The Four Top: Wine News and Culture

Ep. 190: ICE's Chilling Effect on the Wine World

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

Ep. 189: A Wine Community Faces the Unimaginable

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) ab

Ep. 188: Nootropics and Adaptogens, Anyone?

 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 win

Ep. 187: New Year, Same Trends

 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 t

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

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 f

Ep. 185: Holiday Tales from The Four Top

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

Ep. 184: Let Me Google That for You

 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 Michelm

Ep. 183: Crushed Glass & ICE Advice

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.

Ep. 182: Tequila Tariffs and Ancient Vines

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

Ep. 181: Pizza Wine & Faux Foie Gras

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

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

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 thi

Ep. 179: Tariffs and Toxic Waste

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 aeronautic

Ep. 178: Napa Handles the Heat

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 dr

Ep. 177: Ghosts, Ghouls, and GPTs

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 i

Ep. 176: Chardonngay and a New AVA

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 ge

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

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

Ep. 174: Dock Strikes and Chip Farms

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

Ep. 173: The Joy of Wine

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

Ep. 172: India is Bucking Wine Trends

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 se

Ep. 171: The Four Top’s Excellent UK Adventure

We caught up with Jancis Robinson, Richard Hemming, André Mack, Agnese Gintere, Henna Bakshi, Samantha Cole-Johnson, Elaine Chukan Brown, and Amanda Barnes at the inaugur