What does it take to become a certified sommelier, or a Master of Wine?  We’ll get tips from some pros.  Also, it’s no secret that the Master of Wine exam is notoriously difficult. We'll hear from one M-W who wasn't sure she'd pass the test.

Episode 40: Mastering Wine

The Wine Enthusiast Podcast takes you on a tantalizing trip into the world of wine, beer and spirits. Drink up engaging, behind-the-scenes stories reported and recorded by Wine Enthusiast’s editors. In each episode, we explore emerging trends, provide educational tidbits, and introduce you to the passionate people who craft, shake, ferment, and pour their beverage of choice. Inside every bottle is a story.

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What is a private label, exactly? Think Costco’s Kirkland; Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw, or Two-Buck Chuck; or Target’s California Roots. Sometimes these private labels are easy to pick out, while other times they hide in plain sight. In this episode, Alison Crowe, vice president of winemaking for Plata Wine Partners, a leading private-label producer in the heart of California, gives us the inside scoop on everything from grape sourcing to wine production, marketing, branding and the pros and cons of the category.   Explore more from Plata Wine Partners here. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at podcast@wineenthusiast.net. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!          FOLLOW US:       TikTok: @wineenthusiast Instagram: @wineenthusiast Facebook: @WineEnthusiast X: @WineEnthusiast 

Episode 164: What Makes a Private-Label Wine?

20 years after the release of the award-winning book, Sideaways, author Rex Pickett reflects on its film adaptation and poignant statement against Merlot producers. Like Miles Raymond, the main character in the book and film, Pickett was an unpublished author living in L.A. and a devoted disciple of Pinot (which he spent hours talking about with Richard Sanford). Listen as he shares how the success of Sideways launched an unexpected journey into the wine world and the creation of a beloved cinema classic. And before you ask: No Merlot was consumed in the making of this episode. Shop Pickett's new release, Sideways: New Zealand, and the complete Sideways collection here. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at podcast@wineenthusiast.net. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!       FOLLOW US:       TikTok: @wineenthusiast Instagram: @wineenthusiast Facebook: @WineEnthusiast X: @WineEnthusiast 

Episode 163: Rex Pickett and the Making of Sideways 20 Years Later

Find out what happens when two wine drinkers with different levels of experience start getting real about wine storage. Discoveries include, but are not limited to: the most expensive custom wine cellar requests, what someone's wine storage says about them and the hardcore facts one needs to know before making any storage solution purchase.  Starring:   The Wine Collector: Marshall Tilden III, DWS, CSW, Wine Enthusiast Chief Revenue & Education Officer  The Casual Wine Drinker: Dara P. Kapoor, Wine Enthusiast VP of Content     Guest appearance by:  The Wine Enthusiast Wine Storage Consultants. They're waiting by the inbox and phone for you!  This interview was also recorded live at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. You can watch it here—and see some of our previous cellar work! Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at podcast@wineenthusiast.net. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!       FOLLOW US:       TikTok: @wineenthusiast Instagram: @wineenthusiast Facebook: @WineEnthusiast X: @WineEnthusiast 

Episode 162: What's the Difference Between a Wine Cellar, Fridge and Cooler?

Armenia is considered one of the birthplaces of winemaking, with archaeological evidence dating back at least 7,000 years. Tragically, the country’s wine culture was decimated under Soviet rule.  Things finally started changing about a dozen years ago: Today, more than 200 wineries are operating in the country, and their bottles can now be found in markets and restaurants around the United States and Europe.  In this episode, Writer-at-Large Matt Kettmann speaks with two leaders of the Armenian wine renaissance, father-daughter duo Vahe and Aimee Keushgerian. In 2021, the pair also made the first commercial wine from grapes grown in Iran in more than 40 years.  Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at podcast@wineenthusiast.net. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!       FOLLOW US:       TikTok: @wineenthusiast Instagram: @wineenthusiast Facebook: @WineEnthusiast X: @WineEnthusiast 

Episode 161: The Armenian Wine Renaissance

On the surface, winemakers appear to lead a glamorous, jet-setting life of international travel, fancy wine dinners and a never-ending supply of enviable bottles. But what is it really like to work in wine? Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Christina Pickard speaks to three well-respected winemakers from Australia and New Zealand on their entry into the industry. Hear from Paul Pujol, whose early experiences include a too-close-for-comfort experience with toxic chemicals; Jenny Dobson, who punched through the glass ceiling to produce her own wine label; and Helen Masters, who improbably scored a gig at a lauded winery, where years later she became the head winemaker. Is there a guest you want us to interview? A topic you want us to cover? We want to hear from you! Email us at podcast@wineenthusiast.net. Remember to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Go to WineEnthusiast.com for the latest beverage industry coverage and all the tools you need to bring your love of wine to life. And wait, there's more! Get over 70% OFF the original cover price by subscribing to Wine Enthusiast magazine today!       FOLLOW US:       TikTok: @wineenthusiast Instagram: @wineenthusiast Facebook: @WineEnthusiast X: @WineEnthusiast 

Episode 40: Mastering Wine

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