This week on "The Wine List" our guests oversee some of the hottest restaurants and wine programs in the country. Welcome Nikita Malhotra, Tira Johnson and Ian Krupp. Nikita Malhotra is a multi-award-winning Sommelier, the proprietor and beverage guru at Infatuation’s 2025 “Restaurant of the Year”, Smithereens. Tira Johnson, a back-to-back Star Wine List Awards winner, oversees the beverage programs at white-hot Chez Fifi, Sushi Noz, Noz Market, and Fooq’s in Miami. Ian Krupp is the Michelin Guide California Sommelier of the Year and Bev. Dir at the LA Times “Restaurant of the Year” Anajak Thai.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aldo Sohm is one of the most revered, decorated, and well-known sommeliers in the world. He has overseen the beverage program at 3 Michelin Star Le Bernadin for almost two decades and also runs his eponymous Aldo Sohm Wine Bar in NYC. He just published his second book, “Wine Simple: Perfect Pairings”.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Wine List by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Emilien Boutillat is the Chief Winemaker at Piper-Heidsieck and Rare Champagne. Born in Champagne to a vine grower, Emilien traveled the world to master his craft, with stops in Chateauneuf du Pape, Chile, S. Africa, Chateau Margaux, Peter Michael, Comtes and Armand di Brignac to name a few. He joined Piper Heidsieck in 2018, at that time, the youngest cellarmaster at 31.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Cutting the Curd by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Camille Lindsley is the co-proprietor and beverage person at Hag’s, NYC.

Heading north from Atlanta, Camille, along with her partner in life and crime, Philly born chef, Telly Justice, came to NYC loaded with hospitality experience, only further sharpened by stints at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, Contra and Wildair to name a few. This queer couple, arrived with a vision to promote and mentor a community-based food and wine program. They opened Hags’ restaurant in 2022 with a chef driven tasting menu and and killer wine list. Hags is unapologetically queer, but for all people.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Wine List by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Isabelle is one of the most prolific and effective people in natural wine today. Growing up around grapes in France, she pursued her Master of Wine and in 2012 she fulfilled a mission by founding Raw Wine, the world’s largest community of low-intervention organic, biodynamic and natural wine, their growers, makers and those who love drinking them. She created the Raw Wine Fair, a year-round series of festivals in major cities spanning the globe. Isabelle is author of the seminal book, naturally called “Natural Wine”. She has joined us on the podcast every year since 2016 to talk about Raw Wine, the people, the wine and the fairs.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cha McCoy does it all, and there is a lot of "all" here! She is a true entrepreneur, with an MBA, a certified Sommelier, she is an educator, event producer, and founder of The Communion, a wine and food series. Think Wine Enthusiast's 40 Under 40, Adjunct professor at Syracuse, Sommelier in Portugal, Bev. Dir. At Charleston Wine and Food Festival and consultant to name a few. And now, author, Cha just published "Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond". A much-needed book in this wine world today.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Pearson is the Maison President of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, now part of Moet Hennessy. David first studied fermentation science at UC Davis, but ultimately moved to key positions running Opus One for over 16 years and now legendary Napa winery, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, home of Napa icon Insignia. David answers "The Wine List" and talks about his mind-changing trip to Ardeche in France influencing him to permaculture and regenerative farming, now practiced at Phelps.  

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Wine List by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt is a fourth-generation family member of the House of Laurent Perrier Champagne. We start the show right off with Lucie answering our five "Wine List' questions, with an eye towards Champagne. We talk about LP history, her grandfather and his impact on Champagne. Lucie's role in the Champagne house. We taste and talk about two vintages of their luxury Champagne Grand Siecle and the story behind Heritage, a reserve only Champagne.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Wine List by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ed Szymanski, is the chef, owner, and head wino at Lords, Dame, and Crevette restaurants in NYC. Hailing from across the pond in London, Ed, along with his wife Patricia, in less than half a decade have created some of NYC’s most beloved and critically acclaimed restaurants and wine programs, each with their own identity.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Wine List by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Elaine Chukan Brown is an author, journalist, sought after speaker, consultant and a champion of diversity and inclusion in the wine biz along with her mentorship. Their footprint is global and their work is ubiquitous. Elaine currently works with Wine Enthusiast, wrote a column for Decanter, was a contributing writer for Wine & Spirits, the executive Editor/US for Jancis Robinson.com and contributed to both the “Oxford Companion to Wine” and the “World Atlas of Wine”. Elaine also focuses on California wine, leaning into the intersection of sustainability, climate action and reducing gatekeeping in the wine industry, Elaine Chukan Brown’s new book, “The Wines of California” from Academie du Vin Library is now available.
 

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support The Grape Nation by becoming a member!

The Grape Nation is Powered by Simplecast.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.