Beats Vines and Life
Episodes
From “Wine Girl” to Wine Mogul: How Victoria James Overcame The Odds and Became A Hospitality Rock Star!
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest today is Author, Sommelier and Restaurateur, Victoria James. As the Beverage Director and Partner at COTE in New York City and Miami, she...
Roll Over Beethoven: How Ben Aneff Composed the Fight Against Wine Tariffs
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest today is managing partner of Tribeca Wine Merchants (TWM) - Ben Aneff, a proud Native Texan turned New Yorker. TWM has been called a “r...
Wheeling Forward. Yannick Benjamin’s Unstoppable Drive to Bring Innovation and Inclusion to the Wine Industry.
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest today is esteemed Somm, wine educator, restaurateur and disabilities advocate - Yannick Benjamin. Yannick is a proud New Yorker from Hell...
Wonder Woman! Mary Ewing-Mulligan on the Art of Wine Education (for Dummies!)
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest today is Master of Wine, wine educator, columnist, and co-author of the iconic book Wine for Dummies Mary Ewing-Mulligan. Mary was the fi...
It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right. Harmon Skurnik on the Importance of Tasting and Talent.
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest today is President of the Legendary Import and Distribution Company Skurnik Wines and Spirits, Harmon Skurnik. The company began with jus...
New Sensation! How Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross are championing a whole different side of Australian wines.
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross, the creators of LEGEND Imports. Jane and Jonathan share a combined six years of work in Austra...
BONUS EPISODE: Co- Interview with the Fine Line Podcast: Balancing Hedonism and Health
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you follow MJ on IG you know that he is all about balancing wine with wellness. When Lisabeth Danneels & Emily Gold of the Fine Line Podcast: B...
Anything Goes When it Comes to Mo’s cuz Soil Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy. Robert Dentice’s (aka Soil Pimp) Epic German Love Story.
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest today is German wine lover, expert, avid vinyl fanatic and best known to listeners by his IG handle Soil Pimp, Robert Dentice. When not t...
Straight From Crooklyn: From Ft. Greene to St. Martin. The Incredible Journey of Chef Michelangelo Wescott.
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Chef Michelangelo Wescott. He is the chef and owner of Gypsy Apple Bistro, a French inspired restaurant located in the footh...
A Beautiful Mind! Deconstructing the Language of Tasting with Celebrated French Sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Pascaline Lepeltier. Growing up in the Loire Valley and detouring from a master’s in philosophy and a career as a universi...
Styles Upon Styles Upon Styles is What I Have - You Want to Dis the Zin But You Still Don’t Know the Half! Co-Owner of Dancing Crow Vineyards, Stefan Cartlidge on the Magic of Lake County Wines.
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Stefan Cartlidge. Stefan comes from an esteemed family of Northern Californian winemakers. His father Tony Cartlidge, co-fou...
Beaune Thugs and Burgundy. A Candid Conversation with Burgundy Expert Paul Wasserman.
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is one of the world’s foremost authorities on Burgundy and a member of the famed Wasserman family, Paul Wasserman. Paul was j...
The Times They Are A-Changin’. The New York Times Wine Critic, Eric Asimov’s Life as a Literary Oenophile.
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Eric Asimov. Eric has been the NY Times Chief Wine Critic since 2004 after having covered wine with The Times's tasting pane...
Then She Did … Spanish Wine Expert and La Luz Selections Co-Founder, Kerin Auth Bembry’s Ritual de lo Habitual Unpacked.
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Kerin Auth Bembry. Kerin is co-founder of La Luz Selections based in New York City and LA. A wine broker and veteran in the ...
Here. There and Everywhere. Celebrated Wine Expert and True Renaissance Man Lyle Railsback Discusses the Art of Looking Where Others Are Not.
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Lyle Railsback. Lyle is co-founder, with his brother Eric, of Railsback Frères Winery in Santa Ynez, California. Named by W...
Whole Lotta Love! Rock Drummer and CMS Certified Sommelier, Bruno Almeida Shares his Passion for Portuguese Wines.
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Bruno Almeida. Born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, this rock drummer turned sommelier has worked at legendary NYC restauran...
Things To Do In Denver When You Are a Somm. Contributing Editor at JebDunnuck.com, Audrey Frick on the Power of Tenacity, Teamwork and How to Triumph after a Fall.
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Audrey Frick. Audrey worked for famed restaurateur, Bobby Stuckey at Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colorado. She worked h...
Started at the Bottom, Now We Here. How to Sell More Than a Billion Dollars Worth of Wine with John Kapon.
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is John Kapon. John is the third-generation chairman of Acker, America’s oldest wine merchant, which has sold fine and ...
BEFORE THE POUR - BONUS EPISODE!
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Who would Andre Mack most like to drink a bottle of wine with? What turns Shakera Jones on? James Molesworth’s least favorite word? Amanda McCrossin...
Jersey Girl! The Art of Fine and Fun Dining with Sommelier and Esquire Magazine’s Beverage Director of the Year, Madeline Maldonado
26 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is fellow New Jersey native, Madeline Maldonado. Madeline was the manager and sommelier for James Beard Award winning Chef, Jon...
Meet Virginia! Sommelier, Wine Consultant and Wellness Geek Lee Campbell’s Secret to Success = Make It Meaningful.
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Lee Campbell. Lee is an ardent supporter of sustainable vine-farming and traditional, non-interventionist winemaking techniq...
I’m a Hustler Baby! Grand Cru Selections’ Robert Bohr on Hard Work, Hospitality and Hip Hop.
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is seasoned wine expert, importer and hip hop lover Robert Bohr. Robert runs Grand Cru Selections which is based in NYC and wor...
It’s A Family Affair! How to Build an Empire with Sommelier, Wine Maker, Author and Restauranteur André Mack.
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Maverick extraordinaire André Mack! André is the former sommelier at Thomas Keller’s world renown restaurant French Laun...
Betcha Can Can! Drink Ramona Founder, Jordan Salcito, Explains How Boundaries Bring Out the Best.
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Jordan Salcito. Jordan is a sommelier and was manager at Eleven Madison Park. Her wine program at Momofuku had been named a ...
California Love! Amanda McCrossin Breaks Down Magical Moments Drinking Napa Valley Wines!
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Amanda McCrossin - Amanda is a sommelier, media personality and host of the Wine Access Unfiltered podcast. She is also the ...
I’m not your Negroni! Riffing on Meaningful Moments in Wine and Jazz with James Molesworth
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest this week is Senior Editor at Wine Spectator Magazine, James Molesworth. He’s a lead taster for California Cabernet, France’s Bordeau...
How to Leave a Three Star Michelin Restaurant w/ Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson.
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest is Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier who is best known for his position as Wine Director of the 3 Michelin-starred restaurant, Eleven Madis...
Your Palate is Valid! Teaching People How to Taste, Enjoy and Buy Great (not necessarily expensive!) Wines with Shakera Jones.
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest is Shakera Jones of BlackGirlsDinetoo.com, Somm TV personality and is featured in the upcoming Somm 4 film. This is a must listen as MJ a...
Tariffs Suck! Bringing Delicious European Wines to the People with Mary Taylor.
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MJ’s guest is Mary Tayor of Mary Taylor Wines. Mary runs a modern day wine import company that is all about bringing broader awareness of the histor...
Show Trailer
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hello! I am MJ Towler aka the Black Wine Guy. Welcome to my podcast. This is a show for those who thirst. Thirst for greatness in themselves, thi...