From Food Critic to Wine Titan With Meridith May
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)
Episode 316
Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you!
From Food Critic to Wine Titan With Meridith May
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 316 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! From Food Critic to Wine Titan With Meridith May In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), Kim and Mark sit down with a true powerhouse of the industry: Meridith May. As the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of both The Somm Journal www.sommjournal.com and The Tasting Panel Magazine www.tastingpanelmag.com Meridith has her finger on the pulse of the global wine scene. We trace Meridith’s fascinating journey from her days as a food critic to becoming a leading publisher and owner. Whether you are a casual enthusiast or a seasoned professional, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how wine media actually works. What’s Decanting in This Episode: The Origin Story: How Meridith transitioned from critiquing plates to publishing pages. Tailored for the Taster: We break down which publication fits your wine style—whether you’re a wine lover or a dedicated retailer. The "Who’s Who" of Wine: A look at the industry legends who contribute to the magazines (including some familiar voices from our show!). The Power of Print: Why physical media still reigns supreme and the tactile joy of having a magazine in hand. A Buyer’s Secret Weapon: Mark explains how he uses Meridith’s reviews to curate selections that match his profile and discover hidden gems. The "Smooch" Factor: We dive deep into their unique rating system. Forget just numbers—we’re talking points and "smooches"! Hot Topics & Red Flags: Meridith shares her insights on the current state of the wine world and the trends (or concerns) she’s watching closely. The Big Question: How many wines does a professional reviewer actually taste in a single month? The answer might leave your palate exhausted just hearing it! Get Connected Ready to upgrade your coffee table? We wrap up by showing you exactly how to get your hands on these publications and share a few "insider" facts that will totally surprise you. Cheers 🍷🍷🍷 Kim and Mark www.thewww.wine #WinePodcast #SommJournal #TastingPanel #WineReviews #WineCulture #PrintIsNotDead #SommelierLife #TheWonderfulWorldOfWine
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief MERIDITH MAY
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief MERIDITH MAY
Meridith May is the owner of two national U.S. wine and spirits trade publications: The SOMM Journal and THE TASTING PANEL Magazine. She is responsible for the publications’ branding and content. She has successfully increased each national magazine’s readership to reach over 65,000 bi-monthly for SOMM Journal and over 70,000 hospitality industry professionals bi-monthly for The Tasting Panel.
Meridith’s career in the media spans over 40 years. She began as VP Marketing for Los Angeles-based KIIS FM/KRLA radio in the 1980s working with such notable on-air personalities as Charlie Tuna, The Real Don Steele and Rick Dees.
Segueing into food and wine, she was the restaurant columnist for the Santa Barbara News Press from 1998-2001 and then took the role as Senior Editor at Patterson’s Beverage Journal where she ran the magazine until 2007, when she purchased the name, and began The Tasting Panel, which has evolved as the nation’s leading national wine and spirits industry magazine.
In 2013, she purchased the Sommelier Journal, an underground “cult” publication for high-end somms and with her same business model as The Tasting Panel, transformed it as The Somm Journal, the leading wine education print publication for the trade.
