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WE ARE BACK WITH SEASON 4. And I am going to take you on a three-day trip around Rias Baixas. We will be looking at the food, the regions, the grapes, the vine training methods and the beaches you can visit. I hope this episode will motivate you to go and visit this lusciously green area, and have you reaching for a refreshing bottle of Albariño.

Introducing my sponsor for this season, Wickhams Wine, who aligns so well with me. A small business themselves focusing on top quality wines. With their help, I am going to be able to turn this podcast from a one women band to a team that will be able to help me grow this podcast. Do go and explore their online site to get your hands on some seriously well-chosen wines.

If you want to skip ahead:

3.39: Why visit Rias Baixas

5.38: The location and terroir

8.01: Visiting Santiago de Compostela

11.21: Visiting Martin Codax in Val do Salnes

15.11: The plantings and average winery size

17.40: Different styles of Albariño and pairing Lias wines with Cebreiro cheese

21.00: Late harvest and Botrytis Albariño wines – what is Botrytis?

24.17: Rias Baixas – the women’s land!

27.19: Cambados for lunch

29.14: Visiting Pazo Baion in Val do Salnes

34.48: A must visit: Combarro

37.18: Local food of Galicia

38.01: Beach recommendations

41.05: Visiting Adega Entre Os Rios (a rural stay as well as a winery)

48.15: The grape variety Reposa

51.55: The 5 subregions

52.58: The other grapes of Rias Baixias

If you like this style of episode and want to listen to more itineraries when I visit wine regions, get in touch and let me know by email [email protected]

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat

If you fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Until next time, Cheers to you!

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THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST HAS BEEN FEATURED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE, RADIO TIMES AND FEED SPOT AS THE 6TH BEST UK WINE MAKING PODCAST

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Todays episode is the last episode of Season 3. I’ll be back again in September. I am speaking with my head winemaker of Balfour Winery, Fergus Elias, who is back for the second time. If you missed the first episode go back to Episode 106. We will be talking about one of our very special white wines, part of the Winemakers collection. It's called Cinque Ports 2019, made up with five grape varieties and it just won Gold at the WineGB Awards 2023. Then we will be looking at the latest stats released from WineGB and discussing the majority of grape varieties and new plantings to be found across England and Wales.

If you want to skip ahead:

3.50: Opinions of the best red grapes to safelty plant in UK excluding Pinot Noir.

10.00: The advantages and disadvantages of being a winemaker in England

13.00: If Ferg wasn’t a winemaker in England, which region of the world would he work in and why?

14.11: Thoughts on PGI’s, PDO’s and Grand Cru vineyards in UK

19.02: How Bacchus used to be made and how winemaking has changed with this variety

25.02: Discussing and tasting The Balfour, Winemakers Collection Cinque Ports 2019 £40 Balfour Cellar Door

35.02: What does Arbanne and Petit Meslier taste like?

42.41: The new plantings of the UK

47.07: Number of vineyards, wineries and hectarage in UK

50.16: Clone 76 Chardonnay

53.34: Run down of the main varieties planted in UK

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Today is part 2 with Jess Summer, founder of Mouse and Grape, a luxury cheese and wine hamper company in the UK. We'll be looking at pairings to go with aged cheese, more challenging cheeses. What happens if you start adding the accompaniments like honey or nuts or fruit? We'll be looking at what cheeses go best with traditional method sparkling wine, so that of England. We'll be looking at the temperature that you should serve your cheese at. When do you take it out of the fridge? And there will also be some nice pairings to go with cheesy dishes because heating the cheese or melting the cheese can change the dynamic. 

If you want to skip ahead:

1.52: Jess winning Harpers 30 under 30

3.15: Taking part in Young Cheese Monger of the Year competition.

6.14: What wines pair well with aged cheese

10.39: Pairings for Comte

13.06: Pairing Oaked Chardonnays

15.12: Pairing blue cheese and Dolcelatte

19.04: Adding accompaniments to the cheese and how that affects the pairing with the wine

23.53: Pairing oaked Rosé

28.54: Saint Nectaire and Pinot Noir

29.20: Fourme d’Ambert and a Languedoc blend or a lighter noble rot dessert wine

31.23: Rachel/Quickes/Ticklemore with Albariño, Rosé or a high acidic white Italian wine

33.06: Keens Chedder with Monastrell or Tannat

34.56: Perfect cheese pairings with Traditional Method Sparkling wine like English Wine

37.39: Pizza pairing and baked feta pasta and wine pairings

Last episode I was trying the Summer Cheese and Wine Picnic Hamper £65

If you want to Visit Jess' website: https://www.mouseandgrape.com/

And you can email her: [email protected]

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Today is part 1 with Jess Summer, founder of Mouse and Grape, a luxury cheese and wine hamper company in the UK, and we will be going through her summer hamper which includes canned wines from the Canned Wine Co. We will be looking at the pairings and what process she goes through when deciding what wines she should pair with cheeses, how to taste cheese and wine correctly, and the specific order. You'll learn about storing cheese, the art of cutting cheese up properly. Throughout there will be plenty of perfect pairings mentioned. And Jess will inspire with her story. She is a perfect example of starting from scratch. If you're following your passions, you will achieve success.

 If you want to skip ahead:

2.33: How was Mouse and Grape created?

5.45: Studying in wine and cheese

7.33: Cutting cheese correctly

9.07: Storing cheese

12.00: How to taste wine and cheese together

15.03: Discussing how the wines were chosen to go with the cheeses in the Summer Cheese and Wine Picnic Hamper £65

16.41: Pairing The Canned Wine Co Barrel Aged Verdejo with Westcombe Cheddar

23.18: Other wines to go with Chedder

26.05: Pairing The Canned Wine Co Gruner Veltliner with Taleggio

34.05: How lactose changes when cheese ages

36.10: Pairing The Canned Wine Co St Laurent no 4 with Winchester Gouda style hard cheese

39.53: Judging at The British Cheese Awards

Visit Jess' website: https://www.mouseandgrape.com/

And email her: [email protected]

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Today I am talking about Old vines. We will touch on what actually are old vines, where in the world regions are actually classifying specific vines and how old they actually have to be. What is the significance of old vines culturally and genetically? How they can help us in the future, the stories that they hold and how the flavour of the wines that come from old vines are different. And my deeper discovery into this was at Feudi di San Gregorio, an incredible winery in Irpinia within Campania in Italy. So I’ll give you more details on visiting them too.

 If you want to skip ahead:

1.54: What are old vines and which regions around the world have classifications for these

3.48: The 200 year old vines of Feudi di San Gregorio

7.14: The genetic adaptions of old vines

9.49: The deeper root systems of old vines

11.21: Flavours of wine from old vines

13.17: The nostalgia of old vines

15.36: The Old Vine Conference ( www.oldvines.org or on IG @ouroldvines )

16.16: Jancis Robinson Old Vine Register ( https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/jancis-robinson-old-vines-register )

17.42: Planning a holiday to stay at the country house of Feudi di San Gregorio

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Last week I hosted a Masterclass in Paladar, THE latin American restaurant in London and so I was inspired to bring this to life here, and talk to you all about the Criolla varieties of South and Latin America. It was the Spanish conquistadors, that brought across the first Vitis Vinifera Vines to the Americas and these gave birth to the ‘Criolla Varieties’. So you will learn what Criolla actually means, understand the Criolla family tree and learn about the history of how these grape varieties come about.

If you want to skip ahead:

3.04: Wine of the Week: Torres Digno Pais 2020 £8.99 Waitrose

6.30: How did the Criolla varieties arrive in Latin America? The History!

8.11: What is Criolla? What does this term mean?

12.24: Grape Variety Pais (Listan Prieto)

16.55: Grape Varieties Torrontes and Torontel

22.26: Grape Variety Moscatel de Alejandria

24.44: Other Criolla grape varieties

28.15: Maule, Itata and Bio Bio valley in Chile, Pipeño wines and traditional winemaking methods

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is part 3 of the deep dive series into Sparkling wines: On all the sparkling wines of the word (except Champage). These episodes are specifically designed to help out my WSET diploma friends. This is a flashcard-style podcast, which is a useful way for those trying to memorize the information, however, for all of you who just love wine and want to know more and increase your knowledge, this will still be a really interesting episode as you can just play it all the way through like any other episode.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.54: Crémant

21.03: Cava

25.41: German Sekt

27.46: Prosecco

33.29: Franciacorta

37.43: Lambrusco

42.09: The rest of the world

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is the fifth and last part of my mini series on wineries in South Africa. Today's episode is with Sales and Marketing Manager Deidre Taylor of Kanonkop based in Simonsberg-Stellenbosch. They are definitely considered one of the prestigious wineries of South Africa, and they were one of the pioneers of Pinotage. They played a significant role in establishing Pinotage as a flagship grape variety in South Africa. They've gained both national and international acclaim. You will learn all about this variety today, the full history and the story of this grape. And of course, why and how have Kanonkop helped put Pinotage on the map.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.54: How Deidre got into wine

6.58: The famous Cannon and how Kanonkop got it’s name

8.13: What makes Kanonkop unique

12.12: How winemaker Beyers Truter put Pinotage on the map

16.37: The full story of Pinotage

20.32: The flavours and profile of Pinotage and food pairings

25.56: Kanonkop have the oldest Pinotage vines in South Africa

28.17: How long can Pinotage age for and what flavours does it take on with time

30.52: Is there an ideal location or soil type for Pinotage?

33.18: Pinotage Clones

34.47: Talking about and tasting the Kadette Rosé 2022 £11.95 Frontier Fine Wines

39.36: Talking about and tasting the Kadette Pinotage 2020 £14.80 Frontier Fine Wines

43.30: Talking about and tasting the Estate Pinotage 2020 £31.50 Frontier Fine Wines

48.21: Pinotage planted around the world

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is the forth part of my mini series on wineries in South Africa. Today's episode is with Winemaker Andries Burger of Paul Cluver Winery based in Elgin. This region is known for it’s Pinot Noir and Chardonany and as Paul Cluver is the pioneer of this wine region, who better than to discuss with them. So we will focus on Pinot Noir, talking about the importance of oak usage, how to bring out the grape’s natural characteristics, how to not over power, walking through the process of making the very best Pinot Noir from harvest through to bottling. Of course, you will know all about this wine region, Elgin by the end of it. And there's so much to know about the conservation initiatives of this winery. Paul himself is an absolute superhero. So, you will find out about this very incredible man alongside the region and their wines.

If you want to skip ahead:

2.07: How Andries ended up working as a winemaker at Paul Cluver

4.00: Some of the first plantings in this cool climate region were surprisingly Bordeaux Varieties

6.03: How the advise of Paul Pontallier from Chateau Margaux encouraged them across to Pinot Noir

7.59: Being the pioneers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and the increase in reputation of this wine region

9.32: The terroir and location of Elgin

11.37: Discussing nutrient poor soils and the advantage of planting cover crops

14.00: Talking about Dr Paul Cluver himself and his recognition for conservation efforts

17.10: Slack packing in the mountains around Elgin (basically glamping for hikers)

20.46: Comparing Pinot Noir to other regions in South Africa and across the world

22.49: Talking about the Seven Flags Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are the top wines of their portfolio £56.95 Frontier fine wines

26.00: Talking and tasting the Village Chardonnay 2022 £13.99 Waitrose

28.17: Talking about concrete eggs and it’s effect in wine

31.25: Talking and tasting the Village Pinot Noir 2020 £14.30 Vinvm

38.45: How does Andries balance the expressions of Pinot Noir’s natural characteristics with techniques such as maceration and colour?

40.47: Working with Paul Pontallier of Chateau Margaux and what he learnt

43.29: Oak usage in Pinot Noir

46.59: Working with only blonde/light toasted barrels and how this can’t hide anything.

47.55: The Burgundy Coopers that Paul Cluver work with

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is the third part of my mini series on wineries in South Africa. Today's episode is with Winemaker Alice Verburg from Luddite Winery, based in Bot River. They are very much about hands off and minimal intervention, and the most interesting and fun family, who do not take themselves too seriously. The focus on today’s podcast will be minimal intervention, understanding the Bot River and of course tasting and talking about their very limited bottlings of Shiraz and Chenin Blanc.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.40: Why is the winery called Luddite

3.31: What got Alice in winemaking

4.58: The best winery in the Nothern Hemisphere that Alice has worked at and why

5.58: Alice’s Dad, Niels, who started the Luddite winery, and what she has learnt from him

7.42: And what Alice brings to the winery and winemaking

8.44: The best part of winemaking in the cellar

11.07: The best part of being a small winery and the advantages of being in Bot River

12.16: The hand written labels

14.05: The ethos of Luddite

17.42: Describing the Bot River and what makes it special as a wine region

21.18: The shiraz ‘peppercorn’ berries

21.52: Examples of minimal intervention at Luddite

25.20: Dealing with pests and diseases out in the vineyards when organic farming

27.13: Adding amphora pebbles into barrels

30.17: Tasting and talking about the Luddite Chenin Blanc 2021 Buon Vino £44 (2020)

34.46: Tasting and talking about the Luddite Shiraz 2018 Buon Vino £49 (2017)

41.16: Happy accidents in the winery = Cool by the Pool wine – a great story!

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!