Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to episode 2814 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 1 of the Italianity series with Jessica Dupuy. In this episode, Jessica is in conversation with Yannick Benjamin, owner of the Beaupierre wine store in NYC, about Italian hospitality and the people who made him feel welcome and inspired his career in wine.

From Lidia Bastianich’s “nonna” treatment to his early days at Le Cirque under Sirio Maccioni, Yannick shares the experiences that shaped his journey. He also discusses changing wine tastes, his discovery of lighter reds, the influence of Stoicism on his work, his connection to Rome and his love for the wines of Valle d’Aosta.

More about the guest:

Yannick Benjamin is a New York City-based sommelier, wine educator and advocate for accessibility in hospitality. He is Director of Wine at the University Club of New York, co-founder of Beaupierre Wines & Spirits and founder of Wine on Wheels, a nonprofit that empowers people with disabilities through community, education and advocacy. He co-founded Beaupierre with his wife and fellow sommelier, Heidi Turzyn, and the shop is named after his father, Pierre. A car accident in 2003 left him paralyzed, but he went on to become a sommelier, working at Le Cirque, Jean-Georges, Felidia and Atelier at the Ritz-Carlton. He also co-founded Contento in East Harlem, and starred in the Esquire TV documentary series "Uncorked". He received the Michelin Guide New York Sommelier Award in 2023, and was named Sommelier/Wine Director of the Year at the 2021 Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards.

Connect:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannick-benjamin-b50a5b5/

Wine on Wheels: https://wineonwheels.org

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/YannickBenjamin

More about the host:

Jessica Dupuy covers wine, spirits, and travel from Austin, Texas. She holds a Diploma with the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust, is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and a Certified Specialist of Wine and Spirits through the Society of Wine Educators. Dupuy’s work has appeared in Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Imbibe, Texas Monthly, Forbes, SevenFifty Daily, GuildSomm, VinePair, and Southern Living. She recently published, The Wines of Southwest USA in addition to six regional cookbooks. Her book Italianity, released this year and co-authored with Andrea Lonardi MW, explores and celebrates the culture of Italian wine. She also co-hosts podcast, Another Bottle Down.

Connect:

Website: https://www.jessicadupuy.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-norman-dupuy-86486a4/

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

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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!

Welcome to episode 2813 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 265 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is in conversation with Greg Parsons of Sharpham Cheese.

They discuss the landscape of Southern Devon, the current state of farming and the market, the history of cheesemaking in Devon, the challenges of taking over the business in 2019, the product range, and English wine and cheese pairings.

More about the guest:

Greg Parsons is the owner and managing director of Sharpham Dairy, a prominent artisan cheesemaking business based in South Devon, England. Along with his wife, Nicky Parsons, he acquired the company in 2019 after working as a food industry veteran for roughly 40 years with major brands like Unilever and Dairy Crest.

Connect:

Website: https://sharphamcheese.co.uk/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-parsons-a9209b5/

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

More interviews on Wine, Food & Travel:

https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/food-travel/

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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!

Welcome to Episode 2812 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode of the Masterclass US Wine Market, Marissa Muoio IWA speaks with Brooklyn-based sommelier, wine director, and restaurateur Andrea Mancin about Brooklyn’s evolving wine scene, pairing Italian wines with creative pasta dishes, and the opportunities for small, sustainable producers in New York City.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding Brooklyn’s evolving palate: How local diners are moving beyond established Italian appellations toward organic wines, skin-contact whites, and low-intervention styles, with authenticity increasingly taking precedence over prestige.

Pairing pasta and wine: How to train restaurant staff to match high-acid, structured wines and funkier natural wines with inventive pasta dishes.

Reaching the modern NYC wine buyer: How Italian wineries and importers can present smaller-scale, sustainability-focused producers in an increasingly competitive New York market.

More about the guest:

Andrea Mancin is an Italian sommelier, wine director, and restaurateur based in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known as a co-owner and the wine curator behind popular Brooklyn dining spots, LaRina Pastificio & Vino and Briscola Trattoria, managing extensive wine lists heavily focused on natural wines, small-scale producers, and indigenous Italian varietals

Connect:

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

Website: https://larinabrooklyn.com/

More about the host:

Equal parts wine geek and storyteller, Marissa Muoio turns up the volume on the Italian Wine Podcast as a host of the Masterclass US Wine Market series! Marissa’s love affair with Italian wine started with a simple realization: behind every bottle of Nebbiolo, Brunello, or Fiano is a wild story of ancient history, passionate families, and incredible food pairings. But getting those stories onto American tables takes strategy.

In the Masterclass US Wine Market, Marissa bridges the gap between Italian cellars and the American trade. She brings high energy, sharp questions, and plenty of laughs while chatting with top industry insiders, sommeliers, and importers on the East Coast. When she’s not in front of the mic geeking out over volcanic soils and forgotten appellations, you’ll usually find Marissa on the hunt for the perfect plate of pasta, road-testing new wine bars, or swirling something new with friends. Her ultimate motto? No acqua, solo vino.

Connect:

Website: http://linktr.ee/marissamuoio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marissamuoio/c

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-muoio/

More interviews on the US Wine Market: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/masterclass-us-wine-market/

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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 18 of Study Smart and Episode 2811 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Gill Gordon-Smith.

Ep. 18: Canada

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

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 Book Club and Episode 2810 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Richard Hough. In this episode, Richard is in conversation with Joseph Walker, author of “Buried Italy”.



Highlights of the conversation include:

Joseph’s personal background and career in the US military

His “origin story” as an explorer of Italian history

The discovery of the submerged Roman remains at Portus Julius

Tourism as a vehicle for sharing history and storytelling

The challenges of managing competing demands of tourism and preservation

How to be a more responsible tourist in Italy

The importance of wine to the Italian visitor experience

What wine can tell us about the history of Italy

“Buried Italy” by Joseph M. Walker is available to order on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/06NdhEa3.



About today’s guest:

The US military sent Joseph Walker to Italy in 1988, and the country has had a hold on him ever since. He began studying history in Naples, before returning to the States to wrap up his Master’s degree. By 1994, he was back in Italy with a burning curiosity and absolutely no plans to leave. Over the next thirty years, Joseph personally guided more than three thousand groups across the country. He even became the very first person to take travelers underwater to explore the sunken Roman ruins of Portus Julius near Naples! His deep expertise has also caught the eye of television producers, leading him to consult as a historian for shows on the History Channel, the BBC, and the Discovery Channel. Today, Joseph channels everything he’s uncovered over the last three decades — the buried cities, the forgotten kingdoms, and the fascinating stories that never make the guidebooks — into crafting unforgettable itineraries for his clients.

Connect:

Website: https://italianhistorywithjoseph.com/

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

More about the host:

Richard Hough is the editor, translator and project curator behind The Art of Wine Storytelling, Wine Democracy and Vine and Prejudice. He has also published several books about life in Verona, chronicling the city’s history, culture and daily life, not forgetting, of course, its wine, including Verona Campione, published in May 2025. With a long-standing passion for whisky and beer, he’s a relative newcomer to the world of wine and is now desperately trying to make up for lost time! He is the host of Book Club on the Italian Wine Podcast.

Connect:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rickhough.bsky.social

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhough/



More interviews hosted by Richard Hough:

https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/italian-wine-book/

_______________________________

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!