Everyday Sommelier - Wine Stories with Kristi Mayfield
Ever found yourself staring in the wine aisle at your local grocery store or sitting at a restaurant, totally clueless about which wine to choose? You know what you like when you taste it, but when it’s time to pick a bottle for your next dinner party or match it with a meal, you’re scanning labels, Googling wine pairings, and still second-guessing every choice.
But here’s the thing: You don’t need to be a sommelier to enjoy wine confidently. With the right knowledge and a little guidance to understand wine lingo and unlock your own palate, you’ll be able to order at a restaurant without asking for a recommendation or walk into a wine shop and pick a bottle to pair with a meal like a pro.
I’m your host, Kristi Mayfield, a certified sommelier who used to be the one staring at the shelf, swapping the bottle I chose for the one someone else recommended because I didn’t trust my own taste. But over the past 5 years, I’ve turned that confusion into expertise, teaching thousands of wine lovers and professionals how to cut through the pretentiousness and complexity of wine so they can confidently choose and enjoy wines they love.
In each episode of the podcast, we’ll break down wine into simple, easy-to-understand terms. From regions and styles to winemaking techniques, tasting tips, and wine stories, you’ll get insights from a wine expert, an industry pro, or a wine educator to help you grab a glass and learn wine your way.
#Wineeducation #winepodcast #Winetips #Winetasting #Wineregions #Winepairing #Wineknowledge #Wineexperts #Winestories #Wineindustry #Wineculture
Episodes
58 episodes
Eliminate Business Dinner Anxiety With Wine and Etiquette
Crush business dining anxiety and turn every client dinner into an opportunity for meaningful connection and professional influence. My guest, and etiquette consultant Molly Tomlin, joins me to unpack how high-impact women can transform simple ...
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The Strategy and Artistry of Red Wine Blends
Red wine blends are often misunderstood—are they a last resort for leftover grapes or the winemaker’s secret weapon for crafting unforgettable wines?In this episode, I dismantle the misconceptions, revealing how blends have shaped the wi...
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Transform Everyday Wine Knowledge Into Empowered Social Capital
Unlock wine mastery as your hidden leadership skill and social capital advantage! In this episode, I join Cheryl Fischer, host of
Alcohol-Free Wine Is Having It's Moment
Are you curious about non-alcoholic wine but skeptical of the taste, mouthfeel, and overall quality? Wondering why alcohol-free wines seem pricier and how they compare to traditional wines? This episode of Everyday Sommel...
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Choosing Your Path From Dry January, Try January, and Mindful Wine Habits
Struggling with the pressure of Dry January or feeling stuck between social trends and your love of wine? This episode relaunch of Everyday Sommelier with Kristi Mayfield empowers you to rethink restrictive trends like Dry January and Sober Oct...
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The Hybrid Grape Revolution for Elevating Sparkling, Fortified, and Dessert Wines
Hybrid grapes are unlocking new frontiers in American wine, revolutionizing what’s possible from sparkling and dessert wines—especially from cold climate regions. Join me as I uncork the secrets behind high-acid, aromatic varietals ...
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Yes, Hybrid Grapes Do Make Good Wine with Dancing Dragonfly
Wave goodbye to wine intimidation—this episode of Everyday Sommelier uncorks a future where hybrid grapes and cold climate winemaking take center stage. Yes, you should try them. Now!Join me as I sits down with James Peterson and Mark We...
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Hidden Cost of Sparkling Wine With Torr Na Lochs Winery
Forget what you know about Champagne and mass-produced bubbly—Texas is rewriting the rules with grit, creativity, and uncompromising passion. In this episode, Kristi Mayfield goes deep into the real story inside a bottle of Torr Na Loch’s tradi...
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Rethink Champagne Prestige From Pedestal to Pizza Night with David Afariat
Ever felt Champagne prestige was out of reach or reserved only for special occasions? This episode dismantles the intimidation factor and reframes Champagne as an approachable drink for any day of the week. Kristi Mayfield is joined by David Af...
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Are Old Vine Wines Really Better? Separating Fact from Fiction
What does "Old Vine" on a wine label really promise? Is “Old Vine Zinfandel” truly better, or is it just marketing? In this wine stories episode of Everyday Sommelier, host Kristi Mayfield uncorks the truth about old vine wine, decoding industr...
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Wine Fraud Exposed And How to Buy with Confidence
When even seasoned wine experts and collectors are fooled, how can everyday wine lovers, like you, feel confident that the bottle in their cart (or on their table) is real? This episode of Everyday Sommelier with Kristi Mayfield exposes the uns...
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Coravin’s Greg Lambrecht On Reclaiming Your Wine To Make Every Bottle an Occasion
Tired of letting half-open bottles of wine go to waste—or waiting years to open a special bottle, only to find it’s past its prime? Wine preservation becomes exhilarating as Coravin inventor Greg Lambrecht joins Kristi Mayfield to reveal the tr...
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Does Wine Get Better With Age? Unlock The 3 Secret Ingredients For A YES!
Ever wondered if that special bottle in your wine rack is destined to become legendary—or just flat? Let Kristi Mayfield, certified wine expert, arm you with everything you need to confidently answer, “Should I age this wine, or pop it tonight?...
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These Wine Storage Temperature Enemies Are Ruining Your Wine
Ever wondered if your prized bottles are safe on that decorative wine rack? This episode of Everyday Sommelier reveals the biggest wine storage mistakes most collectors make (hint: that gorgeous spot on top of your fridge is a disaster for your...
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From Fear to Confidence Unlock the Power of Tannins in Wine
Ever feel overwhelmed when handed the wine list at a business dinner, worried about making the wrong choice—especially when it comes to tannin in wine? This episode of Everyday Sommelier with Kristi Mayfield dives deep into what tannins really ...
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Wine On Tap Anxiety: What To Do When There’s No Wine Bottle in Sight
Ordering wine at a restaurant is changing fast, and traditional glass bottles are no longer the only option on the table. This episode of Everyday Sommelier dives into the hottest restaurant wine trend: alternative wine packaging—from wine on t...
3 Tips Beyond The Bottle So You Can Embrace Alternative Wine Packaging
Cringe at the sight of boxed wine at a party? Think twice. Episode 41 of Everyday Sommelier breaks down everything you know—and don’t—about alternative wine packaging. Host Kristi Mayfield pulls back the curtain on why glass bottles aren’t the ...
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Stop Guessing And Start Mastering Your Sauvignon Blanc Wine Style
Wondering why the Sauvignon Blanc wine style you pick never tastes the same twice? If you’ve ever grabbed a bottle expecting vibrant citrus and got stone fruit—or vice versa—this episode is for you. Kristi Mayfield, host of Everyday Sommelier, ...
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Breaking Down Wine Discovery Barriers For Modern Drinkers
Struggling to enjoy wine without feeling lost or out of place? Dive into this episode as Kristi Mayfield and sommelier Hennex Vigo confront wine’s intimidation factor and reveal how to make wine approachable for Millennials, Gen Z, women profes...
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Ditch Learning 200+ Wine Tasting Terms! Do This Instead
Feeling overwhelmed the moment someone starts talking about “lemons, limes, or wet rocks” in your wine glass? You’re not alone. Wine tasting can seem like learning a foreign language—especially if you struggle to put words to what you taste or ...
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Why Dinking Alone Can Be Your Wine Connection Transformation With Tsvety Roo
Feeling intimidated by the idea of solo travel or dining out alone? Episode 37 of the Everyday Sommelier podcast is your go-to guide for transforming solo wine tasting into a gateway for genuine connection and cultural immersion. Host Kristi Ma...
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Why Pairing Cab Sauv And Bread Pudding Will Always Fail with Richard King
Is your favorite red wine suddenly undrinkable when you pair it with dessert? You’re not alone. Sugar in wine and food is one of the biggest sources of wine pairing fails—and most people have no idea why! In this episode of Everyday...
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Exploring Acidity in Wine From Bitter Bombs to Balanced Pairings with Richard King
Tired of puckering up when sipping high acidity wines or feeling lost when pairing bright, crisp whites (and reds!) with dinner? You’re not alone. In Episode 35 of Everyday Sommelier, host Kristi Mayfield teams up with wine expert Richard King ...
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AI And Wine Is Brilliant, And It Is Totally Freaking People Out
Can artificial intelligence truly enhance your wine experience, for example in food wine pairings? And where does human intuition still reign supreme? This episode dives into the fast-evolving world of AI in wine—from vineyard management and we...
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Beer, Bubbles, or Bourbon? The Wine Selector Guide You Didn’t Know You Needed (Until Now)
Feeling overwhelmed by complicated wine lists and want nothing more than your own personal wine selector? Defaulting to cocktails, beers, or seltzers because wine just never seems “right” for your palate? If wine shopping feels as tricky as ass...
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