Real Business of Wine.

As part of our ongoing series on wine communication, Fabien Lainé, Paul Mabray, Terry Xu, Mike Ratcliffe, and Scott Eddy take the lid off the world of influencers. How important are they really? What rules do they follow? How real are the numbers of followers they claim? A lively RBW debate!

Continuing the theme we began with India and Brazil, we look at Russia, one of the wine world's most under-appreciated markets – where good wine is being produced, too.

With over a million copies sold, Karen MacNeil tops the wine writing charts in the US. Hers was the only book that featured in the Netflix movie, Uncorked. Now she's moved online with virtual tastings.

Simon Woolf, award-winning author of Amber Wine, talks skin contact with rosé expert Liz Gabay MW, winemaker Tony Milanowski of Rathfinny Estate and natural wine distributor Doug Wregg of Les Caves de Pyrene.

Dan Jago has been at the head of Bibendum one of Britain's leading wine wholesalers, Tesco's global wine division – one of the world's largest by volume – and Berry Bros & Rudd, the UK's oldest fine wine merchant. In other words, he knows A LOT about wine distribution, from presenting Pétrus and Le Pin to private clients, to purchasing Pinot Grigio for Polish supermarkets.

Writers have been telling us forever that Riesling has taken over wine lists, that Sherry is the hottest thing, and that nobody drinks buttery Chardonnay anymore. But none of these things are true. We look at the tricky relationship between fact and opinion-presented-as-fact in wine reporting. With Blake Gray, former wine editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and winner of the Roederer Award for Best Online Wine Writer in the world.

Wines specifically aimed at women? And at men? Really?

Well, on the one hand, there's Cupcake and Little Black Dress and Middle Sister. And on the other there's Carnivor and Sledgehammer and 19 Crimes...

In a departure from the usual format, Polly and Robert take a level headed look at gender-based wine marketing. And probably disagree... Come and join the discussion.

If it weren't for Covid-19, Decanter Bordeaux correspondent Jane Anson would be on tour in the UK signing her new book, Inside Bordeaux. Instead, she's still in France – and with us to discuss the secrets of what makes that region tick – and how she has successfully managed to produce five books without going through traditional publishing routes.

According to Wine Intelligence, 20 million Brazilians drink wine at least once a week and 31% of Brazilian consumers "like to take their time to purchase wine" and consider wine to be "important" to their lifestyles. Leading journalist and publisher Marcelo Capello and Wine Intelligence Brazil Country Manager Rodrigo Lanari introduce the world's sixth most populous nation (211m citizens) and growing wine drinking and producing market.

As wine professionals - with varying success - rush to host virtual tastings, we meet experts who launched highly popular podcasts and online platforms long before the current crisis.