Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 11 of Study Smart and Episode 2771 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Gill Gordon Smith.

Ep. 11: Dordogne & South West France

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!

More episodes here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/study_smart_for_your_wset_level_3/

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Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2770 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova is in conversation with China-based wine educator and consultant Fongyee Walker MW.

In Part 1, they explore the evolution of the Chinese wine market from the 1990s to today, examining the gap between import statistics and actual consumption, the impact of the post-COVID slowdown, and the shift from Tier 1 cities to emerging opportunities in Tier 2 and 3 markets. They also discuss how Chinese wine consumers have become more knowledgeable and selective, and what the next five to ten years may hold for imported wines in China.

Key Takeaways:

Understand Market Realities: Track how the Chinese wine market has transformed over the past two decades and where true growth opportunities lie today.

Decode Consumer & Culinary Psychology: Learn how Chinese wine lovers actually think about wine, wine education, premiumization, and family-style food pairing.

Execute Actionable Strategies: Discover practical, budget-conscious strategies for wineries seeking long-term success through storytelling, local relevance, and cultural understanding.

Listen to another episode on the Chinese Wine Market: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/Episodes/ep-2521-adriano-albanese-of-tommasi-family-estates-asia-wine-market/

More about today’s guest:

Fongyee Walker MW is one of the world’s leading authorities on the Chinese wine market and the first Master of Wine based in mainland China. She became an MW in 2016 and is the co-founder of Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting, one of China’s most respected independent wine education and consulting companies.

Fongyee developed her passion for wine while studying Classical Chinese at the University of Cambridge, where she captained the university’s blind wine tasting team. In 2007, she moved to Beijing and co-founded Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting with Edward Ragg MW, helping shape China’s wine education landscape through training, consulting, and market development.

A specialist wine educator and consultant in both English and Mandarin, Fongyee is also a highly regarded international wine judge, regularly serving on panels for competitions and wine shows in Australia, Chile, South Africa, and the International Wine Challenge (IWC).

Connect:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fongyee-walker-mw-1426514/

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 2769 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Darya Nagornyak IWA speaks with Giulia Monteleone of Monteleone Winery on Mount Etna.

A former wine communicator who became a wine producer, Giulia shares her journey from Palermo to Etna’s volcanic landscape, the challenges of earning recognition in a traditional wine community as a woman, and how becoming a producer has transformed her understanding of the wine world and her perspective on wine communication.

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

More about today’s host:

Since 2018, Darya Nagornyak has been working in the restaurant industry with a strong focus on wine, specializing in Italian wines. She currently serves as Wine Development Manager at Almawine and holds the title of Italian Wine Ambassador. A certified WSET Level 3 professional, Darya is also Vice President of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association in Astana, where she works closely with young professionals to foster and develop wine culture in the city.

Connect:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daria-nagornyak-4a5046304/

More about today’s guest:

Founded in 2017, Monteleone Winery is a young, family-run winery located on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Castiglione di Sicilia. The project began when Giulia Monteleone, together with her father Enrico and partner Benedetto Alessandro, discovered an old vineyard near the Alcantara River, at the foot of the volcano. Starting from two hectares of historic vineyards, the estate has grown while remaining focused on small-scale, quality-driven production and the expression of Etna’s unique terroir.

Connect:

Website: https://www.monteleonetna.com/en

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giulia.monteleone.94

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

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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 2768 of the Italian Wine Podcast in which Jessica Dupuy interviews James Tidwell MS, American Master Sommelier, wine educator, and founder of the TEXSOM Conference, at TEXSOM 2026.

Jessica and James discuss the format and objectives for this year’s event, how TEXSOM has evolved in recent years, and how it will continue to develop in the future.

The Italian Wine Podcast is proud to be a Media Partner of TEXSOM for the third year in a row, supporting one of the most influential wine events in North America.

Join us at TEXSOM 2026 as Texas-based wine journalist Jessica Dupuy interviews top writers, journalists, sommeliers, and wine professionals at this highly influential wine event. In this special series, Jessica will delve into the experiences and insights of key attendees, exploring career paths, challenges, and the latest trends in the wine industry.

More about today’s guest:

James Tidwell, MS is a writer, speaker, educator, and the founder and producer of the TEXSOM Conference and TEXSOM Awards. He passed the Master Sommelier Diploma in 2009 and is a respected wine judge and industry leader, serving with the Decanter World Wine Awards, the Wines of Portugal Challenge, and The World of Fine Wine. James has contributed to The World Atlas of Wine, the Oxford Companion to Wine, and the Hugh Johnson Pocket Wine Book, and has been recognized among the wine industry’s leading voices for his work in education, publishing, and professional development.

Connect:

Website: https://texsom.com/people/james-tidwell-ms-cwe/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-tidwell-2ba68823/

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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

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp

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!

Welcome to episode 2767 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 257 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is joined by Gianluca Garofoli, fifth-generation winemaker and Managing Director of Casa Vinicola Garofoli, one of the Marche region’s most historic family-owned wineries and a pioneer in the production of high-quality Verdicchio wines.

More about today’s guest:

Garofoli Winery, founded in 1901 in Italy’s Marche region, is one of the country’s historic family-owned wine estates. Known for its Verdicchio and Rosso Conero wines, the winery has played a significant role in showcasing the character and diversity of the Marche territory for more than a century.

Gianluca Garofoli, the fifth generation of the family, grew up within the winery and has served as Managing Director since 2014. He leads the estate with a focus on combining its long-standing family heritage with a modern, international vision, while remaining deeply connected to the people, culture, and territory that define Garofoli’s wines.

Connect:

Website: https://garofolivini.it/en/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianluca-garofoli-797b4015/

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 and an award-winning author of 15 books on these topics. Since 2021, he has been the host of the ‘Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon’ weekly series on the Italian Wine Podcast, which now has well over 220 episodes of the show. Marc’s latest book is “Italy in a Wineglass – the Taste of History” published by Hurst, London and Melville House, New York (Guild of Food Writers ‘Drinks Writer Award’ 2025 and the World Gourmand ‘Best Wine History Book in the World Award’ 2025). In addition to his writing and podcasting, Marc is a sought-after speaker and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy in partnership with Martin Randall Travel, a leading specialist in cultural travel. 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

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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

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp

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!



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!