Bordeaux (II): Merlot

Bordeaux (II): Merlot

Matthew Gaughan

Merlot is the most planted grape variety in Bordeaux, and is the base for wines at all price points and levels of quality. This episode focuses on the variety, its characteristics and the key Merlot-based appellations such as St-Emilion and Pomerol as well as nearby good-value alternatives.

Bordeaux (I): History and Trade

Bordeaux (I): History and Trade

Matthew Gaughan

The first of five new episodes on Bordeaux, France's largest appellation and one of the most famous and historic. This episode gives an overview of Bordeaux's history and how that is intrinsically linked to the development of its trade structure, classifications, markets, and styles of wine.

Loire Valley (III): Reds, Rosés, and Sparkling Wines

Loire Valley (III): Reds, Rosés, and Sparkling Wines

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

In this third and final episode exploring on the Loire Valley, the focus is on its reds, rosés, and sparkling wines. The greatest and most famous red wines come from Cabernet Franc, but there are plenty of other grapes such as Pinot Noir, Gamay, Malbec, and Pineau d'Aunis. There's plenty of rosé too, and there are several appellations for sparkling wine, all adding to the incredible diversity of the Loire.

Loire Valley (I): The Grape Varieties

Loire Valley (I): The Grape Varieties

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Revisiting the Loire Valley, with the first of three episodes focusing on the large, varied, and wonderful region. This episode looks at the grape varieties of the Loire Valley, their characteristics in the vineyard and the styles of wine they produce - including Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Melon, and other less well-known varieties.

News from Spain

News from Spain

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Fresh from a two-week trip to Spain, in this episode I share the insights I learnt from visiting the sherry region, Rioja, and Basque country - the latest trends and projections for the future.

Interview with Katie Nelson on Cabernet Sauvignon

Interview with Katie Nelson on Cabernet Sauvignon

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Katie Nelson has been making wine since the 1990s, and she is now based in Washington State where she makes the popular Borne of Fire Cabernet-based wine. In this interview, she talks about Cabernet Sauvignon - how it grows in Washington, the importance of site, tannin management, and other issues. Listen to get the lowdown on Cabernet in Washington.

Interview with Clay Maurtison (I) - The Evolution of the California Wine Industry

Interview with Clay Maurtison (I) - The Evolution of the California Wine Industry

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

First of three interviews with Clay Mauritson of Mauritson Wines located in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, in which he talks about his family history which dates back to 1868. That history parallels the ups and downs of the California Wine Industry - from the beginnings in the nineteenth century, through government intervention and corporate takeover, to the modern, more mature contemporary industry.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Bulgaria has a 3,000 year history of making wine, but it was only in the mid to late twentieth century that the wine was drunk abroad. After the fall of communism, quality went into decline but it's now slowly rising and there's some good wine coming from Bulgaria if you know where to look. This episode focuses on the history, the grape varieties, and the regions of Bulgaria.

Hardy Wallace of Dirty & Rowdy on Mourvèdre

Hardy Wallace of Dirty & Rowdy on Mourvèdre

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Mourvèdre is one of the great Mediterranean grapes, but it's often neglected as the third and least important of the GSM varieties. However, there's much more to it than that. In this episode, I talk to Hardy Wallace of Dirty & Rowdy, a California producer that's become known for their single-varietal, single-vineyard wines from Mourvèdre. Hardy discusses what Mourvèdre is like to work with in the vineyard, why he thinks it's the ultimate expression of California, and why it's capable of making such varied wines.

Interview with Eric Lyman (I) - The Process

Interview with Eric Lyman (I) - The Process

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

First of a series of interviews with a custom crush winemaker from Napa Valley. In this first episode, we explore how he approaches the practicalities of winemaking, especially when dealing with different customers' needs and expectations - an approach he says is all about "process." A fascinating insight into everything a winemaker does behind the scenes.

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