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podcast· 1h 11m· S8E4Why 3-Star Michelin Restaurants Suck! on The Real Wine Show (S8E4)
Serious boss ladies get into it with Paper Bottles, Fake Wine Trains, and why stickies rule, plus a grenache-to-lamb pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E4) Special thanks to our sponsor Gabriel Group (gabrielgrp.com) for helping us make another great episode! The show opens with intros to panelists Elisa Weber-Saintin (Little Guy Wine Company, celebrating 19 years; critic of predictable three-Michelin-star dining), Anna Nolan (Russian-born sommelier and co-owner of Vino and Vibes in Utica, aiming to “un-snob” wine), and Kristen Jonna (Michigan wine family royalty and owner of Vinology in Ann Arbor; she follows the moon!). In news debates, they discuss the viability of low-carbon “Frugal Pack” cardboard bottles versus glass, and a (fake) story about Japan’s underground wine trains, prompting talk of Michigan wine trains. Glass checks feature wines including Los Malditos Tempranillo, a Cremant de Loire sparkling wine, and a Slovenian pét-nat. The Wine Cipher note matches Château d’Yquem. O
podcast· 1h 02m· S7E3You Can't Say That! How Wine Words Turn Off Younger Drinkers (S8 E3)
Champagne Semantics, Vibe Vocabulary, and Howell Mountain Vineyards Zin Pairing on The Real Wine Show (S8E3) In episode three of season eight of The Real Wine Show, the hosts thank sponsor Gabriel Group ( gabrielgrp.com ) and introduce panelists Arturo (Mexico-born wine enthusiast pursuing WSET Level 3 with the hot take that there’s no bad champagne), Taylor Johnson (wine director/sommelier in Ann Arbor who rejects seasonal drinking), and journalist/filmmaker Mark Kurlyandchik (arguing wine jargon turns off new drinkers). In glass checks they discuss Lambrusco, a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and a Côte des Bar vintage Champagne. A debate explores replacing technical wine terms with “vibe vocabulary,” emphasizing meeting drinkers where they are while preserving expertise. Another story covers biodynamics and EMF-shielding products, leading to discussion of spirituality, labeling, and consumer information. Wine Cipher and an emotive blind tasting follow, plus Chef Jason Berthold’s Grape to
podcast· 1h 08m· S8E2The Future of Michigan Wine & The "Third Wave" of Viticulture (S8 E2)
Stop playing it safe—it's time for Michigan to find its unique identity through small, thoughtful production. The "Grape to Plate" segment is a masterclass on slow-rendering duck breast with lavender, and we learn the tells of "tasting room theatre". In episode two of season eight of The Real Wine Show, hosts Chaad Thomas and Matt Kuhr announce show sponsor Gabriel Group ( www.gabrielgrp.com ) and introduce panelists Alan Collins (Michigan vineyard project advocating risk-taking for a uniquely Michigan wine identity), wine traveler/judge Bobby Frank, and chef/winemaker Jason Berthold (promoting aging high-acid white wines). They discuss three news topics: billionaire winery acquisitions and their impact on wine’s “soul,” proposed 2026 U.S. ingredient-label transparency and consumer reactions to additives, and AI-driven wine recommendations in tasting rooms versus human sommeliers. During glass checks they taste wines including aged Muscadet and other bottles. The new “Grape to Plate” s
podcast· 1h 07m· S8E1Does France still matter: The Judgement of Paris at 50 (S8 E1)
Fifty years after the Judgment of Paris, is the wine world ready for another revolution? The panel dishes on world class Oregon Chardonnay, the chef dishes up buttery roasted oyster with hijiki seaweed, and we get into the growing movement for "Honest Wine" and label transparency, and why, despite the buzz, non-alcoholic wine stills falls short. Season 8, Episode 1 of The Real Wine Show opens by thanking sponsor The Gabriel Group ( www.gabrielgrp.com ), a Midwest hospitality equipment supplier with showrooms and test kitchens. The panel introduces Rebecca Waldron (Bush’s beer/wine/spirits buyer and Michigan Craft Beverage Council member), Dr. Matthew Horkey (wine writer and YouTuber), and Domenico “Mimmo” Musumeci (West Michigan farmer-winemaker behind wine projects including Wine Pirati, emphasizing transparency and ingredient labeling). They debate whether the old world–new world rivalry still matters ahead of the Judgment of Paris 50th anniversary, discuss sommelier culture and blin
podcast· 1h 10m· S7E6Is the "Luxury" Wine Market a Myth? & The Truth About Restaurant Markups S7 E6
The panel debates whether "Luxury Wine" is a real quality tier or just a marketing construct used to justify high prices. Plus, industry insiders Jarred Gild, Nick Arone, and Jarett Coy pull back the curtain on how restaurants determine wine list markups and the reality of selling high-end bottles in a changing market. For the season 7 finale (and our 63rd episode!), we grabbed three of the coolest cats on Detroit's progressive wine scene and basically asked them to spill the tea (or, you know, the skin-contact orange wine). Get ready to meet the panel: Jarred Gild: This OG Detroit tastemaker has been ahead of the curve forever. His pioneering wine vision is the secret sauce behind iconic spots like Western Market, Stadt Garden, Pash & Glou, The Schvitz, and the legendary Dakota Inn. Seriously, he's the map to Detroit natural wine history. Nick Arone: The guy who made a splash the moment he rolled into town! Originally from sunny California and rocking a cocktail background, Nick pivot
podcast· 1h 03m· S7E5The "Fine Wine" Identity Crisis & The Secrets of Mezcal Production S7 E5
Is the term "Fine Wine" losing its meaning in a market flooded with luxury marketing? Why Australian wines are still MIA in the American market, a debate the future of wine classification, and a deep dive into the traditional world of Mezcal and agave spirits. S7 E5 is, as we say in the podcast biz, a meaty one, ranging from '90s pop movie references to a groundbreaking, highly technical, wine salvage technique, and onto practical suggestions on how to choose a spouse! We also taste wines from Italy, Georgia, and Australia...and opine on what happened to the latter in the USA market. Our panelists for all this fascinating discussion are Cody Formisano of York, and Ann Arbor wine bar and retail spot; Pedro San Antonio, a longtime wine enthusiast and literature prof from Henry Ford Community College; and distiller and winemaker David Landrum, founder of Detroit's first post-Prohibition distillery, Two James. It's a show we know you'll love, and we sincerely appreciate your audience! Plea
podcast· 1h 33m· S7E4The "California Wine" Identity Crisis & The Secrets of Sustainable Viticulture (S7 E4)
This episode we ask, is California wine facing a permanent shift in consumer perception, or is it just a temporary slump? Is Veuve Clicquot missing out on Michigan? A debate over the future of domestic wine production, and exploration of the real-world impact of sustainable and regenerative farming on the juice in your glass. The diversity of perspectives on the wine industry is something we love most about the business and something we want most to share with others, so we're extremely delighted to bring this group to the mics! Emily, who as the Executive Director of the Michigan Wine Collaborative, is working not only on the marketing side, but also working closely with producers. Kaira represents the consumer facet, running a wine social club that not only drinks wine, but gets members out in the world to visit wineries, explore dining, and really engage with the lifestyle of wine. Mike owns M4 Distributing, a speciality wine wholesaler focused on natural/organic wines supplying top
podcast· 1h 19m· S7E3Is Natural Wine Becoming Too Corporate? & The Future of Wine Tourism (S7 E3)
Has the "Natural Wine" movement lost its rebellious soul to corporate investment and mass marketing? Join guests Chris Hunter, Kassy Fifer, and Kristie Brablec as they debate the commercialization of low-intervention wine and explore how modern wine tourism is shifting toward authentic, farm-to-table experiences. Chris Hunter is well known not only to regular listeners, but also wine-loving travelers through Detroit's Metro airport, where he's been an outstanding presence at wine bar Vino Volo. Kassy is someone you'll love meeting, as her confidence, sportsmanship, and good humor clearly mark her as a force to be reckoned with, and her soon-to-open Bay City wine bar, Calypso, will certainly be a must-visit, too. And returning to the panelist table is our very own, spunky and irreverent co-host, Kristie Brablec, who stepped up to fill in for a guest who left us in the lurch. She does it all for you, dear listeners! So yeah, lots of energy, thoughtful provocation, and laughs in this one;
podcast· 1h 09m· S7E2Is Bordeaux Finally Hip Again? & The "New School" of American Import Trends (S7 E2)
Is the "old guard" of Bordeaux finding its way into the glasses of a younger, more adventurous generation? Join our panel as they debate the modernization of classic regions, reveal what’s actually driving the "new school" of American wine imports today, and get a first taste of the new Thomas Acker wines! We're back in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for episode 2 of season 7, graciously hosted by Good Good Good Wine & Flowers. Owners Kyle and Sam run this supercool wine bar and retail shop on Plainfield Ave. NE; stop in if you're town, but be sure to check 'em out and give them a follow on Instagram at @goodgoodgoodgr, too. Kyle also joined our discussion panel, alongside Jaime Haener of wine wholesale distributor AHD Vintners, and Nadim Audi of the acclaimed wine import company Selection Massale. Their conversation was friendly, witty, and disarmingly open, highlighting why we brought the show to GR in the first place: it's a community of terrific wine enthusiasts! Our panelists strategical
podcast· 55:11· S7E1Is the "Wine Score" System Dead? & The Rise of Alcohol-Free Alternatives (S7 E1)
Are 100-point ratings still relevant, or are modern drinkers moving past the critics? Join guests Amy Ruis, Sean Stearns, and Ben Vanderwaal as they debate the legacy of wine scores and explore the explosive growth of high-quality non-alcoholic and dealcoholized beverages in the market. Welcome to the very first TRWS road show! We packed up the mics and headed west to Grand Rapids, MI, to hang out with the terrific wine community there. We were graciously hosted by Sam and Kyle, whose wine bar and flower shop, Good Good Good, is a real area treasure! We were joined by panelists Amy Ruis, veritably the matriarch of the GR fine wine scene and owner of wine shop Art of the Table; Sean Stearns runs the very cool wine bar Chateau Grand Rapids, and Ben Vanderwaal owns the east town wine shop, Ritual. It's our usual show format, just with an all-new cast, so be ready for a fun-- and often funny!-- wine geek-out! Thanks for listening!
podcast· 15:10Italian Scholar & Hustler Evangelizes Detroit: 10 Questions w/ Salvatore Napolitano
Scholar, philosopher, educator, professional Italian wine authority... Dr. Salvatore Napolitano is one of the most erudite and insightful people in the business. We sat down with Salvatore at his hotel in downtown Detroit before he set out for a day of evangelizing for Sardegna and renowned winery, Sella & Mosca. Of Italian origin, his passion for classical studies brought him to the USA, and today, based in New York, he travels the country spreading the good word about the amazingly diverse world of Italian wine. We had a great chat, and we hope you enjoy listening! Thanks for coming, and don't forget to subscribe; it helps us keep the good content coming!
podcast· 12:25The Real Wine Show "10 Minutes, 10 Questions" w/ Álvaro Loza of Álvaro Loza wines from Rioja
A rising star in the Rioja wine scene for his elevated and elegant winemaking, exemplified by Con.tacto, a skin-contact, amber viura, Álvaro Loza is also a deeply thoughtful person committed to respecting the land, the vines, and legacy of both family and region. While working in the Michigan market (with distributor Eagle Eye Brands and importer Vino Vi & Co.), he sat down with us for a quick lunch and 10 questions, revealing his deep passion for both grape growing and winemaking. We hope you enjoy getting to know him as much as we did! Thank you for listening!
podcast· 57:48· S6E6The Real Wine Show S6 E6 feat. Alex McNeely, Kat McCormack, and Jimmy Bates
We're wrapping up Season 6 with a real banger, an episode of exceptional depth, humor, insight, and listenability. All credit is due to our terrific panelists, Alex McNeely of Poetson Wines, Kat McCormack of Decanter & Coupe distribution, and Jimmy Bates of T. Edwards importing, each of whom came ready to play and have fun! You'll enjoy hearing their thoughts on whether we need more business-type folks in the wine industry, grape vaping, and the importance of keeping an eye on the dog when hamburgers and pizza are around. Lots of great stories, terrific insights, and laugh-out-loud moments. We promise this will be one of your favorite episodes yet! Thanks for listening!
podcast· 1h 02m· S6E5The Real Wine Show S6 E5 feat. Austin Beeman, Emily Yahkind-Dabish, & Lena Wellington
It's the episode of the vintage! Well, that's up for you, the listeners, to decide, but we think it's great! Austin Beeman (Travel Bloggers Exchange), Emily Yahkind-Dabish (Sol Summit), and Lena Wellington (Santé Wine Bar) join us for this one, and they have their say about the state of the US domestic wine business, opine that Bordeaux is the most important wine region in the world, and agree that there's no shame in cracking a can of wine when dining home alone. Hot tip of the show? Buy dessert wine at auction!
podcast· 1h 05m· S6E4The Real Wine Show S6 E4 feat. Mike Fifer, Lori Moss, & Diego Aliste
For Season 6 Episode 3 the show panelists are Mike Fifer of Imperial Beverage, Lori Moss of Little Guy Wine, and Diego Aliste of Stadtgarden Detroit. They're three distinct personalities, each with their own pathway into wine, but they vibe great and fun conversation flows easily, making this a perfect episode when you really need to have your focus elsewhere and don't want to feel like you can't follow the show, but also don't want to listen to senseless, inane, blather. Have we broken the code for fab podcasts, or are we just lucky to sit down with really great folks? Take a listen and let us know what you think!
podcast· 1h 04m· S6E3The Real Wine Show S6 E3 feat. Tatiana Portillo, Brenda Puska, and Kristen Pennington
Chaad and Matt had a great time talking with Tatiana Portillo of Detroit’s Prime & Proper, Brenda Puska of Simply Wine Northville, and .wine distributor Kristen Pennington of Carpe Vinum.
podcast· 1h 10m· S6E2The Real Wine Show S6 E2 feat. Mary Davis, Adam Mahler, & Sean Mankowski
Fun time for S6 E2 comes courtesy of three, dynamic industry insiders with diverse approaches to the business, but a shared sense of humor and passion for people and wine. Mary Davis is the beverage program director at Detroit’s acclaimed Takoi restaurant. Adam Mahler, a returning panelist familiar to regular listeners, is the founder and owner of Ampelography, a Toledo-based wine brokerage house. Sean Mankowski is the regional manager for Taub Family Selections, the fine (mostly Italian) wine division of Palm Bay Imports. We’re posting from our phone here, while on vacation in Italy, so excuse the descriptive brevity and trust us when we say you won’t be disappointed in this episode; it’s a solid hour of entertainment! Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the show, please subscribe to follow and help us the grow the show!
podcast· 1h 04m· S6E1The Real Wine Show S6 E1 feat. Shelley Bynum, Kimberly Hartnett, and Elisa Weber
We open Season 6 with topics such as robotic hospitality, parsing "crushed stone impingement" in a tasting note, and how a wine can remind you of that drummer you brought home from the club one night! Our terrific panelists for this show are Shelley Bynum of Detroit Athletic Club, Kimberly Hartnett of Vintage Wine Company, and Elisa Weber of Little Guy Wine. If you like charming, smart, warm, funny and honest conversation, click Play and get ready for one of our best episodes yet!
podcast· 17:18The Real Wine Show "10 Minutes, 10 Questions w/ Outward Wines' Natalie Siddique & Ryan Pace
Outward Wines is one of the most thrilling, "new wave" wineries to emerge from California's Central Coast, with a style that's focused on energetic, fun-to-drink wines, while still delivering the unique expressions of site specificity. The simultaneous ease and seriousness that define Ryan and Natalie are also reflected in their wines. Maybe it's more like a sense of confidence derived from competence; for example, their Chenin Blanc doesn't scream Chenin Blanc, but then at once, it is precisely Chenin. There is reward in paying attention to Outward wines beyond that first, pleasureful sip, and spending a few minutes listening here to Natalie and Ryan is similarly rewarding. Enjoy, and thank you for listening!
podcast· 1h 11mThe Real Wine Show S5 E6 w/ Austin Beeman, Matthew Horkey, & Dair Calder-Piedmont
Here's one for the heads! We gathered three brilliant wine professionals-- retail, wholesale, authors, YouTubers, wine judges...their combined CV is impressive!-- and they brought their A-game, engaging the show challenges with gusto and humor, and delivering thoughtful, incisive commentary on a wide range of wine topics, from the pitfalls of blind tasting, the revolutionary importance of putting the consumer perspective first, and how an Alsatian wine can be like a sunburned Scottish hippie at a Phish show! Jump in; you'll find this episode geeky yet entertaining, thought provoking, and at times, you'll laugh out loud, too. Promise! Don't forget to follow @therealwineshow on Instagram for even more content!
podcast· 16:15The Real Wine Show "10 Minutes, 10 Questions" w/ Constantin Richter of Weingut Max Ferdinand Richter
Although this episode of 10 Minutes, 10 Questions went a few minutes over time, it actually feels shorter than normal, because Constantin Richter has much of interest to say! Wonderfully opinionated but also superbly rational, it's perhaps no wonder that he seems untroubled being the 10th generation of his family's winemaking legacy at Max Ferdinand Richter winery in Mülheim, in the very heart of Germany's iconic Mosel valley. He's calculated yet gracious with his ideas on politics, winemaking, and the future, so he transmits a very welcome sense of assurance that Max Ferd. Richter wines will continue to be paragons of riesling excellence despite these days of economic and political turmoil. Set aside 15 minutes, and enjoy 10 questions for Constantin Richter!
podcast· 58:43· S5E5The Real Wine Show S5 E5 w/ Christine Lau, Ji Hye Kim, & Carlos Parisi
Welcome to a rather unconventional episode of TRWS, but one that will delight nonetheless, as our panelists are all foodies, chefs, entrepreneurs and philosophers! We cut a couple of regular show segments, and indulged instead discussion about the the trouble with "fusion cuisine," how S. Korea has 6x the seasonality we have here in Michigan, and the Arab origins of Mexican tacos! Chef Christine Lau (formerly of Kimika NYC) was in from New York, Chef Ji Hye Kim is the creative fire behind Ann Arbor's Miss Kim restaurant, and Carlos Parisi is from Detroit, where, besides being the owner of Aunt Nee's tortilla chips and salsas, he's involved in a variety of projects and pop-ups; you may have seen him on IG lavishing fresh-shaved truffle on coney dogs! It's a terrific episode that will appeal to anyone concerned with matters of taste, food quality, responsibility and creativity. Join us!
podcast· 1h 06mThe Real Wine Show S5 E4 w/Steve Russano, Kristen Pennington, & Jon Bullock
With the astuteness of Adm. Akbar, this crew sussed our traps and even declared that the goal of TRWS was to deceive! The audacity...am I right?! Everyone knows the purpose of the podcast is to create community in the most entertaining way we can. To that end, we think you'll enjoy this episode bringing together two wine importers (Kristen and Jon) and one savvy consumer (Steve), and which features the bonus stylings of guest co-host Chris Hunter. The conversation got a little raucous at times, but it's solidly entertaining and covers topics from wine trinkets, to how pinot nero is wildly underrated, to how stuffing girls in her trunk landed Kristen a job. Good listening, and here in time for that trip to Grandma's house for Easter. Enjoy!
podcast· 1h 03m· S5E3The Real Wine Show S5 E3 w/ Chris Hunter, Catherine Kurth, & Jarett Coy
On matters including the so-called "Sijourney" Weaver, the Alsatian hotness of Jintaro Yura, and the mystical depths of Georgian amber wine, Episode 3 delivers with extreme "listen-ability" and interest. It's a great, comfortable conversation showcasing both experience and the unique zeitgeist of the Detroit wine scene. If you can appreciate what King Books is and represents, you'll love this episode! The panel features veteran guests Chris Hunter of VinoVolo DTW, and Catherine Kurth of Woodberry Wines, and the man behind the deep-diving Detroit wine scene Instagram account VinoInDetroit, Jarett Coy. We've got a full hour on tap for you, so set your course and enjoy our in-flight entertainment!