VinePair Podcast

Joanna and Zach discuss whether or not restaurants really do try to put attractive guests front and center, and whether they reserve the worst tables in for guests who don't fit the image they want to project to the world. While sometimes stereotyping does occur, most of the time when you're given what you see as a bad table, there are reasons for it, even if you might not appreciate them. 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: Inside the Wine Lockers at The Capital Grille — the Elusive Steakhouse Status SymbolJoanna is reading: How Dogfish Head Finally Found Growth Again — With the Grateful DeadInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a recent bit of research about where wine companies hire their marketing professionals from, and how much more so than in beer or spirits, they tend to be wine industry lifers. While the conventional wisdom has generally held that you need to know wine to market wine, is it possible that wine's marketing problem is that they're not looking at a wide enough talent pool? 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: Russiz Superiore Cabernet FrancJoanna is drinking: Grasshopper at After HoursAdam is drinking: Martini at KabawaInstagram: @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 a spate of news regarding the wholesale sector, from Southern Glazer's expanding ownership of AB InBev distributorships to further moves by Reyes Beverage Group to take over states from Republic National Distributing Company. Does RBG really have interest in becoming a major player in wine distribution? Why does Southern want in on the beer and RTD business? Do we even have antitrust laws anymore? 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: New Report Ranks Most Popular Spirits Brands for Shots on American MenusJoanna is reading: Martini Madness 2026Adam is reading: At Banshee, Jen Murphy Goes All-In on Martinis, Guinness, and Neighborhood HospitalityInstagram: @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 received wisdom that restaurants should generate a large chunk of their revenue from their drinks programs. In the past, beverage alcohol sales have been the main source of profit for restaurants, but as prices continue to increase and consumers are perhaps less inclined to indulge, is this still a model that makes sense? 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: 2022 "The Devil is a Liar" Upsidedown Wine GrenacheJoanna is drinking: Coupette Colada at Bitter & Twisted Cocktail ParlourAdam is drinking: The Zesty EstiInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With gas prices spiking, airfare following suit, and nightmarish security delays embroil many American airports, Adam, Joanna, and Zach ponder whether the travel industry, and the hospitality properties that depend on it, will be in for a very rough summer. Given that this is the time of year when many folks make those summer plans, will all those issues, plus general inflation and fears of a recession, combine to keep Americans home this summer? 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: Who Is George Clooney’s New Non-Alcoholic Beer Even For?Joanna is reading: From Ants to Escargots, Has the Stunt Cocktail Ingredient Gone Too Far?Adam is reading: How Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Became an American Whiskey UnicornInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two wine lovers debate why recreations of a famous blind tasting still captivate people. They trace how media authority and ritual gave that moment power and why repeats lose their shock. The conversation explores who these remakes actually persuade and whether the wine world should stop leaning on historic stunts and look to current quality instead.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss ways in which AI is potentially affecting wine service and sales in restaurants. As wine apps like CellarTracker integrate LLM-powered recommendation algorithms, and as at least some diners are more comfortable asking AI what to drink instead of the sommelier, how will restaurants and wine professionals respond? Will some establishments hand over the design of their wine programs to algorithms?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 Buildout Podcast: Death & CoJoanna is reading: If Gen Z Is Drinking Less, What Does Turning 21 Mean Now?Adam is reading: Why American Distillers Are Thriving in IrelandInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aaron Goldfarb, VinePair spirits editor and whiskey writer, chats about Irish whiskey and his list of top bottles. He breaks down why Jameson dominates the category. Conversation covers whether Irish whiskey has a distinct profile and if brands can build aspirational, collector-worthy releases.

A lively debate about the tired claim that wine is “90% made in the vineyard.” They unpack why that statistic is misleading and how cellar choices, labor and marketing shape what ends up in your glass. Side conversations touch on freezer martini ideas and recent drinking travels.

Three wine pros debate whether wineries can escape or reinvent the three-tier wholesale system. They examine direct-to-consumer limits, lifestyle winery realities, and how distributors now act more like logistics firms. The group also digs into market crowding, proving demand to win listings, and old-school grassroots brand building tactics.