Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2830 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode of the Masterclass US Wine Market, Barbara Fitzgerald is joined by Stephanie Schlis, a Colorado-based wine specialist and Italian Wine Ambassador, to explore what American wine drinkers are really looking for and how Italian producers can connect with them.

Stephanie shares her Colorado perspective on authenticity, private labels, and the younger generation of wine consumers. They look at what new drinkers want beyond heritage and provenance, and at Italian wines beyond the classics that spark curiosity. Stephanie closes with practical tips for producers who want to enter the Colorado market.

Key Takeaways:

What people buying wine are actually looking for.

Demystifying the younger generation of wine drinkers.

The best ways to connect with the American market, from a Colorado perspective.

More about the guest:

Stephanie Schlis is a wine specialist and beverage distribution professional based in the Denver metropolitan area. She holds WSET Level 3 and is an Italian Wine Ambassador through the Vinitaly International Academy. Her career spans retail at Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits in Colorado Springs, distribution at Republic National Distributing Company in Boulder, and Maverick Beverage Company. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

Connect:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-schlis-wset3-iwa-54897089/

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

More about the host:

With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara Fitzgerald specializes in D2C marketing and business development. As part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, she also owns and operates a boutique wine production company and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US.

Connect:

Website: https://www.aprilacreative.com/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/

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

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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 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

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 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!

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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/

_______________________________

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!