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Videos

Aug. 1, 2023

Real talk, real wine, real Washington. Meet John Bookwalter.

It is very often you hear about an American family 10 generations into their contribution to society/ Certainly, you hear of such geneology in Europe; namesake wineries handed down through the generations. In this case, it is 10 generations of farmers. Going back to the 1800's, John Bookwalter can tell…

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July 25, 2023

Food and wine writer and recipe creator...meet Emily Saladino.

Such a bright light in the world of wine and food; and she can create recipes out of thin air. Emily Saladino has made her way around both the world of culinary arts and wine to create give herself a comprehensive understanding of the marriage between the two. The conversation…

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July 19, 2023

Big picture view of the liquor and wine business with Tim Moore, VP of Wine for RNDC.

It is contended that Prohibition was not really repealled...it was just broken into 50 pieces. Navigating this and becoming the 2nd largest distributor of wine, beer and liquor is a formidable task Meet Tim Moore, he is the VP of wine of RNDC (formerly Youngs Market). Listen on how Youngs,…

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July 14, 2023

Premium canned wine is the idea. Meet the woman who took it on.

These days, you cannot miss the canned aisle in your favorite grocery store. It seems to be taking over more real estate of the wine aisle each month. The category is rather cluttered with competitors..that didn't seem to daunt Jessica Hershfield. Jumping in with two feet, Jessica spent time researching…

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July 8, 2023

A rounded view is needed, Vahe has it. Meet Vahe Keushgarian.

Wine Talks has has some amazing guests in each of the various disciplines of the wine trade. A few years ago, Vahe was on the show as we mulled over some of the pertinenant issues of the day. This second podcast years later is that much more interesing. Since our…

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July 1, 2023

Women in wine. Meet one of the most experienced and driven. Meet Mariam Saghatelyan.

After we recorded this episode of Wine Talks, Mariam entered and won the very first Sommelier event ever held in Armenia. Congratulations. The fact they even had a sanctioned event such as this in Armenia will tell you how far the Armenian wine culture has progressed. In this episode, you…

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June 27, 2023

It's a war out there; WarRoom Cellars knows it. Hear from founder Andrew Nelson

Taking on the gib boys is a war. And even just the idea seems a bit crazy, but WarRoom Cellars was founded on just that principal. How do we get under the skin of the big boys? One idea is to meet the consumer of wine where they live; meaning…

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June 22, 2023

From Bulgaria with love (and wine). Meet Nadia Pavlevska.

Nadia Pavlevska drank vodka and coke in Bulgaira. Hardly a precursor to becoming a wine educator and influencer. Now the go to Sommelier for resorts like The Terranea in Palos Verdes, Nadia had taught wine with a logical and pratical outlook. Her reposnses to wine, politcal and life-style question might…

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June 20, 2023

D1 Basketball, Pageant winner, Harvard Grad. Meet Brooke Bibeault

Her life story takes on many adjectives. Inspring is one. Painful is another. Worldly could say it. But driven would be the word I would use. When you face headwinds, you must put your headdown; Brooke has and continues to do that. A model, a pageant winner, a Catholic, a…

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June 15, 2023

Force of nature in wine? For sure. Meet Katie Hamilton Schaffer.

Sometimes it is just obvious why someone is successful. Certainly, your personal definition of success comes into play but if you define "success" as getting what you want out of life and never letting moss grow under your feet...you and Katies Hamilton Schaffer are from the some cloth. Katie's energy…

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June 13, 2023

"Noted Celebrity Sommelier," you heard that right. Meet Marc Kauffman

His LinkedIn profile calls Marc out as "Noted Celebrity Sommelier" and I couldn't agree more. When you have been around the industry in the various capacities as Marc, you can call yourself whatever you want...but it does help that it is an accurate description...and his is accurate. We go deep…

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June 8, 2023

So you want to own a Chateau in Bordeaux. Hear from Romik Arconian

Romik Arconian bit at the dream. He was in the wine trade working in Paris. He loved what he was doing. As with most of us in this industry, the idea of owning a Chateau swirled around in his head. Seeming like an unattainable dream, he left it on the…

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June 5, 2023

You must consider Opus One when you consider Napa. Meet the winemaker Michael Silacci. n

Opus One is not only iconic in the world of Napa Valley wine, it is iconic throughout the world in the world of wine. As a joint develpment between the French and the Americans, it represents so much more than just fine wine. Consider the preeminant French Bordeaux family, the…

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June 4, 2023

Austin Hope has a story. Success in wine doesn't just happen. Meet the man.

WIne is a tough racquet. You have heard this before. Sometimes we all learn through trial and error, our failures and sometimes our successes. But as Calvin Coolidge says "perserverence is omnipotent." Nothing could be more true for Austin Hope. The Hope family farms have been a staple in Paso…

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May 25, 2023

Gary Fisch does wine retail right. Duh, he offered me a job. Meet Gary Fisch of Garys Wine Market...

There is no standard path to get into the wine busines. Ask 100 people and you will get 100 answers on landing on the passioln it takes to make, market or sell wine. Garys story is one for the books. When you have seen as many changes in the wine…

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May 23, 2023

We NEED Jay Nunez making wine. Meet No Love Lost winemaker Jay Nunez.

It takes inspiration to make wine. It takes a dream. It takes ambition. It takes hard work. Jay Nunez has all these traits and more. But the most important trait it takes to make honest wine is philosophy. Wine is part science but mostly art. We might find AI in…

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May 15, 2023

Learn Armenian wine here. Meet three wine families in this discussion

GiniFest is a Los Angeles bred wine festival that features the wine making skills of both indigenous Armenian winemakers but Armenian winemakers in the diaspora as well. A very professionally done show and an opportunity to showcase incredible wines of great distinction. Wine Talks played host to (3) of the…

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May 12, 2023

They won! Bo Barrett worked on the very wine that won the Judgement of Paris; Chateau Montelena.

May is the anniversary month of the Judgement of Paris and we are celebrating by hearing from the very players who tool part in this famed event. Bo Barrett was in the cellar when Mike Grgich crafted the 1973 Chardonnay. Little did they know the history they were about to…

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May 11, 2023

Mike Grgich made California wine famous. Meet Violet Grgich.

Celebrating Judgement of Paris month. When Mike Grgich came to America, he had sewn $32 into the sole of his shoe, that's all he had to his name. He arrived in Saint Helena without a plan or a job but became one of the most influential winemakers in California's history.…

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May 5, 2023

The food philosophy of a Michelin starred Chef. Meet Dave Beran of Pasjolis

The holy grail of the restauranteur is to be recognized by the Michelin Guide. Though the guide has various levels of accolades for the restaurants it reviews, the best restaurants are awarded stars; 1,2 or 3. These stars are coveted and suggest the Chef has mastered his craft from the…

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May 2, 2023

George Taber, only journalist at the Judgement of Paris. May 1976.

The anniversary month of the Judgement of Paris Is May. The Judgement of Paris is considered one of the single most influential even for American wine….ever. Meet the only journalist to bother showing up. George Tabor was with Time magazine at the time. Living a dream in Paris, he decided…

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April 27, 2023

Wine influencer turned wine shop owner. Crazy stuff. Meet Jamie Griffiths.

Influencers are a new marketing tool. Some have more influence than others. Jamie, as part of corporate retirement, decided to TikTok some wine information videos...and voila, influencer. What started as a hobby turned to a commitment. As a collector he learned about wine but turning influencer he really learned about…

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April 26, 2023

So you want to buy a European winery....hear what is next from Bettina Kurz

The idea of living in Europe in and on your very own winery can be quite a compelling thought. It is the dream of many to shut down life a bit and take it all in. A noble dream for sure. Hear from Merger and Acquisition Bettina Kurz as she…

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April 25, 2023

So you want to own a winery in Europe? Meet Bettina Kurz...she sells wineries world wide.

So you want to own a winery in Italy, Germany, France? you name it....Bettina can fill your needs. Oh, and she will sell you a winery in Napa too! Listen as we role play as a potential client who wants to buy a winery in Montalcino, Italy. All of us…

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