Recently, a listener of the podcast took a trip to Napa Valley and visited a combination of legacy and new wineries. While there, they found that the newer brands were more innovative in both their tastings and winemaking techniques — and their hospitality delivered. The legacy brands, on the other hand, were said to be the opposite, and the experience did not stand out as anything special. And given the lofty price tag attached to the experience, it was a bit of a letdown. What is there to...| VinePair
Netflix’s “House of Guinness” finally launched on Sept. 25. From the writer of “Peaky Blinders,” the show is set in the 19th century and focuses on the Guinness family dynasty following the death of patriarch Benjamin Guinness. While the Guinness brand had nothing to do with the creation of the show, the series undeniably helps solidify the beer as a piece of cultural heritage. Moreover, it serves as an introduction for younger consumers — who are perhaps only eager to split the G...| VinePair
The other day, I filed an analysis for VinePair on the latest developments in the court-ordered receivership of Uncle Nearest, Inc., the high-flying Tennessee liquor firm that’s been laid low by the pesky matter of $108 million in defaulted debts. Firms are incentivized to settle or stem litigation in order to keep themselves out of court and outside the public eye, I wrote, so the fact that that situation is playing out on the record in federal court is a rare privilege. The article A Fire...| VinePair
The story of Harlan Estate begins with H. William Harlan, Bill for short. Bill was born in Southern California in 1940 and as a teenager, he had three dreams: Sail around the world, have a family, and own a vineyard. As Bill grew older, his love for wine developed further as he witnessed the work going on in California to revive an industry that was almost entirely decimated by Prohibition. After graduating from college, Bill sailed around the world, achieving one of his dreams, before return...| VinePair
Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach react to a trio of stories. First up, there’s the news that Michelob Ultra has surpassed Modelo as the best-selling beer (by volume) in the United States. Is this just because of tariffs and ICE raids, or has AB-InBev hit on a winning message? Then, they explore whether a recent Harris Poll about beverage preferences at restaurants says anything new about generational shifts in attitudes toward alcohol. Finally, the trio ponder the...| VinePair
Here on the “VinePair Podcast,” we talk a lot about the wine industry. Wine isn’t doing great right now — that’s not a secret, and it’s also not negative to point it out. The status quo isn’t working, and being blunt about it from a business perspective isn’t a cynical thing. If anything, it’s coming from a place of advocacy. This podcast is hosted by three individuals who are staunchly pro-wine, but they’re not cheerleaders, and championing everything in a category simply...| VinePair
There’s an episode of “Seinfeld” I think about a lot. Well, there are a lot of episodes of “Seinfeld” I think about a lot, actually. I’m a 37-year-old white guy, after all. But one of the subplots in this particular episode of “Seinfeld” — Season 5, Episode 22, “The Opposite,” for the real heads reading this — turns on the realization that the show’s cosmic scales are balanced on its titular lead, with the rest of the characters’ fortunes rising and falling in dire...| VinePair
If you’re in the wine world, when you hear Screaming Eagle, you think cult Cab. The wine — which is one of the most expensive American-made wines in existence — has been associated with the cult Cabernet class of wines practically since it made its debut in the early ‘90s. But despite its popularity and elite status, the history of the brand is shrouded in mystery. Today on the “Wine 101” podcast, Keith dives into the history of Screaming Eagle, one of Napa’s most coveted wine l...| VinePair
Last week, news broke that GALLO acquired Whiny Baby, a California-based wine brand founded in 2020 that specifically markets to Gen Z drinkers of legal age. This is the first GALLO wine acquisition since the conglomerate purchased Rombauer and Massican in 2022. The news comes at a time when headlines dominate about wine’s struggle to gain the attention of younger consumers, and perhaps that’s the driving force behind the purchase. Whiny Baby has already established itself in their target...| VinePair
This Episode of “Wine 101” is sponsored by Rioja. Tempranillo. Spain’s signature variety and the anchor for the wines of Rioja. Along with the support of Manzeulo, Graciano, and Viura, these wines show depth, complexity, ageability, and refreshment. These varieties produce not only delicious wine but also symbolize a legacy of quality that has been central to the region for over 100 years. This is a very special episode of “Wine 101” — it’s the first recording ever done live. An...| VinePair
Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach interrogate an oft-repeated and deeply held industry belief that “alcohol is recession-proof.” While it may have been true in the past that consumers continued to drink at similar levels regardless of the economic situation around them, that doesn’t mean that recessions don’t cause massive changes and create massive challenges. Plus, what if all the ugly sales data of the last couple of years is connected to the average Ameri...| VinePair
Late last month, I received a comment from a reader about my column on the American brewing industry’s collective overcapacity problem. Well, more of a request, really. “Dave can you put out a piece that’s happy?” they asked. “Love your journalism, I believe their [sic] are winners out there though. You do ask the tough questions which I appreciate.” I saw it as a teachable moment. “Generally speaking, I don’t consider it a columnist’s role to produce coverage designed to ev...| VinePair
The Prisoner is one of the most successful red blends on the market in the United States. Originally released in 2000 by winemaker Dave Phinney, the wine consists of a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Charbono — and American consumers can’t get enough. The wine almost immediately won over fans of full-bodied reds with its plush palate and intriguing name. And while the wine may have started as a small project, The Prisoner Wine Company is now a part of Cons...| VinePair
Other than a brand name, a critic-given score is one of the first things a customer comes in contact with when shopping for wine at most stores. Not too long ago, these scores were the maker or breaker of a winery’s success, but do they still hold the same weight in 2025? Well, it depends. For the average consumer shopping at Total Wine, scores are often the deciding factor between one Cabernet Sauvignon or another. The article The VinePair Podcast: Do Wine Scores Still Matter? appeared fir...| VinePair
Gran Malo, a spicy tamarind tequila-based liqueur, launched in Mexico back in 2021 and quickly gained local popularity as a spirit designed to be enjoyed as a shot. Shortly thereafter, Gallo’s chief commercial officer Britt West noticed that Americans were bringing cases of the stuff across the border when they visited family and friends in Mexico. Gallo approached the brand, formed a partnership, and now handles Gran Malo’s growing distribution in the U.S. Over the decades, we’ve seen ...| VinePair
Bud Light was the undisputed best-selling beer in the country. Twisted Tea was just hitting its long-simmering breakout run. Reyes Beverage Group was still called Reyes Beer Division. It was a different beer industry when I first took the helm here at Hop Take in September 2022. Which, duh: Time is linear, and change is constant, etc., etc. Still, my tenure here each week has coincided with some of the most tectonic shifts the American brewing business has known since… I mean… certainly t...| VinePair
It seems like every generation to come of drinking age has their high octane, pre-packaged beverage. You know the kind — the brands that these younger drinkers can’t seem to get enough of, often to the amazement of their older counterparts. For Gen X, it was Boone’s Farm and MD 20/20. For millennials, it was pre-reformulation Four Loko. And for Gen Z, it’s BuzzBallz. First launched in 2010 by Texas-based high school teacher Merrilee Kick, BuzzBallz was practically an instant hit.| VinePair
This episode of the “VinePair Podcast” is sponsored by Tequila El Mexicano. Founded by one of Tequila’s most storied families, this traditionally made, additive-free tequila is an expression not just of the Bañuelos family’s collective knowledge, but of the Jaliscan highlands themselves. Try the Blanco, Blanco 90, or Reposado to discover their life’s work. You can visit ElMexicanoUS.com to find Tequila El Mexicano near you or order online to experience three generations of tequila ...| VinePair