In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sit down with Mathias Hirtzberger, the next-generation winemaker from Wachau, Austria, to discuss his path from corporate world back to Wachau and why he started Weinhofmeisterei Hirtzberger apart from his famous family estate. We talk working with Riesling and Grüner Veltliner in a warming climate, Wachau’s varied soils, and his near-organic farming. Mathias explains how he crafts fresher, earlier-drinking Smaragd, where he draws the line on botrytis and oak, and how climate, terroir, and family tradition guide his modern Wachau wines.You can also listen to the No Sediment Wine Podcast episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Castbox.Some of the WINE ACCESSORIES I use regularly:🍷 My Everyday Go-To Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3OAQAcW🥂 My Favorite Champagne Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3qhMLRF🥂 One of My Favorite Wine Glasses: https://amzn.to/3uG8Nfc🧳 The Best Wine Suitcase: https://bit.ly/3Zlzuoq (Use code NOSEDIMENT10 for 10% discount)🗜️ I Preserve My Wines with CORAVIN: https://amzn.to/3O1AYPS🪡 CORAVIN Vintage Needle: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🐚 CORAVIN Gas Capsules: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🍾 I Safely Open Older Bottles with This Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3iBrFZZ🍾 The Durand Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3ZuRWfv🏳️ I Polish My Wine Glasses with This Cloth: https://amzn.to/3izWJcx 🪣 My Favorite Wine Chiller: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl👝 I Safely Transport Bottles With This Sleeve: https://bit.ly/3B8lFBQ📚 Some of my favorite WINE BOOKS: 📙 Native Wine Grapes of Italy by Ian D'Agata: https://amzn.to/4ggqM1P📗 The Wines of Piemonte by David Way: https://amzn.to/4igXrG4📓 Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine by Jamie Goode: https://amzn.to/3eb7AYP📒Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained by David Bird: https://amzn.to/3e2qBNb📕 Authentic Wine: Toward Natural and Sustainable Winemaking (by Jamie Goode): https://amzn.to/3ygtuAC📘 The Oxford Companion to Wine (by Jancis Robinson): https://amzn.to/49Wwe7V📙 Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours (by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Jose Vouillamoz): https://amzn.to/3RCAheM📗 A Life Uncorked (by Hugh Johnson): https://amzn.to/3M5yeyQ📓 Drinking with the Valkyries (by Andrew Jefford): https://amzn.to/45mGBOGBe sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoSediment, as I am posting weekly videos on all things wine and monthly wine podcast episodes. **LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blancdenoir/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/blancdenoir TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nosediment #wineeducation #winepodcast #wine *CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO00:00 Introduction1:59  Mathias’ wine journey and how Weinhofmeisterei Hirtzberger began6:44  Agnese’s first encounter with Hirtzberger wines8:25  Biggest challenges in launching a winery from scratch9:48  What Mathias kept from family tradition—and what he now does differently in vineyard and cellar14:27  Does Mathias ever allow Botrytis in his wines?17:22  Beyond Riesling & Grüner Veltliner: other grapes in the lineup20:05  Single-vineyard bottlings at Weinhofmeisterei Hirtzberger—what makes them distinctive29:41  Viticultural hurdles for Riesling & Grüner Veltliner in Wachau32:04  Why Wachau’s historic stone walls matter35:10  Mathias’ winemaking philosophy in a nutshell37:32  Why his Smaragd wines are approachable early39:58  Taming Grüner Veltliner phenolics—Mathias’s approach43:19  How (and when) Mathias uses oak44:19  The ongoing importance of Vinea Wachau50:39  Debunking a common wine myth52:23  Mathias answers the previous guest’s questionAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sat down with Jonathan Pabiot to talk about his journey as a winemaker in Pouilly-Fumé, how he broke from family tradition, and the evolving nature of Sauvignon Blanc. We explore the challenges on working with Sauvignon blanc and complexities of different soil types. Jonathan shares insights on blind tasting Pouilly-Fumé vs Sancerre, his winemaking philosophy, and how climate, terroir, and tradition shape his wines. You can also listen to the No Sediment Wine Podcast episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Castbox.Some of the WINE ACCESSORIES I use regularly:🍷 My Everyday Go-To Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3OAQAcW🥂 My Favorite Champagne Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3qhMLRF🥂 One of My Favorite Wine Glasses: https://amzn.to/3uG8Nfc🧳 The Best Wine Suitcase: https://bit.ly/3Zlzuoq (Use code NOSEDIMENT10 for 10% discount)🗜️ I Preserve My Wines with CORAVIN: https://amzn.to/3O1AYPS🪡 CORAVIN Vintage Needle: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🐚 CORAVIN Gas Capsules: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🍾 I Safely Open Older Bottles with This Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3iBrFZZ🍾 The Durand Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3ZuRWfv🏳️ I Polish My Wine Glasses with This Cloth: https://amzn.to/3izWJcx 🪣 My Favorite Wine Chiller: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl👝 I Safely Transport Bottles With This Sleeve: https://bit.ly/3B8lFBQ📚 Some of my favorite WINE BOOKS: 📙 Native Wine Grapes of Italy by Ian D'Agata: https://amzn.to/4ggqM1P📗 The Wines of Piemonte by David Way: https://amzn.to/4igXrG4📓 Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine by Jamie Goode: https://amzn.to/3eb7AYP📒Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained by David Bird: https://amzn.to/3e2qBNb📕 Authentic Wine: Toward Natural and Sustainable Winemaking (by Jamie Goode): https://amzn.to/3ygtuAC📘 The Oxford Companion to Wine (by Jancis Robinson): https://amzn.to/49Wwe7V📙 Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours (by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Jose Vouillamoz): https://amzn.to/3RCAheM📗 A Life Uncorked (by Hugh Johnson): https://amzn.to/3M5yeyQ📓 Drinking with the Valkyries (by Andrew Jefford): https://amzn.to/45mGBOGBe sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoSediment, as I am posting weekly videos on all things wine and monthly wine podcast episodes. **LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blancdenoir/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/blancdenoir TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nosediment #wineeducation #winepodcast #wine *CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO00:00 Introduction1:27 How Jonathan Pabiot’s wine journey began3:51 What Jonathan did differently from his parents6:11 The biggest challenges of working with Sauvignon Blanc7:56 How the style of Sauvignon Blanc has evolved over the years11:41 Battling the vine disease esca17:17 The challenges of working with different soil types in Pouilly-Fumé18:58 Does Jonathan work with any grape varieties besides Sauvignon Blanc23:39 How winemaking has changed over the years28:43 Tasting and exploring Jonathan Pabiot’s wines33:11 Does Jonathan use malolactic fermentation36:17 What temperature does he ferment his wines at37:50 How to tell Pouilly-Fumé from Sancerre in a blind tasting42:47 The biggest challenges Pouilly-Fumé has faced as a region45:19 Debunking a popular wine myth47:27 Answering a question from the previous guestAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I sat down with Champagne winemaker Benoît Tarlant (of Champagne Tarlant) and ASI Best Sommelier of the World Raimonds Tomsons to discuss the future of Champagne - terroir, vin clair, single vineyards, zero dosage, and what truly defines great Champagne today.You can also listen to the No Sediment Wine Podcast and Talk Under the Vine episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Castbox.Some of the WINE ACCESSORIES I use regularly:🥂 Riedel Veritas Champagne Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3qhMLRF🍷 Riedel Veritas Old World Syrah Glass: https://amzn.to/3uC6zgW🥂 Riedel Veritas New World Pinot Noir Glass: https://amzn.to/3uG8Nfc🗜️ Coravin Timeless Six+ Wine Preservation System: https://amzn.to/3YtIxmj🪡 Coravin Timeless 3-Needle Kit: https://amzn.to/3YtIxmj🍾 Cork puller: https://amzn.to/3iBrFZZ🍾 The Durand cork puller: https://amzn.to/3OYKdS1🏳️ Riedel Polishing Cloth: https://amzn.to/3izWJcx 🧳 Wine travel protector: https://amzn.to/3s8WWs0Some of my favorite WINE BOOKS: 📓 Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine by Jamie Goode: https://amzn.to/3eb7AYP📒 Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained by David Bird: https://amzn.to/3e2qBNb📕 Authentic Wine: Toward Natural and Sustainable Winemaking (by Jamie Goode): https://amzn.to/3ygtuAC📘 The Oxford Companion to Wine (by Jancis Robinson): https://amzn.to/3ryy0H6📙Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours (by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Jose Vouillamoz): https://amzn.to/3RCAheM📗 A Life Uncorked (by Hugh Johnson): https://amzn.to/3M5yeyQBe sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoSediment, as I am posting weekly videos on all things wine and monthly wine podcast episodes. **LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blancdenoir/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/blancdenoir TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nosediment #wineeducation #winepodcast #wine *CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO0:00 Introduction1:35 How is 21st-century Champagne - the contemporary Champagne - defined?9:05 On the winemaker as part of the terroir18:47 On the emergence of single vineyards in Champagne26:45 Does vin clair (still wine) express terroir better than finished Champagne?32:57 How important is it to vinify each vineyard plot separately?40:35 What role does the second fermentation play in expressing terroir?47:34 Why doesn’t Benoît add sugar to his Champagnes?54:36 The process of creating a zero-dosage Champagne58:53 On the challenges of making rosé Champagne without sugar1:03:13 On Tarlant’s single-vineyard ChampagnesAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sat down with Sybille Kuntz, head winemaker and owner of Sybille Kuntz winery in Mosel, Germany. Among many exciting topics, we explore the challenges of working steep Mosel vineyards, the demands and rewards of biodynamic farming and the evolving reputation of Riesling. We also dive into the unique style of Sybille's wines and her take on the confusing German wine laws.You can also listen to the No Sediment Wine Podcast episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Castbox.Some of the WINE ACCESSORIES I use regularly:🍷 My Everyday Go-To Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3OAQAcW🥂 My Favorite Champagne Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3qhMLRF🥂 One of My Favorite Wine Glasses: https://amzn.to/3uG8Nfc🧳 The Best Wine Suitcase: https://bit.ly/3Zlzuoq (Use code NOSEDIMENT10 for 10% discount)🗜️ I Preserve My Wines with CORAVIN: https://amzn.to/3O1AYPS🪡 CORAVIN Vintage Needle: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🐚 CORAVIN Gas Capsules: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🍾 I Safely Open Older Bottles with This Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3iBrFZZ🍾 The Durand Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3ZuRWfv🏳️ I Polish My Wine Glasses with This Cloth: https://amzn.to/3izWJcx 🪣 My Favorite Wine Chiller: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl👝 I Safely Transport Bottles With This Sleeve: https://bit.ly/3B8lFBQ📚 Some of my favorite WINE BOOKS: 📙 Native Wine Grapes of Italy by Ian D'Agata: https://amzn.to/4ggqM1P📗 The Wines of Piemonte by David Way: https://amzn.to/4igXrG4📓 Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine by Jamie Goode: https://amzn.to/3eb7AYP📒Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained by David Bird: https://amzn.to/3e2qBNb📕 Authentic Wine: Toward Natural and Sustainable Winemaking (by Jamie Goode): https://amzn.to/3ygtuAC📘 The Oxford Companion to Wine (by Jancis Robinson): https://amzn.to/49Wwe7V📙 Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours (by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Jose Vouillamoz): https://amzn.to/3RCAheM📗 A Life Uncorked (by Hugh Johnson): https://amzn.to/3M5yeyQ📓 Drinking with the Valkyries (by Andrew Jefford): https://amzn.to/45mGBOGBe sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoSediment, as I am posting weekly videos on all things wine and monthly wine podcast episodes. **LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blancdenoir/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/blancdenoir TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nosediment #wineeducation #winepodcast #wine *CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO00:00 Introduction01:20 About Sybille Kuntz’s wine journey and her winery03:28 Challenges of working steep vineyards in the Mosel and being biodynamic05:43 On why some vintages are more challenging than others07:32 Why is Riesling still considered a niche wine?10:17 On handling the impact of climate change12:23 Exploring the unique style of Sybille Kuntz wines15:58 Navigating the confusing German wine laws20:08 The story behind Sybille Kuntz’s wine labels21:26 On the ageability of Riesling23:11 On the use of sulphur in Riesling production26:23 Debunking a common wine myth27:37 Commenting on the previous guest’s statementAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sit down with Henry Jeffreys, award-winning wine writer, journalist, co-host of the podcast Intoxicating History, and author of the book "Vines in a Cold Climate". Among many exciting topics, we explore Britain’s sparkling wine scene, discuss whether British wines justify their price compared to Champagne, examine the financial realities facing British winemakers, and dive into wine writing, criticism, and the ongoing battle against wine snobbery.You can also listen to the No Sediment Wine Podcast episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Castbox.Some of the WINE ACCESSORIES I use regularly:🍷 My Everyday Go-To Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3OAQAcW🥂 My Favorite Champagne Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3qhMLRF🥂 One of My Favorite Wine Glasses: https://amzn.to/3uG8Nfc🧳 The Best Wine Suitcase: https://bit.ly/3Zlzuoq (Use code NOSEDIMENT10 for 10% discount)🗜️ I Preserve My Wines with CORAVIN: https://amzn.to/3O1AYPS🪡 CORAVIN Vintage Needle: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🐚 CORAVIN Gas Capsules: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🍾 I Safely Open Older Bottles with This Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3iBrFZZ🍾 The Durand Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3ZuRWfv🏳️ I Polish My Wine Glasses with This Cloth: https://amzn.to/3izWJcx 🪣 My Favorite Wine Chiller: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl👝 I Safely Transport Bottles With This Sleeve: https://bit.ly/3B8lFBQ📚 Some of my favorite WINE BOOKS: 📙 Native Wine Grapes of Italy by Ian D'Agata: https://amzn.to/4ggqM1P📗 The Wines of Piemonte by David Way: https://amzn.to/4igXrG4📓 Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine by Jamie Goode: https://amzn.to/3eb7AYP📒Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained by David Bird: https://amzn.to/3e2qBNb📕 Authentic Wine: Toward Natural and Sustainable Winemaking (by Jamie Goode): https://amzn.to/3ygtuAC📘 The Oxford Companion to Wine (by Jancis Robinson): https://amzn.to/49Wwe7V📙 Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours (by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Jose Vouillamoz): https://amzn.to/3RCAheM📗 A Life Uncorked (by Hugh Johnson): https://amzn.to/3M5yeyQ📓 Drinking with the Valkyries (by Andrew Jefford): https://amzn.to/45mGBOGBe sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoSediment, as I am posting weekly videos on all things wine and monthly wine podcast episodes. **LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blancdenoir/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/blancdenoir TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nosediment #wineeducation #winepodcast #wine *CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO0:00 Introduction1:39 Henry Jeffreys: Wine Journey & Background6:40 Why is British Sparkling Wine So Expensive?9:25 Does British Sparkling Offer Good Value Compared to Champagne?11:01 How Important is Vintage for British Wine & Climate Change Impact12:45 Exploring Britain’s Still Wines15:25 Financial Challenges Faced by British Winemakers19:25 How Has Brexit Impacted the British Wine Industry?22:13 Can British Sparkling Wine Be Financially Sustainable?26:40 The Colourful Personalities of British Winemakers28:44 Do Wine Writers Understand Everyday Wine Consumers?33:20 Are Wine Writers Holding Back Honest Criticism?36:20 Is Wine Writing Financially Sustainable as a Career?39:16 Are Wine Critics Too Dependent on the Wine Industry?44:50 Wine Writing for the New Generation of Readers46:33 Debunking a Popular Wine Myth47:25 Question for the Next GuestAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sit down with Frédéric Panaïotis, the Chef de Cave (head winemaker) of the legendary Champagne house Ruinart. Among many exciting topics, we discuss Ruinart’s signature style, the biggest challenges in maintaining it in a changing climate, and how decisions are made on which vintages will be declared.You can also listen to the No Sediment Wine Podcast episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Castbox.Some of the WINE ACCESSORIES I use regularly:🍷 My Everyday Go-To Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3OAQAcW🥂 My Favorite Champagne Wine Glass: https://amzn.to/3qhMLRF🥂 One of My Favorite Wine Glasses: https://amzn.to/3uG8Nfc🧳 The Best Wine Suitcase: https://bit.ly/3Zlzuoq (Use code NOSEDIMENT10 for 10% discount)🗜️ I Preserve My Wines with CORAVIN: https://amzn.to/3O1AYPS🪡 CORAVIN Vintage Needle: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🐚 CORAVIN Gas Capsules: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl🍾 I Safely Open Older Bottles with This Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3iBrFZZ🍾 The Durand Cork Puller: https://amzn.to/3ZuRWfv🏳️ I Polish My Wine Glasses with This Cloth: https://amzn.to/3izWJcx 🪣 My Favorite Wine Chiller: https://amzn.to/4eVf8bl👝 I Safely Transport Bottles With This Sleeve: https://bit.ly/3B8lFBQ📚 Some of my favorite WINE BOOKS: 📙 Native Wine Grapes of Italy by Ian D'Agata: https://amzn.to/4ggqM1P📗 The Wines of Piemonte by David Way: https://amzn.to/4igXrG4📓 Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine by Jamie Goode: https://amzn.to/3eb7AYP📒Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained by David Bird: https://amzn.to/3e2qBNb📕 Authentic Wine: Toward Natural and Sustainable Winemaking (by Jamie Goode): https://amzn.to/3ygtuAC📘 The Oxford Companion to Wine (by Jancis Robinson): https://amzn.to/49Wwe7V📙 Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours (by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and Jose Vouillamoz): https://amzn.to/3RCAheM📗 A Life Uncorked (by Hugh Johnson): https://amzn.to/3M5yeyQ📓 Drinking with the Valkyries (by Andrew Jefford): https://amzn.to/45mGBOGBe sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoSediment, as I am posting weekly videos on all things wine and monthly wine podcast episodes. **LET’S CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blancdenoir/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/blancdenoir TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nosediment #wineeducation #winepodcast #wine *CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO00:00 Introduction01:10 – About Frédéric Panaïotis & His Wine Journey05:14 – What Defines Ruinart’s Champagne Style?06:31 – How Ruinart Ensures Sustainability Values Are Followed by Growers10:00 – The Impact of a Shorter Growing Season on Grapes & the Final Wine15:43 – Widening Vine Rows & the Role of Machine Harvesting in Champagne20:19 – The Biggest Challenges in Retaining Ruinart’s Signature Style25:40 – The Trend Toward Less Lees Aging in Champagne29:36 – Vintage Champagnes & the Preconditions for Ruinart to Declare a Vintage36:51 – Debunking Wine MythsAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sit down with the Barbaresco legend Aldo Vacca, the Managing Director of Produttori del Barbaresco. We discuss on Produttori del Barbaresco's success as a wine cooperative, the rich history of Barbaresco region and how single vineyards (MGAs) of Barbaresco and Barolo were mapped.

In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sit down with Austrian winemaker Georg Prieler of Weingut Prieler. We discuss why he works with Pinot Blanc grape variety, the versatility of Blaufränkisch, the impact of climate change on viticulture and many other exciting topics.

In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sit down with winemaker Aurélien Laherte of Champagne Laherte Frères. We explore his passion for working with all the permitted grape varieties of Champagne, crafting single-vineyard Champagnes, and other fascinating topics surrounding the world’s greatest sparkling wine—Champagne.

I sat down with Andrew Jefford (wine writer & columnist) and Aigards Nords (organizer of Riga Wine & Champagne) to discuss what is a "fine wine" and how this concept has changed over the years. Of course, no wine discussion is complete without a wine tasting and we tasted in blind four amazing wines along the way.