Matthew's World of Wine and Drink

French sparkling wine isn't just Champagne: it's made all around the country. This episode explores the frustratingly inconsistent Crémants of France, as well as some of the more unusual, historic styles of sparkling wine.

Discussing the relationship between growers and producers in Champagne and exploring the styles of the big producers.

Southern Italy is an historically poor part of Italy, making inferior wines. The last 20 years have seen more investment and quality has risen - not least because there are some superb local grape varieties such as Aglianico, Fiano, Greco, and Falanghina.

This episode looks at plantings in Champagne, the Cru structure, and the five main regions.

Central Italy is home to some of Italy's most historic wine regions, but quality varies - not least in Chianti. This episode explores the reasons for the inconsistency in quality, ranging from inexpensive to the super-premium Brunello di Montalcino.

An introduction to the great wines of Champagne: where they're made, how they're made, the rules governing the region, and the different styles of wine.

North-East Italy encompasses a diverse range of regions, including Alto Adige, Trentino, Veneto, and Fruili-Venezia-Giulia. Some of these have a strongly Germanic and Slavic influence, producing unique wines different from elsewhere in Italy.

Some of the world's greatest wines are made in Piemonte in north-west Italy, particularly from Nebbiolo in the famous Barolo and Barbaresco regions. Find out what makes these wines so special, and about the other areas in Piemonte.

An introductory overview of sparkling wine, looking at the different production methods, regions, and styles. In this episode, I credit the English for accidentally creating champagne and completely forget to mention the current trend in amazing English sparkling wine...

Hungary has a long history of winemaking, particularly with the great sweet wines of Tokaj. It had a difficult twentieth century, however, from which it is re-emerging as one of the most exciting countries in Europe. Learn about the dry and sweet whites, and the under-the-radar reds.