It's the end of an era on the VinePair podcast as Erica bids farewell, and talks to Adam and Zach a bit about what here future plans entail, prompting a discussion about online wine discovery: how existing wine platforms aren't quite up to the task, and why America's antiquated alcohol laws further inhibit customer choice and satisfaction. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thank you for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Crowns & Hops co-founders Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter about their longstanding efforts to create opportunities in the craft beer sphere for BIPOC brewers and entrepreneurs, as well as the continuing harm of cultural appropriation in craft beer, and their efforts to promote Black entrepreneurship through their 8 Trill Pils program. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You've certainly seen the stories: sommeliers, wine experts, and other professionals are unable to consistently assess wine in laboratory settings or when given the same wine multiple times. Listener Matt wants to know: are these studies legit? Can wine quality actually be judged? Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss that, plus the futility of wine competitions, and more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or the podcast platform of your choosing, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Becky Ryman and Logan Ackerley of Pennsylvania's Wallenpaupack Brewing Co. about their efforts to connect with customers this year through Quarantine Packs and homebrew kits. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Luis Gonzalez, CEO of Old Elk Distillery, about the Fort Collins, Colorado-based company's efforts to build and promote their brand in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss the state of the New Zealand wine industry and its many sustainability efforts with Nautilus Estate winemaker and general manager Clive Jones, as well as learn more about the evolution and development of winemaking in the country. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else you get your podcasts, and please send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Basil Lee and Kevin Stafford, co-founders of New York City's Finback Brewing, about their efforts to start conversations about racial justice with the labels on their cans, as well as how opening a second location during the Covid-19 crisis has been going. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with former NBA player Channing Frye about his love of wine: how it came to be, how he explored and nurtured it over the course of his playing career, and how it's guided his post-retirement plans, including launching his new label Chosen Family Wines. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach examine how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the craft beer industry: changing customer behavior, a move towards more cans and bottles, challenges getting fresher styles of beer to be more shelf stable, and challenges getting these craft products into larger grocery store chains. Plus, how a home-brewing boom can fuel future craft beer growth in the future. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with San Francisco Chronice Wine Critic Esther Mobley about the wildfires that have ravaged California in 2020, in particular the still-active Glass Fire that is now the most destructive in Napa Valley history, as well as the real challenge that smoke taint poses to the 2020 vintage in much of the state. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Brown-Forman's Master Blender for Scotch Whisky Dr. Rachel Barrie about her nearly three decades in the whisky industry, and why sherry casks and Scotch are such a perfect pairing. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss the culture of cocktails on the popular social media app TikTok, including how it's powerful algorithm is great at capturing attention, how it's bringing flair bartending back and why brands are more and more looking to sponsor content on the platform. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Jefferson's Bourbon founder Trey Zoeller about his distillery's many bourbon variations, including their aged-at-sea Ocean series, as well as how the company is dealing with Covid-19 challenges. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach recorded a live podcast for this year's rendition of Tales of the Cocktail, the yearly bartending conference, focusing on fall and winter drinks trends, both based on what VinePair's proprietary data suggests as well as their own experience and intuition. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Eduardo 'Lalo' González and the rest of the Lalo Tequila team about their focus on premium expressions of agave through blanco tequila. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss why Bordeaux, despite being among the world's most famous wine regions, is considered uncool by many sommeliers and wine drinkers. Is it the eye-watering price of the region's most expensive wines? The fact that it was "discovered" long ago? Or is it just that too few have even given Bordeaux a chance? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Master Distiller Erik Liedholm of Wildwood Spirits Co. about his efforts to bring coffee and bourbon together, as well as the current state of play for his distillery and restaurants. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Tom Wark, Executive Director of the National Association of Wine Retailers, about their ongoing efforts to liberalize interstate sales and shipping laws for wine, especially in light of recent Supreme Court decisions. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss the horrific wildfires ravaging the West Coast, including whether these fires would be more widely discussed if they happened closer to New York City and Washington, D.C., how the fire and smoke might impact an already very difficult 2020 harvest for both grapes and hops, and what we can do to support growers and producers. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Angry Orchard head cidermaker Ryan Burk about how the hard cider brand is approaching the Covid-19 crisis, how it positions itself in the marketplace, and the challenges of this particular harvest. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Helena and Woody Hambrecht, co-founders of the low-alcohol spirit brand Haus, about their direct-to-consumer business model, method for developing new flavors, and efforts to bring aperitif culture to the United States. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark the beginning of VinePair's Bourbon Month, Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss how it is that bourbon emerged in the 21st century as a contender for the crown of most popular spirit in America, as well as share some of their favorite bourbons, cocktails, and ways to enjoy the spirit. Plus, a discussion of tipping etiquette in a pandemic. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Give a listen to VinePair's Wine 101 podcast with VinePair Tastings Editor Keith Beavers as he explains how the vineyard is the foundation for all wine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach ask a difficult question: with incipient bad weather, how can bars and restaurants survive without outdoor dining? Will heat lamps and canopies be enough? Will to-go cocktails and takeout continue to be a lifeline? Or do we need larger, governmental support to keep these vital institutions afloat? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Sarah Hoffman and Kendra Kawala, co-founders of Maker Wine, a direct-to-consumer canned wine company focused on highlighting smaller producers in California, about their business, the ways in which it has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic, and how they're aiming to grow. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erica and Zach discuss whether the current push to add ingredient lists and nutritional information to beer, wine, and spirits packaging will benefit consumers, shut down malicious actors, as well as provide transparency to what has traditionally been a very opaque category. Plus: how do you talk to your kids about alcohol, when alcohol is your job? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Trinchero Family Estates VP Brie Wohld about the company's new lines of wine-based hard seltzers, as well as other products pitched at the low- and no-alcohol crowd. Please send any suggestions or requests for Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Veuve Clicquot VP Aygline Pechdo about the ways in which the venerable Champagne house is responding to the unique challenges that Covid-19 has presented for the winery and for the entire Champagne region, as well as how Veuve Clicquot maintains its status as one of the most iconic and venerated brands in the world of wine. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss gin's surge in popularity in 2020: is this the long-promised "Gin Boom?" If so, is it being driven by more interest in the gin and tonic, or other gin-based cocktails? Can craft distilleries grab a bigger share of the gin market? And will consumers ever find spots on their the shelves of their liquor cabinets or bar carts for a wide range of different gins? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Bulleit Distilling blender Eboni Major about her path to working for the iconic whiskey producer, how the job has changed since the onset of Covid-19, and her newest release, Bulleit Blenders' Reserve. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with long-time New York Sommelier Kim Cavoores (Maialino, Marta, Blue Hill at Stone Barns) about her new venture, One Kourt Studio in Greenport, New York, and what it was like to realize that she was going to be opening her wine shop in the midst of a pandemic. Please remember to send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss the looming battle over direct-to-consumer alcohol sales: as the economy shifts more and more to an online, direct-shipping model, America's antiquated and inconsistent alcohol laws are a massive hindrance on growth, particularly for distilleries. Why exactly is it so difficult to ship spirits, and reasonably difficult to ship wine and beer? Why do we give distribution companies a huge cut of profits just to move alcohol around? Is this finally the time that producers and consumers can unite to effect change? Plus, Erica and Adam survive a hurricane and Zach worries about earthquakes. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with UPS Global Director of Innovation Robin Hooker about how the shipping company has experienced a massive spike in alcohol shipments since mid-March, what new approaches and technologies it's deploying to meet that heightened demand, and whether he expects this level of online commerce to continue even when Covid-19 recedes. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Campbell Brown, President of Old Forester, about how the bourbon producer is continuing to see evolution and expansion in their customer base, as well as preparing for the return of whiskey season and the challenges of supporting bars and bartenders during this time. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Tequila Herradura Senior Brand and Integration Manager Jennifer Simmonds about how the company is experiencing tremendous growth across its line of expressions, as well as how they're celebrating their 150th anniversary and a few home cocktail ideas. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In summer 2019, the hard seltzer category was basically White Claw, Truly, and no one else. A year later, those two remain the biggest brands, but dozens of challengers and competitors have emerged from small producers and multinational behemoths alike. What does this evolution and fragmentation mean for consumers, and what additional innovations are still out there? That's what Adam, Erica, and Zach are discussing on this week's episode of the VinePair podcast. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach dive into the controversy surrounding the newly-trendy "clean wine" term: why it means next to nothing and yet still resonates with some wine drinkers, especially with celebrities like Cameron Diaz creating brands specifically to capitalize on the trend, even when the actual details of said wine are shrouded in mystery. So how should wine consumers and wine media handle the 'clean wine' trend and term, and can it ever actually mean anything concrete? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Will Whelan, VP of Wine at Winestyr, a Chicago-based direct-to-consumer wine platform, about how DTC ecommere has changed and grown since the onset of Covid-19. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach dig into VinePair's proprietary data to try to tease out what the future holds for current trends in the drinks world, like the surging popularity of the Margarita, the demise of Champagne, and of course hard seltzer's continued reign. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Winesellers, Ltd. Co-president Adam Sager about the changing meaning of the term "value wine" and how the family-owned wine importer and marketer is tackling the challenges of Covid-19. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Anheuser-Busch Vice President of Innovation Jake Kirsch about how the company is handling new product launches in the Covid-19 era, what consumers seem to be looking for, and the ways in which the crisis is accelerating existing trends. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss the latest controversy surrounding the Court of Master Sommliers - Americas, including the high-profile resignation of several Master Sommeliers in the wake of a number of allegations surrounding racial insensitivity and a lack of emphasis on diversity and social justice, as well as lingering bad feelings surrounding the 2018 cheating scandal. Plus, why the current state of the economy means that many well-known brands might change hands. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Jagermeister US Chief Marketing Officer Chris Peddy about how the brand, synonymous with shots at bars, is focusing on reaching consumers at home, as well as their many efforts to support bars, bartenders, and artists through their Save the Night campaign. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with ex-NFLer and Super Bowl champion Will Blackmon about his new venture, The Wine MVP, as well as his own journey in the wine world and what it's like building private collections for athletes. Please send any suggestions or requests for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Erica, and Zach discuss the current state of bar reopenings in light of the spike in Covid-19 cases in the US: why reopening bars is riskier than reopening restaurants, how the federal government and many state and local governments have done little to protect this industry, and how that has to change to ensure that the entire bar industry doesn't disappear. Plus: what posters did you have on your childhood bedroom walls? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam speaks with Victor Urrutia, CEO of Spain's iconic CVNE, about the challenges and opportunities facing Spanish wine in America, as well as how Spanish wineries can do a better job with their online presence and accessibility to visitors. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zach speaks with Bill Shufelt, founder of Connecticut-based Athletic Brewing, about his company's exclusive focus on non-alcoholic beers, how being heavily online has helped them get their beers to customers, and how the non-alcoholic trend is growing despite the Covid-19 crises. Please send any requests or suggestions for future Conversations to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Zach are joined by acclaimed actor Kyle MacLachlan, owner and proprietor of Pursued By Bear and winemaker Dan Wampfler of Pursued By Bear and Abeja for a live podcast recording as a part of VinePair's Great Drinks Experience to discuss how Kyle got started in the wine industry, why Washington State is such an exciting source for world-class wine, and to answer some viewer questions. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.