Episodes

 The FTC aims its phasers at Southern Glazer’s misbehavior. Spain reigns atop the Liv-Ex Power 100. Sleepy girls are Googling. We chat with Sprudge founder Jordan Michelman about wine gifts. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week. 

Michelin-starred restaurants rally behind Kally. We bring you advice for dealing with ICE. Washington’s glass recycling industry is crushed. We welcome Women who Sparkle. These are the wine news stories we’re bringing you this week on The Four Top. 

Trump touts tequila tariffs. Chefs begin to repeal the eels in their meals. Drinks retail needs to bring on the fun. Alder Yarrow talks old vines. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week on The Four Top. 

Landowners weigh whether to plant crops or harvest clean energy. Prepare your maw for faux foie gras. Trump taps a new secretary of agriculture. It is time to acknowledge Indigenous people’s impact on wine. These are the wine news stories we’re covering this week on The Four Top. 

A major producer drops glass weight. Gen Z wants a no ABV party. Tis the season for best wines lists. We phone a friend in France to discuss levies out of London. All this and more on your favorite wine news podcast, The Four Top.

Trump tariffs have some terrified. It’s not phylloxera, it’s late frosts and freak storms. Workers allege toxic waste in winegrowers’ waterways. The Aussies go aeronautical with aeration. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week. 

The rain in Spain does not fall mainly on the plain. Fine wine is in decline, but some producers still shine. It turns out Nick is not the only thing that likes to get drunk in the woods. Napa can handle the heat. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week. 

We have wine country horror stories for you this Halloween week. Plus, we have a famous comedian’s contribution to wine home decor, and all the latest on AI in the wine industry. To wrap things up, we phone a friend, that friend being Jason Wise of SommTV. Jason is going to tell us all about the Ghosts of Napa Valley. These are the wine news stories we have this week on The Four Top. 

Criminals cashed in on counterfeit wine. Hip hip hooray! Napa’s got a new AVA. What’s going on at Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton? And in the name of Come Over October, we get to know the gal behind Chardonngay. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week on your go-to wine news podcast, The Four Top.

It’s Come Over October, and we’ve got Kimberly Charles on the mic! We’re watching Weed and Wine. Katherine is boozing in Berlin. A winery was acquired for a truly ungodly sum. The Blue Zones may have been bullshit. These are the stories we’re following this week in the wine world.

Karen MacNeil joins us on Ep. 174!Dock workers struck and some wine got stuck. Non-alcoholic champagne is here and it is a little pricey. Oregon’s governor chooses chip farms over grape farms. Come on over because it’s October. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week. 

Somewhere in the recent flurry of negative wine news, we forgot the most important thing about our industry: the joy. Anna Maria Ponzi of Linfield University’s Center for Wine Education and Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard join us on Ep. 173 to remind us of that joy, and give us tips on how to spread it far and wide. Listen to this episode with a glass in hand; we’re finding that joy once again. 

Deluges along the Danube drench wineries. India may be the savior wine needs. A firefighter fans flames in California. Wineries could find a friend in the USPS if some senators get their way. These are the four wine news stories we’re following this week on The Four Top, with a special guest: food and wine writer Henna Bakshi!

We caught up with Jancis Robinson, Richard Hemming, André Mack, Agnese Gintere, Henna Bakshi, Samantha Cole-Johnson, Elaine Chukan Brown, and Amanda Barnes at the inaugural 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards. We got to travel to London to attend the awards ceremony, and the best part was talking to so many talented wine communicators. Enjoy their hot takes, and… Cheers! 

We do not have a full episode for you this week! We were all traveling for the past 7-10 days and could not get an episode together for you. But that’s mostly a good thing, because we were at the 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards in London! We were able to speak to some very talented wine communicators to get their thoughts and insights, and we’ll be bringing you all that magic next week in a recap episode. Until then, enjoy this litte teaser. Cheers! 

South African wineries are fans of wasps and bullshit. Napa Valley’s tourist stats are good news. You may RSVP to your next wedding invite via Resy. France welcomes new grape varieties. These are the four wine news stories were following this week on The Four Top.

Prehistoric pips point to possible birthplace of grapes. You can now walk from St. Helena to Calistoga. An unrealized real estate empire implodes. Cocoons are for caterpillars and cabernet. These are the four wine news stories we’re following this week on The Four Top.

Chile designates new D.O.s. Mysterious brain diseases in Canada are cause for concern. Vine saboteurs are horrible, terrible, no good, very bad people. Vladimir Putin forks out rubles for rosés and reds. These are the four stories we’re following this week on The Four Top.

Wine is not allowed to be fun or festive. California wants to chuck out self-checkout. Champagne lightens up. Walkathons are all the rage in Prosecco country. These are the news stories we’re following this week on The Four Top. 

Katherine, Ruby, and Nick met in person for the first time…this week. That’s pretty wild. Instead of bringing you a regular episode, we celebrated by talking about the rising popularity of chillable red wines (or is it chilled red wines?) and drinking rosé (a bit ironic). Sure, the audio quality isn’t quite up to snuff, but we learned that we can be real life friends! 

VWE declares bankruptcy. Politicians and producers want to blow up the bubble tax. Winemakers are fretful thanks to the French far right. The man behind the American winery aesthetic has passed away. These are the four wine news stories we’re discussing this week on your favorite wine news podcast, The Four Top.

A former employee has spilled the tea about Visit Napa Valley. A deadbeat winery owner gets sued for shirking his bills. Treasury Wine Estates has gone full robot mode. Pete Wells quit his job before his job quit him. These are the wine news stories we’re discussing on The Four Top.

Swiftonomics comes to the wine world. The Supreme Court creates chaos for alcohol producers. A big tech exec wants to expand access to wine. Fires force evacuations in Central Coast wine country. These are the wine stories we’re following on episode 162 of The Four Top.

Anchor Brewing is raised once again. Wine pain is beer pain. Hops, water, and that’s it. And the hottest thing in alcohol is no alcohol. These are the four topics we’re covering this week on the beer takeover of The Four Top.  

This week we are taking a break from the news, and oh man was this ever the week to take a break from the news… We have the pleasure of bringing you this fun, insightful, and, honestly, relaxing conversation Katherine recently had with occasional co-host Martín Reyes, MW, and our friend Wendy Phillips, aka the Garden Somm. Hopefully it will inspire you to slow down a bit, take in your surroundings, and enjoy a good glass of wine. 

Bordeaux bets big on Virginia wine. Very old vino is found near Sevilla. Wineries dodge a wildfire bullet. Olfactory stimulation is the new health craze. These are the top wine news stories we’re following on Ep. 159 of The Four Top. 

Spotted species stopped short of soaring into Sonoma. A price pullback by Château Figeac. The Bay Area celebrates Pinot Noir from afar. Are the World’s 50 Best Restaurants too avant-garde for their own good? These are the top wine news stories we’re following on Ep. 158 of The Four Top.

Sweden loosens its hold on hooch. The FTC aims its phasers at Southern Glazer’s. The future of wine growing may be from the 1990s. The fight over foil necks continues. These are the top wine news stories we’re following this week.

Nightly wine and cheese parties may just stave off dementia. Canned wine stink is sunk. Smokey the Bear says power companies must pay for smoke tainted wines. And was 2023 the vintage of the century? These are the wine news stories we’re following this week. 

The results are in from the re-judgment of Paris. Weed wins over wine on days that end in Y. Paper beats rock – sort of – in the spirits world. We bring you the buyout rundown for spring 2024. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week on The Four Top.  

The Pom Wonderful Company is apparently the Not So Wonderful Company. Regenerative ag is coming for vegan cuisine. The future of futures is not wine, but sake. Climate change is fouling up fermentation (so we think). This is the wine news we’re watching this week on the Four Top. 

Low spirits in wine and spirits as we lose another great wine publication. Pernod Ricard is getting out of Down Under. Tomato wine is…wait…tomato wine? And wine isn’t a democracy, according to the Sideways guy. These are the news stories we’re following this week.  

Freixenet cuts worker hours due to a force majeure. Champagne is wrapped up over neck wrappers. The future of Bordeaux futures hangs in the balance. Chablis and Cahors have had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. These are the wine stories we’re following this week. 

Our taste buds are no match for robot probes. Revino brings reuse to wine bottles. Restaurant reservation rage is at an all time high. The hottest spritz spirit has doubled production. These are the wine news stories we’re covering this week.  

Katherine is speaking at a wine celebration in Croatia this week, so we’ve dug a classic episode out of the vault for you. This engrossing, and at times shocking, episode deals with everyone’s least-favorite, most-used herbicide: Roundup. It is the perfect pairing for Earth Week, so please enjoy! Here it is, folks; our episode about Roundup…but it’s so much more than that. We dive into regenerative agriculture, climate action, and the fight over how to grow grapes on a rapidly changing planet.Rounding out our expertise this week are Dr. Jamie Goode, an award-winning wine journalist, plant biologist, and the author of I Taste Red: The Science of Tasting Wine; and Anna Brittain, the founder and executive director of Napa Green and Napa RISE.

Martín Reyes, MW continues his residency in part two of our exploration of alcohol metabolization. We get into enzymes, dopamine, and orgasms in this occasionally off-kilter discussion of how our bodies deal with alcohol. All aboard our very adult Magic School Bus! 

Martín Reyes, MW is back for a two-episode arc! We’ve got science, dad jokes, and questionable man-made sound effects on this one. Join us as Katherine and Martín dig in to how alcohol is metabolized in our bodies in part one of this two-parter. 

Neo prohibitionists have the ears of health officials. It turns out old vines can travel. We’ve got a climate change game show for you. Yet another wine brand has been bought by its founder. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week. 

A winemaker takes back his brand from a big ol’ private equity firm. A surprising amount of American wine is not actually American. Organic wine importers are completely freaking out, and we don’t blame them. Washington State is throwing British Columbia a lifeline. These are the four wine news stories we’re following this week. 

A winery uses AI to sexy up its team, do backflips, and oh yeah, sell wine. Californians are scrambling for last resort fire insurance. We’ve definitely identified the economic sweet spots for the wine industry. The curse of the blue nun has been lifted. These are the wine news stories we’re following this week. 

Sheep counting has gotten out of hand. Cheese is on the chopping block. Wine retailers love registries. Ukrainian wine abides. These are the four wine news stories we’re following this week. 

Snow in the Sierra Nevadas. Saboteurs in Spain. The French court says, “mais non,” to predatory negociants, and we have all been speaking Latin all wrong. These are the four wine news stories at our table right now.

Martín Reyes, MW is back, and he’s brought some friends. With their help, we get into misleading claims from the W.H.O, the health effects of wine, and how moderation may just be good for you. Joining us this week are Dr. Laura Catena, a Harvard and Stanford trained biologist and physician, fourth generation vintner, and the managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata in Argentina; and Dr. Miles Hassell, a specialist in Internal Medicine, the author of Good Food, Great Medicine, and a professor at Pacific University.

Mystery subpoenas hit some of the Napa Valley’s biggest names. Someone claims to have tapped into the zillennial zeitgeist. British Columbia has been frozen out, and Rioja is sounding a bit more charming. These are the wine stories we’re following this week.

Well, move over wine; magic mushrooms are taking over. Israel’s pruning season is in distress. Hay un escándalo en La Rioja. Smoke taint, rose taint, there’s taint, and we’re going to talk about it. These are the four wine stories we’re following this week.

The Pope promotes the heavenly origins of wine. Wine growers worldwide take to their tractors in protest. Oregon keeps booze tax facts under wraps. Southern Glazer’s may have met its match. These are the stories were following this week.

Brutal news from Abruzzo. Winemakers call for cuts thanks to a glut of grapes. AI robots are bringing sexy back. A vintage wine estate seems to be falling apart at the seams. This is the Four Top, and these are the stories we’re following this week.

Drizly is shown the exit. Are large wine pours out the door? The state of the U.S. wine industry is, uh, pretty shitty, actually. Wine is all about explosions and cocaine. These are the wine stories we’re following this week. This week’s episode is brought to you by Josh, Josh, and Josh.

A cultural wrong just got righted in California bars and restaurants. Argentine wine faces the choppy waters of hyperinflation and devaluation. You can get paid for that strip of vineyard land you’re not using. One very rich French family sells an old faithful standby of a wine to another very rich French family. These are the stories we’re following this week.

Restaurants see high demand for low-ABV cocktails. Washington and Colorado wage wine war against California. Scientists declare that beer goggles are not a thing. Just what is the world’s most expensive wine? These are the stories we’re following this week.

“No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” Those words were published by the World Health Organization almost exactly a year ago, and the wine world was not happy. But was that declaration accurate? In Ep. 134, we look at conflicting research, scientific bias, and the centenarians who swear by their daily glass of wine.

We should note that we were going to call this a year-end news roundup, but we’ve decided to phase that out…Get it? It’s a glyphosate joke. Millennials and Gen Z are lost generations. Wine’s most important banks just…stopped. Napa Green showed glyphosate the door. There’s a movie called A Vineyard Christmas and it’s really good *wink*. These are the stories from 2023 that stuck out the most to us.

TikTokers take over a Parisian wine bar. British scam artists face charges in the U.S. Rare wine collections are found under a Times Square TGI Fridays. And should you be perturbed by pesticides in your wine? These are the stories we’re following this week.

Admittedly, that title is misleading, but we do talk AI, T. Swift, AND natural wine in Ep. 131. The Queen Bee of Burgundy has stinging words for natural wine. AI tech authenticates terroir. Are California wineries ready for the CRV fee? And the W.H.O. thinks it can fight death with taxes. These are the four wine news stories we’re following this week.

This week, Martín Reyes, MW is back! In this deep dive episode we get into ingredient labeling, sugar content, sulfites, allergens, health risks, and what winemakers call, “the Death Star.” There’s also a dad joke, and it’s…good?

Crozes-Hermitage gets touchy about temperature, Linfield University’s Wine Studies Program gets a director with hometown roots, there’s real science behind that red wine headache, and impending rules around labeling in the EU are turning those headaches into migraines. These are the stories we’re following this week.

Low-calorie wines see growth while the rest of the industry shrinks, glass bottles are getting slimmer and cleaner, dozens of new Criolla grape varieties are discovered centuries after their ancestors arrived in South America, and Chardonnay, the low-rise jeans of the wine world, is hot once again, to the tune of $400 million. These are the stories we’re following this week.

We’ve got big news: we’re back with a new format! Join us as we break down the four biggest wine news stories of the week and add our own takes. Global wine production has fallen to a 62 year low. Israel’s vineyards report on a war torn harvest. California producers may have dodged carcinogen warnings on their labels, but not for the reason you might think. And Napa wineries claim that wine tasting is a human right?

Here it is, folks; our episode about Roundup…but it’s so much more than that. In Ep. 126. we dive into regenerative agriculture, climate action, and the fight over how to grow grapes on a rapidly changing planet.Rounding out our expertise this week are Dr. Jamie Goode, an award-winning wine journalist, plant biologist, and the author of I Taste Red: The Science of Tasting Wine; and Anna Brittain, the founder and executive director of Napa Green and Napa RISE.

From The Court of Master Sommeliers to vineyards around the world, diversity has become a buzzword, but what does it mean in practice? In Ep. 125 (recorded live at Napa RISE), our guests help us understand how to unravel the wine industry and rework it as an inclusive, inviting space. On the stage with us for this live recording are Philana Bouvier, the president of Demeine Estates and a San Francisco Business Times “Most Influential Women in Business” honoree; and Dr. Akilah Cadet, a Forbes “Next 1000” honoree and the founder and CEO of Change Cadet.

Viticulture is monoculture… but it doesn’t have to be. In Ep. 124, our guests discuss permaculture and natural farming, and so much more. In their quest to capture the past in order to change the future of winegrowing, they will go so far as to introduce genetic diversity from vine to vine.Behind the mics this week are Nate Ready, a former Master Sommelier, and the owner and farmer behind Hiyu Wine Farm; and Randall Grahm, A.K.A. the Rhône Ranger, the founder and vintner of Bonny Doon Vineyard.

Sustainability is a hot topic in wine, but we’re still addicted to carbon-intensive glass bottles. Our guests this week are trying to change that. We’re diving into canned wine, lightweight packaging, and how to wean ourselves off the evil that is styrofoam. Joining us for Ep. 123 are Kristin Olszewski, founder and CEO of Nomadica Wine; and Nicolas Quillé, Chief Winemaking and Operations Officer at Crimson Wine Group and co-author of Understanding Wine Technology, 4th edition.

Historic droughts followed by colossal atmospheric rivers? There’s a term for that: weather whiplash. As wine regions experience the highest highs and lowest lows back-to-back, vineyards are looking for ways to adapt. Our guests on Ep. 122 discuss the future of water use in winegrowing, from gray water to dry farming. Our aqua-experts are Dr. Peter Gleick, a leading water and climate scientist and the co-founder of the Pacific Institute; and Miguel García, PhD., the Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager at the Napa County Resource Conservation District.

Imagine losing out on $120,000 of energy savings just by forgetting to fill out one form. Do we have your attention? Then tune in as our guests share ways for wineries to save, from the simple (LED light bulbs) to the innovative (water batteries?). Increasing efficiency with us on Ep. 121 are Peter Yeung, a wine business consultant and the co-host of the XChateau Wine Podcast; and Will Drayton, the Director of Technical Viticulture and Research Winemaking at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE).

Hello Wine World; we’re back! We kick off The Four Top’s sustainability season with Anna Brittain, executive director of Napa Green and Napa RISE. Anna lays out “the six pillars of sustainability,” sharing anecdotes—we call them “Anna-dotes”—to illustrate each one. Prepare to be surprised by Ep. 120.

Did the ghost of ​​Georges Duboeuf haunt filmmaker Jason Wise this Christmas? Will NBA star-turned TV commentator Channing Frye ever be invited back to Napa? In our final episode of this wine season, we toast the new year with hot takes from two of wine’s wittiest pundits, and add a couple of our own crackpot ideas.Making their opinions known on Ep. 119 are Channing Frye, an NBA Champion and the founder of Chosen Family Wines; and Jason Wise, the filmmaker behind the SOMM documentary series and the streaming platform SOMM TV.

With “cuffing season” upon us, Martin and Katherine talk through their experiences and observations about personal relationships in the wine industry. Is it best to pair up with someone else who understands the wine life, or choose a life partner who hasn’t drunk the (fermented) Kool-Aid?

With unionization in the news (we see you, Amazon, Apple, and Starbucks), we learn about vinetenders who have recently organized, and revisit the long battle farmworkers have waged since being excluded from the National Labor Relations Act in 1935. Why isn’t unionization more prevalent in the wine industry? We discuss in Ep. 117.Our guests this week are Jahdé Marley, a sommelier and the founder of By the Hand; and Miguel Lopez, the co-founder of AHIVOY and the owner of Red Dirt Vineyard Management and Winemaking.

Pearl clutchers be warned: In this special “Two Top” episode, Katherine and Martin gaze at The Four Top’s navel and discuss some contentious questions. Such as: What does The Four Top aim to achieve, and in what ways do we break the rules?

The Four Top is a “Three Top” this week as Martin and Katherine chat with a crypto-curious, VR-visionary wine personality. In Ep. 115, we ask what Web 3.0 is, exactly, and why wine businesses should be planning for it now.Our seer this week is Dan Petroski, a digital futurist and the founder of Massican Winery.

In the first of three holiday bonus episodes, our Four Top becomes a Two Top as Martin and Katherine discuss their desire to find common ground between luxury wine collectors and commodity wine consumers. Whether your bubbles are Krug or Barefoot Moscato, don’t miss this case for kinship.

Is wine writing going the way of coal mining? Writers and critics are struggling to make a living as technology renders traditional journalism increasingly irrelevant. In Ep. 113, we seek advice on how to survive (or even thrive) as a wine writer in an increasingly challenging new-media environment.With us for Ep. 113 are Julia Coney, the renowned wine writer, wine educator, and the founder of Black Wine Professionals; and Karen MacNeil, the James Beard Award-winning author of the bestselling wine compendium The Wine Bible.

When we hear the term “white supremacy,” we think of despicable scumbags in pointed white hoods. But white supremacist culture is lurking right under our noses in the wine world, insidious and omnipresent. In Ep. 112, we explore the subtleties of coded language and implicit bias, and our guests help us move toward making change.Behind the mic for Ep. 112 are Tiquette Bramlett, the president of Compris Vineyard and the founder of Our Legacy Harvested; and Tahiirah Habibi, the founder of the Hue Society and the co-founder of the Roots Fund Initiative.

Dancing, pranks, cooking hacks, and…wine? The oenosphere is discovering the power of TikTok, or “WineTok.” In Ep. 111, we pick up our phones and get scrolling to learn more about what TikTok has to offer the wine world, and vice versa.With us this week are Isis Daniel (@themillennialsomm), a popular TikTok wine educator and Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker; and Amanda McCrossin (@sommvivant), an award-winning sommelier and fellow TikTok wine educator.

We’re joined by two of the most powerful people in wine for Ep. 110, in which we visualize the wine power elite as a pyramid. Also: why you should NEVER throw out those bell bottom jeans, and a hot tip on a zombie wine.Giving us power this week are Annette Alvarez-Peters, the former AVP/GMM of Beverage Alcohol for Costco Wholesale, and a board member of Crimson Wine Group and Wine Unify; and Erica Duecy, the Chief Content Officer at Pix Wine, the former Editor in Chief and Chief Content Officer at VinePair, and the former Vice President and Founding Editor in Chief of SevenFifty Daily.

Why do we use a carbon-intensive, 4,000-year-old technology to package wine? Heavy, fragile, and toxic, glass is ready for a rethink. In Ep. 109 we dig into packaging, supply chains, and the daunting task of reinventing both. Smashing glass with us this week are Melissa Saunders, a Master of Wine, a sustainable wine packaging consultant, the founder of Communal Brands, and the wine director at The Good Goods, a reusable wine bottle startup; and Diana Snowden Seysses, the enologist at Domaine Dujac, a consultant at Domaine de Triennes, and a member of Porto Protocol’s global steering committee.

Is Philippe André the Jason Momoa of Champagne? Is Marissa Ross the David Sedaris of natural wine? Do you agree with Katherine that real winemakers wear muddy Carhartts? We may disagree on some things, but everyone in Ep. 108 agrees: Just put the damn ice cubes in your wine. Keeping us on our toes this week are Philippe André, the U.S. Ambassador at Charles Heidsieck Champagne and the Private Client Director at Folio Fine Wine Partners; and Marissa Ross, a writer, humorist, leisure enthusiast, the author of Wine. All The Time, and the former Wine Editor at Bon Appétit magazine.

Bondage, black sheep, and OPP, oh my! In Ep. 107 we talk irreverent branding, unconventional influences, and drinking wine in…the bathtub? Getting us outside of the box this week are André Mack, owner of Maison Noir Wines, Proprietor and Sommelier at Large at the & Sons Hospitality Group, and an author, sommelier, winemaker, designer, and on-screen talent for Bon Appétit’s YouTube channel; and Jean-Charles Boisset, a vintner and the proprietor of the Boisset Collection.

Turns out the Prohibitionists were alllll right. In Ep. 106, find out why you—yes, you!—likely would have supported the Temperance movement back in 1920, and the lessons that yesteryear’s teetotalers can teach us today. Tackling temperance with us this week are Moira Donegan, a columnist for The Guardian; and Mark Lawrence Schrad, a political science professor at Villanova University and author of Smashing the Liquor Machine, Vodka Politics, and The Political Power of Bad Ideas.

In Ep. 105, crypto meets Bordeaux. How will NFTs change the wine industry, and who will benefit? Solving this crypto puzzle with us are Behdad Shahsavari, co-founder at Club dVIN, an NFT-based wine club; and Mike Juergens, co-owner of SoCal Rum and a senior partner with a Big Four consulting firm, where he works with international wine businesses.

How are Carlo Mondavi and Raj Parr righting the wrongs of industrial agriculture? And, ooh, that tractor. In Ep. 104 we dig into the viticultural movements aiming to avert the apocalypse. Naturally, our guests this week are Carlo Mondavi, the Chief Farming Officer at Monarch Tractor and vintner at RAEN winery; and Rajat Parr, a farmer, winemaker, sommelier, and author who runs Evening Land Vineyards, Sandhi, and Domaine de la Côte.

What do wine critics and superheroes have in common? In Ep. 103 we answer this question, dig into the “bizarre notion of objectivity,” and spill the beans on which wine our critics think is the best kept secret. Critiquing criticism with us today are Eric Asimov, the New York Times wine critic and author of How to Love Wine and Wine with Food; and Jon Bonné, a wine critic, author, and the managing editor of Resy.

Raw, uncomfortable, embarrassed, wounded, defensive, inadequate. These are the feelings many of us experience as we face the wine industry’s most sensitive issues, including sexism, racism, and inequity. To wrap up this season, we invited two activists to give us an assessment of how much progress has been made in recent years, which pain points still exist, and the work that remains to be done. Rania Zayyat is the founder of Lift Collective, an advanced sommelier, and Wine Director of Bufalina Wine and Bufalina Pizza. Miguel de Leon is a writer, podcaster, and advocate for BIPOC professionals in the wine industry; he’s also the Wine Director for Pinch Chinese.

In this bonus episode, Maggie Henriquez, PhD, President and CEO of the prestige Champagne house Krug, joins us for a special interview. Katherine and Maggie discuss the beginnings of Krug and how she navigated the luxury market during the pandemic. We’ll be back next week with our final episode of the season.

In this episode, we hear from two wine-world leaders about their experiences as Indigenous Americans, and the ignorance they must contend with every day, from incorrect old stereotypes about alcohol to the appropriation of Indigenous art and terminology by wine marketers.Our guides in this conversation are Elaine Chukan Brown, a wine writer, Indigenous mentor, educator, and the founder of Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews; and Tara Gomez, winemaker at Kitá Wines and cofounder and cowinemaker at Camins 2 Dreams.

In a time of desperate need, how does it feel to be selling hedonism? Is it possible to find peace and purpose in a career that underscores income inequality? Joining us for this episode are Cristie Norman, President of The United Sommeliers Foundation, Lead Sommelier at the Wynn Resort, Las Vegas, and CEO of the Online Wine Course; and Anna-Christina Cabrales, sommelier, founder of Sommation, and Education and Innovation Manager at Independence Wine & Spirits.

Why does Martin want to “make lighter bottles sexy”? Here are some hints: It has to do with protecting the planet, safeguarding our future, and rethinking the wine business. Get ready to throw your preconceptions and misconceptions onto the compost pile and join us in Ep. 98 for an eye-opening conversation about sustainable winegrowing. Here to help us find a sustainable future are Anna Brittain, a sustainability advocate and Executive Director of Napa Green; and Sandra Taylor, founder and President of Sustainable Business International, Falk Professor of Socially Responsible Business at Chatham University, and founder of Fine Wine Divas.

The stories you don’t hear in wine-education classes or read about in magazines are the most important ones out there. These are the stories of brutality and enslavement in vineyards—practices that continue to this day. Prepare to be shocked, surprised, and enlightened by Episode 97.Our guest Stephen Satterfield, the host of High on the Hog on Netflix, has worked as an activist on behalf of South African vineyard workers. Stephen is also a food writer, sommelier, podcaster, and the founder of Whetstone Media. Deborah Parker Wong is a writer, teacher, wine judge, and the Global Wine Editor of SOMM Journal and The Tasting Panel magazines.

What could possibly be stressful about working with wine? It turns out that a career centered around other peoples’ enjoyment and leisure is anything but relaxing. As news headlines blare dire warnings about “The Great Resignation,” we focus Ep. 96 on why burnout happens in the wine industry, and what can be done about it. Keeping us grounded and healthy this week are Laura Louise Green, a spirits educator, Licensed Professional Counselor, and founder of Healthy Pour; and Rebecca Hopkins, founder of A Balanced Glass, and Vice President of Communications at Folio Fine Wine Partners.

What has the power to transport us through space and time with nothing more than a single sniff? The nose! In Ep. 95 we discuss the ways in which COVID-19 and technological innovations have changed our thinking on smelling. We’ll also explore the nose’s ability to dramatically enhance a whole spectrum of experiences, from our own memory to a glass of wine.Helping us sniff out the truth are Harold McGee, a food science expert and the James Beard Award-winning author of multiple books including Nose Dive; and Dr. Hoby Wedler, an entrepreneur, scientist, and activist.

Is “Natural Wine” a category, a lifestyle, or just a buzz phrase? In Ep. 94 we hear about the Cold War between natural and conventional winemakers, question the possible quackery of so-called clean wines, and more.Our natural wine guides are Esther Mobley, an award-winning journalist and the wine critic at the San Francisco Chronicle; and Amanda Smeltz, a sommelier, poet, the newly-annointed European Portfolio Manager for Coeur Wine Co., and the author of Imperial Bender.

Are social media “vinfluencers” bringing new consumers to wine, or simply devaluing expertise? What does it take to be a successful wine pro in the digital age, and what does authenticity look like in a world of polished Instagram feeds? In Ep. 93 we unpack these thorny questions and more, as we explore the ways social media and online personas have changed and shaped our industry.Influencing The Four Top are Jeff Graham and Mike Matyjewicz, online wine influencers and the founders and personalities behind the Sparkling Winos blog; and Paul Mabray, a wine industry digital futurist, and the CEO of Pix.wine.

What do toilet paper and Bordeaux have in common? Who’s making money in wine these days and how are they doing it? In Ep. 92, we dive into the economics of the wine world. We discuss the various ways the pandemic has upended the industry, and debate what changes might be here to stay.Our team of financial advisors includes Felix Salmon, Chief Financial Correspondent at Axios and host of The Slate Wine Club podcast; and Rob McMillan, Executive Vice President of the Wine Division at Silicon Valley Bank, and author of the annual State of the Wine Industry Report.

Do you remember when massive throngs of people gathered to drink wine together without a second thought? In Ep. 91, we reminisce about our most memorable moments from wine trade shows and consumer fairs with guest panelists Alpana Singh and Stevie Kim. We also discuss the ways in which these mega-events forge connections and propel the industry forward.Meet our panelists: Stevie Kim is an author, podcaster, and the Managing Director of Vinitaly International. Alpana Singh is a former Master Sommelier, entrepreneur, television personality, and the owner of Terra & Vine in Chicago.

This week marks the long-awaited return of The Four Top! Welcome to our new season, with brand new cohost Martin Reyes, MW. In this episode we are joined by Regine Rousseau and Derrick Westbrook to discuss why “traditional” wine pairings (think Champagne & caviar) don’t work, and explore more abstract pairing concepts: Wine with music, poetry, fragrance and… CBD?Guest panelist Regine T. Rousseau is founder and CEO of Shall We Wine and author of Searching for Cloves and Lilies: The Wine Edition. Derrick Westbrook, an accomplished sommelier (and Wine Enthusiast cover model!) is founder of Samples & Samples, and owner of the Chicago wine bar Juice @1340.All sponsorship offers have expired.

In the final installment of our “Best of The Four Top” series, we seek answers to today’s most pressing questions: Can absurd food and drink discussions get our social juices flowing? Can you nourish your relationship through cookery? And what’s it like to be an overnight culinary celebrity? Please enjoy this apropos post-pandemic episode while we record our next season, which will focus on wine!Meet our panelists: Brent Braun is the celebrity sommelier and self-described “wine slob” at OK Omens and Post Familiar Wine. Zach Geballe is the host of the “Vine Pair” podcast, a wine educator, and the founder of Disgorged Wine. Chad Murphy is an assistant professor of management at Oregon State University College of Business and the author of “How to Appear Normal at Social Events,” under his cartoonist pseudonym, Lord Birthday. Ashley Rodriguez is the author of two cookbooks, hosts the Kitchen Unnecessary Podcast, and writes the popular food blog notwithoutsalt.com.

We continue our “Best of The Four Top” series by asking: In what ways are music and wine related? Why are music industry veterans drawn to the wine industry? And why do creators launch “vanity labels,” whether in music or wine? We’re revisiting our conversation about ’80s and ’90s bands, fine wine, and everything in between.Meet our panelists: Courtney Taylor-Taylor is the lead singer, guitarist, and co-founder of The Dandy Warhols, and the owner of our recording venue, the punk-rock-fine-wine bar The Old Portland. Jay Boberg co-founded the seminal 1980s label IRS Records before going on to run MCA/Universal. He’s now the co-owner of Domaine Nicolas-Jay winery. Sheri Hood ran the American branch of the British record label 4AD and managed prominent bands before becoming the proprietor of The Pressing Plant wine label. Katherine Cole is our host.

As congress considers legalizing marijuana nationally, it’s time to revisit our conversation about cannabis in the kitchen. We brought together a renowned cannabis cookbook author, the former editor-in-chief of Fine Cooking magazine, and a libertarian journalist for some serious talk about marijuana’s role in the food world, and how the heck to cook with it (hint: it’s not easy).Our panelists are Jacob Grier, a prominent mixologist who is also a political writer for publications such as The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Daily Beast; Martha Holmberg, CEO emeritus of the International Association of Culinary Professionals; and Laurie Wolf, cannabis cookbook author and owner of Laurie & Mary Jane, a producer of small-batch, cannabis-infused edibles. Our host is Katherine Cole.

We continue our “Best of The Four Top” series with three journalists who have led the call for change through social media and solid journalism while raising the bar for food and beverage writing: Soleil Ho of the San Francisco Chronicle, Khushbu Shah of Food + Wine magazine, and freelance journalist Tammie Teclemariam. We learn about the subtle practices—such as whitewashing recipe titles and pigeonholing people of color—as well as overt pay discrepancies and hostile behavior that created a racist environment within culinary media.

The new year is here, we’re trying to stick to our resolutions, and the USDA has just released a controversial set of new dietary guidelines. So we’re kicking off our “Best of The Four Top” season with DIET LIES. We’re joined by a journalist who uncovered the fact that USDA food pyramids were actually making us fatter, a longevity doctor whose diet might just save your life, and a salumist whose cured meats could—yes!—be the key to good health.In short, everything we thought we knew about nutrition was wrong. Listen in as Nina Teicholz, Dr. Miles Hassell, and Elias Cairo of Olympia Provisions tell us why a salami a day might just keep the doctor away, and politics should stay out of science.

The Court of Master Sommeliers, an elite and exclusive group of wine professionals, faces accusations of sexual harassment and assault, and reports of fostering a culture of racism. Our panelists discuss. Next, our guests examine the ways in which the culture of wine has changed recently, and the work required to further propel the industry forward.Our panelists are Julia Coney, contributing editor at VinePair and founder of Black Wine Professionals; Julia Moskin, food and dining reporter for The New York Times; and Martin Reyes, the world’s first Master of Wine of Mexican descent, founder of Reyes Wine Group, and cofounder of Wine Unify Our host is Katherine Cole. This episode was recorded remotely in locations across the United States. Stay safe out there.

Our table for four turns into a table for seven this month as Katherine moderates the first-ever Celebrating Hispanic Roots, a discussion about Hispanic heritage in the wine industry. Six dynamic Hispanic winemakers join Katherine to talk about diversity, their passion for winemaking, and the challenges faced by the Spanish-speaking vineyard workforce.Thank you to Ximena Orrego of Atticus Wine, Carla Rodriguez of Beacon Hill, Sofía Torres-McKay of Cramoisi Vineyard, Cristina Gonzales of Gonzales Wine Company, Sam Parra of Parra Wine Company, and J.P. Valot of Valcan Cellars. Visit the Celebrating Hispanic Roots website to learn how you can support each participating winery.

It has been an incredibly challenging year for all of us, but no group of people has been put at greater risk this fall than agricultural workers. Vanessa García Polenco, Reyna Lopez, and Somini Sengupta join Katherine Cole to discuss how wildfires, superstorms, and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the lives of agricultural workers who are essential to putting food on our table.

How did McDonald’s come to play a defining role in Black American history? And should society judge individuals on the basis of the foods they eat? Historian Marcia Chatelain, author and columnist Roxane Gay, and Memphis-based health advocate Whitney Trotter discuss.

As confederate statues have fallen in 2020, so, too, has racist and inequitable leadership within the food media establishment. We speak with three journalists who have led the call for change while raising the bar for food and beverage writing: Soleil Ho, Khushbu Shah, and Tammie Teclemariam.

What are some of the most memorable food moments in film and fiction? Food journalist Nikita Richardson, YouTube phenom Andrew Rea (“Binging with Babish”) and historical-fiction author Crystal King fill us up with food-centric watching and reading recommendations.

How has COVID-19 changed the public’s perception of veganism? Why is the “Black Veganism” movement gaining traction right now? And how are vegans navigating the world differently in 2020? The Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter, Talia Pollock, and Waz Wu bring us up to speed on veganism’s new guard.

What explains the high infection rate of COVID-19 among food-processing workers? Do Americans have a new understanding of food insecurity? And what is “corona-conscious eating”? Elle Simone Scott, Dr. Don Schaffner and Sophie Egan fill us in.

Who are the new culinary entrepreneurs of the COVID-19 quarantine? The innovators who are bringing foods from farms to doorsteps, sending exotic ingredients across the country, and connecting families through cooking. Our guests are Julia Niiro, Ted Farthing, and Kelly Montoya.

Everything we thought we knew about nutrition was wrong. According to journalist Nina Teicholz, Dr. Miles Hassell, and salumist Elias Cairo, a salami a day might just keep the doctor away.

In this special episode, Carrie Welch, Vitaly Paley, and Heather Kintler discuss the profound impact that COVID-19 has had on their businesses.

Is foraging the new farming? How will Gen Z change the food industry? And how will a cutting-edge grocery chain change the health industry? Panelists Rowan Jacobsen, Jen Bryman and Fernando Divina discuss.

Meet women who are changing the wine industry, at the Assemblage Symposium, recorded live.

A prominent journalist discusses free speech and food culture.

Have you tried the Japanese breakfast food that’s as sticky as chewing gum and “smells like stinky feet”? Meet nattō.

What do Americans get wrong about Japanese flavors? Is it difficult for females to make it as professional Japanese chefs? And is Japanese cuisine bolstered by deep philosophical underpinnings?

A master cook-turned munchie maker spills on what it’s like behind the camera at Vice Media.

In this special episode, Ed Levine, founder of Serious Eats and author of the new book Serious Eater, joins James Beard Award–winning author J. Kenji López-Alt at Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon.

What is it like to slaughter an animal? Could grass-fed meat be part of a sustainable “vegetarian” diet? And what’s the “mature beef” movement?

In what ways are music and wine closely related? Why are a rock star and a couple of former record execs in the wine industry? And why do creators launch “vanity labels,” whether in music or wine?What happens when a rock star and two former record execs sit down together to talk wine and music? Behold Episode 65 of “The Four Top,” in which our panelists discuss ’80s and ’90s bands, fine wine and everything in between.

What’s up with the new wave of faux junk food made from nutritious ingredients? Are you surprised by the latest savory flavor sensations? And are snacks poised to displace meals?

Meet the secret worldwide society of seltzer aficionados. Next, the “sober-curious” trend is spawning a new generation of high-end mixologists. And finally, canned beverages are here to stay.

What does the term “American Food” mean today? How should we reframe our conversations about Mexican, and Mexican-American, cuisines? And is the American family dinner imperiled?

What are the emotional repercussions for those who lose the ability to eat and feed themselves? How has a one-handed cook used YouTube to build an international community? And how are modern innovations redefining cooking for people with less mobility?

In Ep. 60, we sit down with women leading the charge in the beverage industry. First, meet the efficient, crowd-pleasing batch cocktail, the contemporary craft take on the punches of yesteryear. Next, how much hard work does it take to build community through a passion for beverages? And our insiders discuss the pervasive skepticism and misogyny women face in the male-dominated drinks industry.Episode 60 of “The Four Top” is online from May 6.

We’re going free in Ep. 59. First: Forget those rubbery dairy-free cheeses from the grocery store and meet the new flavorful artisan alternatives. Next, how compelling is the case against sugar cane, and which of the dizzying array of alternatives is b…

In our “feast for the senses” episode, we explore how sensory stimulation affects our food and beverage experiences. First, the music you hear in restaurants and grocery stores has changed significantly over the past decade. Next, as recreational marij…

Pescetarianism is the world’s fastest-growing diet. Can the planet’s oceans handle this shift? And should we be concerned about where our salt is sourced from? Finally, let’s get to know sake, the misunderstood Japanese rice wine.

What’s the big deal about Olympia Oysters? And what will the future look like when fish are no longer harvested from the wild? Finally, practitioners of one of the world’s most dangerous careers — crabbing — are fighting Big Oil to save their jobs and the planet. Episode 56 of “The Four Top” is online from Jan. 7.

While doctors deem the veggie-heavy, whole-grain Mediterranean diet as a long-term lifesavers, athletes still carbo load on refined grains. How can these two philosophies coexist? And should we be suspicious of grab-and-go protein bars? Finally, it mig…

Behold the beet. What makes this curious root vegetable so unique? Will science end the practice of planting crops annually? And how does the U.S.’s every-growing American agriculture industry impact the rest of the world? Listen to Episode 54 from Nov. 5, 2018.

What’s it like to suddenly find yourself a celebrity in the wine or culinary world? What sorts of meals should you cook your boo to nourish your relationship? And how can you use food and drink to kickstart party conversations?