The Wine Conversation (The Wine Conversation)

Baltazar Sánchez, the Chairman of the historic Chilean estate Vina Santa Rita, talks to Sarah Kemp about how Casa Real came to be one of Chile’s flagship wines. They discuss the decision to create Casa Real in 1989, whether it will remain 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, why they decided to join La Place de Bordeaux, and the company’s hopes for Casa Real’s future.

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Italian experts Nelson Pari and Federico Moccia talk to Sarah Kemp about Bolgheri, the wine-producing area located in the province of Livorno. Bolgheri contains some of Italy’s most famous names including Sassicaia and Ornellaia. Today it is attracting a generation of talented and dynamic winemakers who enjoy the freedom of the DOC rules to produce blends and mono-varietals. Listen in to hear all about its terroir, its history and which producers Federico and Nelson recommend.

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Excitement is rising amongst The Wine Conversation team as the Royal Opera House Wine Gala Dinner and Auction approaches. John Stimpfig talks to Sarah Kemp about the world-class wines which will be poured, including Champagne Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, 2014 Montrachet Domaine Jacques Prieur, Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino Reserva 1999, Château Lafite 2007, and Taylor’s 30-year-old Tawny Port; the special recital by Jonas Kauffman and Ludovico Tézier (whose new album “Insieme” Sarah heartily recommends) with the immensely talented Aigul Akhmetshina. Sarah and John discuss the amazing auction lots on offer,  which include trips to see the producers, double magnum 1990 of Château Lafite and the chance to have lunch with Sir Antonio Pappano, who just conducted the King Charles 111  coronation and is a noted wine lover. . A few tickets are left, details on website.

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Listen in to Omnibus 22 to hear this month’s wine news from around the world. In the US, Elin McCoy discusses the reaction to the collapse of Underground Cellars and the unhappy customers who cannot retrieve their wine from the company’s Cloud cellar.  She also reviews the Apple TV plus series “Drops of God” and Ferran Adrià’s new eight-part book series on wine, the first two volumes (weighing between 15 and 20  pounds each) have just been translated into English. Sarah and Elin are excited about the new and promising direction for wine in restaurants – Ridge Vineyards has launched an on-tap programme with restaurant group Sixty Vines - goodbye bottles and labels? John Stimpfig is happy to report that there is a breakthrough on smoke taint by Oregon University, which will help vintners detect it with more accuracy. He also reports on the first prices announced in the 2022 Bordeaux Campaign, Fleurie’s application for Premier Cru status, looks back on the life of Lucien Lurton and, of course, no Omnibus would be complete without a weather watch.

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Jane Anson talks to Ben Kinmont, the rare bookseller who specialises in wine and food books. He recently sold Sean Thackery’s collection of wine books to Domaine Clarence Dillon. Listen in to hear the fascinating story of how Sean Thackery became a collector of rare wine books, why he sold, and how the books have found a new home in Château Haut-Brion’s library. Ben also gives advice on how to collect and the pitfalls to look out for. A great conversation for wine lovers and bibliophiles alike.

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Trevor Durling, Chief Winemaker of Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa Valley talks to John Stimpfig about the winery’s illustrious history and how Georges de Latour persuaded André Tchelistcheff to leave Paris to join him in California, where he became Father of the California wine industry. In 1936 André kept aside some exceptional barrels to make Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve, California’s first cult wine. In September the 2022 vintage will be launched on the Place in Bordeaux, and John has a preview of the latest vintage of this legendary wine.

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How well do you know Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux’s most famous appellation? Listen in to our 10-Minute Masterclass for all the key facts with Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp. Discover its varied terroir, land prices, its classification (controversial) with who is in and who is out, star names, upcoming names and our obscure fact.

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One of the wine world’s most remarkable stories – discover how Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi came to make wine with the prisoners on the island of Gorgona, off the Tuscany coast. Sarah Kemp travelled there with Marchese Lamberto to find out how the enterprise came about, speaks to their chief winemaker and discovers from the Governor of the prison the impact it has had on the inmates working there. A truly inspiring story.

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Jamie Kutch is known for his stylish Pinot Noirs. He tells Elin McCoy how he became interested in wine at college when a Jesuit priest gave him a glass of Riesling. When he was a trader in New York for Merrill Lynch he became an active member of the Robert Parker bulletin board and enjoyed wine tastings with other enthusiasts. After one such tasting he wrote to Michael Browne of Kosta Browne saying how much he admired his wine, and subsequently jumped at the chance when Michael Browne of Kosta Browne offered to help him pursue his dream to make wine in California. Listen in to hear his story from New York trader to admired Sonoma Pinot Noir producer – and find out the highs and lows on the way.

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Sue Hodder talks to John Stimpfig about Wynns Coonawarra John Riddoch Estate, one of Australia’s First Growths. Listen in to hear the remarkable story of Scottish pioneer John Riddoch, who founded the estate, the story of the Wynn family who bought it in 1957 and invested heavily in the vineyards, as well as Sue’s own story as chief winemaker for 25 years.

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How many wine glasses do you need? How do they affect the taste of the wine? Sarah Kemp talks to Maximilian Riedel, the eleventh generation of his family, who have been making glass since 1756. His grandfather was the first to make wine-specific glasses, his father created varietal glasses and Maximilian talks about the new range of lighter and thinner he is about to launch,  and answers the important question, “exactly how many glasses do you need!”

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It has been a particularly busy month in the world of wine, in Omnibus XXIII we discuss all the major events. We report on the FBI raiding Sherry Lehmann, take a look at Bordeaux 2022 prices, say fond farewells to wine world greats Jean-Michel Cazes, Alexander Lur Saluces, Paul Dolan, Jackie Blot and Sarah Morphew MW. We look at the first US purchase of a British vineyard, and Frescobaldi buying into Oregon. John Stimpfig asks what is happening at Accolade Wines who have just put House of Arras up for sale. Elin McCoy looks at two major launches Haynes Vineyard and Ruinart’s newest cuvee. Plus, top wineries to visit awards, and of course, weather watch. Listen now to a full month of wine news and independent views.

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What do chocolate chip cookies, biodynamic viticulture, and winemaking in Bordeaux and the Napa Valley have in common? Elin McCoy talks to Denise Adams the owner of Château Fonplégade, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé and ADAMSVS on Howell Mountain on how she combines all three. Listen in to hear about her life’s work and how she left the world of art and interior design to become a vigneron on two continents.

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Margaux is the largest of the Medoc’s appellations, with the most varied terroir. Join Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp to discover how many producers there are, who are the star names, and which château to watch. Discover its signature taste, the price per hectare, and why it was recognised 20 years after Pauillac and St Julien. 10 minutes of fascinating facts!

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Listen in to hear the remarkable life story of Eduardo Chadwick, the man who put Chile on the fine wine map. John Stimpfig talks to him in our series “Great Wine Lives” about how he joined his father to run the family winery as a young man, the difficulties he faced in getting the critics to acknowledge Chile could make fine wine, and the one tasting which changed the world’s perception. Discover how he took Robert Mondavi around Chile and created their joint venture, SENA, and how he pioneered coastal Chilean wines. A frank and fascinating conversation.

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Listen in to Omnibus XXIV for all the latest wine news and views. John Stimpfig applauds the launch of the old vine registry, and looks back with Sarah Kemp on the life of Don St Pierre Snr who had such an impact on the fine wine scene in China. They discuss the recent purchase of William Fèvre Chablis by DBR Lafite, and agree it is a smart move. As always, there is a weather watch, with this month’s grim news coming from Italy and SW France in the shape of mildew and over-the-pond wildfires in Canada. Elin McCoy discusses E&J Gallo’s recent purchase of Rombauer and Massican, and reports on the reasons for the two significant sales. She reveals the new head of Sotheby’s wine department plans which include looking at what people are collecting right now. From Bordeaux Jane Anson talks about the September releases from the Place de Bordeaux and names the icon names to look out for. All this and much more… and a teary goodbye to the fine wine trade’s favourite restaurant, The Gavroche.

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There are few people who can have had a more fascinating life in wine than Jean-Guillaume Prats. In our “Great Wine Lives” series he talks to Elin McCoy about how he joined his father to run the family estate, 2nd Growth Château Cos d’Estournel. He stayed on to become its director at the young age of 28, but after 14 years was lured away to run Moet Hennessy’s wine division, which took him all over the world. Bordeaux, though, beckoned him back when the opportunity came to become the director at Château Lafite when its CEO, Christophe Salin, retired. Today he is an entrepreneur with his own enterprise in Provence as well as running  Château Léoville-Las-Cases and helping the Frey family. Outspoken, he worries that Bordeaux is being seen only in terms of prices. Listen in to hear about one extraordinary life, and one that is starting a brilliant new chapter.

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Jane Anson talks to Sarah Kemp about this famous appellation which is home to some of Bordeaux’s most loved names. Discover its producers, including two lesser-known ones Jane recommends looking out for. Find out why it is home to more gravel than Pauillac, its cost per hectare and much more. A 10-minute deep dive into one of Jane and Sarah’s favourite appellations.

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Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp discuss the historic tasting of Ornellaia, one of Italy’s most renowned wines, which has just taken place in Venice. Five decades of Ornellaia were poured from 2020 to 1988. Views a plenty on the most successful vintages (spoiler alert Sarah and Jane don’t necessarily agree) and buzz about the new changes at the estate. Total agreement though on this was a tasting of a lifetime.

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Listen in to hear the extraordinary story of how Greg Lambrecht invented Coravin. From creating delivery systems for chemotherapy to a device which preserves wine for years. Frustrated by the limitations of a 750ml bottle he wanted to enjoy wine in the quantities he wanted, when he wanted. The inventor spent years in his basement making prototypes. Today a quarter of a billion glasses have been poured using it. Discover his new plans to revolutionise the wine world - an unmissable conversation.

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Listen in to the 10-minute masterclass on Courtiers with Jane Anson. Jane explains the mysterious role of the Bordeaux courtier, who works as a broker between the château and the negociant. “They are extremely discreet, but know everything” she says. Jane gives a fascinating insight into the system which has been working since the Middle Ages.

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Listen in to Omnibus XXV for all the latest news and views from Sarah Kemp, John Stimpfig and Elin McCoy and this month there is good, bad and plain ugly. The first billion dollar sale of a luxury winery in Paso Robles to allegations of modern slavery practices during the harvest in Champagne, there is a lot to talk about. Plus Elin McCoy reports on all the major tastings and launches in New York, and she finds out that she likes Torrontes after all.

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As Paolo de Marchi leaves Isole e Olena after 50 years, Sarah Kemp travelled to Tuscany to talk to him about his remarkable “Great Wine Life”. He first saw the estate his father bought in 1956 when he was seven years old. At the age of 25 he moved to Tuscany to run the estate despite his father’s misgivings, he called it a bottomless pit. Today, it is one of the world’s most admired estates, and it has helped change the image of Chianti from a wine to be drunk with pizza to being a true fine wine. Listen in to hear his very personal and extraordinary story.

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Join us for a “10-minute masterclass” on Merlot. Find out about this grape which was much maligned by Miles in the film Sideways. We look at its parentage, where it is planted, its flavours, famous names and the Merlots which Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp believe are worth seeking out.

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Listen in to hear the remarkable “Great Wine Life” of Francesco Ricasoli of Castello di Brolio. Possibly, the most heart-warming wine story we have covered this year. He gave us his life as a professional photographer where his clients included Salavatore Ferragmo and Valentino, to return to the family estate to buy it back from Hardy’s the Australian corporate giant (his father had previously sold the winery and brand to Seagrams in the 1960s, who then sold it onto Hardy’s). For the last thirty years he has worked tirelessly in the vineyards and cellars to take back the estate’s reputation to its former glory. He tells Sarah Kemp how to begin with it was about survival, but early on he studied the soil, put a great team together and they today make some of Italy’s most elegant and beautiful wines. A story of one man’s determination to honour his family’s history and create some of Italy’s finest wines.

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Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp discuss their favourite books on Bordeaux. They recommend the best books on Bordeaux’s history and politics and economics. Bordeaux reference books come under review, old favourites and brilliant new editions. Find out which Bordeaux producers provided material for the most scintillating biographies and let’s not forget the novels every claret lover should read. Plus, Sarah reveals the Bordeaux book she has requested to be buried with. How many of the books mentioned do you have on your bookshelf?

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Hope. The most important word this Christmas. Sarah Kemp talks to Mariia Didkovska in Kyiv about the champagne she has created with the House of Pierre Morlet called “Victoire de la Dignité” with six of Ukraine’s most prominent artists designing the labels. All profits from the sales will go to the urgent needs of the Military Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and its mobile military hospitals. She discusses life in Kyiv, how the project came about, and her hopes for the future. The wines are for sale internationally.

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In our last Omnibus for 2023, John Stimpfig, Elin McCoy and Sarah Kemp discuss the big news stories: how war is affecting Israeli and Palestine vintners, that terroir has been scientifically proven and worldwide production falling by 7% with 2023, the hottest year on record. Plus, Italy becomes the star of the wine investment market, Elin’s top 10 wines and much more.

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In a few days’ time the doors of The Gavroche will close for the last time. Jane Anson talks to Michel Roux Jnr about his legendary restaurant and its amazing cellar of 100,000 bottles. Listen in to find out what is going to become of the cellar and find out which wine Michel has chosen to drink on the last day. A huge thank you to Michel for all the fabulous memories you have given us at The Gavroche – some of our happiest days.

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Elin McCoy talks to Jean-Charles Boisset, the audacious Burgundian vintner who shook up the US wine scene. Listen in to hear how he bought some of California’s most historic wineries, his pioneering work in organic an biodynamic viticulture. Discover his passion for innovation as he discusses satin and leather labels, jewellery on bottles, and why his wines are backed up by high-scores from critics “Transporting people into a different world is what I am about” A fascinating interview with the wine world’s most innovative vintner.

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What is the next thing for wine collectors should look out for? Nick Pegna, the new head of Sotheby’s wine and spirits, talks to Elin McCoy about the fine wine and spirit market. He reminisces about his early days in the wine trade, where he started out as a shop assistant at Lea and Sandeman before going on to join the newly formed Berry Brothers and Rudd’s broking department. He discusses setting up the Berry Brothers’ Hong Kong office with chairman Simon Berry and how he watched the interest in fine wine in Asia explode. 100 days into his new job he reveals some of his plans for the future and predicts the areas he thinks are worth investing in.

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600 years of winemaking runs through the blood of Giovanni Mazzei, son of Marchese Filippo Mazzei of Castello di Fonterutoli. Sarah talks to him for our Next Generation series about his life with his wife and three young boys at the Il Caggio estate where he runs Ipsus, the wine he wants recognised as the finest Sangiovese in Italy. “I wasn’t sure I was given the responsibility, I asked for it” he tells Sarah as he describes why he believes that the Sangiovese at the Il Caggio estate is second to known. A fascinating interview with one of Italy’s most dynamic and passionate personalities.

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Celebrated but not classified, Château Siran is one of Margaux’s most loved properties. Elin McCoy talks to Edouard Miailhe, the 6th generation of his family to run the estate for our series “Great Wine Lives”. Listen in to hear how he returned from the Philippines to take over from his parents, and how friends knew before he did that he would return as they saw Siran was in his DNA. Edouard recounts many anecdotes, including why the property was not classified (spoiler alert – the previous owner was a royalist and didn’t like Napoleon 111 who organised the 1855 Exposition de Paris) and how he heard that there was a restaurant in the Napa Valley with an extraordinary list of old vintages of Siran – it turned out the owner had bought the authentic Rudi Kurniawan cellar. A great interview with the man whose heart is firmly in the Margaux appellation.

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Listen in to Omnibus XXVII to hear John Stimpfig and Elin McCoy’s predictions for the main wine trends in 2024. As usual, news aplenty including France’s reaction to Dry January (Spoiler alert – Alain Ducasse reduced the price of his top Bordeaux and Burgundy to encourage people to drink more), the new ingredient labelling required for wines marketed in the EU, reaction to the Burgundy 2022 campaign, Naples Charity Wine Auction raises over US$ 33 million dollars and much more. For those in the freezing northern hemisphere, Elin has researched the new luxury wine experiences in Chile – find out where she recommends wine lovers should go and how she found her night in the room entitle “Shape of Women”.

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Join us for our 10-Minute Masterclass on Pessac-Léognan with Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp. Discover the appellation’s history, price per hectare, its classified growths, its terroir and its most famous châteaux. A deep dive into one of Jane’s and Sarah’s favourite appellations.

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Sarah Kemp meets Marcheses Francesco and Marchese Filippo Mazzei of Castello di Fonterutoli, who have 600 years of winemaking history in the family. As their Super Tuscan “Concerto di Fonterutoli” celebrates its 40th anniversary, they discuss Tuscany’s quality revolution. Listen in to hear about  the changes they made in the vineyard and cellar, and the new generation of wine lovers and sommeliers who are putting Tuscany firmly on collectors’ map.

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Giampiero Bertolini, the CEO of Biondi Santi talks to Sarah Kemp about Italy’s iconic estate. He discusses its history and reveals the new developments in the vineyard since it was bought by the EPI Group (owners of Charles and Piper Heidsieck) in 2017. Find out how the tennis court has been turned into an experimental nursery with different mother clones, how Pedro Parra came over to map the soil and the new vinification by parcel. As he releases the famed Riserva Storica 1988 and 2010, he says “It’s evolution, not revolution”.

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Join us for a “10-minute masterclass” on Cabernet Franc. Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp take a deep dive into Bordeaux’s oldest grape. Discover where it is grown (spoiler alert – China has more than you think), find out which famous varieties it parented and why there is concern about clonal diversity. Find out Jane’s recommended producers and be ready for her obscure facts – including which vintage of Cheval Blanc is 98% Cabernet Franc.

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Listen in to our brand new series of 10-Minute Masterclasses on Burgundy with Jasper Morris MW, the world-leading Burgundy authority and author of the award-winning book Inside Burgundy. First in the series is a look at Nuits-St-Georges. Find out about its terroir, where to find value for money and much more. Jasper, whose subscription website www.insideburgundy.com is essential reading for any serious Burgundy lover, believes the appellation deserves more attention, tune in and discover why. 10-minutes of brilliant and entertaining wisdom.

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Gary Boom of Bordeaux Index talks to Sarah Kemp in our series “Great Wine Lives”. Listen in to discover how he left South Africa as a beer drinker and ended up falling in love with wine and building one of the world’s largest fine wine companies. He talks about his successes and failures, opening an office in Hong Kong a year before the duty was abolished, why he expanded the company’s portfolio to include spirits, and much more. He has just relaunched Live Trade, the wine trading platform, now open to anyone who wishes to sell their wine. A fascinating interview with the outsider who is now seen as part of the fine wine establishment.

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Listen in to Omnibus XXVIII for all the latest wine news and views. John Stimpfig looks at a mysterious sabotage at the Pepa 21 winery in Ribera del Duero, and recounts that winery sabotage is not unknown. The latest court case in Bordeaux is causing shock waves, Ginestet and Cordier have been ordered to pay a Medoc grower under the relatively new Egalim Law for offering abusively low prices, as a result there is complete paralysis on the Bordeaux bulk market. Weather watch makes grim listening with hail in Argentina, wild fires in Chile and a deep frost in British Columbia, which has wiped out the harvest. Happier news from Elin who reports on the DRC 2021 tasting in New York, and discusses the new Millesima wine store, a destination for wine lovers. More good news for wine lovers as the Premiere Napa Valley auction lots, which were bought by the trade, are now listed on their site, allowing collectors to track down rare parcels. George and Amal Clooney are about to release their first wines, watch this space….

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Drunk by hedonists, made by masochists, Sauternes is one of the world’s greatest fine wines. Join Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp for a 10-minute masterclass as they discuss this renowned appellation. Find out the difference between Sauternes and Barsac, why it is in decline after being one of the most-sought after wines in the world. Discover the new dry styles being produced, the new upcoming producers and why there is a new demand for Sauternes barrels from spirit producers.

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7 minutes on the weather conditions that have formed the 2023 vintage from Bordeaux expert Jane Anson. As the En Primeur tastings get into full swing Jane looks at the difference in yields, the problem mildew caused for some producers “Just 5 % of mildew in a tank can make the difference to the taste”. Listen in to the first of our En Primeur podcasts and get up-to-date with Bordeaux’s 2023 vintage.

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Jasper Morris MW, today’s leading Burgundy expert and author of the award-winning book “Inside Burgundy”, conducts a 10-Minute Masterclass on St-Aubin, the fourth great white Burgundy village. Jasper discusses its terroir, the best vintages to look out for, its renowned names and the one producer that is up and coming. For wine lovers, there is the added bonus that it still offers value for money.

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The first report on the 2023 Bordeaux vintage from Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp. Sarah joined Jane for her second week of tasting, and found much to love “I felt a lot of these wines, not all, were what made me fall in love with Bordeaux. It’s the vintage I will buy my son to remind him why I loved Bordeaux and was away so often”. They discuss the factors which shaped the wines, with mildew and the question of whether to strip the leaves and risk burning the grapes a major decision. Yields, economic conditions, appellation success – a full discussion after a week of long days travelling round Bordeaux putting together the jigsaw puzzle of understanding the latest vintage. Jane will produce her full report for subscribers on May 2nd. For listeners who are not subscribers, there is a Flash sale, to be taken up by April 25! Please use the following discount code on a yearly subscription to start your 7-day free trial, at www.janeanson.com/subscribe: TRYJAIB24

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News and views aplenty in this month’s Omnibus, good, bad and damn frightening. Elin McCoy finds there is great wine, food and art at Château La Coste in Provence (currently showing 85 of Damien Hirst’s works), reviews the new releases from Champagne Bollinger, and discusses the new Mouton Cadet range designed for Gen Z with Philippe Sereys de Rothschild. Over in Macau Jane Anson judges the new Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards and reveals the winner. It’s April so inevitably John Stimpfig and Sarah Kemp are talking about the Bordeaux En Primeur campaign, with the perennial question, what price will the châteaux release at. The good news is that the tariffs have been lifted on Australian wine into China and the Old Vine Conference has announced their Hero awards. The frightening news is that a report has come out predicting 29% of vineyards will not be able to produce premium wine by the end of the century. Great news for charity though, John Stimpfig is back on his bike to raise money for the Hospitality Industry, a 200km bike ride across Burgundy, but before then there is a Gala Dinner in London. Listen in to hear all about it. This Omnibus is brought to you by our Founder Sponsor, Santa Rita Wine Estates.

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As Jane Anson finishes her report on the 2023 Bordeaux vintage she talks to Sarah Kemp about her impressions after tasting over 800 wines. She advises which appellations did well, how it compares to previous vintages, and names the châteaux she believes will offer value for money. Find out which wine she would buy, money no object, and why. Sarah was delighted. Jane’s report is released on May 2nd and she is offering a 10% discount during En Primeur. Listen in to get up-to-speed with a vintage Bordeaux lovers will love.

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The German Air Force’s 1943 map of the Medoc was used to create the base material for the Bordeaux Wine Atlas map. One of the fascinating facts in a special podcast on how wine maps are created with wine map guru Chris Foulkes. Chris has arguably more experience in creating wine maps than anyone. He oversaw the 3rd edition of the World Atlas of Wine, published the Bordeaux Atlas and recently Inside Burgundy by Jasper Morris MW and Inside Bordeaux by Jane Anson. Listen in to hear his stories about the challenges he faced in creating the maps, how before Google Earth he employed a young man with a bicycle to travel around the Medoc to check estate boundaries, the deliberate errors inserted to avoid copyright theft, and much more. His latest venture is publishing a special edition print of Jane Anson’s map which for the first time shows the terroir and the position of the chateau, recently launched on her site www.janeanson.com. You will never look at a wine map in the same way again!

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Join us for a 10-minute masterclass on understanding the Burgundy trade with leading Burgundy authority Jasper Morris MW, author of the award-winning book “Inside Burgundy”. Discover how the system works, the role of domaines, negociants and co-operatives, and importantly where Jasper believes you can still find value.

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Sebastián Labbé, Chief Winemaker for Santa Rita premium wines, talks about the 2024 harvest in Chile. Find out which regions he believed were outstanding, and why he is a fan of Carménère, which he is picking earlier and fine-tuning for more freshness. 21 minutes to get up-to-speed with 2024 Chile, courtesy of our Founder Sponsor, Santa Rita Estates.

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Sacha Lichine, the “godfather of rosé” talks to Jane Anson for our series “Great Wine Lives”. Son of Alexis Lichine, one of the most prominent 20th century wine figures, Sacha grew up at Château Prieuré-Lichine in Bordeaux, and drove tractors before he could drive. He talks about how he came to move to Provence, working with Patrick Leon, the previous Technical Director of Château Mouton Rothschild, and setting out to make a serious rosé. Today Whispering Angel is a phenomenal success, loved by celebrities, including Adele, who famously said it was the first thing she wanted to buy along with tomato ketchup after lockdown. Listen in to hear his fascinating story.

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The Australian Ark is one of the most important wine books to have been published not just this year, but any year. Jane Anson talks to its author Andrew Caillard MW, who spent 18 years researching it. Listen in to hear about his incredible life and how he came to write this magnum opus. Unmissable.

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Listen in to this month’s Omnibus for all the latest wine news and views from around the world. Who were the winners and losers in the Bordeaux 2023 campaign? Which major US vineyard has been sold and to whom? Which wine regions have suffered from floods, hail and drought and what does that mean for this year’s harvest? Plus Elin McCoy travels to Bordeaux and discusses the new projects including the planting of a vineyard of the future. Plus John Stimpfig on weather watch and much, much more.

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Join world-expert Jasper Morris MW, author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy and the brilliant website www.insideburgundy.com,  for his latest 10-minute Burgundy masterclass.  

This month he is looking at the wines of the Mâconnais. Find out about its terroir, the different styles produced in the Mâconnais, the producers to look out for, and his great insider tip.

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Join us for a brand new series of 10-Minute Masterclasses. We are thrilled that David Gleave MW, renowned Italian expert, will be sharing his extraordinary knowledge and insights on Italian wine. First we head to Tuscany for a deep dive into Chianti Classico. Discover its history, terroir,  its best producers and David’s tips on which young producers to look out for. Bellissimo!

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In our latest series of “Great Wine Lives” John Stimpfig talks to Rajeev Samant of Sula Vineyards, the man who is the founder of India’s wine industry. Listen to his amazing story of how he discovered wine as an undergraduate in California, and on returning home to India for a family wedding persuaded his father not to sell a plot of land, as it reminded him of California. From roses and tomatoes to deciding to plant vitis vinifera, today Sula Vineyards is India’s premier and largest wine producer, selling over a million cases, 98% of which are domestically sold. From battles with bureaucrats, setbacks with Covid, Financial Crisis and terrorism hitting tourism, Rajeev has overcome all obstacles and introduced a nation to the joys of wine, a novelty as 99% of Indians have never tasted wine. Don’t miss a remarkable and uplifting story of the birth of a new wine region.

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Join world-expert Jasper Morris MW, author of the award-winning Inside Burgundy and the brilliant website www.insideburgundy.com, for his latest 10-minute Burgundy masterclass.

This month he is looking at the wines of Gevrey-Chambertin, famed for its nine grands crus. Discover its history, its terroir, the producers to look out for, and its one obscure fact. A deep dive into the famous appellation from the leading Burgundy expert.

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What is it like to run one of the world’s most prestigious wine estates? Listen in to hear Lorenzo Pasquini talk to Elin McCoy about his life as Estate Manager at Château d’Yquem. Lorenzo was born in Italy and dreamed of being a professional fencer, but wine beckoned after watching his father plant an estate. Lorenzo talks about his mentor Denis Dubourdieu, becoming the winemaker at Cheval des Andes at 26 years old, and how he could not turn down the ultimate golden wine job.

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Davie Gleave MW takes a deep-dive into Italy’s most planted grape, Sangiovese. Discover where it grows best, where the grape originated from (spoiler alert, not Tuscany}, whether it can age, and why David believes it has a bright future.

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Listen in to Omnibus for all the latest wine news and views. This month we cover the fake wine scandal in Taiwan, the latest harvest reports, wine bankruptcies and latest winery sales, the launch of a non-profit foundation for promoting the enjoyment of aged wines, plus Elin heads to the Hamptons with “Sex and City” author Candace Bushnell to taste the latest Dom Pérignon.

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How do you build a new wine empire? Michael Saunders, the man who co-founded Bibendum and spent 40-years building it into one of Britain’s most dynamic companies, talks to Sarah Kemp about Coterie Holdings, which he joined in January this year as its CEO. Coterie own Lay and Wheeler, Hallgarten and Novum Wines, Coterie Vaults, Europe’s largest bespoke wine warehouse, and Jera, a specialist lending platform which offers short-term loans secured against wine collections. What’s next for Coterie and what does it take to succeed in building a fine wine business? Listen in to find out.

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Discover what makes Volnay so special with Jasper Morris MW in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass. Discover its history, its terroir, the vineyards to know, and Jasper’s tip for producers who are excellent value and still under the radar. Plus probably our best obscure fact to date. A must-listen for any Burgundy lover.

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Take a deep dive into Chile with our Founding Sponsor Santa Rita Estate’s viticulture manager, Gerardo Leal. Find out which regions he thinks suit which grape variety best, discover Santa Rita’s Estate’ new project in the south of Chile and why Maipo is still the most important region for Cabernet Sauvignon.

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In our latest “Great Wine Lives” series Elin McCoy talks to Lenz Moser about how his curiosity took him from his family estate in Austria to China, California, Hungary and back to Austria to launch a new company based on Gruner Veltliner. Listen in to hear his views on Chinese wine and why he thinks the wine industry is losing consumers. 

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Join us for a 10-Minute Masterclass on Montalcino, home to the famous Brunello di Montalcino. Italian expert David Gleave MW guides us through the region’s diverse terroir and  explains the different  wine styles from north to south, where picking can differ by up-to 10 days. He recommends the top producers as well as his hot tips for producers to watch out for and where to find value. Unmissable listening for any wine lover.

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John Stimpfig reports on how vintners are coping in the Bekaa Valley, Elin McCoy discusses the sale of Duckhorn Portfolio for 1.95 billion dollars, plus Weather Watch and North Hemisphere Harvest reports. We also report on the launch of Taittinger’s English Sparkling wine, Berry Brothers entering the auction world and the chance for all of us to buy a little bit of Burgundian history when the BIVB road signs go up for auction this November. This Omnibus is brought to you by our Founder Sponsor, Santa Rita Wine Estates.

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Philippe Guigal is the third generation of the illustrious Guigal wine family from the Rhône. He talks to Sarah Kemp for our series “Great Wine Lives” about growing up in Ampuis with his grandfather Etienne who started the company in 1946 and his father Marcel who took over at 17 years old when his father became blind. Philippe discusses the “La Las”, of which there is about to be a fourth, why he believes in the future of the Rhône despite climate change and  his excitement about Château de Nalys in Châteauneuf-du-Pape which the family bought in 2017. He tastes every lunchtime with his father and he is delighted that his twin sons both are interested in wine, one wants to be an oenologist, the other wants to run a company. A fascinating interview with one of France’s most dynamic producers, whose family is at the heart of everything.

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Listen in to another brilliant 10-Minute Masterclass from Jasper Morris MW. In this episode, he looks at Chablis premiers crus and discusses its history, the different styles depending on which bank of the river you are on. Find out who he recommends, where to find value and the best up-and-coming producers.

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Which country in Asia is going to be the next hot spot for fine wine? Listen in to hear Timothy Goh of Vinum Fine Wines talk to Sarah Kemp about the dynamic fine wine market in South-East Asia.  Discover his tip for the region he believes has the best future and find out which South-East Asian country has as many women collectors as men – plus his view on the future of Hong Kong and Singapore as key wine hubs.

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Listen in to Omnibus 33 to hear all the latest news and views from the world of wine. This month we start by looking at three great wine-friendly restaurants definitely worth a visit. Astonishing news comes in the report of the theft of an entire vineyard crop in the Jura just before harvest (spoiler alert- it happened in the Jura last year too). Over in the US Elin McCoy discusses what Donald Trump could mean for the wine world and reports on major news from Virginia. It has been a busy month at The Wine Conversation with everyone on planes and trains. John heads to Italy for the Old Vine Conference, Sarah flies to Dublin to celebrate Terroir’s 30th anniversary and Elin is in Italy for a 2-day extravaganza celebrating cashmere king Bruno Cucinelli’s new wines. All this plus Chinese wine influencer Lady Penguin’s latest news, Weather Watch, People News and much more.

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As war in the Lebanon yet again fills our news channels Sarah Kemp talks to Marc Hochar of Chateau Musar for our series “Great Wine Lives”.  Listen in to hear his earliest memories of Chateau Musar, the conversations he had with his father Serge and Musar’s philosophy of non-intervention. Discover what it is like to farm in the Beka’a Valley, and the responsibility he feels every time he sends workers out.

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Listen in to our special festive edition of Omnibus. John Stimpfig and Sarah Kemp both name their top five wines of the year and Elin McCoy names her top champagnes. Brian St Pierre lists The Wine Conversation’s books of the year, and reveals it is a vintage year for great wine books. We look back at some of our most memorable podcasts and our greatest trips. Sarah has banned bad news, so there is no Weather Watch or Farewell to, just lots of great wine moments to enjoy. Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas.

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Italian guru David Gleave MW takes a look at Sicily in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass. He takes us through its varied landscape and five different wine regions, guides us through its different grape varieties and advises which producers to look out for. A great deep dive into one of Italy’s most exciting regions.

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Helping military veterans overcome  PTSD, giving young disadvantaged people a chance to enter the wine world, scholarships for individuals caught up in geopolitical conflicts, just some of the causes The Gerard Basset Foundation financially supports. Romané Basset talks to Sarah Kemp about the work being done by the Foundation in memory of his father, the late great Gerard Basset, an amazing legacy for an amazing man.

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Listen in to another great 10-Minute Masterclass with Burgundy expert Jasper Morris MW, author of Inside Burgundy and the brilliant website www.insideburgundy.com. This month he looks at Morey-St-Denis in the Côte d’Or. Find out about its terroir, the producers to know and who he recommends keeping an eye out for. 10 minutes of invaluable Burgundy wisdom.

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Listen in to Omnibus for all the latest wine news and views. This month John Stimpfig reports on the 2023 Burgundy vintage, Elin McCoy names her top three value Bordeaux 2022, we look at the state of the US wine industry, Trump update on tariffs, modern slavery in the Langhe vineyards. Plus exciting results from an experiment using dogs to detect vine diseases, and Elin’s Sauternes and sushi revelation. This Omnibus is brought to you by our Founder Sponsor, Santa Rita Wine Estates.

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Some producers say that the quality of their wine is down to their pruning methods. Jane Anson looks at the art of pruning in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass. Listen in and discover the different types of pruning, when to prune, the rules and regulations and why it makes a difference to the wine in your glass. 

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Discover the Côte Chalonnaise with Jasper Morris MW in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass. Find out the differences between the villages of Bouzeron, Rully, Mercurey, Givry and Montagny. Listen in to learn about this varied region, which still offers value,  and find out who are Jasper’s recommended producers to seek out.

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Listen in to our latest Omnibus for all the news and views from the wine world. Elin McCoy reports on Trump’s tariffs, and the negative effect they are having on the industry, while John Stimpfig discusses the exciting new developments on combating smoke taint in grapes. Plus John and Sarah Kemp argue over the launch of Grange La Chapelle. John sees it as a welcome spotlight on Syrah/Shiraz while Sarah questions the environmental impact of flying grapes to Australia, and that’s before she gets to the price! Join us for an hour of strong views and today’s wine news.

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“Elbows up” in Canada as the Canadian wine industry reacts to the US tariffs. Sarah Kemp talks to Don Ziraldo, leading Canadian vintner who co-founded Inniskillin, and helped establish the Vintners Quality Alliance. He reports on how the tariffs have propelled the creation of VQA Canada, and how it should be in effect by summer. Listen in to the man who says , “We’re not normally this aggressive as Canadians, but this has really riled us up.”

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In our first En Primeur Bordeaux 2024 podcast Jane Anson talks to Sarah Kemp about the weather conditions that forged the 2024 vintage in Bordeaux. It was a challenging vintage for the producers and Jane discusses which soils she expects will cope best, why it is important to look at the weather conditions and yields before tasting and reveals why she thinks there may be a nice surprise for consumers.

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On the eve of the 2024 Bordeaux En Primeur campaign, Sarah Kemp talks to David Thomas of Bordeaux Index, the man responsible for selling millions of pounds of Bordeaux En Primeur worldwide. He discusses who the Bordeaux buyer today is, how and why En Primeur sales have declined dramatically over the last fourteen years.  Listen in to the man who really knows what Bordeaux lovers think,  and what he believes the châteaux need to do to make the 2024 campaign a success.

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Justin Gibbs, co-founder of Liv-ex, talks to Sarah Kemp about the Bordeaux market and discusses the issues facing En Primeur, and why the pricing of the 2024 campaign is a crucial moment for the Bordelais. Listen in to hear his views and what he thinks needs to happen for Bordeaux En Primeur magic to return.

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Listen in for Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp’s first impressions of the Bordeaux 2024 vintage after tasting (Jane has already tasted 500 wines, and Sarah over 250). Both agree this is not a vintage to buy blind, and there is much to discuss, as it is a vintage where generalisations are out of the window. Though only 2/3rds of the way through the mammoth tasting, Jane picks out some good value successes and Sarah names a few of the vintage’s stand-out wines. Jane’s report will be released on the Thursday after Easter but for an early view, tune in now.

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