Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2748 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this Bonus Episode of Masterclass US Wine Market, Stevie Kim is joined by two VIA Italian Wine Ambassadors, Stefano Campanini and Daisy Penzo, to discuss the Florida wine market and Vinitaly USA.

More about the guests:

Daisy Penzo is an Italian-born wine professional, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, and Sales Director for ViVino Selections, where she leads U.S. market development for a portfolio of European wineries. Based in South Florida, she is also the founder of Tuscany Wines Import and the women-owned Fiori & Colori Wines, championing boutique producers and authentic Italian wines. A certified Wine Scholar Guild educator, Daisy regularly shares her expertise through trade events and wine education.

Connect:

Website: https://vivinoselectionsfl.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisy-p-a48251139/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisy_wines/

Stefano Campanini is the founder of Italian Wine School and a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador based in the United States. Born in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, he has built his career around wine education and sharing the diversity of Italian wine. He also founded Wine by the Bay, one of South Florida's leading boutique wine retailers, where he combines education with carefully curated wine experiences.

Connect:

Website: https://www.winebtb.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winebythebay/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefano-campanini-64643090/

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If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to Episode 7 of Study Smart and Episode 2747 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Gill Gordon Smith.

Ep. 7: Beaujolais

Study Smart for your WSET Level 3 is a new series of audio learning resources specifically created for wine students. This new series consists of 30 episodes, each focusing on a particular wine region, with the objective of equipping listeners with the knowledge and expertise they need to prepare for industry-standard courses such as WSET.

With exam strategies and techniques also included, the "Study Smart" series is designed to help wine students achieve their learning objectives in an accessible and engaging way.

This new series has been designed in partnership with the Italian Wine Academy, a Verona-based, internationally recognized wine school founded in 2017 that provides WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) certification courses and specialized training.

The series is delivered by the acclaimed wine educator Gill Gordon Smith. Gill is a VIA certified Italian Wine Expert, an artisan wine producer, retailer, writer, judge and educator based between Australia's McLaren Vale Region and Verona and Tuscany in Italy.

Look out for new episodes every week wherever you get your podcasts!

_______________________________

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast

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If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/

Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2746 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova speaks with Leonid Kirsanov, Head Sommelier at La Vue Restaurant in Saint Petersburg and the winner of the Italian Sommelier Challenge held during the Vinitaly Kazakhstan Roadshow 2026.

Returning to Almaty for the second consecutive year, Leonid claimed first place in the competition, earning a scholarship to attend the prestigious Vinitaly International Academy Flagship Edition in Verona in 2027.

Now in its third year, the Vinitaly Kazakhstan Roadshow, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 29 June 2026, is a trade event that brings together industry professionals, Italian wineries and other key stakeholders. The Roadshow, organized in collaboration with ITA - the Italian Trade Agency, features a walk-around tasting and a series of private masterclasses.

The Italian Sommelier Challenge is an element of the Roadshow dedicated to the next generation of wine professionals organized in collaboration with the Central Asian Wine University and IWINE School.

Key learning objectives:

Explore the Italian Sommelier Challenge and the role it plays in developing wine professionals.

Gain insights into the Vinitaly Kazakhstan Roadshow.

Explore the current Italian wine scene in Saint Petersburg.

More about today’s guest:

Leonid Kirsanov is the Head Sommelier at La Vue Restaurant in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he has built a distinguished career in the hospitality industry. Born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Leonid began working in restaurants at the age of 14, gaining experience in nearly every front-of-house role before discovering his passion for wine in 2017.

A dedicated competitor, he is a two-time Best Sommelier of Saint Petersburg (2023 & 2025) and was named Where to Eat North-West Sommelier of the Year 2025. He also serves as a Winery Ambassador for Galitskiy & Galitskiy.

Connect:

Website: https://lavuespb.ru/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirsanovleo/

More about the host:

Roza Zharmukhambetova has a background in foreign languages and education. She discovered her passion for wine in Beijing, where she gained two years of experience in wine sales. Since returning to Kazakhstan, she has focused on studying Italian wine and exploring its regions. Roza holds certifications as an Italian Wine Ambassador (VIA), Italian Wine Scholar (WSG), Langhe Wines Ambassador (BBA), and Valpolicella Wine Specialist (VEP). She is also a member of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association. Since the end of 2024, she has been a member of the Italian Wine Podcast (IWP) team, contributing her passion for Italian wine.

Connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/le_vin_en_rose/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rozazharmukhambetova/

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Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

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Until Next Time Cin Cin!

Welcome to Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2745 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Lucia Fragoso IWA is joined by Alessandro Favaro of Rivaluce Winery to explore the renowned Rive of Valdobbiadene. Together, they discuss what makes the Rive subzones unique, how they differ from other Prosecco Superiore vineyards, and how terroir, steep hillside viticulture, and careful winemaking shape the character of these exceptional wines.

These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast.

More about today’s host:

Lucia Fragoso is a Mexican sommelier, wine educator, hospitality entrepreneur, and international wine communicator. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Tecnológico de Monterrey and a Master’s degree in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management from The University of Queensland, Australia. Her professional career has taken her across Mexico, the United States, Australia, and China.

As the founder of The Wine Vibe and co-founder of Madison Grill Restaurant Group, Lucia combines business, education, and wine communication. She teaches wine at the university level and has certified more than 500 students through professional wine education programs, seminars, and masterclasses. Her mission is to make wine approachable while inspiring more people to discover the culture, history, and stories behind every bottle

Connect:

Website: https://thewinevibe.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewinevibes/?hl=es

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucia-fragoso-cota-0a50832a/

More about today’s guest:

Alessandro Favaro is an Italian oenologist, vineyard management consultant, and consulting winemaker based in the Veneto region. After graduating from the prestigious Oenological School of Conegliano, he gained extensive experience working with wineries across Friuli, Tuscany, the Valpolicella (Amarone) area, and Australia, developing expertise across diverse terroirs, grape varieties, and viticultural practices.

Today, Alessandro leads Rivaluce, a contemporary winery located in the UNESCO-listed Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the renowned Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza.

Connect:

Website: https://rivaluce.it/en/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rivaluce_valdobbiadene/

_______________________________

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp

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!

Welcome to Episode 2744 of the Italian Wine Podcast and the 25th episode of Pellegrinaggio Enoico con Professore Attilio Scienza! This series is recorded in Italian.

Episode 25: Pantelleria, Salina e il fascino del vino insulare

Want to dive into the stories and myths behind Professor Scienza’s new series, but Italian isn’t your thing? No problem! You’ll find all the conversations, translated into English, in the new Mamma Jumbo Shrimp book: An Italian Wine Pilgrimage: with Professor Attilio Scienza. Now available on Amazon.

A true oenological journey led by Professor Attilio Scienza in the company of Stevie Kim, winding its way across the peninsula, following ancient Roman roads, paths of faith, and historical itineraries. Genetics, morphology, climate change, and the concept of viticulture vocation come together to tell the story of our grape varieties and their inextricable bond with the territory. Expect amazing stories, random digressions, curious anecdotes, and a new way of thinking about wine.

Join us on A Wine Pilgrimage with Professor Attilio Scienza.

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:

https://www.vinitaly.com/eventi/operawine/stevie-kim/

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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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast

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If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/

Until next time, Cin Cin!



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