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.

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Episode 84 takes us to San Leonardo Family Estate, one of Trentino's most iconic names, set in the shadow of the Dolomites and guided by the Guerrieri Gonzaga family. Pierre Ferland sits down with the charismatic Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga for a lively, story driven conversation that moves from history to terroir, and from bottle ageing to the future of wine itself.

Why do some call San Leonardo "Bordeaux with Alpine poise"? How does a narrow valley, fewer hours of direct sunlight, and the Ora wind from Lake Garda shape freshness, lower alcohol, and elegance? We unpack the estate's philosophy, the origins of their flagship San Leonardo wine, and the underrated star of the cellar: Carménère, often mistaken for Cabernet Franc and wildly different here than in Chile.

We also dive into the craft side: concrete vats, restrained oak, extraction choices, and what makes Terre such a joy to drink. Then, in the bonus episode, we go deeper into sustainability, Equalitas, biodiversity, pergola versus Guyot, climate change planning, and yes, the famous San Leonardo garden.

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Is wine really as dangerous as headlines claim? In Episode 83 of Read Between the Wines, our host Pierre Ferland sits down with Dr Laura Catena, physician and fourth generation vintner behind In Defense of Wine.

Together they unpack the growing war on wine, the World Health Organization messaging, and the role of Movendi International in pushing a zero nuance narrative. Dr Catena explains what the science actually says about moderate drinking, the J curve, and why age and drinking pattern matter. We dig into The Lancet Global Burden of Disease debate, NASEM versus ICCPUD, and the difference between absolute and relative risk, including breast cancer discussions.

You will also hear why Mediterranean style wine with food, social connection, and context cannot be reduced to a single molecule. If you care about wine culture, public health, and honest data, this episode is for you. For fans of evidence, terroir, and real life.

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In this episode of Read Between the Wines, Pierre sits down with Andrea Kaiser, winemaker and daughter of the late Karl J. Kaiser, co-founder of Inniskillin and one of the two pioneers who built modern Canadian winemaking with vinifera grapes.

Andrea grew up among the vines in Niagara, watching her father measure sugars with a refractometer, tasting early batches, and debating acidity, sweetness and oak at the family table. But it wasn't until Inniskillin's 50th anniversary and her father's celebration of life that she truly understood the scale of his impact — and decided to continue the legacy in her own way with Drea's Wine Co.

Pierre and Andrea explore her path from the family's restaurant to Reif Estate Winery, and finally to launching her own small-batch label focused on Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Dornfelder. She explains why Niagara on the Lake's micro climate — the lake, the Niagara River, the escarpment — allows her to grow varieties that surprise many cool-climate drinkers.

The conversation also touches on palate evolution, Canadian wine identity, single-vineyard philosophy, and what it felt like to pour her first Sauvignon Blanc for international critics including Jancis Robinson and Tony Aspler.

A warm, insightful episode honouring a Canadian wine legacy — and the next chapter written by Drea herself.

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Niagara on the Lake is raising the bar again. In this episode of Read Between the Wines, Pierre catches up with Adam Pearce, winemaker at Stone Eagle Winery and the talent behind the celebrated wines of Two Sisters in Ontario's Niagara region.

Four years after their first conversation during the pandemic, Adam returns with big news. The once cult Stone Eagle label has grown into a full winery on Highway 55, with its own estate vineyards, focused portfolio and on site restaurant, The Nest. Together, Pierre and Adam explore what it really takes to build age worthy Canadian wines that reward patience, not just instant gratification.

They dig into the details behind Stone Eagle's Cabernet Franc, the Eagle Eye Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, the Lush and Blanc de Franc sparkling wines, and why balance, structure and time remain the real luxuries in a small market like Canada. Adam also shares candid thoughts on climate change, extreme vintages, replanting difficult vineyards, and the constant tension between consumer demand, portfolio focus and winemaker curiosity.

The conversation goes beyond the cellar. Pierre and Adam discuss the war on wine, the rise of low and no alcohol products, public health narratives, and why responsible enjoyment, food, place and human connection still sit at the heart of true wine culture.

If you love Niagara, Cabernet Franc, serious Chardonnay and ambitious Canadian reds, this episode is for you.

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In this episode of Read Between the Wines, we welcome Dan Buettner—National Geographic explorer, Emmy Award-winning producer, and New York Times best-selling author. Dan is the visionary behind the Blue Zones, regions from Okinawa to Sardinia and Costa Rica where people regularly live into their 90s and 100s in remarkable health.

We explore the secrets of longevity: plant-based diets, strong communities, daily movement, and storytelling that makes science memorable. Dan shares insights from his Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones and his new book The Blue Zones Kitchen: One Pot Meals.

And yes—wine lovers will discover why moderate red wine is central to Blue Zone cultures, enjoyed daily as part of meals, joy, and connection.

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