VinePair Podcast

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the current state of wine tourism in Napa Valley, after a year of declining visitations, and speculate that the region as a whole was too quick to assume that the post-pandemic landscape and model was going to be the new normal, instead of a weird outlier time. 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: Has the Title ‘Master Sommelier’ Become a Paradox?Joanna is reading: The 22 Best New Breweries of the Year, According to Beer ProsAdam is reading: Like Christmas Decorations, Holiday Pop-Up Bars Arrived Earlier Than Ever This YearInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach break down the recently-released list of VinePair's Top 50 Spirits of 2024, including excitement about Cognac, rum, and barrel-finished spirits in general. 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: Arnaud Lambert "Clos David" Saumur BlancJoanna is drinking: Turf ClubAdam is drinking: Domaine Bernard Defaix Premier Cru "Les Vaillons" ChablisInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging discussion, restaurateur Dave Foss shares his insights on the current state of hospitality during the holiday season. He highlights how staffing shortages are affecting the overall dining experience and emphasizes the importance of memorable service. The conversation also touches on evolving customer expectations post-COVID-19 and how technology impacts genuine guest care. Foss's anecdotes about both high-end dining and traditional hospitality reveal the challenges and shifts facing the restaurant industry today.

Aleco Azqueta, the vice president of global marketing for Grey Goose, shares insights on vodka's enduring relevance in a rapidly evolving drinks market. The conversation explores vodka's vibrant resurgence, especially in classic cocktails like the martini. Azqueta discusses how effective marketing has reshaped vodka's brand identity for younger consumers. He also highlights innovative products and the cultural impact of the Honey Deuce cocktail at the U.S. Open, illustrating vodka's adaptability in the premium spirits landscape.

With the holiday season upon us, one of the more sticky bits of drinks-related etiquette is coming once again to the forefront for many - should you bring a bottle (or more) to a gathering, and most of all, should you expect the host(s) to open that bottle with you there? Adam, Joanna, and Zach share their own perspectives and experiences with this fraught scenario. 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: Fermentation for Flavor and Opulence With Sebastian Tollius of Clemente BarAdam is reading: Movie-Theater Drinking Is Bigger, Better, and More Novel Than EverZach is reading: The 30 Best Wines for Thanksgiving (2024)Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the holiday season upon us, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss why this time of year is so critical for many different brands and categories, and speculate on which ones will have a happy holidays and which will end up with a (proverbial, probably) lump of coal in their stockings. 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: The Walls "Mahana" Joanna is drinking: Pax Wines Alder Springs Vineyard Chenin BlancAdam is drinking: Hard Start from Grand Army BarInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a recreational marijuana ballot initiative going down to defeat in Florida and uncertainty about the incoming administration's interest in federal legalization, cannabis companies and their investors are getting cold feet. Since cannabis has been coopting some classic drinking occasions, does this setback give alcohol some breathing room? Adam, Joanna, and Zach weigh in. 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: Shakers Can Break Ceilings: The Rise of Women in Global Cocktail CompetitionsZach is reading: Why Craft Breweries Are Still Launching Hard Seltzer BrandsAdam is reading: The Cookbook That Became Every Bartender’s Trusted CompanionInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.