The Wine Conversation

▻ Bordeaux 2023 – Part One

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The first report on the 2023 Bordeaux vintage from Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp. Sarah joined Jane for her second week of tasting, and found much to love...

▻ St-Aubin with Jasper Morris MW

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jasper Morris MW, today’s leading Burgundy expert and author of the award-winning book “Inside Burgundy”, conducts a 10-Minute Masterclass on St...

▻ Bordeaux 2023 – A Preview With Jane Anson

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

7 minutes on the weather conditions that have formed the 2023 vintage from Bordeaux expert Jane Anson. As the En Primeur tastings get into full swing ...

▻ Sauternes with Jane Anson

07 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Drunk by hedonists, made by masochists, Sauternes is one of the world’s greatest fine wines. Join Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp for a 10-minute mastercl...

▻ Omnibus XXVIII

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to Omnibus XXVIII for all the latest wine news and views. John Stimpfig looks at a mysterious sabotage at the Pepa 21 winery in Ribera del D...

▻ Nuits-St-Georges with Jasper Morris MW

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to our brand new series of 10-Minute Masterclasses on Burgundy with Jasper Morris MW, the world-leading Burgundy authority and author of the...

▻ Gary Boom of Bordeaux Index

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Boom of Bordeaux Index talks to Sarah Kemp in our series “Great Wine Lives”. Listen in to discover how he left South Africa as a beer drinker...

▻ Cabernet Franc with Jane Anson

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a “10-minute masterclass” on Cabernet Franc. Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp take a deep dive into Bordeaux’s oldest grape. Discover where...

▻ Biondi-Santi with Giampiero Bertolini

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Giampiero Bertolini, the CEO of Biondi Santi talks to Sarah Kemp about Italy’s iconic estate. He discusses its history and reveals the new developme...

▻ Marcheses Filippo and Francesco Mazzei

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Kemp meets Marcheses Francesco and Marchese Filippo Mazzei of Castello di Fonterutoli, who have 600 years of winemaking history in the family. A...

▻ Pessac-Léognan with Jane Anson

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for our 10-Minute Masterclass on Pessac-Léognan with Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp. Discover the appellation’s history, price per hectare, its ...

✒ Isole e Olena New Releases

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Great to meet Emanuele Reolon, the new Estate Director of Isole e Olena at the River Café for the launch of the new vintages.

▻ Omnibus XXVII

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to Omnibus XXVII to hear John Stimpfig and Elin McCoy’s predictions for the main wine trends in 2024. As usual, news aplenty including Fra...

▻ Edouard Miailhe

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Celebrated but not classified, Château Siran is one of Margaux’s most loved properties. Elin McCoy talks to Edouard Miailhe, the 6th generation of ...

▻ Giovanni Mazzei – The Next Generation

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

600 years of winemaking runs through the blood of Giovanni Mazzei, son of Marchese Filippo Mazzei of Castello di Fonterutoli. Sarah talks to him for o...

▻ Nick Pegna of Sotheby’s

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the next thing for wine collectors should look out for? Nick Pegna, the new head of Sotheby’s wine and spirits, talks to Elin McCoy about th...

▻ Jean-Charles Boisset

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Elin McCoy talks to Jean-Charles Boisset, the audacious Burgundian vintner who shook up the US wine scene. Listen in to hear how he bought some of Cal...

▻ Michel Roux Jr

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a few days’ time the doors of The Gavroche will close for the last time. Jane Anson talks to Michel Roux Jnr about his legendary restaurant and i...

▻ Omnibus XXVI

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In our last Omnibus for 2023, John Stimpfig, Elin McCoy and Sarah Kemp discuss the big news stories: how war is affecting Israeli and Palestine vintne...

▻ Ukraine’s Champagne for Victory

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hope. The most important word this Christmas. Sarah Kemp talks to Mariia Didkovska in Kyiv about the champagne she has created with the House of Pierr...

▻ The Best Books on Bordeaux

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp discuss their favourite books on Bordeaux. They recommend the best books on Bordeaux’s history and politics and economics....

▻ Francesco Ricasoli

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to hear the remarkable “Great Wine Life” of Francesco Ricasoli of Castello di Brolio. Possibly, the most heart-warming wine story we hav...

▻ Merlot with Jane Anson

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a “10-minute masterclass” on Merlot. Find out about this grape which was much maligned by Miles in the film Sideways. We look at its p...

✒ Why I believe that Tuscany’s golden era is right now

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I am convinced that Tuscany’s golden era is right now. Find out why.

▻ Paolo de Marchi

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As Paolo de Marchi leaves Isole e Olena after 50 years, Sarah Kemp travelled to Tuscany to talk to him about his remarkable “Great Wine Life”. He ...

▻ Omnibus XXV

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to Omnibus XXV for all the latest news and views from Sarah Kemp, John Stimpfig and Elin McCoy and this month there is good, bad and plain u...

▻ Bordeaux Courtiers with Jane Anson

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to the 10-minute masterclass on Courtiers with Jane Anson. Jane explains the mysterious role of the Bordeaux courtier, who works as a broker...

✒ The Wine Show

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Humour a-plenty this month at “The Wine Show” exhibition at Chris Beetles Gallery in St. James, London.

▻ Coravin

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to hear the extraordinary story of how Greg Lambrecht invented Coravin. From creating delivery systems for chemotherapy to a device which pr...

▻ Ornellaia

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp discuss the historic tasting of Ornellaia, one of Italy’s most renowned wines, which has just taken place in Venice. Five ...

▻ St Julien with Jane Anson

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Anson talks to Sarah Kemp about this famous appellation which is home to some of Bordeaux’s most loved names. Discover its producers, including...

▻ Omnibus XXIV

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Sara...

▻ Jean-Guillaume Prats

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

▻ Margaux with Jane Anson

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ther...

▻ Eduardo Chadwick

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

▻ Denise Adams

14 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What do chocolate chip cookies, biodynamic viticulture, and winemaking in Bordeaux and the Napa Valley have in common? Elin McCoy talks to Denise Adam...

▻ Omnibus XXIII

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Lehm...

▻ Wine Glasses with Maximilian Riedel

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 fam...

▻ Australia’s First Growth

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Hodder talks to John Stimpfig about Wynns Coonawarra John Riddoch Estate, one of Australia’s First Growths. Listen in to hear the remarkable sto...

▻ Jamie Kutch

18 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 glas...

✒ Remembering Jean-Michel Cazes

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There is a large void today in the Medoc with the passing of Jean-Michel Cazes – he will be so missed. We were lucky enough to talk to him about h...

▻ Gorgona

10 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

▻ Saint-Émilion with Jane Anson

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How well do you know Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux’s most famous appellation? Listen in to our 10-Minute Masterclass for all the key facts with Jane Anso...

▻ Trevor Durling of Beaulieu Vineyard

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trevor Durling, Chief Winemaker of Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa Valley talks to John Stimpfig about the winery’s illustrious history and how Georges de...

▻ Rare Wine Books

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Anson talks to Ben Kinmont, the rare bookseller who specialises in wine and food books. He recently sold Sean Thackery’s collection of wine boo...

▻ Omnibus XXII

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to Omnibus 22 to hear this month’s wine news from around the world. In the US, Elin McCoy discusses the reaction to the collapse of Underg...

✒ Great Wine Education Courses Pt 2

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Charlie Leary, author of the highly acclaimed Leary’s Global Wineology, looks at today’s most interesting wine courses available to wine lovers.

▻ The Royal Opera House Wine Gala

29 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Excitement is rising amongst The Wine Conversation team as the Royal Opera House Wine Gala Dinner and Auction approaches. John Stimpfig talks to Sarah...

▻ Bolgheri with Nelson Pari and Federico Moccia

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Italian experts Nelson Pari and Federico Moccia talk to Sarah Kemp about Bolgheri, the wine-producing area located in the province of Livorno. Bolgher...

✒ Isole e Olena “Collezione Privata” Chardonnay

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Isole e Olena “Collezione Privata” Chardonnay is commanding quite a following. Sarah Kemp reports on the first vertical tasting of this sought...

✒ A Starry Night: Wine Gala

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Wine Conversation and The Royal Opera House are presenting the Wine Gala Dinner and Auction on June 11th.

✒ Bordeaux 2022 – Terroir & Talent

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Kemp believes 2022 is unlike any vintage she has tasted before. Find out which wines she would like in her cellar, price permitting.

▻ Véronique Sanders of Château Haut-Bailly

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Véronique Sanders of Château Haut-Bailly is one of Bordeaux’s most admired and liked personalities. In our Series “Great Wine Lives” she talks...

▻ Bordeaux 2022 – a vintage of surprise

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Discover Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp’s view of the 2022 vintage – what did well, what didn’t, and what they were most surprised by. A year where t...

▻ Bordeaux 2022 – on the road with Jane Anson

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As En Primeur tastings are in full swing,  Sarah Kemp gets Jane Anson’s first thoughts on Bordeaux 2022 after her first week of tasting. Record...

▻ En Primeur with Jane Anson

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to hear our latest 10-Minute Masterclass with Jane Anson. As 6,000 of the wine world’s trade and journalists descend on Bordeaux to taste ...

✒ Great Wine Education Courses Pt 1

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Charlie Leary, author of the highly acclaimed Leary’s Global Wineology, looks at today’s most interesting wine courses available to wine lovers.

▻ Omnibus XXI

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to Omnibus 21 for another packed programme of news from the wine world. This month Kylie Minogue wows Prowein, new research shows the birthp...

▻ Cabernet Sauvignon with Jane Anson

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to hear our latest 10-Minute Masterclass with Jane Anson. Today’s topic is Cabernet Sauvignon, the king of grapes. Find out how much is pl...

▻ Bordeaux Mentor Week

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Applications to the second edition of the “Bordeaux Mentor Week” have just opened. Last year over 100 young people applied from 28 countries, out ...

▻ Richard Geoffroy

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the latest in our Great Wine Lives series Richard Geoffroy talks to Elin McCoy about how he rebelled against his wine family background by becoming...

✒ Best Recent Wine Books

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brian St Pierre takes a look at the latest crop of wine books, and picks out the ones he believes should be on every wine lover’s shelf

▻ Omnibus XX

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This month, Elin McCoy reports on the big environmental win in the Napa Valley – the Walt Ranch controversy ends after a 17-year battle. John Stimpf...

▻ Pauillac with Jane Anson

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to our 10-Minute Masterclass with Jane Anson on Pauillac – a deep dive into this famous commune which boasts three First Growths, Lafite, ...

▻ How to Become a Vigneron with Michael Evans

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wanted to own your own vineyard or blend your own wine with a top winemaker? Elin McCoy talks to Michael Evans the man who makes it poss...

▻ The 1855 Classification with Jane Anson

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week we look at the 1855 classification, the world’s first culinary ranking. Find out why it came about, the price bands the wines had be achie...

▻ Remembering Steven Spurrier

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode of Great Wine Lives – John Stimpfig interviews Sarah Kemp about her memories of working with Steven Spurrier. Sarah and Steven had...

▻ Omnibus XIX

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This month, Jane Anson on Artificial Intelligence’s role in wine writing – will wine writers be out of a job? John Stimpfig reports on Australia’...

▻ Pomerol with Jane Anson

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A brand new series – the 10-minute masterclass with Jane Anson. First in the series is Pomerol, an appellation which covers 0.6% Bordeaux’s surfac...

▻ Chianti Rufina

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chianti Rufina is not as well known as Chianti Classico, but it certainly deserves to be. Sarah Kemp talks to Lorenzo Portaro, winemaker at Castello N...

▻ Where To Learn About Wine

08 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Which wine course should you study? Which offers value and which will lead to a job in the wine business? Which are the best free courses? How much ca...

▻ 2022 Review

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we see out 2022, John Stimpfig and Sarah Kemp name their top 10 wines of the year, reveal their personal “house wines” and best discoveries and...

▻ Omnibus Eighteenth Edition

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to Omnibus 18 for a month of wine news and our experts’ views. John Stimpfig looks at the Burgundy market and discusses the latest results...

▻ Bruno-Eugène Borie of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bruno-Eugène Borie of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou talks to Elin McCoy in our series “Great Wine Lives”. He describes himself as “the bad boy of...

✒ Biondi-Santi

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A stunning tasting of the Riserva wines of Biondi-Santi, only 42 vintages released since 1888.

▻ The Mouton Rothschild Labels: Originally published Dec 2021

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As Château Mouton Rothschild reveal their latest label, by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, Jane Anson talks to Sarah Kemp about how the labe...

▻ Wine With Andrew Jefford

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Jefford is one of the world’s most thoughtful and eloquent wine writers. He talks to Sarah Kemp about his new book “Drinking with the Valky...

▻ The Wine Society’s Wines

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

John Stimpfig picks his 12 great buys (all under £25) from the Wine Society to evaluate and discuss with Sarah Kemp. After tasting together for many ...

▻ Omnibus Seventeenth Edition

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Omnibus 17 is out with all the latest wine news and views about wine. This month Elin McCoy reports on three significant anniversary tastings, 60 year...

▻ Making Wine in Bhutan with Michael Juergens

06 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elephants in the vineyard? Buddhist pickers who won’t kill insects eating the grapes? Just some of the challenges Michael Juergens faced establishin...

▻ Maureen Downey About Wine Fraud

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Anson talks to Maureen Downey, a global expert on wine fraud, about the extent of wine fraud in the industry today. She discusses how organised c...

▻ Karen MacNeil

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Karen MacNeil talks to Elin McCoy about the newly released third edition of “The Wine Bible”, which has sold over a million copies. Listen in to h...

▻ Olivier Bernstein

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Olivier Bernstein is one of Burgundy’s new bright stars. He talks to Elin McCoy on how he left his family’s classical music business and decided t...

▻ Baron Éric de Rothschild

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Baron Éric de Rothschild talks to Sarah Kemp in a wide-ranging and candid interview about his life in wine. He reveals his earliest memories of Chât...

▻ The New Saint-Emilion Classification

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Leading Bordeaux expert Jane Anson of www.janeanson.com talks about the new Saint-Emilion classification which has just been released. Discover the cr...

▻ The Wines of South America with Amanda Barnes

13 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Amanda Barnes, author of the award-winning “The South America Wine Guide” talks to Sarah Kemp about the discoveries she made during the ten years ...

▻ Omnibus XVI

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to Omnibus 16 for the latest news and views. This month: A 29-year-old Mexican beauty queen is accused of being behind the “wine heist of ...

▻ Hélène Seillan

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In our series “The Next Generation” Elin McCoy talks to Hélène Seillan of Vérité, the acclaimed winery in Sonoma, which produces the highly co...

▻ “To Fall in Love, Drink This: A Wine Writer’s Memoir”

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Alice Feiring, a  leader of the Natural Wine movement. talks to Elin McCoy about her new book, “To Fall in Love Drink This: A Wine Writer’s M...

▻ How The Wine World Can Combat Climate Change

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How soon will we hear the title “Climate Change Director” as often as “Winemaker? Miguel Torres Snr has been at the forefront of climate change ...

▻ Omnibus XV

17 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

All the latest wine news and independent views. John Stimpfig reveals why he thinks the Champagne region is shooting itself in the foot over herbicide...

▻ Tor Kenward

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elin McCoy talks to Tor Kenward of Tor in our "Great Wine Lives" series – a fascinating conversation from the man who has been at the heart of the N...

▻ Being an Outsider in Bordeaux

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Anson talks to Namratha Prashanth, who left Bangalore after an abusive marriage to create a new life, a new business and a new brand in Bordeaux.

▻ Paul Hobbs

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In our “Great Wine Lives” series, Elin McCoy talk to visionary winemaker Paul Hobbs, who is today making wine in four continents. From been chosen...

▻ The Queen Who Taught The English How to Drink – Eleanor of Aquitaine

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we celebrate our Great Queen of England’s Platinum Jubilee, we look back on another remarkable Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Jane Anson talks to l...

▻ Bordeaux 2021

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Leading Bordeaux expert Jane Anson of www.janeanson.com talks about the 2021 Bordeaux vintage. Jane tasted over 800 wines during En Primeur – she re...

▻ Hervé Berland

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In our “Great Wine Lives” series, Sarah Kemp talks to Hervé Berland about his 30-plus years at Château Mouton Rothschild and then leading the gr...

▻ Omnibus XIV

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in to Omnibus 14 for news and unfiltered independent views – how the Ukraine war is affecting the wine world, the first US$1,000 wine-tasting...

✒ Wines Worth Talking About – Argentina

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

So many great wines, but here are my personal favourites from a week in the vineyards. From world-class to terrific value, much to talk about.

▻ Viva Argentina! – Part Six

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Viva Argentina! – Thinking about visiting Argentina? Bernard Fontannaz of Finca La Anita talks to us about how visitors can enjoy an entire meal coo...