In The Drink

Co-founder of Best Cellars, Joshua Wesson is one of the most highly sought after wine talents in the industry. Mr. Wesson is a leading authority on the pairing of wine and food. Tune in to this week’s episode of In the Drink as host Joe Campanale talks with Josh about everything from sparkling wine to the history of sommoliers in New York City. Find out what Josh enjoys drinking the most and what makes a good wine and food pairing. Hear about his wine retail business with Best Cellars and get some great insight from one of the most well respected authorities on wine in the country. This program was sponsored by Heritage Foods USA “I’m completely devoted to getting people excited about what they eat and drink and bringing them to the promise dland of deliciosness.” 2:00 “If i was shipwrecked on a desert island and could olny have one bottle, it would be a sparkling red wine with a little sweetness.” 11;00 –Joshua Wesson on In the DrinkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti

This week on In the Drink, Joe Campanale is chatting with Pascaline Lepeltier, the Wine Director at NYC’s Rouge Tomate. Why did Pascaline abandon a promising future teaching philosophy to become a wine expert? Despite her upbringing in the Loire Valley, Pascaline did not discover wine until her late teens; find out why Pascaline was so isolated from the wine culture around her. Pascaline gives some tips on how to determine wine authenticity and consistency from distributors. Later, Joe and Pascaline talk about the quality of food at Rouge Tomate, and why a certain level of gastronomy is important when pairing with good wine. Hear some of Pascaline’s experiences studying for the Master Sommelier exam! This episode has been brought to you by Underground Meats. photo from www.lapaulee.com “Wine might be the only thing that can do that- connect me with my friends, connect with something from so long ago, and give so much pleasure.” [9:20] “You always want to meet the face behind the label.” [12:15] — Pascaline

This week on In the Drink, Joe Campanale sits down with Food & Wine‘s Executive Wine Editor, Ray Isle. Prior to joining Food & Wine in 2005, Ray was managing editor of Wine & Spirits. He has also worked in sales and marketing for a wine importer, and taught fiction writing at Stanford University. Ray’s articles about wine, food, and spirits have appeared in a wide range of publications including Wine & Spirits, the Washington Post, Martha Stewart Living and Gastronomica. He has been nominated for a James Beard Award, the highest honor for food and beverage professionals in the U.S. Ray regularly conducts wine-tasting seminars at Epicurean events throughout the country and abroad and appears as a wine and spirits expert on national television. Tune into this week’s program to hear Ray talk about his transition from the world of academia to writing about wine and food. Find out how Ray’s experiences in Northern California inspired him to work in vineyards during harvest season. How did Ray’s exp

On today’s episode of In the Drink, host Joe Campanale welcomes sommelier Rajat Parr, wine director of the Mina Group. Born in Calcutta, Rajat credits his uncle in London for first introducing him to great wines. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration, Rajat entered the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York. In 2003, Parr was named Wine Director for the Mina Group, where he develops and manages the wine programs at numerous restaurants. In 2011, Rajat launched Sandhi, which produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay produced from select vineyards of Santa Rita Hills in partnership with Charles Banks and Sashi Moorman. In 2013, Rajat released wines from his new estate vineyard, Domaine de la Cote. Tune-in to today’s episode of In the Drink and learn more about Rajat’s wine experience today! This program has been sponsored by GreatBrewers.com. “If you really want it, you have to own it. Eventually you want to be totally involved.” — Rajat Parr on In the DrinkSee Privacy Policy at http

As Chef Sommelier of Le Bernardin, New York’s longest rated four-star restaurant, Aldo Sohm oversees a wine collection consisting of 15,000 bottles made up of 900 wine selections from 12 countries with vintages that date back to 1875. Sohm’s fascination with wine began at the age of 19 after visiting an Italian vineyard with his father. Captivated with what he encountered and learned, he knew quickly that he wanted to pursue a career in wine. Sohm reached the pinnacle of wine competitions when he was awarded the highly-coveted title, “Best Sommelier in the World 2008,” by the World Sommelier Association, the first representative of America to win the title. Since then he has garnered success all throughout the wine industry, becoming known as one of the best sommelier’s in the world. On this episode of In the Drink, learn more about Sohm’s work – what he considers being a Chef Sommelier is, what continues his interest in wine, and what’s in store for the future. This program has been sponsored by Heritage Foo

Jancis Robinson is one of only a handful of wine writers with an international reputation. Her multi-award-winning books, including the hugely successful Oxford Companion to Wine and Wine Grapes, are among the most important landmarks in wine literature. Jancis is the Financial Times wine correspondent and writes a bi-monthly column that is published around the world. She also writes daily for www.JancisRobinson.com, which has subscribers in 100 countries and was voted the first-ever Wine Website of the Year in the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers Awards 2010. Find out more about Jancis, her latest book, The World Atlas of Wine, and more about winemaking in general, on today’s episode of In the Drink. This program has been sponsored by MOOD Magazine. “I used to be a control freak, but now I’m learning to delegate, which is very nice.” [4:15] “If you like wine but want to know a bit more, establish a relationship with a good local retailer, the same way you would with a local bookseller. Tell them wh

On today’s episode of In the Drink, Abe Schoener, winemaker at the Scholium project, joins host Joe Campanale to talk about the winery, their wines, and the changing wine industry in New York. At the Scholium Project, Abe and his team make wine, but only when first thinking hard about it. The wines he creates reflect a desire to understand and have a respect for tradition. He follows methods that in some ways are very old-fashioned, and in some ways rather unconventional, such as using techniques like food treading to distribute the grapes in the best possible way. Learn more about the wine maker, and how to buy his wines on this episode, and at the Scholium Project. This program has been sponsored by Brooklyn Slate. “When I started making wine, I don’t think I looked at it philosophically at all, but it’s given me a firm foundation.” [4:30] “When we make wines, we’re engaged in making something that’s meant to fall apart.” [6:01] — Abe Schoener on In the DrinkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy

On a special episode of In the Drink, the topic switches from wine into beer, with guests Rudy Tauscher and Andreas Heidenreich of Paulaner Brewery. The duo are right on the verge of opening the first Brauhaus in New York City, opening in the Lower East Side on Bowery St. Andreas Heidenreich is the Brewmaster of Paulaner Brauhaus, and has been brewing beer since his early teens in Germany. Heidenreich has also spent over nine years in Asia, where he has been involved in the opening of Paulaner Brauhaus and Restaurant in Shenyang, China. For over 20 years, Rudy Tauscher climbed the hotel industry ladder working for some of the world’s top luxury hotels including Le Bristol in Paris, The Palace in Sun City in South Africa, Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Peninsula, Trump International and most recently Mandarin Oriental, New York. Last year, Tauscher set out on a completely different career path as President and Founder of Paulaner’s first microbrewery and restaurant in the U.S. This program has been sponsor

Steve Olson is dedicated to the education and consultation of degustation for appreciation and celebration. He teaches, lectures, and writes all over the world about wine, beer, spirits, sake, and virtually any other beverage under the sun, discussing their integral cause-and-effect relationship with food as he preaches the gospel of his mission: making tasting fun by removing the intimidation factor and the pretense. Olson’s company, aka wine geek, specializes in beverage and service consulting, and has focused on the professional presentation of beverage education for the trade, consumers, press and the media since 1992. Olson may be best known to many for his restaurant and bar consulting, having designed the innovative beverage programs and service sytems for several nationally acclaimed operations, including the Relais Chateau, Mobil Five Star award-winning Mayflower Inn in Connecticut, New York City’s #1 Zagat-rated restaurant, Gramercy Tavern, the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, and the

Jordan Salcito comes into the studio on this week’s In the Drink to speak to us about her position as Beverage Director for David Chang’s famous Momofuku restaurants. She is also a sommelier and entrepreneur living in New York City. After college, Jordan traveled through Italy, moved to New York City and began working in restaurants. She earned a scholarship to attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University, then moved back to New York to cook at Daniel Boulud’s flagship restaurant, Daniel. In 2006, Chef Boulud granted her the opportunity to cook with him at the La Paulée de Nieges. From that moment, she knew that she wanted to spend her life working with wine. Jordan has worked in some of New York’s most esteemed dining rooms, including at Eleven Madison Park (where she was part of the James Beard Award-winning team for Outstanding Wine Service), Daniel, Gilt at the New York Palace, and Crown, where she built and managed the wine program during its inaugural year. She has also worked harvests in

Philip Ward was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and found himself in New York and beginning to make his way in the bar and cocktail industry in June of 2002 at Flatiron Lounge. Since that time he has come to regarded as one of the foremost Mixologists in the world and has been not just influential in the growth of the cocktail renaissance in New York, but throughout the country and maybe just a bit of the world. Beginning as a barback at Flatiron Lounge, he would later spend the next three years under the tutelage of Julie Reiner, eventually growing to become head bartender. In September of 2005, Philip moved downtown to SoHo to help Audrey Saunders open the much anticipated Pegu Club. Philip would next spend a year and half at the Pegu Club, also as head bartender. On New Year’s Eve in 2007 Philip began his career behind the bar of what he would make the renowned Death and Company in the East Village. Death and Company was Philip’s first opportunity to build his own program, pick his own backbar, and design

Giuseppe Vaira is a second-generation winemaker at his family’s winery, G.D. Vajra. Growing up in Piedmont, Italy, surrounded by beautiful vineyards, Giuseppe knew he wanted to work in wine. He planted his first vineyard at 15 and a year later, began working harvest. He graduated from the University of Torino in 2009 with a degree in viticulture and winemaking and since then has gradually assumed winemaking responsibilities. G.D. Vajra was founded in 1972 by Giuseppe’s parents, Aldo and Milena, and remains a family affair. The winery was named after Giuseppe’s grandfather, Giuseppe Domenico – all management and viticulture decisions are made by the family. For more than 40 years, this humble, hard-working family has produced soulful and honest expressions of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato and Riesling. Their guiding philosophy is simple – they are not modern, they are not traditional. They craft sensitive, transparent wines of place by patiently allowing the wine to dictate its own evolution. Tune-in to

Bobby began his distinguished career working in restaurants in Arizona until he moved to Colorado in 1995 to join the staff of The Little Nell restaurant in Aspen as a sommelier. During his five-year tenure, the restaurant received numerous awards for wine and service, including the Gourmet’s “Best Wine Service” Award, Mobile Travel Guide’s Five Star Hotel and Restaurant Rating, Wine Spectator’s Grand Award, and a nomination from The James Beard Foundation for “Best Wine Service”. In 2000, Bobby joined world-renowned chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in Yountville, California. Within his first year, Bobby received The James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Wine Service” Award and San Francisco Magazine recognized him as “Wine Director of the Year”. He also met his future business partner, chef de partie Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson. Before leaving The French Laundry in May 2003, the restaurant received The James Beard Foundation’s award for “Outstanding Restaurant Service”. In their pursuit and vision of

This week on In the Drink, Head Sommelier of DANIEL, Raj Vaidya, comes into the studio to speak with us about developing his early passion for fine cuisine, food, and of course, amazing wines. Growing up in Bombay, he began learning about wine well before he would have been legally permitted to drink in this country. He refined his knowledge at what he calls his first serious restaurant job, working at New Jersey’s Ryeland Inn, with a chef who had a natural affinity for pairing food and wine. That early experience evolved into a particular love of Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, making him right at home working with Daniel Boulud, a Rhône valley native with a love of that region’s wines. Raj Vaidya joined DANIEL in the Spring of 2009 with an impressive history of experience in fine dining restaurants that boast some of this country’s most celebrated wine lists and wine service. His stellar resume includes positions at restaurants such as New York City’s Cru and Per Se, as well as Gary Danko in San Francisco

Steve Wildy, Beverage Director at the Vetri Family, joins Joe Campanale for this week’s edition of In the Drink! After spending his early childhood in Northern Ireland, Steve Wildy began his career in the restaurant industry at 15 years old in Pittsburgh, as a dishwasher for a friend’s restaurant. He immediately fell for the hustle and bustle of the culinary world, and after relocating to Philadelphia in the late 90s to enroll in Drexel University‘s International Studies program, he continued to work through the field as a busser, food runner, server, and captain. An internship with the European Parliament in Brussels introduced him to a fantastic food scene, the world’s best beer, and to the early notion that a career in food and beverage might be better suited to him than a career as a politician. Tune into this episode to learn more about the Vetri restaurants, and how their respective vibes inform Steve’s beverage selections. Learn how Italian culture affects not only the food, but the atmosphere of the

If, like fine wines, sommeliers only get better with age, Mark Sayre has a lot to look forward to. The 32-year-old sommelier at TRIO, the signature restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Austin, has already made a name for himself by being counted among Wine & Spirits magazine’s 7 Best New Sommeliers in 2010 and earning the 2007 title of Texas’ Best Sommelier. This week on In the Drink, Joe Campanale chats with Mark about the wine scene in Austin, Washington state wines and his private-label Syrah. Get an inside perspective on the beverage scene in Texas and what it’s like being a sommelier at the Four Seasons. This program was sponsored by BluePrint Cleanse. “People buy wine mostly not on flavor profile but on weight and texture.” [08:00] –Mark Sayre on In the DrinkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the Chef Sommelier at Benoit in New York, André Compeyre oversees the restaurant’s beverage program including a wine list that features several bottles from Alain Ducasse’s personal collection. André began his career in his native city, Toulouse, France over twenty years ago where he created a new wine program for a local restaurant. With ambitions to expand his wine knowledge, André moved to London accepting a sommelier position at the three-star Michelin restaurant Le Gavroche, known for its impressive global list. Later on, André returned to Toulouse as an Assistant Sommelier at the Michelin-starred Les Jardins de l’Opera, where he further developed the wine list and created grand cru wine tastings. In 1993, he became the Chef Sommelier at Le Chateau Eza near Monaco where he met Theresa Henkelmann who offered him the opportunity to work in the United States. André gained national recognition as the Head Sommelier at Restaurant Thomas Henkelmann, part of The Homestead Inn in Greenwich, Connecticut, where

Alice Feiring, is an essayist, fiction and wine writer, writing professionally since 1988. She is the winner of both the James Beard and Louis Roederer Wine Writing Awards and in 2013 she was named Imbibe Magazine’s wine person of the year. Her blog, The Feiring Line ( Alicefeiring.com) has been operational since 2004. In the fall of 2012, she took a bold move and launched a paid-subscription newsletter, The Feiring Line, the only newsletter to focus on wines that are organic, biodynamic and natural. Her latest book, Naked Wine, letting grapes do what comes naturally (DaCapo Press) chronicles personal adventures in the natural wine world and it followed on the heels of her 2008 controversial volume, “The Battle for Wine & Love or How I Saved the World From Parkerization.” Translations include, French, Spanish, Italian and Georgian. Cited on Wikipedia as a major wine personality and champion of natural wines, she lectures on wine globalization, terroir, natural, biodynamic and organic wines worldwide. She

This week on In the Drink, Hristo Zisovski joins host Joe Campanale in the studio to talk about about his career as beverage director for the Altamarea Group, and how he worked his way to becoming head sommelier. An Advanced Sommelier based in New York City, Hristo was raised in his father’s Greek diners where he worked the grill throughout his childhood. After high school, Hristo earned a degree from the Culinary Institute of America but increasingly realized his interest was in the “front of the house”. In 2001, Hristo became the Assistant Beverage Director at three-star restaurant March and began his educational journey to becoming a Master Sommelier. From March, Hristo moved to three Michelin-starred Jean Georges, where he spent seven years as Chef Sommelier. Under his tenure, the restaurant received the 2010 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine Service. Hristo was also personally awarded Wine & Spirits Best New Sommelier in 2007. In November 2010 Hristo joined the Altamarea Group at Ai F

Jamie Kaloustian is the wine and beverage director of the Michelin Star, award winning, Dovetail Restaurant in New York City. On this episode of In the Drink, Jamie talks with Joe about getting her start in the industry, following her passion for food and wine, and her role as Wine Director at a prestigious restaurant in New York City. Beginning her New York City restaurant career about eight years ago, Jamie moved here without a job to live and work in New York City. Armed with a Bachelor’s in meteorology from Embry-Riddle in Florida, her next step was a career in restaurants to pay off the burgeoning student loans. At the now shuttered Dona in Mid-town Manhattan, she waited tables until she had dinner at Eleven Madison Park and applied for a server position immediately after that amazing dinner. Needless to say, the experience of working with such a great chef and wine program was humbling. She left there as a captain to work at Daniel, as one of their bartenders. Again, a humbling experience. The cocktail