Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to episode 2743 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 253 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc is joined by Marta and Camilla Cocci Grifoni of Tenuta Cocci Grifoni, a historic family-owned winery in Italy's Marche region.

Together, they explore the rich winemaking heritage of Le Marche, the story behind the estate and its relais, Guido Cocci Grifoni's pivotal role in rescuing the Pecorino grape from extinction, the significance of Rosso Piceno DOC and the winery's flagship wines, as well as its commitment to sustainability, PIWI varieties, Il Manifesto, and the evolving role of women in wine.

More about today’s guest:

Tenuta Cocci Grifoni is a family-run winery that today cares for 65 hectares of vineyards, cultivating both native grape varieties and disease-resistant vines. Since the early 20th century, its research activity has been closely intertwined with the history of winemaking in the Marche region. In the 1980s, the estate helped rediscover the Pecorino grape together with other local growers. Later came its opening to hospitality with Relais Cocci Grifoni, alongside a constant commitment to the ecosystem and biodiversity. Since 2024, Tenuta Cocci Grifoni has been fully organic, vegan, and Equalitas certified.

Connect:

Website: https://www.tenutacoccigrifoni.it/ https://relaiscoccigrifoni.it/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tenutacoccigrifoni/ https://www.instagram.com/relais.coccigrifoni/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tenuta-cocci-grifoni/

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

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

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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 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:

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

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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:

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

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp

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If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/

Until next time, Cin Cin!