In The Vineyard With Podcast

I waited a long time for the opportunity to record this conversation. Iro is a good friend, but she's a very busy lady! Working in the Summer season as a Sommelier in a seafood restaurant in Chania, and the rest of the year as an Ambassador for the Wines Of Crete Association can be two very demanding roles! In this conversation we talked about the history of Cretan wines, what grapes are the key grapes and what wines they can make, the key figures (well, apologies for many that were left out. We love you all!), the geography of this big island and more. So let's go! Join us to the coast, hills, mountains, stunning vineyard, wines and people of Crete!

In this episode, I was joined by Chef Michael Caines MBE, Chef Owner of Lympstone Manor, Country Hotel, Restaurant and Vineyard alongside his longstanding Operations Manager, Steve Edwards. It's a hard enough job, starting a Country Hotel, in a rundown building, having to renovate it to a Relais & Châteaux standards, establishing a kitchen and a restaurant worthy of a Michelin star, before any other task is considered. Planting a vineyard, and especially one destined to make Traditional Method English sparkling wines, with no experience in viticulture or winemaking could be seen as over ambitious at best, or foolhardy at worst. Michael just knew, after one look at the southwest sloping barren field, stretching from the house, down towards the mouth of the River Exe, that had it been somewhere in France or Italy, that field would be planted to vines. Join us on this episode, to hear about the complexities of the challenge, the wines produced so far and the ones yet to be released, what other products the vineyard produces, *other forms of fermentations, Michael and Steve's desert island wine (and what dish goes with it!),, And much more. *   BBC Food- Michael Caines, A Life Through Food Listen to this BBC Food programme by Dan Saladino, exploring the life of Chef Michael Caines, highlighting, among many others stories, the saving of the Pain De Morvan, the rural French bread Michael first learnt to bake more than 30 years ago and now is baked daily at Lympston Manor.

In this series of conversations, my guest, Amanda Barnes, is taking us on a grand tour of the South America vineyards. We will first soar over the Andes, to Chile, to discover the famous valleys, such as Colchagua, Maipu and Casablanca. From there we will move north all the way to The Atacama Desert before returning to explore the deep south towards Patagonia. Our journey will continue to examine the latest trends in Argentina. Yes, it's not all about Malbec!   Finally, in the final segment of our tour, we will delve into what's happening in the rest of the continent. Brazil, Uruguay, are up and coming wine nations with increasing presence in US and European markets.   Peru and Bolivia, with their rich heritage of vine cultivation will feature too, as well as a cameo from Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Salud!

In this series of conversations, my guest, Amanda Barnes, is taking us on a grand tour of the South America vineyards. We will first soar over the Andes, to Chile, to discover the famous valleys, such as Colchagua, Maipu and Casablanca. From there we will move north all the way to The Atacama Desert before returning to explore the deep south towards Patagonia. Our journey will continue to examine the latest trends in Argentina. Yes, it's not all about Malbec!   Finally, in the final segment of our tour, we will delve into what's happening in the rest of the continent. Brazil, Uruguay, are up and coming wine nations with increasing presence in US and European markets.   Peru and Bolivia, with their rich heritage of vine cultivation will feature too, as well as a cameo from Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Salud!

In this series of conversations, my guest, Amanda Barnes, is taking us on a grand tour of the South America vineyards. We will first soar over the Andes, to Chile, to discover the famous valleys, such as Colchagua, Maipu and Casablanca. From there we will move north all the way to The Atacama Desert before returning to explore the deep south towards Patagonia. Our journey will continue to examine the latest trends in Argentina. Yes, it's not all about Malbec!   Finally, in the final segment of our tour, we will delve into what's happening in the rest of the continent. Brazil, Uruguay, are up and coming wine nations with increasing presence in US and European markets.   Peru and Bolivia, with their rich heritage of vine cultivation will feature too, as well as a cameo from Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. Salud!

A few days before Christmas, I got together with my friend, Demetri Walters MW to hear what floats his Christmas drinks boat in 2023. We talked about the obvious Christmas drinks most of us love, like Port, Sherry (not your Grandma's) but we also talked about Madeira, Commanderia St. John (Cyprus) and Vinsanto (Greece). Demetri is a renowned world expert on fortified wines, so we could talk about those for hours! I'm not sure if I can find any 1803 Sercial though. However, when it comes to mulled wine, we were not singing from the same hymn sheet 

Wine books. The wine world would be poorer without them. A good wine book is not just a vinous guide or a reference. It is often a companion, a walking pace way of telling a wine's story. And what could be nicer than sitting comfortably, I'm thinking by the fire, it is December after all, holding and reading a book about the region or the very winemaker responsible for the liquid in your glass? With our world shifting with alarming rapidity to the ether of cloud knowledge, the books produced by a relatively new UK wine publication house, Académie Du Vin Library, are worth celebrating. Hermione Ireland is the Managing Director and Publisher of Academie Du Vin Library and in this episode, she tells us about what led her to her role and the kind of books she is proud of publishing. The creation of the inimitable Steven Spurrier, Academie Du Vin Library is a unique publication house, specialising in books that tell a story. Books that tell a drink's story, such as This fantastic book all about Sherry A life story, such as Jean Michel Cazes's From Bordeaux To The Stars, a regional or a specific estates' story, such as Hermione's desert island wine, Chateau Musar. For the Academie Du Vin Library's website, visit https://academieduvinlibrary.com/ Patrons of my show, head to Patreon to discover your discount code created especially for you. There's still time for that perfect Christmas present!

This episode wasn't planned. Sometimes, the best things happen without much planning. A spontaneous and inspired action can often lead to a much more memorable encounter or experience. I was visiting Tiago Alves De Sousa, one of the Douro's most influential winemakers and a good friend, in his winery and vineyards high up on the slopes above the river Corgo, northern Portugal, a couple of weeks before harvest 2023. With me were my partner, Jeanette, and our friends Sam and Miles. I felt inspired to record Tiago's words and did so on my mobile phone. It was almost a group discussion and you can hear multiple people asking questions.  Apologies for the quality of the recording as well as various interfering sounds ( trumpets and drums from a nearby marching band, numerous scooters and loud explosions from fireworks... in bright sunshine !!).  Please consider supporting my podcast and becoming a Patron. I look forward to seeing you there!   www.patreon.com/InTheVineyardWith  

In this episode I was driving in the car with Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, co Owner of Gaia Winery in Nemea, in the Peloponnese peninsula, Greece. Later, we walked through the Agiorgitiko and Verzami vineyards, chatting about this beautiful region and its wines.

In the episode I was in the vineyard with Alex Starey, winemaker at Keermont Vineyards, in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Keermont is located in a long narrow valley that is tucked between the Helderberg and the Stellenbosch Mountains. Right at the tope of his vineyards, near an open pool feeding from the local spring, we sat on a sunny mid-winter day to chat about this relatively new estate. Keermont was bought by current owners Mark and Monica Wraith in 2003. they originally planned to plant vineyards and sell the grapes but a chance introduction to Alex changed that. A single barrel was made in 2007 and since the results were so good the green light was given to make more wine under the Keermont label. Since 2007 the estate under Alex's leadership is going from strength to strength with emphasis on Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot with some petit Verdot and malbec too. The range includes an excellent Chenin Blanc as well a white blend that includes seven varieties. Enjoy hearing the personal story of a wine maker returning home from making wines abroad to make wines in his childhood valley and the story of an estate that is less than 20 years old.

In this episode I chatted to Nic Van Aarde, winemaker at Oldenburg Vineyards in Banghoek, Stellenbosch, South Africa. You can hear all about the mystical Rondekop Hill, the centrepiece vineyards at the heart of this beautiful estate. We discussed the Grenache, each vine supported by a rock, against the ferocious wind, the Cabernet Sauvignon, with putting green grass between the rows of vines, the Stone Axe Shiraz and why the valley was called 'Scary Corner' by the Dutch settlers. Join us for a visit to one of the most beautiful High valleys in the Cape, Banghoek. Make sure you hold on to something solid once the wind come rushing over the mountains!

In this episode I was chatting to Christiana Von Arnim CEO of Warwick Estate in Stellenbosch and JD Pretorius, her winemaker. On a sunny, midwinter afternoon, we sat in the winery's garden to talk and taste their superb range of wines. It was a pleasure discovering their vision and plans for the future of the Warwick estate as well as how they preserve and maintain what was started by the iconic winemaker Norma Ratcliffe.

In episode 52 we conclude a short visit to northern California, where I already spoke to Cathy Corison, Dave Gates from Ridge Vineyards and Rebekah Wineburg from Quintessa Estate. Bertus van Zyl, winemaker at Tank garage ( a cool converted Gas station), as well as James Cole Winery and his own project Belong Wine Co, which he started 5 years ago with his wife Alli. From Stellenbosch to California, through the eyes of Bertus.

Can a bottle of wine change your life? If you are in a receptive mode, the stars are aligned for you and the right questions asked, Yes says Rebekah Wineburg, winemaker at Quintessa. In our latest episode she recalls such an encounter with a bottle of Ornellaia 1998 while having lunch in San Francisco, with her father. This bottle started her very own ‘Butterfly Effect' that led her eventually to be at the helm of one of California's premium estate, Quintessa.

50 Episodes! In this milestone episode, I was chatting with Dave Gates, Head of Vineyard Operations and VP at Ridge Vineyards in Northern California. We discussed his interesting route into wine from his home farm in Central Minnesota, through agriculture in Southern California, to eventually Viticulture in UC Davis. Dave is now in his 34th year in Ridge and his encyclopaedic knowledge of vineyards, soils, climates, fruits and the wines they are able to produce is simply awe inspiring. I asked him about his favourite site (‘'like choosing children'') and what excites him about Zinfandel in particular, as it is the grape most associated with Ridge (65% of production). Of course, we mentioned the legendary Paul Draper, founder of Ridge, now in his mid-80's, who is still involved in some key events in the winery's calendar. we also talked about the challenges of water shortages, the old, engrafted zinfandel vines, his experience as a wine blender and as tradition of the podcast dictates, his Desert Island wines of choice. Enjoy!

In this episode, I chatted with a real Californian pioneer, Cathy Corison, of Cathy Corison Winery in Napa Valley. Cathy is a champion of Cabernet Sauvignon, who always managed to marry the qualities of power alongside elegance and finesse beautifully. Not an easy fit. You can hear about her early years as a young winemaker. She spoke of taking on complex and big operations, for which in hindsight, she is happy to admit, they (her and other 20-something-year-old winemakers of the time) should probably not have been responsible. In our conversation, Cathy was telling the story of what it was like, standing by your fruit and not bowing to the ‘Parker trend' of big, overripe and extracted Cabernets of old, in the process forgoing any salary for a decade! She also described her ‘Bench' Terroir, what it is like and how it translates in her wines. We discussed the challenges of fires and water shortages and the obligatory question of what wine she'd be happy to take with her to a desert island (Cabernet-Sauvignon?... you might be surprised!). This episode is the first of 4 episodes exploring the people and wineries of Northern California. Please consider subscribing to the newsletter and follow the show on your favourite podcast platform. Your comments, either here or on Instagram are always greatly appreciated! Moshé

‘'If you include white grapes in a Rosé you can do longer maceration, you can get more texture, more concentration, more roundness, keeps the colour pale. Provence Rose is different, often because of that.'' And that concisely is the whole secret according to Rosé Specialist Liz Gabay MW. In this conversation we discussed all things Rosé and her brand-new book about the Rosés of South of France. We covered grape varieties, various terroirs, countries, and regions hot on her list of exciting rosé discoveries in 2022 and her own Rosé wine, which she is producing in Slovakia using traditional methods and local grape varieties.

A conversation with Alessio Inama from The Inama Winery in the Veneto region in North Eastern Italy. Listen to Alessio talking about the Soave Classico, a fantastic wine made from Garganega grapes that portray its Volcanic terroir beautifully. The wine's journey from mediocracy in the 80's to starring in wine lists in some of the world's best restaurants is another subject of discussion. We hear him talk about the reds, all coming from a hilly region called Colli Berici, further east from Soave, where the grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenere, probably the family's most celebrated red grape. I hope you enjoy the exploration. Please share this episode and use #inthevineyardwith

A long-awaited conversation with Jane Anson, the award winning author and commentator of all things Bordeaux. It was a pleasure to record this conversation as regular listeners to my podcast will know, I love hearing about the person as much as I enjoy discussing the wines. In the last 20 years, through her work for Decanter and later as an independent publisher, Jane is in many people's eyes the authority on Bordeaux and rightly so. The veteran wine writer John Stimpfig has described her as ‘'The world's most informed and accomplished expert on the wines of Bordeaux'' Anson's tome Inside Bordeaux was described by Dr Jamie Goode as a ‘'Category Buster''. In my view it is a must on any wine lover's shelf! She has won several awards for her writing, including Louis Roederer Wine Online Communicator of the Year 2020, and Born Digital Best Editorial 2020. Her latest project, www.janeanson.com is a beautiful resource full of information all things Bordeaux and select, elite wines that are traded via the Place De Bordeaux. In our conversation Jane has mentioned a few places, projects and producers that will be added below in links that you can visit. Jane's Bordeaux Mentor Week Chateau La Clotte Quinault L'Enclos Cathy Corison Les Cordelieres – that magical courtyard mentioned by Jane and recommended for picnics and sparkling wines. Vineyard 2050 – Bernard Magrez experimental vineyard Liber Pater – the £30,000 bottle of wine Jane's recommendation of 100% Castets from Rioja is El Espinal , 100% Maturana Tinta ( Castets) from Tom Puyaubert's Bodegas Exopto And of course… there is Corbieres in Manchester!

In this episode, the first recording in a vineyard for nearly two and a half years (!) , I was talking to Yuval Erlich from the small biodynamic vineyard of Harashim. The winery is located in the High mountains (850m)of the Western Galilee in Israel where Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are grown in complete harmony with the local natural forest and Garigue. Harashim winery is located in Mitspe Harashim (village), where the entire community lives according to principles of deep respect and minimal interruption to the natural environment they're living in. Enjoy listening!

In this episode, I was talking with Sarah Pidgeon, assistant wine maker at Wynns, the historic Coonawarra Estate. We discussed her route into winemaking, What makes Coonawarra so unique and suitable to produce great Cabernet Sauvignon (and Shiraz!). Her line of wine under the V&A Lane label, the threat of global warming, whether other varieties can be introduced into Coonawarra, how their wines age over time and what she will be happy to drink on a desert island. Enjoy!

In the Episode, I was chatting with Charles Lachaux from Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, from Vosne-Romanee, about his untraditional viticulture and winemaking techniques, his wines, what In his view is the key ingredient every Pinot Noir should have. You can also hear his views over Pinot Noir from the rest of the world, his desert island wine choice and what he wishes for his wines to taste like in 30 years time.

In this episode, I was chatting to Gordon Russell, winemaker for the last 34 years at the Esk Valley winery, in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. We naturally discussed his wines, including his Malbec based, legendary red wine, ‘'The Terraces'' made from a field blend of Malbec-Merlot-Cabernet Franc from a one hectare sloping, terraced vineyard that is one of New Zealand's most famous single plots. His latest wine, an Albarino of incredible quality, The Gimblett Gravels , matching food to the local Crayfish, matching wine to Reggae music and much more. Yes, there is the obligatory mention of Sauvignon-Blanc but only when we both mentioned that we completed an hour's chat without talking about... Sauvignon-Blanc! Please subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcast or on my site www.inthevineyardwith.com Happy listening (and drinking) Moshe

In this episode I had the pleasure of talking to Marta Galli from La Regose wine estate, located in the Valpolicella hills, just north of the city of Verona. I first tasted Le Ragose wines in 2014 and became a fan ever since. In this episode you can hear us talk about her Grandparents decision to move form the city to Le Ragose in 1969, in order for her Grandfather, Arnaldo, already an experienced Oenologist, to produce his own wines. There's also a beautiful story of her Grandmother (Also called Marta), that soon after purchasing the estate and despite being a mother of four children ,took a leading role in the winery. She was one of the founding members of Donne Del Vino (Women in wine), promoting the roles of women in the Italian wine industry. They had 20 members in 1988, currently membership is 900. We discussed the main grapes grown on the estate, the wines they produce (including a very rare ‘Amandorlato', a style between the sweet red Recioto and the dry Amarone), her PhD, researching sustainability in the wine industry, the family's love of art and more. Enjoy listening!

In this episode, I was talking to Father and son team of Paul Cluver Senior and Junior about their Elgin vineyards and wines. It is a fascinating account filled with brave and visionary decisions and visions. Planting a vineyard against all professional advice, in times when South African wines were not exported in any volume and when there was no other vineyard planted anywhere in the valley. We chatted about the early years, planting and trying hard to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot despite the cool climate, aiming to make a Bordeaux blend, and how finally, after advice from Paul Pontallier of Chateau Margaux, deciding to abandon those and realising the region's potential of world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. You can also hear them describe their wines, from the village series, to the Estate range to the flagship label of Seven flags, now considered amongst South Africa's best Pinot and Chardonnay. Sustainability, climate change, growing tomatoes and figs also featured.

In this episode I was chatting with Yiannis Paraskevopoulous from Gaia Wines on the island of Santorini and the Nemea region in Greece about his personal journey into wine, making wines in Santorini, experimentation with ageing white wines on the sea floor, off the coast of the island, the main characteristics of Nemea as a region and Aghiorgitiko, its main grape. We discussed Assyrtiko and its qualities and heard about the latest from Yiannis, an orange Assyrtiko, ageing in Ceramic sphere for 4 years. Yes, it has tannins and before you ask…. He can't stand the term ‘'Natural wine'' ! What wine he'll take to a desert island and where is the most beautiful vineyard on earth ( after Santorini …). Prepare to be surprised!

In this live webinar, Cathy Van Zyl MW and I hosted Hannes Storm (Storm Wines) and Richard Kershaw MW (Richard Kershaw Wines) for a comprehensive discussion about the Pinot Noir wines of Elgin and Hemel-en-Aarde in South Africa. We heard from them about the unique terroir in each zone, their choices of vineyard sites, clones, rootstock as well as the challenges, such as disease and pests (watch out for the Baboons!) You can hear Hannes and Richard describing their wines, with in-depth analysis and explanation as to how each component of the Terroir translate to the final result in your glass. For Pinot Noir lovers and especially for seekers of new and exciting regions, this episode is a must! The presentation can also be viewed on our youtube channel, which you can access via www.inthevineyardwith.com under the Video section, where you can also find Richard Kershaw's presentation.

Listen to my chat with Kate McIntyre MW from Moorooduc Estate, in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Kate was telling me about her parents' decision to buy land and plant a vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula in the early 80's. About the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir they're making. Her way through wine and her long journey to become a master of Wine. Her inspirations from elsewhere in the world of wine and much more.

In this episode (part2 of 2), Ben was able to address some question presented by some friends of the podcast and the Etna Wine School. Issues we covered: growing vines and making wines on an active volcano, the different aspects of the mountain and the micro climates, soil types, training methods... Pistachios, favourite food and wines pairings, global warming, sparkling wines of Etna and more. Press Play and enjoy!

In this episode I was talking to Benjamin Spencer about the wines of Mount Etna, in Sicily, Italy. This is part 1 of 2, you can hear Ben telling us about his love affair with Sicily and Mount Etna in particular. The grapes and vineyards of the mountain. Nerello Mascelese, Caricante and much more...

My original conversation with Anselme and Guillaume Selosse. My questions in English, answers are in French.

An interview (in English) with one of the world’s most original and visionary winemakers, Anselme Selosse and his son Guillaume Selosse. We discussed his early days beside his father, the decisions that led him to move to biodynamic viticulture. A fascinating description of his wines from individual plots (lieu-dits) and his view of retirement.

In this conversation I was talking with Cedric Mousse, from the Champagne of Mousse Fils in the village of Cuisles in the Vallee de la Marne. Mousse is a Meunier specialist with incredible terroir driven Champagne ( and a beautiful Ratafia too!) that has followers the world over.

One of the rising stars of Champagne, Jean-Marc Sélèque was talking to me about his vineyards and wines, his Polish origins, convincing his family that investing in the vineyards and a new winery are justifiable long term decisions, the uniqueness of the Coteaux Sud D’Epernay and what is behind his winemaking philosophy.

In this episode, I was chatting to Arthur Larmandier about the family estate their beautifully crafted wines. You can read more about the visit and the wines on the website or via Instagram @in.the.vineyard.with www.inthevineyardwith.com www.larmandier.fr

In this episode I hosted two of the leading experts on the wines of the East Mediterranean. Demetri Walters MW and Adam Montefiore. We hear about the ancient wine routes and the fame those wines achived in the ancient world. Fast forward to the more recent history of the last 400 years and the Ottoman rule and how it affected the region. The 60’s and 70’s with East European tankers filling up on cheap wine in the port of Limasol, the association of Israeli wine with Kosher, sweet red wine, the cycle of the wine calendar in the Arab world and much more! Native/indigenous grapes. Wine styles. Opportunity for marketing and educating the world of wine on the beauty of these wines took of course, centre stage. Enjoy!

In this conversation, Justine Tesseron, of Chateâu Pontet-Canet in Pauillac, Bordeaux, is telling the story of the family’s arrival from Cognac back in 1961. The purchase of Pontet-Canet and raising it to one of the most desired Pauillac wines in the last 20 years with glowing reviews. We talked about the decision to go organic and the move to full biodynamic viticulture; the experimentation with amphora and what it meant for the wines. Lastly, Justine introduced details of their latest project, the Californian Bordeaux blend produced from vines planted by the late comedy genius Robin Williams in his Villa Sorriso, on Mount Veeder. The wine, called Pym-Rae is a honouring the vineyard’s name, chosen by Williams, after his children middle names.

I visited Thibault Liger-Belair in the beautiful ‘’Les Saint Georges’’ Vineyard and in the cellar of his new winery on the edge of Nuits-St-Georges, in December 2019. We discussed Biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy, his decision to abandon Paris at an early age and move back to his ancestral vineyards of Bourgogne. His mission, to give Nuits-St-Georges its first Grand Cru vineyard, changing the status of the Premier cru vineyard Les St Georges. Explaining that the name of the village (Nuits) was changed in the 19th century to bare the name of its best terroir (Saint-Georges). Thibault was keen to tell me about his love to Cru Beaujolais and working with Gamay (some vines there are 110 years old) and vinifying it in Nuits-St-George with the utmost respect to the individual plot.

Israrel’s most eminent wine ambassador, Adam Montefiore spent an engaging hour in the lead up to the Jewish New Year talking to me about the evolving Israeli wine scene. We discussed the history from the mid 19th century, before the first Jewish settlers arrived and brought with them European Viticulture. Kiddush wines (sweet reds) and how the industry emerged from their unsophisticated image in the 80’s. The innovations that came in the following years, to this day, with around 300 wineries of various sizes and vineyards planted from the northerly, snow covered Mount Hermon to the Negev desert in the south. This episode was sponsored by Kedem Europe, the UK’s largest importer and distributor of Israeli wines. Find them at www.kedemeurope.com for wholesale or for your nearest stockist.

It’s the perfect weather for a chilled bottle of something fizzy. In my glass, a delicious Methode Cap Classique (MCC) Rose from Paul René in Robertson, South Africa. To many of us MCC is a relative newcomer on the ever-growing traditional sparkling scene but next year South Africa will celebrate 50 years since its creation. Unable to use the term Method Champenoise (or any mention of the Champagne region), the South African growers who drew inspiration from the French region came up with the ‘Classic Cape Methode’ or in French, Methode Cap Classic. The pioneering credit goes to the Simonsig Estate.

The second part of our Greek wine odyssey- Naoussa! Greece’s most important red wine region. The land of Xinomavro . Green hills, sleepy villages, a patchwork of old vineyards growing this unique northern Greek grape. In this conversation, I hosted Stelios Boutaris, CEO of Kir-Yianni, one of the most important estates in Naoussa and neighbouring Amindeo and a beacon of Greek winemaking. We were joined by the rising star Kostis Dalamara, owner and winemaker of Dalamaras winery, Christos Taralas from Taralas winery and Christopher Georgiadis from the small Argatia winery. Conversation covered some of their personal choices in life, in winemaking, vineyard sites, terroir variations, clones and their main characteristics, vinification preferences, Tannin management, experimentation and whether the PDO can blend some other varieties (Merlot, Mavrodaphne) in order to round and soften the wine for slightly earlier drinking, or are they backing the 100% Xinomavro and showcasing it in its pure expression ?

The first leg of our Greek Wine Odyssey! On Wednesday 1st of July, our journey began in the northern Greek regions of Goumenissa and Amyndeo, in Macedonia. Laurens Hartman (Domaine Karanika) and Chloi Chatzivariti (Ktima Chatzivariti) shared their passion for these regions with us.

In this session,  I hosted Cathy Van Zyl MW, Christo Le Riche, Cellar Master at Le Riche Wines and Chairman of the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective and Alastair Rimmer, Cellar Master at Kleine Zalze winery. We discussed the intricate details of the Stellenbosch Vineyards. Their complex geology, topography, soils, vineyard aspects, wind influences and of course, how all that translates to the liquid in the glass! During this session, Christo and Alastair shared some fantastic 3D maps of Stellenbosch and other South African wine region, to emphasise geology, temperature variations between the regions and much more.  Listening to the audio session is highly recommended, as ever, but I feel that following this up with watching the YouTube recordings will give you a better insight from the excellent images shared so kindly by those passionate experts. Enjoy listening and watching and please remember to drop me a line in the comment box. It is always great to hear what you think of the show and of course,  if you have a future region or a grower you'd like to hear about in future recordings. 

Caroline Gilby MW is the world’s highest authority on Eastern European wines. In this interactive discussion, Caroline took us through the region’s turbulent past, from pre-communism wines to the exciting present day. We heard about the major grape varieties, the complex and diverse topography, the vineyard areas, the production levels, import/export and much more. If you find the discussion interesting and want to learn more about the region Caroline coins as the “Exotic East” her fascinating book, The wines of Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova, is currently available to purchase via these links: For orders from the UK and Europe : http://Bit.ly/BuyClassics For U.S orders : http://Bit.ly/BuyClassicsUS and if you use the following code, IVWGILBY40, you will receive a 40% discount off the listed price (valid until 30 June 2020). The wines for our prize draws were provided by the lovely people at the specialist agencies of: www.moldovawine.co.uk Moldovan wine specialist www.theoldcellar.com Bulgarian wine specialist and www.transylvaniawine.co.uk Romanian and Moldovan wine specialist

The Leafroll virus is a global issue and a hot topic amongst winemakers and Viticulturalists all over the world. In this discussion, my Co-Host, Cathy Van Zyl MW and myself, hosted Professor Gerhard Pietersen from the Stellenbosch University and Aidan Morton from The Takora Wine Estate for an informative, up to date seminar about the topic. Other notable professionals that joined us in an open conversation and added from their experience were Alastair Rimmer (Kleine Zalze), Rosa Kruger (The Old Vine Project), Ido Lewinson (Barkan- Israel), to name but a few.

Listen to Cathy Van Zyl MW and Me in conversation with two of South Africa's most respected winemakers. The charismatic "King of Chenin" Ken Forrester and one of Swartland's biggest ambassadors, Andrea Mullineux. Comparing Chenin from their regions, the terroir characteristics, preferences in the vineyard and in the winery. This is a first in a series of conversations with Cathy and myself, covering the major regions of this stunning country. On our tour, we will chat to truly inspiring winemakers. Subscribe to be notified of the next live session.

Elizabeth Gabay MW a leading expert on Rosé wines and myself, were talking via zoom to a fascinating group of Natural winemakers from 4 different regions of Europe. Amongst the issue we discussed: What is Rosé wine? Can Rosé age? Can Rosé be classed as a terroir wine? What are the differences between Natural Rosé and standard Rosé? What is the history of Rosé in the 4 respective regions? Grape varieties, agricultural philosophies, vinification practices and much more.

This Saturday, I had the pleasure of talking to a true giant in the world of wine and one of the greatest ambassadors of Bordeaux. Jean-Michel Cazes is a pioneer and deserved part of Bordeaux history. A true gentleman and a great storyteller, Jean-Michel joined us from his home in Pauillac, during lockdown. It was a tonic to us all to hear his anecdotes and thoughts. Thank you to those who joined on the day. For those who couldn’t make it, feel free to listen or watch and share with your wine friends and of course subscribe to be notified of future events.

Following our immensely successful first session, featuring Priorat with Miquel Hudin, it’s certainly left a taste for more! Listen to the interactive Zoom interview recorded on Tuesday evening 05/05/20 at 19:00 GMT as Sara Perez and Rene Barbier joined me and Miquel Hudin for a chat about working alongside their inspirational fathers, as well as their projects of passion. Watch the video.

An interactive zoom meeting with an eclectic audience, including prominent winemakers from the region and further afield, Masters of Wine, sommeliers and wine enthusiasts from all over the world. Miquel, the unofficial global ambassador for Catalan wines, entertains and informs the audience about the turbulent history of the region, the topography, the terroir, the people and many unknown facts. 

Take a break from the news and join me on a visit to Austria. To the vineyards on the shore of Lake Neusidl and the town of Rust. Let Heidi and Georg Schröck, winemakers, lead you through the history of their picturesque lakeside town, their favourite grapes and wine styles. What it meant to be a young female winemaker in the early 80’s. Returning home from South Africa, experimenting with Tempranillo and Nebbiolo, amongst others, and finding that the real treasures have grown here for centuries, the Furmint, Muskateller, Blaufrankisch and many more…