9 Wine Podcasts for Every Kind of Listener

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Wine Education

9 Wine Podcasts for Every Kind of Listener

By Devin Parr October 13, 2020

Whether you’re someone who spends a lot of time in the car, or a runner who’s tired of your current playlist, or you’ve binge-watched all there is to binge watch thanks to the pandemic, podcasts are a great way to take in all sorts of content — including wine! These modern-day audio shows can be chock full of useful information, dynamic conversations, and entertaining topics, and are a great way to unplug (while plugging in).

Wine podcasts run the gamut from funny and lighthearted, to hard-hitting, to straight up geeky, so there’s really something for every wine lover out there. We did some digging and came up with a list of our favorite wine and drinks podcasts to listen to right now.

FOR THOSE WITH AN OFFBEAT SENSE OF HUMOR

Bring a Bottle With The Three Drinkers

This podcast from trio Aidy Smith, Helena Nicklin, and Colin Hampden-White, who created the award-winning Amazon Prime series “The Three Drinkers,” feels like you’re hanging out with great friends over a tipple or two. While the three clearly know their booze, the content is entertaining and slightly irreverent, with such recurring segments as, “A Wine and a Whine,” in which one of the co-hosts gets 60 seconds to vent about what’s bugging them these days, “Vinalogies,” in which Helena invites her co-hosts to guess what she’s drinking by the weird sounds she is making, and the hilarious “Spit or Swallow,” which, while suggestive, is not nearly as risqué as it sounds.

FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY

The Color of Wine

Frustrated that she wasn’t seeing many people of color featured in wine media, Sukari Bowman started The Color of Wine podcast so that she could tell these missing stories and showcase more diversity in the world of wine. Launched in 2017, the podcast features interviews with leading voices in the wine industry, with a focus on people of color, including winemakers, sommeliers, wine educators, business owners, vineyard managers, and many others. Sukari has produced five seasons of the podcast alongside her brother Shomari, with whom she co-created the website, Love & Vines.

FOR THOSE LOOKING TO PAIR WINE WITH… BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA?

Wine & Crime

If you like a little crime and comedy with your wine, then this podcast is for you. Childhood friends Lucy Fitzgerald, Kenyon Laing, and Amanda Jacobson spent a lot of time as adults drinking wine and watching Forensic Files together, which led them to ultimately launch the highly-rated true crime comedy podcast, Wine & Crime. Each episode digs into all sorts of true crimes with various topics like “Hair Crimes,” “Sorority Crimes,” and “Wall Street Crimes,” while the gals sip on episode-themed wines and show off their inner comedian with hilarious commentary. While there may not be a ton of talk about terroir, Wine & Crime is nevertheless a must-listen for oenophiles and non-oenophiles alike.

FOR THOSE TAKING THEIR WINE STUDIES TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Matthew’s World of Wine and Drink

This podcast is a dream for anyone doing formal certifications in wine. Matthew Gaughan is no stranger to grape studies, having completed all of the Wine and Spirit Education (WSET) courses, currently serving as a certified WSET instructor, and working toward the coveted Master of Wine title. Each snackable episode is designed around key topics likely covered in exams, breaking down regions, grapes, and styles in a way that mirrors how the WSET program is taught. However, this podcast isn’t exclusive to students of fermented grape juice. Everyday enthusiasts can learn more about what’s in their bottle – and why! – with this helpful series.

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS WITH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Grape Minds

Hosted by Julie Glenn and Gina Birch, this NPR podcast invites listeners to go behind the scenes of the wine world in each episode, exploring the stories, culture, and history of what’s in their glass. Co-hosts Julie and Gina offer insider access to some of the top celebrity names in wine, through interviews with winemakers, importers, brand ambassadors, and industry leaders. Listeners will feel like they’re sipping right alongside wine royalty like Jean-Charles Boisset and the Mondavi family, while exploring lighthearted topics like the best bubblies for the holidays, as well as more serious issues like tariffs and wildfires.

FOR THOSE WHO COULD DO WITHOUT THE WINE SNOBBERY

Wine for Normal People

This award-winning podcast is exactly what it sounds like – an exploration of wine for “normal people” who love to learn about (and drink!) the stuff, but don’t want to become a sommelier to understand it. Recently featured by The New York Times as one of the top podcasts about wine, Wine for Normal People offers a deep dive into different wine regions and grapes, an exploration of practical topics like which wines pair best with vegetarian cuisine, and commentary on important topics like diversity in the wine industry.

FOR THOSE WHO AREN’T AFRAID TO HAVE AN OPINION

VinePair

Also recommended by The New York Times, this drinks podcast explores the whole world of drink, including wine, beer, and spirits. Listeners join VinePair’s co-founder Adam Teeter, editor-in-chief Erica Duecy, and sommelier Zach Geballe in a series of in-depth discussions and smart, witty banter about the business and culture of drinks. Equal parts funny, entertaining, and informative, VinePair’s co-hosts dig into plenty of timely drinks industry topics like West Coast wildfires and alcohol ingredients labeling, and don’t hold back on strong opinions.

FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR MARITAL BLISS… OR COUPLES THERAPY

Wine Blast

Wine Blast is hosted by Susie Barrie and Peter Richards, a married couple who also BOTH happen to be Masters of Wine (we’d love to see inside their wine cellar!). Despite these impressive credentials, the pair treat the subject of wine with an easygoing and inclusive hand. Episodes cover everything from industry news to wine travel to food and wine pairings, and feature interviews with pros from around the globe, competitive “wine-offs,” and, of course, just the right amount of marital bickering.

FOR THOSE WHO LIVE THE WINE LIFE

Wine Enthusiast

Through their print and online platform — and now their podcast — Wine Enthusiast has always celebrated the wine lifestyle, showcasing it alongside travel, entertainment, cooking, technology, and more. The Wine Enthusiast podcast covers all aspects of the drinks business, with episodes featuring many different voices in the industry, including regular appearances from their Top 40 Under 40 Tastemaker recipients.