In episode 36 of The Inside Wine Podcast, I sit down with one of my favorite people in the wine business, Nick Poletto. Nick is the V.P. of Wine Education for Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits, one of the most respected wine importer / marketers in the United States. Nick’s job, in a nutshell, is to visit beautiful wine regions, taste the greatest wines in the world, indulge in regional cuisine along the way, and then come back to the US to tell people all about his experiences. OK, maybe it’s not THAT glamorous, but you can judge for yourself by listening to this podcast episode. Oh, and a teaser – Nick shares what he believes is the most romantic place in the world. And he should know, because as Johnny Cash sang, he’s been everywhere, man. Enjoy!
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Player.fmEpisode Title
Inside Wine Podcast: Nick Poletto Has The Best Job Ever – Or, How To Become A Wine Educator
Episode Summary
In this episode, Joe speaks with Nicholas Poletto, Vice President of Wine Education at Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits. Nick shares how he went from a miserable office job in Boston to becoming one of the most respected wine educators in the industry. He discusses studying wine, working in Manhattan sales, moving to New Zealand to learn winemaking, and ultimately building a career traveling the globe to teach wine. He also reveals the most romantic wine region he’s ever visited.
Guest
- Name: Nicholas Poletto
- Role: VP of Wine Education, Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits
- Credentials: WSET Diploma (DIPWSET), Certified Specialist of Wine, Certified Specialist of Spirits, Master of Wine candidate
Topics Covered
- How to start a wine career
- The power of WSET and formal wine education
- Working in wine sales and the three-tier system
- What a wine educator really does
- Traveling to global wine regions
- Terroir and Nick’s “aha” moment in Barolo
- The most romantic wine region in the world: Beaune, France
Key Moments
- 00:00–03:00: Introduction to Nick and the Kobrand portfolio
- 03:00–06:30: Nick’s first job—“the worst job you can imagine”
- 06:30–13:00: The embarrassing Sancerre/Pouilly-Fumé moment
- 13:00–16:00: The transformative power of wine education
- 16:00–20:00: Quitting a successful job to move to New Zealand
- 20:00–25:00: What a wine educator actually does
- 25:00–32:00: The vineyard tasting that changed Nick’s life
- 32:00–38:00: The romance of Beaune, France
- 38:00–42:00: How YOU can start a wine career
Key Quotes
- “The more I knew, the more I sold.”
- “Everyone in the wine industry is authentic—that’s why I stay.”
- “Beaune is the most romantic place for wine lovers.”
Resources
- #Kobrand Sips & Selling Tips Podcast
- #WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust)
- #Society of Wine Educators
Call to Action
- Subscribe to the Inside Wine Podcast
- Share your own wine “aha moment” in the comments
- Check out Nick’s training podcast for quick wine education tips
