Ep. 2421 Gianpaolo Giacobbo of Walk on the Wine Side | On the Road with Stevie Kim

Welcome to Episode 2414 of the Italian Wine Podcast and On the Road Edition. In this special On the Road Edition, Stevie Kim is in conversation with Michele Noal, President of Consorzio Asolo Prosecco. More about this episode: In this special On the Road Edition, Stevie Kim is in Asolo, one of Italy's most beautiful towns, in the Veneto region of northern Italy near Venice.  From the breathtaking Museo Gypsotheca Antonio Canova, Michele Noal, President of the Consorzio Vini Asolo Montello, provides an overview of the region, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of the area and introducing the masterpieces of one of the greatest neo-classical sculptors in the world as well as introducing Asolo Prosecco and other wines from the region.  Connect:  Website: https://www.asoloprosecco.com/   More about the host: Stevie Kim Stevie Kim is an Italian Wine Marketing & Communication Expert, Brand Positioning Specialist, and Public Speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines and Wine Without Walls. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist, she harnesses social media and education to promote Italian wine on a global scale. The Italian Wine Podcast is part of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, a brand Stevie launched in 2020 to make wine more accessible through books, maps, videos, and the Italian Wine Travel with Stevie YouTube series. Stevie also frequently joins Professor Attilio Scienza on his shows—helping keep our beloved professor in check! Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steviekim222/ Website: https://www.vinitaly.com/eventi/operawine/stevie-kim/  _______________________________ 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!

19 Juli 10min

Welcome to Episode 2413 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professor Attilio Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These episodes are generally in Italian. Today’s question comes from Yegas Naidoo. Today’s question(s):  🇬🇧With your wealth of knowledge and insightful visionary guidance are you confident that the current generation,  in particular those associated with heritage names like Antinori, Gaja, Boffa, are interpreting philosophical and vocational practices with due respect combined with what you see as their own current day methodology in the vineyards/production and styling of wines and embracing new problems. Are we going to emerge successful while still respecting the heritage of the past without compromise?  🇮🇹Con la tua vasta conoscenza e la tua guida visionaria e illuminata, sei fiducioso che l’attuale generazione — in particolare coloro legati a nomi storici come Antinori, Gaja, Boffa — stia interpretando le pratiche filosofiche e vocazionali con il giusto rispetto, unito al proprio metodo contemporaneo nella gestione dei vigneti, nella produzione e nello stile dei vini, affrontando al contempo le nuove sfide? Riusciremo ad avere successo, continuando a onorare l’eredità del passato senza compromessi? More about Professor Scienza: Professor Attilio 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/    If you want to learn more about Stevie Kim, the Scienza wrangler: Stevie Kim is an Italian Wine Marketing & Communication Expert, Brand Positioning Specialist, and Public Speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist, she harnesses social media and education to promote Italian wine on a global scale. The Italian Wine Podcast is part of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, a brand Stevie launched in 2020 to make wine more accessible through books, maps, videos, and the Italian Wine Travel with Stevie YouTube series. Stevie often joins Professor Scienza in his shows to lend a hand keeping our Professor in check! You can also find her taking a hit for the team when she goes “On the Road”, all over the Italian countryside, visiting wineries and interviewing producers, enjoying their best food and wine – all in the name of bringing us great Pods! Connect:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steviekim222/ Website: https://www.vinitaly.com/eventi/operawine/stevie-kim/  _______________________________   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 :)

18 Juli 12min

Welcome to Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2412 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, James MacNay IWA interviews Maddalena Pasqua di Bisceglie of Musella winery in Veneto, to talk about Valpolicella production and biodynamic practices in the vineyard and the cellar. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and replayed here on the Italian Wine Podcast.  In this interview, today’s guest host covers the following learning objectives:   To introduce beginners and the wine-curious to Valpolicella: Learn the basics of Valpolicella winemaking — from the native grape varieties to the characteristics of the territory and the production methods behind its various styles. To explore the world of natural wines: Discover Maddalena’s strong views on what makes a truly good natural wine, and how she brings that philosophy to life in her own winemaking. To gain an overview of Maddalena’s historic, multi-crop estate with its on-site hotel, and enjoy highlights from her fascinating personal and professional journey. More about our Co-host:  James MacNay is an Italian Wine Ambassador based in the western Alps of Piemonte. For over fifteen years, he and his wife Cinzia ran Cuculo Cheese & Wine in East Sussex — a beloved destination for food and wine lovers. After closing that chapter, the pair returned to their roots in the travel industry. Today, James and Cinzia design and lead specialized wine and walking tours across Italy’s most iconic wine regions, combining their deep knowledge of Italian wine with a passion for immersive, on-the-ground experiences. Connect: Website: https://travelandwine.co.uk/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_macnay/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-macnay-iwa-461264296/    More about the guest:  Born and raised in Verona, Maddalena Pasqua di Bisceglie studied Contemporary History in Italy before joining her father's new project in 1995 - to become winegrowers at Musella, a stunning estate located just 10 km from Verona, in the heart of the Valpolicella area. Driven by curiosity and passion, Maddalena traveled across Italy and visited top wine regions around the world, learning the art of winemaking and viticulture from some of the most respected names in the field. For many years, she focused on sales and administration, while vineyard and cellar operations remained outside her scope until 2009. From the very beginning, Maddalena felt a deep desire to align Musella’s farming practices with the surrounding natural beauty. She discovered biodynamics in 2002 and, after years of study and preparation, fully converted Musella’s vineyards and winery to the biodynamic method in 2009. Today, she continues to manage the estate with growing passion and enthusiasm, producing wines that reflect both her beliefs and the unique character of Musella’s land. Connect:  Website: https://www.musella.it/en/homepage/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musella_winery_relais/  _______________________________  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!

17 Juli 44min

Welcome to Book Club and Episode 2411 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Richard Hough.  Today Richard is in conversation with Paul Balke, the author of the Piemonte Wine and Travel Atlas and North Adriatic. Amongst other things, the conversation covers Paul’s career in wine, origins and trends of winemaking in the Netherlands, the advantages and benefits of blending, and the challenges of writing in a second language. The places Paul mentioned in the North Adriatic include Colli Orientali, Collio, Aquilinia, Brda, Karst and the Vipava Valley. On the bookshelf: The books and authors discussed in today’s show include:  Pascal Mercier Graham Green Normal People by Sally Rooney About today’s guest: Paul Balke is an author, journalist, wine expert and Barolo specialist. From Langerak in the Netherlands, Paul was studying law in Utecht when he was struck by the wine virus! His career began as a wine-importer in the Netherlands, where he also organized wine courses, tastings, masterclasses and other events. He has traveled extensively to many wine regions and countries and is the author of three books on the subject, North Adriatic, the Piemonte Wine and Travel Atlas and Basiskennis over Wijn (a Dutch overview of the wine world for beginners). He produces his own wine under the Paul Balke label and is a talented pianist. Connect: Website: https://paulbalke.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-balke-9781536/    More about the host: Richard Hough is the editor, translator and project curator behind Wine Democracy and Vine and Prejudice. He has also published several books about life in Verona, chronicling the city’s history, culture and daily life, not forgetting, of course, its wine! With a long-standing passion for whisky and beer, he’s a relative newcomer to the world of wine and is now desperately trying to make up for lost time! He is the host of Book Club on the Italian Wine Podcast. Connect: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rickhough.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ricksnotesfromverona  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhough/ _______________________________ 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 this pod! Remember Voices is all about diversity, equity, and heart-warming personal stories about real people!

16 Juli 51min

Welcome to episode 2410 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 200 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Today Marc’s guest is Anna Ruini from Pellegrino Winery in Marsala, Sicily, winner of 5StarWines BEST FORTIFIED WINE 2025.    More about today’s guest:  Born in Florence, Anna Ruini holds a degree in Gastronomic Sciences from the University of Pollenzo. In 2010, she moved to Sicily, where she has worked in the wine sector for over 15 years, specializing in marketing and public relations. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with several prominent Sicilian wineries. She currently serves as Head of Corporate Public Relations at Cantine Pellegrino, one of the island’s most historic and renowned wine producers. The Pellegrino vineyards are located in the westernmost part of Sicily where the family-owned winery was established in 1880. Today the daily management of the winery is in the hands of the seventh generation. The vineyard produces a range of single variety, organic, aromatic, sparkling, sweet and fortified wines. The winery’s Marsala DOC Ambra Superiore Riserva Old John 1998 won 5StarWine’s Best Fortified Wine 2025. Connect Website: https://www.carlopellegrino.it/en/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pellegrinowines/    More about the host:  Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is a celebrated expert in the world of wine, food, and travel, boasting nearly 40 years of experience. Born in Mexico to a diverse family—his mother hailing from Hawaii via Korea and his father, an anthropologist, from New York via Paris—Marc was introduced to a rich tapestry of flavors from an early age. Together with his talented photographer wife, Kim, Marc has authored 14 acclaimed books, including the groundbreaking illustrated series The Wine Roads of Europe, The Wine Roads of France, The Wine Roads of Italy (winner of the Premio Barbi Colombini), and The Wine Roads of Spain. His other notable works include The Wine and Food of Europe, The Food Lovers’ Companion Italy, The Food Lovers’ Companion France, and Wine: A Global History. In addition to his writing, Marc is a sought-after speaker and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy and France in partnership with Martin Randall Travel, a leading specialist in cultural travel. Since 2021, he has also been the engaging host of the “Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon” series on the Italian Wine Podcast. When he's not exploring the culinary landscapes of the world, Marc resides along the scenic 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!

15 Juli 34min

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2409 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today, McKenna Cassidy interviews Riccardo Baldi of La Staffa from Castelli di Jesi.   More about today’s guest:  Riccardo Baldi (born 1990) heads La Staffa, an organic family winery in Staffolo, Marche, overseeing twelve hectares primarily planted with Verdicchio and Montepulciano. Although he at first studied Economics, in 2009 he officially took over the cellar he co-founded with his father and swiftly immersed himself in vineyard and cellar management. Under his leadership, La Staffa became one of Italy’s most acclaimed producers, earning the Best Winemaker Under 35 award at the 2021 Food & Wine Italia Awards. A passionate advocate of tradition blended with innovation, Riccardo pursues artisan winemaking that both honors Verdicchio’s heritage and enhances terroir expression using modern insights . His flagship wines, such as the classic La Staffa, Rincrocca (from a 1972 vineyard), and the bottle-fermented “Mai Sentito!”, highlight the region's steep, calcareous slopes, thermal shifts, and mineral-rich soils. These efforts helped La Staffa win Tre Bicchieri in 2020 for the 2017 Rincrocca Verdicchio Riserva. Now exporting over 50% of its production to markets including the U.S., France, Russia, Japan, and Northern Europe, Riccardo views his mission as revealing the elegance and aging potential of Verdicchio, making terroir-driven wines with international appeal. Connect:   Website: https://vinilastaffa.it/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_maisentito_/  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: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckennacassidy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-cassidy-cs-csw-66baa412b/ 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!

13 Juli 30min

Welcome to Episode 2408  of the Italian Wine Podcast On the Road Edition. In this special On the Road Edition, Stevie Kim meets Antonello De Riu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to the Republic of Kazakhstan More about our guest:  Antonello De Riu, born in Chieti in 1968, is the current Italian Ambassador to Kazakhstan. A political science graduate and career diplomat since 1995, he has held key posts in countries such as Iran, South Korea, Tunisia, Hong Kong, and most recently Kosovo. Appointed to Astana in 2025, he is focused on strengthening economic, cultural, and scientific ties between Italy and Kazakhstan, with particular attention to energy, agribusiness, and innovation. Known for his practical approach and openness to dialogue, he also actively promotes academic and cultural cooperation between the two countries. Connect:  Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/italyinkazakhstan/  Web-site: https://ambastana.esteri.it/it/   More about the host: Stevie Kim is an Italian Wine Marketing & Communication Expert, Brand Positioning Specialist, and Public Speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines and Wine Without Walls. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist, she harnesses social media and education to promote Italian wine on a global scale.   The Italian Wine Podcast is part of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, a brand Stevie launched in 2020 to make wine more accessible through books, maps, videos, and the Italian Wine Travel with Stevie YouTube series. Stevie also frequently joins Professor Attilio Scienza on his shows—helping keep our beloved professor in check! Connect:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steviekim222/ Website: https://www.vinitaly.com/eventi/operawine/stevie-kim/    _______________________________   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!

12 Juli 24min

Welcome to Episode 2407 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza, where Professor Attilio Scienza takes questions from the international wine community and answers them in his own inimitable way! These episodes are generally in Italian. Today’s question comes from Giulia Stocchetti and it is: 🇬🇧 What is the main cause of varietal diversity? 🇮🇹 Qual è la causa principale della diversità varietale?   More about Professor Scienza: Professor Attilio 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/    If you want to learn more about Stevie Kim, the Scienza wrangler: Stevie Kim is an Italian Wine Marketing & Communication Expert, Brand Positioning Specialist, and Public Speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist, she harnesses social media and education to promote Italian wine on a global scale. The Italian Wine Podcast is part of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, a brand Stevie launched in 2020 to make wine more accessible through books, maps, videos, and the Italian Wine Travel with Stevie YouTube series. Stevie often joins Professor Scienza in his shows to lend a hand keeping our Professor in check! You can also find her taking a hit for the team when she goes “On the Road”, all over the Italian countryside, visiting wineries and interviewing producers, enjoying their best food and wine – all in the name of bringing us great Pods! Connect:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steviekim222/ Website: https://www.vinitaly.com/eventi/operawine/stevie-kim/  _______________________________   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 :)

11 Juli 12min