Read Between the Wines Podcast

Pierre Ferland

Read Between the Wines Podcast is not really a podcast, it's a repository of stories from the wine world. It is focused on the narratives behind the winemakers rather than wine scoring. Founded and hosted by Vino-enthusiast Pierre Ferland, it offers a different and refreshing concept in wine exploration. Each episode offers a unique perspective on vineyard's tales, much like each vintage brings its own profile and personality to a blend. Some conversations will delve into winemaking techniques, while others will explore initiatives to preserve biodiversity and find solutions to combat climate change. From a consumer perspective, we are intrigued by how wine scoring has dominated the industry, leaving many enthusiasts perplexed by its intricacies yet still relying on a solitary number for their selections. We understand and respect the fact that a generous score can help move a few bottles and we won't hold it against any wineries, but from a vintner and a winemaker perspective, we pose a pivotal question: what legacy do you wish to imprint upon your clientele? A numerical rating, or the compelling tale of your craft? Think about it. What score would you give to the "Mona Lisa" or "The Starry Night" from Van Gogh? About "Composition 8" from Kandinsky or "The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo. It's very subjective indeed and so is Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia and Riesling from Germany.

  1. E92 - Esterhazy Wein · Austria

    3d ago

    E92 - Esterhazy Wein · Austria

    Austria has been making world-class wine for centuries. The world is just now catching up. In this episode, our host Pierre Ferland sits down with Wolfgang Hewarth, Winery Director at Esterházy Wein in Burgenland — one of Central Europe's most historic estates, with winemaking records going back to 1612 and a cellar master hired from Burgundy in 1758. The name alone carries three centuries of imperial history. What Wolfgang is building on top of it is something else entirely. We talk about what it means to arrive as an outsider and take the long view. We dig into the Leithaberg DAC — one of Austria's most distinctive appellations — and why limestone, mica schist, and a cool Pannonian microclimate produce wines built on tension and precision rather than weight. We get into acidity as a philosophy, not a technical detail. We explore what it takes to use oak purely for ageing, never for flavour. And we ask the question that sits underneath everything Wolfgang does: how do you carry 300 years of history without letting it slow you down? Blaufränkisch. Leithaberg. Austrian wine. Burgenland. Organic winemaking. Terroir-driven wine. Natural wine. Pinot Noir. Sparkling wine. A bonus episode with Wolfgang is available exclusively on our website — deeper into the portfolio, the label story, climate challenges, and what it actually takes to protect freshness when the weather stops cooperating.   For more information about our Podcast, visit us on the web: https://readbetweenthewines.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweenthewinesmedia Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/read-between-the-wines

    51 min
  2. Jun 6

    E91 - Tedeschi Wines · Valpolicella, Italy

    What does it take to keep a family name alive for nearly four centuries in the same valley, on the same hills, with the same grapes — and still have something new to say? Welcome to Tedeschi Wines. One of the oldest family estates in Valpolicella, with roots stretching back to the 17th century and a philosophy that has never confused age with complacency. And meet Riccardo Tedeschi — the winemaker who inherited not just a name, but a restlessness. Because his father used to say a bad vintage is when you have no new idea. In this episode, Pierre sits down with Riccardo to explore one of Italy's most quietly compelling wine stories. We talk terroir, elegance, and why Valpolicella is so much more than Amarone. We unpack the white wine nobody saw coming, the single vineyards competing with the best of Chianti, and the house philosophy that puts finesse and freshness at the centre of a region famous for power. We talk about a family that owns its land, builds its own walls, and refuses to stop asking questions. Want more? A bonus episode with Riccardo — covering blending philosophy, climate change, and the uncomfortable truth about the distance between a wine people admire and a wine people actually pour — is available exclusively at readbetweenthewines.com.   For more information about our Podcast, visit us on the web: https://readbetweenthewines.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweenthewinesmedia Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/read-between-the-wines

    54 min
  3. Mar 26

    E88 - Poderi Cellario · Langhe, Piedmont, Italy

    What happens when wine stops trying to impress… and starts trying to live? In this episode, we head to the western edge of the Langhe in Piemonte to meet Simone Cellario of Poderi Cellario — a third-generation winery that doesn't quite fit the script. At first glance, everything feels easy. Playful labels. Litre bottles. Crown caps. Wines that don't take themselves too seriously. But look closer… and you realise this is serious work. We talk about Dolcetto — not as a "simple" wine, but as the cultural heartbeat of the region. A grape that speaks more about people than prestige. We explore forgotten and misunderstood varieties like Grignolino and Nascetta, and what it takes to bring them back into the conversation without turning them into museum pieces. We also get into something less romantic — the economics of wine. Because making honest wine is one thing. Making it sustainable, financially and socially, is another. This is a conversation about balance. Between tradition and change. Between identity and adaptation. And about wine that doesn't try to be perfect… just real. And if you think the conversation stops there, it doesn't. We continue the discussion with exclusive bonus material available only on our website — where we go deeper into sustainability, farming philosophy, and the real decisions happening behind the scenes, long before the wine reaches your glass. If you want the full picture, head over to readbetweenthewines.com — the second part is waiting for you there.   For more information about our Podcast, visit us on the web: https://readbetweenthewines.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweenthewinesmedia Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/read-between-the-wines

    59 min
  4. Feb 23

    E85 - VIK Wine, Chile

    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 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweenthewinesmedia Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/read-between-the-wines

    1h 3m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Read Between the Wines Podcast is not really a podcast, it's a repository of stories from the wine world. It is focused on the narratives behind the winemakers rather than wine scoring. Founded and hosted by Vino-enthusiast Pierre Ferland, it offers a different and refreshing concept in wine exploration. Each episode offers a unique perspective on vineyard's tales, much like each vintage brings its own profile and personality to a blend. Some conversations will delve into winemaking techniques, while others will explore initiatives to preserve biodiversity and find solutions to combat climate change. From a consumer perspective, we are intrigued by how wine scoring has dominated the industry, leaving many enthusiasts perplexed by its intricacies yet still relying on a solitary number for their selections. We understand and respect the fact that a generous score can help move a few bottles and we won't hold it against any wineries, but from a vintner and a winemaker perspective, we pose a pivotal question: what legacy do you wish to imprint upon your clientele? A numerical rating, or the compelling tale of your craft? Think about it. What score would you give to the "Mona Lisa" or "The Starry Night" from Van Gogh? About "Composition 8" from Kandinsky or "The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo. It's very subjective indeed and so is Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia and Riesling from Germany.

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