Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to episode 2698 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 Tim Marson MW, category director of wine.com, the largest online wine retailer in the United States.

In this conversation for the Italian Wine Podcast, Tim discusses his career and role at wine.com, the market for Italian wines, and recent trends in wines from Piemonte. Tim also reveals how wines are selected by wine.com, how they help customers make informed choices, and navigating fluctuating trading conditions. Finally, Tim discusses recent trends in the wine sector and the challenges facing the future.

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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Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to the Asia Wine Market and Episode 2697 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Roza Zharmukhambetova interviews Mustafa Özel, operational manager of Esperanza Hospitality Group in Almaty.

Key learning objectives:

Understand how multi-concept hospitality groups in Kazakhstan integrate wine into modern dining and entertainment experiences.

Explore how Italian wines perform across different restaurant concepts within the group.

Identify future hospitality and wine consumption trends shaping the next generation of Kazakhstani consumers.

More about today’s guest:

Mustafa Özel is an operational manager of Esperanza Group in Almaty. Originally from Turkey, Mustafa has lived in Kazakhstan for nearly two decades and has played an active role in the development of large-scale restaurant, entertainment, and hospitality projects across the region.

Esperanza Group brings together a diverse portfolio of concepts, including Georgian, Central Asian, Turkish, Mediterranean-inspired restaurants, as well as banquet halls, karaoke venues, coffee houses, and nightlife projects. Beyond hospitality, the group is also involved in hotel and infrastructure development, alongside social responsibility initiatives supporting the local community.

Connect:

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ozel-b7217a22/ 

More about the host:

Roza Zharmukhambetova has a background in foreign languages and education. She discovered her passion for wine in Beijing, where she gained two years of experience in wine sales. Since returning to Kazakhstan, she has focused on studying Italian wine and exploring its regions. Roza holds certifications as an Italian Wine Ambassador (VIA), Italian Wine Scholar (WSG), Langhe Wines Ambassador (BBA), and Valpolicella Wine Specialist (VEP). She is also a member of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association. Since the end of 2024, she has been a member of the Italian Wine Podcast (IWP) team, contributing her passion for Italian wine.

Connect:

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

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

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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 

Until Next Time Cin Cin!

Welcome to Episode 2596 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Frank Cornelissen shares his personal and professional journey in the world of wine, from his early inspirations and experiences to his path toward becoming a winemaker in the Etna region of Sicily. The conversation also explores his philosophy, career evolution, and deep connection to the unique terroir of Mount Etna.

More about today’s guest:  

Frank Cornelissen is a prominent natural winemaker based on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily. Originally from Belgium, he transitioned from a career as a wine broker to establish his estate in 2001. Over the years, he has become one of the most influential voices in the Etna wine movement, known for his low-intervention philosophy and commitment to expressing the purity of Etna’s volcanic terroir.

Connect:

Website: https://www.frankcornelissen.it/?lang=it 

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

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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 Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2695 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Mihai Popescu IWA interviews Daniel Fabbro from San Polino winery in Montalcino.

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

The conversation covered the work of the family run San Polino estate, Daniel’s background as a biologist, the winery’s use of regenerative viticulture and spontaneous fermentation, the importance of biodiversity and the impact of climate change, as well as the drinking habits of younger consumers.

Key Learning Objectives:

Understand the philosophy behind regenerative viticulture at San Polino.

Explore how biology and ecology influence modern winemaking.

Examine the future of wine through climate change and shifting consumer trends.

More about today’s host: 

Mihai Popescu is a Canadian-based wine expert dedicated to helping producers enter and thrive in the Canadian market. A WSET Diploma holder (DipWSET), Italian Wine Ambassador, and international wine judge, he supports wineries with strategic brand positioning, market access, and distribution.

Mihai organizes professional tasting events, attends major trade shows, and creates tailored marketing plans to boost visibility and sales. Active on Instagram and social media, he reviews and promotes wines—mainly Italian—to an engaged audience of wine lovers and professionals, blending digital influence with in-market expertise.

Connect:

Website: https://www.brutus-wine.ca/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mihai.popescu 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mihai.wine 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/mihaipopescumtl 

More about today’s guest:  

Daniel Fabbro is a winemaker and biologist at San Polino winery in Montalcino. He focuses on ecosystem coordination and biodiversity in the vineyard, conducting research into spontaneous fermentation and sustainable viticulture to produce highly acclaimed Brunello di Montalcino wines.

Connect:

Website: https://sanpolino.it/en/home/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brunello.san.polino/ 

_______________________________ 

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 2694 of the Italian Wine Podcast and the 17th episode of Pellegrinaggio Enoico con Professore Attilio Scienza! This series is recorded in Italian.

Episode 17: Dalla Via Appia ai vulcani del Sud

You want to dive into the stories and myths behind Professor Scienza’s new series, but Italian isn’t your thing? No problem! You’ll find all the conversations, translated in English, in the new Mamma Jumbo Shrimp book: An Italian Wine Pilgrimage: with Professor Attilio Scienza. Now available in English on Amazon.

A true oenological journey led by Professor Attilio Scienza in the company of Stevie Kim, winding its way across the peninsula, following ancient Roman roads, paths of faith, and historical itineraries. Genetics, morphology, climate change, and the concept of viticulture vocation come together to tell the story of our grape varieties and their inextricable bond with the territory. Expect amazing stories, random digressions, curious anecdotes, and a new way of thinking about wine.

Join us on A Wine Pilgrimage with Professor Attilio Scienza.

More about Professor Scienza:

Professor Attilio Scienza is the one who checks all the facts and regulates when we mistakenly type “Verdicchio” instead of “Vermentino.” He is a full professor at the University of Milan in the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences where he teaches courses on genetic improvements to the vine; he also teaches Viticulture in the Master’s program of the University of Turin in Asti. 

He has been the lead for many national research projects in the field of physiology, agricultural techniques, and vine genetics. As the author of over 350 publications on vine and viticulture in national and international journals, you can bet he knows his stuff!

To find out more about Attilio Scienza visit: https://www.vinitaly.com/formazione/vinitaly-international-academy/attilio-scienza/ 

 

If you want to learn more about Stevie Kim, the Scienza wrangler:

https://www.vinitaly.com/eventi/operawine/stevie-kim/ 

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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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