The Wine Conversation

Another action-packed Omnibus with John Stimpfig and Elin McCoy reporting on the latest news from the wine world. This month we look at the 2025 harvest in Europe and North America, find out why Chablis is selling out in the US, and discover the latest research presented at The Old Vines Conference, plus the industry hits back at the anti-alcohol lobby and much more.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

A very special podcast. Listen in to hear Jane Anson describe the historic tasting of Bordeaux’s 1945 First Growths at Kensington Palace to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 11. Jane was the only journalist present and she gives her impressions of the wines, the background to the vintage, and the extraordinary people who made it (including German prisoners of war). Plus, your chance to taste the 1945s by bidding for the 1945 tasting lot at the Golden Vines Auction taking place on Friday 7th November. Liquid history!Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

A 24-year-old Dutchman came to pick some grapes in Bordeaux on an estate belonging to a friend of his father Eric Albada Jelgersma. He ended up staying for 30 years. Listen in to hear the remarkable story of Alexander Van Beek, Estate Director of Château Giscours. In a frank interview, he talks about the highs, the lows and the practices he has introduced to take Giscours to new heights. He also discusses Caiarossa, the Tuscan property he runs and his approach to bio-dynamic farming.More information at wine-conversation.com

Dreaming of visiting the world’s most illustrious wine estates, being treated as a VIP with tours and fine wine dinners and then owning large format rare bottles? Well, stop dreaming and start bidding. Romané Basset talks to Sarah Kemp about the Golden Vine Auction which is going live online on 20th October. 110 stellar lots from Château Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Le Pin lunch with Jancis Robinson, Colgin, Bonneau du Martray, Dom Perignon, Krug, Henschke to name a few. Listen in to hear about some of the fabulous lots and discover how the money will benefit hundreds of people through the Gerard Basset Foundation.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Sustainability is the buzzword in the wine industry but where is it today? John Stimpfig talks to Rodrigo Soto, one of the earliest and leading practitioners of organic and biodynamic farming who presents his views on best practice and going forward. Soto worked with some of the pioneers of viticulture in California and now runs his own boutique winery, Far Mountain, in the Moon Mountain appellation in Sonoma.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Burgundy guru Jasper Morris MW, author of Inside Burgundy,  looks at “Making White Burgundy” in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass. There are conferences on Pinot Noir but Chardonnay doesn’t get the same attention. Find out why he believes Chardonnay is more of a rugby grape than the ballerina Pinot Noir, and discover his views on when to pick, fermentation and a lot more.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Listen in to hear the latest news and views from the wine world in this month’s Omnibus. Stories include harvest updates, wildfires in Europe and US, arrests in Champagne,  controversy over To-Kalon name, World Health Organisation anti-alcohol lobby, Pinot Grigio on the rise in Australia, why you should visit the Finger Lakes, plus Coonawarra’s “Wine and Woof Walk” and the great new trend - matching wine to books. Suggestions please of your favourite wine and book matches. Cheers to that!Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Emergency Bordeaux podcast! Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp discuss the news that has sent seismic waves around the wine world- stellar Château Lafleur will no longer bottle under the Pomerol AOC from the 2025 vintage. Why have they done this, what does it mean for their neighbours, and what does the future hold for the producers of Pomerol. Listen in to hear Jane and Sarah’s views.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Don St Pierre Jnr founded ASC Fine Wines in China with his father in 1996, and pioneered the introduction of wine to a nation of Baijiu drinkers. In our “Great Wine Lives” series he talks to Sarah Kemp about the challenges and how he overcame them. It started with teaching people how to use a cork screw, but with a team of passionate local Chinese employees he built a business selling 3 million bottles a year. It wasn’t easy, he even got thrown into jail for 29 days, and while there had to plan Robert Parker’s trip to China a few weeks later! Listen in to hear the story of this remarkable man and find out why after selling his shares in the company in 2014, and heading to California to buy the majority share in Vinfolio, he has returned to China and bought back ASC Fine Wines.More information at wine-conversation.com

Who are the best producers in Barolo? Who are the up-and-coming producers? What does it taste like young and old?  Best vintages? What type of soil? Find out by taking a deep dive into all things Barolo in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass with Italian guru David Gleave MW.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com