If you have spent any time at all in the wine trade...even if you have just visited the wine section of your favorite market; you know, have seen and recognize the name Sebastiani. They are one of the original Sonoma county wine families and August is the 4th generation. He…
I forgot her exuberance, energy, and love of wine and music. I'm so glad I had the chance to remember. The wine world needs more Stephanie Morton-Smalls; she helps us keep our eye on the ball. If you’ve ever wondered why some wines taste better when paired with heartfelt stories…
When I told my wife I was interviewing Chef Ara Zada...she was like..."I follow him!""He is great!" She never says that about me. I guess I need to learn how to make "fusion"cuisine with Mediterranean food!. Chef Ara Zada has a storied career and now turned food influencer. We had…
I keep an eye on this girl. She makes this happen. As a college athlete, mom, and wine brand manager, Monika is always "shaking the tree."I am inspired by her tenacity and impressed with her no-nonsense approach to branding wine. Monika Elling doesn’t just swirl her wine—she stirs the conversation…
Sometimes when you speak to a consultant, you get consultant gobeldy gook. I can't tell you how many consultants I hired along the way at the WIne of the Month Club, but suffice it to say, most did not perform as expected. Why? Because selling wine is different than anything…
PR firms call regularly to put their clients on the show. Sometimes I'm like..."Ummm, what does shoe repair have to do with wine?" In this case, a Master Sommelier who is a lead somm at a Michelin-starred restaurant. ...Sign me up! Stefanie Hehn—master sommelier extraordinaire from Hamburg’s fabulous Fontenay Hotel—brings…
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 a St.…
Marc Lefleur might be the only man who can make a conversation about asset classes as delicious as a glass of aged Barolo. In this episode, you’ll travel from the sun-dappled slopes of Piemonte to the bustling banking circles of Geneva, all while unraveling the mysteries of wine investment with…
While in Palermo, we had an incredible meal and wine steward at City Sea. If everyone in the wine trade revered his/her product like our Albanian somm, this industry would be thriving.
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 New Zealanders. There is a certain warmth and…
I have to say that I laugh every time I see this. I am talking about the wine service I had in Palermo, Sicily. This Albanian in a seaside restaurant was so passionate about his job that it made you feel that much more appreciated as a restaurant patron. When…
The architect of the most famous wine tasting in history tells you about wine that sums up the definition of wine. The late Steven Spurrier took some time before his passing to sit with me and tell me his story. I think you will find this short insight a summation…
The cuisine of the Southern United States is well-known. A blend of different cultures that graced this part of the US established its own food and culture. Ben Bell is now making Sake in Arkansas! Who does that? The story is quite compelling.
An earlier conversation, much earlier (as infants), Paul K sat wtih Susan Lin, Master of Wine for a chat.
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 Gerard Bertrand had not been in Los Angeles for a few years. He comes every 4-5 years to put on a Master Class of…
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 conversations on the web about how the trade should be more…
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 expect to be a series of episodes because…
This girl has it going on. Smart, intoxicating and driven in the wine world. Now the Chinese Ambassador of the luxury wine arm of LVMH, Emilie is making her mark. Emilie Steckenborn makes a living where most of us can only dream—at the intersection of wine, culture, and cutting-edge business…
Creative problem solving is the essence of business. And sometimes you just have to be there experiencing the consternation that maybe your customers are feeling in order for the light bulb to go on....This is the case with Wineing.
In 1998,, I made a deal on about 600 cases of Chateau Potelle Napa Valley Zinfandel. The proprietor was Jean-Noel Fourmeaux, a Bordelaise with wine family history. On a recent trip to Napa I reached to catch up...yes, 27 years later; we vowed to not wait that long for the…
When I got the chance to taste the wines of Cathiard Vineyards, in the Napa Valley, I was expecting more of the same. Though I new that the Cathiards were Bordelaise, I have heard that story before (that of bringing the Bordeaux style to the Napa Valley) There I go…
I have been watching Claudia promote and talk about her Tuscan wine club. This peaked my interest in biting of such a venture. But I loved her passion and resilience. We're thrilled to bring you the latest episode of Wine Talks with Paul K., where we dive into the fascinating…
I felt like I was entering the halls of wine history...and honored to do so. The bottles in our impromptu studio are not only sacked with dust, but backed with history. Welcome to another invigorating episode of Wine Talks with Paul K. Today, we're embarking on a journey through the…
@WineTalksPodcast I was searching through emails and found I had sent a colab request to Madeline Puckette in 2013 (2 years after the founding of Wine Folly). Her response was "like what?"". We laugh about this initial interaction as we delve deep into the premise of Wine Folly and wine…