The Wine Conversation

Listen in to Omnibus XXIV for all the latest wine news and views. John Stimpfig applauds the launch of the old vine registry, and looks back with Sarah Kemp on the life of Don St Pierre Snr who had such an impact on the fine wine scene in China. They discuss the recent purchase of William Fèvre Chablis by DBR Lafite, and agree it is a smart move. As always, there is a weather watch, with this month’s grim news coming from Italy and SW France in the shape of mildew and over-the-pond wildfires in Canada. Elin McCoy discusses E&J Gallo’s recent purchase of Rombauer and Massican, and reports on the reasons for the two significant sales. She reveals the new head of Sotheby’s wine department plans which include looking at what people are collecting right now. From Bordeaux Jane Anson talks about the September releases from the Place de Bordeaux and names the icon names to look out for. All this and much more… and a teary goodbye to the fine wine trade’s favourite restaurant, The Gavroche.

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There are few people who can have had a more fascinating life in wine than Jean-Guillaume Prats. In our “Great Wine Lives” series he talks to Elin McCoy about how he joined his father to run the family estate, 2nd Growth Château Cos d’Estournel. He stayed on to become its director at the young age of 28, but after 14 years was lured away to run Moet Hennessy’s wine division, which took him all over the world. Bordeaux, though, beckoned him back when the opportunity came to become the director at Château Lafite when its CEO, Christophe Salin, retired. Today he is an entrepreneur with his own enterprise in Provence as well as running  Château Léoville-Las-Cases and helping the Frey family. Outspoken, he worries that Bordeaux is being seen only in terms of prices. Listen in to hear about one extraordinary life, and one that is starting a brilliant new chapter.

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Margaux is the largest of the Medoc’s appellations, with the most varied terroir. Join Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp to discover how many producers there are, who are the star names, and which château to watch. Discover its signature taste, the price per hectare, and why it was recognised 20 years after Pauillac and St Julien. 10 minutes of fascinating facts!

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Listen in to hear the remarkable life story of Eduardo Chadwick, the man who put Chile on the fine wine map. John Stimpfig talks to him in our series “Great Wine Lives” about how he joined his father to run the family winery as a young man, the difficulties he faced in getting the critics to acknowledge Chile could make fine wine, and the one tasting which changed the world’s perception. Discover how he took Robert Mondavi around Chile and created their joint venture, SENA, and how he pioneered coastal Chilean wines. A frank and fascinating conversation.

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What do chocolate chip cookies, biodynamic viticulture, and winemaking in Bordeaux and the Napa Valley have in common? Elin McCoy talks to Denise Adams the owner of Château Fonplégade, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé and ADAMSVS on Howell Mountain on how she combines all three. Listen in to hear about her life’s work and how she left the world of art and interior design to become a vigneron on two continents.

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It has been a particularly busy month in the world of wine, in Omnibus XXIII we discuss all the major events. We report on the FBI raiding Sherry Lehmann, take a look at Bordeaux 2022 prices, say fond farewells to wine world greats Jean-Michel Cazes, Alexander Lur Saluces, Paul Dolan, Jackie Blot and Sarah Morphew MW. We look at the first US purchase of a British vineyard, and Frescobaldi buying into Oregon. John Stimpfig asks what is happening at Accolade Wines who have just put House of Arras up for sale. Elin McCoy looks at two major launches Haynes Vineyard and Ruinart’s newest cuvee. Plus, top wineries to visit awards, and of course, weather watch. Listen now to a full month of wine news and independent views.

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How many wine glasses do you need? How do they affect the taste of the wine? Sarah Kemp talks to Maximilian Riedel, the eleventh generation of his family, who have been making glass since 1756. His grandfather was the first to make wine-specific glasses, his father created varietal glasses and Maximilian talks about the new range of lighter and thinner he is about to launch,  and answers the important question, “exactly how many glasses do you need!”

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Sue Hodder talks to John Stimpfig about Wynns Coonawarra John Riddoch Estate, one of Australia’s First Growths. Listen in to hear the remarkable story of Scottish pioneer John Riddoch, who founded the estate, the story of the Wynn family who bought it in 1957 and invested heavily in the vineyards, as well as Sue’s own story as chief winemaker for 25 years.

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Jamie Kutch is known for his stylish Pinot Noirs. He tells Elin McCoy how he became interested in wine at college when a Jesuit priest gave him a glass of Riesling. When he was a trader in New York for Merrill Lynch he became an active member of the Robert Parker bulletin board and enjoyed wine tastings with other enthusiasts. After one such tasting he wrote to Michael Browne of Kosta Browne saying how much he admired his wine, and subsequently jumped at the chance when Michael Browne of Kosta Browne offered to help him pursue his dream to make wine in California. Listen in to hear his story from New York trader to admired Sonoma Pinot Noir producer – and find out the highs and lows on the way.

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One of the wine world’s most remarkable stories – discover how Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi came to make wine with the prisoners on the island of Gorgona, off the Tuscany coast. Sarah Kemp travelled there with Marchese Lamberto to find out how the enterprise came about, speaks to their chief winemaker and discovers from the Governor of the prison the impact it has had on the inmates working there. A truly inspiring story.

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