In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with her niece, Liesel Meissner, for a fun, informative, and completely unpretentious conversation about wine. Tired of being overwhelmed in wine shops and feeling lost when restaurant lists, Liesel came armed with questions, and Laurel delivered the answers.
From understanding residual sugar and decoding trendy terms like “orange wine” and “pet-nat,” to what wine to bring to a business dinner, this episode strips away the mystery and seriousness and gets real about what makes wine enjoyable and accessible.
If you’ve ever stared at a wine list in panic, wondered whether corks are better than screw tops, or just wanted to know why wine smells the way it does, this is the episode for you.
What You’ll Learn:
- What residual sugar means and how it affects taste
- Why orange wine and pet-nats are making waves
- When (and why) to aerate or decant your wine
- The truth about corks, screw tops, and bottle closure
- How to choose wine for a professional dinner
- Tips for recognizing quality without relying on price tags
- Why wine doesn’t have to be serious to be seriously good
Liesel Meissner is a wine-curious traveller, reader, and enthusiastic learner who’s made it her mission to understand wine on her own terms. Whether sipping Malbec in Mendoza or exploring wineries in Lebanon, she’s passionate about discovering regional wines and sharing great bottles with friends. She’s not a sommelier, just someone who wants to hear, “Liesel, great choice!” more often. You can reach out to Liesel on IG, FB and LI here: @lieselmeissner.
Want to feel more confident picking wine? Start here. Listen now at www.winebehindthescenes.com/podcast.
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