In this episode, Djenita sits down with Lawrence (Larry) Doolittle from Frontenac Winery, located in the Finger Lakes Wine Region, and Larry shares how pivotal legislation in the late 1970s transformed a sleepy region into a vibrant wine destination with over 500 wineries today—and why small producers are winning in a world dominated by giants.

The two discuss how New York's passage of the farm winery bill sparked a renaissance, empowering local farmers to craft and sell their own wines directly to consumers, bypassing outdated laws rooted in prohibition. Larry also breaks down the regional characteristics that make Finger Lakes wines unique—like the lighter, citrus-driven Chardonnays and the approachable reds that keep visitors coming back. Plus, get insights on how the pandemic turned into an unexpected boom for small wineries and what today’s younger generations mean for wine’s future.

As the podcast evolves, so does its focus.

Djenita emphasizes the role of food in cultural experiences, promising more culinary insights alongside wine recommendations. With a commitment to authenticity and open dialogue, this season invites listeners to join a community of exploration and celebration. Stay tuned for more episodes that blend the art of wine with the adventure of travel.

Follow "Wines and Wins" on Instagram for updates, giveaways, and a taste of what's to come!

This week, for our season finale, we are joined by Donato Esposito, a hospitality entrepreneur and third generation hotelier whose family has been welcoming guests to the Amalfi Coast for decades at their stunning hotel, the Tramonto d'Oro, located in Praiano.

We chat business, hospitality, cuisine, and local wines, with some of Donato's favorite local recommendations listed below:

Fiano di Avellino DOCG Pendino 2024 – Colli di Castelfranci

Cilento DOP Fiano Kratos 2023 – Luigi Maffini

Aglianico del Taburno Tempo del Canto DOCG 2020 – Santiquaranta

Irpinia DOC Aglianico 2019 – Montesole

In this episode, we record live from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, discussing the Sarajevo Wine Weekend we recently attended, Balkan wines, and our aspirations for the platform as a whole in continuing to connect with global wine lovers and travels enthusiasts alike.

This episode is paired with a Vilinka Blatina from the Herzegovina region. For Bosnian listeners, a bottle can be purchased here: Vilinka Blatina 0,75L | hedonism.baFor all other listeners, a bottle may be purchased here and they ship to various countries: Vilinka Blatina 750Ml - www.bestalcoholstore.com

In this episode, we have the honor of sitting down with Jen Smiley, founder and owner of Wake Up and Read the Labels, an incredibly popular clean eating platform, focused on helping people make sense of food labels, avoid misleading marketing, and choose ingredients that support their overall health. We chat all about food, wine, labels, and discuss Jen's journey as an entrepreneur.

This episode is paired with a 2022 Bedrock Old Vine Zinfadel, which can be purchased here: Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel — Bedrock Wine Co.

In this episode, Djenita reflects on her latest journey back to the Finger Lakes Wine Region in New York, some of her favorite eatery and accommodation recommendations, along with her favorite wines from the area, and the stories behind each of them.

This episode is paired with a 2023 Hermann J. Weimer chardonnay, available for purchase here: Chardonnay – Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard Online Store

Djenita also highlights her new ambassadorship with Wine Girl, fun wine merchandise, which is available for purchase here with 15% off for her listeners with the code DJENITA: WINE GIRL – WINE GIRL SHOP

In this episode, our special guest is our new friend who we met in Italy, Rosario Borrelli. We met Rosario at Cantina del Vesuvio, a winery on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius in Southern Italy, where he works as a wine tour guide. We hit it off and were so excited to have him join us on this episode to chat all things Italy, wine, Cantina del Vesuvio's rich history, and so much more!

Naturally, the wine pairing for this episode was the Cantina del Vesuvio Bianco wine, available for purchase here: Bianco Vesuvio Lacryma Christi DOC – Cantina del Vesuvio wine

In this episode, we chat with Lauren Karch, sommelier, author, and owner of What's Wine is Yours, a wine event business. We chat about how to give people more confidence when discussing wine, Lauren's upcoming book, The Fashionista's Guide to Wine Talk (available for purchase here: www.winetalkbook.com), and her book launch event in Denver on September 11, 2025 (tickets available here: The Fashionista's Guide to Wine Talk | BOXSTATEBASH)

We pair this episode with a crisp glass of Halter Ranch 2023 Grenache Blanc, which is available for purchase here: 2023 Grenache Blanc

This episode is a part of our travel series and was recorded on the Amalfi Coast during our tenth wedding anniversary trip to Italy in August 2025. Charlie and I chat about our experiences, recommendations, everything we love about Italy, and our love of travel as a whole.

This episode is paired with a Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore sparkling wine from Valdobbiadene, Italy and can be found in various locations throughout the US as well as on wine.com, as linked here: https://www.wine.com/product/santa-margherita-prosecco-superiore/49672

An open and honest conversation on learning to deal with health struggles, the importance of leaning on your community, and just as importantly, enjoying a good glass of wine.

This week's episode is paired with a 2024 Wrangler red blend from Latigo Winery in Colorado Springs. More on Latigo and their wines can be found here: Latigo Winery - Wines