In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons chats with Joel Droogh, whose path to the wine industry started on a dairy farm outside Ottawa. From chasing cows as a kid to crafting low-alcohol wines in Niagara, Joel shares how his hands-on background and entrepreneurial drive led him to a life among the […] The post How to Find Your Place in a Changing Wine World first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with her niece, Liesel Meissner, for a fun, informative, and completely unpretentious conversation about wine. Tired of being overwhelmed in wine shops and feeling lost when restaurant lists, Liesel came armed with questions, and Laurel delivered the answers. From understanding residual sugar and […] The post How to Untangle the World of Wine: Questions & Answers first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons reconnects with Kit Pepper, a wine editor, educator, and founder of Cheers Croatia Magazine. Kit, who lives on the island that’s a 50-minute ferry ride from the Dalmatian city of Split, returns to dive even deeper into Croatia’s long, complex relationship with wine. From the […] The post Tannins, Tunnels & Tito: How to Explore Croatia’s Wine Heritage first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with wine educator Elaine Peters to explore the vibrant world of Ontario wine through the lens of personal experience, cultural connection, and joyful discovery. Elaine shares how she transitioned from corporate life to the tasting room, from Bell to the LCBO and now […] The post Supermarket to Lemberger: How to Uncork the Unexpected first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sat down with Yvonne Irvine, a long-time winemaker in Niagara and the co-founder of Maenad Wine Co. Yvonne shares her journey from studying biotechnology and business to launching a brand that’s all about creative freedom, fun, and celebrating women unapologetically. Her wines are low-intervention, playful, […] The post How to Make Wine with Grapes, Grit (and Sumac) first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, also known as The Wine Psychologist, to explore how celebrity culture and subtle psychological triggers shape our wine choices, whether we realize it or not. From wine-tasting experiments with Olympic athletes to the endowment effect (a real thing!) and […] The post Buying Wine? How To (Maybe) Outsmart Your Brain first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with David Aferiat, founder of Avid Vines, to explore the sparkling world of Champagne and why it’s so much more than just a drink for special occasions. David shares his passion for sourcing organic, artisanal Champagnes and how Avid Vines came to life. […] The post Champagne: A First Lick of Ice Cream with Every Bite? first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with Nick Elliott a Certified Sommelier, classically trained chef, and founder of The Wine Guy. With over 30 years of experience, Nick brings a joyful, unpretentious approach to wine education. From culinary school to leading immersive wine trips around the world, he shares […] The post Wine, Travel, and Food: The Ultimate Sensory Journey first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this special episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, I’m coming to you from the Ontario Craft Wine Conference in Niagara Falls, where I asked several passionate winemakers, winery owners, and wine lovers to share their favourite wine and food pairings, and the answers were deliciously unexpected. After all, why not ask the very people […] The post Insider Secrets: Wine and Food Pairings from People in the Know first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, I sit down with Juliette Han, a fellow wine lover who isn’t afraid to ask the honest questions about choosing wine, especially in high-pressure moments like business dinners or group settings. From decoding wine lists to working with sommeliers, we explore how to approach wine with more […] The post How to Decode Wine Etiquette: Making It Easy first appeared on Wine Behind the Scenes.| Wine Behind the Scenes