Wine Face

Goodbye for Now....

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's not goodbye... it's more like a case of see you later! With great thought and some sadness, I have decided to suspend the production of Wine Face...

Behind the Hospitality Curtain with Arjav Ezekiel

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When I was in Austin, Texas for Dear Media IRL — my friend Pia Baroncini took me to an incredible restaurant and I was just blown away by the space,...

LIGURIA 411

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The gorgeous Mediterranean coastline of Liguria, Italy isn't just one of the most special places on the planet. It's one of the most intrica...

30 Minutes with Chiara Pepe from Emidio Pepe!

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I am thrilled to sit down with the head winemaker for the iconic Abruzzo winery — Emidio Pepe. Chiara Pepe is following in her iconic grandfather’...

From the Cellar: France is my Hand

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re digging back through the Wine Face episode cellar to revisit a few of my favorites — like this one:It's time to get to know France one step ...

From the Cellar: BEAR SKIN RUG

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every person should know what Loom in Los Angeles is because it's genius and should know Erica Chidi Cohen who is the co-founder and CEO. It's about w...

From the Cellar: Intro to Jura

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re digging back through the Wine Face episode cellar to revisit a few of my favorites — like this one:Wines from the Jura in France are unique ...

From the Cellar: Jon Gray from Ghetto Gastro!

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re digging back through the Wine Face episode cellar to revisit a few of my favorites — like this one:Jon Gray from Ghetto Gastro came by the s...

Somm Boss Squared with Ryan Bailey

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan Bailey is a real deal somm. He’s a Boss Somm. He’s a business, man. But also: a businessman. From the living in the Bay Area, to doing wine t...

How to Pick a Stellar Sicilian Wine

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it just me or is everyone in Sicily this summer? Well, whether you are there or not — you can drink like you are. Let’s talk about Sicily’s g...

Wine + Matcha with Rocky Xu

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When a Topanga Canyon shaman told Rocky Xu to stop drinking coffee during the pandemic, who knew it would have been the catalyst for a whole new life ...

Eating My Flowers with Loria Stern

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Loria Stern is here to help us all start our flower-eating journey. I have known Loria for years and have watched her take foraging and edible flower ...

How to Write a Badass Wine List

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting the perfect wine list is a creative endeavor that I don’t always look forward to but damn, does it feel good when it’s done. Let’s talk...

In the Mix with Nixta’s Sara Mardanbigi

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When I was visiting Austin, Texas a few weeks ago, the greatest meal I had was at Nixta Taqueria. So I had to get Nixta’s co-owner & operator S...

Rosé 101 Refresher

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We are geeking out on a perfect summer wine but really, it's great all four seasons. But because rosé is so popular, sometimes it gets overlooked whe...

TERROIR: Going Deep (Into the Earth) with Brenna Quigley

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Geologist Brenna Quigley and I are talking terroir. This is a super deep dive into the science of winemaking and how we have rocks, soil, and Mother E...

Alpine Wines!

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I am super into Alpine wines these days, dare I say a hot trend this summer? I sure hope so! Alpine refers to the elevation these wines are grown at —...

Wine + Style with THE Juliana Salazar

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Juliana might be the coolest person I know. Is she LA's IT Girl? I think so. She's a creative director. But beyond that she is style, she is grace, s...

Spring Wine Trends

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re being wine-trend psychics today. Maybe setting some new trends right here in this very podcast. What’s hot? What’s not? And what pairs bes...

Being a Badass Chef with Brooke Williamson

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Top Chef and Food Network’s ‘Tournament of Champions’ alum and mastermind behind LA’s Playa Provisions, Brooke Williamson is in the studio! We...

Is It The Summer of Ramato?

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we are being wine psychics and predicting the new drink of summer. And I’m being bold and saying it’s this beautiful, orangey-copper Italia...

Caviar Dreamin' with Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When Justin Pichetrungsi took over his father’s Sherman Oaks Thai restaurant — the family’s casual approach to service and ambiance became a bre...

Being a Working Mom in Wine

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I don’t talk a lot about my personal life in my work but today, we are diving deep into building my career and how it harmonizes with my life as a m...

Jon Buscemi (+ a Chad Melville drop-in!)

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How did designer Jon Buscemi go from sneakers to sandwiches, to delicious wine collabs? Jon is a mental mentor for me and a dear friend. So when he co...

Getting Into Orange Wine

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Orange wine is one of the latest wine trends — and with good reason! This skin-contact white wine is full of texture, flavor, and history. Let’s b...

Cab Franc: That Green Bell Pepper Realness

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Let's deep dive into a red wine grape that pairs perfectly with lamb, green olives, and gorgonzola — treat yourself to a crazy meal with all those t...

Getting Real with Eric Wareheim

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Most people know Eric Wareheim from his hilarious work on 'Tim & Eric; and Netflix’s 'Master of None'. But Eric has fallen fully in love with w...

Tasting Wine 101

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tasting wine is very subjective because not all palettes are created equal. Some people might catch every single flavor note and nuance in a bottle an...

Lauren ‘LP’ Paylor-O’Brien Drops Cocktail Knowledge

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lauren 'LP' Paylor O’Brien’s first night behind the bar was a Friday night and everyone in the hospitality world knows — that’s sink or swim. ...

Wine + Vineyard Visit Etiquette

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Visiting a vineyard can be so much more than dropping into the tasting room for a wine flight & getting crunk. There is etiquette and a good vibe ...

Jon + Vinny

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There is no Helen's Wines without Jon & Vinny's and vice versa! My business partners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo join me to talk about the earliest...

Wine and Chocolate with Valerie Confections

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chocolate GURU Valerie Gordon of Valerie Confections stopped by with some very special treats. Valentine’s Day is next week and you deserve it all! ...

THE. PIA. BARONCINI.

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Such an inspiring Tour de Force of a woman!! We laughed, Pia cried, and we tasted fabulous wines. The boss of so much dopeness, Pia Baroncini, stopped...

Wine + Vintages

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Step into my somm brain!! When you grab a wine bottle, one of the signs of its character is its vintage, A.K.A. the year the grapes were harvested. Le...

Breaking Down the LA Art and Wine Scene with Khalil Kinsey

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is there anything Westside Winos co-founder Khalil Kinsey can’t do? With the opening of his new Los Angeles wine bar Offhand Wines, he and I look ba...

Wine Glasses: the Who, the Why, the What Do I Do?

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it important to drink specific wines out of certain glasses? Are champagne flutes a myth? When did humans start drinking out of glass? Are there re...

TINX

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Not only is Tinx dubbed “Tiktok’s big sister,” she’s also dubbed “extremely lovely podcast guest” by me! It was honestly such a joy to tal...

The History of Champagne

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Champs for my real friends, baby! I am obsessed with Champagne. My whole team is! It's so good and worth the splurge, and so I am here to tell you on ...

Wine + Christmas

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every December my wine shop is poppin! And for good reason-- Holiday times are flush with gift giving, champagne celebrations and cozy moments drinkin...

I LOVE Micheladas because of Bricia Lopez

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bricia Lopez and her family own one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles: Guelaguetza! Do you live in LA and haven't been? RUN THERE NOW. Bricia is ...

Syrah SZN, baby!!!

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Syrah is a grape that is often misunderstood, or people haven't been exposed to the right ones. Once more widely planted than Cabernet Sauvignon, this...

Top Gail! Best Day Ever with Gail Simmons

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

National treasure Gail Simmons of Top Chef fame Zooms with me all the way from New York. She’s a fabulous chef, a judge on one of my favorite shows,...

Wine + Thanksgiving

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Wine Face to you and yours. Before you start baking your bird, mashing your potatoes, and popping your bubbly, let...

Screw Cap Club with What’s Gaby Cooking

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gaby Dalkin of What's Gaby Cooking is a literal wiz in the kitchen, has the best energy, and is one of the most real ones to chat with. In this episod...

How Wine is Made: The Good, the Bad, the “Natty”

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I support and love all kinds of wine, but I think it helps people to understand wine as an agricultural product if we start with what is and is not co...

The 411 on Your Host: Helen

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sommelier. Business owner. Podcast host. My journey into the wine world wasn’t a straight line. With a few colleges and brief career stops along the...

What’s NOT in the Bottle ft. Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Longtime friends Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power started their wine brand Avaline five years ago. What might have started as a way to understand what...

Re-introducing: Wine Face!

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Break out your best glasses, y'all because Wine Face is BACK! Helen Johannesen from Helen's Wines is behind the microphone once again to sprinkle litt...

Ep. 69 What's New About Wine

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What is new about wine? As season three concludes, taking a look at how the last month has shifted and changed the lens of how we look about wine and ...

Ep. 68 Contextualizing with Cha McCoy

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cha McCoy is an incredible force in the wine industry. She has traveled the world, lived in several countries honing and contextualizing her mastery o...

Ep. 67 How we talk about wine

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How we talk about wine has been on my mind recently. Along with an introspection on how I operate my business, how can I include more voices and creat...

Ep. 66 Coastal Creepin to get to a dream zone: South of France to Liguria

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Starting where France and Spain meet along the mediterranean, let's take a quick mentat drive long the the coast heading East and discover the signifi...

Ep. 65 Entertaining (Quarantine vibes): Holiday Weekend Must Haves

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We gotta look forward to the little things during these WEIRD ASS TIMES. This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, historically a time of friends, family ...

Ep. 64 Intro to Puglia

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

I woke up the other morning with Puglia in the brain! And realized we needed to talk about it! Mostly because Valentina Passalaqua's wines are a strai...

Ep. 63 Sarah Yenbamroong from NIGHT+MARKET SONG

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone should know Sarah and should eat at Night + Market in LA! But until we can do that again, let's day dream about days past, some of the dopest...

Ep. 62 SWISS BEATS: Intro to Swiss Wine

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Not many people have had wine from Switzerland nor do they know much about it, so why not drop some casual knowledge on it!! Because the wines are dop...

Ep. 61 Holly Liss on How to Blow Up Your Instagram, Wine Style

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Holly Liss has been behind the scenes for the branding and styling of some of the most powerful food based restaurants and brand's instagram accounts....

Quarantine Wine Times

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Shit got real last month with the outbreak of the virus!! I had to take a quick hiatus from Wine Face as our business crumbled and we rushed to re-for...

Ep. 59 Helen's Wines x Heather Taylor Home

20 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

My friend Heather Taylor came by to talk about her amazing home linens line, Heather Taylor Home. Listen, it's all kinds of Covid-19 crazy out there, ...

Ep. 58 Pinot Noir, behind the grape, the origins story!

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pinot noir! Rolls of the tongue, people know it but what do we know about it? What's the deal with this grape, what's the history, let's better under...

Ep. 57 Wine x Roe Caviar!

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Meyer, founder and owner of Roe Caviar, came by to talk about all things caviar from what it is how it kicks off entertaining to how to serving...

Ep. 56 Chardonnay: Why It's So Misunderstood

19 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Chardonnay is an amazing grape but kind of got a bad wrap with all that buttery Chard brouhaha. What's the DEAL with chardonnay, where is from and how...

Ep. 55 Epic Holiday Party Entertaining 411

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for one of our entertaining 411 episodes and this week it's all about hot tips for throwing the most epic holiday party!   Notes/ Recipes: ...

Ep. 54 Tuscany 411: Sangiovese, chianti, brunello oh my!

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tuscany is the dreamy dreamzone of Italy where fairy tales were created but it's also the home to some of the most famous italian wines that are made ...

Ep. 53 What is Cabernet Franc?

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Cabernet franc is famous in two parts of France: Bordeaux and the Loire valley. But what is Cabernet franc? What does it taste like? Where else can we...

Ep. 51 Beaujolais (aka Gamay) for TURKEY DAY!

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A deep dive into my favorite grape varietal: Gamay, from my favorite place it's grown: Beaujolais and it just happens to be the perfect wine to serve ...

Ep. 50 Veneto Area of Italy Revealed!

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Veneto! Totally misunderstood, the home of prosecco and Valpolicella, sometimes referred to as a wine factory, but there are GEMS within! Understa...

Ep. 49 Intro to California

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's not all cabernet sauvignon and Napa valley, but what is California wine, how is it defined, where did it start and where are we today. Part one o...

Ep. 48 Intro to BORDEAUX

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You fancy huh Bordeaux? Well let's find out why! What is the deal with Bordeaux, why all these Growth classifications, what's all the weight and gravi...

Ep. 47 Harvest at Chateau de Beru with Bethany Heinze

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bethany Heinze, the former wine director of Helen's in Brentwoood just worked harvest with Athenais Beru at Chateau de Beru  and she came by to tell...

Ep. 46 Fall into the LOIRE VALLEY

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What's the deal with the Loire Valley? And why is it SO COOL! This episode talks about the different subregions, what grapes are grown and then drone ...

Ep. 45 Rituals with Ashley Merrill founder of Lunya

27 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ashley is a badass! Not only did she start one of the sexiest and functional sleep wear businesses, she also has amazing insight into our home rituals...

Ep. 44 Natural Wine with Alice Feiring

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Alice Feiring is a pillar of the wine community, she was one of the first people to write about natural wine and she just came out with her new book: ...

Ep. 43 Champagne for my real friends! What is Champagne?!

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Champagne has a deep history in France but it wasn't always the preferred beverage for poppin bottles on yachts. Champagne is so cool it's also misund...

Ep. 42 Tess Bryant & Australia

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tess is dope. She is so rad. Based in northern California, one year ago she struck out on her own and formed an importing/ disctribution company call...

Ep. 40 Natural Beauty with Hillary Peterson of True Botanicals

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Founder and CEO of True Botanicals, Hillary Peterson, came by to talk about how she founded the cult brand that is changing the way people look at ski...

Ep. 39 Guest Chef: Aarón Sánchez

15 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron and his lady Charity sat down with me to talk about all things wine, food, and culture. Aaron has had an amazing career that started in NYC and ...

Ep. 38 The AUSTRIA Download

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I was lucky to travel to Austria in June with Jenny Lefcourt and Amy Atwood and it was one of the most inspiring trips I have ever taken! We visited s...

Ep. 37 The Wedding Guru with Brianne Chan

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Brianne Chan, Communications Director for Joint Venture Restaurant Group, has been to 19 weddings in 2 years. She has been to 9 bachelorette parties. ...

Ep. 36 The Sparkling Wines of Italy

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Italy is making some of the most fun and exciting sparkling wines that go far beyond your average prosecco. In this episode we explore the different c...

Ep. 35 Intro to Spain

18 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Come take an aerial view of the wine making regions of Spain plus Helen's favorite Spanish wine right now!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pri...

Ep. 34 SUMMER ENTERTAINING: Kebab life chose me!

12 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to grill and chill- get a preview of the wine club and helen's host tips for outdoor entertaining, breakfast, lunch and dinner!    Produce...

Ep. 33 Intro to Wines of The Canary Islands

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Helen dives into the history of the Canary Islands and how that it affects the wines made there. She gets into what makes the wine on the Canary Islan...

Ep. 32 Rosè 101

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Helen breaks down all the ins and outs of Rosè; how its made, where its made, and why its so delicious! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priv...

Ep. 31 MOM JUICE with BBs Are Trash!

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Aryn and Trian, the amazing hosts of Bbs are Trash podcast, came through to talk about being liberated mamas smashing the patriarchy, raising kids in ...

Ep. 30 The Rosé Report and the New Rosé Alternative

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Helen runs through current trends in California and the rosé report of what’s in her wine fridge for summer. How is orange wine the new rosé? And ...

Ep. 29 Wine & Cannabis with Miss Grass

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I sat down with Kate Miller & Anna Duckworth co- founders of the Uber chic cannabis resource website and shop Miss Grass! We delve deep on pot pol...

Ep. 28 Intro to Jura

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Wines from the Jura in France are unique and absolutely their own. The style and traditions, grape varietals, flavors and energy in the bottle is amaz...

Ep. 27 Wine Chat with Brit Marling

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

My bff Brit is amazing! She is smart & talented and came by Wine Face to talk about season two of her show The OA. We also taste some wines and ta...

Ep. 26 Intro to Chenin Blanc

09 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What in this wild world is Chenin Blanc? The magical grape is revealed with some basic 411– where is it planted, who makes it, where is it famous an...

Ep. 25 What Makes Wine Expensive

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why is some wine $5 while other bottles are $500? Where does this value get derived from and how do we navigate these waters? We are breaking it all d...

Ep. 24 Women Who Make Wine, Being A Woman in Wine

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We have a special guest on the show today!! Helen’s Wine-Fairfax Director Sasha Puchalla stopped by to drop some knowledge. We talk about what it’...

Ep. 23 A Trip to Bandol in France

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Helen was in France a few weeks ago and had the absolutely pleasure of visiting a region called Bandol in South of France. We are talking history, gra...

Ep. 22 The Truth About Vegan and Vegetarian Wine

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Wineface is back with new episodes every Thursday! Today, Helen is joined by Wineface OG, Madison 'Mad-dog" Martin on her final day at Helen's Wines. ...

Ep. 21 Bonus Episode: Spring Break Wines!

21 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s that time of year when we need a break, maybe it’s a week, maybe it’s a day, but spring break is important! On this episode I am pairing wi...

Ep. 20 What’s the deal with Sangiovese? Italian red wine unveiled!

05 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sangiovese! The great red Italian grape! It’s so good, but what’s it all about. Opening the second Helen’s in Brentwood in Los Angeles has broug...

Ep. 19 Wine 101: An Intro to Wine Education

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Helen begins breaking down the intimidating world of wine knowledge. She tackles natural wine vs. conventional wine, the truth abo...

Ep. 18 Intro to Burgundy France: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir

10 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Take a toe dip into Burgundy in France!!! It's one of the most intimidating parts of France for people to understand, but this is the intro to the puz...

Ep. 17 A Conversation with The Scotty Cunha

03 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Helen sits down with celebrity hair stylist, Scotty Cunha and the two discuss...well just about everything! The talk east coast living and why buying ...

Ep. 16 Entertaining at Home 101: What To Do With The Drinks

21 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Having people over is hard, let's start to make it a little bit easier for you! How to set the bar, what to serve, where to set it up, wines for small...