Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2742 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald speaks with Molly Bossardt about the future of wine marketing, exploring consumer behavior, subscription models, strategies for engaging different generations, lessons from the coffee industry, the role of education, and why creating new wine occasions may be the key to building stronger brands.

Key Takeaways:

Wine doesn't necessarily have a consumer problem—it has a positioning problem.

The wine industry spends a lot of time explaining wine, but not enough time making people want it.

The future belongs to the brands that create occasions.

More about the guest:

Molly Bossardt is a wine marketing strategist and founder of Bread & Butter Digital Marketing, where she helps wineries build the systems behind consistent, revenue-driving marketing. With 10 years of marketing experience and six years focused entirely on the drinks industry, Molly specializes in email, content, and paid social strategies designed around the wine calendar. Her framework has helped generate $120K in revenue in four months at a 10.44x return on ad spend.

She is also the creator of the Winery Growth Lab, a six-month consulting program for winery owners who are tired of marketing without a plan and want a clear, repeatable system. Originally from Virginia, Molly recently moved to Torino, Italy, where she continues to work with wine brands while exploring Italian wine, culture, and life abroad.

Connect:

Website: https://www.breadandbutterdigitalmarketing.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-bossardt-5a804859/

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

More about the host:

With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara Fitzgerald specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She's led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a 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. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries.

As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now 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, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US.

Connect:

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

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

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

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Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to episode 2741 of the Italian Wine Podcast recorded live at Grandi Langhe e il Piemonte del Vino 2026.

As an official media partner, Italian Wine Podcast brings you firsthand insights from Grandi Langhe e il Piemonte del Vino 2026, Piedmont's premier wine event that took place on January 26-27, in Turin. Join top producers, buyers, and experts to explore emerging styles, winemaking innovations, and market trends shaping the region's future. From Barolo and Barbaresco to hidden gems, this series offers in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes insights, revealing Piedmont's impact on the global wine scene.

Today, Stevie Kim’s guest is Walter Massa, the producer behind Vigneti Massa and one of the key figures in the revival of Timorasso in the Colli Tortonesi.

In this conversation, Walter reflects on the evolution of Timorasso, a grape that has grown from a small presence in the Tortona area into one of the most talked-about stories in Piemonte wine. Stevie and Walter discuss Derthona, the role of producers who have invested in the territory, and Romanzo del Vino, a project built around growers, stories and a shared vision for Timorasso.

With his direct, passionate and unmistakable point of view, Walter also looks at the future of Italian wine and reminds us that great wine is made by real growers, real territories and real stories.

About the Grandi Langhe:

Grandi Langhe e il Piemonte del Vino is one of Italy’s most prestigious wine events, dedicated to showcasing the excellence of Piedmont. Organized with the support of the region’s leading wine consortia, it brings together hundreds of producers representing top denominations such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Gavi, Asti, and Alta Langa. The event is designed as a key meeting point for international trade, offering tastings, professional networking, and a powerful snapshot of Piedmont’s role in the global wine market.

Discover more: https://www.grandilanghe.com/

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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!

Welcome to Episode 6 of Study Smart and Episode 2740 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Gill Gordon Smith.

Ep. 6: Burgundy Pt 2 - Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise, Mâconnais

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:

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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 Book Club and Episode 2739 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Richard Hough. In this episode, Richard is in conversation with professor of Italian wine and culture, Dr Danielle Callegari, author of (amongst other things) “A Bite-Sized History of Italy: Tales of the Roman Empire, Renaissance, and Republic.”

This conversation explores Danielle’s Italian ancestry, her career as an academic, the importance of Dante to Italy’s linguistic identity, the role of food and wine in shaping Italy’s cultural identity, the beer before bread hypothesis, “carbonaragate” and other Italian food controversies, and Italy’s evolving culinary habits.

Further reading and other resources mentioned in the conversation:

“Dante’s Gluttons: Food and Society in Medieval Italian Literature” by Dr Danielle Callegari

“Drunk” by Dr Edward Slingerland

“Tracing one delicious snack around the Mediterranean showed me that modern borders are absurd” by Federico De Blasi, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/26/chickpea-snacks-mediterranean-migration-cultural-exchange-europe-africa

The Gola Podcast, https://www.golapodcast.com/

Cabinet Travel, https://www.cabinettravel.com/

“This Italian Wine Paradise Is More Than Just a Pretty Coastline” by Danielle Callegari, https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/travel/sardinia-food-wine-culture/

The Book Review by Richard Hough:

Dr Danielle Callegari is a renowned academic in the field of medieval Italian literature, which explains the intellectual depth and rigour that underpins “A Bite-Sized History of Italy: Tales of the Roman Empire, Renaissance, and Republic.” Callegari takes us on a fascinating historical journey to explain how food became the defining characteristic of Italian national identity, tackling the many myths, legends and (culinary) obscenities along the way. From The Iliad and the Odyssey to pineapple on pizza, A Bite-Sized History of Italy is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the past, present and future of Italy’s remarkable relationship with its food and wine.

About today’s guest:

Danielle Callegari (Ph.D., New York University) is Associate Professor in the Department of French and Italian at Dartmouth College and Communications Director for the Dante Society of America. Danielle Callegari reviews the wines of Italy for Wine Enthusiast, including Tuscany, Lazio, Abruzzo, Campania, Basilicata, Molise, Puglia, Calabria, Sardinia and Sicily. She is also the co-host of Gola, a podcast on Italian food and beverage culture.

Connect:

Website: https://faculty-directory.dartmouth.edu/danielle-callegari

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcallegariscabinet/reels/

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/

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Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/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 Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2738 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode Pablo Fernandez IWA interviews Nadia Curto, the renowned winemaker from La Morra (Cuneo), in the heart of the Langhe and the Barolo region.

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

Nadia discusses her hands-on approach to winemaking, working without consultants or enologists while combining her father's traditions with her own vision. She also shares the winery's philosophy of minimal intervention, featuring chemical-free viticulture, spontaneous fermentation, and a simple motto: "Nature above everything."

Key Learning Objectives:

Learn about the history of Nadia Curto's family winery in La Morra and its multigenerational approach to Barolo production.

Explore Nadia's philosophy of natural winemaking, including spontaneous fermentation and minimal intervention in both the vineyard and cellar.

Understand how Nadia balances tradition and innovation by combining her father's winemaking heritage with her own vision for the future of Barolo.

More about today’s host:

Born in Florianópolis, Pablo graduated in civil engineering with a specialization in project and contracts management in the renewable energy industry. During his sabbatical year in 2019 he traveled 13,000 kilometers through Italy. Then, he decided to follow his passion for the Bel Paese and turn it into his professional hobby. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he began his wine education, earning several certificates. In 2022, he started his studies for the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Also, in 2022, Pablo became an Italian Wine Ambassador and in 2023 a Certified Educator for the Vinitaly International Academy.

Pablo offers educational services for wine lovers and students of Italian wines in Brazil, with his project focused on Italy. He also regularly writes about wine for the digital wine magazine Única. He occasionally writes about Brazilian wines for the South America Wine Guide website.

Connect:

Website: http://beboitalia.com

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

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/psfernandez/

More about today’s guest:

Nadia Curto is a renowned winemaker from La Morra (Cuneo), in the heart of the Langhe and the Barolo region. Together with her father Marco, she manages the family's 4 hectares of historic vineyards in the hamlet of Annunziata. Granddaughter of renowned Barolo producer Elio Altare, she has embraced a philosophy of natural and eco-sustainable viticulture, producing artisanal wines such as Barolo and Dolcetto, appreciated for their elegance and authenticity.

Connect:

Website: https://www.nadiacurto.it/

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

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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!



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