Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 1 the India Special Edition, a of a very exciting series of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Saloni Khanapurkar IWA is in conversation with Luca Bernardini to explore consumer consumption trends in India and how events can connect Indian drinkers with Italian wine.

Luca breaks down the free trade agreement signed between India and the EU and what it really means for the wine trade. He also shares his unique approach to wine events, which combines tastings with stand-up comedy to keep audiences engaged, along with practical tips on storing and enjoying wine. He closes with some practical ideas for the producers who wish to enter the market.

More about the host:

Saloni Khanapurkar is an Italian wine professional, educator, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of wine, culture, and India. She is India’s first and only Italian Wine Ambassador, holds WSET Level 3 in Wine, and is currently a DipWSET candidate. She has worked with Italian wineries and wine organizations across Piemonte, Tuscany, Lombardy, and Friuli Venezia Giulia, with experience spanning wine education, export consulting, communications, and cross-cultural projects. She is also one of the producers of the Italian Wine Podcast and the founder of SipSaathi, a women-first wine ecosystem focused on building education, professional opportunities, and global connections for India’s emerging wine community.

Connect:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saloni-khanapurkar/

More about the guest:

Luca Bernardini is an Italian wine and food educator based in Mumbai. He studied Philosophy and History at the University of Padua and worked with Slow Food in Italy before moving to India, where he has become a familiar presence on the Italian food and wine scene. He is a sommelier who leads wine tastings and food pairing events for audiences across India, including events organised with the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Connect:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-bernardini-20705517/

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

More interviews on Asia Wine Market:

https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/asia-wine-market-almaty-special-edition/

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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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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 21 of Study Smart and Episode 2828 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Gill Gordon-Smith.

Ep. 21: Oregon, Washington and NY

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 from Study Smart for your WSET Level 3:

https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/study_smart_for_your_wset_level_3/

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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 Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2827 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Susan Hart Wilson IWA interviews Antonio Mergè of Amor Vitae, a family winery in Aprilia, Lazio, south of Rome.

Antonio shares how three generations of grape growing led his family to launch their own label in 2020, and how his experience in Napa Valley shaped his approach to wine and hospitality. He introduces the winery’s two vineyard sites, its work with indigenous Lazio varieties such as Cesanese, Bellone and Malvasia Puntinata, and its diverse portfolio, from approachable sparkling wines and rosé to age-worthy reds.

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

More about today’s host:

Susan Hart Wilson is a wine educator and enthusiast whose journey into the wine world began in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew into a passion for exploring wine regions in the United States and abroad, particularly Italy. She has travelled extensively across Italy, discovering regions from Tuscany and Veneto to Lazio, Umbria, and Sicily.

Susan holds the WSET Level III certification, the Italian Wine Scholar credential, and the Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador accreditation (2024). She is also a member of GuildSomm, the Wine Scholar Guild, and the Hue Society, and enjoys sharing her passion for wine through education, travel, and community events.

Connect:

Website: http://www.vineexplorers.com

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

More about today’s guest:

Antonio Mergè is the business mind behind Amor Vitae, a family winery launched in 2020 with his sisters, Virginia and Veronica, building on three generations of grape growing. Based in Aprilia, Lazio, the winery works with two vineyard sites in Aprilia and the Castelli Romani hills near Lanuvio, combining indigenous varieties such as Cesanese, Bellone and Malvasia Puntinata with international grapes. Drawing on his experience in wine hospitality in Napa Valley, Antonio champions an approachable, convivial vision of wine rooted in family, place, and quality.

Connect:

Website: https://amorvitae.com/

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

More interviews on Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner:

https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/clubhouse-ambassadors-corner/

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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!



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 2826 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 3 of the Italianity series with Jessica Dupuy. In this episode, Jessica is in conversation with Master Sommelier, author and critic John Szabo MS, to explore why diversity is the heart of Italian wine.

John looks back on how he got into wine 25 years ago, from starting (and eventually closing) a wine import business in Canada to becoming a wine writer after earning his Master Sommelier title. He explains how his background in linguistics has made him a better writer, since people connect more when they are interviewed in their mother tongue. The conversation then turns to what makes Italy unique, especially compared with France.

More about the guest:

John Szabo, MS, is a Toronto-based Master Sommelier, author and wine critic. In 2004 he became the first Canadian to earn the Master Sommelier title, and he also holds the WSET Diploma with honours. He is a partner and principal critic at WineAlign.com, Canada’s largest wine publication, and co-host of the podcast Wine Thieves. John is the author of Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and Power, winner of the André Simon Award, and co-founder of Volcanic Wines International. He has also built wine programs for restaurants and hotel groups across Canada, and has travelled to virtually every wine-producing country in a career spanning more than 25 years.

Connect:

Website: https://www.johnszabo.com/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-szabo-ms-76a2105

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 the 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/

More interviews on Italianity Series: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/italianity-series-with-jessica-dupuy/

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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 2825 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Episode 267 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc speaks with Alesio Piccioni, founder of Garage del Vino, about Umbria’s wine culture, the potential of Sagrantino and Trebbiano Spoletino, and the challenges of communicating regional wines to consumers.

Alesio discusses why Sagrantino’s powerful tannins should be seen as a strength, how confusion around Montefalco’s wine classifications affects its reputation, and why Trebbiano Spoletino deserves greater recognition for its versatility. He also reflects on the evolution of the sommelier profession, the influence of wine trends and social media, and the importance of selecting wines for their quality and precision rather than labels such as “natural” or “biodynamic.”

More about the guest:

Alesio Piccioni became a sommelier at 16 and has worked in the wine industry ever since. After beginning his career as a winery agent in 1999, he deepened his knowledge of international wine regions, specializing in French wines and high-quality food products. In 2018, he founded Garage del Vino, a distribution company focused on artisan wine producers from Italy, France, Germany, and Spain. In 2025, he opened his first bistrot à vin in Spoleto, combining his passions for wine and gastronomy.

Connect:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alesio-piccioni-985882173/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alesio.piccioni/

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

Website: https://www.marcmillon.co.uk

Website: https://www.vino.co.uk

Website: 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!