Urban Wine Club Podcast

We welcome the iconic Howie Rubin to the show! Howie moved to San Francisco in 1975 in search of a good time at age 21, and ended up helping open up America's first wineries bar, the London Wine Bar. They served wines by the glass and had winemaker dinners back then, and he was bitten by the wine bug. He traveled to wine regions all over California and carved himself quite a niche at the wine bar, where wine was really coming into its own. 2 years later he worked a crush at Mayacamas Vineyards on top of Mt. Veeder, and he got a real education and appreciation for how much work goes into producing a bottle of wine.Phase 2 of his career took place at the Breakers Hotel in Florida, where he lived for a year. He was one of 4 sommeliers on the floor and really tuned up his education on how to serve, how to sell, and how to learn about European wines. He tried to get the Hotel to take on some California wines, but they were resistant! Howie then moved to Marblehead in 1980 and began what turned out to be a 43-year run on Valentine's Day 1980. He worked for 4 different owners over those years, and each one let him run the business his way, which is customer service comes before anything else. During the 90s he had a 2-minute radio program on wine, airing twenty times a week, talking about the trends and highlights of the wine business in Boston. He also hosted dinners with Daniel Bruce for the Boston wine festival and did that for many years.When he was presented with the opportunity to open up Vin Fromage, he was ready for a change. The local community has embraced them, and the wine program has thrived and grown under his watch. The philosophy that worked at Bauers is the same there... always put your customers' needs first!Learn more at:https://vinaufromage.com/https://www.instagram.com/vinfromage/See more on the free Urban Wine Club app.

We welcome the amazing Julia Zuccardi of Santa Julia Wines to the show! There are many reasons why a winery chooses its name. In this case, Santa Julia was inspired by Julia herself, the first daughter of José Zuccardi. However, it also serves as a way to showcase their values, history, and the community they are part of.As a family, the Zuccardi's are committed to the land and their people because they believe that the community that forms their winery begins with the growth of the vine and extends to the growth and progress of their team, always striving for a better world with more opportunities.RSo, once again, Santa Julia is named for Julia herself. However, today she is very proud to say that there are many people who, day by day, make her winery a better place!See more on santajulia.com.arYou can also download the free Urban Wine Club app!

Alex is a Peruvian American who created SUYO with his partner Ian to reconnect with his roots and celebrate his culture by sharing Peru's beloved flagship spirit, Pisco. He sees SUYO as a vehicle to share amazing Pisco, his home country, and the many stories that he's encountered on his journey. There are 500+ pisco producers in Peru. The majority of them are small, family-owned and operated vineyards and distilleries that are unknown outside of their villages. SUYO is a pisco discovery initiative dedicated to exploring our country, empowering small batch producers, and sharing amazing pisco with the world. Every batch of pisco is unique. We embrace the distinctiveness of each vineyard and celebrate the unique flavors its terroir creates in every release. We promote sustainable, non-intensive agriculture to ensure longevity of each vineyard's life. SUYO Pisco Website Instagram Buy Now

As someone born and raised in the Caribbean, Marc has been a student of rum, and its place within a myriad of settings, his entire life. With this has come a deep sense of appreciation for both the heritage of rum, as well as the broader role it plays in the Contemporary Caribbean culture. In the US, he believes that there is an enormous opportunity to further elevate the conversation around rum — not only by introducing a high-quality spirit to market but by broadening and challenging the current perception around the occasion for which it might be considered the spirit of choice for today's consumer. So, we're here to bring you something different. And we invite you to join us on this journey.. Learn more about Ten To One Rum & Marc! Hear more on the Urban Wine Club app >

SEE THE VIDEO REFERENCED IN THE PODCAST > We sit with the founder of Stray Dog, Johnny Livanos, and discuss his vision and journey into developing Greece's first wild gin. As a Greek American growing up in the restaurant industry, Johnny walks us through a moment in his life after realizing how many exotic and unique herbs and botanicals grow in Greece that would be the perfect recipe for a stellar gin. Upon this eureka moment, Johnny went right to work sourcing his ingredients and assembling his team to create the brand, Stray Dog Wild Gin. Stray Dog Wild Gin is a passionate supporter of animal welfare. A portion of all sales are donated to organizations and shelters in Greece that provide food, veterinary care and homes for stray animals. Join us in getting to know more about Johnny and his amazing gin! See more on the free UWC app.

The family tradition continues in this episode as we sit down with Yiannis Boutaris, the grandson of the legendary Godfather of Xinomavro, the elder Yiannis Boutaris. The Boutaris' have been the visionaries and pioneers in Northern Greece's modern wine production to elevate and showcase its potential. We discuss the family's journey from farmers to world class producers and how the family took chances during times of uncertainty. Yiannis fills us in on new acquisitions and projects in the pipeline that are super exciting. We suggest pouring yourself a glass of wine while enjoying this episode. See more on the Urban Wine Club app.

Dimitris Skouras walks us through his family's journey of building a winery in Greece and the regions they focus on. Their wines prove just how complex Greek wine can be and doesn't fail to impress co-hosts Claudia and Fotios. Grab a glass and explore these fun and foreign varietals with us. Explore Domaine Skouras. See more on the Urban Wine Club app.

Dive into the history of Vallepicciola, the various regions of Chianti, and Italian wine labels with Alessandro Cellai and cohosts Fotios and Claudia. Alessandro has been making wine since age six (yes age six) and knows the ins and outs of Tuscany. If you're looking for a deep understanding of Chianti and how to shop for Italian labels, this is the episode for you. More about Allesandro: https://podere-la-villa.it/en/our-winemaker/ See more on the Urban Wine Club app: https://urbanwineclub.co/

We discuss the inner workings of the beverage programs at restaurants, which has created some confusion while having guests feeling empty like a polished bottle of wine. Hear more on the free Urban Wine Club app: https://urbanwineclub.co/

In this episode, Claudia and Fotios get into debating whether or not people are drinking less or rather drinking differently due to Gen Z and the Sober Curiousity movement. Taking it a step further, they discuss how some companies are winning in this new age of consumption and how the outdated forms of investing in brand building are not going to cut it in 2024. Hear more with the free Urban Wine Club app!

This episode features our new co-host, Claudia Leitzmann, with Fotios Stamos discussing the “new normal” in the beverage industry and what those challenges and opportunities look like in 2024. From supplier to consumer, each tier is touched upon and describes the many ways the beverage space has never looked more different. Listen and see more on the free UWC app!

What is the Greek Wine Club? Why did we start it? And what led to this in the history of Greek wines? We answer all these questions and more in our latest podcast video! Download the free Greek Wine Club app: https://www.greekwineclub.co/

In celebration of International Women's Day (March 8th) and Women's History Month, we're partnering with the new woman-owned spice company JAHAN - https://eatjahan.com/ Meet founder Madena Mohamadi as she describes her experience growing up the daughter of a strong immigrant mother, and her passion for sharing traditional Afghan cuisine, one delicious dish at a time with her easy-to-use spice blends. This special wine event will support Madena's mission, to help fund programs delivered by the global nonprofit Women for Women International - https://www.womenforwomen.org/ Our special guest, Nathan Derri, District Manager of Dreyfus Ashby & Co. will join us to walk us through on how to understand and appreciate wines from the wonderful region of Burgundy. Nathan and UWC wine director, Fotios Stamos will explore Laforet Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and discuss how they eloquently pair with the dishes that are prepared with the delicious spice blends of JAHAN.

Ari & Foti discuss tannins. What are they, where they come from, and how they affect the wines you love. Grab a glass and join us! Download the free Urban Wine Club app!

Learn the faces behind the Greek Wine Renaissance! Watch our webinar and learn about the amazing people bringing Greek wine to the forefront! Grab a glass and join us! Watch the video of this podcast > Download the free Greek Wine Club app! Download the free Urban Wine Club app!

You ever wonder what the difference is between Pinot Grigio and Pinto Gris? Syrah and Shiraz? Well, we are here to shed some light on the reasons and differences of wine varieties that have different naming conventions! Grab a glass and join us! Download the free UWC app

Join us as we explore the truly wonderous wine-producing regions of Greece and learn what makes these diverse areas so amazing. Download the free Greek Wine Club app! Download the free Urban Wine Club app!

We do a very basic breakdown on the wine scoring system, including history and how it affects our own buying decisions. Grab a glass and join us! Download the free Urban Wine Club app!

We discuss natural cork versus screw caps (and a bit about synthetic corks too) in this great Sip Clip with Ari & Foti of Urban Wine Club. Grab a glass and join us! Download the free Urban Wine Club app!

Ari & Foti chat about Greek spirits and explain some of the straight forward questions many people ask about them. Very wonderful products and a very informative segment. Grab a glass and join us! See our Greek Spirits on Greekazon See our Greek Spirits on Greek Wine Club

Rhode Island Spirits is the home of Rhodium brand premium gins, vodkas, and liqueurs. The company is the brainchild and full time occupation of Cathy Plourde & Kara Larson, who are the founders, owners, and distillers. We had the pleasure of spending some time learning more about this amazing brand and the people behind it. Grab a glass and join us! Watch the video Purchase Rhodium Forager's Gin

We had the honor and privilege to kick off our new Greek winemaker series with a truly amazing winemaker, the one and only Stellios Boutaris of Kir-Yianni Estates! We had Stelios join us live from Greece and Ari & Foti from Greek Wine Club as well as Johnny Livanos of Diamond Wine Imports had a great chat about Greek wine and the evolution it has gone through in the last 30 years, as well as the evolution of Greece's winemakers. Grab a glass and join us! https://greekwineclub.co/ https://www.greekazon.com/ https://www.boutari.gr/

Our Sustainability Series Premiere – Drink Responsibly… It’s Not What You Think! To kick-off our Sustainability mini-series (and to celebrate Earth Month), join our guests sustainability and zero waste consultant Kaitlyn Reed, and healthy living enthusiast and nonprofit director Karen Sheehan, for a discussion about sustainably produced wines and how we can make responsible choices for our planet, and our health. With so many buzz words out there like zero waste, green, and natural, Kaitlyn and Karen will make sense of it all, and answer the question, “What does sustainable even mean?” Together with our wine expert Fotios, they’ll explain the difference between organic, natural, and sustainably grown wines and how consumer demand is changing the way winemakers produce their collections. We’ll also be sampling a few excellent and affordable sustainably produced wines. This Urban Wine Club event is Part 1 of a miniseries dedicated to living your best life – sustainably! Be responsible and join us! More about Kaitlyn Reed: Kaitlyn Reed graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in Sustainable Development. Dedicating her career to educating people of all ages about the importance of sustainability and easy ways to incorporate it into their lifestyles, she hopes to help individuals redefine what convenience means to them, one webinar at a time. About Karen Sheehan: Passionate about heathy living since her childhood years in the performing arts, Karen has continued to pursue her interest and the effects of lifestyle choices on longevity while working in the senior living industry in Massachusetts. She is the Director of Development at the Rhode Island nonprofit Clean Ocean Access and is currently studying Nutrition and Healthy Living through Cornell University, exploring connections between human health and the health of our planet. Download the free Urban Wine Club app!

Zhuzh up your cheese and charcuterie board to pair with Château Barbebelle Cuvée Madeleine Rouge and benefit The Alex Manfull Memorial Fund Supporting Research, Education, and Treatment of PANDAS. Please join Susan and William “Towny” Manfull, founders of The Alex Manfull Memorial Fund, and David Scott Allen, editor of Cocoa & Lavender, at the Urban Wine Club for a fun and informative webinar about an excellent (2017) French red wine from Château Barbebelle in Provence. This Cuvée Madeleine Rouge (2017) – aka “Alex’s wine — was specially made to raise awareness about PANDAS, a neurological disorder triggered by Streptococcus that is also referred to as basal ganglia encephalitis. This awareness campaign is called À Table! (French for “come to the table!”). The goal is to bring people “to the table” to share wine, food, and conversation about PANDAS and a related neurological disorder called PANS. Our guests at the table will be discussing the recent Health Care legislation passed in Massachusetts and how it will benefit those with PANDAS/PANS. Proceeds from the sales of the wine will be donated to The Alex Manfull Memorial Fund, which is dedicated to raising awareness as well as supporting education and research that furthers the understanding of PANDAS/PANS, especially in adolescents and young adults. The Cork Stop/Urban Wine Club is the only outlet in the United States selling this wine. (It is available in France at De La Cuisine au 20 in Lourmarin and at Château Barbebelle in Rognes, both in Provence.) In the kitchen, David will begin by popping some no knead bread into the oven and, while that is baking, he will demonstrate how easy it is to make the bread. Then, he will create a cheese and charcuterie board that will pair with Alex’s wine and show us how to zhuzh it up with things you probably have around the house. The nice thing about a charcuterie board is that it doesn’t need to be complicated or have fancy ingredients. It simply needs to have items that pair well with the wine being served. Together, Susan, Towny, and David will talk about the best cheeses, meats, and accoutrements to go with Alex’s wine – and why. Towny and Susan (editor of Provence WineZine), who lost their only child to PANDAS, will also talk about why they founded The Alex Manfull Memorial Fund, part of PANDAS Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Most importantly, also sitting ‘round the table will be some local citizens who were instrumental in getting the Health Care legislation passed: Sheilah M. Gauch, LICSW, M.Ed., Principal of Dearborn Academy, and Jennifer Vitelli, MBA, Co-Executive Director of The JBC PANS & PANDAS Foundation and Founding Member of New England PANS/PANDAS Association, who (with a team of citizens!) worked tirelessly. As a result, health insurance coverage for PANDAS/PANS treatment is mandated in Massachusetts and a PANDAS/PANS Advisory Council at the Mass. Department of Public Health will be created. Château Barbebelle Cuvée Madeleine (aka Alex’s wine) may be purchased at the link below (the first shipment sold out in hours!) with FREE SHIPPING! https://urbanwineclub.co/cart/product/cuvee-madeleine-rouge/

Join us for an amazing cooking demo and wine pairing with Food Network’s Chopped contestant, Chef Sophia Manatakis! Our resident wine expert, Fotios Stamos, will do the honors of pairing Chef Sophia’s exquisite and flavorful dishes. A little bit about Chef Sophia: Graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York City and owner of Uncle Nick’s Greek Cuisine, NYC. Sophia is a Greek and Italian-American chef who has appeared on the Food Network’s Chopped and winner of the Family Food Showdown cooking competition. Manatakis is also a recipient of the Orthodox Christian Network “30 Under 30 Entrepreneurship Award”. Sophia has recently published Our Greek Kitchen, the first of many cook-calendars, has a thriving catering business, and is a private culinary instructor. Sophia’s intensity and passion for culinary art is unmatched. Chef Sophia will be demonstrating 2 recipes along with 2 amazing wines. See the recipes and wines here. Sophia's website Sophia's Instagram

Join us for our very first vodka cocktail webinar with founder Stelios Stavrianos of Cylinder Vodka. Stelio will be discussing his journey into making one of the best and smoothest vodkas in the industry while demonstrating three amazing cocktails. From tending bar to tending still, Stelios eventually distilled a vodka so smooth, he was compelled to bring it to the world. Since then, Cylinder Vodka has won over 20 global awards, donated thousands to local charities, and helped penetrate through a crowded spirit marketplace with the brand’s next-level experiential events and unique cocktail recipes. Get Cylinder Vodka

Welcome to the premiere episode of our Sips & Dips Series featuring Dr. Susanna Hoffman. We will explore the origins and history of amazing recipes from the Mediterranean region with a focus on Greece. We will also pair these recipes with fantastic wines and have great Q & A sessions for the viewers. Please join us as we discover a Mint Pesto recipe with Retsina! Watch the Video - Sips & Dips with Dr. Susanna Hoffman Premiere Episode Urban Wine Club App Download

A very interesting subject that we want to expand into a lifestyle, intermittent fasting has always been part of Ari & Foti's culture and now is part of their health routine. Listen in as we discuss the known benefits to health with this ancient style of eating. Join us! Urban Wine Club App Download

In this fascinating episode, we dive into the world of vegan wines. Foti describes the process and ideologies that go into producing vegan wines and Ari learns a whole lot about the truth behind wines he always assumed were purely vegan in the first place! Sit back, grab a glass, and join us! Urban Wine Club Free App Download

The amazing Kayla Quigley of the awesome Flor de Caña brand is back to show us some super cool cocktails you can make at home or whenever you are entertaining, and she teaches us some history and facts along the way! Join us! Flor de Cana Rum Kit Download the free UWC App!

Foti and Ari get into some serious discussion about what it means to have longevity, how to create healthy habits for better living, and all the cool experts and celebs that will be helping us spread the word of living better! Grab a glass and join us! Urban Wine Club

A great episode and the fascinating story of an amazing individual and his journey from NFL to amazing wines! For former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe, owning a winery has been a longtime aspiration that would allow him to combine his passion for fine wine and the love of the Walla Walla Valley. We got to chat with Drew and his winemaker Josh to learn more about how they got to where they are - the creators of a truly amazing portfolio. Grab a glass and join us! Doubleback Bledsoe Family Winery

There's no magic cure for a hangover, but the more you know the better you can be at preventing and/or fighting them. Join Foti and Ari as they discuss some tips, facts, and tricks to getting through the worst part of drinking! Urban Wine Club

Ari & Foti close out the 2020 year with an official send off on what 2020 has brought us and what it has taken away. Join us as we discuss the year and what 2021 has in store!

We had the great fortune of sitting down to learn more about wine guru and documentary filmmaker Chrisa Tzortzakis. She has created a wonderful and fascinating documentary about the wine culture and history of Crete. She is passionate and determined to bring this culture to the limelight and we are 100% confident in her efforts. Join us as we meet Chrisa! instagram.com/winecellarstories/ Fundraiser

We had an amazing webinar learning about the rich history and fascinating facts on the historical region of Nemea in Greece. Dr. Susanna Hoffman and Johnny Livanos guest hosted for this truly awe inspiring segment of this captivating region. Grab a glass and join us! Please also consider donating to the Samos Earthquake Relief Fund

We had an amazing wine webinar with Ara Sarkissian of Storica Wines. He taught us the history and importance of Armenia as a wine producing region and we tasted some truly incredible wines. Please join us as we explore this wonderful place that is experiencing a renaissance of wine-making! Storica Wines Buy Armenian Wines

Once again we invited Erik Andersson, brand ambassador of Hendrick's Gin, to our webinar series to demonstrate some warm cocktail recipes that are an absolute perfect fit for the season and the coming holidays! Join us as we make and taste an assortment of amazing hot gin cocktail punch recipes! hendricksgin.com Erik's Instagram

We had a great webinar hosted by the always entertaining Anthony Bohlinger, brand ambassador for Fistful of Bourbon, an amazing new brand of bourbon everyone absolutely must try. Hang out with us while we learn more about this fun and delicious whiskey and the people bringing it to us! Fistful of Bourbon Website Anthony's Instagram Buy Fistful of Bourbon

Join us for this amazing webinar event as we explore the fascinating world of tequila! Combining passion, charisma and originality with an unrivalled knowledge and reverence for the art of tequila, National Ambassador Jaime Salas is the perfect embodiment of modern day Mexico. A true connoisseur and advocate for tequila, Jaime now brings his enthusiasm and experience to his role as National Ambassador for Milagro Tequila. Milagro is the rare tequila that unabashedly brings forward the fresh, mouth-watering taste of the highlands agave with consummate, world class smoothness. Get a bottle or 2 of Milagro Tequila >>

We had the absolute great fortune of having Erik Andersson, ambassador to Hendrick's Gin, connect with us for a wonderful webinar detailing the history of gin, Hendrick's as a company, and demos of cocktails made perfect by his many year's experience around the world serving to an international clientele. Please join us as we hang out with Erik! Hendrick's Gin

In our latest and greatest episode, we learn the history and folklore surrounding the incredible "mastiha" resin. It grows in one section on one island in Greece and it's pretty much a magical super food that you really need to learn more about. And what's more? It's an amazing alcoholic spirit created by powerhouse female entrepreneur Effie Panagopoulos. Take this journey with us! Sit back, grab a glass, and enjoy! Check out KLEOS Mastiha for yourself >

On this episode of Urban Wine Club's Sip Clips, we welcome Katherine to the fold to give a fresh perspective on all of our discussions. Ari, Foti, and Katherine discuss Pinot Gris vs Pinot Grigio with some fantastic tasting in between. Sit back, grab a glass, and join us!

Join us in learning about this amazing rum as well as the awesome company that makes it! Our Flor de Caña Rum & Cocktail Webinar is chock full of great info and great cocktail recipes. Our host Kayla Quigley takes us on a true journey! Sit back, grab a glass, and enjoy! https://www.urbanwineclub.co/cart/product/flor-de-cana-rum-kit/

On this SIp Clip episode (which we will call "lighter" episodes), Ari and Foti discuss Rosé wines and do a tasting of the glorious Le Poussin Rosé from France. Sit back, grab a glass and join us! If interested in trying this fine Rosé wine, please click the link: https://www.urbanwineclub.co/cart/product/le-poussin-rose-sasha-lichine/

On this episode, we truly had an amazing time with two very special guests! Johnny Livanos from Livanos Restaurant Group out of New York City and Ted Diamantis of Diamond Wine Importers out of Chicago hung out with us to talk wines, spirits, life, and future! These are great guys so sit back, grab a glass, and join us! Johnny Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnylivanos/ Website: https://www.livanosrestaurantgroup.com/ Ted Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted_diamantis_/ Website: https://www.diamondwineimporters.com/

We virtually hung out with Hendrick's Gin East Coast Ambassador Erik Andersson. We talked and learned so much from Erik and truly realized our appreciation for some of the finer points of gin. He's a well traveled and well spoken individual and we hope you learn as much as we did! Sit back, grab a glass, and join us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngmrflanagan/ Website: https://www.hendricksgin.com/

We virtually hung out with chocolate maestro Carlo Bacci of CB Stuffer fame. We discussed the fine chocolate business and how well it pairs with which wines. This episode got us craving some specialty peanut butter cups! You'll find out why. Sit back, grab a glass, and join us! https://cbstuffer.com/

We virtually hung out with Rosé guru Patrick Walsh of Provence Wine Imports and talked all things rosé, it's legacy, and it's reputation. So sit back, grab a glass, and join us! http://provencewineimports.com/

In this episode of the UWC podcast, Ari & Foti "virtually" hang out and discuss how life has changed drastically in the last couple months and how wine plays a role. We also discuss how our industry is affected and what we're doing to keep the normalcy going. Sit back, grab a glass and join us!

We headed over to the M.S. Walker headquarters to hang out with the incomparable Sarah Barry, wine specialist and all around guru! Her long and fascinating history with wine is impressive, so sit back, grab a glass and join us! mswalker.com