Matteo Parenti is the Director of Growth at Blue Horizon — a Zürich-based VC firm that invests in plant-based and lab-grown foods. Blue Horizon was one of the first companies to invest in Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, and their portfolio includes mycelium steaks, plant-based seafood, lab-grown breast milk, and more. Matteo worked in investment banking for Rothschild & Co in New York City and got his MBA at INSEAD in France before moving to Switzerland.    In today’s episode, Matteo talks to Chris about biomass fermentation, Zürich’s bathhouses, using CRISPR to save bananas fr ..read more

Vadim Grigoryan is an art aficionado and brand strategist in the spirits industry. As Pernod Ricard's Global Marketing Director of Creativity and Luxury, Vadim oversaw Absolut Vodka's strategic artistic collaborations, managed the repositioning of Chivas Royal Salute Scotch, and launched the tequila brand Olmeca across Europe.  His consulting clients include Hugo Boss, Art Basel, and LUNU -- a cryptocurrency platform that partners with luxury retailers.   In his talk with Chris, Vadim discusses the artistic merit of Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, the British Monar ..read more

Christian Pillsbury is the proprietor of Eden Rift Vineyards, a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir house in California's Cienega Valley. After studying at INSEAD, Europe's top-ranked business school, he served as Global Wine Director for Duty-Free and Director of APAC for Coravin.   In today's episode, Christian tells Chris about who actually buys wine at the airport, what perks come with being Bordeaux's biggest buyer, how both Big Napa Cab and Natty Wine jumped the shark, when Hong Kong became the global capital of wine, where an MBA can take you, and why Burgundian varieties thrive in the centr ..read more

Chengyi Lin teaches strategy and digital transformation at INSEAD, Europe’s top-ranked MBA program. Before moving to France, Chengyi earned his PhD from Northwestern University and consulted for Bain & Co. Chengyi spoke with Chris about his academic career in biomedical engineering, whether an MBA is worth it, the utilization of AI in the private sector, technological innovation at sweetgreen, supply chain challenges, NFTs, and sustainability.   To learn more about Chengyi’s research on Digital Strategy, you can find him on LinkedIn. Follow Chris on Instagram at https://www.instagram ..read more

André Terrail is the owner and operator of Tour de Argent, Paris' oldest restaurant. He took over the prestigious eatery in his twenties and opened the company's boulangerie and épicerie, both next door to the Michelin-starred restaurant. André and Chris talk about balancing history with innovation, numbering each bird utilized for the signature pressed duck dish, winning the œuf mayonnaise competition, embracing his Finnish heritage, prepping for the Paris Olympics, getting an MBA at INSEAD, finding his own voice at work, bringing formal dining and kitchen culture into the 21st century, visit ..read more

Felipe Monteiro teaches Global Strategy at INSEAD, Europe’s top MBA program. Professor Monteiro also serves as both Academic Director of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index and Director of the Programa de Gestao Avancada, which advises Brazilian CEOs, business owners, and top executives.    Professor Monteiro is an avid wine collector and has researched globalization in the wine industry. In 2020, he wrote a case study about Quinta do Vallado and the international market for Douro Valley wines. For this episode, Chris and Felipe chat about the research that goes into writing a go ..read more

Lisbon-based Jose Gourmet is one of the most recognizable brands in the conservas market, thanks to the company’s artisanal production, commitment to sustainable fishing, as well as Luís Mendonça’s artistic packaging.   Premium Iberian canned seafood has grown in popularity over the past decade, and sales have skyrocketed during the pandemic. Jose Gourmet Sales Director Vasco Motta discusses the past, present, and future of the brand, while Matt Caputo, CEO of US distributor A Priori Foods, discusses the regional differences and cellaring potential for conservas ..read more

Brandon Kerne pivoted at the start of the pandemic from steakhouse sommelier to e-commerce. During his tenure at Pappas Steakhouse, Brandon sat for the notoriously difficult Master Sommelier exam and now runs a boutique wine concierge service called Wines By BK. This week, Brandon discusses his approach to deductive tasting, his ringer for Cali Pinot (warm vintage Etna Rosso), and his favorite Philip Seymour Hoffman film.   To learn more about the virtual blind tastings that Brandon leads every Thursday, visit www.winesbybk.com   ..read more

Chris Kelly is the co-founder of Vintel, an Austin-based design company that focuses on low-intervention wines. Chris has created wine labels and consulted on packaging for some of the most exciting wineries and importers. The two Chrises hash out the aesthetics of natural wine as well as the art of consumer branding. Chris K talks to Chris P about collaborating with Chad Stock in Oregon, running the wine program at Lenoir, eschewing the stolid imagery of monastic Burgundy, connecting with a new generation of consumer, and pairing natch wine with the music of Sturgill Simpson.   Follow Ch ..read more

Sisters Meike & Dörte Näkel are fifth-generation winemakers in Ahr, Germany’s northernmost region for red wine production. Their winery, Meyer-Näkel, is the regional benchmark for Pinot Noir, known as Spätburgunder in Germany. After taking the reins over a decade ago, Meike & Dörte have emphasized sustainability in their farming practices. They discuss with Chris what it means to inherit a venerable wine estate as well as Ahr's unique viticultural challenges.   The wines of Meyer-Näkel are imported to the USA by The German Wine Collection, and this episode of By The Glass was prod ..read more