The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Rome, Italy: Lindsey Gabbard Story of Rimessa Roscioli - Full Interview Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

Forrest talks with Lindsey, co-creator of Rimessa Roscioli in Rome, Italy. Lindsey shares her inspiring journey from Detroit to Rome and the origins of Roscioli’s wine tasting space, which began in an underground warehouse with a speakeasy vibe.

Lindsey’s leap from Detroit to Rome and her passion for wine
The backstory of Rimessa Roscioli and its unique tasting experience
How Roscioli connects wine lovers worldwide through wine clubs, QR codes, and video storytelling
Innovative sustainability practices like shipping wine by sailboat and using popcorn packaging
The personal challenges of building a life and career in Italian wine culture

✨ Whether you’re curious about Italian wines, sustainability in the wine industry, or the personal stories behind the glass, this conversation uncorks it all.

Follow The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast for more inspiring wine stories:
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5 Wine Trends to Enjoy in 2025 Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

The wine world is evolving. Are you enjoying these trends?

White Wines on the Rise – Chenin Blanc and Albariño are stealing the spotlight with crisp, food-friendly versatility.
Low & No-Alcohol Wines – Sober-curious drinkers are driving growth, with the category projected to reach $7 billion by 2035.
Organic & Sustainable – Gen Z’s eco-focus is fueling growth in biodynamic and solar-powered wineries.
Orange Wines – Bold, skin-contact whites from Slovenia and Georgia are capturing attention with earthy, complex flavors.
Premium Wines – Consumers are drinking less but better, splurging on higher-quality bottles that tell rich stories.

Whether it’s Albariño with oysters, no-alc bubbly for Dry January, or a premium Napa Cab Franc with steak—this episode will keep you on top of the trends.

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Award-Winning Podcast: TB5MW Podcast Wins Earworthy 2025 Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast is honored to receive the 2025 Earworthy Award for Best Short Form Podcast! In this special episode, Forrest Kelly and Sour Grapes reflect on the recognition, the community of indie podcasters, and the joy of storytelling over wine. From Sour Grapes’ award-winning Chianti spills to mason jar debates, this episode delivers both laughs and heartfelt gratitude. Plus, we thank Frank Racioppi and the Earworthy team for shining a spotlight on authentic indie voices.

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Palm Wine, Modern Science: Ikenga Wines - Full Interview Aug 22, 2025

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Founder/winemaker Onye Ahanotu of Ikenga Wines joins Forrest to unpack the world of palm wine—a millennia-old beverage made from palm sap—and how he’s using a patent-pending, sustainable process to craft a controlled, bottle-ready, Methode ancestrale (pet-nat)–style sparkling palm wine in Berkeley, California.

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Wine Arsonist: Mark Anderson and the $250M Inferno Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Stacy Lee, host of Dark Hearts, a podcast about true crime, cults, and mysteries

Story Highlight: In 2005, Mark Anderson deliberately set fire to Wines Central, destroying over $250M in rare wines. Anderson had been embezzling wine from the facility for years before setting the blaze. One victim said: “It felt like someone burned down my family tree.”

Dark Hearts: True crime, cults, and conspiracies—episodes every Monday and Wednesday

Platforms: Available on all podcast apps and YouTube Follow: @DarkHeartsPodcast

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Liquor Lab’s Aaron Vaccaro Turned Cocktails into Community - Full Interview Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Aaron Vaccaro, CEO of Liquor Lab Former Topgolf exec who helped grow it from 10 to 70+ locations and $1.1B in revenue. 🍸 What You’ll Hear:

Aaron’s journey from finance and venture capital to building experience-driven brands
The Topgolf transformation—how it evolved from a driving range to an entertainment empire
Why Liquor Lab is the “Topgolf of cocktails”—accessible, social, hands-on
Cocktail classes: 90 minutes, ~$70, 3 drinks, taught by professionals in Nashville and Louisville
Insight into cocktail formulas, mixology tips, and Aaron’s favorite: the Port Manhattan
How Liquor Lab is adapting to changing alcohol trends—like low ABV, NA options, and Gen Z habits
Why the focus isn’t on drinking—it’s about flavor, education, and connection

🔥 Quotables:

“You’re not just mixing cocktails. You’re mixing memories.”
“Most cocktails are riffs on six basic templates.”
“We want to break down barriers and make aspirational things accessible.”

🥂 Bonus:

Learn how Liquor Lab builds brand loyalty through experience
Hear how Aaron applies the same strategy he used at Topgolf to transform hospitality at scale
🎧 Learn more: LiquorLab.com Classes in Nashville, TN & Louisville, KY

Follow: @LiquorLab | @TheBestWinePod

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Palm Wine Without Palm Trees? Onye’s Eco-Friendly Revolution Pt. 4 Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Topic: Creating palm wine sustainably without harvesting palm trees

Guest: Onye, founder of Ikenga Wines

Environmental Impact: Avoids traditional palm farming to reduce carbon footprint and forest clearing

Production Philosophy: Source-agnostic and rooted in molecular replication of palm sap

The Journey: From 2019 epiphany to today’s artistic exploration of flavor and sensory expression

Palm Wine Variants: Focus on oil palm chemistry; acknowledges coconut and raphia varietals

Wine Styles: Experimental, seasonal, and undefined—exploring a “white space” of winemaking

Vision: If money were no object, Onye would open a store with food service and a portfolio of underrepresented global beverages

Takeaway: Palm wine is just the beginning of a much bigger adventure in redefining tradition through innovation

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Harvard to Palm Wine: A Sparkling Journey to West African Terroir Pt. 3 Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

Onye shares his pivot from Harvard University to launching a palm wine company

Discusses exploring Nigeria’s palm wine culture and production methods

Explains how palm wine can be preserved and bottled for U.S. markets

Insight into their sparkling palm wine labels and West African food pairings

Anecdotes about former classmates, including a researcher 3D printing a human heart

Talks about filling the beverage gap in fine dining experiences for African cuisines

Website sales live now; restaurant and retail distribution coming soon

💡 Fun Fact: Some say palm wine is good for your eyes—just don’t quote Harvard on that (yet)!

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The Ancient Art of Palm Wine: Onye's Bold Fermentation Breakthrough Pt. 2 Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Topic: Palm wine – an ancient, non-grape wine made from palm tree sap

What is Palm Wine? Naturally fermenting sap collected from palm trees; typically consumed the same day

Traditional Use: Morning (low-alcohol, sweet) vs. evening (higher alcohol); if left too long, it turns to vinegar

Innovative Twist: Onye creates a molecular palm sap from plant-based sources, allowing for controlled fermentation

Wine Style: Sparkling, pet-nat-inspired, unfiltered and hazy

Alcohol Content: Traditional palm wine: ~3–4%, Ikenga Wines: ~8–10%

Fun Fact: Palm wine may date back to prehistoric times and is naturally consumed by animals like bats and primates!

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Sonoma to Stew: Onye Ahanotu Blends Science, Culture, and Wine Pt. 1 Aug 03, 2025

Show notes

Guest: Onye Ahanotu, founder/winemaker at Ikenga Wines
Location: Berkeley, California
Origins: Grew up in Sonoma County, inspired by the rise of the local wine industry
Educational background: Chemical Engineering (UC Irvine) + Materials Science (University of Michigan)
Cultural Influence: Nigerian roots, family meals, fufu, and palm wine traditions
Philosophy: Wine as a fusion of science, food, travel, and art
Fun Fact: Palm wine can be a breakfast drink in Nigeria!