Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to episode 2630 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 234 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc speaks with Umberto Cosmo, co-founder of the pioneering Prosecco producer Bellenda.

They dive into Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco, exploring the region’s history, the evolution from bottle to tank fermentation, and the revival of traditional col fondo wines. The conversation also covers the concept of Rive and Metodo Classico Glera, Bellenda’s flagship wines and their international grape experiments, local gastronomy and pairings.

More about today’s guest:

Umberto Cosmo is an Italian winemaker and entrepreneur, and co-founder of Bellenda Winery in Carpesica near Vittorio Veneto, in the heart of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG area. Founded in 1986 with his brother Luigi, Bellenda is a family-run winery known for producing terroir-driven sparkling wines, including traditional bottle-fermented (col fondo) and Charmat-style Prosecco.

Born in 1961 in the Prosecco hills of Veneto, Cosmo grew up surrounded by vineyards and a strong family tradition of agriculture. Beyond his work at Bellenda, he has played an active role in regional wine development, co-founding the Colli di Conegliano DOCG Consortium and serving as its president for nine years, as well as vice president of UVIVE (Unione dei Vini Veneti), promoting Veneto wines internationally.

Connect:

Website: https://www.bellenda.it/en/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellenda1986/ 

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/umbertocosmo 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/umberto.cosmo 

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:

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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!

Welcome to Episode 2629 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo speaks with sommelier and certified Italian wine expert Jack Liggett about the role of wine education and certification in building a successful career in the wine and hospitality industry.

Key Takeaways:

Why structured wine education matters beyond tasting skills and restaurant service.

The real impact of professional wine certifications for today’s sommeliers.

How specialized Italian wine education can open new opportunities in the wine trade and hospitality sector.

More about the guest:

Jack Liggett serves as the Head Sommelier and Wine Program Lead at 53, a contemporary Asian restaurant in NYC. His connection to wine began at an early age through family tradition, picking grapes from his grandfather’s small backyard vineyard in Groton Massachusetts. Jack’s interest in wine rekindled during his travels to Rome, Italy, where he took a class about Italian wine and culture. Upon returning back to the U.S., Jack continued to explore and held an array of roles at wineries such as a tasting room associate, vineyard worker, and harvest intern, learning the ropes for winemaking. 

Jack joined 53 as part of the restaurant’s opening team in 2022 as a wine runner, supporting the sommelier's day-to-day service. After six months, Jack was promoted to sommelier and now, three and a half years later, leads the wine program. For Jack, the attraction of wine lies in its dynamic nature. At 53, he strives to explore new wines, engage in unexpected conversations with guests, and continue to learn and teach. Jack has also been awarded his DipWSET certificate and IWE through Vinitaly International Academy.

Connect: 

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-liggett-dipwset-iwe-9525b9147/ 

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/

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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 

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!

Welcome to #openbarstevie and Episode 2628 of the Italian Wine Podcast. 

It’s a casual video podcast filmed in the office, where wine people drop by, open a bottle or two, and hang out with moi! 😝 Sometimes they come alone, often in pairs or small groups. The conversation flows naturally and is not limited to wine. It touches on family, friendships, work, failures, successes, current events, and above all the Italian way of living.

This is not an interview series in the traditional sense. It is closer to friends meeting at aperitivo time. Wine is the excuse, NOT the subject. The focus is on lived experience. What it really means to live and work in Italy today. The beauty, the contradictions, the chaos, the privilege, and the everyday rituals that define Italian lifestyle.

💡 Format:

30 to 45 minutes

Filmed in the office with a relaxed, low-production setup

1 to 3 guests per episode

Guests can be producers, communicators, importers, educators, creatives, or friends of the wine world. Any recommendations for potential guests⁉️

Today’s guest is Felix Alojz Jermann.

More about today’s guest:

Alojz Felix Jermann is a wine expert, digital consultant, and sixth-generation member of the renowned Friulian winery Jermann. After leaving the family business in 2020, he distinguished himself as a winery broker, investor advisor, and one of Italy's leading digital wine communicators, working to make the sector more accessible, sustainable, and youth-oriented.

Connect:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alojz-felix-jermann 

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

More about the host:

Stevie Kim is an Italian wine marketing & communication expert, bandpositioning 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. 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/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevie-kim-0646b04/ 

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

_______________________________

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!

Welcome to Voices and Episode 2627 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Cynthia Chaplin talks with Californian winemaker and consultant Terah Bajjalieh about her journey from finance to winemaking, her international experience, and the challenges she’s faced as a LGBTQ+ Palestinian American in the industry. They discuss her low-intervention, regenerative approach, her focus on fresh and expressive wines, and her role at Batonnage supporting mentorship programs for women and underrepresented voices in wine.

More about the guest:

Terah Bajjalieh is a California-born winemaker and founder of Terah Wine Co., crafting distinctive wines through organic, biodynamic, and regenerative vineyard partnerships. She champions Mediterranean varieties suited to California’s warming climate, using native fermentations and minimal intervention to create wines that are fresh, lively, and expressive.

With 14 harvests across France, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and California, Terah holds a Master’s in Enology & Viticulture from SupAgro Montpellier, a BS in Finance, and WSET Level 3 certification. She launched Terah Wine Co. in 2020 to elevate underrepresented varieties and voices. Her wines have been praised by the New York Times, and she was named to Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Tastemakers 2024, bringing a unique perspective as a female, LGBTQ+, Arab American winemaker.

Connect:

Website: https://www.terahwineco.com/ 

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

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

More about our host: 

VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassador and sommelier with FIS, Cynthia Chaplin is a professor of Italian Wine and Culture, with 20 years experience in the wine industry. Cynthia is a certified wine educator, author, international judge, and content creator. She designs and presents events for embassies, corporate and private clients, develops Italian wine collections for restaurants and private clients and works with Italian wineries to train their sales and export staff.

Hosting Voices has increased her commitment to DEI in the wine sector, interviewing emerging and established wine professionals and discussing topics such as inclusivity, equity, language, sustainability and challenges facing under-represented groups and cultures as they move into careers in wine. As a certified WSET Educator, Cynthia is passionate about developing wine education for a future that will have a place at the table for anyone interested in wine.

Connect:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Italian-Wines-in-English/100036868372598/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiss_my_glassx/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-

_______________________________ 

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!

Welcome to Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2626 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Daniel Mwangi interviews Roberto Bava and Roberto Cardinale of Bava winery in Piedmont. 

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

Key Learning Objectives:

Understanding the Bava Winery Identity. Explore the family’s journey, heritage, and what distinguishes their winery within the Piedmont wine landscape.

Viticulture, Winemaking & Innovation. Learn about their approach to vineyard management, winemaking philosophy, and the technologies and innovations shaping their wines.

Market Vision & Future Direction. Understand how the winery responds to evolving consumer trends and what their long-term vision is for the future.

More about today’s host:

Daniel Mwangi is a sommelier and food & beverage expert from Kenya. He has served as a sommelier with Silversea / Celebrity Cruises, curating fine wine experiences for a global clientele, and has worked in the Armani, Marriott and Intercontinental hotels in Dubai.

Connect:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-mwangi-b96b1495/ 

More about today’s guest:  

Bava Winery is a historic family estate located in the hills of Monferrato, with vineyards also extending into Langhe. Founded in 1911, the winery is known for producing classic Piedmont wines such as Barbera d'Asti, Barolo, and Moscato d'Asti. The Bava family has played an important role in the development of the Alta Langa DOCG and is recognized for innovation in the region, including early use of barriques and the revival of indigenous grape varieties.

Roberto Bava, co-owner and Export & Marketing Director, represents the fourth generation of the family. Known for his creative approach to hospitality and communication, he has organized international “Bava Concept Dinners,” collaborating with chefs, artists, and performers across five continents. Since 1982, Roberto has also served as Managing Director of Giulio Cocchi, where he helped revive historic products such as Barolo Chinato and played a key role in restoring the designation Vermouth di Torino. He is a former president of the Consorzio del Vermouth di Torino.

Roberto Cardinale is Asia, Pacific and Africa Manager at Bava Winery. With over 20 years of experience in international wine markets, he works closely with partners across multiple regions to promote the wines of the estate. Based in Tuscany, he speaks several languages and combines his passion for wine with a strong commitment to family life and cultural exchange.

Connect:

Website: https://www.bava.com/en/ 

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

_______________________________ 

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!