Ep. 18 Monty Waldin interviews Deborah Brenner of Women of the Vine and Spirits | Italian Wine Personalities

Welcome to Episode 2241 of the Italian Wine Podcast coming live from the Grandi Langhe 2025 in Piedmont. Today’s guest is the president of the Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani, Sergio Germano. As the official media partner, Italian Wine Podcast brings you firsthand insights from Grandi Langhe 2025—Piedmont’s premier wine event. Join top producers, buyers, and experts as they explore emerging styles, vineyard innovations, and market trends shaping the region's future. From Barolo and Barbaresco to hidden gems, this series offers in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes access, revealing Piedmont’s impact on the global wine stage. Tune in every Friday at 3 PM or visit www.italianwinepodcast.com for more!   More about today’s guest:  Sergio Germano is the winemaker behind Ettore Germano, his family estate in Serralunga d’Alba. Born in 1965, he grew up working in the vineyards before studying enology in Alba. After gaining experience in renowned local wineries, he transformed his family’s vineyard into a full-fledged winery, releasing the first Barolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Chardonnay in 1988. A turning point came in 1993 when the estate began vinifying all its grapes, and in 1995, Sergio pioneered the cultivation of Chardonnay and Riesling in Alta Langa, later expanding into Alta Langa Metodo Classico production. Alongside his wife, Elena Bonelli, and their children, Elia and Maria, Sergio continues to craft wines that express the character of their terroir. Connect: Website: https://www.ettoregermano.com/  _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  If you feel like helping us, donate here https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/  Until next time, Cin Cin!

7 Feb 11min

Welcome to Episode 2240 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professor Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These shows are generally in the Italian language.  Today’s question comes from Valeria Bianchin. Today’s question(s):  🇬🇧 Could you name a particular variety that you believe is at the highest risk of disappearing and explain what makes it so vulnerable? 🇮🇹  Potrebbe nominare una varietà in particolare che ritiene essere a maggior rischio di scomparsa e spiegare cosa la rende così vulnerabile? 🇬🇧 Italy is famous for its diversity of native grapes, but not all of them are well-known internationally. Could you give us an example of a lesser-known variety that you think has the potential to become a global success, and why? 🇮🇹  L'Italia è famosa per la sua diversità di vitigni autoctoni, ma non tutti sono conosciuti a livello internazionale. Potrebbe farci un esempio di una varietà meno nota che, secondo Lei, ha il potenziale per diventare un successo globale, e spiegarci perché? More about Professor Scienza: Professor Attillio Scienza is the one who checks all the facts and regulates when we mistakenly type “Verdicchio” instead of “Vermentino.” He is a full professor at the University of Milan in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences where he teaches courses on genetic improvements to the vine; he also teaches Viticulture in the Master’s program of the University of Turin in Asti. He has been the lead for many national research projects in the field of physiology, agricultural techniques, and vine genetics. As the author of over 350 publications on vine and viticulture in national and international journals, you can bet he knows his stuff! To find out more about Attilio Scienza visit: https://www.vinitaly.com/formazione/vinitaly-international-academy/attilio-scienza/  _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/  Until next time, Cin Cin! Share your love for our lovely Professor if you are a true Italian Wine Geek :)

7 Feb 7min

Welcome to Episode 2239, where we present a session recording from the wine2wine Business Forum 2024. Today’s episode is entitled “What’s next for wine – What wine for what’s next” and is moderated by Gianluca Semprini and involves Silvia Franco, Marina Cvetic, Aldo Vajra, Alberto Lusini and Adolfo Rebughini. The panel of leading industry figures discuss the future of wine and address trends such as falling demand and sustainability. Italian Wine Podcast is proud to be a media partner of wine2wine Business Forum and is pleased to present this series of market-focus sessions, recorded in Verona in November 2024. wine2wine Business Forum is an international wine business event held annually in Verona, Italy since 2014. The event is a key reference point for wine producers and wine professionals from around the world, providing an opportunity to network, develop and expand their wine business worldwide. Find more about the session at:  https://www.vinitaly.com/en/events-calendar/wine2wine/ticket-wine2wine-business-forum-2024/institutional-session-what-s-next-for-wine-what-wine-for-what-s-next/ _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/  Until next time, Cin Cin!

6 Feb 39min

Welcome to Episode 2238 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Stevie Kim’s Ambassadors’ Corner on Clubhouse. In this episode Italian Wine Ambassador Ilia Sakharov IWA interviews Valter Fissore of Cogno winery. Today’s learning objectives: To explore the modern image of Barolo and its evolving style. To identify new terroirs for Nebbiolo beyond Barolo and Barbaresco. To understand the impact of climate change on vineyards and wine profiles. Co-Moderator – Ilia Sakharov IWA Ilia began his wine career in 2021 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, working as a sommelier in restaurants and wine bars. He later moved to Almaty in Kazakhstan, where he expanded his role to include import and distribution management. In 2023, inspired by his first trips to Italy and a visit to Argiolas winery, Ilia decided to specialize in Italian wines. He earned the Italian Wine Maestro certification and became a certified Italian Wine Ambassador. Now based in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ilia is the co-founder and CEO of iWine.az, a wine school, and serves as the head sommelier at its Asmat wine restaurant. He also shares his passion for Italian wines and lifestyle on his Russian-language Telegram channel, "Caxap and Wine." Connect: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilya.caxap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilya.caxap/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilia-sakharov-904a931a2/ Website: https://t.me/caxapandwine About the guest: Valter Fissore is co-owner and winemaker at Cogno winery. When he was a child, Valter began to come into contact with the wine world helping his grandfather Eugenio in his family vineyards in Roero. In 1983 he met for the first time Nadia Cogno, who became his wife in 1988. In 1985-1986 he started to work alongside Nadia’s father, Elvio Cogno, in La Morra. He acquired all the techniques and secrets of the wine world and started to learn about cellar management. Elvio Cogno, with his experience, was a real teacher for Valter, and supported the birth of Valter’s passion for wine. In 1990, Elvio Cogno took the decision to leave Cogno Marcarini winery in La Morra, with the goal to build a new brand. He bought a farm built in ‘700 in Novello, surrounded by 11 hectares of vineyards, and created the winery which still has his surname: Cogno. After a working experience in an important company of automation and design, Valter decided to return to work in the world of wine and joined the company. In 1996 Elvio Cogno decided to retire and Valter, along with Nadia, began a long process of renovation of the farm, continuing the search for the highest quality in wines and enhancement of the terroir.  Connect: Website: https://www.cognowines.com/en/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cognowines  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cognowines  Twitter: https://x.com/cognowines  _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/  Until next time, Cin Cin! Follow Italian Wine Podcast for more great content – winery interviews from the Clubhouse sessions!  Psssst…FYI this show is our most popular show, find out why by tuning-in!

6 Feb 37min

Welcome to Episode 2237, in which Cynthia Chaplin interviews Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins in this installment of Voices on the Italian Wine Podcast.    About today’s guest: Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins is the founder of Full Cup Solutions, a full-service consulting firm for future-forward agriculture and beverage industry businesses. Amanda has been in the wine business virtually all of her life, as one of the second generation owners of Ancient Peaks winery in Paso Robles in California. As VP of Operations at Ancient Peaks, she led the charge on an innovative mentorship program and co-founded Wine Speak Paso Robles, now one of California's premiere wine industry trade events. In 2018 Amanda founded her non-profit, Dream Big Darling and she was then selected as a 40 Under 40 Tastemaker by Wine Enthusiast and nominated for their Social Visionary award.   Connect: Website: https://www.fullcupsolutions.com/ Website: https://ancientpeaks.com/ Website: https://www.winespeakpaso.com/   About today’s Host: VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassador and sommelier with FIS, Cynthia Chaplin is a professor of Italian Wine and Culture, with 20 years experience in the wine industry. Cynthia is a wine content creator, author and judge for several international wine competitions. She designs and presents events for embassies, corporate and private clients, develops Italian wine collections for restaurants and private clients and works with Italian wineries to train their sales and export staff. Hosting Voices has increased her commitment to DEI in the wine sector, interviewing emerging and established wine professionals and discussing topics such as inclusivity, equity, language, sustainability and challenges facing under-represented groups and cultures as they move into careers in wine. As a certified WSET Educator, Cynthia is passionate about developing wine education for a future that will have a place at the table for anyone interested in wine.   Connect:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Italian-Wines-in-English/100036868372598/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiss_my_glassx/?hl=en Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-chaplin-190647179/    _______________________________   Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:   Instagram: www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast    If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/   Until next time, Cin Cin!   Share this pod! Remember Voices is all about diversity, equity, and heart-warming personal stories about real people!

5 Feb 33min

Welcome to episode 2236 of the Italian Wine Podcast, and episode 177 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Marc’s guest today is Domenico Veronese of Villa Bogdano 1880 located in Lison di Portogruaro, near Venice. More about today’s guest: Villa Bogdano 1880 is a forward-thinking Italian estate steeped in centuries of history. Located in Lison di Portogruaro, near Venice, between the Alps and the Adriatic coast, Villa Bogdano is the home of heritage vineyards of great interest. 18 hectares of their 110 hectare estate are defined as historic, among them are 117 vines of Tocai Friulano, that date back to the end of the 19th century. The subject of a meticulous recovery operation, these very old vines are still in production today and are a rare example of an ancient training system called “Cassone Padovano”, developed by the Benedictine monks. Connect: Website: https://www.villabogdano1880.it/en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villa_bogdano_wines/ More about the host: Marc Millon Marc Millon, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador 2021, has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about wine, food and travel for nearly 40 years. Born in Mexico, with a mother from Hawaii via Korea and an anthropologist father from New York via Paris, he was weaned on exotic and delicious foods. Marc and his photographer wife Kim are the authors of 14 books including a pioneering series of illustrated wine-food-travel books: The Wine Roads of Europe, The Wine Roads of France, The Wine Roads of Italy (Premio Barbi Colombini), and The Wine Roads of Spain. Other titles include The Wine and Food of Europe, The Food Lovers’ Companion Italy, The Food Lovers’ Companion France, Wine, a global history. Marc regularly lectures and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy and France with Martin Randall Travel, the UK’s leading cultural travel specialist. He has also been the host of the ‘Wine, food and travel with Marc Millon’ series on the Italian Wine Podcast since 2021. When not on the road Marc lives on the River Exe in Devon, England. Connect: Website:  https://www.quaypress.uk   https://www.marcmillon.co.uk  https://www.vino.co.uk    https://www.quaypress.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon  _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/  Until next time, Cin Cin! Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!

4 Feb 37min

Welcome to Episode 2235 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode Barbara Fitzgerald interviews  wine-business analyst and author of Silicon Valley Bank's annual State of the Wine Industry Report, Rob McMillan. More about the guest:  Rob McMillan is one of the top wine-business analysts in the United States and the author of Silicon Valley Bank’s highly regarded annual State of the Wine Industry Report. With decades of experience researching the wine business, he is a prominent speaker, both domestically and internationally. He has also been named several times as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in the US wine industry. Connect: Website: https://www.svb.com/profile/rob-mcmillan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/2robmcmillan/ More about the hosts: Barbara Fitzgerald With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She's led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries. As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilabottiglia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/ Website: https://www.aprilacreative.com _______________________________   Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast    If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/   Until next time, Cin Cin!

3 Feb 32min

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2234 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today, McKenna Cassidy interviews Emanuele Trono, better known as Enoblogger, an Italian digital communicator. Together, they discuss the role of social media in business, the power of personal branding, his Digital Wine Master course, and the story behind his exciting project, Prima Domus. More about today’s guest: Emanuele Trono Emanuele Trono, known as Enoblogger, is an Italian digital communicator specializing in the wine sector. Originally from Piedmont, a land of great winemaking traditions, he has combined his passion for wine with his storytelling skills to present the world of enology in a fresh and accessible way. Through his blog and social media profiles, Emanuele explores wineries, wines, and territories, offering his followers insights, curiosities, and advice that blend expertise and authenticity.  He is the founder of Prima Domus, his personal winemaking project that merges innovation and tradition to promote high-quality wines and their connection to the land. Thanks to his engaging and straightforward style, Enoblogger has become a leading voice in Italian wine storytelling. His mission is to make wine understandable and enjoyable for everyone while celebrating its culture and ties to the territory. Connect:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoblogger/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enoblogger/?locale=it_IT  More about the host:  McKenna found her love of wine while serving in a Napa Valley tasting room. She later graduated from the University of Notre Dame and pursued wine on the East Coast with E. & J. Gallo Winery. She has worked in wine distribution for restaurants and luxury retail stores for the past three years. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, McKenna is a Certified Specialist of Wine (2021), Certified Sommelier (2022), and Italian Wine Ambassador (2023). She loves country swing dancing, hosting brunch parties, and sipping Italian Wine. Connect: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mckenna.cassidy.3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckennacassidy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-cassidy-cs-csw-66baa412b/ Website Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mckennacassidy _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  If you feel like helping us, donate here https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/  Until next time, Cin Cin!

2 Feb 25min