The Four Top

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Savor the conversation. Join a roundtable of nationally prominent pundits as they discuss today’s hot-button topics in food and beverage culture. Hosted by Katherine Cole.

The Four Top


    • Feb 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 191 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Four Top podcast is a captivating and informative exploration of food, beverage, and culture. Hosted by Katherine Cole, the podcast features a rotating panel of guests who bring their expertise and diverse perspectives to each episode. The format is conversational and relaxed, making it an easy listen that feels like joining in on an engaging dinner party discussion. What sets this podcast apart is its unique ability to connect food and drink to broader social, environmental, and political issues, providing a well-rounded and thought-provoking experience.

    One of the best aspects of The Four Top is its variety of topics covered. Each episode delves into different aspects of food and beverage culture, from discussions about plant communication to exploring the meaning of "American" food. This diverse range keeps the podcast fresh and ensures that there is something for everyone, whether you consider yourself a foodie or simply have an interest in learning more about what you eat and drink. The guests on the show are all experts in their respective fields, bringing deep knowledge and passion to each conversation.

    Another standout quality of The Four Top is the engaging and enjoyable personalities of the panelists. The conversations are dynamic, with each participant adding their own perspectives and insights. This creates a lively atmosphere that draws listeners in and keeps them engaged throughout the entire episode. Additionally, the hosts' ability to balance fun banter with informed content gives the podcast a relatable quality that makes it accessible to a wide range of listeners.

    While there are many great aspects to The Four Top, one potential drawback is that some episodes may not resonate with every listener. With such a diverse range of topics covered, it's possible that certain episodes may not align with personal interests or preferences. However, this can also be seen as a strength as it allows listeners to pick and choose episodes based on their specific interests.

    In conclusion, The Four Top is a captivating podcast that offers a unique blend of entertainment, education, and exploration of food, beverage, and culture. The conversational format, engaging personalities, and diverse range of topics make it a standout in the culinary podcast genre. Whether you're a foodie or simply curious about the world of food and drink, The Four Top is sure to satisfy your cravings for knowledge and entertainment.



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    Latest episodes from The Four Top

    Ep. 190: Taking the Long View w/ Amelia Morán Ceja

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 24:14


    Nearly every facet of American life has been thrown into uncertainty since Donald Trump took office last month. Undocumented immigrants and their communities are perhaps the most impacted. Searching for some understanding for how these unprecedented times may impact the wine world, we turn to Amelia Morán Ceja of Ceja Vineyards Winery for her perspective. Tune in to hear her words of wisdom. 

    Ep. 189: A Wine Community Faces the Unimaginable

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 21:50


    We're on a short hiatus, but the world isn't. While we work on more episodes for you all, we are bringing you our conversation with Helen Johannesen (of Helen's Wines) about the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires. Our dear friend and occasional co-host Martín Reyes, MW joins as well, and while the fires are devastating, Helen brings us glimpses of community, hope, and rebuilding. 

    Ep. 188: Nootropics and Adaptogens, Anyone?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 26:05


     Get out those flashcards, there is some new vocab to pair with your N. A. beverages. Pooches pounce on pests and pestilence in vineyards. Orange you glad that orange wine is finally official in Collio? We catch up on all the non serious wine news we missed over the holidays. These are the stories we're following this week on your favorite wine news podcast, The Four Top.

    Ep. 187: New Year, Same Trends

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 29:43


     The Surgeon General sends shockwaves through the beverage world. A rock star Napa winemaker goes N.A. We speak with the @sober_somm. Food tourism is dead, according to the New York Times. These are the top wine news stories we're covering this week on The Four Top

    Ep. 186: Happy New Year from The Four Top!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 16:07


    Happy New Year from The Four Top! We take it easy this week, sharing our new year resolutions and discussing our favorite stories from the past year. If you are looking for a chill podcast to help nurse your Champagne-addled head, this is the one! 

    Ep. 185: Holiday Tales from The Four Top

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 19:59


    THIS IS NOT A DRILL: Santa Claus himself joins us on Ep. 185. You won't believe what we learn from (and about) Old Saint Nick. Once Santa signs off, we deliver you some pitches for wine-centric Hallmark holiday classics. Somebody get us a movie deal...

    Ep. 184: Let Me Google That for You

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 35:07


     The FTC aims its phasers at Southern Glazer's misbehavior. Spain reigns atop the Liv-Ex Power 100. Sleepy girls are Googling. We chat with Sprudge founder Jordan Michelman about wine gifts. These are the wine news stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 183: Crushed Glass & ICE Advice

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 30:46


    Michelin-starred restaurants rally behind Kally. We bring you advice for dealing with ICE. Washington's glass recycling industry is crushed. We welcome Women who Sparkle. These are the wine news stories we're bringing you this week on The Four Top. 

    Ep. 182: Tequila Tariffs and Ancient Vines

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 30:11


    Trump touts tequila tariffs. Chefs begin to repeal the eels in their meals. Drinks retail needs to bring on the fun. Alder Yarrow talks old vines. These are the wine news stories we're following this week on The Four Top. 

    Ep. 181: Pizza Wine & Faux Foie Gras

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 19:49


    Landowners weigh whether to plant crops or harvest clean energy. Prepare your maw for faux foie gras. Trump taps a new secretary of agriculture. It is time to acknowledge Indigenous people's impact on wine. These are the wine news stories we're covering this week on The Four Top. 

    Ep. 180: (Thirty-Five Million) Buck Chuck

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 25:36


    A major producer drops glass weight. Gen Z wants a no ABV party. Tis the season for best wines lists. We phone a friend in France to discuss levies out of London. All this and more on your favorite wine news podcast, The Four Top.

    Ep. 179: Tariffs and Toxic Waste

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 34:30


    Trump tariffs have some terrified. It's not phylloxera, it's late frosts and freak storms. Workers allege toxic waste in winegrowers' waterways. The Aussies go aeronautical with aeration. These are the wine news stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 178: Napa Handles the Heat

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 22:18


    The rain in Spain does not fall mainly on the plain. Fine wine is in decline, but some producers still shine. It turns out Nick is not the only thing that likes to get drunk in the woods. Napa can handle the heat. These are the wine news stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 177: Ghosts, Ghouls, and GPTs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 34:59


    We have wine country horror stories for you this Halloween week. Plus, we have a famous comedian's contribution to wine home decor, and all the latest on AI in the wine industry. To wrap things up, we phone a friend, that friend being Jason Wise of SommTV. Jason is going to tell us all about the Ghosts of Napa Valley. These are the wine news stories we have this week on The Four Top. 

    Ep. 176: Chardonngay and a New AVA

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 28:45


    Criminals cashed in on counterfeit wine. Hip hip hooray! Napa's got a new AVA. What's going on at Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton? And in the name of Come Over October, we get to know the gal behind Chardonngay. These are the wine news stories we're following this week on your go-to wine news podcast, The Four Top.

    Ep. 175: Blue Zones B.S. and Billion Dollar Buyouts

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 30:00


    It's Come Over October, and we've got Kimberly Charles on the mic! We're watching Weed and Wine. Katherine is boozing in Berlin. A winery was acquired for a truly ungodly sum. The Blue Zones may have been bullshit. These are the stories we're following this week in the wine world.

    Ep. 174: Dock Strikes and Chip Farms

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 26:43


    Karen MacNeil joins us on Ep. 174!Dock workers struck and some wine got stuck. Non-alcoholic champagne is here and it is a little pricey. Oregon's governor chooses chip farms over grape farms. Come on over because it's October. These are the wine news stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 173: The Joy of Wine

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 36:34


    Somewhere in the recent flurry of negative wine news, we forgot the most important thing about our industry: the joy. Anna Maria Ponzi of Linfield University's Center for Wine Education and Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard join us on Ep. 173 to remind us of that joy, and give us tips on how to spread it far and wide. Listen to this episode with a glass in hand; we're finding that joy once again. 

    Ep. 172: India is Bucking Wine Trends

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 22:51


    Deluges along the Danube drench wineries. India may be the savior wine needs. A firefighter fans flames in California. Wineries could find a friend in the USPS if some senators get their way. These are the four wine news stories we're following this week on The Four Top, with a special guest: food and wine writer Henna Bakshi!

    Ep. 171: We're All Wine Wankers

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 20:43


    We were so honored and excited to be named as finalists in the audio category of the inaugural 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards. We got to travel to London to attend the awards ceremony, and the best part was talking to so many talented wine communicators. We even got a few of them to hop on the mic, and thus this episode was born! Tune in to hear Jancis Robinson, Richard Hemming, André Mack, Agnese Gintere, Henna Bakshi, Samantha Cole-Johnson, Elaine Chukan Brown, and Amanda Barnes talk about their wine world hot takes, what they're enjoying now, and their own work. Cheers! 

    Ep. 170: A Teaser

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 2:23


    We do not have a full episode for you this week! We were all traveling for the past 7-10 days and could not get an episode together for you. But that's mostly a good thing, because we were at the 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards in London! We were able to speak to some very talented wine communicators to get their thoughts and insights, and we'll be bringing you all that magic next week in a recap episode. Until then, enjoy this litte teaser. Cheers! 

    Ep. 169: New Grapes, Same Bullshit

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 22:18


    South African wineries are fans of wasps and bullshit. Napa Valley's tourist stats are good news. You may RSVP to your next wedding invite via Resy. France welcomes new grape varieties. These are the four wine news stories were following this week on The Four Top.

    Ep. 168: Cabernet Cocoons and Aged Grapes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 18:32


    Prehistoric pips point to possible birthplace of grapes. You can now walk from St. Helena to Calistoga. An unrealized real estate empire implodes. Cocoons are for caterpillars and cabernet. These are the four wine news stories we're following this week on The Four Top.

    Ep. 167: Rubles, Roundup, and Rapa Nui

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 17:21


    Chile designates new D.O.s. Mysterious brain diseases in Canada are cause for concern. Vine saboteurs are horrible, terrible, no good, very bad people. Vladimir Putin forks out rubles for rosés and reds. These are the four stories we're following this week on The Four Top.

    Ep. 166: Walking Off the Wine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 21:37


    Wine is not allowed to be fun or festive. California wants to chuck out self-checkout. Champagne lightens up. Walkathons are all the rage in Prosecco country. These are the news stories we're following this week on The Four Top. 

    Ep. 165: Chillable Reds and Friends

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 31:33


    Katherine, Ruby, and Nick met in person for the first time...this week. That's pretty wild. Instead of bringing you a regular episode, we celebrated by talking about the rising popularity of chillable red wines (or is it chilled red wines?) and drinking rosé (a bit ironic). Sure, the audio quality isn't quite up to snuff, but we learned that we can be real life friends! 

    Ep. 164: Taxing the Air

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 26:00


    VWE declares bankruptcy. Politicians and producers want to blow up the bubble tax. Winemakers are fretful thanks to the French far right. The man behind the American winery aesthetic has passed away. These are the four wine news stories we're discussing this week on your favorite wine news podcast, The Four Top.

    Ep. 163: Wine Bots and Unpaid Bills

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 24:47


    A former employee has spilled the tea about Visit Napa Valley. A deadbeat winery owner gets sued for shirking his bills. Treasury Wine Estates has gone full robot mode. Pete Wells quit his job before his job quit him. These are the wine news stories we're discussing on The Four Top.

    Ep. 162: Swiftonomics and the Supreme Court

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 22:14


    Swiftonomics comes to the wine world. The Supreme Court creates chaos for alcohol producers. A big tech exec wants to expand access to wine. Fires force evacuations in Central Coast wine country. These are the wine stories we're following on episode 162 of The Four Top.

    Ep. 161: Booze, Hold the Alcohol

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 28:35


    Anchor Brewing is raised once again. Wine pain is beer pain. Hops, water, and that's it. And the hottest thing in alcohol is no alcohol. These are the four topics we're covering this week on the beer takeover of The Four Top.  

    Ep. 160: Garden Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 30:44


    This week we are taking a break from the news, and oh man was this ever the week to take a break from the news… We have the pleasure of bringing you this fun, insightful, and, honestly, relaxing conversation Katherine recently had with occasional co-host Martín Reyes, MW, and our friend Wendy Phillips, aka the Garden Somm. Hopefully it will inspire you to slow down a bit, take in your surroundings, and enjoy a good glass of wine. 

    Ep. 159: (Chilled) Red Wine Supernova

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 16:12


    Bordeaux bets big on Virginia wine. Very old vino is found near Sevilla. Wineries dodge a wildfire bullet. Olfactory stimulation is the new health craze. These are the top wine news stories we're following on Ep. 159 of The Four Top. 

    Ep. 158: Pests, Pricing, and Pinot Noir

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 20:31


    Spotted species stopped short of soaring into Sonoma. A price pullback by Château Figeac. The Bay Area celebrates Pinot Noir from afar. Are the World's 50 Best Restaurants too avant-garde for their own good? These are the top wine news stories we're following on Ep. 158 of The Four Top.

    Ep. 157: Dolly Parton Giveth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 22:05


    Sweden loosens its hold on hooch. The FTC aims its phasers at Southern Glazer's. The future of wine growing may be from the 1990s. The fight over foil necks continues. These are the top wine news stories we're following this week.

    Ep. 156: Smoke and Sulfur

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 21:58


    Nightly wine and cheese parties may just stave off dementia. Canned wine stink is sunk. Smokey the Bear says power companies must pay for smoke tainted wines. And was 2023 the vintage of the century? These are the wine news stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 155: Weed > Wine?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 24:55


    The results are in from the re-judgment of Paris. Weed wins over wine on days that end in Y. Paper beats rock - sort of - in the spirits world. We bring you the buyout rundown for spring 2024. These are the wine news stories we're following this week on The Four Top.  

    Ep. 154: Vegan Beef and Sake Futures

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 21:31


    The Pom Wonderful Company is apparently the Not So Wonderful Company. Regenerative ag is coming for vegan cuisine. The future of futures is not wine, but sake. Climate change is fouling up fermentation (so we think). This is the wine news we're watching this week on the Four Top. 

    Ep. 153: Tomato Wine and the Sideways Guy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 25:37


    Low spirits in wine and spirits as we lose another great wine publication. Pernod Ricard is getting out of Down Under. Tomato wine is...wait...tomato wine? And wine isn't a democracy, according to the Sideways guy. These are the news stories we're following this week.  

    Ep. 152: No Future for Bordeaux Futures?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 18:03


    Freixenet cuts worker hours due to a force majeure. Champagne is wrapped up over neck wrappers. The future of Bordeaux futures hangs in the balance. Chablis and Cahors have had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. These are the wine stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 151: Wine: The Superior Sports Drink

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 22:25


    Our taste buds are no match for robot probes. Revino brings reuse to wine bottles. Restaurant reservation rage is at an all time high. The hottest spritz spirit has doubled production. These are the wine news stories we're covering this week.  

    Ep. 150: Reruns: Sound Off on Roundup

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 45:48


    Katherine is speaking at a wine celebration in Croatia this week, so we've dug a classic episode out of the vault for you. This engrossing, and at times shocking, episode deals with everyone's least-favorite, most-used herbicide: Roundup. It is the perfect pairing for Earth Week, so please enjoy! Here it is, folks; our episode about Roundup…but it's so much more than that. We dive into regenerative agriculture, climate action, and the fight over how to grow grapes on a rapidly changing planet.Rounding out our expertise this week are Dr. Jamie Goode, an award-winning wine journalist, plant biologist, and the author of I Taste Red: The Science of Tasting Wine; and Anna Brittain, the founder and executive director of Napa Green and Napa RISE.

    Ep. 149: Enzymes, Endorphins, and Ethanol

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 24:06


    Martín Reyes, MW continues his residency in part two of our exploration of alcohol metabolization. We get into enzymes, dopamine, and orgasms in this occasionally off-kilter discussion of how our bodies deal with alcohol. All aboard our very adult Magic School Bus! 

    Ep. 148: The One with Science In It

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 21:03


    Martín Reyes, MW is back for a two-episode arc! We've got science, dad jokes, and questionable man-made sound effects on this one. Join us as Katherine and Martín dig in to how alcohol is metabolized in our bodies in part one of this two-parter. 

    Ep. 147: Teetotalers v.s. Nebuchadnezzars

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 17:11


    Neo prohibitionists have the ears of health officials. It turns out old vines can travel. We've got a climate change game show for you. Yet another wine brand has been bought by its founder. These are the wine news stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 146: Import Outrage and Export Heroics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 21:49


    A winemaker takes back his brand from a big ol' private equity firm. A surprising amount of American wine is not actually American. Organic wine importers are completely freaking out, and we don't blame them. Washington State is throwing British Columbia a lifeline. These are the four wine news stories wer're following this week. 

    Ep. 145: The Curse of the Blue Nun

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 15:27


    A winery uses AI to sexy up its team, do backflips, and oh yeah, sell wine. Californians are scrambling for last resort fire insurance. We've definitely identified the economic sweet spots for the wine industry. The curse of the blue nun has been lifted. These are the wine news stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 144: Sheep and Cheese and Registries

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 15:28


    Sheep counting has gotten out of hand. Cheese is on the chopping block. Wine retailers love registries. Ukrainian wine abides. These are the four wine news stories we're following this week. 

    Ep. 143: Snow in the Sierras and Saboteurs in Spain

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 16:47


    Snow in the Sierra Nevadas. Saboteurs in Spain. The French court says, "mais non," to predatory negociants, and we have all been speaking Latin all wrong. These are the four wine news stories at our table right now.

    Ep. 142: Dr. WHO?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 44:22


    Martín Reyes, MW is back, and he's brought some friends. With their help, we get into misleading claims from the W.H.O, the health effects of wine, and how moderation may just be good for you. Joining us this week are Dr. Laura Catena, a Harvard and Stanford trained biologist and physician, fourth generation vintner, and the managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata in Argentina; and Dr. Miles Hassell, a specialist in Internal Medicine, the author of Good Food, Great Medicine, and a professor at Pacific University.

    Ep. 141: Zillennial Zeitgeist, Secretive Subpoenas & Sub-Zero Temps

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 15:11


    Mystery subpoenas hit some of the Napa Valley's biggest names. Someone claims to have tapped into the zillennial zeitgeist. British Columbia has been frozen out, and Rioja is sounding a bit more charming. These are the wine stories we're following this week.

    Ep. 140: Psilocybin and Smoke Taint

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 19:52


    Well, move over wine; magic mushrooms are taking over. Israel's pruning season is in distress. Hay un escándalo en La Rioja. Smoke taint, rose taint, there's taint, and we're going to talk about it. These are the four wine stories we're following this week.

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