Italian Wine Podcast Ep. 2403 Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Molly Matelski of Vinitaly USA | Masterclass US Wine Market
Welcome to Episode 2403 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Molly Matelski of Vinitaly USA to talk about Vinitaly USA 2025 — happening this year on October 5–6 at Navy Pier in Chicago!
Key takeaways:
- What can exhibitors expect from this year's Vinitaly USA?
- What’s in store for buyers at the trade show?
- How does the team maintain strong ties between US trade and Italian producers?
More about the guest:
Molly Matelski is the Director of Buyer Relations, Programming, and Media Partnerships for Fiere Italiane and Vinitaly.USA, the leading Italian wine and spirits expo in the United States. She is also the founder of Mmmm...Enjoy., a modern wine and lifestyle brand rooted in the belief that life’s greatest luxury is being fully present and savoring the moment. Through fresh storytelling and thoughtful collaborations, she brings a contemporary lens to Italian wine and spirits while honoring their deep legacy. As the Chicago Co-Host of Let’s Talk Womxn, Molly also champions equity and collaboration among women entrepreneurs in food and beverage, blending creativity, culture, and commerce in everything she does.
Connect:
Website: https://www.vinitalyusa.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molly_matelski/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-matelski-a481501b/
More about the host:
With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She's led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries.
As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US.
Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarajeanfitz/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/Website: https://www.aprilacreative.com
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