The Wine Pair Podcast: Making Wine Approachable, Fun, and Easier To Choose

There are as many types of wine podcasts as there are wine varietals. My favorite wine podcasts are, of course, the independent shows like the Best Five Minute Wine Podcast with Forrest Kelly, which won an Ear Worthy award earlier this year. 

Independent podcasts came in all shapes, voices, and styles. When I discover a new podcast, I am like a kid in a candy store. (Note: I'm talking candy stores with only natural ingredients.) 

My latest discovery is a terrific independent wine podcast called The Wine Pair. 

I'll let Joe Mele and his spouse, Carmela, tell you about their show. 

"We’re an independent, husband-and-wife show that blind tastes two to three wines each week around a theme we choose ourselves. We buy every bottle out of pocket so we can tell our listeners exactly what we think. We have no sponsors, and we don't take samples or review wines sent to us."

The Wine Pair Podcast is an independent, husband-and-wife show that makes wine approachable, funny, and honest. Each week, Joe and Carmela taste and rate two to three wines around a theme and share what they learn in plain language. They buy every bottle themselves and accept no sponsorships, keeping their reviews completely unbiased, honest, and entertaining.

I am always a bit concerned about husband and wife co-hosting teams because the power dynamic in their relationship tends to seep into their hosting style. No worries here. Joe and Carmela seem to have a kinship that comes through in their podcasting style. They are funny, tease each other playfully, and work like a team as co-hosts. There's an insouciance about their style, not taking themselves too seriously and keeping the show light yet still informative and helpful for wine enthusiasts.

Joe and Carmela assure their audience: "Our goal is to make wine feel less intimidating and a lot more fun, and we help our listeners find new wines at affordable prices. For instance, one week we may focus on unique varietals like Trousseau or Grignolino or Assyrtiko, or we may explore lesser known wine regions like Bandol, or Umbria, or Croatia, and then we taste and review wines on our 10 point scale. Unlike most wine reviewers, we tell our listeners if we like the wine or if we don't. We also use common terms that anyone can understand, and we don't take ourselves too seriously."

They've released over 210 episodes since 2021, have over 94,000 lifetime downloads, and are a top 100 podcast on Apple Podcasts in the Food category. They've been featured in Decanter Magazine, won a 50 Over 50 Podcast Award, and have also appeared in The Takeout, Chowhound, Foodie, and The Mercury News. Like many indie podcasters, they also write, record, and produce every episode ourselves from our humble home studio. 

As indie podcasters, I like the steps they've taken to monetize the show. They sell merch, work hard to build an inclusive listener community by always soliciting feedback, and they have an informative blog. The couple even have a wine store on their website (A very good website, I'll add.) where you can find the best wines we've reviewed on their podcast.

Their show is well-produced, with a lovely bass guitar intro music and excellent sound quality. Episodes run about 45 to 50 minutes, and are comprehensive yet succinct. 

Joe offers new listeners "a few episodes that capture what we do best":
• Orange Wine, One More Time!
• WTF Is Trousseau? Jura Wine Exposed
• High QPR Pinot Noir from South America

Every episode of The Wine Pair Podcast is built around curiosity, transparency, and a genuine love of discovery. Joe and Carmela blind taste three wines they’ve personally selected and purchased, which means their reviews are completely independent and unfiltered. The result is wine education listeners can trust — real opinions, honest reactions, and recommendations based on what’s in the glass, not on a press release or free sample.

Listeners learn how to understand wine styles, grapes, and regions through clear, easy explanations that make sense whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned oenophile. Joe and Carmela explore affordable wines that deliver great quality without big prices, including bottles from lesser-known producers and regions.

Discover off-the-beaten-path varietals such as Trousseau, Ribolla Gialla, Primitivo, Bonarada, Grüner Veltliner,and Cinsault, alongside familiar favorites like Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Vinho Verde. Decode confusing wine terms and labels so buying a bottle or ordering at a restaurant feels less like a gamble and more like an informed choice.

The show helps listeners build confidence in their own palate by hearing how two real people describe and rate wine in plain, honest language. I've learned a lot in the ten episodes I've heard so far. I will be a dedicated listener from now on. 

My favorite episode so far was the September 7th show -- Costco Kirkland Signature Challenge: Sonoma County Chardonnay! -- where the hosts answer the question: Have you ever wondered why American Chardonnay tastes like oaky butter-bombs?

Joe and Carmela explain: "Well, you can blame the French! The American style of Chardonnay is not our favorite, but it is super popular, and we explore why, and how it got to be the way it is. We also pit the 2022 Costco Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Chardonnay against some other easy to find and reasonably priced American Chardonnays to see who we think is the best bet for your hard-earned money."

I learned so much about Chardonnay in that episode and had fun in the process.

Every episode is designed to help listeners feel a little smarter about wine, laugh along the way, and walk away knowing exactly which bottles are worth buying.

Listeners regularly email, message, and share tasting experiences with Joe and Carmela, who respond personally and often feature audience stories and ideas on the show. Some listeners, like “Listener Timmy,” have even been featured in episodes and blog posts. The show’s approachable tone and responsiveness have built a loyal community that feels more like friends around a table than followers behind a screen.

The Wine Pair podcast is a superb independent wine podcast. Joe and Carmela are lovely and clearly love doing the show. The show blends wine assessment with a hint of marital bliss, and notes of whimsy and fun.