The Wine Conversation

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 classified growths, its terroir and its most famous châteaux. A deep dive into one of Jane’s and Sarah’s favourite appellations.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

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 France’s reaction to Dry January (Spoiler alert – Alain Ducasse reduced the price of his top Bordeaux and Burgundy to encourage people to drink more), the new ingredient labelling required for wines marketed in the EU, reaction to the Burgundy 2022 campaign, Naples Charity Wine Auction raises over US$ 33 million dollars and much more. For those in the freezing northern hemisphere, Elin has researched the new luxury wine experiences in Chile – find out where she recommends wine lovers should go and how she found her night in the room entitle “Shape of Women”.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Celebrated but not classified, Château Siran is one of Margaux’s most loved properties. Elin McCoy talks to Edouard Miailhe, the 6th generation of his family to run the estate for our series “Great Wine Lives”. Listen in to hear how he returned from the Philippines to take over from his parents, and how friends knew before he did that he would return as they saw Siran was in his DNA. Edouard recounts many anecdotes, including why the property was not classified (spoiler alert – the previous owner was a royalist and didn’t like Napoleon 111 who organised the 1855 Exposition de Paris) and how he heard that there was a restaurant in the Napa Valley with an extraordinary list of old vintages of Siran – it turned out the owner had bought the authentic Rudi Kurniawan cellar. A great interview with the man whose heart is firmly in the Margaux appellation.More information at wine-conversation.com

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 our Next Generation series about his life with his wife and three young boys at the Il Caggio estate where he runs Ipsus, the wine he wants recognised as the finest Sangiovese in Italy. “I wasn’t sure I was given the responsibility, I asked for it” he tells Sarah as he describes why he believes that the Sangiovese at the Il Caggio estate is second to known. A fascinating interview with one of Italy’s most dynamic and passionate personalities.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

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 the fine wine and spirit market. He reminisces about his early days in the wine trade, where he started out as a shop assistant at Lea and Sandeman before going on to join the newly formed Berry Brothers and Rudd’s broking department. He discusses setting up the Berry Brothers’ Hong Kong office with chairman Simon Berry and how he watched the interest in fine wine in Asia explode. 100 days into his new job he reveals some of his plans for the future and predicts the areas he thinks are worth investing in.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

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 California’s most historic wineries, his pioneering work in organic an biodynamic viticulture. Discover his passion for innovation as he discusses satin and leather labels, jewellery on bottles, and why his wines are backed up by high-scores from critics “Transporting people into a different world is what I am about” A fascinating interview with the wine world’s most innovative vintner.More information at wine-conversation.com

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 its amazing cellar of 100,000 bottles. Listen in to find out what is going to become of the cellar and find out which wine Michel has chosen to drink on the last day. A huge thank you to Michel for all the fabulous memories you have given us at The Gavroche – some of our happiest days.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

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 vintners, that terroir has been scientifically proven and worldwide production falling by 7% with 2023, the hottest year on record. Plus, Italy becomes the star of the wine investment market, Elin’s top 10 wines and much more.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

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 Pierre Morlet called “Victoire de la Dignité” with six of Ukraine’s most prominent artists designing the labels. All profits from the sales will go to the urgent needs of the Military Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and its mobile military hospitals. She discusses life in Kyiv, how the project came about, and her hopes for the future. The wines are for sale internationally.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp discuss their favourite books on Bordeaux. They recommend the best books on Bordeaux’s history and politics and economics. Bordeaux reference books come under review, old favourites and brilliant new editions. Find out which Bordeaux producers provided material for the most scintillating biographies and let’s not forget the novels every claret lover should read. Plus, Sarah reveals the Bordeaux book she has requested to be buried with. How many of the books mentioned do you have on your bookshelf?Find out more at wine-conversation.com