TRINKTalks

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 2 of TRINKTalks! In this episode we head to the volcanic cliffs of the Nahe to speak with Karsten Peter, the visionary winemaker and director of the historic Gut Hermannsberg. Karsten shares the daring philosophy behind his "late-release" strategy—holding back top Rieslings for five years to allow their true terroir to emerge—and discusses the radical decision to declassify the entire 2024 harvest following a catastrophic frost. From the man-made legacy of the Kupfergrube copper mine to his personal limestone-driven project in the Pfalz, this conversation explores the intersection of patience, site-specific winemaking, and the grit required to manage one of Germany’s most prestigious estates.

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ABOUT TODAY'S GUEST 
Karsten Peter is a highly decorated German winemaker celebrated for his ability to translate unique terroir into world-class wines, most notably through his transformative work at the historic Gut Hermannsberg estate in the Nahe. 
Born into a winemaking family with over 300 years of heritage in Bad Dürkheim, Peter gained international experience in Burgundy, Australia, and New Zealand before joining Gut Hermannsberg in 2009, where he was instrumental in restoring the Royal Prussian Domain to its former glory. Recognized as "Winemaker of the Year" by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, he is known for a "dogma-free" philosophy that prioritizes natural fermentation, minimal intervention, and extended aging to produce complex, mineral-driven Rieslings. 
Since 2021, he has focused on his own family estate in the Pfalz, Weingut Karsten Peter, where he applies his site-specific approach to organic viticulture and the production of elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
ABOUT TRINK 
TRINKTalks has been brought to you by TRINK Magazine, an independent quarterly digital publication exploring the “German-speaking wines” of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
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ABOUT THE HOSTS OF TRINK TALKS

Valerie Kathawala specializes in the wine cultures, traditions, and innovations of Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, and Switzerland, as well as those closer to her home in New York City. Her work appears in the pages of Noble Rot, The Art of Eating, SevenFifty Daily, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Pipette, Glug, Pellicle and a number of other publications. She is the co-founder and co-editor of the wine magazine TRINK. She is currently at work researching and writing a new course (2025) on German wines for the Wine Scholar Guild. 
Paula Redes Sidore moves smoothly between the worlds of wine and words. She is a double-certified sommelier, through the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Chamber of Commerce.  In 2012, she founded Weinstory, a creative content and translation agency dedicated to transposing the world of German-speaking wine into English. She is the German and Austrian regional specialist for jancisrobinson.com and a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Paula has a Masters degree in fiction writing, and her work has been featured in jr.com, Sevenfifty Daily, Feinschmecker, and Heated.
Thanks for listening & keep TRINK-ing!

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 1 of TRINKTalks! where we dive into the soulful, surprising, and often misunderstood world of Austrian wine and food. This is a thoughtful conversation with Monika Caha and Tara Q. Thomas—their deep industry experience bridges Austrian tradition, New York’s wine scene, and decades of culinary exploration.
Together, we unpack everything from Austria’s natural-wine reputation to the country’s deep regional diversity, from cherished grapes like Zierfandler and Rotgipfler to the rustic foods that shape the Austrian table.
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ABOUT TODAY'S GUESTS 
Tara Q. Thomas is the Managing Editor of JancisRobinson.com, one of the world’s most respected independent wine websites. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, she is a veteran wine journalist, critic, and editor. Before joining the Jancis Robinson team, she spent more than two decades at Wine & Spirits Magazine, where she served as Executive Editor/Lead critic for the wines of Austria, Germany, Greece, and Eastern Europe.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Tara’s deep understanding of wine is rooted in her early training as a chef. She "traded her knife kit for a wine glass" and has since become a leading voice on the intersection of food and wine. She is the Assistant Editor for the landmark 5th edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine (published in 2023) and has authored several books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wine Basics.

Monika Caha is a true pioneer, she changed the way America drinks Austrian wine. Born and raised in Austria, she first conquered the New York culinary scene as the executive chef and owner of the acclaimed restaurant Kaffeehaus. In 2003, she pivoted from the kitchen to the cellar, founding Monika Caha Selections.
Over the last two decades, she has curated an elite portfolio of artisanal, family-owned estates, bridging the gap between centuries-old traditions and the modern American palate. From creating the 'training wheels' for Grüner Veltliner with her famous Grooner brand to championing rare indigenous varieties like Zierfandler, she is the primary architect of Austria’s success in the U.S. market. 
ABOUT TRINK 
TRINKTalks has been brought to you by TRINK Magazine, an independent quarterly digital publication exploring the “German-speaking wines” of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
LEARN MORE:
https://www.facebook.com/trinkmag
https://www.instagram.com/trink_magazine/
https://x.com/magazinetrink?lang=en
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trink-magazine/

ABOUT THE HOSTS OF TRINK TALKS
⁠Valerie Kathawala specializes in the wines and wine cultures of Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, and Switzerland, as well as those closer to her home in New York. Her work appears in the pages of , Noble Rot⁠,⁠ The Art of Eating⁠,⁠ SevenFifty Daily⁠,⁠ Meininger’s and of course TRINK⁠. She is the author of the German Wine Scholar, a new course on German wines from the Wine Scholar Guild⁠. 

Paula Redes Sidore moves smoothly between the worlds of wine and words. She is a double-certified sommelier, through the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Chamber of Commerce.  In 2012, she founded Weinstory, a creative content and translation agency dedicated to transposing the world of German-speaking wine into English. She is the German and Austrian regional specialist for jancisrobinson.com and a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Paula has a Masters degree in fiction writing, and her work has been featured in jr.com, Sevenfifty Daily, Feinschmecker, and Heated.

Thanks for listening and keep TRINKing!

Welcome to Episode 12 of TRINKTalks! In this episode, we discuss Camilla Gierda’s book Natural Trailblazers. This publication explores the intersection of natural wine, climate change, and sustainability, highlighting how organic farming, biodiversity, and alternative packaging can reduce the wine industry’s environmental impact. The journey to identify trailblazing producers committed to sustainable practices is both complex and rewarding, with new grape varieties offering resilience in the face of climate challenges. The natural wine movement, rooted in social good as much as rebellion, emphasizes the importance of consumer education and collective responsibility. It also celebrates the growing influence of women in wine and encourages collaboration among producers to drive innovative, climate-conscious solutions.

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ABOUT TODAYS GUESTS 
Miki Smith is a Virginia-based entrepreneur, wine educator, and climate-conscious leader. With a WSET Level III certification and working toward her Diploma, she founded GoodWine in 2021 to spotlight planet-friendly producers committed to low-carbon farming and ethical practices. Through her platform and regional wine club, she educates consumers on sustainable wine choices and amplifies voices driving climate-focused change in the industry.

Christine Pieroth, known as Piri Naturel, is a pioneering natural winemaker from Germany’s Nahe region, where her family has farmed since 1781. After studies at Geisenheim and international vineyard work, she launched her label in 2019, crafting low-intervention wines from organic, regenerative vineyards. Christine integrates agroforestry and PIWI hybrid grapes to boost biodiversity and resilience, earning a feature in Natural Trailblazers for her climate-forward, terroir-driven approach.

Camilla Gjerde is a Norwegian-born, Sweden-based natural wine writer and advocate. A WSET Diploma holder with a PhD in Political Science, she’s the author of We Don’t Want Any Crap in Our Wine and Natural Trailblazers, profiling pioneering producers leading sustainable, low-carbon wine practices. Through her work, Gjerde champions authenticity, climate action, and social good within the global natural wine movement.
ABOUT TRINK 
TRINKTalks has been brought to you by TRINK Magazine, an independent quarterly digital publication exploring the “German-speaking wines” of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
LEARN MORE:
https://www.facebook.com/trinkmag
https://www.instagram.com/trink_magazine/
https://x.com/magazinetrink?lang=en
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trink-magazine/

ABOUT THE HOSTS OF TRINK TALKS

Valerie Kathawala specializes in the wine cultures, traditions, and innovations of Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, and Switzerland, as well as those closer to her home in New York City. Her work appears in the pages of Noble Rot, The Art of Eating, SevenFifty Daily, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Pipette, Glug, Pellicle and a number of other publications. She is the co-founder and co-editor of the wine magazine TRINK. She is currently at work researching and writing a new course (2025) on German wines for the Wine Scholar Guild. 
Paula Redes Sidore moves smoothly between the worlds of wine and words. She is a double-certified sommelier, through the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Chamber of Commerce.  In 2012, she founded Weinstory, a creative content and translation agency dedicated to transposing the world of German-speaking wine into English. She is the German and Austrian regional specialist for jancisrobinson.com and a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Paula has a Masters degree in fiction writing, and her work has been featured in jr.com, Sevenfifty Daily, Feinschmecker, and Heated.
Thanks for listening and keep Trinking!

Welcome to Episode 12 of TRINKTalks! In this conversation, Jule and Kai Schätzel discuss their journey into winemaking, emphasizing the importance of sustainable farming practices and the role of community in the winemaking process. They share insights on the philosophy of balance in winemaking, the transition to natural wines, and the challenges faced along the way. The discussion highlights the significance of innovation in tradition and the potential for winemaking to contribute positively to the world.

Consider joining the TRINK community. Read up on our subscriptions and unlock exclusive wine content, benefits, and experiences.
Can’t listen in? Read the transcript instead! 
ABOUT GUESTS KAI & JULE SCHÄTZEL
Kai and Jule Schätzel are the visionary duo behind Weingut Schätzel in Germany’s Rheinhessen, where they’ve redefined what the region—and Riesling itself—can express. The Schätzel family has been rooted in Nierstein since 1350, with the first vines planted during that time. 
Since taking the helm in 2008, Kai transformed his family’s centuries-old estate into one of Germany’s most distinctive, terroir-driven wineries, anchored in minimalism and a relentless pursuit of purity. The arrival of Jule in 2020 marked a new chapter, as the couple guided the estate to full Demeter biodynamic certification and pioneered ecological practices like planting shade trees amid the prized Roter Hang vineyards to combat climate stress. Together, they craft wines of remarkable tension, clarity, and restraint, fermenting with ambient yeasts in their 800-year-old cellar where a naturally occurring flor yeast allows for unsulfured bottlings without oxidative character. 
ABOUT TRINK 
TRINKTalks has been brought to you by TRINK Magazine, an independent quarterly digital publication exploring the “German-speaking wines” of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. 

Founders Paula Redes Sidore, based in Germany, and Valerie Kathawala, in New York, were brought together by their shared love for these wines and the conviction that a deep understanding of the cultural contexts in which they are embedded is essential to appreciating them fully. 

TRINK launched in 2020. From the outset, their mission has been to deepen the understanding of how wine intersects with and impacts the narrative, culture, history, and geography of the European spaces where German is common cultural currency. 
LEARN MORE:
https://www.facebook.com/trinkmag
https://www.instagram.com/trink_magazine/
https://x.com/magazinetrink?lang=en
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trink-magazine/

ABOUT THE HOSTS OF TRINK TALKS

Valerie Kathawala specializes in the wine cultures, traditions, and innovations of Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, and Switzerland, as well as those closer to her home in New York City. Her work appears in the pages of Noble Rot, The Art of Eating, SevenFifty Daily, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Pipette, Glug, Pellicle and a number of other publications. She is the co-founder and co-editor of the wine magazine TRINK. She is currently at work researching and writing a new course (2025) on German wines for the Wine Scholar Guild. 
Paula Redes Sidore moves smoothly between the worlds of wine and words. She is a double-certified sommelier, through the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Chamber of Commerce.  In 2012, she founded Weinstory, a creative content and translation agency dedicated to transposing the world of German-speaking wine into English. TRINK is the natural extension of that pursuit. She is the German and Austrian regional specialist for jancisrobinson.com and a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Paula has a Masters degree in fiction writing, and her work has been featured in jr.com, Sevenfifty Daily, Feinschmecker, and Heated. She lives on the northern wall of wine growing with her family in Bonn, Germany.
Thanks for joining us today and remember to Keep Trinking!!

Welcome to Episode 11 of TRINKTalks! In this episode we sit down with Marco Simonit, renowned Italian agronomist and co-founder of Simonit & Sirch, the world’s leading vine pruning consultancy. Marco shares the story of what first drew him to the art of vine pruning, how he developed his pioneering gentle pruning technique, and why it’s transforming vineyards across the world.
We delve into the unique challenges facing German and Austrian viticulture, the lessons learned from old vines, and the incredible resilience of grapevines. Marco also discusses the future of vineyard management, the role of innovation, and how digital education is reshaping viticultural training for a new generation!
Consider joining the TRINK community. Read up on our subscriptions and unlock exclusive wine content, benefits, and experiences. 
Our Episode Transcript is coming soon!
ABOUT GUEST MARCO SIMONIT
Marco Simonit is an Italian agronomist and co-founder of Simonit & Sirch, the world’s leading vine-pruning consultancy and training group. Hailing from Friuli, Italy, Simonit developed a passion for vine care that led him to revolutionize pruning practices through his "gentle pruning" method. This approach focuses on making smaller, strategic cuts to preserve the vine’s internal structure and sap flow, thereby extending vine longevity and enhancing grape quality. His techniques have been adopted by over 130 prestigious wineries worldwide. Simonit’s commitment to education is evident in the establishment of the Simonit & Sirch Vine Master Pruners Academy, which offers both in-person and digital training programs. 
ABOUT TRINK 
TRINKTalks has been brought to you by TRINK Magazine, an independent quarterly digital publication exploring the “German-speaking wines” of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. 

Founders Paula Redes Sidore, based in Germany, and Valerie Kathawala, in New York, were brought together by their shared love for these wines and the conviction that a deep understanding of the cultural contexts in which they are embedded is essential to appreciating them fully. 

TRINK launched in 2020. From the outset, their mission has been to deepen the understanding of how wine intersects with and impacts the narrative, culture, history, and geography of the European spaces where German is common cultural currency. 
LEARN MORE:
https://www.facebook.com/trinkmag
https://www.instagram.com/trink_magazine/
https://x.com/magazinetrink?lang=en
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trink-magazine/

ABOUT THE HOSTS OF TRINK TALKS

Valerie Kathawala specializes in the wine cultures, traditions, and innovations of Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, and Switzerland, as well as those closer to her home in New York City. Her work appears in the pages of Noble Rot, The Art of Eating, SevenFifty Daily, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Pipette, Glug, Pellicle and a number of other publications. She is the co-founder and co-editor of the wine magazine TRINK. She is currently at work researching and writing a new course (2025) on German wines for the Wine Scholar Guild. 
Paula Redes Sidore moves smoothly between the worlds of wine and words. She is a double-certified sommelier, through the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Chamber of Commerce.  In 2012, she founded Weinstory, a creative content and translation agency dedicated to transposing the world of German-speaking wine into English. TRINK is the natural extension of that pursuit. She is the German and Austrian regional specialist for jancisrobinson.com and a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Paula has a Masters degree in fiction writing, and her work has been featured in jr.com, Sevenfifty Daily, Feinschmecker, and Heated. She lives on the northern wall of wine growing with her family in Bonn, Germany.
Thanks for joining us today and remember to Keep Trinking!