Wine Scholar Guild Podcasts

Our next Meeting of the Minds will cover the issues and challenges facing Bordeaux, France's largest AOC wine region and an area that drives the global fine wine market. Jane Anson, Bordeaux expert and author of the encyclopedic Inside Bordeaux (described as a 'category buster' by Jamie Goode and 'the most complete, up to date and scientifically accurate book on Bordeaux' by Imbibe magazine) will host the discussion. She will bring together one of the region's leading négociants (and organic winemaker at his home estate) Mathieu Chardonnier of CVBG-Dourthe-Kressmann (Compagnie des vins de Bordeaux et de Gironde), Smith Haut Lafitte's technical director Fabien Teitgen and wine educator Tanisha Townsend to debate new developments in viticulture and winemaking in the face of a changing climate, as well as looking out how the commerce and marketing of the region should take on the challenges of the next decade in the face of Covid, changing consumer behaviour and the challenges of selling En Primeur.

Award-winning author and Decanter Magazine columnist Jane Anson draws us deeper into the Bordeaux conversation and reveals what she discovered while working on her massive new book project, Inside Bordeaux, and what to expect when the book is launched in Spring 2020.

Speaking of launching, Jane was fresh from the unveiling of the new Crus Bourgeois ranking system and explains how the new system works and the qualification process for the chateaux.

We talk about other things in the works for the region, experimental grapes, and how tariffs and global warming play into Bordeaux’s future.

Finally, Jane had the juicy details on the harvest immersion trip to Bordeaux that she is leading in October.

This episode is Part 2 of a conversation with Olivier Humbrecht, MW and Andrew Jefford about Alsace. The first part covered Olivier's journey to become France's first Master of Wine, as well as the history and vineyards of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht.

Part 2 picks up with Olivier's philosophy of non-interventionism and biodynamic principles and practices in the vineyard. In addition to Olivier's approach to farming and yield management, we discuss wine making techniques, pressing, long fermentations, and climate change.

This episode features a conversation with Andrew Jefford, of Decanter Magazine, and Wine Scholar Guild’s Academic Advisor, and Olivier Humbrecht, of Domaine Zind Humbrecht (Zind HUMbrescht) and Master of Wine.

Done in two parts, this first half of the interview will first cover Olivier’s accomplished journey as France’s first Master of Wine, and the history and vineyards of the domaine.

The second part will explore more thoroughly Olivier’s philosophy of noninterventionism and biodynamic principles and practices.

Katrin Naelapaa has been serving as Wines From Spain USA’s director since 2001. Born in Mexico City, and having studied in Madrid, Katrin was so deeply connected to the Spanish wine and food culture, she was fortunate to find a smooth transition to the wine world from her original career in International Banking.

In this interview Katrin talks about how the Spanish wine scene, particularly in the United States, has changed significantly over the past two decades. Not only are more Spanish wines imported, but the vast variety of regional representations, as well as the integration of the food and cultural experiences, have created a stronger consumer interest in the genre.

With this market growth came the need for more in-depth learning experiences with respect to Spanish wine. To answer that call, the Wine Scholar Guild has launched the Spanish Wine Scholar program. Katrin shares her excitement about this program, Wines From Spain’s involvement in its development, and why it’s important to both the wine professional and consumer.

Timothy Magnus, of Magnus Vinum in Zurich, is a Bourgogne Wines Official Ambassador, a Weinakademiker, and holds the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits. He will be teaching the Wine Scholar Guild’s first ever Master-Level Intensive in Beaune in May 2020.

His genuine passion for the appellations, crus, and communes, as well as appreciation for the differences between them, is a touchstone in his professional life as an educator and importer. While explaining strategies for choosing a Bourgogne wine for various budgets, Timothy explains how, “there’s life beyond Mersault and Puligny Montrachet” and why there’s a Fixin revival of sorts.

Finally, we learn how the Beaune intensive is different from, as well as complimentary to, the Wine Scholar Guild’s current Bourgogne Master-Level online course. Timothy believes the fully immersive environment in the region, a combination of classroom, wine tasting, and walking the vineyards, makes the multi-dimensional learning experience key to understanding one of the world’s most complex wine regions.

Produced by Valerie Caruso, DWS, CWE, FWS

Master Sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier is the first and only woman awarded both the Meilleur Ouvrier de France in the sommelier category, and the best sommelier in France. In this episode of the Wine Scholar Guild podcast she talks about the honor of winning MOF competition, Pét-Nats, wine making, blind tasting, the Loire, and much more. She also gives us a preview of the new Loire Master-Level course launching in Fall 2019.

Steven Spurrier, Consultant Editor for Decanter, joined the Wine Scholar Guild for a chat on his new Academie du Vin Library, named for France’s first private wine school that he opened in Paris in 1973. Through this venture he’s reviving classic pieces of wine literature from the past, bring them into the present for future enjoyment. In this interview he offers perspective on the cultural aspect of wine writing and the relationship of writing to not only learning about - but the enjoyment of - wine. The Academie du Vin Library will also be commissioning some new works by contemporary wine writers.

He also shares some behind-the-scenes information on his Bride Valley Brut from his vines in Dorset. Being that he’s the mastermind behind the historic 1976 blind wine tasting that became known as the Judgement of Paris we had to ask: will there be a Judgement of Dorset?

Founder and President of the Wine Scholar Guild, Julien Camus, talks about the roots of the Wine Scholar Guild, running the organization from his home in Alsace. He also gives a peek at some exciting future projects. We don't often get to hear from Julien, so this is a rare opportunity to hear about the evolution of the Wine Scholar Guild and the creativity behind the scenes.

Produced by Valerie Caruso, DWS, CWE, FWS

Award-winning author and columnist for Decanter Magazine and World of Fine Wine Andrew Jefford has joined the Wine Scholar Guild team as Academic Advisor in addition to his existing roles as seminar and immersion trip leader.

How do all these diverse roles compliment each other? In this episode of the Wine Scholar Guild podcast we are treated Andrew’s very personal perspectives on wine learning, wine writing, and why we must continually adjust the lens through which we view wine as we progress in our studies. This is a philosophical deep-dive into a variety of aspects of the business of wine and the human and technological influences. In addition to getting to know Andrew better, and what he has in common with Wine Scholar Guild students, this somewhat “decanted" episode previews the new Loire Master-Level program on deck for later this year. We sincerely hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.