Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast VinePair Podcast

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the etiquette of splitting checks: is this something that only young adults can and should do? Is there a threshold point where it becomes acceptable? Do things like Venmo make this better or worse? 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 Bull Case for Sierra Nevada’s Under-the-Radar ‘Hype Brewery’ Line

Joanna is reading: The Crazy Origin Story of the East 8 Hold-Up, a London-Born Vodka Cocktail Rising in Popularity

Adam is reading: A Restaurant’s Off-Menu Wine List Should Feel Special, Not Exclusive

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Sometimes, it feels like a product needs a brand refresh. A new label, a new design, a new bottle -- something. Yet as Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss, moving away from an established design aesthetic can serve to confuse and even alienate consumers - did you not just change the packaging but the product inside as well? 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: 2014 Gramercy Cellars "Forgotten Hills" Syrah

Joanna is drinking: Dewar's Distillery Edition Scotch

Adam is drinking: Chopin Family Reserve Vodka

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Zach contemplate whether collecting beer, spirits, and wine has gone from a hobby associated with class and refinement to something that comes off as weirdo behavior. Did craft beer nerds delude themselves into thinking there would be a market for decade-old beer? Are there just too many specialty bottles of whiskey? Do people actually want to drink old wine? 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: A Timeline of Craft Beer’s Darling Styles

Adam is reading: Rare Beer Was Once a Collector’s Dream. Now, It’s a Liability.

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Recession indicators abound, from robust inflation to consumer sentiment. Within the hospitality industry, it's the rise of all-you-can-eat restaurants and drinks specials. How can bars and restaurants entice wary consumers, and does "value" always have to mean "cheap as hell?" 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: Project 9 Brewing Czech Dark Lager

Joanna is drinking: CHO Wines "Dreamer's Reserve" Pinot Noir

Adam is drinking: Las Jaras Pinot Noir

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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With recent doomerism about the most popular red grape variety in the world, Adam, Joanna, and Zach take stock of Cabernet Sauvignon - is it in fact going through a bit of an identity crisis, or does its continued status as a red wine behemoth belie those concerns? Additionally, can producers and regions that built their success on the backs of a bold, ripe, assertive style of Cabernet actually pivot to more restrained, lighter styles, or will they make everyone unhappy. 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 25 Best Scotch Whiskies for 2026

Joanna is reading: VinePair's 2026 Next Wave Award Finalists

Adam is reading: Parker’s Heritage Is One of the Most Compelling Lines in Whiskey. What’s Next for the Label?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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With Adam back from his European adventures, he, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether America's general dismissal of hotel bars as nothing more than places for mediocre drinks and clandestine assignations is changeable. If Londoners can continue to view hotel bars as legitimate spots for top cocktail bars, why can't Americans? 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: Ashes & Diamonds "Saffron Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon

Joanna is drinking: Gin Martini at Sailor

Adam is drinking: Martini at Satan's Whiskers

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach ponder Grupo Campari's latest stateside foray into the spritz space - SARTI Rosa. Can this new aperitivo further expand their hold on the spritz category? Why do they think this flavor (blood orange, mango, passionfruit) and color (pink) are the right ones for the market? Is it kind of weird to be launching a spritz in September? 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: As Climate Change Shifts Harvest Earlier, Winemakers Face a New Set of Challenges Beyond the Vineyard

Joanna is watching: The Great American Wine Tour

Adam is reading: Does Hospitality Suffer When a Top Cocktail Bar Goes All-in on Reservations?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Inspired by a couple of recent pieces about restaurant green and red flags, Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair contributor Dave Foss to discuss some of their red and green flags on restaurant menus and when they sit down to dine. From a cohesive menu to considered pricing to...soup (?), what are the signs that you're in the right (or wrong) spot? 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!

Dave is drinking: Bodgeas Los Bermejos Listan Rosado

Zach is drinking: Pink Squirrel at At Random

Joanna is drinking: Heidi Schröck & Söhne Beerenauslese

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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In the wake of yet another flare-up in the trade war/war of words between the United States and Canada, Joanna and Zach discuss the current state of Canada's boycott of American drinks, and ponder what it will take to get those brands back into the Canadian market if relations ever normalize. Will Canadian drinkers re-embrace drinking American, or will years of bad blood and changed habits make it much harder for future efforts? 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 9 Wine Pros: What’s the Most Underrated American Wine Region?

Joanna is reading: The Psychology Behind Food Towers: Why Are We Drawn to Tiered Meals?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair managing editor Hannah Staab to discuss the merits and ethics of the "secret" wine list: special bottles that for one reason or another aren't listed normally, but might be available if you know the right person or ask the right question (or stalk the wine bar on Instagram). Is this a harmless and fun way to reward wine lovers and devotees, or is it yet another way to promote snobbery and elitism within wine? 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: Brandy Old Fashioned (Press) at Ishnala Supper Club

Joanna is drinking: Vale of Cashmere at FOLK Brooklyn

Hannah is drinking: Damien Guadagnolo Côtes du Jura Poulsard

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Joanna and Zach discuss a recent survey that found that many would-be wine drinkers, particularly younger ones, are put off by the rules, traditions, and lack of customization that seem endemic to the category. While totally forswearing tradition seems like a losing play, can wine producers, professionals, and vendors find ways to bring a bit more playfulness and flexibility to wine? 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 Coolest Cocktail Trend of the Year Is Piling on the Ice

Joanna is reading: Two Years After American Single Malt’s Ratification, the Category Is Still Finding Its Way

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair spirits editor Aaron Goldfarb to discuss the rise of so-called "weird" spirits, particularly unusual or unexpected flavors in established categories like gin, vodka, and whiskey. Who is the target market for these bottles: curious consumers, bartenders, or what? Will spirits that are targeted at a very specific cocktail or food pairing find a home on back bars or is that a tough sell to bars that are used to a more DIY approach? 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: 1997 Hedges Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Joanna is drinking: Drinks Farm "Eva" White Blend

Aaron is drinking: Two-Step Martini at Sips

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Joanna and Zach discuss how American winemakers and grape growers should react to consumer preferences swinging more towards white wines and more decisively away from full-bodied red wines. While the latter have been the backbone of the domestic industry at all price levels, will changing tastes, changing foodways, and changing conditions force US producers to not just make more white wine, but make more high-end white wine? 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 Sommeliers: What’s the Most Overrated Red Wine?

Joanna is reading: Why Is It so Hard to Get a Good Martini in Europe?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Joanna respond to a couple of hospitality hot takes: first, is it a betrayal of your customers to close earlier than your posted hours, even if business is slow? With labor costs at an all-time high, how should a restaurant or bar balance the need to remain cost-efficient with the fact that few things can turn off a potential customer more than showing up during posted hours only to be told that the kitchen is closed or the establishment itself has called it for the night? Secondly, if you go out with friends who turn out to be bad guests or tippers, should you just not ever go out with them again? 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!

Joanna is drinking: Yamazaki 18

Adam is drinking: Adult Bookstore at Bar Bambi

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Joanna discuss some of the more intriguing parts of Diageo's recently-announced plans to change and modernize their approach, from finally taking RTDs seriously to expanding their focus to some of their more value-oriented brands. 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!

Joanna is reading: A Timeline of the Bar Industry’s Darling Spirits

Adam is reading: NYC Insiders Club Jean’s Defines Downtown Manhattan Right Now. Can It Last?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss a recent occurrence while filming The Wait - a trendy NYC restaurant telling people to come back at 11 pm for dinner and then informing them when they did come back that the kitchen was closed. Was this just a random bit of bad hospitality or a perhaps ill-founded attempt to make this restaurant feel more exclusive and pretentious? Who does that kind of pretention appeal to, anyhow? 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: DeLille Cellars "Doyenne" Roussanne

Joanna is drinking: Peartini at The Rockwell Place

Adam is drinking: Ricotta Negroni at Manhatta

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach take a look at another reason why wine is struggling in restaurants: the drinking public is unable to perceive value with much of what's on offer. While restaurants decry the high prices that wineries and distributors charge, and producers and drinkers cringe at the major markups restaurants apply to wine, is it possible that there's another solution besides just "someone gets screwed over?" 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: DISCUS Is Trying to Boost Spirits Exports. Tariffs Keep Getting In the Way.

Joanna is reading: The 30 Best Gins for 2026

Adam is reading: Route 66 Turns 100: A Brewery-by-Brewery Road Trip Guide From Chicago to Santa Monica

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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With Joanna back from Scotland, she rejoins Adam and Zach to discuss her takeaways from visiting Panda & Sons, the iconic and world-class bar in Edinburgh. Do bars at that level tend to seem more similar than you'd think given that they're located in countries around the world? How tough is it to balance trying to be a place that locals might go to with being such a tourist destination? 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: E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie "Brune & Blonde de Guigal"

Joanna is drinking: Aberfeldy 21-Year Single Malt Scotch

Adam is drinking: St. Innocent Winery "Freedom Hill" Chardonnay

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Wine has long relied on tradition to sell itself: traditions surrounding wine producers and regions, traditions surrounding drinking occasions and traditions surrounding how all of that is used to market wine. Yet do those stories still matter to consumers? Do they get people excited about wine, or do they serve as barriers that keep some people out of the category? Adam and Zach discuss all that and more in this week's episode. 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 12 Bartenders: What’s the Most Exciting International City to Drink in Right Now?

Adam is reading: How the Upper East Side Became New York City’s Last Bastion for Craft Beer

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Zach discuss two recent studies, the first of which shows that, surprise, Gen Z is drinking at historically normal rates, despite all the misplaced doom and gloom around the generation. Why were so many invested in the myth that Gen Z doesn't drink, and how should producers and marketers be rethinking their strategy. Plus, another study explores what drinkers really value, and how being consistent in terms of messaging and price can be more effective than chasing trends. 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: Treveri Cellars Dornfelder

Adam is drinking: Sad Negroni

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Zach discuss some of Adam's takeaways from hosting The Buildout, in particular about the tremendous importance of hospitality, and on making the guest experience welcoming and accommodating, as well as the need to be willing to change your concept, why you have to know your marketplace very well, and 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!

Zach is reading: Monarch Tractors Promised to Save American Wine With AI. Then, It Closed. What Happened?

Adam is reading: More Than Functional Fungi: How Mushrooms Are Flavoring Wine and Spirits

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach are joined by VinePair spirits editor Aaron Goldfarb to discuss his recent list of the best vodkas, as well as how drinkers are relating to the spirit these days. Has the rise of the Martini, and particularly the Dirty Martini, given it a new relevance? Can cocktail bars find a role for vodka beyond either the classics or the "fruity/sweet" paradigm? Are producers doing anything interesting or innovative? 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: Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph

Joanna is drinking: Evening Land Vineyards "Seven Springs" Chardonnay

Adam is drinking: Japonaise at The Rockwell Place

Aaron is drinking: Rothaus Pilsner

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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In the wake of the recently-announced "Sauvy B" from Trinchero Family Wine and Spirits and famed winemaker Joel Gott, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether wine-based RTDs, particularly those that proclaim their wine affiliations proudly, can serve as a bridge, particularly for younger drinkers, from RTDs to wine, especially bottled wine. Will loving a Sauvignon Blanc-based canned spritz eventually convince someone to order a glass of wine at a restaurant, or pick up a bottle to have at home? 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: Half of All Napa Vineyards Lost Money Last Year. How Are the Other Wineries Surviving?

Joanna is reading: Exclusive: Trinchero Releases ‘Sauvy B,’ a Wine Spritzer With Added Electrolytes

Adam is reading: California and Burgundy Gave Chardonnay a Reputation. Can Oregon Break Through?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Joanna discuss whether companies that are making obvious dupes or copies of popular drinks are being smart or just trying to cash in on a trend. Can you copy and become more premium? Does it matter if the packaging is nearly identical? Does it matter what part of the drinks space you're in? 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!

Joanna is drinking: Foradori Teroldego

Adam is drinking: Martini at Horse Inn

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Joanna respond to a listener question: are RTDs actually a fad? Despite emerging in the late 2010s and becoming a significant part of the beverage alcohol industry in the 2020s, is it possible that they don't have staying power, or have they shown that there's a significant audience for convenience, flavor, and accessibility? 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!

Joanna is reading: The Karaoke Bar Is Finally Taking Cocktails Seriously

Adam is reading: How Cocktail Kingdom Grew From a Small Bar Supply Shop Into a Global Cocktail Powerhouse

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the renewed speculation that Jack Daniels manufacturer Brown-Forman might be for sale: while the family-owned company rejected two reported offers in April, rumors continue to swirl that they're on the market. Will Pernod-Ricard or Sazerac remain interested? Which drinks company makes the most sense as an acquirer, and how can they attempt to rebuild and grow the brand, especially outside the United States? 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: Upsidedown Wine Roussanne

Joanna is drinking: Dogwood & Thistle Monticello Rosé

Adam is drinking: Thierry Richoux ‘"Les Cailles"’ Irancy 2017 

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Traditionally, summer (and the 4th of July specifically) have been opportunities for drinks brands of all kinds to (sometimes literally) wrap themselves in the American flag to move product. Yet even with the country's 250th anniversary just days away, it seems like relatively few are doing so this year. Is that because the current American political landscape is so fractious? Is patriotism and American pride at a low point, especially amongst the types of folks who tend to make that kind of decision? Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss that, plus how that kind of branding compares to more overtly targeting one political party or movement. 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: Is It Time to Retire the Oversized Steakhouse Martini?

Joanna is reading: VinePair's Best New Bartenders Class of 2026

Adam is reading: Why Is New York City’s Hottest Cocktail Bar Serving Steak Frites?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Busy restaurants have imposed time limits on diners for decades. Yet bars have, historically, operated in such a way that once you get a seat, and as long as you're behaving, you can generally stay as long as you like. Well, in this new era of reservation-only bars, some are starting to impose time limits on patrons. Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether this is inhospitable, how bars should communicate this policy, and why bars in particular struggle to juggle the seating plans for a given evening. 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: Henschke "Hill of Grace" Shiraz

Joanna is drinking: Frozen Cherry Cola at Kinda Nice

Adam is drinking: Old King Cole Martini at Maison Premiere

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the siren's song of online wine sales, and in particular the idea of affiliate marketing and referrals. So many businesses have taken aim at this potential market, yet when even Amazon decides that selling wine online is a non-starter, why do people continue to try? What are the specific challenges that make selling wine (and other beverage alcohol) online so difficult. Plus, an extended discussion of flavored whiskey. 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: With the Industry Under Pressure, Should Bartenders and Sommeliers Finally Join Forces?

Joanna is reading: Why Is Everybody Making Blackberry Whiskey?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With two Gen Z-directed movies lighting up the box office, it turns out that despite the doom and gloom, young people do want to go to the movies...if the movies are made for them. Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what the drinks industry might be able to learn from this recently phenomenon, and whether in fact it can be applied at all. 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: Pacifico

Joanna is drinking: Vesper from Bar Goto

Adam is drinking: Champagne Bollinger

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Many winemakers the world over aspire to make world class wines. Yet the wines that are generally regarded as such have never been more expensive or difficult to source. So - can you make great wine if you almost never get to drink it? That's what Adam, Joanna, and Zach debate: can you even know what your wine is capable of if you don't know what the absolute pinnacle of the category 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!

Zach is reading: How Social Media Propelled the ‘Cult’ Wine World Into Absurdity

Joanna is reading: Wine Is Swinging for the Fences With Sports Advertising — Is It Working?

Adam is reading: One Tequila Brand Has an Official World Cup Bottle. The Others Have Pricey Knock-Offs

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach comment on the fact that while many publications (including VinePair) love to interview bartenders about their favorite places to drink, it's an open question as to whether that serves as good advice for the drinking public when it comes to whether they should seek those places out. While bartenders might prioritize a relaxed vibe and an industry-friendly ethos, that might not serve those seeking out the pinnacle of cocktailing. 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: Torbreck Vintners Marsanne

Joanna is drinking: Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale from Dogfish Head

Adam is drinking: Light Cone Pilsner from Grimm Artisanal Ales

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might have heard that apparently, smoking cigarettes is cool again. Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what might be influencing this trend, why the health consequences of smoking might not resonate right now, and how that could impact the alcohol 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 reading: 21 Liqueurs to Know to Read a Cocktail Menu With Confidence

Joanna is reading: Here’s How 7 Top Bartenders Make Spritzes at Home

Adam is reading: Legendary Bartender Shingo Gokan on Hype, Humility, and Sip & Guzzle’s Big Win

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether the brands and bars that are counting on the upcoming World Cup as a central park of their marketing push or as a major driver of business over the next month might be let down. Just how big is the American appetite for soccer? Will the many obstacles and objections for international tourists harm hospitality properties in host cities? Plus - how do you tell if you kid's friend's parents are cool? 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: Vesper Sentinel at Driftwood

Joanna is drinking: Rice Lager from Saltfields Brewing

Adam is drinking: Martini at Le Veau d'Or

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether people looking for a wine country outing actually care about being able to see vineyards, or even winery facilities, or if nice amenities and easy access are more appealing. Can urban tasting rooms and concentrated wine districts be a better bet for tourism than scenic vistas that also come with long drives and hard-to-access experiences? 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: Happy Hour Isn’t Dead, But It Could Be Going Late-Night

Joanna is reading: We Asked 14 Bartenders: What’s the Most Overrated Bourbon Cocktail?

Adam is reading: The 15 Beers That Defined American Craft Brewing — and Where They Are Now

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Joanna are joined by VinePair Spirits Editor Aaron Goldfarb to break down his list of the 20 Best Mezcals for 2026 and the general state of Mexico's other great agave spirit. While bartenders and aficionados remain deeply enamored with mezcal, commercial success has been limited in scope and confined to a few specific brands. Is the wild, small batch nature of the spirit an insurmountable roadblock to a larger audience? Is the complexity and variety, the very thing that draws some in, a turnoff for most? Plus - what's the deal with pechuga anyhow? 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!

Joanna is drinking: Guinness Negroni

Adam is drinking: Grimm Artisanal Ales "Lambo Door" Double IPA

Aaron is drinking: Heaven Hill "Deatsville" Bourbon

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Joanna dive into why the proliferation of reservation-only bars is hurting the industry, and has a surprising root cause. How is it that credit card companies and their desire to provide high-end perks for big spenders are changing the way that bars have always operated? 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!

Joanna is reading: Malört Was Made for the Shot. Bartenders Are Changing That.

Adam is reading: It’s Been 50 Years Since the Judgement of Paris — It’s Time to Move On.

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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With Memorial Day marking the traditional start of summer, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether bars having seasonal cocktails that get tremendous acclaim is actually a good thing for those bars when drinkers can't have said cocktails year-round. Do you end up disappointing more than delighting when your limited-time offering goes bye-bye, or is this just a matter of drinkers needing to respect the calendar 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!

Zach is drinking: Tantalus Vineyards Sparkling Riesling

Joanna is drinking: Wild East Brewing Co. ESB

Adam is drinking: Petit Chablis at Bar Heretic

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the quandary that faces the alcohol industry at the moment: people generally want to drink, but are drinking less than they used to. Instead of ascribing this to theories about wellness trends or shifting demographics, what if we looked at the friction points that are keeping people from drinking: cost, social media pressure, an overwhelming array of choices, and 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!

Zach is reading: With LYTT Electric Coolers, Boston Beer Co. Is Running Out of Bright Ideas

Joanna is reading: Form Over Function: Why Some Wineries Are Rethinking the Shape of the Bottle

Adam is reading: AI Won’t Replace Sommeliers, But It Could Help Save Wine

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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After his time in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Zach poses a question to Adam and Joanna: is there a real market for domestic sparkling wine, particularly wine that aims to be priced close to Champagne. Can a region well-known for Pinot Noir, and increasingly Chardonnay, parlay that into demand for bubbles, or do you need to be price-competitive with Prosecco to stand a chance?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: 2024 Remy Wines Dolcetto

Joanna is drinking: Widow Jane 10 Year Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon

Adam is drinking: Castello di Verduno Pelaverga

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach puzzle over New York City's recently launched "Buzzkill" campaign, ostensibly to inform the public about the health risks of alcohol. Why is this a priority for any city, especially one that relies so heavily on the food and beverage industry as a source of revenue and jobs? Doesn't this cut against at least a sizeable swath of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's political constituency? Does this open him, and his administration, up to mockery? 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 30 Best Cabernet Sauvignons for 2026

Joanna is reading: 5 of the Most Shockingly Bad Guinness Pours We’ve Seen Online

Adam is reading: Bartenders Can’t Outrun the Spicy Margarita

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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On this special episode of The VinePair Podcast, Adam is joined by Dave Phinney, the founder of Orin Swift, to discuss his storied career in the wine industry, why he's so committed to traveling to sell and support his wines, what reaching new consumers means in this day and age, 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!

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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In light of the news that workers at the iconic New York City bar Attaboy have unionized, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what might have led this unionization effort to succeed where previous ones have failed, whether this will spur similar efforts at other well-known bars and restaurants, and why the hospitality industry has largely not been union-friendly, particularly in smaller restaurants and companies. 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: Nightingale Martini 2.0 at Nightingale

Joanna is drinking: "The Localist" New York State Cream Ale at Grimm Artisan Ales

Adam is drinking: Domaine Barge "Les Côtes" Côte-Rôtie

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether wine drinkers still need every red wine to be deep and inky in color, or can brands and producers that have typically relied on Mega Purple and other additives instead get away from that practice? What made such wines so desirable in the first place, and have tastes changed enough to allow brands to phase out this approach to winemaking? 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: Stone Brewing Flew Too Close to the Sun. It Still Hasn’t Hit Rock Bottom

Joanna is reading: The Best MLB Drinks Souvenirs to Take Home This Season

Adam is reading: Is Mole Pechuga Mezcal About to Have Its Moment?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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On this special episode of The VinePair Podcast, Adam is joined by Nicole Hitchcock, the estate director of J Vineyards & Winery in Sonoma, California about her background in wine, what's so exciting about California sparkling wine, and the current state of Sonoma. 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!

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanna and Zach are joined by VinePair spirits editor Aaron Goldfarb to discuss his recently-published list of the Best Tequilas of 2026, including a growing number of bottlings proclaiming the use of tahona in the crushing process, a surprisingly strong set of reposados, and even a tequila that isn't technically a tequila. 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: Sacred Shore Albariño

Joanna is drinking: Dry Stout from Forever Brewing

Aaron is drinking: House Martini at La Tête d'Or by Daniel

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Joanna and Zach discuss the recent news that Sazerac has taken a minority stake in Kendall Jenner's 818 Tequila. Despite persistent questions about whether celebrity tequila has peaked, as well as the controversy that surrounded the brand's launch, it has been performing well of late, perhaps making it a smart pickup for the New Orleans-based company. Does the price-conscious, youth-oriented brand have the potential for broader reach, and can it stay relevant with the younger cohort it clearly clamors for? 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: Pittsburgh Is Aggressively Courting Cocktail Enthusiasts. Will Other Secondary Markets Follow?

Joanna is reading: Canada Dumped U.S. Alcohol Amid Tariff Turmoil. Here’s What Canadians Are Drinking Now Instead.

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Joanna discuss the recently opened 550 Madison and how restaurateurs like Simon Kim are making such a bold and obvious play for the ultra-wealthy, or at least those who want to pretend to be so for the night. While this kind of restaurant has always existed, in the past they've been a bit more quiet and restrained, not heavily promoted and covered. Is New York becoming Las Vegas East? 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!

Joanna is drinking: Fines Herbes Gibson from A Pop-Up Called Pancakes

Adam is drinking: 1971 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the curious case of spirits brands and even prestige publications turning to sommeliers in lieu of bartenders for site visits, trips, and expert commentary. Is there actually some logic in looking beyond the traditional framework of "top bartenders at top bars" when you're either looking to make inroads in the on-premise or just get some good, audience-friendly commentary? 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 Wines That Changed How America Drinks, Decade by Decade

Joanna is reading: The 12 Most Important IPAs of the 21st Century So Far

Adam is reading: White Claw’s Parent Co. Bought Finnish Long Drink Because Flavor Is King

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach chat about how drinks companies and brands would be wise to learn some of the lessons that the fast food and fast-casual restaurant industries have been learning of late: how you need to keep listening to your core consumers, how your executives can be powerful tools or impediments in your marketing aims, and how pricing is ultra-critical to making your business work. 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: Ashes & Diamonds Blanc No. 1

Joanna is drinking: Burdock Brewery "Double Ducks" Double IPA

Adam is drinking: Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.