Wine Spectator's Straight Talk
Wine Spectator's Straight Talk is a podcast hosted by James Molesworth that features interviews with some of the biggest names in winemaking. Each episode also includes coverage of the latest wine news, trends, and upcoming events from Wine Spectator's editors. Occasionally, the show may feature a visit from Dr. Vinny, adding a fun and educational twist. Listeners are invited to pop a bottle and join the conversation.
Episodes
Episode 35: Sashi Moorman and All Things Pinot Noir
Wine is always changing, and few people are thinking about that evolution more deeply than Sashi Moorman, the winemaker behind Domaine de la Côte in Santa Barbara County.This episode of Wine Spectator’s Straight Talk features host James Molesworth in conversation with Moorman about his path from cooking to winemaking, the development of Domaine de la Côte and how his thinking about making Pinot No
34: Cindy Pawlcyn on Defining Napa Valley Cuisine
Very few chefs have shaped Napa Valley dining quite like Cindy Pawlcyn. Over a career spanning more than four decades, the chef and restaurateur behind Mustards Grill, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen and numerous other Bay Area restaurants has helped define what wine country cuisine is today.Pawlcyn joins Wine Spectator Napa Bureau Chief MaryAnn Worobiec to discuss her Midwestern upbringing, launching
33: Sam Kaplan’s Moment
Napa Valley-based winemaker Sam Kaplan might just be having a moment these days as his Memento Mori, Vida Valiente, Arkenstone and Maxem projects are enjoying notable success despite the wine world’s current headwinds. And that’s not all he’s up to.Kaplan joined host James Molesworth in Wine Spectator's Napa studio to talk about his path to wine, including a childhood spent with some grapevines pl
32: Drops of God's Fleur Geffrier
Drops of God, the Apple TV series about a quest to identify some of the world’s rarest wines, won the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series this past year, and season 2 debuts Jan. 21. One of the show’s biggest stars, French actress Fleur Geffrier, joined host James Molesworth in Wine Spectator's New York studio to talk about the show and how it has impacted her personal relationship with
31: The Top 10 Wines of 2025, and the Man Behind No. 1
It's time to count down Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2025! And we're talking to the man behind our 2025 Wine of the Year—both before and after he heard the big news.Join host James Molesworth and director Rob Taylor as they reveal the most exciting wines of 2025, and then Château Giscoirs' Alexander Van Beek joins the program to talk about his life in wine, and then tell us what it was like to
30: It's Not About Michael Silacci. It's About Opus One
Few California wineries can match Opus One for global prestige. A famous partnership between Napa's Robert Mondavi and Bordeaux's Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the winery is still making elite Cabernets long after its founders' passing, thanks in large part to one man whose name you might not know: Michael Silacci.Silacci has guided Opus One for more than two decades, and his résumé lists a Who's
29: Christian Seely and the '61 Palmer to Go
He's the man behind some of the most prestigious names in wine, including Bordeaux's Pichon Baron and Portugal's Quinta do Noval, and now AXA Millésimes managing director Christian Seely is behind the mic on the newest episode of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast. "People do not drink Château Pichon because they're trying to get the alcohol content," Seely tells Straight Talk host James
28: Growing Up Kistler … And Coming Home to Occidental
Occidental winemaker Catherine Kistler grew up with an in-house wine legend: California Chardonnay icon, and also her dad, Steve. But Catherine came home to make Pinot Noir in 2017, and they landed at No. 2 on Wine Spectator’s 2023 Top 10 Wines of the Year. “In California we’re always self-conscious of being young compared to the Old World,” she tells host James Molesworth. “And to have the o
27: Counting Down the Top 10 Wines of 2024
It's our season 2 finale and we're counting down Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2024!But before James reveals this year's 10 most exciting wines, including Wine Spectator's 2024 Wine of the Year, we're taking a look at the economic state of the U.S. wine market with longtime industry insider Rocco Lombardo, president of Wilson Daniels, and our very own senior editor for news Mitch Frank.And don'
26: Harvest Reality Check with Thomas Rivers Brown
Napa Valley is in the thick of harvest 2024, the busiest time of year in wine country, and Napa Cabernet superstar Thomas Rivers Brown took a break to tell us about the realities of harvest season—hope you like cleaning!—as well as his “Ziploc baggy mini-maceration method” for deciding when a vineyard is ready to be picked.Plus, Wine Spectator’s Dr. Vinny joins the program for a “sweet” harvest vo
25: Crushing It Softly at Kistler Vineyards
When it comes to California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, few names command as much respect as Sonoma's Kistler Vineyards. Kistler president and winemaker Jason Kesner joined Straight Talk host James Molesworth to tell us about growing up in the Napa wine industry—including where Robert Mondavi bought the weekly staff donuts—and how he strives to do a little bit less in the vineyard and winery with e
24: Chef Daniel Boulud on Legacy, 'The Bear' and Being an American
Straight from the cover of Wine Spectator and the season 3 premiere of hit TV series The Bear, legendary chef Daniel Boulud invites us into the Daniel dining room for an exclusive interview about what it means to be a chef today, his legacy of mentorship and why his next restaurant will reflect a shift in allegiance since becoming a U.S. citizen in 2021: "I finally became American. I always felt l
23: Farming 'Promiscuously' with Napa's Meghan Zobeck
A few days after winemaker Meghan Zobeck started her new job at Napa's historic Burgess Cellars, the winery burned down in the 2020 wildfires. With the help of owner Gaylon Lawrence and CEO Carlton McCoy, not only did Burgess bounce back, but Zobeck's followup 2021 Cabernets are outstanding. She tells us about her journey from the NFL to Chile's Clos Apalta to Michel Rolland's team in France to Ca
22: Patz & Hall's James Hall Buys It Back
Patz & Hall co-founder James Hall is still pinching himself: After selling the iconic California Chardonnay brand in 2016, Hall was able to buy it back earlier this year. He tells us how he did it, and then takes us all the way back to landing his first winery gig in Napa … by pretending he could speak Italian?!Straight Talk host James Molesworth also welcomes Wine Spectator senior editors Mar
21: Salvestrin's Natalie Winkler, Plus … the World's Strongest Wine Thieves?
Salvestrin Family winemaker Natalie Winkler struck a chord when the 2018 Salvestrin Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon earned a spot among Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2021. But it all started with a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir …Winkler represents a new breed of California wine pros specializing not just in winemaking or vineyard management, but in both, and she tel
20: The Blocking and Tackling of Wine with Dan Petroski
Winemaker Dan Petroski made news when he sold his boutique California white wine brand Massican to Gallo late last year. But that was just the latest step on a wine journey that started ignominiously as a Columbia University football player and began in earnest a decade later after an eye-opening dinner at Le Bernardin in New York. Petroski went on to become cellarmaster at Larkmead, where he work
19: Paul Hobbs on Making Opus One, a South American (Mis)Adventure … and Dixie Cup Yquem?!
From his teetotaling childhood home to Opus One's debut vintage to putting Argentine Malbec on the map, winemaker Paul Hobbs opens up to host James Molesworth about his career-defining moments with candid humor and insightful analysis in the season 2 premiere of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast!Plus, senior editor for news Mitch Frank tells us about a government study that recently
18: Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wines of 2023 and Year in Review
It's our season 1 finale and our year-end roundup of the most exciting wines of the year! In this episode, host James Molesworth is joined by senior editor Bruce Sanderson, counting down our Top 10 Wines of the Year, including an exclusive interview with the man behind our 2023 Wine of the Year! Plus, senior editor for news Mitch Frank tells us about the biggest stories of the year, we rememb
17: Bernard Arnault and Holiday Champagnes
What's in the cellar of the world's second-richest man? Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank tells us all about LVMH founder, chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, the man behind not just fashion house Louis Vuitton and the Möet & Chandon Champagne house (including Dom Pérignon), but also brands like Dior, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Hublot, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and many more,
Bonus Mini Episode: Dr. Vinny's Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Tips
What wine pairs best with turkey and sides? Straight Talk podcast director Rob Taylor made an emergency appointment with Wine Spectator advice columnist Dr. Vinny (aka senior editor MaryAnn Worobiec) for some tips on Thanksgiving wine pairing, including pumpkin pie! And don't miss Episode 16: Wine Spectator's New York Wine Experience with Chefs José Andrés, Emeril Lagasse and Eric Ripert
16: The 2023 Wine Experience with Chefs José Andrés, Emeril Lagasse and Eric Ripert
We're live at Wine Spectator's New York Wine Experience in this special episode of Straight Talk with host James Molesworth. He's joined by senior editor for news Mitch Frank, podcast director Rob Taylor and a cast of wine and restaurant industry all-stars that includes chefs José Andrés, Emeril Lagasse and Eric Ripert, Hollywood legend Rich Frank, Tribeca Grill wine director David
15: The Chuck Wagner Interview with Marvin R. Shanken, Plus California Cabernet with Maya Dalla Valle
Don't miss this Straight Talk podcast exclusive: Never-before-heard highlights from Wine Spectator editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken's one-on-one interview with Napa Cabernet legend Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards. Host James Molesworth also welcomes Napa winemaker Maya Dalla Valle to the studio.Later in the episode, our wine advice columnist Dr. Vinny addresses the old adage that
Bonus Episode: The Maya Dalla Valle Interview
Episode 15 of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast is all about California Cabernet, and host James Molesworth's interview with Napa winemaker Maya Dalla Valle was too fun not to share the whole thing.Enjoy the full, uncut Dalla Valle interview, and don't forget to listen to Episode 15 of Straight Talk for our exclusive interview between Wine Spectator editor and publisher Marvin
14: Sarah Jessica Parker's New Zealand Wine Journey
We're welcoming the one and only Sarah Jessica Parker in this episode of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast. If you only know her as an award-winning actress and producer, let us show you her winemaking side! Host James Molesworth welcomes back senior editor MaryAnn Worobiec for a look at the New Zealand wine scene, and senior editor Bruce Sanderson tells us what to look for from T
13: Whisky for Wine Lovers with Jonny McCormick
We're detouring to Scotland for a look at our Oct. 15 issue cover story: Whisky for Wine Lovers. In episode 13 of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast, host James Molesworth welcomes back Wine Spectator executive editor Jeffery Lindenmuth, along with Whisky Advocate senior taster Jonny McCormick, for a lively discussion on how and why whisky holds such a strong appeal for wine lovers.
Bonus Episode: The Greg Brewer Interview
Episode 12 of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast is all about California Pinot Noir, and host James Molesworth's interview with Santa Barbara Pinot Noir star Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton was too fun not to share the whole thing.Enjoy the full, uncut Brewer interview, and don't forget to listen to Episode 12 of Straight Talk for James' interview with Sonoma winemaking lege
12: California Pinot Noir All-Stars Mark Aubert and Greg Brewer
California Pinot Noir is the star of the show in episode 12 of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast. Host James Molesworth welcomes Sonoma winemaking legend Mark Aubert and Santa Barbara Pinot Noir star Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton.Later in the episode, our wine advice columnist Dr. Vinny explains vine clones, and stay tuned til the end for James' sneak peek wine pick!Thirsty for mo
11: 2023 Restaurant Awards with Thomas Keller
We're celebrating our annual Restaurant Awards with an exclusive interview with chef Thomas Keller and Wine Spectator executive editor Jeffery Lindenmuth. Straight Talk host James Molesworth also welcomes senior editor for news Mitch Frank to catch us up on the latest dining trends. Later in the episode, our wine advice columnist Dr. Vinny explains the dos and don'ts of bringing wine to
10: California Chardonnay All-Stars with Larry and Chris Hyde
We're welcoming summer with wall-to-wall California Chardonnay! Straight Talk host James Molesworth welcomes senior editor MaryAnn Worobiec and an all-star cast of winemakers and grapegrowers, including Larry and Chris Hyde, Kistler's Jason Kesner and Arista and Ferren's Matt Courtney.Later in the episode, our wine advice columnist Dr. Vinny walks us through some dinner party etique
9: 2022 Bordeaux Preview and Pinot Pioneer Tony Soter
Is the 2022 Bordeaux hype for real? Straight Talk host James Molesworth just returned from the Médoc, where he tasted hundreds of these young wines; don't miss his take on this highly regarded new vintage. Plus, senior editor for news Mitch Frank introduces us to Auberge Resorts Collection CEO Craig Reid, and legendary California and Oregon Pinot Noir pioneer Tony Soter chats with senior edit
8: Kings of France with Aubert De Villaine, Gérard Bertrand and Tony Parker
Burgundy's legendary Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti joins us for an exclusive rare interview covering his auction-darling Pinot Noirs, his first encounter with Robert Mondavi, and his role in the 1976 Paris Tasting. Plus, southern France wine star Gérard Bertrand and NBA Hall of Famer turned (multiple) winery owner Tony Parker.Straight Talk host James Molesworth is joined b
7: Wine & Wellness with Marcus Samuelsson
How do some of the world's most successful chefs, somms and winemakers balance wine and health? Red Rooster chef-owner Marcus Samuelsson and Frasca somm-owner Bobby Stuckey join the latest episode of Straight Talk to share how they keep perspective—and how they keep fit.Host James Molesworth and Wine Spectator senior editor Kristen Bieler take a closer look at our Wine & Wellness cover st
6: Bordeaux, Napa and the Future of Wine with Dan Petroski, Nicolas Glumineau and Mathieu Chadronnier
Napa Valley winemaking iconoclast and Massican winery founder Dan Petroski pulls no punches in this hard look at the wine industry’s newest obstacles and trends. Host James Molesworth and Wine Spectator contributing editor Suzanne Mustacich look at the 2020 Bordeaux vintage and speak with Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande director Nicolas Glumineau and CVBG president Mathieu Chadronni
5: The Rhône, Port and Our Value Wine of the Year with Philippe Guigal, Adrian Bridge and Rupert Symington
Straight Talk kicks off 2023 with a star-studded trip to France's Rhône Valley, a closer look at Port with two of the region's biggest names, and we reveal Wine Spectator’s Value Wine of the Year for 2022. Host James Molesworth and senior editor Kristen Bieler share tales of their recent trip to France's Rhône Valley, and we're joined in the studio by Philippe Guigal to talk re
4: The Top 100 Wines of 2022
It's our year-end roundup of the most exciting wines of the year! In this episode, Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth is joined by senior editor Bruce Sanderson, counting down our Top 10 Wines of the Year and much more! The winemaker behind our Wine of the Year joins us to share how he found out they'd won … and what happened next. Plus senior editor for news Mitch Frank tells us about th
3. Champagne for the Holidays with Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon and Alexandre Chartogne
Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth is poppin' off with a Champagne spectacular in this episode of Straight Talk. He's joined by Wine Spectator's lead taster for Champagne, senior editor Alison Napjus, and a wide-ranging lineup of sparkling wine stars headlined by Roederer's Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, maker of Cristal. We’re also joined by grower Champagne star Alexandre Chartogne
2: The Robert Mondavi Legacy with Tim Mondavi and Paul Hobbs
Host James Molesworth takes us on a deep dive into the Robert Mondavi legacy, with exclusive interviews with Wine Spectator editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken, Continuum Estate co-founder and Robert's son Tim Mondavi, international winemaking star and Mondavi winery alum Paul Hobbs, Mount Veeder winery founders and former Mondavi winery tour guides Arlene and Michael Bernstein, and Robert
1: Napa Cabernet All-Stars with Thomas Rivers Brown, Helen Keplinger and Andy Erickson
In the debut episode of Wine Spectator’s Straight Talk podcast, James Molesworth hosts an exclusive roundtable discussion with three of Napa Valley’s most in-demand winemakers: Thomas Rivers Brown of Schrader Cellars and Rivers Marie, Andy Erickson of Favia, Mayacamas and the new To Kalon Vineyard Co., and Helen Keplinger of Grace Family, her Keplinger label and others. Plus, we check in with news
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