How the Right Wine Glass Changes Everything: Paul K Talks with Maximilian Riedel
Release Date: 08/05/2025
Inventing the Coravin: Greg Lambrecht on Transforming Wine Culture and Expanding By-the-Glass Exploration
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Who invents these things? and what experience do they have that gets them to the point that they can invent these things? Entrepreneurs are a crafty bunch. They dream. They test themselves. They switch gears on the fly. So goes the story of Greg Lambrecht, the inventor of the Coravin wine preservation and dispensing system. You have to believe the story, though it seems unbelievable, because it is true. Imagine a podcast where invention, passion, and the enduring mystique of wine come together—where stories of ingenuity inspire new perspectives on the familiar rituals of sharing a...
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Breaking Traditions: Collaboration, Diversity, and Modern Strategies in the Wine Industry
Wine Talks with Paul K.
There is alot of speculation, prognositcatiom, miss-information, ridiculous conclusions, and outright bad data about the wine trade right now. Everyone with an opinion is chiming in. And some of these folks have done nothing more than work in a wine shop or behind the scenes at an agency. How does that quote go? "It is much easier to give advice from the veil of cover, than to use it at the point of attack" That is percisely how I feel about much of what is being said. Enter Barbara Gorder. She gives advice but has used it at the point of attack. You see, she didn't come from the wine trade to...
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Behind the Bottle: Wine, Humility, and Inspiring Stories from Rome to Texas
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Wine is about the humanity. This concept hit me on a flight home from Rome. I was watching a movie and started to weep. I realized the human soul needs passion, passion forsomething; maybe another person, maybe a lifestyle, maybe a career, but passion drives our will. And wine is full of passion. To do it right, it takes nothing less than passion. Hey there, it’s Paul Kalemkiarian on Wine Talks, and in this episode, I really wanted to get personal and share how deeply humanity and humility run through every thread of the wine world at its highest levels. I open the show reflecting on a...
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Puglian Wine Evolution: Mark Shannon’s 46-Year Passion for Quality and Authenticity
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Wine Talks was invited to meet the Pope....well, at least by the language in the invitation, it sounded like we were going to meet the Pope. It turns out that the word "private audience" meant with 6294 other private invitees. Lol, it was an honor just to be there. Wine Talks took a detour out of Rome to the now-famed wine region of Puglia. Home of Primitivo, Negroamaro, and Fiano, the area of Puglia has a rich Italian history on its own. As the trip was put together on short notice, I searched through my database of Puglian wines tasted and found the wines of A MANO as wines I enjoyed....
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Unlocking Luxury Wine: Charlotte Selles on Brand Strategy, Relationships, and the Business of Wine
Wine Talks with Paul K.
It is complitcated. Life. Wine. And to help clear up the wine complication (not sure there is a way to uncomplicate life), is Charlotte Selles. With a distinctive path to her new company Tassei, she brings to the table a wealth of experience cloaked in knowedge, philosophy and experience. She is like a wine savant. She was in LA for a speaking gig and breaved an unusual SoCal downpour to come to studio to share her spirit. Charlotte Selles is the kind of guest who’ll have you reconsidering not just what’s in your wine glass, but why you care in the first place. You think you know...
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From Rocks to Wine: Diana Khandilyan’s Unique Journey Through Terroir and Winemaking
Wine Talks with Paul K.
I jumped in on a LinkedIn conversation about wine, soil, volcano's and more. Thought I would contribute to the message string. That is when I engaged Diana on the concept of terroir. But not just any terroir, but volcanic terroir. Then I realized that Diana's expertise in the realm of wine...is the soil! She is a expert in energy and geophysics! Diana Kandiglian is the kind of guest who measures her excitement in bottles, not hours. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a scientist who reads rocks for a living falls in love with wine, this episode is for you. You’ll learn how...
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Wine Innovation: Mini Bottles, Younger Drinkers, and an Industry in Transition: Meet Abby Bogle
Wine Talks with Paul K.
I keep hearing how the industry has to change, how Gen Z is aren't drinking wine, how the trade is slow to do anything....until you speak with Abby Bogle. She is the type of enthusiasm and drive that is needed to move with the times. You have all heard me say that "time will tell" and that "all generations come around to the proper glass of wine." What Abby is doing is making the proper glass of wine more accessible. Be careful, she is a bit infectious. Abby Bogle is not your average disruptor—she’s bottling up tradition, cracking open innovation, and pouring new life into the wine...
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From the LA Lakers Locker Room to Napa Valley vines: Kelly E. Carter on Diversity, Story, and Wine Exploration
Wine Talks with Paul K.
I can tell you it was like sitting with a long, lost neighbor when sitting with Kelly E. Carter. And in fact, we were neighbors of sorts back in the day. It wasn't until I was searching for images to create the icons for this podcast did I realize I was in the presence of true maverick royalty. Besides being a New York Times best selling author, she has reported from the greatest sporting events of the world: the NBA FInals, Super Bowls, Grand Slams, Stanley Cup Finals and much more. And more intriguing, she was the woman reporter in the locker room! I was so intrigued and we could...
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Wine, Passion, and Perseverance: Why Human Connection Matters in Hospitality
Wine Talks with Paul K.
Sometimes I just get an hankering. Ya know, a chance to try and tell it like it is. There is no óne-size" fits all solution to what is happening in our trade. And there still are many successes in the trade...more to come on that front. Wine is too important to the existance of man to address the ills of the trade with thinking marketing and packaging solutions will solve the problems. Certainly, the trade can make some contemporary adjustments to those issues, but those are not the core issues. They can't be, wine is a conduit for the human soul to the soil; deep rooted (pun intended) in our...
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Beyond the Vines: Tony Biagi’s Journey Through Napa, To Kalon, and Winemaking Wisdom
Wine Talks with Paul K.
One of the on-going themes with Wine Talks, with virtually all guests, is the idea that you never stop learning in the wine trade. I supposed you could say that about many industries, but wine carries with it the idea of the harvest; the surrounding conditions that otherwise would be called "terroir" when discussing the differences from one year to the next. And there in lies the "never stop learning" aspect of wine. Each year is different and each your your knowledge and curiosity is compounded. Tony Biagi relishes in this concept. He finds the will and the drive directly from the annual but...
info_outlineOnce I was asked to meet a vendor at a local diner...a diner like the one at the end of the movies Sideways. Complete with amber plastic tumblers. IN walked one of the old time great wine slaesman with his wares in tow. I must have looked cross-eyed because I was sure he would not want to taste his wines here, at this diner. I was wrong and he did. This is when I learned how important the proper glass is when tasting or drinking wine. I guess some of us learn the hard way.
Prepare to be absolutely amazed and inspired by this deep dive into the world of wine glasses and the family legacy behind Riedel, the world’s oldest glass-producing company! In this fascinating episode of Wine Talks, host Paul K sits down with Maximilian Riedel, the charismatic 11th-generation leader of Riedel, and the conversation will forever change the way you think about what’s in your glass.
Maximilian reveals that it’s the DNA of the grape that determines the shape of the glass—how cool is that? Wine glasses are not designed on computers or drawn out in some sterile lab; they’re born through taste, smell, texture, and endless experimentation alongside renowned winemakers from the world’s top regions. We learn that even the world’s most iconic glasses, meticulously crafted over generations, owe their existence to a relentless process of trial and error and to the subtle, invaluable feedback from true wine experts. Who knew that glass shape could affect the way wine tastes so much?
We’re also treated to incredible stories—from how only the last three generations of the Riedel family fell in love with wine, to wild collaborations with everyone from Champagne houses to the tequila industry (yes, Riedel invented the first tequila-sipping glass, honored by the President of Mexico!). Maximilian opens up about following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps, the influence of family, and how he’s trying to inspire his own young kids to appreciate the culture and storytelling of wine and glassware.
But the discussion doesn’t stop at the glass itself. Paul and Maximilian explore broader wine culture—why restaurant wine pricing can be intimidating, the evolving language of wine, and why social media is so crucial for connecting with younger generations and spreading the joy and artistry of wine.
This episode will make you want to rethink everything you know about wine tasting, glassware, and even the traditions and values that shape the way we drink. Maximilian’s passion, humor, and eye-opening insights will leave you wanting to experience wine in a whole new way.
If you’ve ever wondered whether the glass matters or are curious about the magical intersection of history, craftsmanship, and wine, this is a must-watch. Don’t miss this journey into the artistry, science, and family stories that make every sip extraordinary!
Riedel (Wine glass and decanter manufacturer)
https://www.riedel.com
Tiffany & Co. (Referenced as "Tiffany’s")
https://www.tiffany.com
Target (Referenced as "Target")
https://www.target.com
Dom Pérignon (Champagne house)
https://www.domperignon.com
Krug Champagne (Champagne house)
https://www.krug.com
George V / Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
https://www.fourseasons.com/paris/
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