Mike Paul’s parents ran a hotel in Torquay, so maybe wine was part of his destiny. After a history degree, he got a job with Saccone & Speed, where he was in charge of Black Tower Liebfraumilch, among other things. A key figure in the success of Australian wines in the UK at Southcorp, as well as the South African brand, Kumala, he’s been a freelance consultant since 2006, working principally in the English wine industry, most notably at Gusbourne.

To read more about Mike have a look at his website. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Kathy Burk grew up on a grape farm in California, but went into academia rather than viticulture, specialising in Anglo-American relations. Alongside her teaching and research, she continued to develop her love and knowledge of wine. Now a retired professor, she’s spent the last five years researching her remarkable new book, Wine: A Global History, which will be published in October. I caught up with her to hear all about it.

To read more about Kathy have a look at this website. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Sarah Hwang studied psychology at university in the United States, but moved into the wine business after her parents created a new estate in Tokaj, Domaine Királyudvar, in the late 1990s and bought the historic Domaine Huet in the Loire Valley in 2003. In charge of the latter estate since 2012, she’s a lover of Chenin Blanc in all its forms, as well as an insightful guide to the terroirs and very different vintages of Vouvray.

To read more about Sarah have a look at the Domaine Huet website. You can also follow the estate on Instagram at @domainehuet.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

The son of an independent merchant, Harry Eyres was brought up visiting vineyards and cellars and has inherited his father’s love of wine and classical music. A published poet and author as well as a prolific journalist, he’s written about everything from painting to tennis, climate change to Brexit, as well, of course, about wine. An amusing raconteur, he’s a fund of good stories, accrued over the last 40 years.

To read more about Harry have a look at this website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @eyresharry.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

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Stellios Boutaris is a fourth-generation winemaker who’s one of the key figures in the modern Greek wine scene, running both Kir-Yanni in Macedonia and Domaine Sigalas on the volcanic island of Santorini. A lover of both Xinomavro and Assyrtiko, two of the country’s most distinctive grapes, he has extremely topical views about sustainable viticulture in a changing climate and how Greece can sustain its global momentum.

To read more about Stellios have a look at Kir-Yanni website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @stelliosboutaris.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

A university course in the historical geography of viticulture prompted Matt Gant to get on a plane from London to New Zealand to do harvest. Since then, he’s never looked back, working at St Hallett in Australia before setting up two projects of his own, First Drop and Gant & Co. Dividing his time between Western Australia and Quinta de Pedra Alta in the Douro, he loves living Down Under but still cheers for England when it comes to cricket.

To read more about Matt have a look at The Gant & Co. website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @gantandcowines.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Núria Altés was born into a family of grape growers in Batea in southern Catalunya and worked at the local co-operative before she set up her own bodega, Herència Altés, with her husband, Rafa de Haan, in 2010. Now recognised as one of the leading voices in the dynamic Terra Alta region, she’s passionate and deeply knowledgeable about organic viticulture, old vines and local grapes such as Garnacha Blanca and Garnacha Peluda.

To read more about Núria have a look at her website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @herencia_altes.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Jerry Lockspeiser dreamt of being a professional footballer, but ended up in wine by accident in his early thirties. A serial entrepreneur and risk taker, who built Vinceremos and Bottle Green into major wine suppliers, he’s now the chair of North South Wines, and director of Positive News. From organic wine pioneer to marathon runner, philanthropist to published author, Jerry's career spans four decades. And he’s still going strong.

To read more about Jerry have a look at the North South website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @jerrylockspeiser.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Tony Bish got a harvest job at a winery in Gisborne to fund a ski season in New Zealand’s South Island and has never looked back. After 27 years at Sacred Hill, he set up his own brand in 2013, entirely focused on Chardonnays of all shapes, sizes and styles. Sourcing grapes from some of the best vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, he’s on a mission to turn consumers into what he calls 'Chardonnistas', challenging the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) movement in the process.

To read more about Tony have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @tonybish.wines.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Marta Casas originally trained as a pharmacist but switched to wine after she met her future husband and accompanied him and his family on a fact-finding tour to Australia. Now the long-term, award winning winemaker at Parés Baltà in the Penedés, she’s an expert on biodynamics as well as a passionate advocate for local Catalan grapes, with their lower alcohol, naturally high acidity and resistance to climate change.

To read more about Marta have a look at the Parés Baltà  website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @martacasasjorba. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.