Takeaways:

• The growing involvement of women in the wine industry has significantly shifted marketing strategies.
• As the primary consumers of wine, women influence how products are presented and sold.
• The storytelling aspect of wine enhances the customer experience and creates deeper connections.
• Social interactions around wine consumption have become increasingly important in today's society.
• Technology has changed how accounts order wine, but tasting remains an irreplaceable experience.
• Post-COVID, restaurants face higher challenges, making unique, artisanal offerings more valuable.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Southern Glazer

Your Host: Forrest Kelly is an experienced Radio/TV broadcaster who has interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, from Garth Brooks to Kevin Costner. A lover of wine who is fascinated by the science behind it.

Voted One of The Best Travel, Top 5 Minute, and Top Wine Podcasts.

Laura DePasquale from Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits delves into transformative mentorship programs to empower women entering traditionally male-dominated sectors like supply chain and logistics. She highlights the importance of these initiatives in providing tailored guidance, ensuring women in the wine business receive the support needed to thrive. Laura shares her journey, noting the gratifying shift from being the only woman in the room to seeing women in leadership roles, including her boss, Cindy Leonard, the Executive Vice President of Wine. She also discusses the Next Gen Leaders program, which offers recent graduates the opportunity to explore various career paths within the company, from marketing to logistics. Laura emphasizes the importance of embracing passion in professional settings and encourages women to redefine their approach to being perceived as emotional, distinguishing it from genuine passion backed by facts.

Your Host: Forrest Kelly is an experienced Radio/TV broadcaster who has interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, from Garth Brooks to Kevin Costner. A lover of wine who is fascinated by the science behind it.

Voted One of The Best Travel, Top 5 Minute, and Top Wine Podcasts.

Takeaways:

• Southern Glazer's offers multiple mentorship programs to support women entering the wine business.
• The company has leadership development programs for new, advanced, and senior leaders.
• Opportunities for women in leadership roles have significantly increased over the years.
• Passionate advocacy in professional settings should be balanced with factual backing.
• The Next Gen Leaders program helps recent graduates explore different career paths.
• Women should embrace their passion without fear of it being seen as emotional.

In this enlightening episode of The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast, host Forrest Kelly dives deep into the world of artisanal wines with Laura DePasquale, the Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for Artisanal Wines at Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits. Discover the remarkable journey of Southern Glazer's, a family-owned company now in its third generation, and their immense contributions to the Wine industry and community.

Laura shares her insights on the often-debated definition of fine Wine and how Southern Glazer's has taken a unique approach to categorizing wines. Learn about the distinctions between artisanal Wine, fine Wine, and commercial Wine, and how these categories are defined by production levels and market availability. Laura also discusses the challenges of scaling Wine production compared to spirits and the intricacies of Wine distribution across different global markets.

With nearly 20 years as a Master Sommelier, Laura reflects on her continuous learning journey and the satisfaction she gets from bringing clarity to the Wine industry. Tune in for an episode filled with professional insights, industry challenges, and the passion that drives the world of artisanal wines.

Your Host: Forrest Kelly is an experienced Radio/TV broadcaster who has interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, from Garth Brooks to Kevin Costner. A lover of wine who is fascinated by the science behind it.

Voted One of The Best Travel, Top 5 Minute, and Top Wine Podcasts.