D’Amato & Szabo: Wine Thieves

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In this second episode of our podcast series on Médoc, we take a look at the realities of a new cohort of proprietors in the Médoc. Protecting the future of the region requires reverence for what generations of the past have built. We consider what is being done differently now, pressures created by a rapidly changing global market and how the weight of a centuries-old legacy can affect one’s outlook. We aim to peel back the facades of the Châteaux and take a look at faces and families that are making a difference in the region. 

 What we’ve discovered is that progressive change is afoot in Médoc. More importantly, we’ve uncovered that large merchants and conglomerates are not the only voices in the region. Damien Barton Sartorius of Chateaux Langoa Barton, Leoville Barton and Mauvesin is our special guest helping us to understand the concept of heritage, the weight of managing a classified estate and ecological concerns of the future. We’ll speak about how and why properties change hands, and the different roles family members can take on in a family-run estate. Join us this week on Wine Thieves as we continue our deep dive into the Médoc. 

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The Wine Thieves are happy to introduce a new series devoted to the wine region of Médoc beginning this week. This perspective changing three-part podcast investigates the region through the lens of a new generation of family-owned estates. Forward-thinking and with commitment to sustainable and organic production, we explore the new dynamism of the Médoc. We investigate the presence of women in wine in these historically steeped appellations and listen to perspectives on the future of Bordeaux. We also give you a solid foundation with an expansive regional overview of terroir, appellations, classifications and some history along the way.

We are pleased to welcome Elise Uijttewaal proprietor of the Cru Bourgeois estate of Château Saint-Hilaire in the AOC of Médoc. Of Dutch descent and a trained engineer, Elise is perfectly equipped to speak about the history of the region and the terroir of the Médoc. You’ll hear about how women in Médoc are found in numbers greater than ever in the cellar, in the vineyard and in positions of marketing. We also discuss the updated classification systems of the Cru Bourgeois and Crus Artisans designations.

This episode was created in partnership with Les Vins du Médoc Bordeaux. For more information visit: https://www.medoc-bordeaux.com

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The Wine Thieves' bid a fond farewell to Provence with an in-depth look at the terroir and techniques that make the rosé of the region so distinctive. We visit the Centre du Rosé in Vidauban and speak to researchers Nathalie Pouzalgues and Matthias Bougreau. Their mission? To carry out high-level scientific research and experiments on rosé wine to better understand terroir, grape varieties and to achieve greater mastery of wine-making and conservation techniques. From thiols to terpenes, experimental new varieties, technology, appellation idiosyncracies, climate change and more, we get a backstage pass to Provence.   

This episode is produced in partnership with Vins de Provence. 

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The Wine Thieves continue their journey through lavender fields and mysterious forests up in the heart of the Provence wine region known as the Coteaux Varois en Provence. In this episode they welcome Keith Murray of Murray Family Wines, owners of Chateau Routas located on 290 hectares between Aix-en-Provence and the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Saint Tropez. They also get a chance to speak Matthieu Barrère of Estandon Vineyards a brand which unites large cooperative unions that collectively work 2,000 hectares of vineyard in Provence. 

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The Wine Thieves make their way to the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence appellation and chat with winemaker Philippe Bru of Château Vignelaure about ageworthy rosé, the importance of altitude and evidence of 2,600 years of wine history in Provence. Take a virtual stroll through quintessential Provencal town of Aix-en-Provence while picturing the landscapes of Cezanne and Hemingway's favourite watering holes. We'll talk about cabernet-syrah blends, how to properly pair Bouillabaisse with wine and the importance of sustainability in this multi-faceted region. Guillaume Vidal of Château La Coste also drops in  to tell us about making uncomplicated, organic rosé, aromatic compounds and a holistic aesthetic. 

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An iconic figure in the world of rosé globally but firmly rooted in Provence, Sacha Lichine, the creator of Whispering Angel, has a frank discussion with Wine Thieves John Szabo and Sara d'Amato about branding, rosé appeal and most importantly what makes Provence such a tour de force when it comes to this historically significant style. 

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John and Sara set sail on Provence, navigating the Mediterranean coastline, sampling rosé, structured reds and coveted white wines while speaking to some of the region's top producers. It may come as no surprise that it is continental France's sunniest region but did you know that Provence is the country's oldest wine region? Together we'll discover that rosé is not a new trend but a time-honored tradition and that the appellation is far more varied than most of us imagine. This first episode takes us to the largest of the 3 main appellations of Provence, Côtes de Provence, where we speak with a legend in the region, Romain Ott of Château Léoube, whose pioneering family helped create a legacy of quality wine production that blends modernity with tradition. 

Produced in partnership with Vins de Provence: vinsdeprovence.com

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The Mâconnais is the most southerly terroir of the Bourgogne wine growing region. Sara and John survey the region from atop the Roche de Solutré and speak to Olivier Merlin of Domaine Merlin in the village of La Roche-Vineuse. This is the final podcast in this series on Bourgogne. 

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Our second to last episode on Bourgogne, we present you with Côte Chalonnaise. We explore this natural extension of the Côte de Beaune that is often referred to as the cradle of Crémant de Bourgogne. Remi Marlin joins us in conversation direct from the of the Cave de Buxy to speak to us about the multitude of styles produced in this dynamic region. 

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In this second to last episode on the region of Bourgogne, John and Sara venture further south into the Côte Chalonnaise. This natural extension of the Côte de Beaune is often referred to as the cradle of Crémant de Bourgogne (and you know by now how they feel about Crémant!). Remi Marlin joins the conversation direct from the Cave de Buxy to speak about the multitude of styles produced in this dynamic region.