Why is Bandol the only appellation to lead with Mourvèdre? What would surprise you about the northern Italian grape and wine Barbaresco? What would it be like to spend half a day picking grapes in a Sauvignon Blanc vineyard?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Andy James, author of Bandol Wine and the Magic of Mourvèdre.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

Three of you are going to win a personally signed copy of Andy James' terrific new book, Bandol Wine and the Magic of Mourvèdre. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win a copy. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

Why is Bandol the only appellation to lead with Mourvèdre?

What are Andy’s favourite pairings for Mourvèdre Rosé?

What was it like to spend half a day picking in a Sauvignon Blanc vineyard?

Who are some of the famous past residents of Bandol?

What did Andy learn from interviewing famous Italian winemaker Angelo Gaja?

How have Barbaresco and Barolo wines changed over the decades?

What can you expect from Domaine Le Galantin Bandol Rosé?

Why does Andy like Lehmann’s Synergie and RIEDEL’s Winewings glasses?

What’s the tasting experience like for G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera?

How can you pair G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera with food?

What controversial take does Andy have on decanting?

Which fascinating book can you read to learn about the history of Burgundy?

Why is a thermometer Andy’s favourite wine gadget?

Which English writer would Andy love to share a bottle of breakfast Champagne with?

Key Takeaways

Andy’s explanation of why Bandol is the only wine region to lead with Mourvèdre was fascinating. As he said, there’s a salinity and freshness in the wines, good Mourvedre has to see the sea.

I enjoyed his description of the northern Italian grape and wine Barbaresco and the changes it’s experiencing.

He painted a terrific picture of what it’s like to spend a day picking grapes in a Sauvignon Blanc vineyard.

Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live

Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.

I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?

Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621

About Andy James

Andrew James is a Canadian who received a doctorate in 20th century English literature from Ulster University. He is currently a professor in the School of Commerce at Meiji University in Tokyo. He is the author of a monograph on Kingsley Amis and numerous essays on literature, biography and literary theory, but he is also a wine lover.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/250.

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