A conversation with Vitalie Taittinger, President of Taittinger, on tradition, leadership, and the future of one of Champagne’s most iconic houses.

We discuss the balance between heritage and evolution, the role of family, and why the experience of visiting Champagne remains so central to understanding the wines.

A conversation with Dr. Laura Catena — physician, fourth-generation winemaker, and one of the leading voices in the discussion around wine and health.

In a space often dominated by headlines and conflicting studies, Laura brings clarity to what we actually know — and what we don’t. From the role of moderation to the challenges of studying alcohol, this is a thoughtful, nuanced look at one of the most debated topics in wine today.

Key Themes

• Why wine & health is so difficult to study
• The difference between correlation and causation
• Moderate consumption vs. extremes
• Cultural context (Mediterranean lifestyle)
• Why headlines often oversimplify the science
• The role of polyphenols and compounds in wine
• Personal responsibility and informed choice
• How the conversation around alcohol is evolving

A conversation with Omri Ram of Château Lafleur on independence, old vines, and what it means to steward one of Bordeaux’s most singular wines. From a handwritten letter that changed his life to the philosophy of “elegant power,” this episode explores why Lafleur has always stood apart

• Lafleur as an outsider in Bordeaux
• Independent, never chasing styles or trends
• “Elegant power” — contradictions in harmony
• A wine defined by balance between opposing elements
• Old vine genetics and Bouchet
• A rare, preserved genetic identity at the core of Lafleur
• From handwritten letter to Lafleur
• Persistence and belief — no website, no email, just a letter
• Farming first
• “We are farmers before anything else” — the philosophy behind
• every decision
• Climate change and vineyard resilience
• Diversity in genetics as a response to extreme conditions
• Wine is meant to be shared
• “A wine exists if people are drinking it — not buying it”

Uncorking What's Next launches April 29th. Host Jeff Zacharia introduces the show and what's coming.