
Our Episodes
From exploring the beverage buyer journey to leveraging modern public relations to how marketing automation is changing the way we engage with consumers, Hit the Bottle goes above and beyond the ordinary to ask questions and get answers about beverage marketing strategy, technology, and leadership. Episodes drop weekly.
Episode 25: All About WineFuture 2021
Four crises happening at once – pandemic, economic recession, climate crisis and systemic inequalities – the largest (and perhaps best) online conference we’ll probably see this year addresses all four: WineFuture 2021. On today’s episode, Mike and Emma are joined by our esteemed guests,...
Episode 24: International Wines in the U.S.A.
For a change of pace on today’s episode, Mike and Emma talk amongst themselves weighing in on what it takes for International Wines to have a presence here in the U.S. Their combined multi-years of experience is well worth a listen. Be sure to...
Episode 23: Podcast about Podcasts
According to multiple sources, there are over 1.5 million podcasts and 34 million episodes as of October 2020. 50% of all U.S. homes are podcast fans, 49% of podcast listening is done at home, and 22% of listening is done in the car. 45%...
Episode 22: Sexual Harassment in the Wine Biz
You may have read (or heard of) the explosive report by The New York Times that reveals an ongoing culture of sexual abuse and harassment in one of the upper levels of the gourmet food world, the master sommeliers. Certified master sommeliers are an...
Episode 21: Web Savvy in the Wine Biz
2020 has taught us many things. One of the biggest lessons learned is just how important it is to be Web Savvy in the Wine Industry. To that end, today Emma and Mike speak with George Christie, founder of the Wine Industry Network and...
Episode 20: Crisis Communications in the Wine Biz
Crisis communications is something that we rarely think about until we actually need it. If 2020 has proven anything, it’s that a crisis can and will happen any time. Some examples may include, oh, I don’t know, Covid, or fires, or an injury in...
Subscribe to Hit the Bottle
The HTB Team
Veterans of the alcoholic beverage industry, Michael Wangbickler and Emma Criswell bring their unique perspectives each week to the show. Wangbickler is President of Balzac Communications & Marketing, a leading beverage marketing agency, and Criswell joined the Balzac team in 2018 after a long career in beverage marketing. Together the two hosts have a passion for the booze business, and look forward to sharing the mic with leaders in the industry.