Matthew's World of Wine and Drink

By Matthew Gaughan

What's Matthew's World of Wine and Drink about?

An Englishman in California soaking up the sun, I am a WSET Diploma graduate and Certified WSET Educator. I blog about wine, teach it at all levels, and drink plenty of it. Follow me on twitter @mattswineworld or check out my website: matthewsworldofwineanddrink.com

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Matthew's World of Wine and Drink episodes:

02.26.2024
Bairrada: Interview with Rui Lucas of Prior Lucas
Interview with Rui Lucas of Prior Lucas in Bairrada, Portugal. It's a region heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore cooler and wetter than other areas further inland. Baga is the main variety, well-suited to the humid climate, producing...
02.13.2024
Culture Wine Co & Peter Andrews: South Africa
Interview with Peter Andrews of Culture Wine Co, who's importing South African wine into California. Topics covered include Pinotage; Mediterranean varieties; Sauvignon Blanc; the regionality of South Africa; innovative winemakers; racial diversity; and future trends for South African wine.
12.12.2023
Michigan
The Michigan wine scene is relatively new, growing in the last few years. I speak to Drew Perry of Simpson Family Estates, who started in 1980—dicsussing the growing conditions, the grape varieties, and the wines of the emerging industry.
11.09.2023
Gamay
Gamay: a high-yielding variety associated with youthful, fruity wine but which, in the right growing conditions, makes wonderful, structured wines. This episode explores the areas where Gamay is grown: Beaujolais of course as well as Loire, Savoie, Lorraine, Switzerland, the...
10.24.2023
Armenia: Interview with Vahe Keushguerian
Winemaking in Armenia goes back at least 6,000 years, one of the starting points of viticulture. But it's only in the last ten to fifteen years that there has been a renaissance in quality wine. Vahe Keushguerian has been at...
09.17.2023
Brazil: Interview with Flavio Pizzato
Brazil's wine industry has gone through many changes since the 1990s, and is still finding its feet. The focus on quality wine began with sparkling wine, with investment from French producers, and has continued with a focus on grape varieties...
09.10.2023
Brash Higgins: McLaren Vale
Brad Hickey has been making wine in McLaren Vale for over fifteen years, in a range of styles that reflect the Mediterranean climate of the region. This episode focuses on his experiences in McLaren Vale, and the wines being made...
09.03.2023
Champagne Interview with Garth Hodgdon of Cage Imports
A conversation with Garth Hodgdon of Cage Imports, which imports 15 small Champagne producers into the USA. We talk about trends in Champagne, how to discover those small producers (and who they are), who's drinking champagne, and why Meunier rocks! Visit...
08.27.2023
Mexico
Plantings in Mexico date back to the 1520s, although the development of the wine industry was curtailed by Spanish colonial intervention. Since the 1980s, there has been a renaissance for Mexican wine, with many regions emerging. In this episode, I...
08.20.2023
Georgia
Georgia is one of the world's oldest winemaking countries. Traditions—such as amber wine and wine made for home consumption—continue, which make Georgian wine a wonderful trip to the past. But it's also an evolving wine country, with regions producing different...
08.12.2023
Emeritus Vineyards - Dry Farming in Sonoma County
Interview with Mari Jones of Emeritus Vineyards in Sonoma County, who began the conversion to dry farming in 2008. In tandem with the selection of suitable clones and rootstocks, the vineyards are now well-established without the need for irrigation. Mari...
08.08.2023
Long Island
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Long Island has unique growing conditions heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. I interview three producers: Jenny Smith from Pellegrini (on the North Fork), Roman Roth of Wölffer Estate (in The Hamptons), and Jonathan Romberg of...
08.04.2023
Albania
Wine has been made in Albania for thousands of years, and grape-growing used to be central to its culture before rule by the Ottoman Empire and then an isolated communist regime led to a centuries long decline in wine production....
08.01.2023
Montenegro and Kosovo
Two neighbouring countries, formerly of Yugoslavia. Kosovo's winemaking history goes back 2,000 years, with a renewed focus on quality after the bulk wines under Yugoslavia. Montenegro has one of the largest vineyards in Europe, with research into indigenous varieties and...
07.30.2023
North Macedonia
The small, landlocked country of North Macedonia has a long winemaking history. The source of much of the former Yugoslavia's bulk wine, there is a renewed focus on quality in identifying the best sites. This episode prevents an overview of...
07.26.2023
Serbia
Episode number four on the wines of the former Yugoslavian countries. Serbia's climate is continental, influenced by the river Danube and by mountains. There are some international varieties planted, but also indigenous varieties and some local crossings. Only 5% of...
07.16.2023
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Part 3 of series on the wines of the Balkan States and former Yugoslavia: Bosnia-Herzegovina. A small wine industry, with just 3,500ha of plantings but 11,000 growers. The main regions are around Mostar between the Adriatic Sea and high central...
06.29.2023
Croatia
Episode 2 of my series on Balkan wine: Croatia. A beautiful country which attracts two and a half times as many tourists as residents, the wine regions can be divided into coastal and continental inland. There are some similarities with...
06.04.2023
Slovenia
First episode on the wines of the Balkan States, starting with Slovenia, a country with lots of connections with neighbouring regions of Friuli in north-east Italy and Steirmark in southern Austria. The climate changes from Mediterranean on the coast...
04.06.2023
Portuguese Grape Varieties
250 indigenous varieties plus a handful of international; different names for the same variety, named after animals, people, and often hard to pronounce; field blends in a small, fractured vineyard ownership; maritime and continental climates: for such a small country,...
03.20.2023
Austrian Grape Varieties
This episode explores some of the 40 grape varieties approved in Austria, including the classics such as Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, and Zweigelt, lesser-known but historic varieties such as Welschriesling and Rotgipfler, and international varieties Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and...
03.12.2023
Scarce and Wild Italian Grape Varieties
Conversation with Sheila Donohue of Vero Vino, who specialise in importing "scarce and wild" Italian grape varieties. We discuss four lesser known—or completely unknown—varieties local to their regions : Schioppetino, Boschera, Famoso, and Durella. Expect lots of acid talk!
02.23.2023
The Identity of Cava
Interview with three Cava producers on its identity and what makes the sparkling wine different from others: place, grape varieties, ageing, and its history. Cava has introduced labelling terms and regional designations which allow producers to talk about exactly where...
02.13.2023
Trip to Australia
Just back from a two-week trip to Australia where I visited the wine regions of Tasmania, Adelaide Hills, and McLaren Vale. The former two are relatively young with lots of development over the last three decades; they're also cool climate...
01.08.2023
Old World v New World
What's the difference between an Old and a New World Wine? Is there a differerence? This episode explores what the terms mean, whether we should use them, and how they can be an easy way into describing the wines of...
12.15.2022
Southern Italy Black Grape Varieties
There are many historic grape varieties from southern Italy, which are deservedly regaining attention. This episode looks at some of the black grape varieties across southern Italy, as well as Sicily and Sardinia: Agliancio, Negroamaro, Primitivo, Gaglioppo, Nero d'Avola, Nerello...
12.05.2022
Malvasia
Malvasia isn't a grape variety, nor is it a family of grape varieties: it's a group of grape varieties which happen to have the same name. Some of them are related, some of them are not. Every style of wine...
11.28.2022
Muscat
Muscat isn't a grape variety, but a family of related varieties all with different features. There are also many styles of wine made from the Muscat family: dry, sweet, fortified, and sparkling, made all over the world. This episode explores...
10.25.2022
The Unique Grape Varieties of South America: Interview with Amanda Barnes
Interview with Amanda Barnes, author of The South America Wine Guide. We discuss grape varieties which are largely only found in the diverse continent: País/Criolla Chica, Torrontés, Vischoqueña, Quebranca, and others. A great insight into the wines of South America,...
10.12.2022
Interview with Paul Yanon on the Rhône
The southern Rhône is a large region where many styles of wine are produced - red, white, rosé, and fortified. There are also lots of different appellations to understand. In this episode, Paul Yanon guides us through the region's wines,...
09.11.2022
Interview with Bruce Taylor of Kono in Marlborough
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has been one of the extraordinary success stories of the last forty years, creating an entirely new category of wine. In this episode, I interview Bruce Taylor, winemaker at Kono which is entirely Māori owned. We talk...
09.01.2022
Italian White Grape Varieties
Italian white wine has improved greatly over the last 30 years, with much fresher, crisper wines. There are lots of different varieties which are associated with specific regions. This episode explores varieties from Pinot Grigio to Verdicchio to Zibbibo. Dive...
08.10.2022
Sémillon
Sémillon is an historic Bordeaux variety, although plantings have fallen over the last 50 years. But it remains important, producing a range of styles: full-bodied and oak-aged, light-bodied and acidic, dry and sweet, and blends with Sauvignon Blanc. This episode...
06.22.2022
Carignan in the Mediterranean
My recent visit to Mediterranean France and Spain gave me a chance to explore the possibilities of Carignan. It's a contradictory variety: younger vines producer high yields while older vines produce low yields for completely different levels of quality. It...
06.17.2022
Priorat
Priorat is one of Spain's most prestigious regions, the vines grown on steep slate slopes. Garnatxa (Grenache) and Carinyena (Carignan) are the two most important varieties, often from old vines. The wines of Priorat are known as big and full-bodied,...
04.18.2022
Mourvèdre
Mourvèdre is a grape best known as part of a Rhône blend with Grenache and Syrah, but it makes fantastic wine in its own right and in a wide range of styles. Originally from Spain where it's known as Monastrell,...
02.14.2022
Interview with Edouard Parinet of Château du Moulin-à-Vent
All-encompassing interview with Edouard Parinet of Château du Moulin-à-Vent, covering Beaujolais, Gamay, and the cru of Moulin-à-Vent itself. This is Beaujolais inside out — Edouard recognised the name of a restaurant before I'd even described it!
02.06.2022
Interview with Ricard Rofes of Scala Dei
Priorat is one of the most historic wine regions in the Mediterranean, with plantings by monks going back to the 1200s. However, its modern history was only resurrected in the late 1980s—the region is a combination of the old and...
02.01.2022
Interview with Mayte Calvo de la Banda of Bodegas Bilbainos
Interview with Mayte Calvo de la Banda of Bodegas Bilbainas/Viña Pomal in Rioja, in which we talk about the winery, different grape varieties, how the vineyard influences the style of the wines, and overall trends in a traditional region which...
01.11.2022
Pinot Gris/Grigio
Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape variety, yet very different wines are made from them. That gives an indication of the versatility of the variety, which this episode explores—from simple and neutral to rich and aromatic and...
12.20.2021
Interview with Alex Rosanelli of Hound's Tree
Interview with Alex Rosanelli of Hound's Tree Winery on Long Island, New York. We talk about Long Island's climate, the challenges that come with it, and the grape varieties best suited to the moderate temperatures and the Atlantic growing conditions,...
10.25.2021
Riesling
Riesling: the finest but also one of the most understood white grape varieties. This episode covers the many different regions Riesling is grown in around the world, and the many different styles of wine produced from the intense, aromatic variety.
10.12.2021
Tempranillo
Tempranillo is the most planted black grape in Spain, grown across the country and most famous in Rioja and Ribera del Duero. This episode explores the different styles of Tempranillo according to blending and climate, as well as plantings in...
10.02.2021
Taking the MW Exam
What's it like to take the MW exams? Well, I found out a few weeks ago and just wanted to share my experiences with you and get the pain off my chest!
08.15.2021
The Identity of Cava
Cava is Spain's answer to Champagne, but lacks both a reputation for quality and a sense of identity. But is that changing? This episode explores how producers are trying to improve the quality of the wines—although this has not been...
07.27.2021
Winemaker Interview: Peter Fraser of Yangarra
A conversation with Peter Fraser of Yangarra Estate in McLaren Vale, Southern Australia, revolving around old vines, the history of the region, Grenache and Roussanne. McLaren has a rich winemaking history, but one which has changed over the last 20...
06.30.2021
Bolivia
Bolivia may not be known for its wine industry, but wine has been made there for hundreds of years. I interviewed Ramón Escobar of Chufly Imports about Bolivian wine, as well as how wine can benefit the local economy given...
05.21.2021
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes dismissed as producing one-dimensional wines which are grassy, herbaceous, and vegetal, designed to be drunk now. This episode discusses the much more versatile, varied, and diverse nature of Sauvignon Blanc, exploring the Loire, Bordeaux, Italy, New...
05.03.2021
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is one of my favourite white grape varieties, with its high acidity and characteristic waxy texture. It's made in a range of styles, from dry to sweet to sparkling. This episode explores all the regions in which Chenin...
04.15.2021
Merlot
Merlot is the most planted grape varieties in France, and important across the world yet many consumers don't appreciate the quality and range of wines made from the variety. This episode explores the different regions for Merlot, the styles of...

What's Matthew's World of Wine and Drink about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Matthew's World of Wine and Drink episodes:

Bairrada: Interview with Rui Lucas of Prior Lucas

Culture Wine Co & Peter Andrews: South Africa

Michigan

Gamay

Armenia: Interview with Vahe Keushguerian

Brazil: Interview with Flavio Pizzato

Brash Higgins: McLaren Vale

Champagne Interview with Garth Hodgdon of Cage Imports

Mexico

Georgia

Emeritus Vineyards - Dry Farming in Sonoma County

Long Island

Albania

Montenegro and Kosovo

North Macedonia

Serbia

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Croatia

Slovenia

Portuguese Grape Varieties

Austrian Grape Varieties

Scarce and Wild Italian Grape Varieties

The Identity of Cava

Trip to Australia

Old World v New World

Southern Italy Black Grape Varieties

Malvasia

Muscat

The Unique Grape Varieties of South America: Interview with Amanda Barnes

Interview with Paul Yanon on the Rhône

Interview with Bruce Taylor of Kono in Marlborough

Italian White Grape Varieties

Sémillon

Carignan in the Mediterranean

Priorat

Mourvèdre

Interview with Edouard Parinet of Château du Moulin-à-Vent

Interview with Ricard Rofes of Scala Dei

Interview with Mayte Calvo de la Banda of Bodegas Bilbainos

Pinot Gris/Grigio

Interview with Alex Rosanelli of Hound's Tree

Riesling

Tempranillo

Taking the MW Exam

The Identity of Cava

Winemaker Interview: Peter Fraser of Yangarra

Bolivia

Sauvignon Blanc

Chenin Blanc

Merlot