Be Inspired.
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Wine Talks with Paul K.
All you knew about wine is about to bust wide open….we are going to talk about what really happens in the wine business and I’m taking no prisoners... I am your host Paul Kalemkiarian and as the 2nd generation owner of the Original Wine of the Month Club, I sold 17,000,000 bottles of wine and tasted somewhere north of 100,000 wines. And what I learned is that wine is about the story; the story can't be that I bought this wine on the internet for 5 bucks. Join me as we peel back the real stories behind the wine you are tasting. How can Groupon sell 12 bottles for $60 and the wines be good? How do you start a winery anyway and lose money? And is a screwcap really better than a cork? Sometimes I have to pick a wine at the store by the label and the price...and I get screwed. Subscribe now and prepare to be enlightened.
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Wine Talks with Paul K.

Wine Talks with Paul K.

All you knew about wine is about to bust wide open….we are going to talk about what really happens in the wine business and I’m taking no prisoners...

I am your host Paul Kalemkiarian 2nd generation owner of the Original Wine of the Month Club, and I am somewhere north of 100,000 wines tasted.

How...

Recent Episodes

544
Aug. 11, 2026

Strikes, Somms, and Screwups: Schulner’s Wild Ride Beyond Hollywood

I am pretty sure you didn't catch the article in the Somm Journal written by David Schulner. And if you did, you were not as jealous as I was. Well, let's call it inspired. Trading the glitz of Hollywood for the chaos of the restaurant floor, David Schulner doesn’t just pour wine—he pours gasoline on the genteel myths swirling around it. You’ll hear what happens when a successful TV showrunner, fresh off the picket lines of the 2023 writers’ strike, crashes headfirst into the closed ranks of Mi
543
Aug. 7, 2026

Are Michelin Stars Ruining the True Spirit of Great Restaurants? Patric Kuh Tells All

I first met Patrick at our favorite steak house in Manhattan Beach; the Arthur J. The wine list there is one of the most thought out I have seen in all my travels. It was Patricks first day there. We had an intriguing conversation and returned a week later to continue our discussion. Serendipitously, by me eavesdropping on a conversation, I learned that Patrick had authored a book: The Last Days of Haute Cuisine. I was seriously taken by this accomplishment and immediately found the book on Amaz
539
Aug. 4, 2026

Napa’s Lost Magic: How Commerce Ruined Wine and What Jessica Kogan Wants to Fix

When you meet Jessica Kogan (in-person or virtual), it takes exactly 2/3's of a second to realize she is a force of nature...marketing nature as it were. Perhaps the most frequent guest on Wine Talks, each episode has had a unique viewpoint on the latest in wine marketing, data mining, and outside pressures. I welcome back, Jessica Kogan. If you think Napa is just for tuxedoed snobs or that wine tastings only happen in picturesque châteaus, wait until Jessica Kogan shakes up your tired
540
July 29, 2026

Did Dr. Jan Krupp Abandon Medicine for a Vineyard Gamble That Changed Napa Forever?

You have not heard it all, contrary to the American colloquialism "Now...I've heard it all." I've seen many professionals trade in their shingle for the wine trade. Attorneys, eye doctors, MDs, and others. Most of the time they are seeking the lifestyle that is purported to belong to winemaking. For sure, this type of career move will test your resolve; many find out that it wasn't and isn't what they were seeking. Enter Dr. Jan Krupp, a celebrated Internist who got the calling. Can you imagin
535
July 23, 2026

The Wine World Needs to Wake Up: Jean-Charles Boisset on Biodynamics and Breaking Rules

It is official. Not a soul can visit the Napa Valley without witnessing the fingerprints of Jean-Charles Boisset. They are everywhere, and not because he is trying consume the entire valley, but because he earnestly believes in the soulfull value of an honest glass of wine. I consider Jean-Charles a friend, though he may not remember my name, he makes you feel like the only person in the room. Jean-Charles Boisset descends on the wine world like a storm in Baccarat—disruptive, dazzling, and una
534
July 21, 2026

Husband and Wife Team Transforms Passion into a Thriving Wine Bar: Chuck and Amanda Azar

I was walking on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach and I spied some activity in what was a small French inspired restaurant which had closed months earlier. I decided to poke my head in a find you what was going on. Greeted by a smiling, pleasant woman, I sat at the new wine bar named Malendrina. And the conversation ensued as I was completely taken by Amanda Azar and the story of her and her husbanc, Chuck and their venture into enrtrepreneurship. Amanda Azar may be the only person who can make “to

Recent Blog Posts

May 27, 2026

Demystifying Bordeaux: More Than Just Big Names and Big Prices

Welcome back to the blog, fellow wine lovers! This week on the podcast, we embarked on a journey that, for many, might feel like stepping into a gilded museum of wine – the world of Bordeaux. But as we explored in our latest episode, Beyond Luxury: …
March 6, 2026

Rethinking Bordeaux: Climate Change, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Future of Classic Wines

Welcome back to the blog for our latest podcast episode! In this week's show, we delve deep into the heart of Bordeaux, a region synonymous with timeless elegance and iconic wines. Yet, as we explore, this venerable appellation is not static. It is …
Nov. 21, 2024

The Power of Connection in Modern Hospitality

```html In today's fast-paced digital world, genuine human connection is more valuable than ever. This blog post delves into the transformative power of authentic interactions, particularly within the hospitality industry. We'll explore how seeming…