Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2796 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode of the Masterclass US Wine Market, Juliana Colangelo is joined by the seasoned American sommelier and wine educator, Jienna Basaldu to discuss, amongst other things, pricing strategies, Italian wines’ competitive advantage, and how it's becoming increasingly hard to wow consumers.

Key Takeaways:

Understand how to get your wine on the wine lists of top-tier restaurants in NYC.

Explore what gives Italian wines a competitive advantage over other popular wine styles.

Learn what Italian producers can do to make their wines more appealing to sommeliers.

More about the guest:

Jienna Basaldu is an American sommelier and wine educator with nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality and beverage industry. Based in New York City, she has built her career across restaurants, wine education and beverage programs, developing a deep understanding of the relationship between wine producers, sommeliers and consumers.

Connect:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jienna-basaldu/

More about the host:

Juliana Colangelo is the Director of Marketing at T. Edward Wines & Spirits, the NYC-based national importer and distributor. She leads the company’s marketing strategy across a growing portfolio of global wine and spirits producers, driving brand development, trade engagement, and national visibility during a period of significant expansion.

Previously, Juliana was Senior Brand Manager at Frederick Wildman & Sons, where she played a key leadership role in the Italian wine division, overseeing marketing strategy for shareholder brands within the Gruppo Italiano Vini and Cantine Riunite portfolios. Prior to that, she served as Vice President at Colangelo & Partners, the leading wine and spirits communications agency in the U.S., where she opened the firm’s first secondary headquarters in California in 2016, establishing its Bay Area office. Over the past decade, Juliana has become one of the most dynamic and influential marketing and communications executives in the wine industry. She is widely recognized as a mentor and connector for women in beverage alcohol, leveraging her network to create opportunities and elevate others in the field. Juliana has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, and other leading publications speaking on the future of wine marketing and consumer growth.

Connect:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jules.colangelo/

Twitter: https://x.com/JulezColang

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliana-colangelo-mba-04345539/

More interviews on US Wine Market:

https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/masterclass-us-wine-market/

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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 15 of Study Smart and Episode 2795 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Gill Gordon-Smith.

Ep. 15: Spain

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!

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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 the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2794 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova is in conversation with the Regional Sales Manager for South Korea at Ethica Wines and VIA Italian Wine Ambassador Juhee Ryou IWA.

Juhee offers an overview of the South Korean wine market, from its key cities, consumer groups and distribution channels to recent market developments. She explores what Korean consumers are drinking, how Italian wines are performing, which regions and styles have the greatest potential, and where Italian wine faces competition.

Key Takeaways:

Understand the Structure and Evolution of the South Korean Wine Market

Identify Opportunities for Italian Wines in South Korea

Explore the Role of Importers, Brand-Building and Wine Education

About today’s guest:

Juhee Ryou is the Regional Sales Manager for South Korea at Ethica Wines and a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador. With over 20 years of experience in the wine industry, she has extensive expertise in wine sales, marketing, brand development, and market strategy. She currently focuses on developing and promoting Italian wine brands in the Korean market, working closely with Italian producers and local trade partners.

Connect:

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

Website: https://www.ethicawines.com/

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/

_______________________________

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 Clubhouse Ambassadors' Corner and Episode 2793 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Lisa Lazzaretto IWA is in conversation with Alexandre Centeleghe to explore what it really takes to teach wine well in today's market.

Alex reflects on a career spanning sales, education and wine criticism, including his time in Asia during its market boom and working with James Suckling. He shares his perspective on Italian wine and the relationship between quality and appellation, as well as why effective wine education is about sharing experience, not just information.

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

About today's host:

Lisa Lazzaretto, PhD, is a Swiss-based entrepreneur, wine professional, and marketing strategist. She holds a doctorate in Political Science and a Diploma in Marketing, and is the founder of Wine Mood, an e-commerce platform dedicated to curated Italian wines. An Italian Wine Ambassador and WSET Diploma holder (DipWSET), Lisa bridges academic insight with hands-on industry expertise. Her recent research focuses on neuromarketing, consumer behavior, and modern wine communication. Active across international wine fairs and competitions, she combines research, storytelling, and business innovation to connect people with Italian wine.

Connect:

Website: http://www.winemood.ch

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

More about today's guest:

Alexandre Centeleghe DipWSET is a wine educator and lecturer based in Switzerland. A graduate of EHL Lausanne, he began his career in Shanghai before spending three years as Vice President for events and tastings with American wine critic James Suckling, tasting an average of 3,000 wines a year. Back in Switzerland since 2016, Alexandre has focused on wine promotion, journalism and education, and in 2018 founded Pur Jus Education, his own wine school based in Chardonne, Switzerland. He also lectures in oenology at the École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL).

Connect:

Website: https://pur-jus.ch/en/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandre.centeleghe/

_______________________________

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!

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 back to TEXSOM 2026 and Episode 2792 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Jessica Dupuy interviews longtime friend and fellow wine professional Scott Ota, sommelier and Culinary Institute of America instructor.

As old friends, Jessica and Scott reflect on their shared journey in wine. Scott talks about the community and camaraderie that make TEXSOM special, as well as his unique role at the Culinary Institute of America, where he teaches students from their first through final semester. He also shares what it takes to succeed in today’s hospitality industry and what the next generation of wine professionals needs most.

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 delves 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:

Scott Ota is a sommelier and wine educator based in Texas, and an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America. He built his career in San Antonio's wine scene, notably leading the wine program at High Street Wine Co. at the Pearl, and has been recognized by Wine & Spirits Magazine as one of America's Best New Sommeliers and by Food & Wine Magazine as a 2018 Tastemaker to Revolutionize the Business. He holds Level III certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and won the TEXSOM sommelier competition in 2013.

Connect:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ota/

Website: https://www.ciachef.edu/

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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!