In this episode of The Burnout Club, Patrice sits down with Ashwin Muthiah, founder of the Unpinned Wine Club—a wine subscription redefining how we connect with wine, our health, and each other. Ashwin shares his personal journey from burnout and chronic health issues to discovering passion, purpose, and community through wine. This isn’t just about sipping something new—it’s about unlearning what we thought we knew about wine, and reconnecting to the people and places behind the bottle.

Listeners will come away with a refreshing perspective on how wine can be part of a healthy, joyful lifestyle. Ashwin breaks down why most of us are drinking the same 20 grapes out of 10,000 available, how wine became disconnected from its farming roots, and what happens when we get curious, intentional, and community-minded about what we consume.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the wine industry hides 99% of grape diversity—and how that affects us
• How burnout led Ashwin to radically reshape his life (and career)
• The truth about “healthy wine” and why most bottles aren’t what they seem
• How to connect with small, passionate winemakers around the world
• Why pronunciation shouldn’t stop you from exploring new wines
• A simple way to be more curious and joyful about what you eat and drink
• How wine can be a bridge to real, nourishing community

About Ashwin Muthiah:

Ashwin Muthiah is the founder of unPINNED Wine Club, a wine subscription built around discovery, storytelling, and breaking the rigid rules of the wine industry. Each month, he curates six (or a Mini option of three) underrepresented wines from around the world—grapes and regions often overlooked by mainstream distribution—and pairs them with storytelling, tasting notes, and food pairings that bring each bottle to life. His work spans from critiques of wine’s gatekeepers and the points system to sharing rare grapes like Juhfark, Saperavi, and Perricone. Through unPINNED, Ashwin is redefining what a wine club can be—not just a shipment, but a movement.

Connect with Ashwin:

• Website: unpinnedwineclub.com
• Instagram: @unpinnedwine

Curious about the other 10,000 grapes? Explore more at unpinnedwineclub.com or follow @unpinnedwine on Instagram for approachable wine education and honest, heartfelt storytelling. And if you’re feeling inspired, send a message to a small winemaker on your next trip—you might just meet your next favorite bottle and a new friend.

🌿 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help others transform their leadership and reduce burnout.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/