In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. ‘The Chief’ is back with his annual predictions for what’s in store for the drinks world. As editor in chief of The Buyer, Richard Siddle, has his finger on the pulse and he shares his insights with David, including tax changes, a stylistic shift in English wine and what a returning President Trump might mean for booze.

Drinks featured:

Destilaria Portuguesa Amarguinha Sour RTD (gold)

Levantine Hill Katherine's Paddock Chardonnay 2021 (gold)

Marisco Vineyards The Craft Series Pride And Glory Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (gold and trophy)

Oyster Bay Cuvée Brut NV (gold) 

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David’s joined by Laura Willoughby, co-founder of Club Soda and Irem Eren of BevZero to discuss the growing importance of the ‘low and no’ category and the latest innovations for those choosing to cut out, or reduce, their alcohol intake.

Drinks featured

Edenvale Beverages Premium Reserve Sparkling Shiraz NV (gold and trophy)

Dr Zero Zero Amarno (gold and trophy)

Drinks Kitchen Orange Cinchona Non-Alcoholic Aperitif (gold)

Sweet&Chilli Air Mary (gold and trophy)

Min Min Kombucha Oak Ageing Kombucha (gold)

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David brings us his favourite moments from the latest series: including two legends of Champagne, Lallier’s Dominique Demarville and Michel Drappier; Rombauer’s head winemaker Richie Allen; Alice Lascelles talks about her new book , The Martini’; Billy Abbott on his passion for whisky; and Fr’um creator, Anthony Peart, talks about Tom Kerridge as an inspiration.

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David dives into the rich complexity of Alsace with Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl and Master Sommelier, Eric Zwiebel, who grew up there. They discuss the unique German influence on the region, its famously diverse patchwork of terroir and the world class wines it produces. 

Wines featured: 

Dopff Au Moulin Gewurztraminer 2022 (gold)

Dopff Au Moulin Gewurztraminer 2022 (gold

Maison Kuehn Riesling 2021 (silver)

Cave de Ribeauvillé Lieu-Dit Mühlforst Riesling 2021 (silver)

La Cave du Vieil Armand Pinot Gris 2022 (silver)

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. In what has been described as ‘the ultimate experience for whisky lovers’, Chivas Brothers is throwing open the doors of its celebrated Strathisla distillery for exclusive immersive tasting tours. David talks to Jacques Henri Brive, head of luxury development and Director of Blending and Inventory, Sandy Hyslop.

Whisky featured, all gold medal winners:

Royal Salute 30 YO Key to the Kingdom Blended Scotch Whisky

Royal Salute Taiwanese Exclusive 23 YO Blended Scotch Whisky

Miltonduff 24 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Longmorn 22 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David talks to the head winemaker at Napa’s Rombauer Vineyards, Richie Allen, who rose from cellar hand to the top job, to hear more about the pioneering producer behind some of America’s favourite premium wines, including a Chardonnay that’s a personal favourite of our host!

Medal winners featured:

Phillips Distilling Company Prairie Organic Vodka (gold)

Phillips Root Beer Schnapps (gold)

Salt Point Gin Highball (gold)

Gruppo Campari SKYY Espresso Vodka (gold)

Zing Zang Mango Margarita Made With Tequila (gold)

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David reports from Belgrade on the contest to be ‘ASI Best Sommelier in Europe, Africa and the Middle East’ and speaks to the winner, Mick Parre, and also the reigning best sommelier in the world, Raimonds Tomsons, plus, Alex Huskinson, tequila category expert at The Whisky Exchange in on hand for a mini masterclass.

Drinks featured, all gold medal winning agave spirits:

Proximo Spirits 1800 Milenio Extra Añejo Tequila

Gruppo Campari Montelobos Pechuga Artesanal Mezcal

Heaven Hill Brands Lunazul Primero Humoso Blanco Tequila

Meanwhile Drinks Pensador Espadín Artesanal Mezcal

San Cosme Artesano Joven Mezcal

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David travels to the Champagne village of Aÿ to meet Dominique Demarville, general manager and cellar master at Lallier, to toast the launch of two new cuvées and talk about his long career in the region, plus Billy Abbott’s back with Jason Vaswani from The Whisky Exchange, to talk about ‘pre-loved’ whisky.

New Zealand medal winning spirits featured:

Pokeno Whisky Co. Totara Cask Single Malt Whisky (gold)

Strange Nature Distilling Gin (gold)

Astra Premium New Zealand Gin (gold)

Greytown Distilling Company Tweed Premium Gin (gold)

Elemental Distillers Roots Rosso Pinot Noir Gin (gold)

Karori Drinks Company Chemistry Gin (gold and also a design award)

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David’s joined by John Hoskins MW, former chief examiner at the Institute of Masters of Wine and Rebecca Palmer, Associate Director at Corney & Barrow to talk about judging South Africa’s wines, in situ, for the IWSC and Billy Abbott of the Whisky Exchange returns for a mini masterclass on the flavours of world whisky.

Wines featured, all gold medal winners:

Villiera Monro Brut Cap Classique 2017

Capensis Wines Silene Chardonnay 2022

Kershaw Wines Clonal Selection Chardonnay 2020

Peter Falke Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 

Flagstone Winery Writer's Block Pinotage 2021 

Perdeberg Wines Endura Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2022 

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In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Author and FT columnist Alice Lascelles is David’s guest to talk about her latest book, The Martini - a paean to the iconic cocktail, tracing its journey from 1880’s New York to the hottest bars of the moment via 60 different recipes. Plus, Billy Abbott of The Whisky Exchange is back to explore the world of Japanese whisky.

Medal winning Japanese whiskies featured:

The Fujisan Whisky (gold)

The Ukiyo Premium Black Label Japanese Blended Rice Whisky (gold)

Komasa Kanosuke Distillery 2023 Limited Edition Single Malt Japanese Whisky (silver)

Nagahama Distillery Amahagan Yamazakura Edition Blended Malt Whisky (silver)

Kirin Brewery Co. Fuji Single Blended Whisky (silver)

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