The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
96 results across all types
podcast· 52:05· S6E21AO YUN - The Insider's Guide
In fiction, Shangri-La was a mythical place of boundless human wisdom and agelessness. These days, after China re-named a city in north-west Yunnan Province, it's the backdrop of a potential game-changer for Chinese wine. This particular backdrop is forbidding. Think: precipitous mountain gorges above the raging Mekong River at nearly 3,000 metres altitude. A patchwork of small-holding vineyards cling to the hillsides. Prunings are fed to yaks. Tea, tobacco and mushrooms are Yunnan's historic crops. No wonder the wine potential in the Meili Mountain region long remained hidden. That is, until a particularly stubborn and resilient Australian winemaker, Tony Jordan, embarked on an arduous search on behalf of global luxury group LVMH to unearth a Chinese Grand Cru terroir. He found Shangri-La. But would his bet pay off? In this episode we discover the intriguing story of Ao Yun - how (on earth) it came to be, just how challenging this operation is to run, and most importantly - what's the
podcast· 49:35· S6E20‘Adrenaline rush’: Wine Auctions & Trends with iDealwine
It's not every day the world of wine is described in terms like: 'adrenaline rush,' and going 'crazy'. Welcome to the world of online wine auctions, particularly that of iDealwine (sponsors of this show). iDealwine is a treasure trove not only of wine goodies but also high-tech functionality - so in this episode we explore how these online wine auctions work and why they might be worth trying out if you haven't already. Whisper it - but apparently they're pretty easy, accessible (with prices starting at €1) and... fun . We talk about all this as well as analyse the wine market trends of today and tomorrow with iDealwine co-founder Angélique de Lencquesaing. We also hear from iDealwine customer Jordan O'Brien in Toronto as to why we should, in his words, 'dive right in.' Along the way we talk hidden gems, Japanese Pinot Noir, 4 o'clock starts, fake wine and 1965 vinegar... Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe . O
podcast· 48:51· S6E19Battle of the Bubbles
BREAKING: A titanic showdown between top champagnes and the best of the rest has been settled. The victors? Headline writers... This is an impromptu pod reflecting the momentous nature of this Battle of the Bubbles tasting, which took place at the London Wine Fair 2025. Sixteen top judges (including both of us); 26 top wines, including some of Champagne's most reputable (and highly priced) bottles - and some quite astonishing results. In this episode we give the lowdown on the results and reflect on what it all means. Including the intriguing undercurrents and subtexts, as well as our personal insights and conclusions. (And yes, we do disagree...) There are some great value recommendations in there too. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe . Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, including full listings of the wines, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E19 - Battle of
podcast· 36:02· S6E18News & Views 2025: Alcohol in deep space; Pope Francis - wine legend; Global wine stutters - but Essex, Bhutan, Pompeii on the up
Where we selectively recap on the wine headlines in recent months (informative - but also fun) and respond to various questions, comments...and grumbles. We gaze into deep space in search of booze. We consider how global wine can be in the doldrums...but Essex is on the up. We hear a sad tale of vandals destroying scientific research, and a heartening story of how ancient Pompeii wine is set to be revived. Above all, we revel in the wise words of the recently deceased Pope Francis, who declared wine to be a 'gift from God', a 'healthy consumer habit' and, 'a true joy for the heart of man'. Apparently he told winemaker Ricardo Cotarella: 'You can't party without wine.' Our kind of Pope. We play our globally popular Guess the Missing Word in the Wine Headline game, this time featuring Bridget Jones, Bhutan, a wrestling superstar and various forms of wildlife. Just a trigger warning for anyone traumatised by the mention of Peter's pants from our previous episode on fake wine - Peter's pan
podcast· 50:23· S6E17Fake Wine: A Laughing Matter?
Brilliant rogues counterfeit unicorn wine, fool the establishment and laugh their way to the bank. It's good story - so good that even The Simpsons have released an episode dedicated to wine fraud . But is this just a laughing matter? This is without doubt one of our FAVOURITE EVER Wine Blast episodes. It stars no less than Homer and Marge Simpson, Mr Burns, Waylon Smithers and Professor Frink. Together with The Simpsons co-writer Johnny LaZebnik and wine fraud expert Maureen Downey. Fraud is an ever-bigger issue for the wine world. It's nothing new (Pliny the Elder grumbled about it in Roman times). But in the wake of notorious fraudsters like Hardy Rodenstock and Rudy Kurniawan, it has become more professional and widespread, with organised crime moving into a profitable and low-risk venture. The implications are profound, as Maureen Downey explains. But that doesn't mean we can't have a laugh about it. So we get exclusive access to the hilarious animated world of The Simpsons to exp
podcast· 49:49· S6E16Do You Need More than One Wine Glass in Your Life?
Some people say you need loads of different wine glasses. Others say you need just one kind (known as 'universals'). There's money, reputation, even relationships on the line here. So what's the answer?! In this episode we share significant new research by Jackie Ang MW , hot off the press, that answers two key questions. Firstly, do different wine glasses make you taste and rate a wine differently? Secondly, which work better: 'universal' wine glasses, or grape-variety-specific glasses? We also hear strong views from two big hitters in the wine glass world: 11th-generation Austrian glassmaker Maximilian Riedel and renowned wine writer Jancis Robinson MW , co-creator of the 'Jancis' glass. Of course we also share our views on the matter, to help guide you through a subject that can be as complex and headache-inducing as a night on the fine wine. Along the way we touch on golf clubs, blindfolds, jet engines, shoe collections, Marie Kondo - and how a measuring tape could help save you mo
podcast· 1h 02m· S6E15RIDGE - The Insider's Guide
Ridge is an iconic wine producer - not just in its homeland California, but in global terms too. But how and why did it attain this status in just 70 years? Is it really true their policy has been never to hire a trained winemaker? What is this 'pre-industrial winemaking' they champion? How have they managed to successfully buck the trend for opulence in California Cabernet? Which of their wines (whisper it) don't we like? And can you really be great at both Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, two grapes seemingly at opposite ends of the red wine spectrum? Answers to all these questions and more feature in this treat of a show to mark Wine Blast's fifth birthday (yay!) We hear fascinating insights and stories from Ridge Chairman Paul Draper as well as head winemaker John Olney before diving into Ridge's wines, including a vertical tasting of Lytton Springs Zinfandel back to 1976. (A Monte Bello Cab from 1977 pops up too...) These are wines that make you smile - then make you think. We ho
podcast· 50:14· S6E14Wine in a Can - Sacré Bleu!
Wine. In a can. A hellish reality of tinny plonk? Or a convenient, eco-friendly, fun new format that's the future for wine? This is fun one, because our adventure starts with comedy legend (and proud French snob) Marcel Lucont. We're not only treated to an epic live rendition of his scabrous poem 'Wine in a Can' (compulsory listening for any wine lover) but also his delicious musings on wine and life more generally - including Beaujolais for breakfast. After picking ourselves up off the floor, we try to regain some dignity as we ask three questions: Is canned wine any good? Why should we buy it, if at all? And which ones are best? We exclusively reveal the results of a blind taste test by two Masters of Wine (ie us) to see if we can spot the difference between the same wine from a bottle and a can. And we report the highlights from a mega-tasting of 77 canned wines, giving a definitive verdict on this fast-moving scene. Along the way we hear from fellow Master of Wine Richard Kelley (T
podcast· 38:31· S6E13Appellation Marlborough Wine
Appellations are wine regions with rules, normally associated with Europe. So how come an enviably free-wheeling, super successful region like New Zealand's Marlborough has felt the need to develop Appellation Marlborough Wine ? We put this question and more to Ben Glover, renowned winemaker and proud Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) member. He talks about, 'ripping the beige quilt off Marlborough' and his distaste for 'mediocrity'. We also have fun playing around with AMW's jazzy new interactive wine map, tasting along to bring the geography to life through a set of delicious Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. (You can do the same too!) Thanks to Appellation Marlborough Wine for sponsoring this episode and once again allowing us to taste and talk about one of our all-time favourite wine regions. We also touch on things as diverse as pastoral shows, the Model T Ford in black, springtime fireworks, scripture, swamps, growing pains, snow peas, 'corrupt acidity' and dancing a merry jig... Th
podcast· 46:19· S6E12Why Wine Matters
Wine and other booze are under attack like seldom before, from many sides: moralists, the media, health authorities citing dubious studies... So it's high time we reminded ourselves why wine is important, the many values and benefits it has, and what we can all do to challenge these pernicious narratives. Don't worry. This isn't some dry treatise or frothy-mouthed rant. We are privileged to have acclaimed authority Karen MacNeil (author of The Wine Bible , no less) making the case for wine eloquently and persuasively. But Karen doesn't stop there. She's letting her actions speak louder than words by launching two global wine advocacy campaigns - Come Over October and Share & Pair Sundays - aimed at encouraging people to come together over a glass of wine and promoting conviviality, sociability and fun. For wine lovers, it's time to stand up and be counted. In this show we explore why, and also touch on things as diverse as jugs of vodka, joyful companions, The Simpsons, and just how us
podcast· 49:12· S6E11Margaret River Finds its Voice
Western Australia's Margaret River is renowned as one of the world's foremost fine wine hotspots. But it only got started in 1967, so how has it built that reputation so fast? What makes this place unique? Why is it called, 'wine utopia' as well as, 'the best hangover cure known to man'?! Join us as we go behind the scenes with a star-studded list of Margaret River wine royalty, from Cape Mentelle to Cloudburst via Vasse Felix, Cullen, Moss Wood, Xanadu, Voyager, McHenry Hohnen and Larry Cherubino. We talk elegant Cabernet and savoury Chardonnay (plus the odd bit of Savagnin), also touching on things as diverse as Alfred Hitchcock, space invaders, Formula One, Tall Poppy syndrome, kangaroos, transparency, margaritas, radiometrics, raucous birds and short shorts. We even take a moment to appreciate a bit of opera... This is a sponsored episode in conjunction with Western Australian government and industry - the second in a two-parter mini series (check out our episode on the Great South
podcast· 52:59· S6E10Don't Know Western Australia's Great Southern? You Should
What the hell...where the hell...is the Great Southern?! That's what most people say. Which is why Peter got on a plane and braved fires, snakes and Vegemite to bring you this story of what is arguably Western Australia's best kept secret. Remote? Undoubtedly. Rural? Positively. Hugely exciting for the elegant, refined, often under-valued Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Shiraz...even Grenache and Mourvedre?! You betcha. So join us on this thrilling journey of discovery, where we paint a soundscape as well as a taste map, and meet wonderful wine personalities who talk us through weird and wonderful things from cuddles to Wonderbras, emperor penguins, the X-factor, shade cloth, resplendence and knitting. Interviewees include Tom Wisdom, Mike Garland (Plantagenet), Erin Larkin, Guy Lyons (Forest Hill), Patrick Corbett (Singlefile), Matt Swinney and Rob Mann (Swinney), Marelize Russouw (Alkoomi), Larry Cherubino and Sid the dog. Our thanks to the Western Australian government and industry
podcast· 48:21· S6E9Lessons in Wine Chemistry
Why does wine taste the way it does? Why does Cabernet smell like blackcurrant? Or Syrah like pepper? Or Beaujolais like...bananas?! In this intriguing show our genial, white-coated guide is wine chemist and sensory scientist Gus Zhu, the first Chinese Master of Wine. As he says, 'Behind every glass of wine, there is science.' In terms of chemistry, wine is one of the most complex solutions on the planet. Not only that, but human senses are notoriously complicated and variable. It all makes answering the question of why wine tastes the way it does...quite tricky. But do not fear - there's plenty to learn and enjoy in this episode, and we touch on things as varied as flowers, cigarettes, farting, petrol, AI, soap, saliva, whisky, urine and strawberry-flavoured yoghurt. NB: you can get 15% off Gus' brilliant new book ( Behind the Glass: The Chemical and Sensorial Terroir of Wine Tasting ) by using the code WINEBLAST15 at www.academieduvinlibrary.com Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear
podcast· 43:34· S6E8Our WINES OF THE YEAR (2024)
Is it a white? Is it a red?! Is it a rosé??!! Or is our WINE OF THE YEAR none (or all) of the above...because it is, quite simply, pure gold? Welcome to our Wines of the Year show, an annual favourite where we look back over the past year, not always entirely seriously, and raise many a glass in the process. We recap on key news, play Guess the Missing Word in the Wine Headline, share listener input...and then recommend the wines which have made the biggest impression on us this year, from a great value red and white pair, a left-field fizz, a hot-shot producer of the year...culminating in a truly epic Wine of the Year. Along the way we talk robots, beefing up Burgundy, tipsy shrews, BBQ sauce, dinosaurs, sherry trifle, Beethoven, childish protests and a long-dead Roman. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe . Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode including full wine recommenda
podcast· 52:45· S6E7The Vines of the Future...Are Here
There's a revolution going on in the vineyards. It's coming to a glass near you soon. And it could change the world of wine forever. We're talking super vines . Bionic vines. PIWIs. Resistant vines. Hybrids. TEA vines - the new generation, 'assisted evolution' kit. Whatever you want to call them - there's a new breed of grape vines spreading fast all over the wine world, from Champagne to Piedmont, fuelled by the urgent need to reduce vineyard treatments and face up to climate change. In this show we talk to wine growers and researchers at the cutting edge of this fast-evolving field - Nicola Biasi, Dr Riccardo Velasco, Professor Mario Pezzotti and Hugo Drappier. If that isn't enough, we also have some BREAKING NEWS for you. The criticism often levelled at PIWI or resistant vines is that they don't make very nice wines. We challenge that notion with a tasting of our own - which includes some great value recommendations you can try out too (including a £6 bargain at Tesco...) Thanks for
podcast· 40:45· S6E6Portugal's Great Whites - Bucking Brancos
This show's got everything. It's got deliciously unexpected wine discoveries. It's got live music. It's even got a donkey. You can't ask for more than that. As for how that all comes together...well, you'll just have to listen, won't you?! This episode's all about Portugal's white wines, the best of which are astonishingly good and different and worthwhile (and, relatively speaking, inexpensive). Join us as we explore why this is, from Vinho Verde to the Douro, Dão, Alentejo and beyond, with the help of top-notch producers Tiago Mendes and Daniel Niepoort, plus plenty of open bottles. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe . Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode including full wine recommendations, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E6 - Portugal's Great Whites Instagram: @susieandpeter
podcast· 59:57· S6E5Tainted Love - The Ultimate Guide to Wine Faults
Ladybug poo. Cheesy feet. Mould. Boiled eggs. Cabbage. Drains. Vomit. Nail varnish remover. Dead mouse... Yes, you can find all these noxious aromas in a glass of wine. They are very real - and in this episode we put our bodies on the line as we blind taste through all these horrors and more, to answer the big questions and ensure you know your stuff. (Because life is too short for faulty wine.) So what are the main wine faults? How can you spot them? Is it true some are becoming more common? Why do they happen? What can you do about it? And dead mouse...really??!! The answers may surprise and shock you. We have Dutch sensory scientist Sietze Wijma in the hot-seat, serving us wines spiked with taints to bring these faults to life. We give our six Top Wine Taint Tips - and explain how to check your wine properly. Which, as we reveal, can actually be a matter of life and death. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe
podcast· 53:43· S6E4Chinese Wine: What's the Deal?
China has the world's third biggest vineyard and a long history with fermentation and booze. So what's Chinese wine like? Why do we not see more of it outside China? And why are some people predicting big things for Chinese wine in the future? Answers to all this and more flow thick and fast in this intriguing episode, the result of Susie's recent wine trip to China during which she sat down to record with expert insiders Li Demei and Natalie Wang. We also taste several Chinese wines and deliver our verdict on where the country's wines are right now. Ultimately, we ask: is this an inflection point for Chinese wine? Along the way we discuss things as varied as burying vines, baijiu , karaoke, geopolitical hot potatoes, Marselan, heavy bottles, 'half-juice', poetry, pandas, pigswill, pricing and horses on travellators... Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe . Or you can find contact info, together with all details
podcast· 52:09· S6E3Life or Death? On Wine and Health
Consider this our call to arms for wine. Where we grapple heroically with the thorny issue of wine and health, calling out misinformation and over-reach, and learn that the truth is always complex, potentially positive - but often mis-represented. This makes us angry and frustrated. And you should feel the same too. You may also feel confused or jaded by this topic. Understandably so. But join us and we will hopefully clear things up AND imbue you with renewed vigour to fight the good fight. Because this is about things we all hold dear - freedom, fairness and our health and personal pleasure. For wine lovers, this is not a time to stay silent. Helping us shed light on this contentious topic are Christopher Snowdon from the Institute of Economic Affairs and Dr Laura Catena , former emergency physician in San Francisco, now head of respected Argentine winery Catena Zapata. Also cited are Tim Stockwell, Sir David Spiegelhalter, Kenneth Mukamal, Eric B Rimm and Edward Slingerland. Along t
podcast· 44:23· S6E2Hunter Valley: History to High Jinks
A hop, skip and jump away from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is renowned as the birthplace of Australian wine. And yet this is far from ideal wine territory: hot, sticky, often stormy. So how did this tiny wine region come to play such an outsize role in Ozzie wine’s history and evolution? Join us to find out why as we chew the cud with Hunter legend Bruce Tyrrell (sample quote: ‘I’m the luckiest man in the wine industry’) and winemaker Xanthe Hatcher (‘The Hunter’s a region of extremes…’) We touch on everything from French pick-pockets to oysters and, 'oblivion for a dollar fifty'. We explore how Hunter Semillon became an idiosyncratic global classic whose naturally low alcohol, refreshing, distinctive and food-friendly style paradoxically mean it’s well suited to the wine drinkers of today. (But it wasn’t always going to be this way – at one stage the wines had enough acidity, ‘to take the enamel off your teeth!’) And we also look beyond Semillon to other Hunter staples like Chardonnay a
podcast· 1h 16m· S6E1Chile Wines of the Year 2024
It's a biggie. Our Chile Wines of the Year 2024 - a celebration and exploration of this slender South American nation's wines. And what's coming up may surprise you. So if you think you know Chilean wine - be prepared to think again. We discuss vineyards planted before the French revolution, sensational value Pinot Noir (the holy grail!), flor-aged Semillon, a Pinot Gris inspired by the great orange wines of Friuli, wines you 'eat' rather than drink and old-vine País made, 'as if it were the finest Pinot Noir from Burgundy'. We hear from Chilean wine luminaries including Felipe Marin, Ricardo Baettig, Ana María Cumsille, François Massoc, Eduardo Chadwick, Matías Ríos and Edgard Carter. (Told you it was big.) There's plenty of opinion, insight, top tips. Even the odd 'light-house wine' and inflection point. Oh, and we also blow our own trumpets a bit after this podcast WON THE 67 PALL MALL GLOBAL WINE COMMUNICATOR AWARD !! In case you're wondering, in this programme we also explain what
podcast· 46:10· S5E25Action Stations - Wines to Combat Climate Change
Climate change is a worry. We get it. But how to do something positive about it, especially as a wine lover? After all, it's not easy knowing which wines to buy to support producers doing the right thing... Which is where the IWCA comes in handy - International Wineries for Climate Action. This is a bunch of conscientious wine producers who have signed up to stringent, science-based carbon emission audits and committed to reaching net zero by 2050. As well as sharing info and generally being responsible about the environment. It's ground-breaking stuff and in this episode we get the low-down on the IWCA and hear about ingenious schemes to combat climate change from Familia Torres president and IWCA co-founder Miguel A Torres (the legend!), Sogrape fourth generation member Mafalda Guedes and Ramuntxo Andonegui of Domaine Lafage in Roussillon. We also recommend our favourites from a recent IWCA 'low emission wine' tasting in London. The word 'extinction' crops up. But so do the words 're
podcast· 45:46· S5E24We Need To Talk About Rosé
It's popular, it's pleasurable - and it's much misunderstood. Rosé is having a moment and yet the myths remain pervasive. That's our cue to ride to the rescue, busting a host of rosé myths as we go, shooting down cardinal sins from the hip, and urging a radical re-think of rosé all round. We hear from rosé experts Elizabeth Gabay MW and Ben Berhneim as well as fifth-generation producer Caroline Deforges of the world-famous Clos Cibonne estate in the south of France. Rosé is often patronisingly dismissed as simple and forgettable. Party plonk best drunk pool-side, ideally while wearing a bikini. And yet, alongside the rise of pink Prosecco and posh Provençal super-cuvées, there's a rosé revolution going on that you really don't want to miss. As one of our interviewees puts it: 'open your mind' and 'you will be surprised!' So here's to freeing our minds and drinking the sunset! We also recommend a bunch of brilliant rosé wines so you can join in the fun. Thanks for tuning in. We love to
podcast· 1h 27m· S5E23Wine and War: Palestine, Israel and Lebanon
Wine can seem tremendously unimportant at a time of war. At what is a torrid time in the Middle East, we wanted to check in with three winemakers - from Palestine, Israel and Lebanon - and ask: can wine really be a source of positivity during troubled times? What we hear in this episode may surprise you. It's a departure from our regular format - a bonus extended edition - because we wanted to give proper airtime to these powerful, nuanced, important interviews. Wine has more history in the Levant than in almost every other place on earth, bar the Caucasus. Its revival in recent years has been intriguing and exciting. So what is its place now that conflict is raging? Wine is a conversation starter. There is value in talking. We wanted to take the time to listen - and so we thank Sari Khoury (Philokalia), Eran Pick MW (Tzora Vineyards) and Faouzi Issa (Domaine des Tourelles) for taking the time to talk and share their forthright views with us. Here are a few sample quotes: 'We have so m