Zonda Wine Services

11/20/2025

It’s not easy keeping up with Laura Catena, the fourth generation steward of Argentina’s icon estate, Catena Zapata (), and founder of Luca Wines (). So we were lucky to sit down with her in Buenos Aires for an exclusive – and very fun – interview.

Founded by Italian immigrants in 1902, Catena Zapata is known for putting Argentina on the global fine wine stage, and helping make Malbec a popular grape in the U.S. market. This one-on-one interview explains how Catena got it done, and why Argentina is in its ‘Golden Era’ of quality.

From her journey as an emergency room physician to leading one of the great wine dynasties, hear Laura’s new stories that capture the challenges, breakthroughs, and bold decisions that led to success and recognition.

This interview is available on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. Thank you for your support!

10/27/2025

Have you listened to our podcast episode with the legendary Jancis Robinson yet? Check it out wherever you get your fav shows.

We’re here to give you raw conversations with the industry’s top voices. Search ‘Zonda Wine Podcast’ and hit play 🎙️

10/16/2025

Our highly anticipated interview with Jancis Robinson is out today.

Very few monumental figures have transformed industries like Jancis Robinson. She is a giant in the world of wine, someone worth celebrating, knowing, and remembering for inspiring an entire generation of wine lovers.

In this episode of the Zonda Wine Podcast, Jancis unveils where she gets her tireless work ethic, why she started website (which celebrates 25 years this month), and her biggest lessons from 50 years of writing.

In 1984, Jancis made history as the first person outside the wine trade to earn the title Master of Wine. Since then, she’s written COLOSSAL works including The Oxford Companion to Wine and The World Atlas of Wine (co-authored with Hugh Johnson). She earned her journalistic integrity while working for in London, and since 1990 has written the wine column for . Add an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II to the resume too.

From a small town in northern England to the top of the wine game, This is Jancis.

Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

08/15/2025

Bern's Steakhouse is one of the world's most iconic restaurants, housing the country's biggest private wine collection at 650,000+. bottles! Head sommelier Brad Dixon got his dream job when he started working at Bern's in 2003, and has since catered to the mass of wine lovers that make pilgrimages to Tampa, FL every year to choose special bottles to celebrate. Listen to our interview with Brad to learn how he manages a huge wine list, the rarest wines he's opened, and a funny story involving a bottle of Champagne.

Bern's Steakhouse is one of the world's most iconic restaurants, housing the country's biggest private wine collection at 650,000+. bottles! Head sommelier B...

06/30/2025

Mapmakers are the new wine celebrity. Here's why.

Wine doesn’t need simplification—it needs understanding. Just like we wouldn’t simplify Chekhov, we shouldn’t oversimplify wine. Instead, we turn to maps. From Alessandro Masnaghetti’s iconic Italian wine maps to Guillermo Corona’s groundbreaking soil studies in Argentina, these cartogra...

06/29/2025

The immortal vintage: 1982.

Last night, we opened two Bordeaux icons: Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Margaux. The 1982 vintage is one of the most famous on record both for its quality and for sparking the career of Robert ‘Bob’ Parker, the world’s most influential wine critic in history.

Parker called ‘82 iconic in his newsletter but the rest of the critics at the time brushed it off as too ripe and unstructured. When he was proven right over time (the wines aged well), it cemented his reputation and changed the wine world, boosting the influence of American consumers and critics.

In our tasting, Margaux took the crown 👑

Over 45min in decanter, the wine showed a wave of splendid rose, sweet to***co, ripe cherry, and a long menthol finish. Both wines were integrated and soft in texture…making me think these ‘82s, the good ones, are frozen in time.

Always go with your gut.

06/22/2025

BONUS EPISODE OUT NOW.

We recently spoke with expert Ben Aneff () who heads the . He is one of the most knowledgeable people on this viral subject that is at the heart of the administration.

This is a must listen for anyone who wants to understand wine tariffs, how they impact the entire alcohol industry, and why no one wins when wine gets taxed.

Watch wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio.
#2025

06/05/2025

Barrels help wine breathe. Slowly. Gently.

That quiet exchange with oxygen softens tannins, builds aging capacity and strength for the wine, and integrates flavors over months.
The oak itself adds subtle layers:
- Vanilla
- Spice
- Toasted character

Barrel aging isn’t fast. It’s not flashy.
But it’s one of the most important steps in shaping a wine that’s worth remembering.

Because great wine isn’t made overnight.
It’s shaped by patience, by craft, and by time.

🍷 Follow .wine for more stories from inside the cellar.

06/04/2025

Wine is about place and so is architecture.

In this breathtaking redesign of Château Lynch-Bages completed in 2020, architect Chien Chung 'DiDi' Pei honors tradition while creating something strikingly modern and sustainable. From the angle of the roof to the grape receiving room, the goal is to keep temperatures low and reduce energy consumption to the max. It all makes sense when one walks the interior on a hot summer day.

This is a symbol of how architecture, like wine, is built to endure generations.
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06/03/2025

🍷 NYC wine lovers clear your calendars.

Two iconic tasting events are hitting Manhattan in a few weeks:

📍 Decanter Fine Wine Encounter – June 7
📍 James Suckling Great Wines of the World – June 11–12

Both are walkaround tastings, which means hundreds of bottles and very little room for error if you want to sip wisely.

So we’re sharing our Top 5 Wines to Try if you go because there’s no shame in having a plan when you're surrounded by Grand Crus and cult Cabernets.

Get the list by signing up for our newsletter in our bio, and if you're attending, let us know.
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05/30/2025

During World War I, wine was a necessity. After the war, it was part of the healing.

In Episode 3 of The Zonda Wine Podcast, we sit down with historian and author Adam Zientek, whose book "A Thirst for Wine and War" dives deep into how wine became a source of comfort, national identity, and connection during France’s darkest moments. It ended up sparking the greatest generation of wine drinkers that saw the sacred beverage as one of the fathers of victory for the nation.

In the 1920s and 30s, veterans gathered to share stories. They poured 'Pinard', or wine, to feel something familiar.
And in those moments, wine became a touchstone of identity and brotherhood.

It still is.

🎙️ Episode 3 now streaming.
Tap the link in bio to listen, and share this with someone who believes wine is more than what’s in the glass.
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05/30/2025

Discover the surprising role of wine and alcohol in World War I with historian Adam Zientek, author of A Thirst For Wine & War (2024), winner of the Tomlinson Prize. In this episode, Zientek reveals how French soldiers on the Western Front relied on "Pinard"—their daily wine ration—for morale, survival, and solidarity. A must-listen for fans of military history, social history, and the untold stories of WWI.

Historian Adam Zientek is the author of A Thirst For Wine & War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front (2024), winner of the Tomlinson Pri...