From Hong Kong to Italy: Sarah Heller MW on Italian Wines, the Evolving Asian Wine Market, and Art

In this episode of The Vint Podcast, hosts Billy Galanko and Brady Weller welcome Sarah Heller, Master of Wine, wine educator, and artist. Sarah shares her deep expertise on Italian wines, particularly her work with Vinitaly International Academy, where she plays a key role in advancing Italian wine education worldwide. 

Sarah also provides an insider’s perspective on Asian wine markets, drawing from her years in Hong Kong, where she witnessed China’s rapid rise as a fine wine powerhouse and its recent shifts towards diverse wine styles and natural wine trends. In addition, Sarah discusses her Club Oenologique writing, where she covers key Italian regions , as well as her Visual Tasting Notes—a unique series of paintings that translate wine into sensory-driven artwork. She is now working on an immersive historical exhibition exploring wine’s cultural journey from East to West and back.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Vint Podcast
01:25 Exploring Italian Wines
07:21 News in the Wine World
07:30 Burgundy Vineyard Inheritance Tax Update
09:09 Penfolds and Grange Collaboration
15:05 Interview with Sarah Heller
15:40 Sarah Heller's Journey into Wine
24:57 Challenges and Opportunities in Southeast Asian Wine Trade
28:21 Introduction to Vinitaly and Vinitaly International Academy
30:24 Favorite Italian Wines and Their Unique Characteristics
36:36 The Richness of Italian White Wines
44:16 Integrating Culinary and Cultural Context in Wine Education
47:16 Art and Wine: A Creative Intersection

Featured Wine News 

🍷 Penfolds & Jaboulet Collaboration
Penfolds and Jaboulet have joined forces to create a Syrah blend combining Australia’s Grange with Northern Rhône’s La Chapelle, that Jane Anson awarded 99 points.

🏰 Burgundy Vineyard Inheritance Tax Update
Burgundy’s inheritance tax exemption has increased to €20 million, helping family-owned vineyards remain intact and preventing forced sales to large corporations.

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!