The Wine Conversation

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 achieve to be in each of the five growths, the story of how Cantemerle became a 5th growth after the initial ranking. Discover what has changed since the original ranking (spoiler alert – the names were classified not the vineyard area) and find out what Jane’s most obscure 1855 classification fact is.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

A special episode of Great Wine Lives – John Stimpfig interviews Sarah Kemp about her memories of working with Steven Spurrier. Sarah and Steven had a great partnership for over 25 years when Steven was the Consultant Editor of Decanter and Sarah was the Publisher and Managing Director. Sarah looks back on Steven’s extraordinary life, one of the wine world’s most beloved and well-known figures.  Steven’s memorial was held on January 19th at St James Garlickhythe, in the Vintry ward of the City of London. Sarah and Mark Williamson, owner of Willi’s Wine Bar in Paris gave the two eulogies. Both are now available to read on The Wine Conversation website.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

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’s  wine industry problem with its 2.3 billion litres of unsold wine, and discusses the possible solutions. We look back on the lives of two of the wine world’s greats, Luciano Sandrone and d’Arry Osborne, who died recently. And no Omnibus would be complete without a weather watch – this month. how the floods in California are affecting the vines, and it is not bad news. Plus wine in India, how Damp January is taking over from Dry January and much more.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

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 surface but is one of its most well-known names. Jane covers its terroir, cost of land, its taste profile, the most famous names, new producers to look out for and reveals one obscure fact to impress your wine-loving friends.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

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 Nipozzano, which is owned by the Frescobaldi family and is the largest producer in Chianti Rufina. He talks about the illustrious history of the region, how the style of wine differs from Chianti Classico, and its incredible ability to age. He discusses Chianti Rufina’s new initiative “Terraelectae”, a name for wines made from single crus which are made from 100% Sangiovese and are aged for at least 30 months before release. Listen in to hear him discuss the future of this Tuscan jewel.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

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 can you earn in the wine business? Just some of the questions answered by Charlie Leary who talks to Jane Anson about his new book Leary’s Global Wineology, a guide to wine education, mentorships and scholarships. A fascinating conversation about the myriad of wine education courses available around the world.

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 name their favourite Wine Conversation podcasts of the year. Wishing all our listeners a Happy New Year!

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 from the Hospice de Beaune. He reports on the floods in Australia and frost in Argentina, both affecting the 2023 harvest and debates whether the British Royal family be serving only UK wines at state banquets? In the US Elin McCoy looks at obscure grape varieties appearing on labels, the latest planning controversy in Napa Valley, looks back on the life of trailblazer Margaret Duckhorn. A shocking arrest, Lafite’s new wine plus much more.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

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 Bordeaux”. Elin asks is he still? Listen in to hear him talk about growing up at Ducru, his idols, his love of art and literature and why his motto is “Modern Forever”.More information at wine-conversation.com

As Château Mouton Rothschild reveal their latest label, by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, Jane Anson talks to Sarah Kemp about how the label series at Mouton came about, and the extraordinary lengths the family goes to when securing the world’s greatest artists.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com