I’ve been waiting to share this episode with you. Because this one is personal.In 2021, I joined a wine marketing course at UC Davis.I was in Australia, pregnant (without knowing it yet), staying up through the night to join the lessons. And there he was, Paul Wagner, challenging everything I thought I knew.At one point, he said something I couldn’t agree with:“Tasting rooms don’t need someone with deep wine knowledge. Most of the time, they bore the customers.”I remember literally raising my hand to disagree.I was proud of my knowledge. I wanted to be taken seriously.And to be honest? I felt offended.But, that comment stuck with me. It lit a fire.Not because it was comfortable, but because it made me question.Why do we assume the customer wants a mini WSET lecture?Why do we act like knowledge alone makes us worthy of being listened to?Why did I feel I had to perform this “serious wine professional” role… even if it felt robotic?Looking back now, I realise that moment changed everything for me.I started watching people differently.Noticing how they react when we talk about “production trivia”, how quickly their eyes glaze over, how often we lose the joy, the actual magic, in an effort to sound credible.And a few years later… here I am, saying Paul’s words loudly on social media, laughing at myself for once resisting them.Paul Wagner helped change me. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.Because sometimes, the people who challenge you the most are the ones who help you find your real voice.Listen to our Vino Visionaries chat on Spotify:Or watch the full episode of Vino Visionaries on YouTube.Let me know what you think. Because the wine world won’t change just because we talk about it. It changes when we start asking better questions.📲 Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/vino_visionaries_podcast▶️ Explore more episodes on our YouTube channel: @vino_visionaries🌐 Visit our website: www.rethinking.wine👥Connect with Paul Wagner: https://www.paulwagnerwine.com/#VinoVisionaries #RethinkingWine #YouAreNotTheMarket #WineMarketing #SocraticThinking #WineWithHeart #PaulWagner #HospitalityNotHierarchy

Sometimes it feels like if you’re not in a fine dining restaurant, reading from a thick wine list, then you’re not “allowed” to enjoy good wine.

But what if that mindset is the real barrier?

In this episode of Vino Visionaries, we explore what happens when wine is reimagined, not as a product for special occasions, but as a part of everyday life.

Not limited to rituals and rules, but open to real people, real places, and real emotions.

We talk about creating wines that feel fresh, consistent, and inclusive. Wines you can share with friends on the beach, at the park, or after a long day, without needing a script or permission.

The deeper reflection is this: Are we building the wine world we wish existed, or simply repeating what we were taught?

This isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about raising our awareness of who we’re really making wine for and who we might be leaving out.

The future of wine doesn’t need more gatekeepers.It needs more connection.

📲 Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/vino_visionaries_podcast

▶️ Explore more episodes on our YouTube channel: @vino_visionaries

🌐 Visit our website: www.rethinking.wine

👥Connect with Los Cuernos: https://loscuernos.com

#rethinkingwine #vinovisionaries #winewithoutwalls #everydayluxury #emotionoverritual #wineforpeople #loscuernos

We talk a lot about sustainability in the wine industry—organic vineyards, biodynamic rituals, carbon offsetting—but there's one elephant in the room no one wants to touch...The glass bottle.In our latest episode with Melissa Saunders MW, founder of Wine Queen, we peel back the label on everything we assume about packaging, quality, and tradition.Why bag-in-box has the lowest carbon footprint of all wine packaging. Why glass is not the symbol of quality we think it is. Why “recyclable” doesn’t always mean sustainable.Why tradition might be holding us back more than helping us grow. And why courage—not packaging—is the real issue.As Melissa says:“Initiating any kind of change can be scary… but if we stay afraid, then there’s stagnation. And that’s not exciting at all.”What do you think: Is the wine industry ready to #rethink the glass bottle? Can premium wine really come in a box? Or are we still too attached to traditional appearances?The latest new Vino Visionaries episode now live.

📲 Follow us on Instagram: vino_visionaries_podcast

▶️ Explore more episodes on our YouTube channel: @vino_visionaries

🌐 Visit our website: www.rethinking.wine

👥Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-monti-saunders-master-of-wine-22a9375/

#rethinkingthewineindustry #MelissaSaunders #MW #vinovisionaries #PriscillaHennekam #podcast #winepodcast #wineinnovation#RethinkingTheWineIndustry #Sustainability #PackagingMatters #WineInnovation #BagInBox