Can Vodka Break Out Again?

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1. 

   S8 · E62 · 6 Aug 2026 · 32 min

   Wine Has to Offer Value in Restaurants. Here's How it Can.

   Adam, Joanna, and Zach take a look at another reason why wine is struggling in restaurants: the drinking public is unable to perceive value with much of what's on offer. While restaurants decry the high prices that wineries and distributors charge, and producers and drinkers cringe at the major markups restaurants apply to wine, is it possible that there's another solution besides just "someone gets screwed over?" Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques,…

2. 

   S8 · E61 · 3 Aug 2026 · 31 min

   Is There a Sameness to Great Bars?

   With Joanna back from Scotland, she rejoins Adam and Zach to discuss her takeaways from visiting Panda & Sons , the iconic and world-class bar in Edinburgh. Do bars at that level tend to seem more similar than you'd think given that they're located in countries around the world? How tough is it to balance trying to be a place that locals might go to with being such a tourist destination? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to…

3. 

   S8 · E60 · 30 Jul 2026 · 30 min

   Wine Loves to Talk Tradition. Should It?

   Wine has long relied on tradition to sell itself: traditions surrounding wine producers and regions, traditions surrounding drinking occasions and traditions surrounding how all of that is used to market wine. Yet do those stories still matter to consumers? Do they get people excited about wine, or do they serve as barriers that keep some people out of the category? Adam and Zach discuss all that and more in this week's episode. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions,…

4. 

   S8 · E59 · 27 Jul 2026 · 39 min

   Studies Show Gen-Z Drinks, and Value is Paramount

   Adam and Zach discuss two recent studies, the first of which shows that, surprise , Gen Z is drinking at historically normal rates, despite all the misplaced doom and gloom around the generation. Why were so many invested in the myth that Gen Z doesn't drink, and how should producers and marketers be rethinking their strategy. Plus, another study explores what drinkers really value, and how being consistent in terms of messaging and price can be more effective than chasing trends. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever…

5. 

   S8 · E58 · 23 Jul 2026 · 36 min

   The Paramount Importance of Hospitality

   Adam and Zach discuss some of Adam's takeaways from hosting The Buildout, in particular about the tremendous importance of hospitality, and on making the guest experience welcoming and accommodating, as well as the need to be willing to change your concept, why you have to know your marketplace very well, and more. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers! Zach is reading: Monarch…

6. 

   S8 · E56 · 16 Jul 2026 · 32 min

   Can Wine Build a Bridge from RTDs to Bottles?

   In the wake of the recently-announced "Sauvy B" from Trinchero Family Wine and Spirits and famed winemaker Joel Gott, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss whether wine-based RTDs, particularly those that proclaim their wine affiliations proudly, can serve as a bridge, particularly for younger drinkers, from RTDs to wine, especially bottled wine. Will loving a Sauvignon Blanc-based canned spritz eventually convince someone to order a glass of wine at a restaurant, or pick up a bottle to have at home? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,…

7. 

   S8 · E55 · 13 Jul 2026 · 31 min

   Do Drinks Dupes Make Sense?

   Adam and Joanna discuss whether companies that are making obvious dupes or copies of popular drinks are being smart or just trying to cash in on a trend. Can you copy and become more premium? Does it matter if the packaging is nearly identical? Does it matter what part of the drinks space you're in? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers! Joanna is drinking: Foradori Teroldego Adam…

8. 

   S8 · E54 · 9 Jul 2026 · 26 min

   Are RTDs Actually a Fad?

   Adam and Joanna respond to a listener question: are RTDs actually a fad? Despite emerging in the late 2010s and becoming a significant part of the beverage alcohol industry in the 2020s, is it possible that they don't have staying power, or have they shown that there's a significant audience for convenience, flavor, and accessibility? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to [email protected]. Thanks for listening, and cheers! Joanna…

9. 

   S8 · E53 · 6 Jul 2026 · 33 min

   So...Who's Gonna Buy Brown-Forman?

   Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the renewed speculation that Jack Daniels manufacturer Brown-Forman might be for sale: while the family-owned company rejected two reported offers in April, rumors continue to swirl that they're on the market. Will Pernod-Ricard or Sazerac remain interested? Which drinks company makes the most sense as an acquirer, and how can they attempt to rebuild and grow the brand, especially outside the United States? Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review The VinePair Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any…

10. 

    S8 · E52 · 2 Jul 2026 · 25 min

    Does "Americana" Still Move Booze?

    Traditionally, summer (and the 4th of July specifically) have been opportunities for drinks brands of all kinds to (sometimes literally) wrap themselves in the American flag to move product. Yet even with the country's 250th anniversary just days away, it seems like relatively few are doing so this year. Is that because the current American political landscape is so fractious? Is patriotism and American pride at a low point, especially amongst the types of folks who tend to make that kind of decision? Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss that, plus how that kind of branding compares to more…