The Sipping Point: Wine, Food & More!

Can a $65 Cabernet really compete with a $200 bottle? And do those 90-plus-point wine scores still matter? This week on The Sipping Point, Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach, sits down with Austin Hope, winemaker and owner of Hope Family Wines, to talk about what makes Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon special, why wine doesn't have to be intimidating and what you're really getting when you spend more on a bottle.

Austin's family has been growing grapes in Paso Robles since 1978, and today Hope Family Wines includes six brands spanning a wide range of styles and prices. Laurie and Austin...

What happens when a winemaker stops trying to put his stamp on a wine—and lets the vineyard do the talking? This week on The Sipping Point, Laurie sits down with acclaimed Santa Barbara winemaker Greg Brewer, the force behind Brewer-Clifton and Diatom, to talk Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and why sometimes the best winemaking decision is to do less.

Greg shares his unlikely journey from teaching French at UC Santa Barbara to taking a $5.50-an-hour tasting room job that changed the course of his life. More than three decades later, he’s devoted his career to the Sta...

What happens when a former rock band manager decides to make wine? If you’re Charles Smith, you don’t just join the wine business—you do things your own way.

Charles joins Laurie to talk about his unconventional journey from managing indie rock bands in Europe to becoming one of Washington State’s most recognized winemakers. Along the way, he created hugely successful brands including House Wine, Kung Fu Girl and Wines of Substance, while earning some of the wine world’s highest accolades.

But this conversation isn’t really about scores. It’s about making g...

What makes Anderson Valley such a special place for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay?

This week on The Sipping Point, I’m joined by Maggy Hawk winemaker Sarah Wuethrich to explore this cool-climate California wine region and her fascinating approach to winemaking.

We taste 4 wines—Aurelia Chardonnay, Skycrest Chardonnay, White Pinot Noir and Jolie Pinot Noir—as Sarah shares how elevation, soil, clones and vineyard blocks create dramatically different expressions in the glass. We also talk about foot-stomping Chardonnay, making white wine from Pinot Noir, regenerative farming and why great winemaking is equal parts scienc...

Think “100% agave” means there’s nothing else in your tequila? You might be surprised.

This week on The Sipping Point, I’m stepping outside the wine glass and into the world of tequila with Heidi Anderson, better known as La Tequila Mamacita. Heidi is a certified tequila educator, spirits judge, co-founder of the Tennessee Agave Club, co-host of The Tequiladies and a tequila reviewer for The Tequila Report.

We go back to Tequila 101: what actually makes tequila tequila, why it can only be made from Blue Weber agave in specific regions of Mexico, and the differen...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her Zoom Info Session on 9/23 at 6 PM ET to learn more about her Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

What does five decades in the wine business teach you about wine, leadership, and knowing when to trust your own instincts?

This week on The Sipping Point, Laurie sits down with Eugenia Keegan, Senior Vice President of Winegrowing and Business Development for Jackson Family Wines, whose remarkable career began at Joseph...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her Zoom Info Session on 9/23 at 6 PM ET to learn more about her Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

In this episode, Alessandra Casini Bindi Sergardi shares her family's rich legacy in winemaking, rooted in Tuscany since 1349. She discusses the unique characteristics of Chianti Classico wines, including the importance of Sangiovese grapes, and the significance of food pairing in Italian culture. 

The conversation also delves into the distinctions between Chianti C...

What if the future of wine is less about teaching people everything they need to know and more about giving them a reason to open a bottle?

Laurie sits down with Eric V. Orange, founder of LocalWineEvents.com, to talk about how wine events and wine consumers have changed over the past 26 years and why experiences, travel and connection may be increasingly important to the future of wine.

Eric shares the unlikely story behind LocalWineEvents.com, sparked by a Champagne dinner where only six people showed up, and how the site...

What do Olympic sailing, aerospace engineering, and world-class Brunello have in common? More than you might think.

This week on The Sipping Point, Laurie Forster sits down with Alessandra Angelini of Altesino, one of Montalcino's historic Brunello producers.

Before returning to Tuscany and her family's wine business, Alessandra trained with the Italian National Team in Olympic-class sailing and earned a degree in aerospace engineering. She went on to work in the United States designing aircraft engines before bringing that combination of discipline, science, and problem-solving back to the family wineries.

Alessandra...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

Bordeaux may be one of the world’s most famous wine regions—but is our perception of it stuck in the past? Laurie Forster sits down with Bordeaux-based wine educator, writer and yoga teacher Wendy Narby to explore a region that has become more welcoming, innovative and diverse than many wine drinkers realize.

Wendy shares what has changed in Bord...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Johnson of Spy Valley Wines for a thoughtful and refreshingly honest conversation about family, place, and the future of wine. Amanda shares the story behind her family’s winemaking journey, what makes Spy Valley’s wines so distinctive, and why sustainability isn’t a trend for them—it’s a responsibility. We dive in...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

One grape. Three world-class wine regions. One legendary winemaker.

What happens when the same winemaker crafts Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley, McLaren Vale (Australia), and Walla Walla (Washington)? Chris Carpenter joins Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach®, to explore how terroir, climate, and farming practices shape the personality of each wine.

Known for his work with L...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

Michigan may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of world-class wine—but that may be about to change.

In this episode of The Sipping Point Podcast, Laurie Forster, The Wine Coach®, sits down with acclaimed wine writer and former Wine Enthusiast Editor-in-Chief Susan Kostrzewa to explore why Traverse City has become one of Ame...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

Is Verdicchio Italy's best-kept wine secret?

In this episode of The Sipping Point Podcast, Laurie Forster sits down with Damiano Sorato, Vice President of Sales at Ethica Wines, Federico Veronesi, CEO of Signorvino and Oniwines, and the winemaker from Villa Bucci to explore why Italian indigenous white wines are capturing the...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

What does it take to turn a family legacy into one of Brooklyn's most beloved Italian restaurants? This week, Laurie sits down with Chef Al DiMeglio, owner of Barano and Spirit Animal in Williamsburg, to explore the stories, techniques, and philosophy behind his acclaimed approach to Italian food.

Named after his grandmother's hometown on the...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her newly announced Treasures of Tuscany Tour in May 2027.

What happens when a NASA budget officer trades spreadsheets for beer? Elliott Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Soul Mega, shares how a homebrewing hobby evolved into one of the Mid-Atlantic's fastest-growing craft beer brands.

In this episode, Elliott discusses leaving a successful government career to pursue entrepreneurship, building a brand that celebrates culture, creativity, and community, and what it meant for...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her comedic wine tasting Something to Wine About at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes, DE on July 10th at 6PM.

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the legendary Judgment of Paris approaches, we're raising a glass to one of the wineries that helped put California wine on the world stage.

In this episode of The Sipping Point, Laurie...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her comedic wine tasting Something to Wine About at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes, DE on July 10th at 6PM.

What does it take to lead a family winery that's been making wine for more than 450 years? In this episode of The Sipping Point, Laurie Forster sits down with Louis Barruol, the 14th-generation owner of Château de Saint Cosme, one of the most respected e...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her comedic wine tasting Something to Wine About at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes, DE on July 10th at 6PM.

What makes a great restaurant wine list? Should you trust wines by the glass? And why are so many wine lovers saving their best bottles for "someday"? This week, legendary wine writers Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher join Laurie to discuss the state of restaurant...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her comedic wine tasting Something to Wine About at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes, DE on July 10th at 6PM.

What happens when a rock star trades stadium tours for wine glasses?

In this episode of The Sipping Point, I sit down with Paul Cullen, former bassist for the legendary rock band Bad Company, private chef, entrepreneur, and founder of Paul Cullen Wines...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her comedic wine tasting Something to Wine About at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes, DE on July 10th at 6PM.

Maryland wine is having a moment, and this episode takes you right to the heart of it. Laurie sits down with Janna Howley of the Maryland Wineries Association to get a preview of Maryland Crafted, the premier celebration of Maryland wine, beer, and spirits taking...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her comedic wine tasting Something to Wine About at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes, DE on July 10th at 6PM.

On this episode of The Sipping Point, Laurie sits down with Kim Akhtar, senior sommelier at Le Bernardin, to explore wine through a completely different lens. From her fascinating journey through music, journalism, flamenco dancing in Spain, and Burgundy wine studies, Kim shares how storytelling...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her comedic wine tasting Something to Wine About at The Room at Cedar Grove in Lewes, DE on July 10th at 6PM.

Is great wine created through science, artistry… or a little bit of both? On this episode of The Sipping Point, Laurie Forster sits down with two experts from Hartford Family Winery — veteran winemaker Jeff Stewart and Master Sommelier Nick Hetzel — for a lively conversation about what r...

Discover the secrets behind tasting like a pro with Anthony Giglio—sommelier, longtime Food & Wine contributor, restaurant critic, cocktail expert, and creator of SUPERSALT. Anthony shares practical, no-snobbery tips for improving your palate, pairing wine with food, and making everyday eating and drinking more flavorful and fun. From mastering wine temperature to breaking out of your “usual wine rut,” this episode is packed with approachable advice you can use tonight. 

Key Takeaways:

In this episode, Laurie Forster and Karen MacNeil discuss the importance of wine and food in fostering connections among people. They introduce the Share and Pair Sundays campaign, emphasizing the joy of sharing simple meals and wines with friends and family. The discussion highlights how wine serves as a connector, breaking down barriers and creating community. They also explore the psychological benefits of social gatherings and a call to celebrate community through shared experiences around wine. Share & Pair Sundays kicked off on May 3rd and runs till June 28th.

Takeaways

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including her Treasures of Tuscany Wine Tour this October.

Join us for a conversation with Katie Santora, head winemaker at Chehalem Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Katie shares her journey from Utah to wine country, how she blends science with intuition in the cellar, and her approach to crafting balanced, food-friendly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Along the way, we explore Oregon’s unique terroir, the evolution of winemaking techniques, and...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including the Wine Meets its Match tasting at The Ivy Cafe in Easton, MD on April 22nd.

Cocktails without the stress? Yes, please. In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Incropera of Craftmix to talk about how a simple idea—making great cocktails easier—turned into a fast-growing beverage brand. We get into the real story behind the product, from early trial-and-error to what it takes to stand out in a crow...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including the Wine Meets its Match tasting at The Ivy Cafe in Easton, MD on April 22nd.

What happens when a casual group chat turns into a canned cocktail brand?

In this episode, Treena Clampitt shares how My5 Vibes went from a fun idea among friends to a fast-growing Maryland-based beverage company. From navigating the maze of alcohol regulations to creating fresh, low-sugar vodka cocktails inspired by nostalgic flavors (yes...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including the Wine Meets its Match tasting at The Ivy Cafe in Easton, MD on April 22nd.

Think all California wine tastes the same? Not even close.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kristina Shideler, head winemaker at Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, to break down what really sets mountain-grown wines apart—and why Sonoma is full of surprises.

Kristina takes us from her science-driven start to crafting wines at h...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including the Wine Meets its Match tasting at The Ivy Cafe in Easton, MD on April 22nd.

In this episode, Kim Stare Wallace shares her journey to President of Dry Creek Vineyard, a family-owned winery with a rich history. She discusses her family's legacy in winemaking, the innovative branding that sets their wines apart, and the significance of their signature Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. Kim emphasizes the importance of family ownership in...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including the Wine Meets its Match tasting at The Ivy Cafe in Easton, MD on April 22nd.

Step into the stories behind some of the world’s most fascinating wines with Ray Isle, author of The World in a Wineglass and longtime Executive Wine Editor at Food & Wine. In this episode, Ray shares how he first fell in love with wine, what inspired his new book, and the unforgettable people and places th...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including the Wine Meets its Match tasting at The Ivy Cafe in Easton, MD on April 22nd.

Step behind the scenes of the restaurant world with legendary New York restaurateur Drew Nieporent, the visionary behind iconic dining destinations like Nobu and Tribeca Grill. In this episode, Drew shares stories from more than four decades in hospitality—building groundbreaking restaurants, working with celebrities, and helping shape the modern dining scene.

From un...

On this episode, Laurie Forster welcomes Doreen Winkler from Orange Glou, a New York City store specializing in orange wine. They explore the history and rising popularity of orange wine, its unique characteristics, and the importance of education in the wine community. Doreen shares insights from her experience as a sommelier and discusses two distinct orange wines during a tasting session.

Takeaways:

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including the Wine Meets its Match tasting at The Ivy Cafe in Easton, MD on April 22nd.

In this episode of The Sipping Point, I sit down with Carrie Gurule, Head Winemaker at Gruet Winery, to explore her journey from New Mexico native to global student of winemaking. Carrie has trained under French, Italian, New Zealand, and American winemakers, bringing an international perspective to Gruet’s traditional Champagne-style sparkling wines.

We...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including my wine comedy show Wine & Punchlines on 2/27 in Bridgeville, DE.

In this episode of The Sipping Point, Laurie sits down with Gus Kalaris—founder of Constantine Wines and the visionary behind Axios Napa Valley—to talk about what’s really happening in the wine world right now. From shifting wine trends to the myths that just won’t die, Gus brings decades of experience as an importer, distributor, and luxury wine brand fo...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including Sip & Style in Oxford, MD on 2/26 and Wine & Punchlines on 2/27 in Bridgeville, DE.

In this episode of The Sipping Point, Laurie Forster sits down with Mary Taylor, founder of Mary Taylor Wine, to explore how she built a groundbreaking import company centered on authentic, affordable European wines. Mary shares how her passion for travel and discovery led her to create a négociant-style model that spotlights small, independent growers and puts t...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including Sip & Style in Oxford, MD on 2/26 and Wine & Punchlines on 2/27 in Bridgeville, DE.

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Johnson of Spy Valley Wines for a thoughtful and refreshingly honest conversation about family, place, and the future of wine. Amanda shares the story behind her family’s winemaking journey, what makes Spy Valley’s wines so distinctive, and why sustainability isn’t a trend for them—i...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including a few spaces still left in her Tuscany tour this October!

In this episode Laurie Forster sits down with Allister Ashmead of Elderton Wines for a conversation that may just change how you think about Australian wine. Allister shares the remarkable family history behind Elderton, from historic Barossa vineyards to a modern, sustainability-focused winery, while unpacking some of the biggest misconceptions that still surround Australian wines today...

This episode of The Sipping Point dives into one of Maryland’s most iconic pairings—wine and oysters—through the lens of the new Sip & Shuck promotion launching February 1st. Joined by Matthew Scales of the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Regina McCarthy, General Manager of The Vineyards at Dodon, we explore how Maryland wine, beer, and spirits come together with local oysters to celebrate the state’s rich food and beverage culture. From why oysters and wine work so well together to how consumers can sip, shuck, and win prizes along the way, this conversation is a delici...

Check out all the great events Laurie has on the calendar in 2026 on her website at TheWineCoach.com/events including a few spaces still left in her Tuscany tour this October!

In this episode of The Sipping Point, Laurie Forster sits down with Ken MacKenzie, founder of Fresh Victor, to talk tequila, mixers, and the power of great ingredients to bring people together. Ken shares how a move to Guadalajara sparked a deep appreciation for tequila culture and set him on a path from importing premium agave spirits to creating a <...