VinePair Podcast

Join Keith Beavers, VinePair's tastings director and a seasoned wine expert, along with Hannah Staab, the managing editor, who organizes tastings and provides editorial insight. They dive into the assembly of the Top 50 Wines of 2025, revealing the year's unique trends and why American wines are taking the spotlight. Highlights include standout producers, diverse selections, and the surprising number one wine: Oregon's Division Wine Co.'s single-vineyard Gamay, showcasing the region’s exciting potential.

The hosts tackle the debate on whether craft cocktail programs are harming bars. They explore the hidden costs and demands of skilled bartenders that many establishments struggle to meet. There’s a discussion on the challenges faced by bars outside major cities, including staffing and sourcing. The trio emphasizes the importance of realistic expectations and solid training over ambitious, complex menus. They also dive into how consumer expectations have shifted with premium spirits making a mark on cocktail culture.

The hosts dive into the debate over sommeliers posting photos of sold bottles on social media. Is it savvy marketing or just pretentious elitism? They explore how these posts can either attract or alienate casual wine drinkers. Discussions revolve around the importance of context and storytelling behind each bottle to engage customers more effectively. Plus, they share practical tips for making social media posts educational rather than exclusive, wrapping everything up with a dash of humor about martini culture.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a listener question about whether it's harder than ever to be a bar regular. Have the rising cost of drinks, the changing approach to bar formats, and other considerations created an environment where being a bar regular is relegated to the history books? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair 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 be well.Zach is reading: Boston Beer Co. Still Can’t Shake Its ‘Beyond Beer’ CurseJoanna is reading: The U.S. Put Irish Whiskey Back on the Map. Now the Category Has to Evolve.Adam is reading: The 30 Best Zinfandels for 2025Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach is joined by Josh Taylor, co-founder of TabX, to discuss the company's platform, and how it can offer bar goers not just more flexibility and a speedier way to close out their checks, but also special deals on drinks, while helping bars drive business and maintain revenue and allowing brands to connect to their audience more directly. Plus, what are some of the trends that Josh and the TabX team have seen out in the bar world over the last couple of years. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair 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 be well.Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach recap the Next Wave Awards party, Zach's epic NYC bar crawl, and discuss why it is that wine bars just don't seem suited to the same kind of "pop in, pop out" experience. Then, spirits editor Aaron Goldfarb joins to discuss the latest releases from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair 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 be well.Zach is drinking: Split Ends at Bar SnackJoanna is drinking: Blue Jay Brewing Märzen LagerAdam is drinking: Negroni Colada at Clemente BarInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hosts delve into how brand managers often craft marketing campaigns based on their own tastes instead of focusing on consumer insights. They highlight missed opportunities when marketers ignore essential data and regional trends, particularly outside major cities. An intriguing case study reveals how Lalo's targeted strategy effectively followed high-net-worth consumers. The discussion also covers the impact of social media in understanding consumer habits and the importance of aligning innovation with genuine consumer needs.

The hosts dive into Charles Smith's wild TV interview, igniting discussions on wine additives. They ponder if consumers actually care about what's in their wine. Would calorie counts sway your choices? Some believe labeling could change habits, while others think most will stick with their favorites. The conversation also touches on the wine industry's reluctance to disclose ingredients, comparing it to other processed products. It's a mix of provocative insights on consumer behavior and industry practices that leaves you questioning what you sip.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss influential whiskies, hunting for sought-for bottles, and other drinks adventures. Then, Adam and Joanna are joined by Kate Shapira Latts, co-president of Heaven Hill Brands, to discuss why so much of the fear-mongering around the future of bourbon is misguided. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair 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 be well.Zach is reading: The 13 Most Important American Whiskeys of the 21st Century So FarJoanna is reading: Maybe People Who Want to ‘Save Beer’ Should Learn Something About It FirstAdam is reading: 2 Years, 10 Cities, and Countless Wine Shops: A Flight Attendant’s Relentless Hunt for Domaine des MiroirsInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hosts celebrate the innovative winners of the 2025 Next Wave Awards, shining a light on fresh ideas in the beverage industry. They discuss the highlights of unique brands like Lalo Tequila and Drawdown Brewing. The conversation includes a critique of common wine pairings, specifically the over-reliance on Riesling with Asian cuisine. They emphasize the importance of innovation and service in shaping future trends, while praising standout figure Amy Racine for her holistic approach to beverage program management.