energy, a plethora of ideas, and a cavalcade of path...
Breaking Barriers: Millennials, Diversity, and the Future of Wine with Isis Daniels
April 16, 2026

Breaking Barriers: Millennials, Diversity, and the Future of Wine with Isis Daniels

She is the real deal. Isis Daniels, The Millenial Somm, can tell it like it is. There is no "fluff"here, just the facts maam. I was taken not only by her level of expertise but also by her ability to convey honest positions w...
How Time, Terroir, and Biodynamics Shape World-Class Sparkling Wines in Penedès
April 14, 2026

How Time, Terroir, and Biodynamics Shape World-Class Sparkling Wines in Penedès

I am a sparkling wine lover. I think sparkling wine should be part of everyones repetoir; not for celebrations...for dinner, for lunch, for anytime. Certainly, one issue with sparkling wine is the price. One of the most popul...
Independent Filmmaking and Wine: Chris McGilvray on Craft, Passion, and Perseverance
April 7, 2026

Independent Filmmaking and Wine: Chris McGilvray on Craft, Passion, and Perseverance

There has been an uptick in wine media. The series "Drops of God" has raised an eyebrow. It has become quite common when I am speaking about wine that someone asks if I have seen the show. I have been horrified by some of the...
From Ribera del Duero to Tokaj: The Global Journey of Vega Sicilia With Pablo Alvarez
April 2, 2026

From Ribera del Duero to Tokaj: The Global Journey of Vega Sicilia With Pablo Alvarez

It is impossible to speak of the wines from Spain...at least the famous ones, without speaking about 1.) the Ribero del Duero and 2.) Vega Sicilia. When Wine Talks was asked to join a lunch at the Berverly Hilton Hotel and si...
Beyond Classification: Château Quintus, Wine Passion, and Reimagining Saint-Émilion’s Legacy: Nils Vaincot
March 26, 2026

Beyond Classification: Château Quintus, Wine Passion, and Reimagining Saint-Émilion’s Legacy: Nils Vaincot

It is crazy interesting to me that a winery as young as Quintus, in such an established and historical area as Saint Emilion, can make such waves when virtually in it's infancy as a winery. Michel Roland (we just lost him), ...
From Air Force Dreams to Napa Icons: Trevor Duling’s Unexpected Wine Journey
March 24, 2026

From Air Force Dreams to Napa Icons: Trevor Duling’s Unexpected Wine Journey

When I recorded this episode, Trevor was the Director and Head Winemaker of the famed Beaulieu Vineyards. And, one of the reasons I ventured into a corporate winery podcast, was that very reason. I wanted to peel back the ide...
Château d’Yquem: Exploring Wine, Noble Rot, and Human Emotion with Lorenzo Pasquini
March 19, 2026

Château d’Yquem: Exploring Wine, Noble Rot, and Human Emotion with Lorenzo Pasquini

Wine is experiential. It is what the industry has to hang its hat on. Each glass needs to conjure up emotion. memories and a sense of being. My father bought his wine shop in 1969 and a started his academic journey to underst...
Navigating Restaurant Legacies with Nancy Silverton: The Evolution of Dining and Social Media
March 17, 2026

Navigating Restaurant Legacies with Nancy Silverton: The Evolution of Dining and Social Media

When one thinks of the "food revolution" of America, a few names show themselves immediately. In that this movement started in California and namely Los Angeles, chefs such as Alice Waters, Jonathan Waxman, Wolfgang Puck, Ken...
From French Laundry to Napa: Jesse Fox on Crafting Experiences and Wine Innovation
March 14, 2026

From French Laundry to Napa: Jesse Fox on Crafting Experiences and Wine Innovation

Let’s dive in with a light-hearted but informative look at this episode of Wine Talks, featuring Jesse Fox and Paul K. We've got the transcript right here, so there’s no need to hold back!This episode is a fun ride through the world of winemaking, food, and hospitality—starting with Jesse Fox's…
Ancient Grapes and Modern Wines: Journey of Juliana Del Aquila
March 10, 2026

Ancient Grapes and Modern Wines: Journey of Juliana Del Aquila

When at Wine Paris, I visited the booths of many countries. Catching up with old friends, and forging new relationships to help move the needle in wine. As I visited the Armenian wine booth, there was a bustle in the air. If ...
Inside Bordeaux: Wine, Terroir, and Emotional Experiences with Dominique Arangoits
March 5, 2026

Inside Bordeaux: Wine, Terroir, and Emotional Experiences with Dominique Arangoits

When I visited Paris in 1993, I had been helping my parents sell my grandmothers house. My father said "we are taking you and Sandra to Tour D'Argent." THe whole story for another time. My father spoke French to the Sommelie...