379: More Than a Drink: Why Wine Divides & Unites Cultures with Sarah Heller MW

Why do some cultures embrace wine as a cultural expression while others see it simply as a beverage? Why do some cultures embrace wine as a cultural expression while others see it simply as a beverage? Can fine wine actually be defined, or is it something subjective to be debated? Why is it so important to identify both the aroma and structure of wines when tasting? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sarah Heller, Master of Wine. You can find the wines we discussed at . Highlights What was it about tasting Barolo for the first time that completely changed Sarah's understanding of wine complexity? How does Nebbiolo grown on clay soils in Piemonte create a sense of density and structure that feels different from Tuscan Sangiovese? How has Attilio Scienza's perspective on synesthesia shaped Sarah's approach to wine education? Why does Sarah believe wine should be understood as a cultural artifact rather than just a beverage? How does the ancient figure of Bacchus in Ovid's Metamorphoses reveal wine's power for both chaos and redemption? Why does Sarah feel that studying wine deeply increases enjoyment? How do different cultures respond differently to studying wine before enjoying it? What is Sarah's pragmatic definition of a fine wine? How did Sarah train for the Master of Wine tasting exam? Why did Sarah design the Elements glass collection around fire, water, air, earth, and balance instead of grape-specific shapes? Why does Sarah see wine education and global exchange as a two-way dialogue? About Sarah Heller Sarah Heller MW is an internationally acclaimed wine expert and visual artist whose work explores the cultural history and multi-sensory experience of wine. She is the Italian wine reviewer for Club Oenologique, Faculty of the Vinitaly International Academy and Wine Editor for Asia Tatler. Sarah has co-hosted the series Wine Masters and Wine Masters Class and has collaborated with Lucaris Crystal on a line of hand-blown glasses. To learn more, visit .

You can listen to 379: More Than a Drink: Why Wine Divides & Unites Cultures with Sarah Heller MW online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

379: More Than a Drink: Why Wine Divides & Unites Cultures with Sarah Heller MW is an episode from Unreserved Wine Talk by Natalie MacLean.

This episode is 57:33 long.

This episode was published on Mar 4, 2026.

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