Wine Tourism Your Way: Hidden Gems and Global Adventures
Release Date: 11/13/2024
How to Discover the Heart of Hungary’s Wine Culture
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this warm and flavorful episode, Laurel reconnects with Csilla Janosi: winemaker, wine tour organizer, and passionate ambassador for Hungarian food and wine culture. Laurel recounts her recent visit to Hungary, where she explored centuries-old cellars, and where she visited Csilla's winery. Together, they dive into Hungary’s unique wine regions, traditional grape varieties, and the cultural richness that infuses each glass of wine. Csilla also shares the story of the winery she has with her joint venture with partner Monica, Molla Winery, and how their mission extends far beyond wine...
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How to Blend Legacy and Passion into Great Wine
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons is joined by Andrea Kaiser, founder of Drea’s Wine Co. and daughter of the legendary winemaker Karl J. Kaiser, co-founder of Inniskillin Wines. Andrea shares her incredible journey, from growing up in the vineyards of Niagara-on-the-Lake to launching her own boutique label in tribute to her father. This heartfelt and inspiring episode explores the challenges of building a wine brand from scratch, the evolution of Niagara’s wine scene, and the importance of supporting local producers. Andrea opens up about her career in marketing,...
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It's Halloween: How to Enjoy Wine Behind the Screams
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this special Halloween edition of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons invites you to a hauntingly good time with spooky wine names, haunted cellars, ghost stories, and wine tips that are perfect for your next Halloween gathering. Whether you're curious about “ferocious tannins,” looking to impress your guests with clever wine and candy pairings, or just want to discover some eerie bottles to add to your collection, this episode has something deliciously dark for you. Plus, you’ll get to hear not just one wonky wine term but two! What You’ll Discover: The truth...
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How a Love of Wine Became the Wine Likes App
Wine Behind The Scenes
What starts as a story inspired by a grandfather’s World War II experience with champagne turns into a full-circle journey through fine dining, wine education, and app development. In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons is joined by Jeff Gillis, a certified sommelier, adjunct professor, and former food and beverage director at luxury hotels in Beverly Hills and Napa Valley. Jeff shares how his upbringing shaped his love of wine and why curating wine lists at five-star hotels prepared him for teaching and innovating. He talks about building his app, Wine...
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How to Find Your Place in a Changing Wine World
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons chats with Joel Droogh, whose path to the wine industry started on a dairy farm outside Ottawa. From chasing cows as a kid to crafting low-alcohol wines in Niagara, Joel shares how his hands-on background and entrepreneurial drive led him to a life among the vines. Joel opens up about his transition from brewing to winemaking, why Canadian wineries are facing big challenges (and big opportunities), and how younger drinkers are reshaping the industry. They talk branding, climate change, community engagement, and what it will take for...
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How to Untangle the World of Wine: Questions & Answers
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with her niece, Liesel Meissner, for a fun, informative, and completely unpretentious conversation about wine. Tired of being overwhelmed in wine shops and feeling lost when restaurant lists, Liesel came armed with questions, and Laurel delivered the answers. From understanding residual sugar and decoding trendy terms like "orange wine" and "pet-nat," to what wine to bring to a business dinner, this episode strips away the mystery and seriousness and gets real about what makes wine enjoyable and accessible. If you’ve ever...
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Tannins, Tunnels & Tito: How to Explore Croatia’s Wine Heritage
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons reconnects with Kit Pepper, a wine editor, educator, and founder of Cheers Croatia Magazine. Kit, who lives on the island that's a 50-minute ferry ride from the Dalmatian city of Split, returns to dive even deeper into Croatia’s long, complex relationship with wine. From the ancient Greeks and Romans to the shadow of communism and the wars of the 1990s, Kit shares how politics, geography, and culture shaped Croatian viniculture and how the industry is thriving today. The conversation also explores the rise of wine tourism, the...
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Supermarket to Lemberger: How to Uncork the Unexpected
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with wine educator Elaine Peters to explore the vibrant world of Ontario wine through the lens of personal experience, cultural connection, and joyful discovery. Elaine shares how she transitioned from corporate life to the tasting room, from Bell to the LCBO and now to Between the Lines Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Along the way, she embraced her love of wine by diving into WSET courses and finding her voice in the world of wine. Whether she’s guiding visitors through tastings in multiple languages or highlighting...
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How to Make Wine with Grapes, Grit (and Sumac)
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sat down with Yvonne Irvine, a long-time winemaker in Niagara and the co-founder of Maenad Wine Co. Yvonne shares her journey from studying biotechnology and business to launching a brand that’s all about creative freedom, fun, and celebrating women unapologetically. Her wines are low-intervention, playful, and packed with personality from co-ferments with botanicals to pét-nats and piquette blends. They talk about what it means to make wine without the pressure of tradition, why it matters to create space for women in the wine...
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Buying Wine? How To (Maybe) Outsmart Your Brain
Wine Behind The Scenes
In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, also known as The Wine Psychologist, to explore how celebrity culture and subtle psychological triggers shape our wine choices, whether we realize it or not. From wine-tasting experiments with Olympic athletes to the endowment effect (a real thing!) and why we’re more likely to buy something we’ve physically touched, Antonia shares her fascinating research into the subconscious forces behind buying and enjoying wine. This is a conversation that’s as playful as it is eye-opening, especially...
info_outlineGet ready to pour a glass, relax, and let’s go into the world of wine, travel, and discovery!
In this episode you will be able to:
- Discover the hidden wine regions of Eastern Europe, including Serbia, Armenia, and North Macedonia, that are waiting to be explored.
- Learn how Samantha Schultz crafts personalized travel itineraries tailored for wine lovers, ensuring unique experiences.
- Understand the differences between well-known wine regions and lesser-known gems, and what to expect from each.
- Get insider tips for planning your next wine-tasting travel adventure, including transportation and local customs.
- Hear about the organic and intimate wine-tasting experiences in Eastern Europe compared to more commercialized wine tourism in places like Napa Valley.
Having travelled extensively through lesser-known wine regions such as Serbia, Armenia, North Macedonia, and Albania, Samantha brings a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to her clients. Her approach to wine tourism is deeply rooted in understanding her client's preferences, ensuring that each trip is tailored to create unforgettable experiences.
Contact Samantha Schultz here: