VinePair Podcast

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss one of Zach's least favorite clichés in wine: that wine is "90% made in the vineyard," or some other silly percentage. They discuss why this oft-stated number is very clearly untrue, and try to figure out why it's so widely repeated by so many different producers in so many different places. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is reading: 7 Cocktails That Should Get the Freezer Martini Treatment Joanna is reading: What Will a Global Trade Meltdown Mean For Bourbon’s Protected Status? Adam is reading: 13 Bartenders Share the Martini Variations They Refuse to Drink Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a listener question about the deteriorating relationship between wineries and wholesalers, and if the financial challenges the wine industry is facing will force wineries out of the three-tier system, or at least to a different understanding thereof. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is drinking: Loop de Loop Wines "Borderline Red" Joanna is drinking: Borscht Cocktail at The Peach Crease Club Adam is drinking: Cyprien Arlaud Bourgogne Blanc Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Joanna are joined by winemaker Noah Dorrance of Reeve Wines, BloodRoot Wines, and other projects, to discuss what the state of the industry is in Sonoma Valley right now, as well as his reasons for optimism about wine moving forward. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is reading: The 10 Most Important Cocktails of the 21st Century Joanna is reading: Good Vibes From a Bad Decade: A Look at NYC’s ’70s-Inspired Bars Adam is reading: We Asked 10 Bartenders: What’s the Best New Bar in Philadelphia? Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prompted by a recent post from acclaimed bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether bartending has tipped too far in the direction of knowledge and information, and away from skill and hospitality. Are so-called "lab bars" creating mind-blowing drinks but not necessarily training bar staff in the kinds of skills that we've typically associated with the trade? Does that style of bar have a bright future, or is it a fad? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is drinking: Sylvain Martinez "Goutte d'O" Chenin Blanc Joanna is drinking: An underwhelming Dirty Martini Adam is drinking: Freezer Martini Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Joanna are joined by the co-founders of Cueva Nueva, David Neimanis and Phi Peinado, to discuss the realities of vermouth, both in Europe and in the United States, and what compelled them to take on this category in the first place. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is reading: 10 Producers You Should Know to Get Into Burgundy Joanna is reading: The Value Meal Comes to the Brewery Adam is reading: The 30 Best Bourbons for 2026 Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach recap a few recent news items, including acclaimed restaurateur Thomas Keller's public objections to an affordable housing project in Napa Valley, GALLO's recent purchase of Four Roses Bourbon, and a spate of layoffs throughout the wine industry. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is drinking: Islay Daiquiri at Scotch Lodge Joanna is drinking: Mary Taylor Muscadet Adam is drinking: Negroni Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether wineries should still consider by-the-glass placements as being vital for their success, especially as marketing or awareness-raising tools. Additionally: why has wine by-the-glass lost so much luster in restaurants, when it relatively recently used to be a huge part of the sales of many eateries. Has the mix of higher prices, smaller pours, and less recognizable or appealing offerings really turned an entire generation of diners off from glass pours? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is reading: We Asked 10 Bartenders: What’s the Best ‘Panic-Order’ Cocktail? Joanna is reading: The Most Anticipated Spirits Releases for 2026 Adam is reading: What Happened to America’s Commuter Bar Cars? Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a listener question about urban wineries and tasting rooms. Do consumers care that much about the traditional winery aesthetics, being in the vineyard, or even going to wine country? Can being closer to your audience and being able to offer a more varied experience make up for losing that sense of pastoral beauty? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is drinking: Laurent-Perrier 2008 Brut Champagne (Go Seahawks!) Joanna is drinking: On The Rocks Boulevardier Adam is drinking: Guinness at Meetinghouse Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair managing editor Hannah Staab to discuss what truly matters on a wine label. Do appellations, producers, or varieties move the needle more when it comes to sales? How important is an eye-catching design? Does anyone want ingredient labelling? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is reading: We Asked 19 Bartenders: What Makes a Perfect First-Date Bar? Joanna is reading: The Dolomites’ Signature Cocktail Is Ready for Its Olympic Moment Hannah is reading: When Did Burgundy Become Untouchable? Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair @hannahstaab_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss something that Adam raised during his recent session at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium: can you really bring customers into wine (or other beverage categories) by connecting their existing flavor preferences with similar flavors in your product or category? Can you really explain the popularity of most of the most successful wines by connecting them to other popular beverages? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is drinking: 50/50 Martini Joanna is drinking: Patagonian Sour at Love's Alibi Adam is drinking: Gattinara Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prompted in part by some recent experiences, Adam, Joanna, and Zach wonder if a backlash to the cocktail movement is coming. Will the veritable ocean of ambitious, perhaps lightly-tested cocktails made by relatively new bartender at eyewatering prices turn would-be cocktail drinkers off? Does the average cocktail drinker really just prefer a reasonably priced classic cocktail? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is reading: We Asked 11 Bartenders: What Cocktail Order Tells You the Most About a Guest? Joanna is reading: In Search of the Oldest Bar in New York City Adam is reading: Often Dismissed by the Industry, Club Bartending Endures Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss their reasons for optimism when it comes to American wine, as well as some lingering challenges and concerns. Then, they answer some audience questions. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is drinking: Yonder Cider "Stoked" Joanna is drinking: Adam is drinking: Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss how members of the trade and media might be making for worse bar patrons than they used to. From demanding complicated cocktails (sometimes off-menu!) on busy nights to expecting to have their entire tabs comped, has the bartender's handshake turned into a act of aggression? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Zach is reading: 7 Alternatives to Petrus, the World’s Most Expensive Bordeaux Joanna is reading: How Williamsburg’s Lighthouse Quietly Became the Bar Industry’s Hangout Adam is reading: Does Trade Etiquette Still Exist Among Bartenders? Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a listener question about Soju: can the Korean spirit capitalize on the popularity of KPop (Demon Hunters or otherwise), Korean cuisine, and the like? Does the future for the spirit in America lie in traditional methods of consumption, or as the base for flavored RTDs and the like. Also: do most Americans even know what lychee tastes like? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Join us for a live podcast recording at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Zach is drinking: DeLille Cellars "Red Willow" Blend Joanna is drinking: Matchbook Distilling Co. "Shady Lady" Rum Daiquiri Adam is drinking: Freezer Door Martini Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach debate whether extensive non-alcoholic cocktail programs at bars are actually making these bars any money. More to the point, if they're not, why do bars still feel compelled to invest time, labor, and money into this section of their menus: is it impress a relatively small cadre of other bartenders and members of the media who are particularly keen on N/A? Do they feel like guests will look at their menu askance, even if those guests will end up choosing a drink with alcohol in it? Or are most not willing to look at that critically at what has become a trendy way to signal...something? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Join us for a live podcast recording at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Zach is reading: The Rise of the 'Convertible' Cocktail Joanna is reading: More Bourbon Distilleries Are Closing. So What Happens to the Whiskey? Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach ponder the question of why the wine industry is struggling so bad with PR and communications. Does the industry just not pay well enough to consistently attract top talent? Why is it so difficult to understand that different journalists and publications have different standards and priorities? Plus - can we please put an end to "spray and pray" PR blasts? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Join us for a live podcast recording at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Zach is drinking: Tai Dai at Zig Zag Cafe Joanna is drinking: N/A Negroni Sbagliato from Bitter Monk Adam is drinking: Transmitter Brewing B5NY Pale Ale Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach are joined by VinePair contributing editor Dave Infante to discuss his most recent reporting surrounding national wholesaler RNDC's plans to sell off their business in seven states to up-and-comer Reyes Beverage Group. Will this move potentially stanch the bleeding for RNDC, which pulled out of California entirely in 2025 and has been losing suppliers left and right, or is this a sign that even more sell-offs are in the forecast? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Join us for a live podcast recording at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Zach is reading: Stop Asking Your Bartender for Less Ice in Your Cocktail Joanna is listening to: The Buildout Podcast: Double Chicken Please Adam is reading: Anheuser-Busch Is Selling Cutwater Like Crazy — and Keeping Quiet About the Viral #Challenge Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach address the recent changes to America's dietary guidelines as issued by the Department of Health, in particular the removal of any particular limit on the number of alcoholic beverages considered safe. While the drinks industry is clearly viewing this a big win, and perhaps it is when compared to the much more anti-alcohol language that some feared would be used, will this actually halt the industry's overall slump? Do all that many people actually use these guidelines as, well, guidelines? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Join us for a live podcast recording at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Zach is drinking: 2008 Domaine André Brunel "Les Cailloux" Châteauneuf-du-Pape Joanna is drinking: Malivoire Wine Company Gamay Noir Adam is drinking: Château Peyrassol Rosé Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a listener question about recent news that the popular reservation platform OpenTable is providing algorithmically-derived information about users to restaurants: notes that a given guest might frequently be late, linger over their table, or have certain preferences. Does this make anything better for anyone, or does it crudely recreate the earned knowledge and relationship that a restaurant might have with a frequent diner? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Join us for a live podcast recording at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Zach is reading: Welcome to Alcohol’s Slop Era Joanna is reading: The 20 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers for 2026 Adam is reading: Is This the American Version of Ichiro’s Malt Card Series? Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To ring in 2026, Adam, Joanna, and Zach continue a yearly tradition on the podcast, offering their predictions for what 2026 will bring for the drinks industry. Will red blends have their moment in the sun again? What will happen to "funky" wines? Will the "total beverage" trend continue? All that, and much more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers! Join us for a live podcast recording at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, California on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.