The Wine Conversation

Viva Argentina! – Meet the Eco-Warriors of Argentina – Pierre Lurton of Cheval des Andes on agroecology, Juan Marco of Finca Decero on irrigation, Guillermina Van Houten of Catena Zapata on organics and Manuel Lanus and Facundo Bonamaizon of Bodega Chakana on biodynamics in Argentina. Discover their challenges and why the leafcutter ant is their biggest pest.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Viva Argentina! – Elin McCoy talks with Laura Catena in “Great Wine Lives,” part of our Viva Argentina! series. Laura is Managing Director of Catena Zapata, an author of several books, an emergency and accident doctor, and mother. She is also Argentine wines’ greatest ambassador. Listen in to hear her talk about her amazing life.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Viva Argentina! – What’s new in Argentina? Answer: lots. In this episode, we meet three of Argentina’s pioneers. Listen to Juan Marco of Finca Decero talk about the rise of single vineyards, Sergio Casé of Trapiche discuss their new ocean-oriented vineyard at Chapadmalal near Buenos Aires, and Silvio Alberto at Bodega Bianchi on why he believes Malbec benefits from using amphoras, plus Sarah Kemp’s discovery of the trip – an unoaked Viognier.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Viva Argentina! – Welcome to the first in our week’s series “Viva Argentina!” Sarah Kemp and Phil Crozier discuss how Argentina has transformed itself in the past 15 years and meet dynamic young winemaker Sebastian Zuccardi, who is so terroir-obsessed he divides up his rows of vines into smaller plots. He explains how the Andes is not one mountain but a complex range, with many different soils, and how his parcel-by-parcel approach has resulted in changes in the winery.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

War, wine and peace. This month we report on wine in the Ukraine, the Russian wine professionals defying Putin, who’s buying and selling in the US, the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie Chateau Miraval bust-up, the Schramsberg anniversary dinner for the “Toast to Peace”, say farewell to Anthony Barton and much more.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Rosemary George MW talks to Sarah Kemp about the Languedoc, the region she believes has evolved the most over the past 20 years. She discusses its history, her three favourite appellations and names the producers to look out for in each appellation. She discusses its history and its future. A great conversation about where to find the hidden jewels which offer great value for money.Find out more at wine-conversation.com.

Listen in to hear Jacques Lurton, from Bordeaux’s most prominent wine family, talk to Jane Anson about why he left Bordeaux, the people who influenced him, why he believes New World practices can help the Old World face up to climate change, the new cuvée he is launching, and why he is happy to be back running the family company. A full, great wine life!More information at wine-conversation.com

Oz Clarke talks to Sarah Kemp in our Great Wine Lives series. In a wide-ranging conversation, he discusses wine and class, how the wine establishment hated him, why Pinot Noir isn’t a complex and brilliant grape, as people say it is, touring with Glenda Jackson and discovering Australian wine, why points don’t help consumers, climate change and the future, where he’d plant a vineyard, plus much more.More information at wine-conversation.com

How good is Bordeaux 2019 now that it is in bottle? Sarah Kemp talks to Bordeaux expert Jane Anson, who has just reviewed 700 wines for her new website www.janeanson.com. She gives her candid view on the vintage’s quality, names her favourite wines, and puts the vintage in context with other notable vintages of the decade.

John Stimpfig discusses dry January, how beneficial is it? Why 2021 was a record year for wine investors. Elin McCoy on the news from Napa plus no/low alcohol wines, Elin bravely tastes on our behalf and Jane Anon is back to Saint Emilion for more news on the troubled 2022 classification.