VinePair Podcast

Hosts dive into the intriguing idea that the sober-curious trend might just be a loud echo of midlife crises among Millennials. They discuss how social media is reshaping views on sobriety, prompting people to rethink their drinking habits. The conversation reveals the emotional struggles tied to aging and health, offering insight into the new stigma-free attitudes toward abstaining from alcohol. Personal anecdotes about drinks and dining enrich their reflections on changing cultural norms around wellness and the joy of discovery.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach unpack VinePair's Top 50 Wines of 2024 list, including a discussion of the remarkable range of styles and varieties on display from America, their excitement around Syrah, and a few other favorites. 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.Joanna is reading: The Definitive Ranking of Wine Bar Small PlatesAdam is reading: How Flavored Whiskey Became a Major Part of Modern Drinks CultureZach is reading: Can a Cocktail Have Too Many Ingredients? Bartenders Weigh InInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach is joined by Sake ONO CEO Lana Buchanan to discuss the tremendous growth potential for sake in American drinking culture. While widely known and appreciated, sake has rarely been able to escape the confines of the most traditional drinking occasions. Buchanan outlines her team's efforts to change the conversation around sake, how branding and packaging are crucial to that effort, and some of the surprising successes they've had so far. 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.

Dive into the rising trend of sweeter cocktails as the hosts explore why our taste buds are shifting. After years of bitter and strong drinks, bars are now embracing playful and refreshing mixes. Personal stories about memorable drinks, like the Plum Boulevardier, highlight this flavorful change. They discuss how modern mixology is reinventing classic beverages to cater to evolving palates. The conversation is lively, inviting listeners to share their sweet cocktail favorites and engage in this delicious trend.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the surprising emergence of shots on cocktail menus at a range of restaurants and bars that you might not expect, including ultra-trendy dining spots and fairly elevated cocktail bars. Why do so many beverage programs see value and opportunity in this format, and why are drinkers responding to them? 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.Joanna is reading: Holiday Wine ShopZach is reading: How to Use Fall and Winter Produce in Cocktails, According to BartendersAdam is reading: What Does the Future Hold for Downtown LA as a Cocktail Destination?Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hosts dive into the recent World's 50 Best Bars list, revealing a trend of sameness in cocktail culture. They critique the heavy presence of speakeasy-style bars and discuss how American establishments are leading a new wave, largely unnoticed by the globe. Unique cocktail scenes are emerging in cities like Mexico City and Athens, challenging conventional norms. They also tackle the importance of inclusivity in bar awards and encourage listeners to support diverse venues.

To celebrate Halloween, Adam, Joanna, and Zach draft the best drinking holidays of the year: what are the criteria that make a day particularly good for drinking, and does it matter if everyone else agrees with you or not? 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.Adam is (hate)reading: The 11 Best Pumpkin Beers to Drink This Year (2024)Joanna is reading: What It Takes to Run a World-Class Non-Alcoholic Beverage ProgramZach is reading: Long Live the Cross-Border Booze RunInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach explore whether the slumping wine industry can be revitalized by clever, collective marketing efforts, or if it will require a few key brands to change the conversation and get consumers enthusiastic about drinking wine. 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: Single Hill Brewing "Energy Cone" Fresh Hop IPAAdam is drinking: Jeppson's MalörtJoanna is drinking: Paradise Lost at Nine BarInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach are joined by VinePair Next Wave Award Winemaker of the Year Dan Petroski of Massican to discuss his journey in wine and why white wine is ascendant at a time when wine in general is struggling: how it better meets wine drinkers where they are, why in many cases it fits better with current food trends, and doesn't come with all the baggage that certain red wines do. 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 listening to: Taplines: The Oral History of the ‘F*CK AB-INBEV’ ShirtJoanna is reading: Tequila Matchmaker Removes All Tequila Brands From Its Additive-Free ListAdam is reading: How the Connaught Pour Conquered the Bar WorldInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach is joined by Jared Himstedt, head distiller at Balcones Distilling in Waco, Texas to discuss his entry into the world of whiskey, why American Single Malt is such a dynamic and exciting category, the challenges and opportunities that come from using local ingredients, and why the climate in Texas is well-suited to produce world-class whiskies of various sorts. 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, @vinepairPLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.DISTILLED & BOTTLED AT BALCONES DISTILLING, WACO, TX. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.