In this episode of Read Between the Wines, we explore a question that rarely gets asked: why has the conversation around wine and alcohol changed so dramatically in recent years?

For centuries, wine was simply part of life — part of the table, part of culture, part of how people gathered and shared moments together. Today, however, headlines increasingly frame alcohol through a very different lens.

To understand what's happening, host Pierre Ferland sits down with award-winning journalist and Drinks Insider founder Felicity Carter, one of the most respected investigative voices covering alcohol policy and the global drinks industry.

Drawing on decades of reporting, Felicity explains how alcohol debates are shaped not only by science, but also by media narratives, cultural shifts, advocacy networks, and political incentives.

But beyond policy and statistics lies a deeper question: what role does wine play in human connection, pleasure, and everyday life?

A thoughtful and provocative conversation about science, storytelling, and the future of wine culture.

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Sangiovese does not just reveal terroir. It reveals the winemaker.

In Episode 86 of Read Between the Wines, Pierre Ferland sits down with Federico Cerelli, head winemaker at Castello di Gabbiano, one of Chianti Classico's most historic estates, to unpack what freshness, drinkability, and "modern classicism" really mean in Tuscany today.

From Federico's first move at Gabbiano in 2011 (taste the past, then rebuild the future) to a masterclass on three distinct vineyard zones, you will hear how soil, wind, and microclimate shape Sangiovese into radically different personalities, from bold and structured to mineral and quietly elegant.

They dive into oak without the theatre: fewer barriques, more large casks, and a rare local oak experiment that rewinds history without becoming nostalgic. Add climate chaos, the Chianti vs Chianti Classico misconception, and the "drink less, drink better" shift, and you have an episode built for wine lovers who want truth, not gloss.

Chianti Classico. Tuscany. Sangiovese. No nonsense.

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In Episode 85, Pierre Ferland sits down with Cristián Vallejo, the winemaker who helped build Viña VIK in Chile under the leadership of owner Alexander Vik, starting from absolute zero. No vineyards. No cellar. Just 4,500 hectares of wild land in the Millahue Valley and an ambition that practically screamed, "We are not here to make normal wine."

This is a deep dive into terroir precision and controlled madness: micro valleys, hundreds of parcels, high density planting, and a pivotal moment Vallejo calls the vineyard's personality. We explore circular winemaking, wild yeast, amphora ageing, and why VIK keeps nearly 90 percent of the estate untouched.

Then, in our bonus coverage available exclusively on our website, the conversation becomes even more compelling as we dive into the unique Stone VIK project, where amphoras are aged in a forest, aligned with solstice, full moons, geology, vibration, and time. It is essentially Stonehenge meets Grand Cru wine. We also uncover the very human moment Cristián Vallejo learns that VIK has achieved 100 points while standing alone in Atlanta airport.

If you like your wine talk equal parts craft, culture, and a touch of spirituality, this Read Between the Wines episode is for you.

For more information about our Podcast, visit us on the web:
https://readbetweenthewines.com

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