E80 Matthew Kaner | Joe Wagner

This week, we sit down with Matthew Kaner—a storyteller, sommelier, and world traveler whose passport has more wine stamps than most have countries visited. From his early days as a singer-songwriter to running wine bars, producing for SOMM TV, and writing for Men’s Journal, Matt’s journey has always been driven by creativity and connection. Now, through his own brand—Will Travel for Wine Consulting—he’s taking that passion global, blending education, adventure, and storytelling into one unforgettable pour.

We dive into how he’s redefining wine culture through travel and media, what it’s really like to open a wine bar with no wine list (shoutout to Covell), and why asking him for his “favorites” might just trigger a friendly eye roll. Of course, it wouldn’t be Go With Your Palate without a few tangents—like reminiscing about college concoctions (Gin & Juice, anyone?) and Tupac’s signature cocktail, Thug Passion.

This episode is packed with insight, laughter, and wanderlust—a toast to chasing passion, pouring curiosity, and finding your story one glass at a time.

Chapters

• 3:10 Welcome Matthew Kaner (intro)
• 8:20 First drinks
• 13:00 Early years: Baseball, Music, and Wine
• 15:14 Met Rudy Kurniawan
• 20:08 Football traditions, 2 Buck Chuck, and Developing a palate
• 25:50 The Famous Wine Cask of Santa Barbara
• 33:45 The Sideways Movie effect (Pinot Noir vs Merlot)
• 35:57 Experience in the music industry (shout out to Ryan Adams)
• 37:03 Silver Lake Wine Shop (learning about community)
• 42:45 Opening a wine shop that doesn't have a wine list (Covell)
• 45:30 Malbec Tax/Training your palate
• 51:15 Getting the consumer what they want!