Wine Spectator's Straight Talk

Nov 17

It's time to count down Wine Spectator' s Top 10 Wines of 2025 ! And we're talking to the man behind our 2025 Wine of the Year—both before and after he heard the big news. Join host James Molesworth and director Rob Taylor as they reveal the most exciting wines of 2025, and then Château Giscoirs' Alexander Van Beek joins the program to talk about his life in wine, and then tell us what it was like to find out his decades of hard work have been rewarded with our highest honor. And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com ! • Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2025 • Latest News and Headlines • Ask Dr. Vinny • Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters • Subscribe to Wine Spectator A podcast from Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher Host: James Molesworth Director: Robert Taylor Producers: Gabriela Saldivia Guest: Alexander Van Beek Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 26

Few California wineries can match Opus One for global prestige. A famous partnership between Napa's Robert Mondavi and Bordeaux's Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the winery is still making elite Cabernets long after its founders' passing, thanks in large part to one man whose name you might not know: Michael Silacci. Silacci has guided Opus One for more than two decades, and his résumé lists a Who's Who of winemaking legends, from André Tchelistcheff to Warren Winiarski to Denis Dubourdieu. He joined host James Molesworth in our Napa studio to talk about his life in wine on the newest episode of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast. And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com ! • Wine Spectator's Nov. 15 cover Story: Composing Opus One • 2025 Wine Spectator New York Wine Experience Tickets & Info • James Molesworth's Notes on Tasting: Opus One's Old World Approach • Opus One Wine Scores and Tasting Notes • Meghan Zobeck Joins Opus One • Latest News and Headlines • Ask Dr. Vinny • Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters • Subscribe to Wine Spectator A podcast from Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher Host: James Molesworth Director: Robert Taylor Producer: Gabriela Saldivia Guest: Michael Silacci Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 30

He's the man behind some of the most prestigious names in wine, including Bordeaux's Pichon Baron and Portugal's Quinta do Noval, and now AXA Millésimes managing director Christian Seely is behind the mic on the newest episode of Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast. "People do not drink Château Pichon because they're trying to get the alcohol content," Seely tells Straight Talk host James Molesworth. "There are a lot cheaper ways of doing that. They drink these wines because they love them. And we have to make sure that the wines we are making give people something to discover, so that magical moment really means something." Seely also shares memories of growing up with his wine writer father, the bottle they shared that sparked Seely's passion, and many more highlights—and insights—from his long and accomplished career in wine. And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com ! • 2025 Wine Spectator New York Wine Experience Tickets & Info • Read more about Christian Seely • Read more about Platt Vineyard • Latest News and Headlines • Ask Dr. Vinny • Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters • Subscribe to Wine Spectator A podcast from Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher Host: James Molesworth Director: Robert Taylor Producer: Gabriela Saldivia Guest: Christian Seely Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 31

Occidental winemaker Catherine Kistler grew up with an in-house wine legend: California Chardonnay icon, and also her dad, Steve. But Catherine came home to make Pinot Noir in 2017, and they landed at No. 2 on Wine Spectator ’s 2023 Top 10 Wines of the Year. “In California we’re always self-conscious of being young compared to the Old World,” she tells host James Molesworth. “And to have the opportunity to work with 25-year-old vines now, I’m absolutely excited about it. Are we seeing changes as the vineyard matures? Of course, the answer is ‘Yes.’”. Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank joins the program as well, for a chat about the latest wine and health news, what proposed tariffs on wine could mean for consumers, and more. And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com ! • 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour Tickets & Info • Occidental: Steve Kistler's Final Frontier • Opinion: Surgeon General Opts for Simple Slogans Over Solid Science • Wine Caught in Trade War Crossfire • Opinion: Fear and Tariffs • Wine Spectator's James Laube: 1951–2025 • Health News: Wine Does Not Raise Risks for Healthy Older Adults • California Pinot Noir Tasting Report • Latest News and Headlines • Ask Dr. Vinny • Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters • Subscribe to Wine Spectator A podcast from Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher Host: James Molesworth Director: Robert Taylor Producer: Gabriela Saldivia Guests: Catherine Kistler, Mitch Frank Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 15, 2024

It's our season 2 finale and we're counting down Wine Spectator' s Top 10 Wines of 2024! But before James reveals this year's 10 most exciting wines, including Wine Spectator 's 2024 Wine of the Year, we're taking a look at the economic state of the U.S. wine market with longtime industry insider Rocco Lombardo, president of Wilson Daniels, and our very own senior editor for news Mitch Frank. And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com ! • Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2024 • Latest News and Headlines • Ask Dr. Vinny • Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters • Subscribe to Wine Spectator A podcast from Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher Host: James Molesworth Director: Robert Taylor Producers: Gabriela Saldivia, Sam Popkin Guests: Rocco Lombardo, Mitch Frank Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 2024

Napa Valley is in the thick of harvest 2024, the busiest time of year in wine country, and Napa Cabernet superstar Thomas Rivers Brown took a break to tell us about the realities of harvest season—hope you like cleaning!—as well as his “Ziploc baggy mini-maceration method” for deciding when a vineyard is ready to be picked. Plus, Wine Spectator’s Dr. Vinny joins the program for a “sweet” harvest vocab check! And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com ! • 2024 New York Wine Experience Tickets and Info • Thomas Rivers Brown's Midas Touch • 2022 Wine of the Year: 2019 S chrader Cellars Double Diamond Cabernet • The Christian Moueix Interview with Marvin R. Shanken • Wine Spectator's Nov. 15, 2024, issue • Latest News and Headlines • Ask Dr. Vinny • Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters • Subscribe to Wine Spectator A podcast from Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher Host: James Molesworth Director: Robert Taylor Producer: Gabriela Saldivia Guests: Thomas Rivers Brown, MaryAnn Worobiec Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 30, 2024

When it comes to California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, few names command as much respect as Sonoma's Kistler Vineyards. Kistler president and winemaker Jason Kesner joined Straight Talk host James Molesworth to tell us about growing up in the Napa wine industry—including where Robert Mondavi bought the weekly staff donuts—and how he strives to do a little bit less in the vineyard and winery with each passing year. Wine Spectator senior editor for news Mitch Frank joins the program as well, shedding light on a recent health study that’s made big waves in the mainstream media, for all the wrong reasons. And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com ! • 2024 New York Wine Experience Tickets and Info • Kistler's Dark Side: Jason Kesner's Pinot Noirs • 2020 Top 10 Wines of the Year: Kistler Chardonnay • Health News: Wine Does Not Raise Risks for Healthy Older Adults • Vintage Wine Estates Bankruptcy • California Pinot Noir Tasting Report • Wine Spectator's Sept. 30, 2024, issue • Latest News and Headlines • Ask Dr. Vinny • Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters • Subscribe to Wine Spectator A podcast from Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher Host: James Molesworth Director: Robert Taylor Producer: Gabriela Saldivia Guests: Jason Kesner, Mitch Frank Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 26, 2024

Straight from the cover of Wine Spectator and the season 3 premiere of hit TV series The Bear , legendary chef Daniel Boulud invites us into the Daniel dining room for an exclusive interview about what it means to be a chef today, his legacy of mentorship and why his next restaurant will reflect a shift in allegiance since becoming a U.S. citizen in 2021: "I finally became American. I always felt like I'm French … but with my family here, I'm definitely settled here ... it is more important to be American today for me than to be French." Straight Talk host James Molesworth speaks with senior editor Kristen Bieler about her cover story and interview with Boulud, and Wine Spectator advice and education expert Dr. Vinny returns to share some guidance on how to tip on an expensive bottle of wine at a restaurant. And don't forget, there's always more free content at WineSpectator.com ! • Chef Daniel Boulud's American Dream • Wine Spectator's 2024 Restaurant Awards • Wine Spectator's Aug. 31, 2024, issue • Latest News and Headlines • Ask Dr. Vinny • Sign up for Wine Spectator's free email newsletters • Subscribe to Wine Spectator A podcast from Wine Spectator Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher Host: James Molesworth Director: Robert Taylor Producer: Gabriela Saldivia Guests: Daniel Boulud, Kristen Bieler, MaryAnn Worobiec (as Dr. Vinny) Assistant producer, Napa: Elizabeth Redmayne-Titley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.