People Want to Drink. What's Stopping Them?

Many winemakers the world over aspire to make world class wines. Yet the wines that are generally regarded as such have never been more expensive or difficult to source. So - can you make great wine if you almost never get to drink it? That's what Adam, Joanna, and Zach debate: can you even know what your wine is capable of if you don't know what the absolute pinnacle of the category tastes like? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Zach is reading: How Social Media Propelled the ‘Cult’ Wine World Into AbsurdityJoanna is reading: Wine Is Swinging for the Fences With Sports Advertising — Is It Working?Adam is reading: One Tequila Brand Has an Official World Cup Bottle. The Others Have Pricey Knock-OffsInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach comment on the fact that while many publications (including VinePair) love to interview bartenders about their favorite places to drink, it's an open question as to whether that serves as good advice for the drinking public when it comes to whether they should seek those places out. While bartenders might prioritize a relaxed vibe and an industry-friendly ethos, that might not serve those seeking out the pinnacle of cocktailing. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Zach is drinking: Torbreck Vintners MarsanneJoanna is drinking: Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale from Dogfish HeadAdam is drinking: Light Cone Pilsner from Grimm Artisanal AlesInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might have heard that apparently, smoking cigarettes is cool again. Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss what might be influencing this trend, why the health consequences of smoking might not resonate right now, and how that could impact the alcohol industry. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Zach is reading: 21 Liqueurs to Know to Read a Cocktail Menu With ConfidenceJoanna is reading: Here’s How 7 Top Bartenders Make Spritzes at HomeAdam is reading: Legendary Bartender Shingo Gokan on Hype, Humility, and Sip & Guzzle’s Big WinInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether the brands and bars that are counting on the upcoming World Cup as a central park of their marketing push or as a major driver of business over the next month might be let down. Just how big is the American appetite for soccer? Will the many obstacles and objections for international tourists harm hospitality properties in host cities? Plus - how do you tell if you kid's friend's parents are cool? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Zach is drinking: Vesper Sentinel at DriftwoodJoanna is drinking: Rice Lager from Saltfields BrewingAdam is drinking: Martini at Le Veau d'OrInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether people looking for a wine country outing actually care about being able to see vineyards, or even winery facilities, or if nice amenities and easy access are more appealing. Can urban tasting rooms and concentrated wine districts be a better bet for tourism than scenic vistas that also come with long drives and hard-to-access experiences? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Zach is reading: Happy Hour Isn’t Dead, But It Could Be Going Late-NightJoanna is reading: We Asked 14 Bartenders: What’s the Most Overrated Bourbon Cocktail?Adam is reading: The 15 Beers That Defined American Craft Brewing — and Where They Are NowInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Joanna are joined by VinePair Spirits Editor Aaron Goldfarb to break down his list of the 20 Best Mezcals for 2026 and the general state of Mexico's other great agave spirit. While bartenders and aficionados remain deeply enamored with mezcal, commercial success has been limited in scope and confined to a few specific brands. Is the wild, small batch nature of the spirit an insurmountable roadblock to a larger audience? Is the complexity and variety, the very thing that draws some in, a turnoff for most? Plus - what's the deal with pechuga anyhow? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Joanna is drinking: Guinness NegroniAdam is drinking: Grimm Artisanal Ales "Lambo Door" Double IPA Aaron is drinking: Heaven Hill "Deatsville" BourbonInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam and Joanna dive into why the proliferation of reservation-only bars is hurting the industry, and has a surprising root cause. How is it that credit card companies and their desire to provide high-end perks for big spenders are changing the way that bars have always operated? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Joanna is reading: Malört Was Made for the Shot. Bartenders Are Changing That.Adam is reading: It’s Been 50 Years Since the Judgement of Paris — It’s Time to Move On.Instagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Memorial Day marking the traditional start of summer, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether bars having seasonal cocktails that get tremendous acclaim is actually a good thing for those bars when drinkers can't have said cocktails year-round. Do you end up disappointing more than delighting when your limited-time offering goes bye-bye, or is this just a matter of drinkers needing to respect the calendar more? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Zach is drinking: Tantalus Vineyards Sparkling RieslingJoanna is drinking: Wild East Brewing Co. ESBAdam is drinking: Petit Chablis at Bar HereticInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the quandary that faces the alcohol industry at the moment: people generally want to drink, but are drinking less than they used to. Instead of ascribing this to theories about wellness trends or shifting demographics, what if we looked at the friction points that are keeping people from drinking: cost, social media pressure, an overwhelming array of choices, and more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Zach is reading: With LYTT Electric Coolers, Boston Beer Co. Is Running Out of Bright IdeasJoanna is reading: Form Over Function: Why Some Wineries Are Rethinking the Shape of the BottleAdam is reading: AI Won’t Replace Sommeliers, But It Could Help Save WineInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After his time in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Zach poses a question to Adam and Joanna: is there a real market for domestic sparkling wine, particularly wine that aims to be priced close to Champagne. Can a region well-known for Pinot Noir, and increasingly Chardonnay, parlay that into demand for bubbles, or do you need to be price-competitive with Prosecco to stand a chance?Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast 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 cheers!Zach is drinking: 2024 Remy Wines DolcettoJoanna is drinking: Widow Jane 10 Year Tequila Ocho Cask Finish BourbonAdam is drinking: Castello di Verduno PelavergaInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.