Optimism is a rare commodity in the wine world today. Listen in to hear why Adrian Bridge of the Fladgate Partnership is optimistic, and what his belief has created in Porto and the Douro valley. Listen in to hear a fascinating interview on how belief helped create a vibrant tourist industry and after 333 years of Taylor’s port, the company is still innovating. Plus, why he believes you can compete on brands but not climate.  In partnership with The Fladgate Partnership.

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Twenty years ago, three branches of the Rothschild family decided to create a brand new Champagne House. Why did they do it, how did they do it? Listen in to hear Philippe Sereys de Rothschild talk to Sarah Kemp about the creation of Champagne Barons de Rothschild, the challenges they faced as outsiders from Bordeaux and what the difference is between running a First Growth Bordeaux and a Champagne House. Also joining Sarah is Guillaume Leté, the Cellar Master, who discusses the work in the vineyards and cellar, all in the pursuit of elegance, balance and quality.

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Listen in to hear Jasper Morris MW take a deep dive into the wines of Beaune in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass. In this episode, he explores the Premier Crus (there are no Grand Crus), discusses the taste of the reds and whites, reveals the Premier Crus to look out for. He describes Beaune as “the wine lovers’ centre of the universe”, reveals his favourite restaurants and the best places to visit when you are there. Unmissable.

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Listen in to Omnibus for this month’s wine news and views and it is fast moving news this month as the roller-coaster tariffs cause chaos in the wine industry;John Stimpfig reports on their effect. The Bordeaux En Primeur campaign is under way and we look at the prices being offered, who is selling, and who isn’t. Big company news from Constellation, Moet Hennessy, and Majestic plus the world’s oldest surviving wine which was harvested at the time of Christ.

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Mike Ratcliffe, one of South Africa’s most dynamic producers, talks to John Stimpfig for our series “Great Wine Lives” He discusses growing up at the family’s Warwick Estate where his mother was known as “South Africa’s First Lady of Wine” and how he co-founded Vilafonté with Zelma Long and Phil Freese when he was relatively young. “They took a chance on me” he tells John. Listen in to hear his remarkable story and his quest to make a great red blend, a South African Grand Cru, and why he thinks South Africa needs more premium producers.

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The verdict is in! Listen in to our final podcast on En Primeur Bordeaux 2024, where after three weeks of tasting Jane Anson delivers her views on the vintage. Discover how it compares to other vintages, and find out her all-important recommendations on whether to buy or not. Also, don’t miss out on her 15% off offer to new subscribers (open until the end of May) where you can read her detailed tasting notes on over 750 wines.  Special code EP152025.

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“A challenging year” – total agreement from two of Bordeaux’s most experienced directors, Frédéric Faye of Château Figeac and Alexander Van Beek of Château Giscours. Difficult flowering, rain in September, there was a lot to cope with. They talk to Sarah Kemp about how they approached the 2024 vintage, and why terroir and team work were the keys to success.

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Listen in for Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp’s first impressions of the Bordeaux 2024 vintage after tasting (Jane has already tasted 500 wines, and Sarah over 250). Both agree this is not a vintage to buy blind, and there is much to discuss, as it is a vintage where generalisations are out of the window. Though only 2/3rds of the way through the mammoth tasting, Jane picks out some good value successes and Sarah names a few of the vintage’s stand-out wines. Jane’s report will be released on the Thursday after Easter but for an early view, tune in now.

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Justin Gibbs, co-founder of Liv-ex, talks to Sarah Kemp about the Bordeaux market and discusses the issues facing En Primeur, and why the pricing of the 2024 campaign is a crucial moment for the Bordelais. Listen in to hear his views and what he thinks needs to happen for Bordeaux En Primeur magic to return.

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On the eve of the 2024 Bordeaux En Primeur campaign, Sarah Kemp talks to David Thomas of Bordeaux Index, the man responsible for selling millions of pounds of Bordeaux En Primeur worldwide. He discusses who the Bordeaux buyer today is, how and why En Primeur sales have declined dramatically over the last fourteen years.  Listen in to the man who really knows what Bordeaux lovers think,  and what he believes the châteaux need to do to make the 2024 campaign a success.

Find out more at wine-conversation.com