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Laura Jewell became a Master of Wine way back in 1997! The best bit is that given she is a living legend of wine and especially from the commercial side, she spared some time to share with us her thoughts on the wine industry and much more in 2024!

Laura has a HUGE amount of commercial experience throughout her career and we learn how not only she started her career in wine but developed, flourished, won a huge array of awards both personally and professionally and has gone on to her current role of EMEA Regional General Manager for Wine Australia.

Find out Laura's thoughts on wine education and why she believes it really is in your best interests if you want to follow a career in wine to do as much study and sampling as you can along the way. A super episode!

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This episode brings the wonderful, Anne McHale MW, to the podcast.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Anne now resides in London, having been in the wine industry since back in 2003. After graduating from Cambridge University with a First Class Honours degree, Anne worked for a number of high profile wine firms, mostly notably Mistral Wines, NZ Wines and for over a decade, with Berry Bros & Rudd.

Anne established her own consultancy business back in 2016 with her services ranging from wine list design to ambassadorial roles for brands and wine education for all levels. Anne has especially focused on the WSET Diploma students and to join up to Anne's email list with free study and exam technique tips for the Diploma exams, visit the link below: 

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In this episode we hear from the great Richard Bampfield MW.

Richard guides us through the rationale behind him entering the drinks industry, the reason why those interested in wine learning should utilise the WSET and Master of Wine should they wish to go further. As well as his latest project which includes outlining the Wines of Ukraine and how they have developed outstanding wines which are now being seen further afield. 

This is a great episode and something which every wine enthusiast should listen to from those who have a casual interest right up to those who are Master of Wines.

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Michaela Morris is THE person for Italian Wine. Thrilled to have her on the show, she is a regular contributor to Decanter magazine for Italian wines, is the joint Regional Chair for Piedmont at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

She presents masterclasses, leads wine tours, speaks at conferences and has been at the top of her game for over 25 years. An inspirational and fascinating episode in equal measure. A real treat for those who love Italian wines and the evolution of climate change too.

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From one Master of Wine last episode to another this, we are really getting the big hitters of the wine industry here. Sarah Knowles MW has been for many years, one of the senior buyers at The Wine Society. 

As a result this episode gives you a wonderful insight into becoming a Master of Wine and how Sarah went about achieving that as well as what it is truly like to be a buyer for the incredibly diverse, Wine Society. 

A great introduction to many topics as well as of course, what bottle Sarah brings to the table to discuss with us in more detail. 

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A very special episode for you this week, with none other than the incredible Sarah Abbott MW. Sarah has a catalogue of impressive feats amongst her CV with the establishment of Swirl, her own business alongside the development and co-founder of The Old Vines Conference. There are too many to list in terms of accolades for Sarah within the industry and it was a dream come true when she agreed to be part of the show. Learn about her passage into the drinks industry and also how incredibly passionate and unselfish she is in giving out praise to others rather her truly brilliant achievements. A great episode for a fabulous guest.

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Another super episode for you to enjoy from the wine expert that is Alice - otherwise known as @Posingwithalcohol.

This is an episode that is filled with a love affair with English wines and how they should be respected far more globally as well as an understanding of why they are priced as they are in delivering some of the best wines in the world.

Find out which English wine producer Alice chooses to have on her table that evening and why and so much more in this fun filled episode.

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This week's episode brings another incredible and passionate wine expert in Heather Dougherty. Heather passed her WSET Diploma way back in 2055 and since then has developed a passion for sparkling wine and Champagne, passing the Wine Scholar Guild Champagne Master Level qualification with Highest Honours and becoming the UK Champagne Ambassador. With Advanced Level Cava Educator certificates and a certified Rioja Educator plus so much more, it is superbly inciteful episode on how Heather entered the industry. How to process and be hugely successful and continue to develop her career as she maintains her stance at the very forefront of the drinks industry.

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For all those that have or are doing WSET Qualifications, you should recognise my latest guest on the show. Elaine Taylor, everybody!! Elaine is a vastly experienced wine professional. From her first job within the wine industry whilst at university, we hear of the journey into the drinks industry. 

Along the way, Elaine has worked across most subsets within the wine sector - notably as category manager, wine buyer, sales and marketing senior positions alongside her WSET Teaching of all levels from 1-4. It is a great pleasure to hear of her extensive career and thankful for her teaching at Diploma level personally too. This is a super episode for understanding all areas of the drinks industry and how to create a career which has gone from strength and strength and currently sees Elaine cover not only WSET education but also now at Vinicon Ltd too.

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A special episode for me personally, as a huge fan of Jane Anson and as I like to reference her as 'The Voice of Bordeaux'. Jane gives us a wonderful account of how she found herself in Bordeaux after her career in journalism and how she has never looked back since from her life in France. 

Jane gives us a wonderful example of the wine that joins her on the table that evening and we discuss everything from Old Vines to living abroad to the next big events in 2024.