VinePair Podcast

Where Do Winemakers Come From?

Prompted by the passing of legendary winemaking consultant Michel Rolland, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss why the "flying winemaker" model has fallen out of favor, but also wonder if the current obsession with winemakers having worked (or interned, or just kind of hung around) at iconic wineries, even if they didn't have actual winemaking responsibilities, is actually any better. Is it better to have the eye-catching name on your resume or have had actual hands-on experience? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: At the Seattle Mariners’ Stadium, a Secret Door Is Dispensing Gonzo CocktailsJoanna is reading: 10 Winemakers Defining the Next Generation of Burgundy, According to SommeliersAdam is reading: The Origin Story of LeNell’s Red Hook Rye, the Coveted Cult Whiskey You’ve Never Heard OfInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Brown-Forman For Sale? To Whom?

With rumors swirling that Kentucky spirits company Brown-Forman might be for sale, and with both French giant Pernod Ricard and fellow Kentucky company Sazerac both said to be in talks, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the timing and particularities of this potential acquisition. Does either company have a clear roadmap to get whiskey giant Jack Daniels back on track? Are there other brands in the Brown-Forman portfolio that could be driving this move? Does a publicly traded company or a privately held one make more sense here? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: Latta RoussanneJoanna is drinking: Chattanooga WhiskeyAdam is drinking: Banana Negroni at The Bar in Front of the BarInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No, the Host is Not Out to Get You

Joanna and Zach discuss whether or not restaurants really do try to put attractive guests front and center, and whether they reserve the worst tables in for guests who don't fit the image they want to project to the world. While sometimes stereotyping does occur, most of the time when you're given what you see as a bad table, there are reasons for it, even if you might not appreciate them. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: Inside the Wine Lockers at The Capital Grille — the Elusive Steakhouse Status SymbolJoanna is reading: How Dogfish Head Finally Found Growth Again — With the Grateful DeadInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're Looking For Wine Marketers in the Wrong Places

Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a recent bit of research about where wine companies hire their marketing professionals from, and how much more so than in beer or spirits, they tend to be wine industry lifers. While the conventional wisdom has generally held that you need to know wine to market wine, is it possible that wine's marketing problem is that they're not looking at a wide enough talent pool? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is drinking: Russiz Superiore Cabernet FrancJoanna is drinking: Grasshopper at After HoursAdam is drinking: Martini at KabawaInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Middle Tier is Merging and Morphing

Adam, Joanna, and Zach are joined by VinePair contributing editor Dave Infante to discuss a spate of news regarding the wholesale sector, from Southern Glazer's expanding ownership of AB InBev distributorships to further moves by Reyes Beverage Group to take over states from Republic National Distributing Company. Does RBG really have interest in becoming a major player in wine distribution? Why does Southern want in on the beer and RTD business? Do we even have antitrust laws anymore? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and cheers!Zach is reading: New Report Ranks Most Popular Spirits Brands for Shots on American MenusJoanna is reading: Martini Madness 2026Adam is reading: At Banshee, Jen Murphy Goes All-In on Martinis, Guinness, and Neighborhood HospitalityInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.