EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A wine podcast

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This is the third part of my mini series on wineries in South Africa. Today's episode is with Winemaker Alice Verburg from Luddite Winery, based in Bot River. They are very much about hands off and minimal intervention, and the most interesting and fun family, who do not take themselves too seriously. The focus on today’s podcast will be minimal intervention, understanding the Bot River and of course tasting and talking about their very limited bottlings of Shiraz and Chenin Blanc.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.40: Why is the winery called Luddite

3.31: What got Alice in winemaking

4.58: The best winery in the Nothern Hemisphere that Alice has worked at and why

5.58: Alice’s Dad, Niels, who started the Luddite winery, and what she has learnt from him

7.42: And what Alice brings to the winery and winemaking

8.44: The best part of winemaking in the cellar

11.07: The best part of being a small winery and the advantages of being in Bot River

12.16: The hand written labels

14.05: The ethos of Luddite

17.42: Describing the Bot River and what makes it special as a wine region

21.18: The shiraz ‘peppercorn’ berries

21.52: Examples of minimal intervention at Luddite

25.20: Dealing with pests and diseases out in the vineyards when organic farming

27.13: Adding amphora pebbles into barrels

30.17: Tasting and talking about the Luddite Chenin Blanc 2021 Buon Vino £44 (2020)

34.46: Tasting and talking about the Luddite Shiraz 2018 Buon Vino £49 (2017)

41.16: Happy accidents in the winery = Cool by the Pool wine – a great story!

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is the second part of my mini series on wineries in South Africa. Today's episode is with Winemaker Mike Dawson from Journey’s End. This is a winery with some of the closest vineyards to False Bay. They have won The Drinks Business Green Wine awards in 2020 and 2021 and provided over 1 million meals to the local community during the tough times of covid in 2020. You will learn all about this very sustainable and ethical winery, and in terms of wine we will be focusing on the grape variety Chardonnay.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.54: Discussing the current harvest

4.09: What happens to the grapes if it rains to close to harvest

5.09: What has been one of the most challenging vintages and why

7.39: How Mike got into winemaking

10.00: Using wine traditions from the past in the winery

12.07: Discussing Journey’s End location and terroir to understand the wines

15.25: Looking at all the sustainable and ethical recognition and focus of Journey’s End

18.54: The Trebuchet, and throwing wine barrels across the farm

25.11: How to decide what Chardonnay will go into each wine

27.17: Chardonnay with oak or without, and French oak V American

29.23: Having malic acid in Chardonnay

30.15: How easy is Chardonnay to work with in the winery?

32.16: Temperatures for fermenting Chardonnay

34.10: How does Chardonnay from the coastal regions of Stellenbosch compare to more inland Chardonnays?

35.23: Tasting and talking about The Haystack Chardonnay 2021 £13 Noble Green Wines

39.33: Tasting and talking about The V1 Chardonnay 2021 £19 Noble Green Wines

40.50: Building Amphoras and the Brownian Effect – how this affects the texture and flavour of wine

43.54: Tasting and talking about The Destination Chardonnay 2019 £23.50 Noble Green Wines

48.33: Differences found when using whole bunch V de-stemmed Chardonnay

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is the first part of my mini series on wineries in South Africa. Today's episode is with Cellarmaster RJ Botha from Kleine Zalze. This is the place you want to visit for a romantic getaway, and golf and wine weekend, or when you are looking for the best wine and food pairing. Their food is another level, as is their Chenin, so we are focusing on the grape variety Chenin Blanc and Old Vines.

If you want to skip ahead:

3.11: RJ’s role at Kleine Zalze and working harvest time

6.34: Kleine Zalze’s history dating back to 1695 but modern approach and the resort that it is today

12.12: Describing Chenin Blanc

15.28: Why Chenin Blanc has done so well in South Africa

16.38: Comparing Chenin in Stellenbosch to Swartland

17.48: The decomposed granitic soils of Stellenbosch

19.25: The challenges of Chenin and it’s yields

21.32: Comparing Bush Vines to Trellised Vines

23.15: Talking about a very special old vine Chenin Block in the Firgrove region of Stellenbosch

27.17: Talking about and tasting the Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2022 Vinvm £12.50

33.37: Talking about and tasting the Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2020 Vinvm £20.50

40.42: Talking about and tasting the Project Z Chenin Blanc 2018 Fareham Wine Cellar £39.50

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is part 2 of the deep dive series into Sparkling wines: All on Champagne. These episodes are specifically designed to help out my WSET diploma friends. This is a flashcard-style podcast, which is a useful way for those trying to memorize the information, however, for all of you who just love wine and want to know more and increase your knowledge, this will still be a really interesting episode as you can just play it all the way through like any other episode.

If you want to skip ahead:

2.20: The terroir of Champagne

4.56: The Grand Crus and Premier Crus, and five major sub regions

9.22: L'échelle des crus

12.47: Approved pruning methods

13.32: Yields

14.20: Minimum terms for ageing

15.01: CIVC

15.47: Letter on the label and who is making the wines

17.18: Prestige Cuvee Champage

18.52: Dom Perignon

20.38: Krug

22.06: Cristal

23.03: Grand Marques

24.03: Moet & Chandon

24.29: Veuve Cliquot

25.51: Louis Roederer

26.12: Bollinger

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Today episode is part 2 with Helena Nicklin, an award-winning drinks writer, a broadcaster, a judge, and author. who you can watch on TV Series, Three Drinkers (Currently showing on Amazon Prime). Today we are talking about her very own whiskey matured in Bordeaux cask barrels. You will receive some personal wine recommendations. Then we’re discussing Riesling and its sweetness levels. The main focus is on the development of CHIANTI CLASSICO. We will be mentioning places to go and visit, Chianti Classico wines to try, and you will then be introduced to Chianti Classico’s new UGA classifications, which stands for Additional Geographical Units. To finish we'll be talking about women making an impact in the wine world and even, a winery on the Isle of Wight! Enjoy.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.56: Making a whiskey matured in Bordeaux Barrels

BUY HERE £49.99

04.00: The Barrels of Clos L’Eglise in Pomerol, Bordeaux

05:50: Money from Whiskey sales go to mental health charity MY BLACK DOG

10.07: Discussing cooperages, and the oak used to make barrels which impart different flavours

13.42: Wine Recommendations

18.15: Discussing the sweetness levels of Riesling

22.05: The UGA’s of Chianti Classico

25.17: The flavour of Sangiovese

28.35: Where to go and visit and where to stay in Chianti Classico

36.59: A few Chianti Classico wine recommendations

39.51: Shout out to the recognition Helena has received in the trade

41.23: Women in the wine trade and supporting each other

44.31: A new visual beginners wine book coming out soon

45.39: Ambassador for new Isle of Wight winery Pinkmead Estate

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Today we are joined by Helena Nicklin, an award-winning drinks writer, a broadcaster, a judge, and author. who you can watch on TV Series, Three Drinkers (Currently showing on Amazon Prime). She is the winner of best contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism 2022. She was recognised in the top 100 most influential people in drinks 2022. She has her own podcast called “Bring a Bottle”. This episode (Part 1) Helena talks about filming the Three Drinkers, some funny moments, and how she came about with this series. We talk about how she got into the wine industry, which really wasn't a very smooth start, and certainly something to open up your eyes, to how the industry is evolving and changing. But today's theme, which is COGNAC.

If you want to skip ahead:

2.06: Helena’s story into the wine industry

6.59: Starting with a youtube channel

11.33: How she started the TV Series The Three Drinks with Aidy Smith

(He has also been on my podcast (Ep 46) You can listen to him HERE)

15.19: Recording a series on Cognac

16.29: Still wines made in Cognac

17.21: Blending in Cognac

19.21: The Chalk soils and terroir in Cognac – looking at the sub regions

21.05: Understanding the Champagne name that gets used in two of the sub regions

21.50: Location of Cognac and visiting

22.39: Ideal food pairings for Cognac

25.22: Looking at labelling terms and the minimum age requirements for each

27.48: The difference between Cognac and Armagnac

29.29: Describing Cognac’s aromas and flavours

30.45: The different distillation methods of Cognac and Armagnac

32.02: Why does ‘Brandy’ have a bad name

33.21: Having Cognac in a cocktail

35.16: Buying Wine Tshirts for Helens online shop: DrinkyTees

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is Part 2 with wine writer and speaker Christina Rasmussen and we are discussing planting your own vineyard and the decisions that you can make. Christina has planted her very own vineyard in England. So, we will talk about the soils, choosing massal selection over clonal selection, diseases and viruses and vines, grafting your own vines onto rootstocks, grape varieties such as Mondeuse and Pineau d’Aunis, trellising on stakes, high density planting, and so much more. And Christina will be explaining all her reasons for why she has made her decisions, which I just found fascinating, and I hope you do too.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.39: Why Christina planted her vineyard in Oxfordshire, England

3.49: Why plant Massal Selection rather than Clonal Selection?

7.53: Hand grafting V mechanical grafting

10.54: Planting Savagnin grape

11.21: Planting Gamay and Trousseau grape

12.20: Pineau d’Aunis grape variety

13.41: Mondeuse grape variety

15.19: Planting each vines on their own stake

18.58: Planting high density

20.58: Using natural treatments on the soil such as Horsetail ferments and avoiding sprays

23.19: The experience of physically planting each vine in a vineyard

26.35: What Christina has learnt about planting a vineyard

28.35: Inspirational wine friends who have helped Christina on her journey

MENTIONED ON EPISODE: THE ARTICLE DISCUSSING VINE MATERIAL AND VIRUS:

https://cloud.3dissue.net/28174/28154/35592/89737/index.html?12518

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Today’s episode is about the grape variety Palomino. Often thought of as a neutral grape variety yet there are certain people in the wine industry that are true believers like my guest today, Christina Rasmussen. She is a wine writer, speaker and has even made her very own still Palomino wine. So, I'm fascinated to pick Christina's brain to hear more about her love for this grape variety and her love for farming the soil and terroir. So, she will be talking about some of her wine projects and how she brings the winemakers story to life. And then, we will be discussing Palomino and all the winemaking steps that she took to make her very own still white wine.

If you want to skip ahead:

2.25: How Burgundy was the start of Christina’s wine story

6.13: Becoming a wine writer

8.49: LITTLEWINE – a digital platform enabling winemakers to communicate directly and tell their story

14.04: Favourite winery Pedres Blanques, Banyuls, whilst traveling France

15.28: Another recommended winery Domaine Ligas in Pella, Greece

16.03: What is permaculture?

18.37: Palomino: How Christina realized how good this variety can be, looking at wines from Envinate and Suertes del Marques in Tenerife, and Eben Sadie of the Sadie family wines and Adi Badenhorst in South Africa

25.01: Making wine with Abe Schoener, a winemaker who has the Scholium project, but also more recently the LA River Wine Company

28.32: Why Palomino can taste special

31.44: Discussing Christinas winemaking journey and decisions when making her own wine The Alley 2019

- flor or no flor

- skin contact

- adding marbles to barrel to raise the levels of juice to top

- leaving wine on heavy lees

- adding sulphites

39.52: How The Alley 2019 tasted

42.00: What Christina learned on her winemaking journey and rescuing a stuck fermentation

44.17: LA River Raisin City White 2019

46.05: Recommended winery for Palomino in Jerez: Muchada-Léclapart

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This episode is part 2 with wine expert Helen McGinn, who you can watch on BBC’s Saturday Morning Kitchen and ITV’s This Morning. She's the author of the Book and Blog: Knacked Mother's Wine Club. During her 10 years as a wine buyer, one of the most rewarding regions to visit and which offered great value was the South West of France. We will be talking about the wonderful array of different grape varieties down there, the wine styles and the sub regions.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.50: Why is South West of France such a special wine region

3.21: The Co-op Plaimont – supporters of the local varieties

5.09: The views, vistas, and beauty of this wine region

8.18: Travelling to this wine region

9.30: The largest sub-region Bergerac including Pécharmant

12.22: Saint Mont and Fronton sub-region

13.05: The local grapes to discover

14.03: Sweet wines of Monbazillac and Saussignac compared to Sauternes

16.07: Sweet wines of Jurançon

17.10: Sweet wines of Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh

18.40: Madiran and the grape variety Tannat

23.50: Cahors and the grape variety Côt (Malbec)

29.45: Visiting Château Tour des Gendres in Bergerac

34.06: Gaillac, Gaillac Primeur and the local grapes

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

My guest today is Helen McGinn, wine expert on the BBC’s Saturday Morning Kitchen and ITV’s This Morning. She's the author of the Book and Blog: Knacked Mother's Wine Club. She has worked for over a decade as a wine buyer Tesco’s supermarket, and so this episode we are settling down to talk about her career and wine moments. We'll have some wine and food pairing recommendations and you’ll come away with a few wine tips. Enjoy.

If you want to skip ahead:

2.01: Helen’s wine journey

4.21: A Penfolds wine, that set the path for Helen

6.01: Krug 1988 – a significant wine memory

7.46: Joining Tesco’s as a wine buyer, and the lessons learnt

13.44: Starting the wine blog

19.08: Helen’s wine course on Create Academy

21.08: Tips for buying wine in a supermarket

23.36: Filming the wine course down at Wistons Estate with winemaker Dermot Sugrue

26.28: Choosing the wines on Saturday Morning Kitchen

27.48: Balfour Wineries Eight Acre Sparkling Rose £19.50 Coop

31.19: Best food pairings with wine

34.15: Discussing the flexibility of sparkling wine with all foods

35.39: Favorite wine glass for sparkling wine and wine glasses in general

38.43: Helen’s fiction books

41.32: The perfect wine for main character Stella in Helens latest book: This is Us

43.26: The perfect drink for Lizzie Bennett, Pride and Prejudice

44.21: The perfect wine for Lisbeth Salander, The girl with a dragon tattoo

Next week I am back with Helen for Part two and we are going to being talking about the wines of the South west of France.

And if the podcast isn't enough....

Fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

Or come say hi at www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat or on email: [email protected]

Until next time, Cheers to you!