Master of Wine Lisa Perrotti-Brown returns to the Vint Wine Podcast with a new chapter in her career. Known for her influential tenure as Editor-in-Chief of The Wine Advocate and decades of reviewing top estates across Bordeaux, Napa, Australia, and New Zealand, Lisa has long blended deep technical expertise with approachable, consumer-focused insight.

After co-founding The Wine Independent, she’s now launched TheWinePalate.com, a modern, data-driven platform built to personalize wine discovery. Her mission: make it easier for drinkers to find wines that truly match their preferences, with clarity, transparency, and far more than just a score.

Before diving in, host Billy Galanko recaps a big wine week in Los Angeles, from a Wines of Hungary seminar with John Szabo MS to La Fête du Champagne with Peter Liem and some of Champagne’s most exciting growers and houses.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Lisa’s global wine journey shaped her approach to modern criticism
• Why traditional tasting notes and scores fall short for today’s drinkers
• How The Wine Palate’s Palate Matcher uses 25+ sensory and structural filters
• Why faults (brett, oxidation, smoke) should be searchable
• The importance of winery stories, vintage reports, and editorial context
• Lisa’s take on orange wines, climate change, and the evolution of “fine wine”
• Early thoughts on recent Napa and Bordeaux releases

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to the Vint Wine Podcast
00:23 Introducing Lisa Perrotti-Brown
01:02 Billy's Wine Adventures
01:58 Champagne Tasting Highlights
04:55 Lisa's Journey in the Wine Industry
07:09 The Wine Palate: A New Era in Wine Criticism
26:42 The Importance of Wine Filters
27:10 Meet the Wine Review Team
28:06 Exploring Orange Wines
30:14 The Role of Wine Critics
33:34 Vintage Reports and Editorials
38:13 The Future of Fine Wine
41:23 Wine Tasting Process Revealed
48:45 Recent Vintages in Bordeaux and Napa
50:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!

In this episode of Five Questions, host Billy Galanko sits down with one of the most influential and trusted voices in the modern wine world: Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, former Editor-in-Chief of Robert Parker Wine Advocate and founder of the newly launched TheWinePalate.com, a platform designed to help drinkers find wines that truly match their personal palate.

In this quick, high-impact conversation, Lisa shares her perspective on the rapidly evolving wine landscape, why communication is the industry’s biggest challenge, the emerging regions drinkers should be paying attention to, and why stylistic “wine tribes” do more harm than good. She also discusses a sobering recent experience that underscored the challenges facing Bordeaux and the wider wine world.

Whether you're a collector, a casual drinker, or wine-curious, this episode offers clarity, candor, and grounded insight from one of the industry’s most respected critics.

What You’ll Learn

• How Lisa thinks about her role as a critic and consumer guide
• Why wine must evolve its communication tools to stay relevant in an AI-driven world
• The regions and subregions worth exploring next, from the West Sonoma Coast to Georgia
• Why she rejects wine “gatekeeping” and embraces stylistic diversity
• What the 2024 Bordeaux en primeur season revealed about the industry’s challenges

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Vint Wine Podcast
00:19 Welcome to Five Questions
00:44 Interview with Lisa Perrotti-Brown
00:51 Lisa's Role in the Wine Industry
01:24 Current Issues in the Wine World
03:03 Underrated Wine Regions
04:29 Wine Trends Lisa Dislikes
05:36 Memorable Wine Experiences
07:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!

Few wines capture Tuscany’s essence like Brunello di Montalcino, and few estates embody its heritage like Il Poggione. In this episode, winemaker Alessandro Bindocci joins Billy Galanko to explore what makes this corner of southern Tuscany one of the most fascinating wine regions on earth.

From four generations of family stewardship to the estate’s modern sustainability drive, Alessandro takes us inside Il Poggione’s vineyards and cellars to reveal how classic Sangiovese becomes one of Italy’s most age-worthy wines. We unpack everything from clonal selection, elevation, and soil types to submerged-cap fermentation, large oak aging, and the fine line between structure and elegance that defines great Brunello.

Billy also shares new updates on the future of the Vint Wine Podcast, including an upcoming rebrand, a dedicated website, and expanded YouTube content featuring winemakers, critics, and regions shaping today’s global wine culture.

What you’ll learn

• How Il Poggione preserves a century-old Brunello identity while embracing organic certification and solar-powered sustainability.
• Why Montalcino’s Mount Amiata, Tyrrhenian breezes, and forest biodiversity are critical to balance and longevity.
• The impact of submerged-cap fermentation on tannin refinement and color depth.
• How large French oak casks (3,000–5,000 L) keep Sangiovese pure, while selective barrique aging adds finesse.
• Vintage takeaways: 2019 classic and firm, 2020 open-knit and supple, 2025 shaping up as a potential benchmark year.
• A tasting roadmap through Il Poggione’s range, from Rosato Toscana to the iconic BdM Riserva Vigna Paganelli.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Vint Wine Podcast
00:55 Exciting Podcast Updates
02:04 Meet Alessandro Bindocci of Il Poggione
02:42 Exploring Il Poggione’s Wine Range
08:16 A Family Legacy in Winemaking
13:40 The Unique Terroir of Montalcino
19:57 Organic and Sustainable Practices
25:22 Innovation and Winemaking Philosophy
27:57 Submerged-Cap Fermentation Explained
30:22 The Role of Oak in Aging
32:40 Indigenous Yeast and Fermentation
33:56 Vintage Deep Dive: 2019, 2020, and 2025
41:11 Rosso vs. Toscana — Two Expressions of Sangiovese
47:42 The Evolution and Future of Il Poggione
50:42 Closing Thoughts and Cheers

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!

In this episode of Five Questions, Billy sits down with Alessandro Bindocci, winemaker at Il Poggione, one of Montalcino’s founding estates and a benchmark producer of Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino.

From the estate’s roots as a working Tuscan farm to its massage-selection Sangiovese vineyards, Alessandro shares how Il Poggione balances deep tradition with innovation in the cellar. He discusses the influence of Barolo on his winemaking, the adoption of submerged-cap fermentation, the vintages that shaped his career, and Il Poggione’s ongoing organic efforts.

🔑 Episode Highlights

• The history and philosophy of Il Poggione
• Sangiovese and the terroir of southern Montalcino
• Lessons from Barolo and the submerged-cap technique
• Memorable vintages: 1955, 2006, and 2010
• The future of Il Poggione: sustainability and organic farming

🕒 Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Vint Wine Podcast
00:19 Welcome to Five Questions
00:44 Meet Alessandro Bindocci
00:54 Vineyards and Varieties
01:41 About Il Poggione Winery
02:31 Inspirations and Techniques
04:03 Memorable Vintages
05:08 The Road Ahead for Il Poggione
05:48 Closing

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!

Episode Description (Apple & Spotify)

Volcanic wines are among the most distinctive on earth, and no one unpacks their character quite like John Szabo, MS. Author of Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and Power, critic at WineAlign, and long-time explorer of lava-born terroirs, John covers what makes a wine “volcanic,” why these bottles often taste more savory and saline than fruity, how regions like Santorini, Etna, Washington, Oregon, Lake County, Moon Mountain, and Tokaj fit into the picture, and where to hunt for compelling bottles now. We also discuss Santorini’s drought/over-tourism pressure, a new Volcanic Origin certification, and the rise of dry Furmint from Hungary.

🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways

• Volcanic Wines 101: what counts, where to find them, and common sensory markers (think savory, mineral-tinged, often salty).
• Santorini now: drought, tourism pressure, sky-high grape costs, and irrigation/desalination plans.
• Certification: how a new Volcanic Origin seal verifies geology (authenticity, not quality).
• Hungary beyond Tokaj sweet wines: stellar dry Furmint/Hárslevelű, plus surprising reds on extinct volcanic hills near Lake Balaton.
• US hotspots: Columbia River Basalts (WA), Dundee Hills/Jory (OR), Lake County, Moon Mountain & hill zones of Napa/Sonoma, plus Sierra Foothills.
• Tasting through lines: volcanic sites often push wines toward a peppery, stony, botanical, saline profile versus overt fruit.

⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Vint Wine Podcast
00:19 - Meet John Szabo: Volcanic Wine Expert
01:22 - The Rise of Volcanic Wines
09:35 - Challenges in Volcanic Wine Regions
13:56 - Volcanic Wine Characteristics and Certification
24:12 - Exploring Hungary's Volcanic Wines
25:24 - The Rise of Dry Hungarian Wines
30:34 - Volcanic Wine Awards and Global Interest
33:09 - Volcanic Wines in the US
40:04 - Volcanic Wine Regions Around the World

🗺️ Mentioned

• Book: Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and Power by John Szabo, MS (print returning; digital edition planned)

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!

In this episode of Five Questions, Billy sits down with John Szabo, Master Sommelier, author, and volcanic wine expert, to discuss his journey from restaurant kitchens to becoming one of Canada’s most respected wine writers and educators.

John shares insights from his decades exploring global wine culture, from his work co-founding Volcanic Wines International to his advocacy for sustainability and regenerative farming. He highlights the rise of Canadian wines, the rediscovery of Hungary’s historic regions, and the enduring fascination with volcanic terroirs. John also challenges the “clean wine” marketing trend and shares a powerful story from Italy’s volcanic heartland.

🔑 Episode Highlights

• John’s path from chef to Master Sommelier and wine writer
• The origins and mission of Volcanic Wines International
• Why climate change and regenerative agriculture define fine wine’s future
• Canada and Hungary’s most exciting regions and grape varieties
• The myth of “clean wine” and the importance of authenticity
• Life, risk, and beauty in Campania’s volcanic vineyards

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Vint Wine Podcast
00:19 Welcome to Five Questions
00:44 Meet John Szabo
00:51 John’s Journey in the Wine Industry
01:49 Volcanic Wine Expertise
02:43 Climate Change and Sustainability in Wine
04:23 Canadian and Hungarian Wine Regions
08:52 The Clean Wine Movement Debate
10:49 Volcanic Wines and Human Cost
13:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!

Cork Supply founder & CEO Jochen Michalski joins Billy Galanko to unpack 40+ years of cork innovation, how the industry tackled TCA (cork taint), why oxygen transmission matters, and when to choose natural, technical, synthetic, or screwcap. Jochen explains Legacy (Cork Supply’s premium natural cork) and its X100 imaging, AI-assisted electromagnetic scanning that screens individual corks for TCA and internal structural risks to reduce bottle-to-bottle variation. We also dig into manufacturing, QC, climate impacts on cork forests, and why consumers still equate cork with quality.

What you’ll learn

• How TCA went from industry crisis to near-zero—and what “1 ppt” really means.
• Natural vs. technical corks: ideal use-cases and aging implications.
• Why oxygen control is central to wine development and consistency.
• How X100 imaging + sensory panels power Legacy’s screening.
• How bottle neck shapes, cork length, and bottling lines affect sealing.
• Forestry, climate, and the future of sustainable cork.

Timestamps (Optimized)

00:00 Welcome to the Vint Wine Podcast
00:23 Introducing Jochen Michalski and Cork Supply
05:31 Jochen’s Early Life and Career
07:43 Starting Cork Supply in California
13:28 Challenges and Successes in the Cork Industry
25:02 Innovations and the Future of Cork
26:54 Screening Corks for TCA
27:40 Sensory Analysis vs. Technology
29:13 Electromagnetic Imaging and AI
32:18 Legacy Cork and Market Trends
34:21 Technical Corks and Market Shifts
38:21 Impact of Climate Change on Cork Forests
40:01 Innovations in Cork Harvesting
41:15 Global Market Dynamics
43:10 Consumer Perception and Cork Quality
49:03 Future Prospects and New Markets

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!

In this episode of Five Questions, Billy sits down with Jochen Michalski, Founder and CEO of Cork Supply, one of the world’s leading suppliers of premium natural corks, barrels, and closures to wineries around the globe.

From founding the company in California in 1981 to expanding across Europe, Australia, and South Africa, Jochen shares insights from over four decades at the intersection of craftsmanship, sustainability, and innovation. He discusses the future of cork, the challenge of declining wine consumption, and why he believes de-alcoholized wines miss the mark, plus, a memorable (and very expensive) wine experience in the Maldives.

🔑 Episode Highlights

• The founding and global growth of Cork Supply
• Sustainability and the remarkable life cycle of natural cork
• The biggest issue facing the wine industry today: consumption
• Why Jochen isn’t convinced by de-alcoholized wines
• A surprising $2,500 wine story from the Maldives

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction to Vint Wine Podcast
00:19 — Welcome to Five Questions
00:44 — Interview with Jochen Michalski Begins
00:52 — Jochen’s Role in the Wine Industry
02:08 — Biggest Issue Facing the Wine World
03:15 — The Truth About Natural Corks
04:38 — Dislike for De-Alcoholized Wines
05:53 — A Memorable Wine Experience
08:20 — Conclusion and Thanks

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!