Many skiers yearn for the opportunity to ski in Italy. The Dolomite mountains are so breathtakingly beautiful that UNESCO recognized the entire range as a World Heritage Site in 2009. Tim Hudson founded Inspired Italy based on his own experience skiing rifugio to rifugio across the Italian Alps. Our conversation traverses the origin story for Inspired Italy, the ski safari experience, local cruising, culture, and wine. Please enjoy.

The White Ring Race (Der Weiße Ring, Das Rennen) is a thrilling amateur ski race scheduled each January in Lech am Arlberg, Austria. If you ski or ride, add it to your bucket list. Lech has a long tradition of offering exceptional hospitality and luxury. With Andrea Ruckendorfer, Head of Event Management at Lech-Zürs Tourism, we dive into the White Ring and other fun and delicious events in Lech.

The Göckelesmaier, known by some affectionately as the “chicken tent,” is an institution in Stuttgart, Germany. Stuttgart is home to two enormous beer festivals, one in the spring and one in the fall. Since 1998, Karl Maier and his wife Daniella have led their family business, which launched in the 1950s. Our conversation, which was recorded in 2021, covers the history of the Göckelesmaier, its evolution, and some of the unique and delicious aspects of German harvest festival culture. So go grab a liter of beer and listen up. Prost, zum Wohl, Cheers. I hope you enjoy.

Elegant, precise, crisp, saline, refined, complex, and sophisticated. These are not adjectives many have traditionally associated with Sicilian wine, but they are accurate descriptors for the exceptional class of wines grown on the volcanic slopes of Mt. Etna. This episode focuses on a top Mt. Etna producer - Benanti Viticoltori. We get the Benanti family history and its innovations, we walk the vineyards, and we taste and chat with Salvino Benanti, who with his twin brother Antonio, is putting Sicilian fine wines on the map.

From the steep, slate cliffs of the Mosel River, Erni Loosen led the charge to restore Riesling's reputation as a world class grape variety. More work remains to be done, but Erni has succeeded at making Riesling famous and loved again. His knowledge of wine history and the unique characteristics of the Mosel make this conversation one I cherish and will return to again in the future.

Austria has the best aprés ski culture. The MooserWirt in St. Anton, Tirol, Austria is the legendary aprés ski bar beloved by professional skiers, vacationers, and celebrities. Eugen Scalet and his wife Anna Maria are legendary trailblazers. Looking for the best party, nightlife, and bar for aprés on your ski holiday? In one of the best ski resorts on Earth, the MooserWirt has you covered.

Does size matter? Does shape matter? Does thickness matter? We’re talking about wine glasses, of course. How important are they? I begin with a conversation I had with Maximilian Riedel at ProWein in Dusseldorf. Maximilian is the 11th generation of his family to make fine glass products, and since 2014 he has been the President and CEO of Riedel Crystal and Tiroler Glashütte GmbH.

This episode focuses on one of my favorite ski areas - Alta Badia - and skiing experiences - the wine ski safari. Alta Badia is part of the Dolomiti Super Ski region in northern Italy’s Dolomite mountains. The sheer beauty is overwhelming, and it is no surprise UNESCO made this place a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I spent a day speaking with wine producers, restaurant owners, and brand managers to learn about the local wine, food, and culture. This episode covers the significance of the region as one of Italy’s first ski areas, the beautiful wines from Südtirol/Alto Aidge, how Alta Badia mixed culinary excellence, wine, and skiing to create unique world-class events, and the uniqueness of local Ladin culture, including its language and food. I highlight the village of Corvara, where I prefer to stay. From Corvara you have direct access to the 40km (25 mile) Sella Ronda ski circuit, which you can experience in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The mountain huts and restaurants offer spectacular views and unique regional cuisine. The added value of Corvara is that it is home to several exceptional gastronomic and wine events, the valley is drenched in sunshine, and the expansive slopes are perfect for both beginners and expert skiers. But summer in the Dolomites is also special - you have the Maratona dles Dolomites bicycle race, beautiful hiking trails, and a myriad of other activities. Year after year, this is a place I find myself returning to, and each time I learn and taste something new.