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Wine Talks with Paul K.
Wine Talks with Paul K.
All you knew about wine is about to bust wide open….we are going to talk about what really happens in the wine business and I’m taking no prisoners... I am your host Paul Kalemkiarian and as the 2nd generation owner of the Original Wine of the Month Club, I sold 17,000,000 bottles of wine and tasted somewhere north of 100,000 wines. And what I learned is that wine is about the story; the story can't be that I bought this wine on the internet for 5 bucks. Join me as we peel back the real stories behind the wine you are tasting. How can Groupon sell 12 bottles for $60 and the wines be good? How do you start a winery anyway and lose money? And is a screwcap really better than a cork? Sometimes I have to pick a wine at the store by the label and the price...and I get screwed. Subscribe now and prepare to be enlightened.
Jan. 9, 2025

How a Former Wall Street Pro Grew a Successful Champagne Brand Organically | Marvina Robinson

What would it take for you to leave a successful career to start a wine company? Marvina Robinson had it all–a 20-year Wall Street career and a clear path forward. But her heart was elsewhere. What began as casual champagne nights with friends...

What would it take for you to leave a successful career to start a wine company?

Marvina Robinson had it all–a 20-year Wall Street career and a clear path forward. But her heart was elsewhere. What began as casual champagne nights with friends turned into a journey of passion and resilience.

In this episode, Paul K sits down with Marvina, CEO and founder of B. Stuyvesant Champagne, to discuss her remarkable journey in the wine industry.

Marvina reveals how she built her champagne brand organically (without PR or investors), the unique challenges she faced as a woman of color, and the rewarding art of crafting champagne experiences. Plus, she offers an insider’s look at the intricate processes that make champagne so special.

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking a leap into the unknown, this episode is for you.

Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

From Wall Street to champagne (00:42)

The art of champagne and its cultural significance (07:55)

Champagne pairings and industry perceptions (10:18)

Overcoming the challenges of starting a champagne brand (18:11)

Growing a champagne brand organically (26:52)

Experiential innovation in wine and other industry trends (30:35)

Addressing sexism and racism in the wine industry (33:49)

The importance of community connection (45:51)

Rapid-fire questions answered (49:16)

Episode wrap-up (52:21)

Additional Resources:

👉Learn more about Wine Talks: https://www.winetalkspodcast.com/

👉Watch the YouTube full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcE_nUpOKHY&list=PLVPoDzlH3_n8rqmofwcCQvOi_3Ci66bu_

👉Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WineTalksPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

👉Visit B. Stuyvesant Champagne for more information: https://www.stuyvesantchampagne.com/

Watch or listen to these episodes:

🔸The Vineyard NO ONE Thought Could Exist in Texas with Stephanie Franklin: https://youtu.be/RNT-B-hUgpo

🔸How One BAD Wine Led to a Thriving Wine Business with a TWIST | Stephanie Franklin: https://youtu.be/mmyguoWhsPY

Let’s Connect:

🍷IG: https://www.instagram.com/winetalkspodcast/

🍷LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kalemkiarian-a792914

Wine Talks with Paul K is the ultimate podcast for serious wine lovers who want to know everything about the wine business. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, this podcast will introduce you to the wonderful world of wine, one story at a time.

Follow Wine Talks with Paul K on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!