Are Gen Z really drinking less wine - or are they simply drinking differently? And what does a £15 bottle offer that a £6 bottle can't? In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina is joined by Maisie Turner, assistant wine buyer at Berkmann, Master of Wine student and winner of the IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communication Award, to explore the changing world of wine and what it takes to make it exciting for a new generation. From finding brilliant-value wines in Germany, Beaujolais and the Balkans to discovering North Macedonia’s key grape varieties and the character of its wines, Janina and Maisie explore how to buy better, understand more and get more pleasure from what's in your glass. They also delve into the grapes behind Valpolicella's fresh reds, Ripasso and Amarone, look at how AI is changing wine education, discuss what life is really like as a professional wine buyer, and consider why Bordeaux is experimenting with lighter, fresher reds designed to be enjoyed with a slight chill. But this conversation goes beyond what's in the bottle. How can the wine industry connect with younger drinkers without losing the romance, heritage and sense of discovery that make wine special? With stories from wine travels in Rioja and Verona, creative winery experiences and plenty of practical advice, this is a conversation about making wine more accessible, more relevant and a lot more fun - without losing any of its magic. A huge thank you to today’s episode sponsor, Tedeschi Wines, for supporting Eat Sleep Wine Repeat and helping us share more wine stories with you! Shownotes 03:45 – Is Gen Z really drinking less wine? — Maisie looks beyond the headlines to explain how younger drinkers are spending their money differently and why disposable income matters as much as changing drinking habits. 04:52 – Why ready-to-drink cocktails are growing — from BuzzBallz to wine, Maisie explains why convenience is winning attention while younger drinkers increasingly look for quality, provenance and stories when they do choose a bottle. 06:36 – What are you actually paying for in a £6 bottle of wine? — duty, VAT, packaging, transport and margin leave surprisingly little for the grapes and winemaking itself. 09:45 – When does wine start becoming meaningfully better? — Maisie identifies the price points where more of your money begins reaching the wine itself and where grape variety, producer and place become easier to taste. 11:17 – Where to find great wine for around £15 — Portugal, Valpolicella, Germany, Beaujolais and less fashionable regions offer some of Maisie's favourite opportunities for serious value. 13:08 – Why German Pinot Noir is worth exploring — Janina recommends looking beyond the label language and highlights affordable Spätburgunder as a brilliant route into fresh, cool-climate Pinot Noir. 14:58 – Beaujolais Villages: a modern sweet spot — Janina explains why higher-altitude sites once considered harder to ripen are becoming increasingly exciting as temperatures rise. 17:02 – Beaujolais and its extraordinary geology — hundreds of different soil types and rocks hundreds of millions of years old have helped earn the region UNESCO Global Geopark recognition. 18:28 – Bulgaria, Romania and Gamza — why Eastern Europe can deliver fascinating value and how Gamza offers the freshness, red fruit and spice increasingly sought by modern wine drinkers. 20:03 – How do you make wine exciting for Gen Z? — Maisie argues that wine needs to become more visual, relatable and connected to the way younger generations actually communicate. 21:33 – What wine marketing can learn from social media — Janina highlights Washington State Wine's playful approach to explaining harvest through humour, pop culture and instantly relatable comparisons. 23:43 – Why Valpolicella belongs on your wine travel list — Maisie describes visiting just after harvest, when the appassimento process can be seen in action and drying rooms are filled with grapes destined for Amarone. 26:17 – Valpolicella for beginners — Corvina forms the backbone, joined by Corvinone, Rondinella and Molinara as Maisie explains how the region's grapes create everything from fresh, light reds to powerful Amarone. 27:58 – Is Molinara making a comeback? — Janina explores how a grape once dismissed for diluting blends may have renewed relevance as rising temperatures push alcohol and concentration higher. 30:28 – What does Oseleta taste like? — tiny berries, intense colour and structure make this rare Valpolicella grape fascinating both in blends and, occasionally, as a wine in its own right. 31:33 – Learning grapes through wine travel — Janina heads briefly to Rioja and recalls Vivanco as a place where single-variety wines and an interactive wine museum reveal what each grape contributes to a blend. 33:01 – Wine, Verona and the pleasure of place — from Lake Garda to historic wine bars, Janina and Maisie reflect on how wine travel naturally opens doors into food, history and local culture. 35:23 – Inside Verona's legendary wine culture — Janina explores the extraordinary Antica Bottega del Vino, its vast cellar and its close connections with some of Valpolicella's historic producers. 36:25 – Sponsor: Tedeschi Winery and the importance of terroir — Janina explores the family's long history in Valpolicella, pioneering single-vineyard Amarone, detailed vineyard research and a commitment to expressing individual sites. Buy Tedeschi Wines from Vinvm, Fareham Wine Cellar. 42:04 – From Valpolicella to Ripasso to Amarone — why the region offers a natural ladder of intensity, allowing newer wine drinkers to move from fresh, chillable reds towards richer and more complex styles. 46:01 – How to become more confident choosing wine — trusted voices, recommendations from friends and relatable communicators can be more useful than trying to learn everything from textbooks. 47:51 – Turning wine study notes into an AI podcast — Maisie explains how she uses Google's AI notebook tools to turn trusted study materials and past exam questions into personalised audio learning. 51:25 – What does an assistant wine buyer actually do? — Maisie explains her role at Berkmann Wine Cellars, from pricing and spreadsheets to product data, commercial decisions and selecting wines for restaurants and retailers. 53:00 – Discovering North Macedonia — Maisie introduces Ezimit Vino, a new North Macedonian winery joining the Berkmann portfolio, alongside the country's flagship red grape, Vranec. 54:04 – What does Vranec taste like? — black cherry, plum, intensity and surprisingly supple tannins make this Balkan variety one to watch. 54:44 – The wines of North Macedonia — aromatic whites, strong diurnal shifts and a long winemaking history make this an emerging Wine Region with plenty still to discover. 57:22 – The new face of Bordeaux — lighter reds, sparkling wine, whites, sustainability and experimentation are challenging the idea that Bordeaux is only about traditional age-worthy red wines. 59:23 – Could the new Claret be the wine of next summer? — Janina and Maisie explore Bordeaux's new lighter, fresher and chillable red style designed around fruit, moderate tannin and modern drinking occasions. 01:02:34 – Bordeaux beyond the classics — the rapid growth of Crémant, increasing environmental certification and experiments with alternative packaging show a region becoming far more dynamic. 01:04:20 – Escape rooms, treetop tastings and the future of wine tourism — Janina highlights Château Monconseil-Gazin, with its wine escape game, and Château de Rayne Vigneau, where visitors can experience treetop tastings, as examples of wineries making wine tourism more playful and immersive. 01:06:44 – What wine should a matcha latte lover drink? — Sauvignon Blanc, aged Hunter Valley Semillon and Grüner Veltliner enter the debate as Janina puts Maisie's wine-translation skills to the test. 01:08:09 – Bring back the romance of wine — Maisie's final message to the industry is to stop communicating only through facts and remember the mystery, glamour and emotion that make people fall in love with wine. 📩 Email: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk 📸 Instagram: @eatsleep_winerepeat 🎥 YouTube: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat 🌐 Website: www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk Cheers to you 🥂 THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST Featured in Decanter Magazine and Radio Times, and ranked among the Top UK Wine Podcasts by Feedspot. RECOGNITION: Finalist, 67 Pall Mall Award for Best Global Wine Communicator in Audio (2025) Shortlisted, IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communication (2025 and 2026) Ranked #18 in 2024 and #22 in 2025 on Drinks Retailing's Most Influential People in Drinks list