Ep. 2572 From NYC’s On-Premise Scene to Wine Media with Michael Laudenslager | Masterclass US Wine Market - Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to Episode 2572 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo speaks with Michael Laudenslager, a seasoned American sommelier, about his new role at Wine Enthusiast, current New York on-premise trends, how Italian wine and culture are communicated to restaurant guests, and what’s shaping consumer preferences - from Sardinia and Cannonau to natural wines, age-worthy bottles, and Italian spirits.

Key Takeaways:

Key trends shaping New York City’s on-premise wine scene, as seen through Peasant’s guest preferences.
How wine professionals can better bridge the gap between wine media, scoring systems, and real-world consumers.
Insights into emerging styles, regions, and categories to watch as the wine industry looks ahead to 2026.

More about the guest:

Michael Laudenslager is a seasoned American sommelier and wine professional, currently serving as the Wine Director at Peasant, an Italian restaurant in New York City known for its Italian-focused wine list. At Peasant, he oversees the wine program and curates a wine list that emphasizes Italian wines, often highlighting biodynamic, sustainable, and minimal-intervention producers.

He holds certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and has extensive experience leading beverage programs. Throughout his career, Michael has managed wine and beverage programs for notable chefs like Marc Forgione, Peter McAndrew, and Tony Clark, worked as Director of Restaurants for Marriott International in both Washington, D.C. and New York, and curated wine programs at the original Smith & Wollensky in New York.

In addition to his restaurant work, Michael has recently joined Wine Enthusiast, where he reviews wines from regions including Tuscany, Southern Italy, and Sardinia, bringing his deep industry knowledge to a broader audience.

Connect:

Website: https://www.peasantnyc.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-laudenslager-bba1a7105/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebiggrappa/

More about the host:

Juliana Colangelo is a leading communications and marketing professional for the beverage alcohol industry. Currently, Juliana is a Senior Brand Manager at Frederick Wildman, where she is focused on building their Italian wine portfolio. Prior to that, she led the California Division as a Vice President at Colangelo & Partners, the leading wine and spirits communications agency in the U.S. for over 10 years.

During her tenure at C&P, Juliana led the development of the California office, growing the agency’s domestic presence to a dedicated office of 15 people with representation of leading wine companies such as Jackson Family Wines, Far Niente, Charles Krug Winery, Foley Family Wines and more. Juliana has completed her WSET Level 3 and her eMBA in Wine Business with Sonoma State University. In 2021, Juliana was named one of PR News’ Top Women in PR in the “Rising Stars” category. In 2022, Juliana became a Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador.

Connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julezcolang/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jules.colangelo/

Twitter: https://x.com/JulezColang

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliana-colangelo-mba-04345539/

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