Join VinePair at the Charleston Wine + Food Festival March 4–8, 2026. This five-day festival, which is now entering its 20th year, showcases the very best of Charleston — infused with the talent of world-renowned chefs, winemakers, authors, artisans, and culinary storytellers from around the globe. Joanna and I will each be hosting a Beverage Workshop and a special dinner featuring Theodora and Renzo, so be sure to get tickets at chswf.org for these and other exciting events before they sell out! See you in Charleston.
Trends in music sometimes have a considerable impact on the drinks industry — take, for example, the Sauternes bottle that sold out after a brief cameo in a Taylor Swift docuseries. And as American music fanatics go crazy over KPop, some are wondering whether the Korean spirit soju is ready for a similar push.
Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss a listener’s question about soju and its potential to succeed in U.S. markets. Can the Korean spirit capitalize on the current popularity of KPop, Korean cuisine, and the like? Does soju’s future in the U.S. lie in the traditional ways of consumption, or will it pivot to use in RTD offerings?
Join us for a live podcast recording at the in Sacramento, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026
Zach is drinking: “Red Willow” Blend
Joanna is drinking: “Shady Lady” Rum Daiquiri
Adam is drinking: Freezer Door Martini
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This episode of “The VinePair Podcast” is presented by Charleston Wine + Food.
The article The VinePair Podcast: Can Soju Ride the KPop Wave? appeared first on VinePair.