In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. It is one of South Africa’s most celebrated and successful premium wines, ‘The Chocolate Block’, a red blend led by Syrah, that changes every year according to the vintage, and has evolved with the times. David meets its creator, Marc Kent at Boekenhoutskloof, in Franschhoek, to hear the story of its success. Medal winners featured, all gold medal winners: Vilafonté Series M 2019 Constantia Glen Two 2022 Spier...
Feb 07, 2025•52 min•Season 1Ep. 200
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David travels to Castilla y León to explore Ribera del Duero, meeting the winemakers who have put this Spanish region on the fine wine map, including Master of Wine Almudena Alberca and the creator of Pingus, Peter Sisseck. Medal winners featured: Finca Sobreño Ildefonso 2018, Toro (gold) Bodegas Valdubón Honoris 2021, Ribera del Duero (silver) Jesús Madrazo Seleccion 2019, Ribera del Duero (silver) Tesco Fine...
Jan 31, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 199
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David’s joined by CEO and co-owner of Champagne Bruno Paillard, Alice Paillard, to talk about taking over from her father, who established the house in 1981. Their wide-ranging chat includes extra brut, post-disgorgement ageing, climate change and her role as a female pioneer. Medal winners featured: Charles Heidsieck Blanc Des Millénaires Brut 2014 (gold) Henriot Cuvée Hemera Brut Grand Cru 2013 (gold) Lanson...
Jan 24, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 198
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Bourbon or rye, blended or single malt, the USA and Canada offer a wealth of whiskies, from heritage styles that predate Prohibition or the latest innovations. Dawn Davies MW of Speciality Drinks chats to David about the inaugural IWSC judging in Kentucky. Gold and gold outstanding winners featured: Toasted Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel Singl...
Jan 17, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 197
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Continuing his look at what’s in store for 2025, David talks bar trends with Emma Hutchison, Executive Creative Director at Sweet&Chilli - an agency with offices in London, Sydney, New York, Los Angeles, São Paulo, and Paris - to hear more about what the world’s best bars might be serving up this year. Drinks featured, all gold medal winners: St. Nicholas Abbey 12 YO Cask Strength Rum Three Ships 13 Yo Cap...
Jan 10, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 196
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. ‘The Chief’ is back with his annual predictions for what’s in store for the drinks world. As editor in chief of The Buyer, Richard Siddle, has his finger on the pulse and he shares his insights with David, including tax changes, a stylistic shift in English wine and what a returning President Trump might mean for booze. Drinks featured: Destilaria Portuguesa Amarguinha Sour RTD (gold) Levantine Hill Katherine'...
Jan 03, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 195
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David’s joined by Laura Willoughby, co-founder of Club Soda and Irem Eren of BevZero to discuss the growing importance of the ‘low and no’ category and the latest innovations for those choosing to cut out, or reduce, their alcohol intake. Drinks featured Edenvale Beverages Premium Reserve Sparkling Shiraz NV (gold and trophy) Dr Zero Zero Amarno (gold and trophy) Drinks Kitchen Orange Cinchona Non-Alcoholic Ap...
Dec 27, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 194
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David brings us his favourite moments from the latest series: including two legends of Champagne, Lallier’s Dominique Demarville and Michel Drappier; Rombauer’s head winemaker Richie Allen; Alice Lascelles talks about her new book , The Martini’; Billy Abbott on his passion for whisky; and Fr’um creator, Anthony Peart, talks about Tom Kerridge as an inspiration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Dec 20, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 193
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David dives into the rich complexity of Alsace with Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl and Master Sommelier, Eric Zwiebel, who grew up there. They discuss the unique German influence on the region, its famously diverse patchwork of terroir and the world class wines it produces. Wines featured: Dopff Au Moulin Gewurztraminer 2022 (gold) Dopff Au Moulin Gewurztraminer 2022 (gold Maison Kuehn Riesling 2021 (silver) Cav...
Dec 13, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 192
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. In what has been described as ‘the ultimate experience for whisky lovers’, Chivas Brothers is throwing open the doors of its celebrated Strathisla distillery for exclusive immersive tasting tours. David talks to Jacques Henri Brive, head of luxury development and Director of Blending and Inventory, Sandy Hyslop. Whisky featured, all gold medal winners: Royal Salute 30 YO Key to the Kingdom Blended Scotch Whisk...
Dec 06, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 191
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David talks to the head winemaker at Napa’s Rombauer Vineyards, Richie Allen, who rose from cellar hand to the top job, to hear more about the pioneering producer behind some of America’s favourite premium wines, including a Chardonnay that’s a personal favourite of our host! Medal winners featured: Phillips Distilling Company Prairie Organic Vodka (gold) Phillips Root Beer Schnapps (gold) Salt Point Gin Highb...
Nov 29, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 190
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David reports from Belgrade on the contest to be ‘ASI Best Sommelier in Europe, Africa and the Middle East’ and speaks to the winner, Mick Parre, and also the reigning best sommelier in the world, Raimonds Tomsons, plus, Alex Huskinson, tequila category expert at The Whisky Exchange in on hand for a mini masterclass. Drinks featured, all gold medal winning agave spirits: Proximo Spirits 1800 Milenio Extra Añej...
Nov 22, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 189
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David travels to the Champagne village of Aÿ to meet Dominique Demarville, general manager and cellar master at Lallier, to toast the launch of two new cuvées and talk about his long career in the region, plus Billy Abbott’s back with Jason Vaswani from The Whisky Exchange, to talk about ‘pre-loved’ whisky. New Zealand medal winning spirits featured: Pokeno Whisky Co. Totara Cask Single Malt Whisky (gold) Stra...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 188
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David’s joined by John Hoskins MW, former chief examiner at the Institute of Masters of Wine and Rebecca Palmer, Associate Director at Corney & Barrow to talk about judging South Africa’s wines, in situ, for the IWSC and Billy Abbott of the Whisky Exchange returns for a mini masterclass on the flavours of world whisky. Wines featured, all gold medal winners: Villiera Monro Brut Cap Classique 2017 Capensis ...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 187
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Author and FT columnist Alice Lascelles is David’s guest to talk about her latest book, The Martini - a paean to the iconic cocktail, tracing its journey from 1880’s New York to the hottest bars of the moment via 60 different recipes. Plus, Billy Abbott of The Whisky Exchange is back to explore the world of Japanese whisky. Medal winning Japanese whiskies featured: The Fujisan Whisky (gold) The Ukiyo Premium B...
Nov 01, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 186
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David welcomes one of the most famous names in Champagne, Michel Drappier, whose family first settled in the region more than 200 years ago, with the conversation including organic farming, carbon neutral practises and low dosage. Wines featured: Drappier Grande Sendrée Brut 2010 (silver) Henriot Blanc De Blancs Brut non vintage (gold) Rare Rosé Brut 2014 (silver) Co-op Les Pionniers Brut NV (silver) Ellner Ch...
Oct 25, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 185
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David is joined by whisky expert, Kristiane Sherry, to talk about her inaugural ‘Scotch whisky report’ for Club Oenologique, tasting around 120 examples, to produce a snapshot of the category. In a double helping for whisky lovers, Billy Abbott of The Whisky Exchange returns, for an Irish whisky mini masterclass. IWSC medal winners featured, all gold medal winners: Irish Distillers Blue Spot 7 YO Cask Strength...
Oct 18, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 184
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David delves in the world of whisky with renowned expert, author and judge, Billy Abbott, of The Whisky Exchange, to explore the complexity and diversity of a dram, with a focus on fruit forward whiskies in the first of a series of ‘mini masterclasses’. Featuring four IWSC gold medal and trophy winners: Tomatin Distillery Legacy Single Malt Scotch Whisky East Asia Whisky Company 35 YO Manta Ray Genesis Bunnaha...
Oct 11, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 183
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. From his humble beginnings in hospitality to the bar of Tom Kerridge’s double-starred gastropub, The Hand & Flowers, Anthony Peart achieved his dream of launching his own rum. He joins David to talk about how he made it happen. Rums featured (all gold medal winners) Fr’um dark but fr'iendly Pineapple & Smokey Scotch Bonnet Rum Rones del Caribe Roble Viejo 12 YO Ultra Añejo Rum Héritiers Madkaud Renaiss...
Oct 04, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 182
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David reflects on the highlights of series 15 featuring Perrier-Jouët cellar master Séverine Frerson, Domaine des Tourelles winemaker Faouzi Issa on making wine in Lebanon, organic pioneer Gérard Bertrand and Voyager Estate’s chief winemaker, Tim Shand, Will Hill on Georgian amber wine and Tom Surgey on his new book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 181
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David travels to Château L’ Hospitalet in Languedoc-Roussillon to meet Gérard Bertrand, a former rugby star whose passion for his home region has earned it a place on the world’s fine wine map. They talk terroir, biodynamics and a winemaking philosophy that has resulted in a broad range of wines from an innovative orange, to the world’s most expensive rosé. Wines featured: Gérard Bertrand Cote Des Roses Grenac...
Sep 20, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 180
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Responsible for a mere two percent of Australia’s grape crush, Margaret River really punches above its weight when it comes to premium wines. David finds out more, from Alex Hunt MW, IWSC wine judging committee member and leading sommelier-turned-communicator, Shanteh Wale. Wines featured (all gold medal winners): Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Flametree Wines, Flametree Chardonnay 2023 Deep Woods Esta...
Sep 13, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 179
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. They are all the rage on wine lists, but orange wines have a long and illustrious history, dating back to the birthplace of wine, Georgia, where they are known as amber. David talks to expert and IWSC judge, Will Hill, Managing Director of Novel Wines to find out more. Wines featured (all gold medal winners): Kardanakhi 1888 LLC Tsarapi 2020 Bedoba Orange 2021 Mildiani Family Winery, Khikhvi Qvevri Bouquet 201...
Sep 06, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 178
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. A familiar face for his work with ‘The Three Wine Men’, writer and broadcaster Tom Surgey chats to David about his new book ‘How to Drink Wine’, which offers a comprehensive, yet accessible, guide to the world of wine terminology. Drinks featured: Marks & Spencer 5 Times Distilled Vodka (gold) Chapel Down Kit’s Coty Coeur De Cuvée Extra Brut 2016 (silver) Denbies Wine Estate Cubitt Blanc De Noirs Brut 2015...
Aug 30, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 177
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Famously where East meets West, Turkey offers a treasure trove of indigenous grape varieties which are well worth seeking out. David finds out more from Sarah Abbott MW and Isa Bal MS, who co-chaired the recent IWSC wine judging in Istanbul, where an impressive 20 gold medals were awarded. Wines featured (all gold medal winners): Kayra Vintage Öküzgözü 2021 Kavaklidere Saraplari Prestige Okuzgozu 2021 Vinolus ...
Aug 23, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 176
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David chats to the winemaker Faouzi Issa from Lebanon’s Domaine des Tourelles, to talk about making wine against the backdrop of conflict and chaos, his passion for old vines and his style of winemaking, focused on freshness and charm. Wines featured: Domaine Wardy Grenache, Bekaa Valley 2022 (silver) Zilzie Wines Platinum Edition Grenache, Barossa, Australia 2022 (silver) Kilikanoon Duke Reserve Grenache, Cla...
Aug 16, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 175
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Celebrated for sparklers and more recently for still wines too, Tasmania is David’s focus as he explores the terroir of this enchanting Australian island with Tom Wallace, winemaker at Devil’s Corner. Drinks featured, all from Tasmania: Hellyers Road Distillery 21 YO American Oak (Cask 2283.01) Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (gold) Orrsum Spirits XO Vodka (silver, plus gold in the V&T mixer category) Cal...
Aug 09, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 174
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David chats to Steve Lohr, whose father Jerry was a pioneer in Paso Robles, the California region that’s attracted a legion of fans for the quality and value it offers. They talk terroir and why Cab remains ‘king’, but also the other varieties to have on your radar. Drinks featured, all from California: Junipero Smoked Rosemary Gin (gold) Grgich Hills Estate Paris Tasting Commemorative Chardonnay 2021 (silver)...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 173
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David talks to House of Hazelwood director, Jonathan Gibson, and blender, Eilidh Muir, about the latest unique collection of aged Scotch whisky amassed by the Gordon family and now offered to discerning collectors. Drinks featured (all gold medal winners): Aerstone Sea Cask 10 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky Miltonduff, 24 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky Tomintoul Distillery 25 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky Glencadam...
Jul 26, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 172
In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David talks to the Chief Winemaker Tim Shand, at pioneering Margaret River winery Voyager Estate, established in 1978. Tim talks about his winemaking journey across Australia, what makes the region so special, and the challenges and rewards of going organic. Wines featured: House of Cards Ace High 2023 (gold) Flametree Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (gold) Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Chardonnay 2022 (gold) Voyager ...
Jul 19, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 171
