Welcome to Episode 2608 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Book Club with Richard Hough. In this episode, Richard is in conversation with the award-winning wine and beer writer Katie Mather to talk about Katie’s career in hospitality, the wine scene in Tenerife, South Tyrol and Le Marche, as well as the meaning of pub culture and how natural wines can provide a more accessible entry point into the sometimes mystifying world of wine.

The places mentioned in the conversation:

• Pubs: Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton and the New Inn in Clitheroe.
• The craft beer brewery: Bowness Bay Brewing in Kendal.
• The natural wineries: Rita & Rudolf Trossen and Staffelter Hof in Mosel and Katla Wines in Rheinhessen. 

WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a global, non-profit program that connects volunteers ("WWOOFers") with organic farmers for educational and cultural exchange. You can learn more here: https://wwoof.net/.

Other writing referred to in the conversation include:

• Close to the Tree — Pochle, Edinburgh’s Communal Apple Spirit by Imran Rahman-Jones  
• These Wooden Ideas — The Incomparable Theakstons’ Old Peculier by Katie Mather   
• Exploring South Tyrol’s indulgent winter food scene by Katie Mather  
• Con Altura — Making Wine and Preserving Culture in Tenerife’s Vineyard Heartland by Katie Mather    
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• The Meaning of Beer by Jonny Garrett

The Book Review by Richard Hough:

“Crisp, refreshing and extremely satisfying, Pellicle is an independent magazine dedicated to in-depth beer, wine, cider, food and travel journalism. Founded in 2019, it explores the stories behind what’s in your glass and explores the vital role of Britain’s vibrant pub culture in contemporary society, featuring original artwork and the very best in contemporary storytelling.” 

About today’s guest: 

Katie Mather is a Lancashire-based drinks culture and food writer, and Deputy Editor and Wine Lead at the independent drinks publication Pellicle. She has been writing about beer, wine, cider, non-alcoholic drinks, and food since 2018, quickly earning recognition with a Silver award for Young Beer Writer of the Year from the Guild of Beer Writers.

Katie also writes the newsletter The Gulp, which won Silver for Best Short-Form Beer Writing at the 2024 British Guild of Beer Writers Awards. In 2025, she expanded into luxury adventure travel writing for The Independent, and released her self-designed zine A Place To Be, published by Pellicle.

Connect: 

Website: https://www.katiematherwrites.com/ https://www.pelliclemag.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiematherkm/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorkatie 

More about the host:

Richard Hough is the editor, translator and project curator behind The Art of Wine Storytelling, Wine Democracy and Vine and Prejudice. He has also published several books about life in Verona, chronicling the city’s history, culture and daily life, not forgetting, of course, its wine, including Verona Campione, published in May 2025. With a long-standing passion for whisky and beer, he’s a relative newcomer to the world of wine and is now desperately trying to make up for lost time! He is the host of Book Club on the Italian Wine Podcast.

Connect:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rickhough.bsky.social 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verona_campione 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhough/

_______________________________

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ 

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2607 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Stephanie Johnson IWE interviews Matej Skerlj of Skerlj winery in Carso, Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The conversation explores the challenges for growing wine grapes in the Carso, the region’s main grape varieties and styles of wine, and the cultural traditions of the region.

These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast. 

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand the challenges for growing wine grapes in the Carso area.
• Recognise the region’s  main grape varieties and styles of wine.
• Appreciate the cultural traditions of the region.

More about today’s host: 

As well as being a certified Italian Wine Expert (IWE), Stephanie Johnson holds a WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits. Her wine career spans the journalism, retail and restaurant sectors. She joined Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2013 and later served as Italian Wine Editor from 2016 to 2024. Stephanie has judged at international competitions such as the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon in Bordeaux and 5StarWines – the Book in Verona. She has led masterclasses for top sommeliers in New York City and presented at major industry events including Vinitaly and wine2wine Business Forum in Verona. A passionate educator, she teaches WSET Level 2, Level 3, and Diploma courses at NYC’s International Wine Center. Her upcoming venture, SteepleJack, will spotlight the heroic stories of Italian wine producers, blending deep expertise with compelling storytelling.

Connect:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-johnson-dws-b0a0121a/ 

More about today’s guest:  

The Skerlj winery (Azienda Agricola Skerlj) is a family-run estate located in the Carso region, specifically in the small village of Sales (Salež) near Trieste, Italy. The winery is known for producing traditional wines like Vitovska, Malvasia, and Terrano in stone-dug cellars within the Carso plateau. The family specializes in natural winemaking with minimal intervention, including aging in wood barrels. Matej Skerlj is recognised as one of the youngest, most skilled producers in the area, focusing on a traditional, hand-worked and unfiltered winemaking technique. He works alongside his sister, Kristina Skerlj, and their parents to manage the vineyards and the agriturismo.

Connect:

Website: https://www.skerlj.it/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skerljwineestate/ 

_______________________________ 

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ 

Until next time, Cin Cin! 

Follow Italian Wine Podcast for more great content – winery interviews from the Clubhouse sessions! Psssst…FYI, this show is our most popular show, find out why by tuning-in!

Welcome to Episode 2606 of the Italian Wine Podcast and the second episode of Pellegrinaggio Enoico con Professore Attilio Scienza! This series is recorded in Italian.

Episode 2: Dalla Rivoluzione dei Vitigni alle Vie dei Pellegrini.

A true oenological journey led by Professor Attilio Scienza in the company of Stevie Kim, winding its way across the peninsula, following ancient Roman roads, paths of faith, and historical itineraries. Genetics, morphology, climate change, and the concept of viticulture vocation come together to tell the story of our grape varieties and their inextricable bond with the territory. Expect amazing stories, random digressions, curious anecdotes, and a new way of thinking about wine. 

Join us on A Wine Pilgrimage with Professor Attilio Scienza.

More about Professor Scienza:

Professor Attilio Scienza is the one who checks all the facts and regulates when we mistakenly type “Verdicchio” instead of “Vermentino.” He is a full professor at the University of Milan in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences where he teaches courses on genetic improvements to the vine; he also teaches Viticulture in the Master’s program of the University of Turin in Asti. He has been the lead for many national research projects in the field of physiology, agricultural techniques, and vine genetics. As the author of over 350 publications on vine and viticulture in national and international journals, you can bet he knows his stuff!

To find out more about Attilio Scienza visit: https://www.vinitaly.com/formazione/vinitaly-international-academy/attilio-scienza/ 

If you want to learn more about Stevie Kim, the Scienza wrangler:

Stevie Kim is an Italian Wine Marketing & Communication Expert, Brand Positioning Specialist, and Public Speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist, she harnesses social media and education to promote Italian wine on a global scale.

The Italian Wine Podcast is part of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, a brand Stevie launched in 2020 to make wine more accessible through books, maps, videos, and the Italian Wine Travel with Stevie YouTube series. Stevie often joins Professor Scienza in his shows to lend a hand keeping our Professor in check! You can also find her taking a hit for the team when she goes “On the Road”, all over the Italian countryside, visiting wineries and interviewing producers, enjoying their best food and wine – all in the name of bringing us great Pods!

Connect: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steviekim222/

Website: https://www.vinitaly.com/eventi/operawine/stevie-kim/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

_______________________________

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ 

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Share your love for our lovely Professor if you are a true Italian Wine Geek 🙂

Welcome to episode 2605 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 230 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is in conversation with Enzo Barbi of the Decugnano dei Barbi winery in Orvieto, Umbria. 

Their discussion explores the history and geography of Orvieto, the region’s unique tufo soils and underground caves, and the estate’s signature wines - going beyond the white wines Orvieto is best known for. Listeners will also discover Decugnano dei Barbi’s distinctive Muffa Nobile wine and learn how to distinguish noble rot from grey rot.

More about today’s guest:

Enzo was introduced to wine and winemaking by his father, Claudio, who founded Decugnano dei Barbi in 1973 in Orvieto, Umbria. Raised in Lombardy, Enzo spent his summers at the winery, helping in the cellar and with the harvest. His education took him to Milan, where he studied business administration. After graduation, he worked in international corporate finance. During that time, Enzo had the opportunity to live in five different countries, allowing him to meet diverse people and experience their cultures. In 2008 he left the world of corporate finance to learn the aspects of the wine business from his father. Today, Enzo resides at the vineyard and manages the winery. His goal is to produce high-quality, terroir-driven wines that best express the unique sandy-clay marine soil of Decugnano dei Barbi.

Connect:

Website: https://www.decugnanodeibarbi.com/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enzobarbi/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decugnanodeibarbi/ 

More about the host:

Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is a celebrated expert in the world of wine, food, and travel and an award-winning author of 15 books on these topics. Since 2021, he has been the host of the ‘Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon’ weekly series on the Italian Wine Podcast, which now has well over 220 episodes of the show. Marc’s latest book is “Italy in a Wineglass – the Taste of History” published by Hurst, London and Melville House, New York (Guild of Food Writers ‘Drinks Writer Award’ 2025 and the World Gourmand ‘Best Wine History Book in the World Award’ 2025). In addition to his writing and podcasting, Marc is a sought-after speaker and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy in partnership with Martin Randall Travel, a leading specialist in cultural travel. When he's not exploring the culinary landscapes of the world, Marc resides along the scenic River Exe in Devon, England.

Connect:

Website: 

https://www.quaypress.uk  

https://www.marcmillon.co.uk 

https://www.vino.co.uk   

https://www.quaypress.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon 

_______________________________

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ 

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!

Welcome to Episode 2604 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald is in conversation with Peter Yeung, a leading wine business consultant, to discuss the current state of the wine industry and the national and regional trends shaping the US market. They explore today’s distribution landscape, the key challenges facing importers and producers, and how tariffs are affecting Italian wines in particular.

The conversation also touches on the so-called “Swiftie Effect,” wine labelling, and how Gen Z and millennials are changing the way wine is perceived and consumed.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategic opportunities that still exist despite market challenges and the current slowdown.
• A clearer understanding of today’s US distribution landscape.
• How to gain competitive advantages in a slow market environment.

More about the guest: 

Peter Yeung is a leading wine business consultant and was named one of Wine Business Monthly’s 2020 Wine Leaders. Together with Robert Vernick, he co-hosts the wine business podcast XChateau. He is also the co-author (with Liz Thach MW) of the award-winning book Luxury Wine Marketing.

Previously, Peter served as Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Kosta Browne Winery and Realm Cellars in California, where he developed and executed strategic marketing plans. He passed Stage 2 Theory of the Master of Wine exam and holds the WSET Diploma as well as the Certified Wine Professional designation from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Before entering the wine industry, Peter worked as an executive in Silicon Valley and as a consultant at McKinsey & Company.

Connect: 

Website: https://www.xchateau.com 

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/winebizguy/  

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkyeung/  

More about the host:

With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara Fitzgerald specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She's led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries.

As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US.

Connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarajeanfitz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/

Website: https://www.aprilacreative.com/ 

_______________________________

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to #openbarstevie and Episode 2603 of the Italian Wine Podcast. 

It’s a casual video podcast filmed in the office, where wine people drop by, open a bottle or two, and hang out with moi! 😝 Sometimes they come alone, often in pairs or small groups. The conversation flows naturally and is not limited to wine. It touches on family, friendships, work, failures, successes, current events, and above all the Italian way of living.

This is not an interview series in the traditional sense. It is closer to friends meeting at aperitivo time. Wine is the excuse, NOT the subject. The focus is on lived experience. What it really means to live and work in Italy today. The beauty, the contradictions, the chaos, the privilege, and the everyday rituals that define Italian lifestyle.

💡 Format:

30 to 45 minutes

Filmed in the office with a relaxed, low-production setup

1 to 3 guests per episode

Guests can be producers, communicators, importers, educators, creatives, or friends of the wine world. Any recommendations for potential guests⁉️

Today’s guest is Robert Camuto.

More about today’s guest:

Robert Camuto is an award-winning American author and journalist, who has lived in Europe with his family for more than 20 years. A contributing editor for the Wine Spectator since 2008, Camuto writes a twice monthly column, Robert Camuto Meets… for winespectator.com. 

A native New Yorker and graduate of Columbia School of Journalism, Camuto has had an incredibly varied journalistic career – from writing about New Wave music in the San Francisco area to covering Texas politics. In the 1990s he founded Fort Worth’s (still publishing) alternative newspaper FW Weekly (sold in 2000).

As an American in Europe, he has contributed to publications including Food & Wine, the Washington Post – Travel, Cucina Italiana, and Michelin Green Guides. Over the course of his career he has become an accomplished profiler of people—from the poet Charles Bukowski to the likes of Sting, John Malkovich, and the many fascinating characters he has met along the wine roads of Europe. He has been a home winemaker. And he speaks frequently about wine personalities, Italy, France, and storytelling. He is based in Verona, Italy.

Connect:

Website: https://robertcamuto.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertcamuto_writes/ 

More about the host:

Stevie Kim is an Italian wine marketing & communication expert, bandpositioning specialist, and public speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist, she harnesses social media and education to promote Italian wine on a global scale.

The Italian Wine Podcast is part of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, a brand Stevie launched in 2020 to make wine more accessible through books, maps, videos, and the Italian Wine Travel with Stevie YouTube series. Stevie often joins Professor Scienza in his shows to lend a hand keeping our Professor in check! You can also find her taking a hit for the team when she goes “On the Road”, all over the Italian countryside, visiting wineries and interviewing producers, enjoying their best food and wine – all in the name of bringing us great Pods!

Connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steviekim222/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevie-kim-0646b04/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

_______________________________

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ 

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to episode 2602 of the Italian Wine Podcast from wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum 2025: Navigating Tariff Turbulence: Strategies for Italian Wine Producers Amid U.S. – Italy Trade Shifts

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED ON 6 OCTOBER 2025

Speaker: Benjamin Aneff, Moderator: Marzia Varvaglione

The U.S. currently imposes a 15% tariff on all products from the EU, including Italian wine, with no immediate relief in sight. This tariff deeply affects the U.S. distribution system, where EU wines account for 75% of revenue and contribute $24 billion annually, supporting 200,000 American jobs and 47,500 wine stores. In this 30-minute session, Ben Aneff will explain how these trade dynamics impact Italian producers and their U.S. partners, and why Italian wine has a particularly strong case for tariff exclusion given its origin specificity and non-substitutability. Attendees will learn how to strengthen collaborations with U.S. importers, leverage advocacy messages in Washington, and emphasize their unique producer stories to sustain competitiveness and consumer loyalty despite trade barriers.

The Italian Wine Podcast is proud to be a media partner of wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum and is pleased to present this series of conversations from Vinitaly.USA in Chicago. wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum is an international wine business event, held annually since 2014. This year the Forum was held alongside Vinitaly.USA in Chicago, taking it outside of Verona for the first time.

Full details about this and all other wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum sessions available online at: https://www.vinitaly.com/en/forum/wine2wine-vinitaly-business-forum/programme/.     

_______________________________

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ 

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to Episode 2600 of the Italian Wine Podcast and the first episode of Pellegrinaggio Enoico con Attilio Scienza! This series is recorded in Italian.

Episode 1: Costruire le Fondamenta

A true oenological journey led by Professor Attilio Scienza in the company of Stevie Kim, winding its way across the peninsula, following ancient Roman roads, paths of faith, and historical itineraries. Genetics, morphology, climate change, and the concept of viticulture vocation come together to tell the story of our grape varieties and their inextricable bond with the territory. Expect amazing stories, random digressions, curious anecdotes, and a new way of thinking about wine. 

Join us on A Wine Pilgrimage with Professor Attilio Scienza.

More about Professor Scienza:

Professor Attilio Scienza is the one who checks all the facts and regulates when we mistakenly type “Verdicchio” instead of “Vermentino.” He is a full professor at the University of Milan in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences where he teaches courses on genetic improvements to the vine; he also teaches Viticulture in the Master’s program of the University of Turin in Asti. 

He has been the lead for many national research projects in the field of physiology, agricultural techniques, and vine genetics. As the author of over 350 publications on vine and viticulture in national and international journals, you can bet he knows his stuff!

To find out more about Attilio Scienza visit: https://www.vinitaly.com/formazione/vinitaly-international-academy/attilio-scienza/ 

If you want to learn more about Stevie Kim, the Scienza wrangler:

Stevie Kim is an Italian Wine Marketing & Communication Expert, Brand Positioning Specialist, and Public Speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist, she harnesses social media and education to promote Italian wine on a global scale.

The Italian Wine Podcast is part of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, a brand Stevie launched in 2020 to make wine more accessible through books, maps, videos, and the Italian Wine Travel with Stevie YouTube series. Stevie often joins Professor Scienza in his shows to lend a hand keeping our Professor in check! You can also find her taking a hit for the team when she goes “On the Road”, all over the Italian countryside, visiting wineries and interviewing producers, enjoying their best food and wine – all in the name of bringing us great Pods!

Connect: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steviekim222/

Website: https://www.vinitaly.com/eventi/operawine/stevie-kim/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

_______________________________

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ 

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Share your love for our lovely Professor if you are a true Italian Wine Geek 🙂

Welcome to Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2601 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Anna Obukhovskaia IWA interviews Isabella Pelizzatti Perego of ARPEPE winery in Valtellina. This fascinating conversation explores the history of the winery and winemaking in Valtellina, the impact of climate change, and typical food to pair with the region’s wines. 

These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast. 

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Valtellina wine region, with a focus on its unique microclimate and alpine topography.
• Learn how Nebbiolo adapts and expresses itself in a high-altitude, mountain environment.
• Recognise the impact of climate change on Valtellina’s vineyards and how local cuisine and traditional food pairings complement the region’s wines.

More about today’s host:  

Anna Obukhovskaya has over 15 years of experience in wine retail, marketing and sales. She has worked in several large companies and independent projects, and founded the Italian Wine Tasting Club in Saint Petersburg in Russia. In 2023 she became a certified Italian Wine Ambassador. Driven by passion for European wines she moved from Saint Petersburg to Slovenia. She currently leads export development and sales strategies at Nautilus Trade, the company she founded, specializing in expanding market opportunities for wineries and food producers.

Connect:

Website: https://nautilus-trade.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wine_it_anna/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-obukhovskaia-0a4789261 

More about today’s guest:  

ARPEPE winery is located in Sondrio, in the heart of the Valtellina valley in Lombardy, Northern Italy. It operates in the Grumello subzone, producing wines from vineyards across the Sassella, Grumello, and Inferno appellations. The estate is known for its high-altitude, terraced Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) vineyards. The winery is famous for its "heroic viticulture" on steep, terraced, stone-walled vineyards. Isabella Pelizzatti Perego is the 5th generation winemaker for her family’s estate in Valtellina. The Pelizzatti family has been growing Nebbiolo vines on the steep slopes of the Northern Italian Alps since 1860. In 1984, her father, Arturo Pelizzatti Perego (Ar.Pe.Pe.) rebranded and refocused the winery to cultivate Nebbiolo expressive of their unique terroir with meticulous attention to tradition and quality. Today Isabella, along with her brothers Emanuele and Guido, continue the family’s pursuit of pure, honest Nebbiolo wines rooted in minerality and finesse rather than structure or concentration.

Connect:

Website: https://www.arpepe.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arpepe1860/ 

_______________________________ 

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/  

Until next time, Cin Cin! 

Follow Italian Wine Podcast for more great content – winery interviews from the Clubhouse sessions! Psssst…FYI, this show is our most popular show, find out why by tuning-in!

Welcome to episode 2599 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 229 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc speaks with Dr. Jamie Goode, award-winning wine communicator, author, and host of the Wine Masters TV series, about the intersection of wine, science, and culture. Their conversation spans Jamie’s early career and the rise of online wine media, the science of aroma and perception, modern winemaking choices from barrels to ungrafted vines, and today’s biggest debates around natural wine, climate change, regenerative viticulture, and wine’s social role.

More about today’s guest:

Jamie Goode is a London-based wine writer, author, lecturer, and judge with a PhD in plant biology. He is the founder of wineanorak.com, one of the world’s most respected wine websites, and spent nearly two decades as a wine columnist for the Sunday Express. Jamie is the author of several influential books on wine science and tasting, a regular contributor to leading international wine publications, and a co-chair judge at the International Wine Challenge. He is also the host of WineMasters, a critically acclaimed cinematic documentary series that explores the world’s great wine regions, traditions, terroirs and winemaking families through immersive storytelling and behind-the-scenes features.

Connect:

Website:

https://www.wineanorak.com

https://www.winemasters.tv/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjamiegoode/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiegoode/ 

More about the host:

Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is a celebrated expert in the world of wine, food, and travel and an award-winning author of 15 books on these topics. Since 2021, he has been the host of the ‘Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon’ weekly series on the Italian Wine Podcast, which now has well over 220 episodes of the show. Marc’s latest book is “Italy in a Wineglass – the Taste of History” published by Hurst, London and Melville House, New York (Guild of Food Writers ‘Drinks Writer Award’ 2025 and the World Gourmand ‘Best Wine History Book in the World Award’ 2025). In addition to his writing and podcasting, Marc is a sought-after speaker and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy in partnership with Martin Randall Travel, a leading specialist in cultural travel. When he's not exploring the culinary landscapes of the world, Marc resides along the scenic River Exe in Devon, England.

Connect:

Website: 

https://www.quaypress.uk  

https://www.marcmillon.co.uk 

https://www.vino.co.uk   

https://www.quaypress.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon 

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Until next time, Cin Cin!

Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!

Welcome to Episode 2598 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald is in conversation with Emily Carlson, a wine buyer and sommelier based in Healdsburg, California. The discussion focuses on e-commerce in the wine industry, with a special emphasis on the US market. Together, they explore how digital platforms are reshaping wine sales, how producers can choose the right e-commerce partners, and why storytelling plays a crucial role in building lasting connections with consumers at scale.

Key Takeaways:

• How e-commerce, especially in the US market, helps wine brands expand their reach and access new consumers.
• The main e-commerce models in the wine industry and how they work.
• How to use storytelling at scale to turn consumer interest into emotional connection and loyalty.

More about the guest: 

Emily Carlson is a Wine Buyer and Sommelier based in Healdsburg, California, currently splitting her time between Barndiva, a Michelin-recommended restaurant, and Last Bottle, Inc., a collection of curated online wine shops. By working in both buying and selling wine on and off premise, Emily offers a unique perspective on the preferences and needs of modern wine consumers. With certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, she is committed to fostering a more diverse community of wine drinkers through networking events for women in the wine business and teaching entry level wine classes to budding professionals and enthusiasts.

Connect: 

Website: https://lastbubbles.com/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/last_bubbles/ 

More about the host:

With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara Fitzgerald specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She's led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries.

As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US.

Connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarajeanfitz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/

Website: https://www.aprilacreative.com/ 

_______________________________

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/

Until next time, Cin Cin!