Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2649 of the Italian Wine Podcast and the first episode of Pellegrinaggio Enoico con Attilio Scienza! This series is recorded in Italian.

Episode 9: Dai Vini Retici al Prosecco

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 

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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!

 

Share your love for our lovely Professor if you are a true Italian Wine Geek 🙂

Welcome to episode 2648 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 237 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc sits down with Jessica Anne Tan, Italian Wine Ambassador and Singapore-based wine professional, to explore the dynamic food and wine scene in Singapore.

Together, they discuss Jessica’s journey into the wine world — from a career in tech to the Vinitaly International Academy — and take a closer look at how Italian wine performs in the Singapore market. The conversation also dives into the intersection of Italian wine and Southeast Asian cuisine, highlighting exciting pairing possibilities and evolving consumer trends.

More about today’s guest:

Jessica Anne Tan is a wine educator, journalist, and strategic event organizer specializing in Italian wine education and brand development across Southeast Asia. A Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW, WSET Level 3) and Wine Scholar Guild-approved Italian Wine Scholar educator, she is also one of the first female Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassadors in the region.

Jessica combines technical expertise with creative storytelling to make wine education both accessible and compelling. She has led successful brand launches and integrated marketing campaigns for Italian wine brands and consortia, delivering experiences that engage trade and consumer audiences alike. Through WineSafariItalia.com, she continues to champion native Italian grape varieties and elevate wine literacy with clarity, warmth, and strategic precision.

Connect:

Website: https://www.winesafariitalia.com 

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessatan/ 

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

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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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 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

 

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!

Welcome to Episode 2647 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald talks with Cyril Penn, editor-in-chief of Wine Business Monthly and WineBusiness.com. Together they discuss some of the biggest debates currently occurring in the global wine industry, drawing from Cyril’s recent article on structural challenges facing the market.

Read the article: https://www.winebusiness.com/wbm/article/312710 

Key Takeaways:


This is not simply a volume crisis, it’s a relevance crisis. The key question is how wine fits (or fails to fit) into modern lifestyles and consumer habits.


The wine industry structure is evolving. Traditional distribution and market models are being challenged, requiring adaptation and new approaches.


Performance gaps are widening. While some wineries are struggling, others are thriving.

More about the guest:

Cyril Penn is editor in chief of Wine Business Monthly and winebusiness.com, part of Wine Communications Group, the leading supplier of information to the wine industry.  Penn has been with WBM since 2000. His work on the wine business has appeared in a number of publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, where he contributed the Wine Business Insider column for five years. Penn has traveled to wine regions throughout North America, Europe and South America as a speaker and wine judge. Prior to joining WBM, he was managing editor of the California Energy Markets newsletter in San Francisco. His background includes several years as a freelance journalist. Following stints at the Columbia Journalism Review and MacNeil Lehrer Report (now the PBS NewsHour), Penn worked for Reuters in New York. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in media studies from Fordham University.

Connect: 

Website: https://www.winebusiness.com 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyril-penn-8a60895/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cyril.penn 

Twitter: https://x.com/CyrilPenn 

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:

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 2646 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’s guest: Massimo Damonte, President of the Consorzio di Tutela del Roero.

More about Consorzio di Tutela del Roero:

The wine producers of Roero were joined in the Roero Producers’ Consortium, acknowledged with a decree published in the Official Gazette, on the 4th of March 2014, with the objective to perform the functions of protection, advancement, promotion, consumer information and general care of the interests related to the “Roero” Docg.

Today there are more than 250 consortium members made up of producers and growers, and more than 1,250 hectares of Roero Designation vineyards, with a total of about 8 million bottles produced, of which more than 60% are exported.

Arneis and Nebbiolo are the two base grapes of the DOCG: native grapes, typical of this territory, cultivated for centuries and interpreted with great care by the Roero producers.

Connect: https://www.consorziodelroero.it/ 

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:

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 the Next Generation and Episode 2645 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, McKenna Cassidy speaks with Rebecca Siefring, Assistant Winemaker at J Winery. This episode explores Rebecca’s journey into winemaking, her work in the Russian River Valley, and her innovative projects with Offscript Wines.

More about today’s guest:

Born and raised just outside of Philadelphia, where family meals sparked a lasting curiosity about how food and wine shape culture and connection. She earned a B.S. and M.S. focusing on Food Science. Although Becca started her career in the dairy industry, producing cheese in Utah and Wisconsin, her passion for winemaking led her to Sonoma County in 2019, where she worked as a Quality Manager in Dry Creek Valley before transitioning to J in Russian River Valley in 2021. Outside of the winery, Becca is a traveler who loves to explore new places and cultures, seeking out the best wines and cuisines from around the globe.

Connect:

Website: https://www.jwine.com/ 

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-siefring-5aa93881/ 

More about the host:

McKenna found her love of wine while serving in a Napa Valley tasting room. She later graduated from the University of Notre Dame and pursued wine on the East Coast with E. & J. Gallo Winery. She has worked in wine distribution for restaurants and luxury retail stores for the past three years.

Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, McKenna is a Certified Specialist of Wine (2021), Certified Sommelier (2022), and Italian Wine Ambassador (2023). She loves country swing dancing, hosting brunch parties, and sipping Italian wine.

Connect:

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

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-cassidy-cs-csw-66baa412b/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mckennacassidy

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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!