Journalist Judith Smelser on Zoom Wine Tastings, Disney Sommeliers and How to Find Your Next Favorite Bottle of Wine

<p>So, a guy walks into a wine bar. Actually, for a good chunk of 2020, no guys <i>or gals</i> were walking into<i> any</i> wine bars in Florida—unless it was to pick up a to-go order for drinking at home. Today, Judith Smelser will explain why this matters. </p><p>Judith is the founder of <a href="https://orlandowineblog.com/" target="_blank">Orlando Wine Blog</a> and the wine columnist for <a href="https://www.edibleorlando.com/" target="_blank">Edible Orlando</a>. She also holds a Level 2 Certification from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Last year, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Florida’s hospitality industry to a screeching halt, she started the podcast <a href="https://orlandowineblog.com/category/unwineding-a-covid-19-podcast/" target="_blank">UnWineding</a> to chronicle the effects on Florida’s wine-based businesses. She shares how wine bars got creative to survive, explains why <a href="https://thezestpodcast.com/s2-episode-30/" target="_blank">Disney World</a> is good for Orlando’s wine scene and offers suggestions for discovering your new favorite bottle of wine. </p><p>We recorded our conversation in November 2020, but we think you'll find that it ages well—kinda like a fine wine.</p><p>If you enjoyed this conversation with Judith Smelser, then check out these other interviews:</p><ul><li><a href="https://thezestpodcast.com/episode_15/" target="_blank">Talking and Tasting Florida Wines</a> (season  1, episode 15)</li><li><a href="https://thezestpodcast.com/bourbon-101/" target="_blank">Bourbon 101 with Nate Wilson</a> (season 1, episode 7)</li></ul>