Food FM

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. This week, some highlights from series 18, Mumm’s new cellar master Yann Munier, Sunny Hodge on his cynics guide to wine, Andrew Caillard MW on the Australian Ark, Ian Hongell talks Barossa, Elaine Chukan Brown on California - and Alex Watson on Renais Gin… 

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Si Alexander is in the room to see this year’s greatest food photography unwrapped (by Yotam Ottolenghi, no less) at the World Food Photography Awards 2025 sponsored by Tenderstem®Bimi®Broccolini

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. In 2015, when Champagne Taittinger announced it was teaming up with its importer, Hatch Mansfield, to launch an English sparkling wine, it caused a sensation, and now, a decade later, Domaine Evremond is on the market.  David visits the winery, at Chilham in Kent, to meet co-founder Patrick McGrath MW. 

IWSC English gold medal winners featured: 

Sugrue South Down The Trouble with Dreams 2009 in magnum

Bride Valley Reserve Brut 2018

All Angels Ten Year Anniversary Classic Cuvée Brut 2014

Gusbourne Single Vineyard Commanders Chardonnay 2022

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David talks to Elaine Chukan Brown, author of The Wines of California, telling the story of the state’s wine industry, from its establishment by indigenous peoples, through Prohibition, to the pioneers who created today’s wine map, while looking to the challenges Californian wine faces in the future.   

Plus, David has news of the IWSC wine judging results for 2025, announced this week, featuring the three highest scoring wines: 

The Trouble With Dreams Magnum Brut 2009 by Sugrue South Downs

Verdelho 2001 by D’Oliveiras

Old Premium Rare Muscat NV by Morris Wines

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David’s guest is Ian Hongell, chief winemaker at Torbreck, one of Australia’s most celebrated names, celebrated for its Barossa Shiraz from dry-farmed, old vines descended from those planted in the mid 19th century.

IWSC medal winners featured:

Campbells Merchant Prince Rare Muscat NV (gold and trophy winner)

Morris Old Premium Rare Muscat NV (gold)

Peter Lehmann 8 Songs Shiraz 2021 (silver) 

Soumah Chardonnay 2023 (silver)

Fourth Wave Wine Little Giant Single Vineyard Cabernet 2021 (silver)

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David chats to Master of Wine, Andrew Caillard, winner of the IWSC Wine Communicator of the Year award, about his epic three volume work ‘The Australian Ark’, the story of the country’s wine industry, from its origins to the present day.

IWSC medal winning wines featured, all gold medal winners:

Dandelion Vineyards Firehawk Shiraz 2022

Golden Amrita Sunshine Hill Shiraz 2021

Ponting Wines The Pinnacle Shiraz 2022

Levantine Hill Katherine's Paddock Chardonnay 2021

Orlando Wines Lyndale Chardonnay 2021

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Caroline Kenyon talks to writer Samantha Ellis about her new book, Chopping Onions on my Heart which tells of her rich Iraqi Jewish culinary heritage and introducing her young son to his family background through food.

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David chats to Alex Watson about Renais Gin, the brand he has founded with his actor sister, Emma Watson, a premium gin produced from the skins of grapes, from the vineyards of Chablis where their father is a winemaker.

IWSC gold medal winning gins featured: 

Three Engineers Oy 3E Gin 

North of Eden Admiral Navy Strength Gin

Karu Distillery Affinity Gin

Enceladus Distilling Company Limited

Astra Premium New Zealand Gin

Vinha Alta Balancal Barrel Rested Gin

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Caroline Kenyon talks to beloved chef Gennaro Contaldo about his life in food - growing up in Amalfi, coming to England - and his pride in being Ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano. 

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. England’s nascent still wine scene gets ever more exciting, with premium cuvées now taking the limelight. David chats to the co-owners of Whitewolfe, Clare Whitehead and Luke Wolfe, to hear about their self-funded project to create a trio of wines from Chardonnay, grown at Kit’s Coty in Kent.

IWSC winning wines featured, all silver medals :  

Chapel Down Kit’s Coty Coeur De Cuvée Extra Brut 2016

Louis Pommery England Brut NV 

Hattingley Valley Wines Blanc de Blancs Brut 2015

Denbies Wine EstateCubitt Blanc De Noirs Brut 2015

Vagabond Wines Pinot Noir 2022

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