In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by wine merchant, writer and restaurateur Dan Keeling. Dan launched cult wine magazine Noble Rot in 2013, while working in A&R for a record label. It has now been succeeded by three Noble Rot restaurants. With a bottle of Poulsard, Dan tells Barbara more about the rituals of wine he enjoys, the delights of sharing bottles at special moments and the often misunderstood world of natural wines. Featured bottle: 2022 Côtes du Jura, Poulsard, Clos des...
Jun 27, 2025•39 min
Master Tea Buyer and Blender for Twinings Jeremy Sturges spends his days tasting raw materials for use in their teas and meeting the growers. As they enjoy a bottle of Gigondas, Jeremy and Barbara cover the optimum tea brewing time, how seasonality can affect tea plants and the elegant symmetry between tasting wine and tasting tea. Featured bottle: 2020 Gigondas, Cuvée Tradition, Moulin de la Gardette, Rhône You can browse our full selection of Rhône wines here: Berry Bros. & Rudd - Rhône If...
Jun 17, 2025•53 min
Our podcast guest for this episode is drinks writer, broadcaster and “crisp sommelier” Neil Ridley. Together, he and Barbara enjoy a Mezcal as they discuss his former life at a record label, artisanal spirits, tricky pronunciations (like “Bunnahabhain”) and the fun of exploring flavour – with some of your favourite nibbles. Featured bottle: Convite Mezcal, Tobala, Joven, Mexico (42%) If you would like to browse our selection of Scotch whiskies, simply follow this link: Berry Bros. & Rudd - S...
Jun 10, 2025•37 min
This week, Barbara speaks to Melania Battiston, Wine Director at Cornus restaurant. With a bottle of New Zealand Chardonnay, they discuss the surprisingly simple science of food and wine pairing, Melania’s passion for introducing new people to wine and why you should always be honest with a sommelier. Featured bottle: 2016 Kumeu River, Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu, New Zealand To browse our selection of New Zealand wines, simply follow this link: https://www.bbr.com/region-3-new-zealand Discov...
Jun 03, 2025•44 min
In this episode, Barbara is joined by chef and restaurateur Robin Gill. Together, they discuss Robin’s passion for local and seasonal ingredients, particularly at his vibrant restaurant, Darby’s. They also explore the natural wine movement, the vivacity of Italy’s wines and cuisine and why beekeeping isn’t such a buzz if you haven’t got the know-how. Featured bottle: 2021 Capo Martino, Jermann, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy You can browse our selection of Italian white wines here . Find out more ...
May 27, 2025•41 min
In the opening episode of our sixth series, we are joined by Alessandro Palazzi – Head Bartender at Dukes Hotel, No.3 Gin ambassador and veritable maestro of the Martini. Together, he and Barbara discuss the elegance of simplicity in cocktails, the joy of Vermouth and why, in the world of hospitality, we are always learning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2025•45 min
In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by broadcaster and sports journalist Jill Douglas MBE. For seven years, Jill was CEO of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation (also Berry Bros. & Rudd’s chosen charity partner), created by late Scotland rugby player, Doddie Weir. With a bottle of Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Jill tells Barbara more about her work with MND, the buzz of covering the Olympics and her love for a dry martini. Featured bottle: 2023 Reuilly Blanc, Les Pierres Plates, Denis Jamain, Loir...
Dec 17, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Chef Michel Roux has made the pursuit of taste and culinary excellence his life’s work, particularly at his much-missed restaurant, Le Gavroche. As they enjoy a bottle of aromatic sake, Michel and Barbara cover the joys of food and wine pairing, the magic of Sauternes and what Christmas looks like in the Roux household. Featured bottle: IWA 5, Assemblage 3, Shiraiwa K.K. Brewery, Toyama Prefecture, Sake You can browse our full Sake selection here: Berry Bros. & Rudd - Sake To browse our sele...
Dec 03, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Our podcast guest for this episode is tailor and “The Great British Sewing Bee” judge Patrick Grant. Together, he and Barbara enjoy a special single malt Scotch whisky as they discuss sustainable fashion, craftsmanship and the importance of seeking out quality. To browse our selection of spirits from Nc’nean Distillery, follow this link: Berry Bros. & Rudd - Nc'nean Distillery If you would like to browse our selection of single cask whiskies, simply follow this link: Berry Bros. & Rudd -...
Nov 26, 2024•45 min•Season 5Ep. 4
This week, Barbara speaks to interior designer Katharine Pooley. With a bottle of South African Cabernet Sauvignon, they explore the theme of wine as art, the creative inspiration of travelling and Katharine’s collection of recipes. Featured bottle: 2021 Damascene, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa To browse our selection of wines from Damascene, simply follow this link: https://www.bbr.com/producer-4868-damascene-vineyards Discover more about Katharine’s work, particularly a wine r...
Nov 19, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Chandler Rachel Vosper is our guest for this episode. Over a bottle of Austrian Riesling, she and Barbara discuss the languages of scent and flowers, memories of special bottles shared and the magic of Riesling. Featured bottle: 2022 Riesling, Smaragd, Wachstum Bodenstein, Prager, Wachau, Austria To browse our selection of wines from Weingut Prager, simply follow this link: https://www.bbr.com/producer-8790-weingut-prager Discover more about Rachel at her website: https://rachelvosper.com/ Learn...
Nov 05, 2024•46 min•Season 5Ep. 2
In this episode, Barbara is joined by concert violinist Charlie Siem. Together, they discuss the shared creativity of winemaking and music, the experience of tasting (and playing) history and why you shouldn’t wait to open a special bottle. Featured bottle: 2019 Caiarossa, Tuscany, Italy To browse our selection of Super Tuscans, simply follow this link: https://www.bbr.com/category-super-tuscans To listen to our episode on Super Tuscans and how they came about, you can find that here. https://op...
Nov 05, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 1
In the final episode of this series, we speak to Rob Symington, Marketing Director at Symington Family Estates and part of the fifth generation of the family business. With a bottle of Graham’s 40-Year-Old Tawny Port from Rob’s own cellar, he and Barbara discuss the changing fashion for fortified wines and new, exciting ways we can enjoy them today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2024•44 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In this episode, Account Manager Chris Pollington talks to us about all things Tuscan – from the dominance of the Sangiovese grape to the region’s Bordeaux-inspired Super Tuscan wines. Over a bottle of 2019 Poggio Valente from Fattoria Le Pupille, he and Barbara examine the origins of Super Tuscans and what the rebellion of their creators means for the future of the region’s wines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 09, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Mark Pardoe MW is our Wine Director at Berry Bros. & Rudd. Having bought over 40 vintages in his career so far, he is no stranger to the nuances of vintage variation and how climate change is affecting them. With a bottle of Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair’s Bourgogne Rouge, Les Grands Chaillots from the hot 2020 vintage, Mark and Barbara explore how warmer years are becoming the norm and what this means for your wine collection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 02, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 4
For this episode of Drinking Well, we speak to Berry Bros. & Rudd CEO, Emma Fox. Emma has had a finger on the industry pulse in many CMO and CEO roles since becoming a wine buyer after university. Over a bottle of Hambledon Classic Cuvée Rosé,Emma and Barbara Drew MW discuss the future of the industry, what it’s really like running a family business and where English wine might be heading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Mar 26, 2024•34 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode, we speak to Buyer Yoan Bernard about the Loire Valley and why it’s a collector’s region of the future. With a bottle of 2020 Saumur-Champigny, Les Coudraies from Domaine des Closiers, Yoan talks to us about the new style of Cabernet Franc emerging from the Loire and those bottles you simply must have in your cellar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 19, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In the first episode of our fourth series, we speak to Cotswolds Distillery founder, Daniel Szor. With an Own Selection bottling of 2018 Cotswolds Distillery English single malt whisky, Daniel discusses the rise of English spirits, his journey from New York to the Cotswolds and why the best barley is always local. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In the final episode of this series, we speak to Charlie Rudd, Regional Manager for Southeast Asia and fourth generation of the Rudd family. Over a bottle of 2007 Volnay from Domaine Comte Armand, he and Barbara discuss the timeless appeal of Burgundy, the joy of Singaporean food matching and the wonder of making memories with wine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 01, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 6
We discuss the intricacies and the history of collecting fine wine with Private Client Manager, Edward Richardson. Edward shares a bottle of Occidental’s 2019 Station Vineyard Pinot Noir from California. As well as discussing classic fine wine regions, Edward enthuses about his regions to watch, producers to keep an eye on and how to assess whether a wine is worth collecting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 25, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Our Global Spirits Brand Ambassador, Joe Whittaker joins us for episode four to discuss all things spirits. Accompanied by a bottle of 1998 Ben Nevis Scotch whisky, Joe discusses collecting spirits, their part in a balanced cellar and our role as an independent bottler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 18, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this episode, Barbara speaks to Tara Field, one of our Account Managers. We explore Tara’s advice for new collectors, and she shares her passion for Italian wines with a bottle of 2019 Barbaresco, Cavanna from Luigi Giordano. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this episode, Barbara speaks to Philip Moulin – our fraud and fakery specialist - about provenance, storage and counterfeit wine. Tasting the 2004 vintage of both Château du Tertre and Château Brane-Cantenac, Philip illustrates how wines develop and age – and how important perfect storage is to this process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 04, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In the first episode of our third series, Barbara Drew MW speaks to the Chair of Berry Bros. & Rudd and third-generation Rudd family member, Lizzy Rudd. Over a bottle of Champagne from organic and biodynamic producer, Leclerc Briant, Lizzy discusses history, family and the vital importance of sustainability in wines and spirits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2023•46 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. For this anniversary special, celebrating 325 years of Berry Bros. & Rudd, Barbara Drew MW is joined by eighth-generation family member and Creative Director Geordie Willis and Adam Holden, Director to the Chair’s Office, to discover one of the greatest wine collections in the world: the Family Reserve. Recorded within the Family Reserve cellar itself, this episode explores how this fas...
Mar 28, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. This second Christmas podcast special covers the sparkling, sweet and fortified wines to open this Christmas. With Account Manager Tom Cave, and Wine Educator Rebecca Lamont, this episode covers the best ways to serve sweet wines, which Champagne vintages are tasting magnificent now, and whether it is ever acceptable to pass the port to the right. If you’d like to hear more episodes or lear...
Nov 24, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. For this Christmas podcast special, Barbara Drew MW is joined by Account Manager Amy Johnson and Commercial Manager Martyn Rolph to discover which red and white wines to open this Christmas. The episode covers both classic and more unusual whites to serve to a crowd, the Bordeaux wines which are perfect for turkey, and why large formats win every time at Christmas. If you’d like to hear mor...
Nov 10, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. Hosted by Hannah Crosbie. The final episode of series two focuses on collecting and enjoying South American wine. The wines of Chile and Argentina normally feature quite strongly at the start of a wine l over’s journey – the wines are rich, ripe and enjoyable, but there’s a perception of simplicity. However, as we’ll learn with Buyer Catriona Felstead MW and Account Manager Fergus Stewart, ...
Jul 14, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. For this episode, Hannah Crosbie is joined by Barbara Drew MW and Sebastian Balcombe from our Buying team to discuss the fascinating wines of Australia. Misconceptions abound when it comes to Australian wine. They are often dismissed as too big, too alcoholic or too oaky. But those myths will be dispelled as our experts illustrate why there are many that deserve a place in your cellar. If y...
Jul 07, 2022•31 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. Hosted by Hannah Crosbie. For this week’s episode, we sit down with our Buyers Max Lalondrelle and Adam Bruntlett to discuss the Loire. Although the pair usually buy for Bordeaux and Burgundy, a bottle of Sancerre from Claude Riffault reveals why the Loire is of increasing importance in the world of fine wine. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from our expert...
Jun 30, 2022•27 min•Season 2Ep. 4
