Episodes
July 22, 2025
Rethinking Wine Clubs, Loyalty, and Digital Marketing in the Modern Wine Industry
Reaching out to Polly to have a chat about coming on Wine Talks, was like a breath of fresh air. Podcasting takes great effort and a conscious effort to be better and to look for guests that can add to the entertainment and e...
July 17, 2025
Wine, Legacy, and Love: The Story Behind Zara Winery and Armenia’s Boutique Wine Renaissance
Sometimes life is about timing. Just as I was inquiring about the wine of an Armenian wine maker, I received an email from a gentleman thanking me for the inquiry, and that he happens to be in LA...and would love to sit for a...
July 17, 2025
Wine Industry Insights: Hospitality, Consumer Trends, and the Power of Storytelling
When I reach out for podcast guests...I look for interesting backgrounds. Meaning, I would like to see a variety of experiences and someone who has a point of view. With the advent of the wine critic (many years ago) and the ...
July 14, 2025
Authenticity in the Wine Business: Lessons from Ross Halleck of Halleck Vineyard
Despite being the son of a pharmacist turned wine professional, I did not know the purpose of an Entheogen. Ross Halleck set me straight,so much so, that after defining an entheogen, the value of the consumption of wine becam...
July 10, 2025
Violet Grgich on Wine as Emotion, Heritage & Rebellion | Wine Talks with Paul K
Proper winemaking takes humility. It takes a story. It takes risk. And I guess risk is relative. when you come from nothing or next to nothing and you plot a path and execute a path, that comes from and takes humility. Mike G...
July 8, 2025
Napa Cabernet Reinvented: Kelham Vineyards’ Ron Nicholsen on Releasing Decade-Old Wines
At a recent Cabernet Sauvignon tasting in Los Angeles at the famed Republique restaurant, I spied this cool cat pouring off some aged wines. In that I fancy myself as a off-beat jacket guy, I had to engage Ron as to the prove...
July 3, 2025
August Sebastiani on Gen Z, Wine Innovation & 100 Years of Sonoma Legacy
If you have spent any time at all in the wine trade...even if you have just visited the wine section of your favorite market; you know, have seen and recognize the name Sebastiani. They are one of the original Sonoma county w...
July 2, 2025
Armenian-Mexican Fusion with Chef Ara Zada: From Lavash to Laughter| Wine Talks
When I told my wife I was interviewing Chef Ara Zada...she was like..."I follow him!""He is great!" She never says that about me. I guess I need to learn how to make "fusion"cuisine with Mediterranean food!. Chef Ara Zada has...
June 26, 2025
She Is Bringing Back The Emotion Of Wine. Meet Stephanie Morton-Small
I forgot her exuberance, energy, and love of wine and music. I'm so glad I had the chance to remember. The wine world needs more Stephanie Morton-Smalls; she helps us keep our eye on the ball. If you’ve ever wondered why some...
June 24, 2025
Prosecco? Try Lo-Secco. Meet the brand stratigest and Founder, Monika Elling.
A wine podcast for everyone. I keep an eye on this girl. She makes this happen. As a college athlete, mom and wine brand manager, Monika is always "shaking the tree."I am inspisred by her tenacity and I am impressed with her ...
June 19, 2025
If You Can Sell Coke, Can You Sell Wine? Courtney O'Brien Explains.
Sometimes when you speak to a consultant, you get consultant gobeldy gook. I can't tell you how many consultants I hired along the way at the WIne of the Month Club, but suffice it to say, most did not perform as expected. Wh...
June 17, 2025
Admittedly Lazy Until She Found Wine And Hospitality. Meet Master Somm Stefanie Hehn
The Master Sommelier is a commitment to hospitality. So it makes you wonder what a young girl, who admittedly called herself lazy, would take on such a commitment. As life would have it, the challenges became clear to Stefani...
June 12, 2025
With $25 In His Pocket, He Left Iran at 13 Years Old. This Is His Story. Zaya Younan.
I was asked to taste a wine and give an opinion of its quality. It was very good. A St. Emilion from a Chateau I did not know. The wine had never been in the US, and the wholesale company was new to the idea of even carrying ...
June 10, 2025
Investing Part Of Your Portfolio In Wine? Speak With Marc LeFleur First. He Gets It.
Investing in wine might seem risky. Might seem like a horizon uncrossed. There is growing success rate in wine investments and it takes a trained and experience broker/agent to know where and when. Marc Lefleur might be the o...
June 5, 2025
Make The Best That Represents New Zealand. Meet Josh Hammond of Tiraki WInes.
When you hear a New Zealand accent, what do you try and do? I try to figure is it Aussi or English? Maybe South African. Regardless of where you land with this interpretation, you always settle into a nice comfort zone with N...
May 27, 2025
He Wants To Quit HIs Day Job To Be In Wine. Meet Armen Ghazikhanian
If you have thought about entering the wine trade but really don't think you would be much of wine winemaker...but you really feel like you are going to love it. It actually took me many years to "love" it but hear this story...
May 22, 2025
Wine Takes You Places. That Is The Point. Hear From Pauline Wlodarzyck of Chateau Giscours
When last in Bordeaux, I spent some time with Veronique Sanders-Van Beek, the Director of Chateau Haut Bailly. And as a result, she offered an internship to one of my favorite interns who graced the Wine of the Month Club. Th...
May 20, 2025
So You Want To Create An Ready To Drink Cocktail. Have A Listen To Rob and Leslie Levy.
I have known the Levys for years. I've known them as restauranteurs and gracious people. They fell in to the restaurant business and it was sink of swim; swim they did, creating an iconic establishment in heart of Southern Ca...
May 17, 2025
Family Philosophy Plays In The South Of Francee. Gerard Bertrand Credits His Father For The Passion.
I am halfway through Gerard Bertrands new book: "Multidimensional Wine" and realize it is a must read for wine professionals and novices alike..get it here: https://academieduvinlibrary.com/products/multidimensional-wine Gera...
May 16, 2025
From IT To Wine. Garry And Joanne Brooks Could Not Shake The Dream Of A Winery
Gary Brooks doesn’t just make wine—he turns the whole idea of winemaking on its head and brings it back down to earth, reminding us that, after all, it’s just “rotting fruit.” But don’t be fooled by the humility. In this epis...
May 13, 2025
Robert Foye Has Worked All Across This Globe. Amazing Trek And Landed With The Love Of Wine
On a podcast with Emilie Steckenborn of LVMH China, she insisted that I meet with Robert Foye to discuss a podcast appearance. She insisted. After 2 minutes on a call with Robert, I moved from chatting to scheduling. Despite ...
May 8, 2025
Americans Don't Make Sake. Unless You Are Ben Bell. Unreal Story.
I was approached by a PR firm to put Ben Bell on the show. Certainly seemed like an interesting thought. Afterall, domestic Sake is a rarity and one from the heart of Little Tokyo, Arkansas! (that was a little tongue-in-cheek humour). There were so...
May 1, 2025
With a Phd. In History, Chad Ludington Speaks The History Of Wine. Really Quite Fascinating.
One of the more intriguing elements of wine is that it can appeal to a wide range of people. In wide range, I mean it has appeal on so many different levels; a novice can just enjoy their favorite wines from the supermarket and delve into the history...
April 29, 2025
Phil Long Learned It The Hard Way. Without The Headwinds Of Racism.
We I frist met Phil Long, I was tasting at the African American Association of Vintners and we just happen to stumble across the fact that we literally grew up around the corner from each other in Inglewood, California. Granted that was many years...