Shows
XChateau Wine Podcast5 Years of XChateau w/ Amanda McCrossin & Charlie FuExactly five years ago, Robert and Peter published the first episode of XChateau! To help us reflect on how the wine market has changed in the last five years, XChateau’s most frequent guests, Amanda McCrossin and Charlie Fu, return to discuss the changes in wine influencing and social media, the wine market upheaval occurring now, wine marketing done right, and wine drinking trends. Detailed Show Notes: Changes to being an influencerAM: did not think TikTok would be big for wine in 2020, built it up in 2021, and created more “snackable content” (
2025-05-201h 12XChateau Wine PodcastThe Singaporean Experience w/ Yi Xin Ong, KOT SelectionsAs part of the importer series, Yi Xin Ong, Managing Partner of KOT Selections in Singapore, provides an international perspective. From Singapore’s 2-3,000 active importers for the small island to the impact of international media, Yi Xin describes how KOT navigates the importing, distributing, and retailing of its portfolio of winegrowers. Detailed Show Notes: Background Founded KOT in 2011 - they couldn’t get the wines they were buying in Singapore, three partnersWork w/ 57 winegrowers, mainly in Europe, 6 in the USSingapore wine market (~6M population, ~20% Muslim - don’t drink)No 3-tier...
2024-03-3049 minXChateau Wine PodcastThe Rise & Fall of Bordeaux w/ William Kelley, The Wine AdvocateDeputy Editor of The Wine Advocate, William Kelley, who recently took over reviewing Bordeaux, as well as Burgundy and Champagne, amongst others, and former guest on E62 (Evolution of the Wine Critic) and E68 (Burgundy), takes a deep dive into the current state of Bordeaux in this two-part episode. First, William tackles the history of Bordeaux and how it achieved greatness as one of the top wine regions globally to its recent decline relative to Burgundy. Detailed Show Notes: Bordeaux was William’s 1st love of wine, part of its charm being its everywhere and al...
2023-07-0927 min
Wine Access UnfilteredMendoza: A Wine Lover’s Guide to the Region featuring Robert VernickEpisode 17May 11, 2023Mendoza: A Wine Lover’s Guide to the Region featuring Robert VernickMendoza is the world’s 5th largest wine producer, home of multiple 100 point wines, and the adoptive birthplace of Malbec. Yet, it’s a region that still manages to fly under the radar, especially when it comes to wine tourism. Amanda is joined by XChateau podcast host Robert Vernick, whose wine-savvy Instagram @wineterroir focuses on some of the most sought-after, interesting, and rare wines of the world. After spending a week in the region, Robert and Amanda will tell you wh...
2023-05-1245 minXChateau Wine PodcastLibrary Release - Dissecting the Price of Luxury WinesThis Library Release was selected in conjunction with the next episode discussing pricing and was initially released on December 2nd, 2020. Robert and Peter discuss how luxury wines are priced, delving into the core insights from the Pricing Chapter of Peter’s book, Luxury Wine Marketing. They discuss the luxury wine price segments, the types of luxury wine buyers, and how you need everything to be working right to build a luxury wine brand. “You can’t just stick a label on two-buck-chuck and price it at $1,000.” Detailed Show Notes: Luxury Wine Marketing (“L...
2023-03-1234 minXChateau Wine PodcastLibrary Release - Wine Preservation: Tom Lutz, RepourIn this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Tom Lutz, Founder & Creator of Repour Wine Savor, one of the leading new inventions in wine preservation technology. We discuss the technology, how people have learned about it, the differences between Coravin and Repour, and what the future holds. Other topics covered in this episode include:Tom is a chemist by trade (he worked in biodiesel and aquarium products)Repour was invented when he had a newborn son and ended up pouring half bottles of wine down the drainTechnology: I...
2022-11-2425 minXChateau Wine PodcastCasting Long Shadows over Columbia Valley w/ Gilles Nicault, LongshadowsAfter spending two decades promoting the wines of Washington State, Allen Shoup founded Longshadows, a collective of partnerships leveraging internationally renowned winemaking talent to express the best of the Columbia Valley. Director of Winemaking, Gilles Nicault, describes how the partnerships work from both a business and winemaking perspective; what he’s learned from making wines with the likes of Michel Rolland to Randy Dunn; and how Washington State’s wine profile has been elevated from this concept. Don’t forget to support the show on Patreon!Detailed Show Notes: Allen Shoup founded Lo...
2022-09-2131 minXChateau Wine PodcastCrushing Custom Crush w/ Robert Morris, Grand Cru Custom CrushOperating your own winery is expensive. The custom crush business model enables small wineries to solve this. Robert Morris, the founder of Grand Cru Custom Crush in Sonoma County, explains the benefits of the custom crush model, how it works, and how Grand Cru has changed the custom crush game. Support the show via Patreon!Detailed Show Notes: Robert’s backgroundA Mechanical engineer by training worked at HPBecame partner at Copain Custom Crush (renamed Punchdown Cellars)2016 - founded Grand Cru Custom Crush (“GCCC”)Custom crush (“cc”) definition(s):Grower w/ e...
2022-07-2045 minXChateau Wine PodcastReflections on the Journey: 2 years & 100 episodes of XChateauAfter two years and over 100 episodes of XChateau, Robert and Peter reflect on how the wine industry has changed, the major themes that have popped up in the show, and some of the lessons they have learned in the process. From the changes to social media, the spectrum of fine wine to everyday wines, and the importance of social issues, XChateau has covered a broad array of critical business topics for the wine industry. Supporters on Patreon get access to the entire library of content and episodes. Detailed Show Notes:Social media is changing rap...
2022-06-0832 minXChateau Wine PodcastFarming for the Next Generation w/ Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Champagne Roederer & Xavier Barlier, MMDAs a 7th generation family-owned and run company, being sustainable means building towards the future for the next generations. That’s the philosophy that has led Champagne Louis Roederer to move towards organic farming with biodynamic and permaculture principles since 2000. With 100% of its historic estate (50% of total vineyard holdings) certified organic, this process has had a significant impact on the quality of the fruit and wines as well as the bottom line. Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, EVP and Chef du Cave at Champagne Louis Roederer and Xavier Barlier, SVP of Marketing and Communications of Maison Marques & Domaines USA (Roederer’s import arm...
2022-05-1825 minXChateau Wine PodcastExploring American Sparkling Wine w/ Michael Cruse, Ultramarine & Cruse Wine CoSparkling wine is trending at the moment and no brand best embodies the trend more than cult California sparkling wine producer Ultramarine. Michael Cruse, the founder of Ultramarine and Cruse Wine Co, explains how he developed a passion for sparkling wine that led to his accidental success. He covers how Ultramarine took off, techniques and production practices that have business implications he took from Champagne, pricing, and his view on sales channels. Detailed Show Notes: UltramarineStarted in 2008, 1st real vintage was 2010Sparkling wine in CA that focuses on coastal single vineyards, high ac...
2022-05-1146 minXChateau Wine PodcastFrom Non-Vintage to Multi-Vintage Collection w/ Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Champagne Louis Roederer & Xavier Barlier, MMDAs the climate and resulting fruit quality change, winemakers must adapt to achieve the highest quality. That led the historic (246 years as of 2022) Champagne house of Louis Roederer to create Brut Premier in 1986 to overcome the challenges of underripe vintages, particularly in the 1970s. In 2022, another evolution has occurred, where the fruit is consistently ripe, and the main challenge is to preserve freshness. Thus, the launch of the Collection series, evolving the non-vintage Brut Premier into a multi-vintage wine that represents the best of the base vintage, the house style, and the push for freshness. Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, EVP and...
2022-05-0438 minXChateau Wine PodcastMontepulciano vs. Montepulciano w/ Max de Zarobe, AvignonesiSharing a name causes confusion. Trademark and appellation laws are there to protect them. However, it can be harder to resolve when this confusion is within the same country. That’s the challenge Montepulciano (both the town and and the wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano) faces against its bigger neighbor Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Max de Zarobe of Avignonesi describes the history, challenges, and steps taken to clarify the names and the wines.If you’d like to support the show, please sign up on Patreon! Detailed Show Notes: Max’s background - in shippi...
2022-04-2748 minXChateau Wine PodcastLow/No Alcohol Wines w/ BevZero's Debbie Novograd & Kayla WinterThe low and no alcohol wine space is growing rapidly. Enough so that a company specializing in spinning cone technology to reduce alcohol, ConeTech, changed its name to BevZero. Debbie Novograd, CEO, and Kayla Winter, Director of Product Services & Winemaking, discuss the technology, the challenges of producing good no alcohol wine, and the market for low and no alcohol wines. Don’t forget to support the show on Patreon and get access to our backlog of great episodes and show notes!Detailed Show Notes: Alcohol reduction technologiesReverse Osmosis - pass w...
2022-04-2047 minXChateau Wine PodcastWineTok w/ Amanda McCrossin aka SommVivantWith the rapidly changing social media landscape, TikTok has started (as of late 2021, early 2022) to arrive as a place for wine lovers. Wine influencer Amanda McCrossin (somm_vivant) has gained momentum in this “wild west” and now has over 100k followers. She shares her journey, best practices, and what makes TikTok special. Detailed Show Notes: Former sommelier and wine director at Press Napa Valley, full background on Episode 12Featured in SF Chronicle article about TikTok and wine (March 2022)2 of Amanda’s videos converted well for wineries, 1st proof of ROIDuhig got 1,100 signups fo...
2022-04-1346 minXChateau Wine PodcastBoxing for the Environment w/ Jason Haas, Tablas Creek VineyardConstantly looking to improve its environmental impact, Jason Haas, Second Generation Proprietor of Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, recently released a trial of 3L bag-in-box wines at $95/box. Though this is 15% lower than the normal bottle price, it still represented ~3x the highest boxed wine in the market. However, the potential to lower the total carbon footprint of the wine by 40% led to trialing and a terrific reaction to the 300 box trial, which sold out in 4 hours. Jason explains the rationale, strategy, and process of going bag-in-box and for other alternative packaging. If you love the...
2022-04-0634 minXChateau Wine PodcastCrafting a Brand for Millennials w/ Ben Matthews, Terratorium WinesCombining a passion for wine with a background in marketing to Millennials from Proctor and Gamble, Ben Matthews launched Terratorium Wines. Building a brand for Millennials has led to creating target personas, packaging elements that lead to more transparency, and pricing to create a fine wine entry point. Hear about how Terratorium is creating brand alignment with its Millennial customers. Support the show on Patreon. Detailed Show Notes: Millennial purchase driversWant straightforward, more “natural,” less manufactured products - concern for clean ingredients for products that are “in you,” “on you,” or “aroun...
2022-03-3051 minXChateau Wine PodcastRegenerative, the Only Sustainable Farming w/ Jason Haas, Tablas Creek VineyardTaking over from his father, 2nd generation proprietor of Tablas Creek Vineyard, Jason Haas left a career in technology to dig into the soils of Paso Robles. Spearheading the conversion to Biodynamic farming and now the certification of Regenerative Organic farming, Tablas Creek has pioneered not just the Rhone movement in California, but of Regenerative farming, which looks to take into account the farm’s impact on the soil, community, and region. Jason believes that Regenerative farming is the only truly sustainable way to farm. Listen in to Tablas Creek’s progression from organic to biodynamic to regenerative.
2022-03-2344 minXChateau Wine PodcastStanding Out via AR and Celebrities w/ Ming Alterman, 19 CrimesSeemingly overnight, 19 Crimes, a division of Treasury Wine Estates, has become a Top 15 brand in the US and has a global impact. Re-imagining what a wine brand could be, 19 Crimes has had many innovations, but found lasting success with augmented reality and celebrity partnerships with Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart. Ming Alterman, Brand Director for 19 Crimes, gives us the history, best practices, and keys to success for the brand and AR. If you love the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Detailed Show Notes: 19 Crimes OverviewA Top 15 brand in t...
2022-03-1645 min
Unreserved Wine TalkWine Supertasters, Food Pairings and Canadian Palates with XChateau's Robert Vernick & Peter YeungWhat does it mean to be a supertaster? How did wine consumption habits change during the pandemic? Do Canadians have different wine preferences compared to drinkers in other regions? Why is food and wine pairing such a great way to get into the world of wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung, co-hosts of the XChateau podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks Highlights How did I get...
2022-03-1649 minXChateau Wine PodcastImproving Wine Communication w/ Madeline Puckette, Wine FollyUsing her background in graphic design and inability to read large blocks of text, Madeline Puckette, Co-Founder and Content Director of Wine Folly, has transformed wine communication using infographics and other writing methods to enable wine discovery for more people. What started as a content marketing strategy for a planned wine club, Wine Folly has become one of the core landing sites for wine globally and an essential resource for wine beginners in their wine journey. Here about the journey, the business, and the future with Global Wine Database. If you love the show, please consider supporting us...
2022-03-0948 minXChateau Wine PodcastTelling Stories w/ Jason Wise, SOMM TVWith an outsider's perspective, Jason Wise, director of the SOMM movies and founder of SOMM TV, has been able to find stories in the world of wine that interest a broad audience. In order to control more of the content pipeline and how the shows are distributed, Jason founded SOMM TV. Using "Somm" as more of a curator, SOMM TV has wine at its core and covers food, travel, and other alcohol, making it appealing to a broad (and younger) audience. Learn more about the business of wine films in this episode of XChateau! If you love t...
2022-03-0256 minXChateau Wine PodcastCrafting Wines for Consumers w/ Nicholas Hammeken, Hammeken CellarsHaving studied what was important to wine consumers working at Oddbins, a British wine retailer, Nicholas Hammeken, Founder and Director of Innovation at Hammeken Cellars, founded a company focused on crafting Spanish wines that match consumer preferences. He develops concepts with unique selling propositions, plays to modern tastes, and tries to be an ambassador of affordable luxury. Nicholas tells us all about how he thinks through creating the concept, developing the product, and bringing the wines to market globally. If you love the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon.Detailed Show Notes: Nicholas’ backgro...
2022-02-1642 minXChateau Wine PodcastLibrary Release - Defining Natural WineAn ongoing trend and a topic that crisscrossed many of our interviews on XChateau, the natural wine movement got a formal designation in March of 2020. It specifies a set of vineyard and winery practices to qualify for the designation. We discuss the potential challenges of implementing the designation and the potential impacts on producers, retailers, and consumers. This episode originally aired in May of 2020. To access the rest of our library, become a Patreon supporter, as we’ll soon be making most back episodes only available to our Patreon supporters. Detailed Show Notes: New definitio...
2022-02-0921 minXChateau Wine PodcastMaking Wine Approachable w/ Mark Warren & Tom Beaton, FitVineWondering why there was only beer and spirits but no wine at Crossfit events and races, Mark Warren and Tom Beaton, Founders of FitVine, decided to start their own brand. With a goal of making wine more transparent and approachable, FitVine aims to “fit into your lifestyle.” At the $15-20/bottle price point, FitVine is bringing more Gen X and Millennials into the wine category with wine that tastes good and takes away the stuffy image of the wine industry.If you love the show, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Detailed Show Notes: Mark and...
2022-02-0253 minXChateau Wine PodcastThe Cleanliness of Clean Wine w/ Erik Segelbaum, SOMLYAYEver been curious about the claims people make about “clean wines”? In the same camp as “natural wines” and “better for you wines,” clean wines have no definition and often deploy misleading marketing to get you to buy their wines. They take advantage of the trend, particularly with Millenials, around a healthy lifestyle and spread misinformation in their marketing, according to sommelier and wine educator Erik Segelbaum. Explore the rationale behind the clean wine trend and how to read into their marketing messages on this episode of XChateau!Don’t forget - you can support the show on Patreon to he...
2022-01-2645 minXChateau Wine PodcastSelection and Differentiation in Grocery Wine w/ Curtis Mann MW, Albertson’sGrocery stores are one of the biggest sales channels for wine. Curtis Mann, Group Vice President of Alcohol of the Albertson’s Companies, gives us the inside scoop on buying trends, how to sell into Albertson’s, and the rise of the use of digital. Learn about the dynamics of the grocery wine market and what makes Albertson’s “locally great, nationally strong.”Don’t forget - you can support the show on Patreon to help us keep bringing you great wine business content! Detailed Show Notes: Curtis’ backgroundMBA at UC Davis in Wine Marketing and Acco...
2022-01-1934 minXChateau Wine PodcastDemocratizing Wine Retail w/ Jeffrey Shaw & Jeff Hardy, Underground CellarWith a vision to democratize wine for every wine drinker in the US, Underground Cellar’s founder and CEO Jeffrey Shaw and COO Jeff Hardy are focused on building a unique and disruptive platform for buying wine. Leveraging gamification principles, Underground Cellar gives you upgrades to the wines you buy, giving customers access to more expensive and rare wines. This has expanded into free wine storage in their Cloud Cellar, which they hope to build more community and a trading platform around. Dig into how it got started, the value proposition for wineries, and where they are going in this...
2022-01-1252 min
The Big Vin TheoryPeter Yeung and Robert Vernick - X ChateauWe talk to Peter Yeung and Robert Vernick from X Chateau podcast https://www.xchateau.com/ , which every MW student should subscribe to! We discuss how social media has changed wine marketing and transparency and how can influencers and new tech be used by the trade. We discuss Peter's excellent book https://g.co/kgs/wcDh9U , what the more commercial end of the market can learn from the luxury and much more!
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2022-01-1058 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Consulting Turned Retail w/ Thatcher Baker-Briggs, Thatcher’s Wine ConsultingSommelier turned wine consultant turned online wine retailer. Thatcher Baker-Briggs, Founder of Thatcher’s Wine Consulting, has continued to evolve and expand his presence, helping clients drink better and navigate some of the intricacies of Burgundy and other fine and geeky wines. He tells us about his journey, how email responsiveness is a competitive advantage, and how he believes some of the distribution allocations of top European wineries need to adapt to where the demand is. An engaging and insightful episode of XChateau! Don’t forget - you can support the show on Patreon to help us keep bri...
2022-01-0544 minXChateau Wine PodcastAdaptation: 2021, a Year of Re-Opening, Wine Pricing, and Clean & Natural Wine2021. A year with big expectations. The re-opening of economies around the world with Covid vaccines in distributions instead led to fits and starts with the Delta and Omicron variants. Wine pricing and costs went through gyrations with the tariffs between the EU and US imposed and then lifted and supply chain disruptions creating both cost and availability issues. And clean and natural wines continued to become a broader topic amongst wine consumers and the trade who struggle with their definitions and impact. XChateau assembled a panel across the wine value chain (Producer - Diana Snowden Seysses of Snowden Vineyard and D...
2021-12-231h 05XChateau Wine PodcastBecoming a Wine Retail Institution w/ Phil Bernstein, MacArthur BeveragesAn early mover focusing on fine wine, Bordeaux and California futures, and becoming a dual importer/retailer, Addy Bassin’s MacArthur Beverages has become a wine institution in Washington DC. Phil Bernstein, General Manager of the brick & mortar wine retail store and importer, tells us about how he thinks about wine pricing, direct importing wines, the changes in consumer buying patterns, and more as we continue to delve into the future of wine retail. Detailed Show Notes: Phil’s backgroundHe grew up in Long Island, played Trumpet, and pursued a career as a professional trumpet playerHe ended up...
2021-12-1540 minXChateau Wine PodcastDriving Personalization in Wine Retail w/ Addie Wallace, Wine.comAs the largest wine e-commerce site globally, Wine.com has been a leader in leveraging technology to sell wine. Addie Wallace, Director of Brand Marketing, gives us insight into how wine.com leverages the marketing funnel to drive awareness and conversion, has built a differentiated offering online, and is pushing the boundaries of customization with their new personalized wine club Picked. There’s a lot to learn about the future of retail in this episode of XChateau! Detailed Show Notes: Addie’s backgroundShe started her career in financeIn business school, led the Wine & Cuisine Society and created...
2021-12-0841 minXChateau Wine PodcastSelling Rare Wine w/ Dave Parker, Benchmark Wine GroupBeginning a series on the Future of Retail, we chat with Dave Parker, CEO of Benchmark Wine Group, on how he segments the retail wine market, the unique issues of rare wine, and emerging trends in the space. Listen in to learn about what regions are selling well, the importance of email marketing, a mobile-first mindset, and many other topics that will shape wine retail for the coming decade. 2021 Year-End Episode Live on Clubhouse - Mark your calendars for December 9th at 12 pm Pacific time!Detailed Show Notes: Dave’s backgroundWas in high tech, bought...
2021-12-0137 minXChateau Wine PodcastMaintaining Ex-Chateau Quality w/ Denis Houles and Erik Portanger, 1275 CollectionsHaving experienced the difference in taste from wines sourced ex-chateau versus the secondary market, Denis Houles, CEO of 1275 Collections, is on a mission to create a new wine asset class of pristine conditions wines. Denis and Erik Portanger, Head of Strategy at 1275 Collections, tell us about the industry-wide issues around provenance, particularly with transportation and storage, and how 1275 leverages technology and direct chateaux relationships to build a solution to keep the wines as if they never left the chateaux. Detailed Show Notes: Denis’ backgroundHe grew up in the south of France, fell in love with wine in Bo...
2021-11-1749 minXChateau Wine PodcastProductivity and Community with Eric LeVine, CellarTrackerBuilding the app while on sabbatical from Microsoft in 2003, Eric LeVine, CEO and founder of CellarTracker, had been close to a one-person show until recently. Yet, he’s built one of the most useful productivity tools for wine collectors, an engaged community of geeky wine lovers, and a respectable business that he’s now investing in to grow and take to new heights for the benefit of the CellarTracker community. Eric’s openness and candor provide an in-depth look at how one of the leading wine platforms was founded, built, and where it’s going next. Detailed Show Notes...
2021-11-1043 minXChateau Wine PodcastFine Wine End-to-End w/ Don St. Pierre and Adam Lapierre MWAs the only fine wine end-to-end solution in the US, Vinfolio has recently launched its wine investment service, leveraging its deep expertise in the fine wine arena. Don St. Pierre, Executive Chairman, and Adam Lapierre MW, President, tell us about Vinfolio's history, how the marketplace, storage solution, and VinCellar work together, as well as get into their recent foray into wine investment. A must-listen for those intrigued with wine investment and for fine wine lovers in general. Detailed Show Notes: Don St. Pierre's background1996 - founded ASC Fine Wines w/ his father, a wine importer in Chi...
2021-11-0340 minXChateau Wine PodcastBalancing the Head and Heart of Wine Investing w/ Tom Gearing, Cult WinesAs the wine investment business leader with $275M of assets under management, Cult Wines has been a pioneer in the space for over a decade. Born out of a passion for wine, Tom Gearing, CEO and founder of Cult Wines, tries to balance the head and heart elements of investing in wine with actively managed portfolios by CFAs and experiences with some of the top wineries of the world. Tom shares all the details and great examples of why people should consider investing in wine, the Cult Wine investment process, and where Cult Wines is heading. Detailed Show...
2021-10-2759 minXChateau Wine PodcastMaking Wine Investing Accessible w/ Anthony Zhang, VinovestA serial entrepreneur, Anthony Zhang, was pondering alternative investments and fell into wine. With superior returns to the S&P 500, less volatility, and low correlation with the stock market, wine investment seemed like a perfect category to democratize with technology. Anthony tells us why people should consider investing in wine, the Vinovest investment process, and how wine investment may impact the wine industry. All with a mission of lowering the cost and barriers for the average consumer to invest in wine. Detailed Show Notes: Anthony’s backgroundHe grew up around the world, childhood in Beijing and Hong Ko...
2021-10-2037 minXChateau Wine PodcastTackling Climate Change w/ Josep Maria Ribas & Julien Gervreau, IWCAWith droughts, floods, hail, wildfires, and more challenging how wine is made, Familia Torres and Jackson Family Wines are leading the way to tackle climate change in the wine industry by founding the International Wineries for Climate Action. Founded in 2019, the group already has 22 members and continues to expand its reach and impact. Listen in as Josep Maria Ribas Portella, Climate Change Director for Familia Torres, and Julien Gervreau, VP Sustainability at Jackson Family Wines, tell us about the impacts of climate change, how to measure GHG in the wine industry, and ways wineries are working to improve their em...
2021-10-1345 minXChateau Wine PodcastBreaking Down the 3-Tier System w/ Tom Wark, National Association of Wine RetailersInstituted in a different time, post Prohibition, the 3-Tier system of alcohol distribution and sales in the US creates inefficiencies in matching inventory with demand. Tom Wark, Executive Director of the National Association of Wine Retailers (“NAWR”), founder of Wark Communications, and writer of Fermentation - the Daily Wine Blog educates us on the history, key issues, and challenges of navigating the 3-Tier system for wine consumers to get the wines they want. The NAWR is on a mission to modernize the regulatory landscape for alcohol and bring choice to consumers. Listen in to Tom’s decades of war stories o...
2021-10-0655 minXChateau Wine PodcastGetting Inside Bordeaux w/ Jane Anson, janeanson.comAccidentally filling the big shoes of Michael Broadbent and Steven Spurrier, Jane Anson, wine critic, author of Inside Bordeaux, founder of janeanson.com, and former Bordeaux correspondent for Decanter for nearly 20 years, is one of the world’s foremost experts on the wines, history, and region of Bordeaux. Having lived in Bordeaux since 2003, Jane shares her deep insights into how Bordeaux became as famous as it is, how the systems of La Place de Bordeaux and En Primeur work, and the complex terroir of the region. She gives us insight into the content of janeanson.com and how it will...
2021-09-2957 minXChateau Wine PodcastLibrary Release: Digging into Wine ScoresLibrary Release: Originally aired as Episode 5 in June of 2020. In one of our original episodes, Robert and Peter discuss how competitive the wine market is, how wine scores used to differentiate wines from each other, but do that less today, and the use of wine scores has evolved over time. This episode provides another data point for the conversation around the evolution of the wine critic, as discussed in episodes 61 - 64. Detailed Show Notes: Wine scores were the traditional method of differentiating a wine brandThe wine landscape is getting more competitive and crowded, # of wine br...
2021-09-2220 minXChateau Wine PodcastBurgundy in Context w/ William Kelley, The Wine AdvocateAs the wine reviewer for Burgundy for The Wine Advocate and a small producer of Burgundy himself, William Kelley has a deep and insightful perspective on Burgundy. We discuss how Burgundy became “without substitute” and why “all roads lead to Burgundy,” the rapid escalation of both vineyard and wine prices, and how what was once very contracting landholdings are now consolidating again. History, economics, geology, and terroir all come together in this episode of XChateau! Detailed Show Notes: Listen to the beginning of Episode 62 for background information on WilliamBurgundy as vignerons vs Bordelais châteauxWilliam believes this is an il...
2021-09-1554 minXChateau Wine PodcastBuilding import and distribution pipes w/ Gabe Barkley, MHWBreaking into the US market for alcohol has always been hard. Archaic rules such as the 3-tier system and differing regulations by state make it a complex web of rules and regulations to be in compliance. The increasing consolidation of the distributor channel has made it even harder for smaller players to enter. MHW's goal is to make that simpler, giving producers the ability to enter the market and take control of their own destiny. They provide outsourced importation, distribution, and back-office / compliance services so their clients can grow and execute their sales & marketing plan. Listen in as Gabe Barkl...
2021-09-0837 minXChateau Wine PodcastCrypto and Wine w/ Jeff Andrews & Ray McKee, Trothe WineryJeff Andrews was such a crypto fan that he built 4 crypto mining rigs in his family’s winery lab. A mini-meltdown of one of the rigs didn’t diminish his enthusiasm, making it a no-brainer for Trothe, the new winery based on the best blocks of the 1,300 acres of the Andrews Family Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills in Washington State, to accept crypto right out of the gate. Jeff and winemaker Ray McKee talk about their passion for crypto, the process for accepting it as payment for wine, and the benefits for customers and the winery of using crypt...
2021-09-0133 min
Unreserved Wine TalkLuxury Wine Marketing, Dom Pérignon, Must-Have Gadgets with Robert Vernick & Peter YeungWhat are the six key elements that define a luxury wine? What’ll surprise you about Dom Pérignon that makes it different from other luxury wines? Which two wine gadgets must you own as a wine lover? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung, co-hosts of the XChateau podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks. Highlights What are the six elements that define luxury wine? Which luxury wines are on Robert’s bucke...
2021-08-2531 minXChateau Wine PodcastExporting the King of Wines w/ Valentina Abbona, Marchesi di BaroloGrowing up in a small town of ~700 people made Valentina Abbona, 6th generation vintner and Export and Marketing Manager for her family’s winery, Marchesi di Barolo, want to explore the world. Stints in the US, India, and China ultimately led her back to the family business and managing wine exports. Valentina talks about the history of Barolo exports, including becoming “The King of wine, wine of Kings,” how she approaches new markets, and the differences between markets around the world. Explore the world through the lens of Barolo in this episode of XChateau! Detailed Show Notes: Marchesi...
2021-08-2549 min
Unreserved Wine TalkLearn About Wine via Podcasts, Books, Influencers with Robert Vernick & Peter YeungHow are podcasts a great way to learn about wine? Which wine books can jumpstart your education about wine and further it as you get more knowledgeable? What’s behind the backlash against wine influencers on social media? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung, co-hosts of the XChateau podcast. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks. Highlights What are Peter and Robert’s first memories of wine? Which scent brings Peter back to his first memorab...
2021-08-1828 minXChateau Wine PodcastEngineering Wine Criticism w/ Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.comBecoming a wine critic sounds like a dream for many. However, even though the cost and effort of setting up a website and putting out information have declined dramatically, doing the work of becoming a professional is no easy task - the time and effort it takes to taste and review thousands of wines a year is daunting. Jeb’s journey from aerospace engineer to reviewer of The Wine Advocate to being the Editor-in-Chief of jebdunnuck.com highlights the passion required for the journey. Jeb talks about his journey, critics going independent, blind tasting, score inflation, and more, all in se...
2021-08-1837 minXChateau Wine PodcastMore Voices in Wine w/ Esther Mobley, San Francisco ChronicleEsther Mobley, Wine Critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, thought writing would be more of a passion than a career. Yet, she’s one of two full-time wine writers for newspapers in the US. Esther discusses how being at a newspaper differs from a wine magazine, the changing wine critic landscape, the impact of wine scoring, and even gives some tips for budding wine bloggers and influencers. She believes that “More voices are great” when it comes to wine writing and celebrates when there’s a new wine writer hired. A unique voice and angle in our discussion of the evolving...
2021-08-1146 minXChateau Wine PodcastThe Wine Critic Evolution w/ William Kelley, The Wine AdvocateThe retirement of Robert Parker marked a major change in the role of the wine critic that had been building over time. William Kelley, Reviewer of Burgundy, Champagne, English Sparkling, and Madeira for The Wine Advocate (“TWA”), gives us his thoughts on how the wine critic landscape is changing and why, the impact wine critics have on the market, and the role of TWA. Dig deep into the mind of a wine critic on this episode of XChateau. Detailed Show Notes: William’s backgroundHe ran a tasting group at Oxford for 3 yearsHe was initially planning on becoming a...
2021-08-0451 minXChateau Wine PodcastBringing Wine to Life w/ Jacki Strum, Wine Enthusiast MediaGrowing up around wine has not dimmed the passion Jacki Strum brings to her work as President of Wine Enthusiast Media. In the first of a series on the evolution of the wine critic, Jacki tells us about how Wine Enthusiast has expanded its platform from print into web, social media, podcasts, and even Tik Tok. As well as how they assess wines (blindly) as a wine critic and how those ratings are used to help people buy wine. We really get under the hood of the wine media business in this episode of XChateau! Detailed Show Note...
2021-07-2846 minXChateau Wine PodcastCharting the Wine Media Landscape w/ Natalie MacLean, nataliemaclean.comNatalie MacLean, a podcaster and writer based in Ottawa, Canada, has been bringing people into her wine world for over 20 years. With two books, a newsletter with over 300,000 subscribers, a mobile app, and the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, Natalie’s main focus is on perfecting her food and wine pairing courses - The Wine Smart Course and an upcoming course on wine and cheese. Natalie tells us about how she built her personal brand, the most effective marketing channels she’s used, and where her primary revenue drivers are. If you’re interested in navigating how to be successful in the wo...
2021-07-2144 minXChateau Wine PodcastWhat People Want from Fine Wine w/ Pauline Vicard, ARENI GlobalGetting at the heart of what consumers want is essential for any business, but a vastly understudied area in the world of fine wine. Pauline Vicard, Executive Director of ARENI Global, follows up her interview on Episode 28 and shares with us their latest research on the fine wine consumer - “The Future of Fine Wine Consumers 2021.” We explore the role of fine wine merchants, how and why consumers buy fine wine, and the key attributes of fine wine brands. The work covers the US, UK, China, and Hong Kong, and we discover the differences between consumers in each location. We even...
2021-07-1449 minXChateau Wine PodcastMarketing to Millennials w/ Damien Wilson, Sonoma State UniversityPart two of our interview with Damien Wilson, Hamel Family Chair of Wine Business at Sonoma State University, focuses on what wineries can do to align their brand, marketing messages, and how they sell wine to Millennials. From hospitality to various marketing channels, with social media, Damien provides examples of what works and tips on what to do. This episode also includes a “lightning round” where Damien and Peter discuss some of the major trends in wine marketing. Detailed Show Notes: Millennial Wine Buying - tips for wineriesLimits on brand loyalty/retention mean wineries need to make mor...
2021-07-0737 minXChateau Wine PodcastMillennials & Wine w/ Damien Wilson, Sonoma State UniversityWith values and attitudes formed around the turn of the 21st century, Millennials want fulfilling careers, are more into environmental and social causes, and grew up in the social media era. Damien Wilson, Hamel Family Chair of Wine Business at Sonoma State University, explains who Millennials are, what drives their buying habits, and the brand loyalty of the group. This is the first part of a two-part series on marketing to Millennials. Detailed Show Notes: Damien’s backgroundMid 1980’s - worked in grocery retail in wine & spiritsEarly 1990’s - worked in hospitality as a wine stewardMid 1990’swine sales...
2021-06-3042 minXChateau Wine PodcastDiscovering Zinfandel w/ Carole Meredith, UC Davis & Lagier MeredithOne of the world’s leading grape geneticists, Carole Meredith, Professor Emerita of UC Davis and owner of Lagier Meredith winery, has spent decades identifying and profiling grape varieties. It was so interesting that the interview has been split into two episodes. Episode 55 covers the background of Ampelography and DNA profiling as well as the definitions of key terms such as variety, clone, and hybrid. In addition, this episode features the stories of how she uncovered the history of Zinfandel (aka - Primitivo, Crljenak Kaštelanski, and Tribidrag) with Croatian researchers and how wineries use DNA profiling in wine mark...
2021-06-2336 minXChateau Wine PodcastGrape DNA Profiling w/ Carole Meredith, UC Davis & Lagier MeredithOne of the world’s leading grape geneticists, Carole Meredith, Professor Emerita of UC Davis, and owner of Lagier Meredith winery, has spent decades identifying and profiling grape varieties. It was so interesting that the interview has been split into two episodes, this one about the background of Ampelography and DNA profiling as well as the definitions of key terms such as variety, clone, and hybrid. The second episode features how she uncovered the history of Zinfandel and how wineries use DNA profiling in wine marketing. Detailed Show Notes: Carole’s backgroundWorked part-time at a retail nursery...
2021-06-1640 minXChateau Wine PodcastWhat’s Next for Argentina? Why, Malbec...w/ Laura Catena, Catena ZapataLaura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata, Founder of the Catena Institute, and Owner of Luca Winery, used to frequently get asked, “What’s next for Argentina after Malbec.” While Argentina has diversity in wine, its core calling card, quality, and diversity can also reside in Malbec. From storied beginnings to becoming a new classic, Laura shares with us the stories of the history of Malbec, how Argentina and the Catena family have elevated it with tastings, books, and scientific research, and how the future of Argentina is truly...Malbec. Detailed Show Notes: Laura’s backgroundBA Biology from...
2021-06-0954 minXChateau Wine PodcastAlentejo the Last Frontier of Europe w/ João Gomes de Silva, Sogrape and Herdade de Peso“The last frontier of Europe,” “A pristine region,” “A mosaic of soil varieties and temperatures” are all ways João Gomes de Silva, Board Member of Sogrape, describes the Alentejo wine region. João tells us about the evolution of Portugal’s wine industry, the complexity of the Alentejo wine region, and how the industry has been promoting and building the brand of Alentejo wine. From “seasoning” to amphora, there’s plenty to get excited about with Alentejo and its wines! Detailed Show Notes: João’s backgroundFamily is in agriculture and farmingJoão is a wine loverWorked in food retail...
2021-06-0252 minXChateau Wine PodcastSelling Uruguayan Tannat w/ Christian Wylie, Bodega Garzón“Ura-what?, Ura-where?” Selling Uruguayan Tannat has many challenges, recognizing both the country and the signature variety not well known globally. However, Christian Wylie, General Manager of Bodega Garzón, and owner Alejandro Bulgheroni have risen to the challenge. So much so that the late, famed wine writer Steven Spurrier once said that “Garzón achieved iconic status in less than a decade.” Hear all about the journey for Garzón and Uruguayan Tannat in general on this episode of XChateau. Detailed Show Notes: Christian’s backgroundChilean from a British familyStudied agricultural engineering in Chile and enology at UC DavisHe was a...
2021-05-2654 minXChateau Wine PodcastMailing Lists for European Wineries w/ Kevin Sidders, VinConnectFor the first time, European wineries can have direct relationships with customers, and lovers of many European wineries can consistently secure access to their favorite wines via the VinConnect platform. Founder and President, Kevin Sidders, explains how VinConnect works, tells us some of the unique, rare wines that have been offered, and all the reasons how VinConnect benefits their winery partners. Not a new way of buying wine, but bringing the American direct-to-consumer experience to European wineries. This episode is sponsored by Sonoma State University’s Wine Executive MBA program. A 17-month, transformative program that builds leadership skills...
2021-05-1948 minXChateau Wine PodcastOne Year Anniversary - Live on ClubhouseWhen Robert & Peter started the XChateau Wine Business podcast, the idea was to try and build a community around the business of wine. Part of that has been engaging with our listeners, as well as our guests. While it has happened on an ad hoc basis, we wanted to do it more proactively for our 50th Episode / One Year Anniversary. We recorded our 50th episode live on Clubhouse to have a broader interaction with former guests (Juliana Colangelo, Lauren McPhate, and Maureen Downey), other guest partners (Barb Tyree from Repour and Tess Roche from WineBid) as well as listeners. We...
2021-05-1249 minXChateau Wine PodcastDrink Better Wine w/ Heini Zachariassen, VivinoFocused on helping the casual wine consumer buy better wine, Vivino has spent over 10 years building its database of wines, creating a structured tastings database, and network of merchants to make buying better wine more convenient. Heini Zachariassen, founder and CEO, tells us about the journey, what Vivino is up to today, and where it’s going. A must-listen for anyone interested in wine. Detailed Show Notes: Heini’s backgroundborn in the Faroe Islands, with only ~50,000 people and no wineAn entrepreneur into technologyHe got the idea for Vivino from “seeing a wall of wine and not knowing wha...
2021-05-0536 minXChateau Wine PodcastThe Future of Sommeliers w/ Mia Van de Water MS, United Sommeliers FoundationHaving gone through the most difficult period in history with an unprecedented shutdown during the Covid pandemic, restaurants and their sommeliers and beverage directors are in a new world and need to evolve. Mia Van de Water MS, of Cote Korean Steakhouse and the United Sommeliers Foundation, explains everything that has happened in the world of wine and restaurants. From the scandals at the Court of Master Sommeliers to the pivots restaurants have done during Covid to the work of the United Sommeliers Foundation, Mia takes us through the many evolutions and the future of sommeliers. Special Ann...
2021-04-2857 minXChateau Wine PodcastCava, Beyond Value w/ Javier Pagés, D.O. CavaToo often known as just a value sparkling wine, Cava makes some of the world’s finest traditional-method sparkling wines. Ones that Javier Pagés, President of D.O. Cava, would like to see drunk on more occasions, especially with food. Javier gives us an overview of the Cava region, how it builds brand ambassadors across the globe, and how “Cava elevates every meal” on this episode of XChateau. Detailed show notes: Javier’s backgroundStarted as a wine salesperson, including in the US (both East Coast and San Francisco) with importers, distributors (e.g., Southern Glazers)Was a sales...
2021-04-2140 minXChateau Wine PodcastThe Hardest Wine Exam in the World w/ Mark de Vere MWThe hardest wine exam in the world, an elite community of >400 wine professionals, and learning how to engage with wine more. All those elements are used to describe the Institute of Masters of Wine and the Master of Wine (“MW”) exam. Mark de Vere MW tells us about how becoming an MW landed him a full-time job in Napa to all the rigors required to pass the MW exam. A must listen to episode for those thinking of applying for the MW program or those who just love learning about challenging wine exams. Detailed Show Notes: Mark’s bac...
2021-03-1743 minXChateau Wine PodcastStirring up the Conversation w/ Katie Canfield and Rebecca Johnson, The Bâtonnage ForumBâtonnage, the French word for stirring the lees, is now about stirring up the conversation about women and wine. The Bâtonnage Forum, founded in 2018, is creating a safe space to have difficult conversations about gender inclusivity in the wine world. Katie Canfield and Rebecca Johnson, partners at wine PR agency O’Donnell Lane, are currently carrying the baton for the forum. They tell XChateau about transitioning the forum to virtual, launching a mentorship program, and filing for 501c3 status. This episode is sponsored by Repour, the simple, effective way to preserve your wine...without planning ahead. E...
2021-03-0335 minXChateau Wine PodcastDoing the Work of Change w/ Ikimi Dubose, The Roots FundCreating inclusivity and change is not changing current structures. It’s about creating new spaces. Ikimi Dubose of The Roots Fund is pushing change for diversity and inclusion of the BIPOC community in wine through passion, accountability, and transparency. She tells us how The Roots Fund is more than scholarships, has been able to change lives, and is expanding its impact with a high school enrichment program, a job board, and a language program. Dynamic only marginally describes Ikimi and The Roots Fund and the impact this nascent non-profit organization is having with only a year under its belt. ...
2021-02-2457 minXChateau Wine PodcastBringing the Winery to You w/ Judd Wallenbrock, Charles Krug WineryArt, comedy, food, movies, performance art, outdoor cabanas, food and wine pairings...are some of the draws that bring people to Charles Krug winery in Napa Valley. President & CEO of C Mondavi & Family (parent company of Charles Krug) Judd Wallenbrock tells us about the history of innovation at Charles Krug and the Mondavi family. As the first winery and first tasting room in Napa Valley, Charles Krug has spearheaded many different elements of hospitality and now drives them virtual. Hear all about their programs and what has worked in the virtual space on this episode of XChateau!Det...
2021-02-1741 minXChateau Wine PodcastMinerality: Loose Rocks or Loose Terminology?A tasting term, specific elements in the soil and grapes, and even geological elements and rock types; the term minerality in the context of wine has taken up a rather broad usage. Robert and Peter explore a bit of the science, the use of the term as a tasting descriptor, and how the industry has used minerality as a sales tool. Listen to grasp a hold on how the term is used and what it is used for. Detailed show notes: Minerality as a wine term started in the 1980sA tasting term - related to flint, matc...
2021-01-2037 minXChateau Wine PodcastFull-Funnel Data w/ Aaron Sherman, SevenFiftyDisplacing pen and paper isn’t that easy in the wine world. SevenFifty, an online wine marketplace, has been innovating in the full value chain of wine to bring things online. Starting with distributors, Aaron Sherman, CEO of SevenFifty, tells Robert and Peter about his plans to become a full-funnel sales & marketing platform for the wine world, with solutions for distributors, suppliers, and both on- and off-premise retailers. Aaron digs into how the platform works today and the innovations on the horizon. Detailed Show Notes: Aaron’s background - grew up in a restaurant and wine family was...
2021-01-0631 minXChateau Wine PodcastHindsight is 2020 w/ Jane Anson, Carlton McCoy, and Guest Host Charlie FuA year that felt like a century...tariffs, the Covid-19 pandemic, massive wildfires, social upheavals for both gender and race...2020 is one for the record books. Carlton McCoy, CEO of Heitz Cellars, and Jane Anson, writer for Decanter Magazine and author of Inside Bordeaux, join Robert and special guest host Charlie Fu (Wine Berserkers moderator) to recap all the twists and turns of 2020. Detailed Show Notes: Wine tariffsAnson - had an immediate impact when they went into place in Nov 2019 on the French wine industry, pre-Covid (~April 2020), French wine was down 30% with Bordeaux down ~12%, the French had...
2020-12-161h 14XChateau Wine PodcastDissecting the Price of Luxury WinesRobert and Peter discuss how luxury wines are priced, delving into the core insights from the Pricing Chapter of Peter’s book, Luxury Wine Marketing. They discuss the luxury wine price segments, the types of luxury wine buyers, and how you need everything to be working right to build a luxury wine brand. “You can’t just stick a label on two-buck chuck and price it at $1,000.” Detailed Show Notes: Luxury Wine Marketing (“LWM”) was published in late 2019Contains industry best practices for how to sell luxury wines vs. more “commercial” winesIncludes new research on the market size, customer...
2020-12-0234 minXChateau Wine PodcastDigitization and Diversity in Wine Auctions w/ Jamie Ritchie, Sotheby’s WineIn this episode, we learn about the wine auction market from Jaime Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Wine at Sotheby’s, one of the leaders in the space. We discuss how wine auctions work, how finding in-demand wines to sell is the current challenge, and the increasing digitization and diversification of the space. From moving to more online auctions, younger buyers from more diverse backgrounds and geographies, to how tariffs and taxes and reshaped the wine auction landscape, this episode is a must-listen if you have any interest in the world of fine and rare wines. Detailed Show Notes...
2020-11-0549 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Preservation: Tom Lutz, RepourXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Tom Lutz, Founder & Creator of Repour Wine Saver, one of the leading new inventions in wine preservation technology. We discuss the technology, how people have learned about it, the differences between Coravin and Repour, and what the future holds. Other topics covered in this episode include:Tom is a chemist by tra...
2020-10-2825 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Preservation: Greg Lambrecht, CoravinXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Greg Lambrecht, Founder & Chairman of Coravin, leading wine preservation and access technology. We discuss the technology, how to get the most out of the Coravin, how people learn about coravin, and what is in store for the future. Other topics covered in this episode include:Greg fell in love with wine in...
2020-10-2154 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine PR: Paul Yanon, Colangelo & PartnersXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Paul Yanon, Vice President of Wine, for Colangelo & Partners, a New York-based PR agency focused on wine, food, and spirits. We discuss the differences between working with European vs. American wineries, how the return on investment (“ROI”) is changing in the PR space, and how Justin Timberlake and ‘N SYNC have parallels with wine PR.
2020-10-1434 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine PR: Morgan Moore & Alex Fondren, Glodow Nead CommunicationsXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Morgan Moore, Director, and Alex Fondren, Associate Director, of Glodow Nead Communications, one of the largest independent lifestyle PR agencies focused on hospitality, food and beverage, retail, and real estate. We discuss how wine is consumable art, the relevancy of trade magazines and wine critics, and how Glodow Nead creates partnerships between clients to d...
2020-10-0738 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine PR: Stephanie Teuwen, Teuwen CommunicationsXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Stephanie Teuwen, President and Co-Founder of Teuwen Communications, an award-winning, PR agency focused on food, wine, and spirits. We discuss what a PR firm does in wine, how wine PR differs from other consumer brands PR, and the business model of PR. Other topics covered in this episode include:Stephanie’s back...
2020-09-3039 minXChateau Wine PodcastThe Global Cork Market: Carlos de Jesus, Amorim CorkXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Carlos de Jesus, Director of Marketing and Communications for Amorim Cork in Portugal, the largest cork company in the world which is celebrating its 150 year anniversary in 2020. We discuss the various uses of cork, the differences between corks and other closures, and how the business of cork has evolved over the decades. Ot...
2020-09-2355 minXChateau Wine PodcastThe American Negociant: Brian Retherford, Claudine WinesXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Brian Retherford, founder of Claudine Wines, a modern, American micro-negociant. We discuss the wine market inefficiencies that make a negociant model possible, how the wines of Claudine differ from the wineries’ wines, and where the best deals will be going forward. Other topics covered in this episode include:Brain’s background - 15 y...
2020-09-1641 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Influencer Overview: Juliana Colangelo, Colangelo & PartnersXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Juliana Colangelo, Vice President of Colangelo & Partners’ San Francisco Office. Colangelo & Partners is an integrated communications agency for food, wine, and spirits brands. Robert and Peter discuss how wine brands should plan, execute, and measure the results of social media influencer campaigns, covering details like budget, how to find the right influencers, and what to e...
2020-09-0949 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Influencer: @grapechic - Nicole MuscariXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview wine influencer Nicole Muscari (Instagram: @grapechic). Nicole tells Robert and Peter about her journey from a career in dance to fashion and then into wine. Having built a 23.5k+ Instagram following and launching a wine blog, Nicole has become the Private Client Sales rep for the Northeast for Chateau de Pommard. Other top...
2020-09-0239 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Influencer: @attorneysomm - John JacksonXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview John Jackson (Instagram: @attorneysomm), an attorney by day, wine drinker by night. We ask John about how he got started in wine blogging and built his 11,000+ Instagram account in less than two years. Robert and Peter discuss the methods John used to build his following, the Sips Around the Globe Initiative (Instagram: @sips.aroundtheglobe), an...
2020-08-2739 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Influencer: @thiswaywithtay - Taylor WilsonXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Taylor Wilson (Instagram: @thiswaywithtay) about becoming a full-time wine influencer on Instagram from a career in real estate. Robert and Peter discuss how Taylor’s mother’s love of wine inspired her to learn more about it, wine education, building an 18,000+ IG following in one year, and how certain clothing choices can help engagement. ...
2020-08-1940 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Influencer: @wine.gini - Georgia PanagopoulouXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Georgia Panagopoulou (Instagram: @wine.gini) about creating digital content on social media and supporting wineries in the digital marketing space. Robert and Peter discuss Georgia’s experience with the OIV Masters of Wine Management, how she built her brand and @wine.gini, and working with wineries to tell their stories as both a wine am...
2020-08-1135 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Influencer: @sommvivant - Amanda McCrossinXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Amanda McCrossin (Instagram/YouTube: @sommvivant; former Sommelier at Press Napa Valley) about creating content on social media and telling the stories behind the wines. Robert and Peter discuss how Amanda works with wine brands on telling their story, her theatre background, and best practices for wine influencers and for...
2020-08-0341 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Influencer: @clayfu.wine - Charlie FuXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Charlie Fu (Instagram: @clayfu.wine and Wine Berserkers moderator: c fu) about wine collecting and the impact of social media. Robert and Peter discuss how Charlie got into wine, his engagement in Wine Berserkers, and how he uses Instagram and Cellar Tracker to discuss and engage with other serious...
2020-07-2741 minXChateau Wine PodcastNFL Wine Guy - Will Blackmon the Wine MVPXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Super Bowl Champion and founder of The Wine MVP wine club Will Blackmon about his love of wine and how he ended up in the wine business. Robert and Peter discuss the NFL and wine, how Will got into wine, and the business of The Wine MVP. O...
2020-07-2048 minXChateau Wine PodcastSocial Media: Brand PagesXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung discuss building and managing a brand page on social media for wineries, retailers, and other wine businesses. Robert and Peter discuss how to get started, build followership, engage with your audience, and then create calls to action. This episode will give you a head start and helpful tips on how...
2020-07-1331 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine Social MediaXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments, so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, Robert Vernick and co-host Peter Yeung discuss social media for wineries and the importance of creating your social presence to grow your brand and build a solid client base. Robert and Peter will delve into the pros and cons of each social media platform, as well as managing your brand page, social media influencers, and...
2020-07-0640 minXChateau Wine PodcastMarketing EvolutionXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode host Robert Vernick and co-host Peter Yeung wrap up their series on standing out from the crowd. This episode will focus on the evolution of brand marketing and what wineries should be doing to keep up with trends.Stay tuned to hear Robert and Peter’s thoughts on the current stage of evolution, ho...
2020-06-2929 minXChateau Wine PodcastClassic Business ModelsXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung continue their series on standing out from the crowd. This episode will focus on the classic business models of how brands were built.Stay tuned to hear Robert and Peter’s thoughts on the three main models wineries use for branding, what works and what needs to change in...
2020-06-2222 minXChateau Wine PodcastWine ScoresXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, host Robert Vernick and co-host Peter Yeung begin a multi-part series about how wineries can stand out from the crowd. This first episode will focus on how to use and leverage wine scores.Stay tuned to hear Robert and Peter’s thoughts about the impact of wine scores on businesses, the importance of bu...
2020-06-1519 minXChateau Wine PodcastCovid-19 Impacts: Interview with Tim Marson MW, Wine.comXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.On this edition of the podcast, host Robert Vernick and co-host Peter Yeung interview Tim Marson, MW. He is the senior wine buyer at Wine.com, a website which has experienced a surge in popularity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tim has been in the industry for 23 years from retail, to independent specialists, to wine buying. Wine.com...
2020-06-0827 minXChateau Wine PodcastCovid-19 Impacts: Interview with Lauren McPhate, Tribeca Wine MerchantsXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode host Robert Vernick and co-host Peter Yeung interview Lauren McPhate. Lauren is Director of Sales at Tribeca Wine Merchants in downtown Manhattan. Her experience with wine began in Hong Kong where she worked as Communication and Events Manager for Ginsberg + Chan.Lauren discusses how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected Tribeca Wine merchants and...
2020-06-0135 minXChateau Wine PodcastDefining Natural WineXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments, so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, host Robert Vernick and co-host Peter Yeung discuss the recent change in the way natural wine can be classified. The French Appellation System has put a new system of categorization into place, meaning natural wines must be organically farmed, hand harvested, and use only indigenous yeasts.Robert and Peter go further in depth...
2020-05-2519 minXChateau Wine PodcastCovid-19 and the Wine IndustryXChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments so you always know what goes into your bottle.In this episode, hosts Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung discuss how the Covid-19 outbreak is impacting the wine industry and consumers. With everyone on lockdown, the landscape of the wine industry has had to adapt, and may have to evolve further, to stay competitive.Robert and Peter go in-depth about how sales are being affected, new...
2020-05-1821 min