Podcasts · Arts

Wine for Normal People

Elizabeth Schneider

93 episodes

A podcast for people who like wine but not the snobbery that goes with it. I talk about wine in a fun, straightforward, normal way to get you excited about it and help you drink better, more interesting stuff.

More about the show

About half the shows feature guests and are informal but educational discussions between me and a passionate wine friend –they aren't interviews. All guests are personal friends or friends of friends in wine so like any conversation between friends, we'll talk back and forth, interrupt each other, laugh and have fun, debate tough questions, voice our opinions, and most of all, enjoy sharing our time together and with you!

The Wine For Normal People book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many local booksellers. Back catalog available on Patreon.com/winefornormalpeople

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. Ep 625: The Next Leap in Professional Wine Education with Keith Wallace of the Wine School of Philadelphia

    · 54 min · Episode 625

    Keith Wallace is the founder of The Wine School of Philadelphia, which is respected and known throughout the wine industry. In 2001, Keith opened a small wine school in Philly and, from a grassroots effort, built The…

  2. Ep 624: The Greats – Shiraz of the Barossa Valley, Australia

    · 45 min · Episode 624

    Located about 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Adelaide, at 34.7˚south, the Barossa Valley is mainly a red wine region (I don't consider Eden Valley in this show – it has one great wine but the region is not a "Great" in…

  3. Ep 623: Mount Etna, Sicily

    · 47 min · Episode 623

    Mount Etna is one of the most interesting wine regions of Italy. On the northeast coast of Sicily, wine grapes grow on the slopes of Europe's highest active volcano, which has been erupting for at least 500,000 years…

  4. Ep 622: Food and Wine Pairing for Fall

    · 42 min · Episode 622

    With the equinox behind us, it is officially fall in northern hemisphere – a return to normal routines after the lazier days of summer. The leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter, and we're taking out the…

  5. Ep 621: The Rías Baixas D.O. of Spain - The Albariño Capital of the World

    · 47 min · Episode 621

    This week I cover the many facets of Rías Baixas, an historic yet very new wine region (Romans farmed this region, monks perfected the winemaking, but the modern form of the D.O. didn't take shape until the 1980s!).…

  6. Rerelease of Ep 383: Domaine Wachau of Austria - One of Europe's Best Co-Ops with Roman Horvath, MW

    · 59 min

    After Episode 620: The Greats -- the Wachau of Austria, I thought about re-releasing this show but I wasn't 100% sure. I decided to do it because in listening to Ep 383 again, it brought the region to life for me in a…

  7. Ep 620: The Greats - The Wachau Region of Austria

    · 49 min · Episode 620

    Austria is a bit off the radar so you may not know its greatest region: the Wachau. This time I cover the region in detail, from its 2000 year history to its unique geological makeup. I explain the region and why it…

  8. Ep 619: The Wines of Provence - Liz Gabay & Ben Bernheim Return To Discuss Their Latest Book

    · 1 h 09 min · Episode 619

    Liz Gabay, MW and her partner and son, Ben Bernheim, come back on the show as dynamic as ever. This time they discuss their latest, wonderful book, "The Wines of Provence," which was recently published. We broaden…

  9. Ep 618: Back to Basics: Structure in Wine Part 2 - Sugar & Alcohol

    · 55 min · Episode 618

    In last week's show (dorkfest part 1), we discussed two components of structure, acidity and tannin, and how they are like two sides of a picture frame, structure. In this episode (dorkfest part 2), I cover the other…

  10. Ep 617: Back to Basics: Structure in Wine Part 1 - Acidity & Tannin

    · 56 min · Episode 617

    This time it's Back to Basics -- describing two of the four main components that make up the structure of wine - Acidity & Tannin. It's both simple, and very dorky (I quote the NIH at one point, worth a listen!) In…

  11. Ep 616: The Greats – The Chenin Blancs of the Loire Valley

    · 54 min · Episode 616

    Although the Loire Valley is most famous for the Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé (especially after Taylor Swift drove tons of people to buy Sancerre – thank you Taylor!), there is a white grape that has a…

  12. Ep 615: Felicity Carter Returns: The journalist, writer, speaker taking on the hardest issues in wine

    · 54 min · Episode 615

    Felicity Carter a journalist, researcher, and analyst who's spent more than 20 years covering the global drinks industry. Not one to shy away from controversy, Felicity covers some of the thorniest issues in wine:…

  13. Ep 614: The Alto Piemonte - Piedmont's Best Kept Secret

    · 45 min · Episode 614

    Although the best-known wines of Piemonte are in the south — in Alba, Roero, Cuneo, and Asti – there is a treasure trove of excellent Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo blends northeast of the famed Barolo and Barbaresco in the…

  14. Ep 613: The Grape Mini-Series Refresh -- Nebbiolo

    · 51 min · Episode 613

    Nebbiolo is one of the oldest and finest red grapes of Italy. Native to Piemonte (Piedmont) in the northwest of the country, it was first mentioned and described by (my boyfriend) Pliny the Elder in the first century…

  15. Ep 612: Wine Legends -- André Tchelistcheff, The Father of American Wine

    · 42 min · Episode 612

    André Tchelistcheff is a wine legend, especially in American wine. A winemaker, viticulturist and teacher, Tchelistcheff raised the standards for California wine, making it possible for it to become a force in the…

  16. Ep 611: Six MORE Alternatives to Expensive Wines

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 611

    I said in episode 604 that if you wanted my other 6 suggestions, I would do a follow up show! You told me this is what you wanted, so this time I give you six MORE wine regions that make very expensive wines and then…

  17. Ep 610: The Greats - A History of Champagne (How Champagne Became Champagne) Part 2

    · 45 min · Episode 610

    This is part two (Ep 609 is Part 1)of a two-part series on the history of Champagne, which tells the story of how Champagne became Champagne! Photo: Champagne Vineyards Credit: WFNP I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole…

  18. Ep 609: The Greats -A History of Champagne (How Champagne Became Champagne) - Part 1

    · 41 min · Episode 609

    This is part of a two-part series on the history of Champagne, which tells the story of how Champagne became Champagne! Photo: Champagne vineyards before mechanization. Source: Union des Maisons de Champagne I fell…

  19. Ep 608: The Grape Miniseries -- The Barbera Refresh

    · 54 min · Episode 608

    Barbera is one of Italy's most widely planted red grapes and an essential part of Piemontese wine culture. It is native to the Monferrato hills, where it has been grown for centuries and important to the overall wine…

  20. Ep 607: Wine Legends - The People Who Solved the Great French Wine Blight

    · 37 min · Episode 607

    In this show rather than one wine legend, I talk about a team of people who saved the wine world from The Great French Wine Blight of the 1860s – 1890s, which turned out to be caused a destructive, insect called…

  21. Re-release of Ep 310: Elena Walch - The Quality Revolutionary of Alto Adige, Italy

    · 45 min

    I couldn't get a new podcast out with my travels from Alto Adige with the patrons, but I thought it was timely I re-released this show since I was just there. It's not ALL old hat -- I did a light edit, improved the…

  22. Ep 606: Sally Evans, Owner of Château George7 in Fronsac Bordeaux, & Author of the Bestselling "Make the Midlife Move"

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 606

    After a career in global consulting and raising a family, Sally Evans decided to pursue a dream of owning a winery. She took WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) wine courses and traveled to Bordeaux to explore the…

  23. Ep 605: The Greats - The Grand Cru Whites of the Côte de Beaune, Burgundy (get to know them so you don't miss out if someone offers them to you!)

    · 53 min · Episode 605

    This episode is part of "The Greats" series, in which I discuss the greatest wines in the world and what makes them great. This time, I explore the top white Burgundies of Corton-Charlemagne, Meursault,…

  24. Ep 604: Six Alternatives to Expensive Wines

    · 47 min · Episode 604

    This time I give you six wine regions that make very expensive wines and then provide ideas of less expensive bottles that you could sub in when you don't want to splurge. From Champagne to Barolo, I give you some…

  25. Ep 603: The Veneto Region of Italy (2026 Update)

    · 55 min · Episode 603

    I haven't given an update to the Veneto region in more than a decade. With an upcoming Patron trip to the region, I think it's high time! Veneto is in northeastern Italy and is famed for wines like Prosecco,…

  26. Ep 602: Wine Legends - Émile Peynaud, The Father of Modern Enology

    · 40 min · Episode 602

    This is the start of a new series, suggested by Patron Keith S.! Thank you, Keith! I'll cover people who have made a huge difference in the wine world —figures whose contributions have shaped how wine is made,…

  27. Ep 601: Pollak Vineyards – A Leader in the Monticello AVA of Virginia

    · 42 min · Episode 601

    Pollak Vineyards is a small family-owned winery founded in 2003 when Margo and David Pollak bought a farm west of Charlottesville, Virginia. David's experience in wine was pretty extensive – he worked in the 1970s in…

  28. Ep 600: Nine Short Wine Stories -- How WFNP Listeners Got Into Wine

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 600

    600 episodes of WFNP! I am grateful to you for listening, for reading the book, for learning with me and gracefully accepting the changes over the years, and I'm especially grateful to my sponsors, guests, and travel…

  29. Rerelease and Edit of Ep 181: Laura Catena, The Leading Lady of Argentine Wine

    · 56 min

    In honor of Women's History Month, I'm rereleasing a show with one of the most dynamic, intelligent, and all around fantastic women in wine: Laura Catena of Bodegas Catena Zapata in Mendoza, Argentina. Photo from…

  30. Ep 599: The Grape Miniseries Refresh - Malbec

    · 59 min · Episode 599

    This week I cover Malbec, or Côt as it's known in its native home of Southwest France. This old red grape variety has long history in France and was once one of its most planted grapes. But due to pickiness in the…

  31. Ep 598: The Médoc and the Haut-Médoc of Bordeaux

    · 55 min · Episode 598

    This week I cover the regional AOCs of Medoc and Haut-Medoc, which wraps up our exploration of the Left Bank of Bordeaux. These two areas can cover a lot of ground, but they are usually used for discreet geographies in…

  32. Ep 597: Lodi, California -- The Past, Present, and Future of this Historic Region

    · 38 min · Episode 597

    This week I cover Lodi, California, an historic wine region in the Central Valley of California that has been growing grapes since the 1850s. Located 40 miles /64 km south of Sacramento and 90 miles/ 145 km east of…

  33. Ep 596: Back to Basics - Defining Old World & New World (and why it still matters)

    · 45 min · Episode 596

    In this show I go back to basics (the last time I covered this topic was in 2011 -- episode 7!!) and discuss the differences between the terms New World and Old World. Although it seems totally basic, there has been…

  34. Ep 595: Croatian Wine Revisited -- An Overview and Conversation with Patron and Listener Bevis Sydney

    · 55 min · Episode 595

    This show is a refresh of Episode 371 with a new take! In October of 2025, I visited Croatia on a scouting trip with my friend Brett from Walk & Wine Croatia (check them out and take a trip with them! Marija and…

  35. Ep 594: Seb Pradal, The Sommelier Consultant Behind Apple TV's Award-Winning "Drops of God"

    · 51 min · Episode 594

    If you haven't seen the Apple TV Series "Drops of God", you must change that quickly. This is, in my opinion, the single best wine show/movie ever done. It's not hokey, it shows wine in a realistic and good light, and…

  36. Ep 593: Fronsac and Canon Fronsac - The Past & Future Greats of Bordeaux

    · 43 min · Episode 593

    In the show I discuss these two outstanding appellations that once were Greats in Bordeaux and should be once again -- these are wines we should all be drinking more often, especially at the price we pay (you can get a…

  37. Ep 592: The Next Frontiers of Wine Production - New heights, techniques, regions

    · 49 min · Episode 592

    This week I discuss the current challenges facing wine due to climate change. I cover some strategies the industry is undertaking to address the major issues -- from vineyard and tech solutions to new varieties…

  38. Ep 591: Grape Mini Series - The Zinfandel Refresh

    · 54 min · Episode 591

    After 14 years, I felt like it was probably time to do another show on Zinfandel! Known as America's heritage grape, the story of the quest for its European origins is like a mystery novel with an interesting end. It…

  39. Ep 590: Back to Basics - Defining Terroir (2026 Remix)

    · 46 min · Episode 590

    Many, many years ago (like 15 years ago when I started the pod! ) I did a bunch of shows to define terroir. This was when there was a lot of controversy over whether or not terroir was "real", with people lining up on…

  40. Ep 589: The Monticello AVA of Virginia- The Birthplace of American Wine

    · 41 min · Episode 589

    Located about 2.5-3 hours southwest of Washington DC, in the southeast of the United States, the Monticello AVA is making world class wines that you need to know about! Photo: Afton Mountain Vineyards. Credit: WFNP…

  41. Ep 588: The Greats of Bordeaux – Pomerol

    · 46 min · Episode 588

    As our last in the series of the Greats of Bordeaux, I tackle Pomerol -- land of the hedonistic, silky, velvety, complex wines. The name of the game in Pomerol is terroir, and what the excellent, dedicated producers do…

  42. Ep 587: The Thanksgiving Show 2025 - Two-Wine Strategies to Rule the Feast

    · 36 min · Episode 587

    Thanksgiving is one of the most difficult meals to pair with, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try! Source: Canva This year, for one of our weekly discussion questions I asked the Patrons how many wines they would…

  43. Ep 586: The Five Paths to Bubbles - The 5 Sparkling Production Methods & Styles to Try

    · 50 min · Episode 586

    Just in time for the holiday season, I review the five ways to get fizz in a wine (on purpose) -- and the wines that result. I discuss regions and styles of different wines in each of the three major categories:…

  44. Ep 585: Ten White Wines for Winter

    · 47 min · Episode 584

    At the suggestion of Patron John D., in this show I give you a list of 10 great winter whites and review each in detail! I discuss the varied styles, since most regions have multiple versions of these wines, and how to…

  45. Ep 584: The Grape Miniseries Refresh - Riesling

    · 55 min · Episode 584

    This time in the grape miniseries -- a refresh on one of my all time favorite grapes -- Riesling. This versatile grape has a long history of quality, and is highly misunderstood by most people. I review the long and…

  46. Ep 583: The Greats of Bordeaux - Graves and Pessac-Léognan

    · 38 min · Episode 583

    Lying just south of the city of Bordeaux is one of the oldest winemaking regions in the Bordeaux AOC -- Graves. Graves, along with it sub appellation of Pessac-Leognan are covered in this show as two of the great of…

  47. Re-release of Ep 306: Planeta and the Story of Modern Sicilian Wine with Alessio Planeta

    · 54 min

    I happen to be in Sicily with a group of Patrons (this could be you if you join Patreon!). While I was in Verona at Wine2Wine, in 2019, I had the honor to speak with Alessio Planeta, President at Assovini Sicilia and…

  48. Friends of the Pod Series - Ep 520: The historic, urban wines of Vienna (yes, the city!) with Alex Zahel of Weingut Zahel

    · 57 min · Episode 520

    Here's something you probably didn't know: Vienna is the only major city in the world where serious wine grown, with its own appellation, DAC Wien. In the green belt surrounding this very green city, wine grapes grow…

  49. Friends of the Pod Series - Ep 513: The Divine Dolcetto of Diano d'Alba with Giulio Abrigo of Abrigo Giovanni

    · 57 min · Episode 513

    I welcome to the show my friend Giulio Abrigo of Abrigo Giovanni Azienda Agricola, who focuses on the exquisite Dolcetto in Diano d'Alba in the Barolo zone of Piemonte. Abrigo Giovanni is a small family operation,…

  50. Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 509: Felicity Carter Exposes the Jaw-dropping Truth of Who is Guiding Global Wine & Health Policy

    · 52 min · Episode 509

    My guest Felicity Carter is probably the most brilliant journalist in wine, and certainly one of the only ones doing vital investigative work in the field of wine, health, and the neo prohibitionist movement. From 2008…

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