Uncorking What's Next

Jeff Zacharia

Jeff Zacharia spent more than 40 years at Zachys, helping to build the company into a worldwide leader in fine wine, across both auctions and retail. In Uncorking What's Next, Jeff sits down with the winemakers, scientists, collectors, and visionaries shaping the future of wine — the people who live it, love it, and refuse to stop pushing it forward.

Episodes

  1. Aug 5

    The Accidental Wine Communicator: Marc Bouffard and Englishman's Claret

    Marc Bouffard is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. He is also, by any measure, one of the most respected independent voices in fine wine — built not from a role in the trade, not from a formal credential, but from pure passion, a scientist's rigor, and an Instagram account called @englishmans_claret. In this episode, Marc and Jeff sit down to talk about how all of it happened: the 1966 Léoville Barton that opened a door to the Barton-Sartorius family; the vertical of Ducru-Beaucaillou going back to 1929 that began a lasting friendship with Bruno Borie; and why a Harvard neurologist with friends "in real life" eventually said yes to Instagram — and wrote a 368-page book. That book is Saint-Julien: Vineyards, Cellars, People, and Place (Académie du Vin Library), the first volume in a planned series covering all of Bordeaux's major appellations. It covers all eleven classified growths of Saint-Julien, with tasting notes stretching back to 1922, and a deliberate choice to leave out numerical scores — a decision Marc says made his writing significantly better. In this episode: How Marc built trust and access inside the châteaux without any formal role in the wine tradeThe "Englishman's Claret" origin story — and the Oxford tasting that first made him think, how can two wines from the same place be so different?Why Saint-Julien is the archetypal Bordeaux, and why its lack of a first growth may actually be a strengthWhat "the long tour" means as a philosophy — and why asking why matters more than knowing whatThe case for Bordeaux's extraordinary value right now, and where the perception problem still livesEn primeur: who it works for, who it doesn't, and what he sees changingWhy he removed scores from the book — and why his tasting notes immediately improved when he didOld bottles and what they tell you that recent vintages can't: a scientist's approach to terroirThe "looking back / looking forward" structure that makes the book a document meant to ageSaint-Estèphe and Pauillac: the next volumes already underway Promo: Use code UNCORKING at checkout for 15% off Saint-Julien at the Académie du Vin Library. https://academieduvinlibrary.com/products/saint-julien-marc-bouffard

  2. Jul 22

    Why Domaine Huet Defines Great Chenin Blanc | Sarah Hwang

    For nearly a century, Domaine Huet has been one of the defining estates of the Loire Valley and one of the world's greatest producers of Chenin Blanc. But in 2003, everything changed. When the Huet family sold the estate, many in the wine world questioned what would happen next. Could new owners preserve one of France's most revered domaines? Would its identity survive? Would the philosophy that had made Huet legendary be lost? In this episode of Uncorking What's Next, Jeff Zacharia sits down with Sarah Hwang, whose family stepped into that challenge more than twenty years ago. Sarah shares the remarkable story of taking over an estate that meant far more than vineyards and buildings. Domaine Huet was—and remains—a cornerstone of the Vouvray community, shaped by the vision of Victor and Gaston Huet and decades of pioneering work, including becoming one of France's earliest biodynamic estates. Jeff and Sarah discuss how her family approached that responsibility with humility, choosing stewardship over reinvention. They explore why Chenin Blanc may be one of the world's most misunderstood grapes, how Sec, Demi-Sec, and Moelleux express entirely different personalities, and why Huet's wines continue to age for decades with extraordinary grace. Along the way, Sarah reflects on growing up in a family of scientists, how stories of South Africa first sparked her imagination about wine, and why wine is ultimately about curiosity, generosity, and human connection. In this episodeThe challenging transition of Domaine Huet to new ownershipEarning the trust of the Vouvray communityWhat stewardship really means at a historic wine estateWhy Chenin Blanc deserves far more attentionBiodynamic farming decades before it became fashionableThe remarkable history of Domaine HuetWhy great wine is ultimately about people, places, and memories This is a conversation about legacy—not simply preserving the past, but earning the right to shape the future.

  3. Jul 8

    Building the Plane While Flying It: Scott Becker and the Reinvention of Realm

    Scott Becker grew up on the edge of dairy farm country in Wisconsin, played football at the Air Force Academy, served in counterintelligence — including deployments overseas after 9/11 — and talked his way into Harvard Business School. When career services suggested Goldman Sachs, he said no. He was going to Napa Valley to make wine. What he walked into at Realm Cellars in 2012 was a mess. Bad credit, borrowed facilities, a Brett-affected vintage he ultimately dumped down the drain — bottle by bottle — rather than let it define the brand. A quarter of his production, gone. Realm 2.0 was built on that decision. In this conversation, Jeff and Scott cover the full arc: growing up in the Midwest, military service and the perspective it gave him, an unforgettable lunch with Bill Harlan and Napa's founding generation, the painful early years at Realm, the transformation from grape buyer to landowner, and one of the most consequential decisions in recent Napa history — choosing not to make a single bottle in 2020 because of smoke taint. They also dig into what it means to build something genuinely new in Napa today: Realm's unique identity across multiple vineyards and sites, the post-cult era and what comes next, premature oxidation in Burgundy, why the greatest competitor to fine wine is non-consumption, and whether Coombsville could be the Oakville story of the next generation. This episode includes short explainers on Brettanomyces and premature oxidation for listeners who want to go deeper. Sponsors: Wine Market Journal — promo code UNCORKED La Tête d'Or The Durand Corkscrew Connect: Instagram: @uncorkingwhatsnext Email: jzfinewine@gmail.com

  4. Jun 24

    From the Bronx to Burgundy: Uncorking the Wolf of Wine

    Jermaine Stone — known to many as the Wolf of Wine — didn't grow up around fine wine. He grew up in the Bronx, the first in his family born in the United States, with a dad who was a welder and a dream of making it as a rapper. The only wine in his house was Manischewitz, poured into his mom's black cake at the holidays. What happened next is one of the great origin stories in the wine world. Jermaine took a shipping clerk job at Zachys in 2004 — not because he cared about wine, but because it had a desk and room to grow. Within a few years he was running logistics, then bid clerking at auction, and in 2012 he became the first Black wine auctioneer in the United States. A moment some called a Jackie Robinson moment — though Jermaine, characteristically, says he was just nervous about the pronunciation. In this episode, Jeff and Jermaine cover the full arc: the Peninsula Hotel realization that ended his rap career, the Don Zachys kitchen conversation that kept him from leaving, the 1998 Chevalier-Montrachet that opened his ears to complexity, and how a podcast he started just to stay relevant turned into something neither of them saw coming — 110 episodes, a James Beard nomination, an Emmy nomination, guest lectures at Cornell, and the Wine & Hip Hop experience, which has now brought 150 people to Clos Vougeot and is expanding to LA, Burgundy, Champagne, and Brooklyn. They also get into Tasting Notes from the Streets — jerk chicken with Lambrusco, champagne with chicken nuggets — and what Jermaine believes the wine world has to do better: embrace the entry points, stop gatekeeping, and ask yourself one question when you feel like you don't belong: Who told you that? Oh — and the nickname? Jeff gave it to him. In Hong Kong. Outside a club. It's a great story. In this episode: Growing up in the Bronx and landing at Zachys by accidentLeaving rap behind at the Peninsula Hotel in LABecoming the first Black wine auctioneer in the USThe 1998 Chevalier-Montrachet that changed everythingBuilding the Wine & Hip Hop podcast to 110 episodesWine & Hip Hop — from a two-day harvest party at Clos Vougeot to a global seriesTasting Notes from the Streets: why jerk chicken and Lambrusco make perfect senseWine as a social equalizer — and why the industry needs more entry pointsEarly wine memory, breakout moment, and advice for anyone who feels they don't belong Connect with Jermaine Stone: Wine & Hip Hop Podcast | Tasting Notes from the Streets | Wine Bars, Volume One https://wineandhiphop.com/ Sponsors: 🍽️ La Tete D'Or — Chef Daniel Boulud's French American steakhouse, Manhattan Flatiron District 📊 https://www.latetedorbydaniel.com Wine Market Journal — Real auction transaction data for fine wine buyers and collectors. Use code UNCORKING for 10% off your first annual subscription: wmarketjournal.com 🍾https://www.winemarketjournal.com/ The Durand Corkscrew — Share your story of falling in love with wine for a chance to win one. https://thedurand.com/ Follow along: 📸 Instagram: @uncorkingwhatsnext 📧 instagram.com/uncorkingwhatsnext Email: jzfinewine@gmail.com

  5. Jun 10

    Six Generations Deep: Laura Catena and the Soul of Argentine Wine

    What does it take to change how the world thinks about an entire wine country? In this episode of Uncorking What's Next, Jeff Zacharia sits down with Laura Catena—physician, researcher, sixth-generation vintner, and Managing Director of Catena Zapata. Laura shares the story of her family's winemaking legacy, her father's vision for Argentine wine, and the decades-long effort to prove that Argentina could produce wines capable of standing alongside the world's finest estates. From blind tastings in her Harvard dorm room to pioneering high-altitude viticulture in Mendoza's Adrianna Vineyard, Laura explains how science, persistence, and a belief in terroir helped transform Argentina's place in the fine wine world. The conversation explores Malbec, Chardonnay, old vines, wine research, and why wine remains one of our strongest connections to nature, culture, and family. Sponsors: 🍽️ La Tete D'Or — Chef Daniel Boulud's French American steakhouse, Manhattan Flatiron District 📊 https://www.latetedorbydaniel.com Wine Market Journal — Real auction transaction data for fine wine buyers and collectors. Use code UNCORKING for 10% off your first annual subscription: wmarketjournal.com 🍾https://www.winemarketjournal.com/ The Durand Corkscrew — Share your story of falling in love with wine for a chance to win one. https://thedurand.com/ Follow along: 📸 Instagram: @uncorkingwhatsnext 📧 instagram.com/uncorkingwhatsnext Email: jzfinewine@gmail.com

  6. May 27

    Young, Curious, and Uncorking Wine's Future at HBS

    What does the next generation of wine lovers actually think about the industry? I sat down with Sabrina Miller and Rachel Anderson, the co-presidents of the Harvard Business School Wine and Cuisine Society, to find out. This past year they ran over 40 events — Harlan Estate, Château d'Yquem, Colgin, a Champagne masterclass with Antonio Galloni, and a dinner with Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park. When I read their calendar, my first thought was: this isn't a student club. This is what I used to do at Zachys. Sabrina grew up escaping the Bakersfield heat on weekends with her family in Napa. Rachel drove to Trader Joe's for Two Buck Chuck during Army flight school, got stationed in Germany, and never stopped pulling at the thread of wine curiosity. Both of them are now asking the questions about where this industry is headed In this episode we talk about what it takes to bring Harlan and d'Yquem to a business school campus, why allocation lists may not work for the next generation, how wine can be both educational and genuinely fun, and what Rachel did with a bottle of 1993 Moët she bought at the estate in Champagne and saved for years. Sabrina Miller: Co-President, HBS Wine and Cuisine Society, MBA Class of 2026. Background in NASA and deep tech. Competitive blind tasting team member, placed second in the international championship in France. Rachel Anderson: Co-President, HBS Wine and Cuisine Society, JD/MBA Class of 2026. West Point graduate, U.S. Army helicopter pilot, and Army intelligence officer stationed in Germany. Heading to Domaine Dujac in Burgundy for harvest before starting a career in private credit. Sponsors: La Tete D'Or, the French American steakhouse from Chef Daniel Boulud in Manhattan's Flatiron District. https://www.latetedorbydaniel.comWine Market Journal — use promo code UNCORKING for 10% off your first annual subscription. https://www.winemarketjournal.comThe Durand Corkscrew — share your story of falling in love with wine for a chance to win one. https://thedurand.com/ Follow Uncorking What's Next on Instagram @uncorkingwhatsnext. instagram.com/uncorkingwhatsnext Email Jeff at jzfinewine@gmail.com.

  7. May 13

    Uncorking One of Napa's Most Historic Vineyards

    I discovered MacDonald Vineyards from the auction podium — a wine I'd never heard of, with bidders going absolutely crazy. I came off the block, turned to my son Tom, and said, what is this? He gave me a look that said: Dad, how do you not know? Alex and Graeme MacDonald are fourth-generation farmers on one of the most storied pieces of ground in American wine — 15 rocky acres in the heart of To Kalon in Oakville, planted by great-grandparents who didn't even want to buy the land. Their family grapes were the backbone of Mondavi's finest wines going back to 1966 — the Reserve, the To Kalon label, early Opus One — all on a handshake. The family didn't even know. The brothers released their first vintage in 2010 — 92 cases — and sold the entire vintage in 25 minutes. Today it's still just the two of them. No employees. And they're waging a five-year battle, without lawyers, to protect the very concept of place in American wine. Uncorking What's Next — because learning about wine should be just as much fun as drinking it. Sponsors: 🍷 Wine Market Journal If you buy, sell, or collect fine wine, information matters. Wine Market Journal tracks actual market prices — not opinions, not asking prices — real auction transaction data from across the globe, with powerful filtering so you can find exactly what's relevant to you. Visit winemarketjournal.com to learn more. Uncorkers get 10% off their first year of a standard, premium, or professional annual subscription — just enter UNCORKING at checkout. 🥩 La Tête d'Or The French-American steakhouse from legendary chef Daniel Boulud in Manhattan's Flatiron District, serving one of the best lunches in New York. Classic American steakhouse spirit meets refined French flair — great steaks, incredible seafood, and a fantastic wine list. If you're in New York and looking for a memorable lunch, La Tête d'Or gets my highest recommendation. 🍾 The Durand Corkscrew If you enjoy mature wine, you know how challenging older corks can be. The Durand is as close to foolproof as I've ever found for opening bottles with older corks — and I keep three of them on hand here at Uncorking What's Next. We're giving one away. Share with me the story of what made you fall in love with wine — by email or on Instagram. Over the summer we'll pick the best story to feature on the podcast, and that person wins a Durand. If you'd rather not wait, order directly at thedurand.com. Connect with Jeff: 📧 Email | 📸 Instagram | 💼 LinkedIn If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show — it means the world and helps new Uncorkers find us.

  8. Apr 29

    Inside Taittinger: Vitalie Taittinger on Tradition, meaningful visits, and the Future of Champagne

    A conversation with Vitalie Taittinger, President of Taittinger, on tradition, leadership, and the future of one of Champagne’s most iconic houses. We discuss the balance between heritage and evolution, the role of family, and why the experience of visiting Champagne remains so central to understanding the wines.

  9. Apr 29

    Dr. Laura Catena: Wine & Health - The Science Behind the headlines

    A conversation with Dr. Laura Catena — physician, fourth-generation winemaker, and one of the leading voices in the discussion around wine and health. In a space often dominated by headlines and conflicting studies, Laura brings clarity to what we actually know — and what we don’t. From the role of moderation to the challenges of studying alcohol, this is a thoughtful, nuanced look at one of the most debated topics in wine today. Key Themes Why wine & health is so difficult to studyThe difference between correlation and causationModerate consumption vs. extremesCultural context (Mediterranean lifestyle)Why headlines often oversimplify the scienceThe role of polyphenols and compounds in winePersonal responsibility and informed choiceHow the conversation around alcohol is evolving

  10. Apr 29

    Lafleur (Omri Ram) : Independence, Old Vines, and the Future of Bordeaux

    A conversation with Omri Ram of Château Lafleur on independence, old vines, and what it means to steward one of Bordeaux’s most singular wines. From a handwritten letter that changed his life to the philosophy of “elegant power,” this episode explores why Lafleur has always stood apart Key ThemesLafleur as an outsider in BordeauxIndependent, never chasing styles or trends“Elegant power” — contradictions in harmonyA wine defined by balance between opposing elementsOld vine genetics and BouchetA rare, preserved genetic identity at the core of LafleurFrom handwritten letter to LafleurPersistence and belief — no website, no email, just a letterFarming first“We are farmers before anything else” — the philosophy behindevery decisionClimate change and vineyard resilienceDiversity in genetics as a response to extreme conditionsWine is meant to be shared“A wine exists if people are drinking it — not buying it”

  11. Apr 23

    Uncorking What's Next - Trailer

    Uncorking What's Next launches April 29th. Host Jeff Zacharia introduces the show and what's coming.

Trailer

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out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Jeff Zacharia spent more than 40 years at Zachys, helping to build the company into a worldwide leader in fine wine, across both auctions and retail. In Uncorking What's Next, Jeff sits down with the winemakers, scientists, collectors, and visionaries shaping the future of wine — the people who live it, love it, and refuse to stop pushing it forward.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Zacharia
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jeff Zacharia
  • Show Website
    Uncorking What's Next

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