The Wine Conversation

Listen in to hear the extraordinary story of how Greg Lambrecht invented Coravin. From creating delivery systems for chemotherapy to a device which preserves wine for years. Frustrated by the limitations of a 750ml bottle he wanted to enjoy wine in the quantities he wanted, when he wanted. The inventor spent years in his basement making prototypes. Today a quarter of a billion glasses have been poured using it. Discover his new plans to revolutionise the wine world - an unmissable conversation.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp discuss the historic tasting of Ornellaia, one of Italy’s most renowned wines, which has just taken place in Venice. Five decades of Ornellaia were poured from 2020 to 1988. Views a plenty on the most successful vintages (spoiler alert Sarah and Jane don’t necessarily agree) and buzz about the new changes at the estate. Total agreement though on this was a tasting of a lifetime.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Jane Anson talks to Sarah Kemp about this famous appellation which is home to some of Bordeaux’s most loved names. Discover its producers, including two lesser-known ones Jane recommends looking out for. Find out why it is home to more gravel than Pauillac, its cost per hectare and much more. A 10-minute deep dive into one of Jane and Sarah’s favourite appellations.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Listen in to Omnibus XXIV for all the latest wine news and views. John Stimpfig applauds the launch of the old vine registry, and looks back with Sarah Kemp on the life of Don St Pierre Snr who had such an impact on the fine wine scene in China. They discuss the recent purchase of William Fèvre Chablis by DBR Lafite, and agree it is a smart move. As always, there is a weather watch, with this month’s grim news coming from Italy and SW France in the shape of mildew and over-the-pond wildfires in Canada. Elin McCoy discusses E&J Gallo’s recent purchase of Rombauer and Massican, and reports on the reasons for the two significant sales. She reveals the new head of Sotheby’s wine department plans which include looking at what people are collecting right now. From Bordeaux Jane Anson talks about the September releases from the Place de Bordeaux and names the icon names to look out for. All this and much more… and a teary goodbye to the fine wine trade’s favourite restaurant, The Gavroche.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

There are few people who can have had a more fascinating life in wine than Jean-Guillaume Prats. In our “Great Wine Lives” series he talks to Elin McCoy about how he joined his father to run the family estate, 2nd Growth Château Cos d’Estournel. He stayed on to become its director at the young age of 28, but after 14 years was lured away to run Moet Hennessy’s wine division, which took him all over the world. Bordeaux, though, beckoned him back when the opportunity came to become the director at Château Lafite when its CEO, Christophe Salin, retired. Today he is an entrepreneur with his own enterprise in Provence as well as running  Château Léoville-Las-Cases and helping the Frey family. Outspoken, he worries that Bordeaux is being seen only in terms of prices. Listen in to hear about one extraordinary life, and one that is starting a brilliant new chapter.More information at wine-conversation.com

Margaux is the largest of the Medoc’s appellations, with the most varied terroir. Join Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp to discover how many producers there are, who are the star names, and which château to watch. Discover its signature taste, the price per hectare, and why it was recognised 20 years after Pauillac and St Julien. 10 minutes of fascinating facts!Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Listen in to hear the remarkable life story of Eduardo Chadwick, the man who put Chile on the fine wine map. John Stimpfig talks to him in our series “Great Wine Lives” about how he joined his father to run the family winery as a young man, the difficulties he faced in getting the critics to acknowledge Chile could make fine wine, and the one tasting which changed the world’s perception. Discover how he took Robert Mondavi around Chile and created their joint venture, SENA, and how he pioneered coastal Chilean wines. A frank and fascinating conversation.More information at wine-conversation.com

What do chocolate chip cookies, biodynamic viticulture, and winemaking in Bordeaux and the Napa Valley have in common? Elin McCoy talks to Denise Adams the owner of Château Fonplégade, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé and ADAMSVS on Howell Mountain on how she combines all three. Listen in to hear about her life’s work and how she left the world of art and interior design to become a vigneron on two continents.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

It has been a particularly busy month in the world of wine, in Omnibus XXIII we discuss all the major events. We report on the FBI raiding Sherry Lehmann, take a look at Bordeaux 2022 prices, say fond farewells to wine world greats Jean-Michel Cazes, Alexander Lur Saluces, Paul Dolan, Jackie Blot and Sarah Morphew MW. We look at the first US purchase of a British vineyard, and Frescobaldi buying into Oregon. John Stimpfig asks what is happening at Accolade Wines who have just put House of Arras up for sale. Elin McCoy looks at two major launches Haynes Vineyard and Ruinart’s newest cuvee. Plus, top wineries to visit awards, and of course, weather watch. Listen now to a full month of wine news and independent views.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

How many wine glasses do you need? How do they affect the taste of the wine? Sarah Kemp talks to Maximilian Riedel, the eleventh generation of his family, who have been making glass since 1756. His grandfather was the first to make wine-specific glasses, his father created varietal glasses and Maximilian talks about the new range of lighter and thinner he is about to launch,  and answers the important question, “exactly how many glasses do you need!”Find out more at wine-conversation.com