Adam, Joanna, and Zach react to a recent Substack post from wine influencer Pilar Brito about the need to tell people that mass market wine is bad. While there's certainly some folks who might respond positively to being told that the wine they like to drink apparently actually sucks, most consumers are likely to be turned off from the category if wine's already entrenched reputation for snobbery and elitism is reinforced right in their face. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Zach is reading: Before Espresso Martinis, Pousse Cafés Dominated After-Dinner Drinking

Joanna is reading: The Definitive Ranking of Bar Games

Adam is reading: The 25 Best Orange Wines for 2025

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a question from a listener pondering a career in the wine industry. With all the negative headlines, slackening sales, and general turmoil, is this a terrible idea, or is it worth it to follow your passion and your dream even so? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Zach is drinking: Grassotti Vermouth di Torino Dry

Joanna is drinking: Threes Brewing VLIET Lager

Adam is drinking: Tomato Water Martini

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach share some context and thoughts about the recent showing not just a noticeable decline in respondents who drink, but a particularly large drop in those who identify as Republicans. Has a new era of right wing political leaders and influencers really caused that kind of change in behavior, particularly among young people? Are there other factors at play? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Adam is reading: TVs in Cocktail Bars Are Divisive — but Can They Be an Asset?

Joanna is watching: Places Please

Zach is reading: After Conquering the U.S. Open, Is the Honey Deuce Coming for Your Cooler?

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach puzzle over why it's become increasingly difficult to just get a drink at a restaurant bar, whether you're early for your reservation or just hoping to scope out a new place. Does it really pay in the long run for restaurants to be so miserly with bar space? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Joanna is drinking: Two Brewers Yukon Single Malt Whisky

Adam is drinking: Olive Oil Gin Martini at LUCA

Zach is drinking: Thai Gimlet from Straightaway Cocktails

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the potential role of AI in restaurants and bars, from wine list and menu creation to guests relying on ChatGPT for recommendations instead of the staff. Are we really going to let an algorithm take over this part of the world too? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Joanna is reading: Is Still Prosecco a Clever Bid or a Branding Blunder?

Zach is reading: Espadín: The Surprisingly Short History of Mezcal’s Most Prominent Agave

Adam is reading: How a Passion Fruit Grand Marnier Became a Cult Classic Liqueur

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Zach discuss a recent piece outlining Sonoma County's contentious plan to created a Wine Improvement District to collectively market the appellation and its wineries. While similar efforts have been used to solid success in Temecula, Livermore, and Santa Barbara, this effort has been fraught, to say the least. Why is it that many wineries, which ostensibly would all benefit from increased marketing and visitation, don't want to get on board, and what does it have to do with the broader industry? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Zach is drinking: 2011 Archery Summit "Arcos Vineyard" Pinot Noir

Adam is drinking: De Sterlich Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam and Zach discuss a recent VinePair piece about the worrisome trend of wine companies divesting themselves of value brands. Given how important these brands and the value tier is for bringing new consumers into wine, why can't premium and fine wine folks accept that they need these wines to exist and succeed for their own success? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Zach is reading: Reddit Bartenders Reveal What Makes a Good Regular

Adam is reading: The 30 Best Sauvignon Blancs for 2025

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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After Adam's travels through Europe, he, Joanna, and Zach discuss why there's such a massive difference between fine dining, Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe and those in the United States that either have or aspire to the same acclaim. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Adam is drinking: Augustiner-Bräu

Joanna is drinking: Chambord Bramble

Zach is drinking: PÁŠXA "Rockgarden Estate" Grenache

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Adam, Joanna, and Zach respond to a listener question about the state of American-made amaro, and the category more broadly. Is there in fact a market for craft, locally-focused amaro? Did the craze from earlier this decade just kind of die out? Why aren't there more iconic amaro cocktails? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Joanna is reading: What Can Bourbon Distillers Learn From the Last Big Bust?

Zach is reading: We Asked 9 Bartenders: What’s Your Guilty-Pleasure Cocktail Ingredient?

Adam is reading: Diageo CEO Steps Down as Company Shifts Strategy

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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Joanna and Zach discuss a recent article about cocktail garnishes, and how some bars are eliminating them to either reduce costs or promote sustainability. Does every cocktail need a garnish? Where is the garnish absolutely essential? Could some drinks actually be improved by not garnishing them at all? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and be well.

Joanna is drinking: Fiddlehead Brewing Co. IPA

Zach is drinking: Georgetown Brewing Co. "Bodhizafa" IPA

Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair

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