Shows
Freelancing for JournalistsBest Specialist Journalist Rebecca PitcairnJust in time for New Year's Eve we speak to freelance English wine writer Rebecca Pitcairn. A regional journalist turned wine writer, Rebecca was winner of Best Specialist at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2025. She explains how to develop a niche, within a niche and the benefit of hosting your own podcast series.Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year!GuestRebecca Pitcairn https://www.instagram.com/theenglishwinediaries/...
2025-12-3136 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 99: Alasdair Warren, Owner Bride Valley VineyardSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Alasdair Warren, owner of Bride Valley Vineyard in Dorset. Born and raised in Dorset, Alasdair and his family have a long history of farming in the county, with his Great Grandfather establishing Warren's cider in the 1920s.Educated at the University of Nottingham with a Batchelor of Science in Geology, Alasdair began his career in investment banking and currently heads up a Global Soda Ash business. He also runs Slapelands Farm, just outside Bridport, where he u...
2025-10-2250 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 98 - Brad Lomas, Co-founder and owner, Boys HallSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Brad Lomas, co-founder and owner of Boys Hall, a beautifully restored, 9-bedroom 17th-century Jacobean manor in Ashford, Kent. With a background in pubs, restaurants, and operations – most notably as Operations Director at East London Pub Co. – Brad brings a wealth of industry experience to Boys Hall, which he runs alongside his wife, Kristie. The couple have painstakingly restored the house to its former glory with the help of family, friends, and a variety of local specialists – the vision to...
2025-10-1541 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 97: Jim Rankin, Commercial and Managing Director Rankin Bros. & SonsSend us a textWelcome back to a new series of The English Wine Diaries and a special welcome to our brand new sponsor – Rankin Brothers and Sons,leading manufacturer and supplier of bottle closures to the drinks industry.So, to kick start the 14th series, I have Rankin's, Commercial & Managing Director, JIm Rankin joining me. Jim is the sixth generation of the family to lead the business, which was founded just over 250 years ago in 1774, meaning it has seen – and survived – the creation of the United States of America, two World Wars, and the...
2025-10-0841 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 96 – The Baxter sisters AKA Four DaughtersSend us a textJoining me on this week’s episode of The English Wine Diaries are Amy, Emma and Lucy Baxter – three quarters of the sibling foursome that make up Four Daughters, a new English wine brand based on their family’s fourth generation fruit farm in Kent. Having successfully run their farm for almost 80 years, the Baxter family were approached a few years back to become a contract grower for Balfour Winery, beginning their exploration into grape growing. This partnership continues but it also sowed the seed that they too could make wine, and the...
2025-08-1448 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 95 – Patrick McGrath MW, CEO Hatch Mansfield and co-founder Domaine EvremondSend us a textOn today's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Patrick McGrath, Master of Wine and CEO of Hatch Mansfield, a UK specialist in premium wines made by independently-owned wine companies from around the world.Patrick joined the wine trade in 1983 as a Management Trainee with Victoria Wine, spending his first 6 months in shops and then joining the buying department. Five years later he joined Grants of St James’s as Marketing Manager for the former Hatch Mansfield business, before moving to Mentzendorff in 1991 as Marketing Controller and then Director for Bollinger Ch...
2025-08-0635 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 94: Jessica Summer, Founder Mouse & GrapeSend us a textJoining me on this week’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Jessica Summer, founder of Mouse & Grape an award-winning cheese and wine business specialising in curated hampers and immersive tasting events focused on this delicious food and wine combo. Jessica, who last year opened her first deli and wine bar in London, was one of Harpers 30 Under 30 in 2023 and this year was named winner of the IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Award, as well as winner of Retail Buyer of the year at The Drinks Business Awards. Unde...
2025-07-231h 02
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 93: Billy Sengupta, Co-founder and CMO Cobham HouseSend us a textJoining me this week's episode of the English Wine Diaries is Billy Sengupta, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Cobham House, a new English wine brand based in Kent. After working at Diageo for over seven years, Billy left his position as Global Director of Luxury Tequila to help realise a 32-year-old family dream of owning a vineyard. In 2022, three generations of his family came together to launch Cobham House Vineyard and earlier this year they launched their first wine, a luxury, vintag still English rosé made by esteemed win...
2025-07-1750 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 92 – Sam Weatherill, Wine director at Etch by Steven EdwardsSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Sam Weatherill, wine director at etch. by Steven Edwards, an award-winning restaurant based in Hove, East Sussex founded by 2013 Master Chef the Professionals winner, Steven Edwards. Since the restaurant opened in 2017, etch has gained a cult following and global reputation for its wine offering – particularly that made in Great Britain; it is said to have the second largest selection of English sparkling wine in the country, after 67 Pall Mall. Born and raised in Brighton, Sam, who goes by the...
2025-07-0959 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 91: Ed Mansel-Lewis, Head of Viticulture at Knight FrankSend us a textThis episode of The English Wine Diaries is brought to you in partnership with Knight Frank’s Viticulture department – the leading vineyard broker in the UK and the exclusive property partner of WineGB and the Wine Garden of England.As the only dedicated viticulture team in property consultancy, they support both the largest and most exciting emerging wineries - not just through brokerage, but also through consultancy that helps vineyard owners scale their businesses. Their expertise spans sales, distribution, valuation and planning, making them a key player in the growth of the...
2025-07-0253 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 90: Harry Cragoe, Founder The GallivantSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Harry Cragoe, founder of The Gallivant – a luxury beachside retreat in Camber Sands, near the picturesque market town of Rye in East Sussex. Harry describes himself as an entrepreneur with a purpose and his career has taken him across the globe and into many different businesses with one clear mission – to spark moments of joy and happiness through hospitality. The Gallivant epitomises this. Here, Harry and his wife, Sigrid, have created a place rooted in delivering exceptional hospital...
2025-06-2547 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 89 - Gary Read, CEO BOLLE DrinksSend us a textDid you know over 40% of people in the UK are looking to cut down on their alcohol intake? This episode of The English Wine Diaries podcast is brought to you in partnership with BOLLE – the innovative wine brand vying to redefine the no and low category. Joining me today is Gary Read, CEO of BOLLE Drinks, a proudly English brand that is leading the charge in this fast-growing space with the world’s first and only non-alcoholic wine to undergo secondary fermentation. This process enables non-alcoholic wine to maintain the same depth...
2025-04-2348 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 88: Simon Rolfe, Co-founder Sea Change WineSend us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Simon Rolfe, director of 10 International and co-founder of Sea Change, an eco-friendly wine company that directly supports global ocean conservation projects. After living with his family on the coast of Australia, Simon, who previously worked in investment banking, saw first-hand the damage being done to the ocean. He helped found Sea Change in 2018, with the mission to turn the tide against plastic pollution. Sea Change wines are all vegan, they have no plastic wrap around the a...
2025-04-1649 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 87 Sibylla Tindale, High Clandon Estate VineyardSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Sibylla Tindale, co-founder of High Clandon Estate in the heart of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Sibylla and her husband, Bruce, founded the boutique vineyard, which sits on a chalky-limestone hill, 20 years ago with the aim of producing only aged vintage sparkling wine to rival – and even surpass – the best that France can offer. Each year the Tindales, who are originally from South Africa, celebrate the launch of their exquisite Cuvées with their flagship...
2025-04-0952 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 86 Richard Gladwin - Co-founder Local & Wild, part of the Nutbourne Vineyards familySend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Richard Gladwin of "Local & Wild" a restaurant group co-founded with his brother, Oliver, which celebrates seasonal, sustainable dining inspired by their countryside upbringing on the family farm and vineyard, Nutbourne in West Sussex. Together, they have a portfolio of five London restaurants, which each bring the farm-to-table philosophy to life in the city. The restaurants also champion English wine, particularly those from Nutbourne. Vines were first planted at Nutbourne in 1979 and have been owned, managed and expanded by t...
2025-04-0249 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 85 - Jeany Cronk, co-founder MirabeauSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Jeany Cronk, co-founder of Mirabeau. Born in Munich, Jeany moved to the UK for secondary school and later studied at the London School of Economics. A career in tech Marketing followed, where she met her husband, Stephen in 1997, and together they have three children. Life in the leafy suburbs of South London was good but something was missing and in 2009 the family gave up England for fragrant Provence with the dream of creating their own brand of rosé...
2025-03-2654 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 84: Laura Riches, co-founder LayloSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Laura Riches, co-founder of wine brand Laylo. Laura was previously the marketing director at Naked Wines, the UK's largest direct-to-consumer wine brand and, during her tenure, was responsible for record-breaking years of customer retention through a focus on customer engagement and storytelling.In November 2020, Laura joined forces with Laura Rosenberger to create Laylo with the aim of reinventing boxed wine and making environmentally conscious drinking a no-brainer. The design of glass wine bottles has barely chan...
2025-03-1947 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 83: Sandy Booth, B58 WinerySend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Sandy Booth, life-long farmer and owner of B58 Winery in Beaulieu, Hampshire. Sandy founded the B58 Winery off the back of his hugely successful soft fruit farming business, after realising that his knowledge and innovative approach to growing fruit in polytunnels could also be applied to growing grape varieties that aren’t usually, successfully grown in the UK climate. Growing up in St Andrews, Scotland, Sandy learnt about farming life from his father, who worked on a cattle...
2025-03-1245 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 82 - Trevor Clough - CEO & Head Blender, Digby Fine EnglishSend us a textWelcome to a new series of The English Wine Diaries and my first guest to join me to talk about all things English wine in 2025 is Trevor Clough, CEO and head blender of Digby Fine English. Trevor and his husband, Jason Humphries, launched their first Digby wines for sale in 2013 having swapped the corporate grind of London for Sussex, in the heart of English wine country. Impelled to give English sparkling wine the same fanfare as its international counterparts, they developed a method of ranking England’s burgeoning vineyards to f...
2025-03-0548 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 81: Mark Darley, All AngelsSend us a textJoining me on the last episode of season 11 of The English Wine Diaries is Mark Darley, founder and owner of All Angels Vineyard in Newbury, Berkshire. Mark and his family became custodians of Church Farm in 2009 and, while it was still earlyish days for English wine back then, talks around the dinner table soon turned to planting a vineyard. When the farmland was analysed as ideal for growing grapes for outstanding English Sparkling Wine, and the first vineyard planted in 2011, Mark decided to swap his daily commute to the ci...
2024-12-0454 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 80: Luke Spalding, EverflyhtSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Luke Spalding General Manager at Everflyht Vineyard in East Sussex. With a background in wine studies from Plumpton Wine Division, and having worked at nearby vineyard, Ridgeview, Luke joined the Everflyht single vineyard estate in 2019 just two years after owners Ben and Sam Ellis planted the first vines. As well as planting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier on their land, which sits at the bottom of Ditchling Beacon, they also set aside acreage for biodiversity and have sinc...
2024-11-271h 10
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 79: Laura Robinson and Mathew Abbey, Burn Valley VineyardSend us a textOn today’s episode of the English Wine Diaries is Laura Robinson and Mathew Abbey from Burn Valley Vineyard in Norfolk. Laura’s family moved to Crossways Farm in North Creake in October 1989, but it wasn’t until 2016 that they decided to plant vines on their land, harvesting their first crop after the hot summer of 2018. Since then, they have built and expanded a winery and developed a portfolio of still, sparkling and sweet wines and vermouths. Laura, who has a background in forensic science, works with her siste...
2024-11-1344 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 78: Tom Gilbey, wine expert and marathon runner!!Send us a textJoining me on today’s episode of the English Wine Diaries is award-winning wine expert and social media sensation, Tom Gilbey. The Gilbey name is synonymous with wine and spirits. The Gilbey family were the first English family to buy a vineyard in Bordeaux in 1875 and subsequently became the most prominent wine and spirits merchant in the UK, selling one in every three bottles of wine consumed, and building a portfolio that included Smirnoff Vodka, J&B whisky and their very own Gilbeys Gin.Tom spent much of his chi...
2024-11-0650 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 77: Richard Balfour-Lynn, Co-founder Balfour Wine EstateSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Richard Balfour-Lynn, co-founder of Balfour Winery in Kent. Following an education at Westminster School and the City of London Business School, Richard set up his first business at 24 years old – his early business interests ranged from Irish linen and lace to medical diagnostic centres and air conditioning companies, all with varying degrees of success and failure. In his late 20s, he began developing high end residential properties across Central London and later progressed into commercial property ranging from o...
2024-10-2341 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 76: Johnny Stanford, Restaurant TernSend us a textJoining me on this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Johnny Stanford, chef patron of Tern Restaurant in Worthing. Manchester born and bred, Johnny began his career working with Paul Kitching at his acclaimed restaurant Juniper in Altrincham, before heading to Cumbria, then Edinburgh and finally settling in Sussex in 2012. Johnny worked as sous chef at the Michelin starred restaurant Matt Gillan @ The Pass before taking the reins as head chef at Pascere in Brighton and then heading up the 3 AA rosettes restaurant AG’s at Alexander Hous...
2024-10-1646 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 75: Mary Bridges, head winemaker at GusbourneSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Mary Bridges, head winemaker and vineyard visionary at Gusbourne.Mary grew up near Inverness in Scotland in a farming family, where her love of the land developed from an early age, along with an instinct for the flavour alchemy created by good wine.She started her career in hospitality and quickly became enthused with the wine aspect, so sought to further her passion and knowledge at Plumpton College, all the way down south in Sussex. Bef...
2024-10-0936 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 74: Sam Caporn MW aka The Mistress of WineSend us a textWe're back with series 11 of The English Wine Diaries and kick starting this season is The Mistress of Wine, aka Sam Caporn MW. Not only is Sam one of just 421 Masters of Wine world-wide, (of which there are only 149 women) she was also the recipient of the 2011 Madame Bollinger Medal for Excellence in Tasting and remains one of just 16 women to have received the medal to date. Sam’s wine career started as a trainee manager at Majestic and in the years that followed, she studied a swathe of wine...
2024-10-0256 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 73: Wine presenter and communicator Tom SurgeySend us a textJoining me on the last episode of series 10 of The English Wine Diaries is wine expert and presenter, Tom Surgey. Tom was just 14 when his career in hospitality started, peeling carrots and potatoes in a Sussex pub after school. At the tender age of 20, he found himself working at The Ivy in London, where a hero called Sancho taught him the basics of wine and his passion for the drink really grew. He took his WSET qualifications and, hooked on wine, left the restaurant side of the industry in 2014 to...
2024-08-071h 09
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 72: Michael Kennedy, CEO Roebuck EstatesSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Michael Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer of Roebuck Estates – who make premium sparkling wine from their multi-vineyard estates in Sussex.Following university, Michael joined the Graduate Management Scheme of Marks and Spencer, and became the first trainee manager to be appointed to an overseas position in Paris. After a period as a buyer, he moved to Mars Confectionery where he worked as a National Sales Manager in the UK.What followed was years in the drinks industry working pred...
2024-07-3146 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 71: David Bailey, Wraxall VineyardSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is David Bailey – the owner of Wraxall Vineyard in Somerset. David and his wife, Lexa Hunt bought Wraxall – thought to be the oldest vineyard in Somerset – in February 2021 having moved into the neighbouring 200-year-old farmhouse a few years earlier. The couple, who have both run and grown businesses within the financial sector, had absolutely no viticultural experience but saw an opportunity, not only to make great wine, but a place where people can come and enjoy that wine. Last y...
2024-07-2441 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 70: John Wilkins, Commercial Director Penn Croft Vineyards & Itasca WinesSend us a textJoining me on this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is John Wilkins, Commercial Director at Itasca Wines and Penn Croft Vineyards in Hampshire. Itasca Wines is a sustainable full contract winemaking company, which under the lead of award-winning winemaker Ben Smith, delivers a grape to bottle service for a host of top wine brands and premium boutique vineyards across the UK.Ben and the Itasca team also produce wines from grapes grown in their own vineyard, Penn Croft, where they have 16,000 vines of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot M...
2024-07-1744 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 69: Alex James - Blur bassist, cheesemaker and Britpop drinks founderSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is none other than Blur bassist, Alex James.Blur formed in 1988 and their nine studio albums have all topped the charts in the UK, generating numerous hit singles along the way including Song 2, Beetlebum and Coffee & TV.Now you may be wondering why a member of one of the most successful and influential bands of the 90s would come on a podcast about English wine but I assure you, there is good reason! Following a hugely suc...
2024-07-1041 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 68 - Will Perkins, winemaker Louis Pommery EnglandSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Will Perkins, winemaker for Louis Pommery England, the English project under the Vranken-Pommery portfolio, which has planted 35-hectares of vines on the Pinglestone Estate in Hampshire. Having grown up in Hampshire, just outside Winchester, Will has fond memories of formative years in the county and it was here that his first work in wine began – helping out at Hattingley Valley vineyard during his school holidays. Travelling to South Africa to study History, Politics and Spanish at university in Cap...
2024-07-031h 00
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 67: Charlie Holland, winemaker Jackson Family WinesSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is winemaker Charlie Holland. Charlie worked his first vintage in Australia some 24 years ago and caught the wine bug. He returned to England and immediately enrolled at the renowned Plumpton College in Sussex. While there he worked part-time at nearby Ridgeview wine estate before heading off to do winemaking stints in California, Germany and New Zealand. In 2009 he took on a full-time winemaking role back home at Ridgeview, before being offered the position of Head Winemaker at Gu...
2024-06-2636 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 66: Katie & Umut Yesil, Riverview Crouch ValleySend us a textWelcome back to Series 10 of The English wine Diaries. Joining me on the first episode of this series are Katie and Umut Yesil from Riverview Crouch Valley Vineyard in Essex. Prior to planting their vineyard in the now famed Crouch Valley, the couple ran a food and drink PR business in London, but following a conversation around the kitchen table with Katie’s father Billy – a third generation arable farmer – they decided to focus their attention on English wine. In 2017 they set about converting 11 acres of land on the family far...
2024-06-1938 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 65: Art Tukker, Owner Tinwood EstateSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Art Tukker, owner of Tinwood Estate in West Sussex. The Tukker family farm, which is situated in the hamlet of Halnacker, near Chichester, has a history of growing lettuce but when Art took over in 2006, he had other ideas. While studying agriculture and farming at university, it dawned on Art that growing vines could be his family’s future and, after spending some time working at vineyards in New Zealand, returned to Sussex and se...
2024-04-0356 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 64: Greg Lambrecht, Coravin Founder & InventorSend us a textIn this special episode of The English Wine Diaries, brought to you in partnership with Coravin, I am joined by the company's inventor and founder Greg Lambrecht. Having had a successful career in medical technologies and engineering degrees from MIT, Greg combined his knowledge of medical-grade needles with his passion for wine to develop a unique preservation system that allowed him to pour wine without removing the cork. The first Coravin wine preservation system, which uses a non-coring needle to pass through the cork while it’s still in the...
2024-03-2055 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 63: Sarah Massey, head winemaker Lyme Bay WinerySend us a textMy guest on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Sarah Massey, the esteemed head winemaker at Lyme Bay Winery in Axeminster, in Devon. Sarah’s interest in winemaking was sparked at an early age and, after completing her Wine Business degree at Plumpton College, she embarked on a remarkable career, working harvests around the world before arriving at Lyme Bay Winery in 2019. Sarah's leadership, expertise and innovative approach have been instrumental in shaping Lyme Bay’s reputation as a beacon of excellence within the English wine industry...
2024-03-0640 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 62: Jimmy Smith - Beare Green Winery & Wine With JimmySend us a textJoining me on this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is wine educator and winemaker, Jimmy Smith. Jimmy has worked in the wine industry for over 20 years. Having started his career in wine buying, he founded West London Wine School, one of the UK's leading wine, spirit and beer education facilities, in 2010, and in 2020 started online wine education tool Wine with Jimmy.The school has won multiple awards over the years, including Consumer Educator of the Year at the International Wine Challenge in 2023.Jimmy has more r...
2024-02-2851 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 61: Gail Gardner, Managing Director Ashling Park EstateSend us a textOn this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Gail Gardner, Managing Director of Ashling Park Estate in the charming hamlet of West Ashling near Chichester.It was after Gail spent some time living in Switzerland and was seduced by the romantic vineyards there that she convinced her family to plant vines back in Sussex and, in 2018 their English wine adventure began. They planted the traditional champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier, as well as some Bacchus and Pinot Precoce, and...
2024-02-2134 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 60 - Tommy Grimshaw, head winemaker Langham WinerySend us a textOn this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries podcast is Tommy Grimshaw, head winemaker at Langham, in Dorset. Tommy developed a love for English wine after a summer holiday season spent labelling and bottling wine as a teenager. He left school to work a harvest at Sharpham Vineyard – now known as Sandridge Barton – in Devon and there, he progressed to Assistant Winemaker. He joined Langham in 2019 and worked alongside Daniel Ham with the aim of producing world class sparkling wines without fining or filtration and minimal SO2 additions. In Jan...
2024-02-1437 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 59: Rosemary Shrager - Chef and authorSend us a textOn today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries podcast is TV chef and author, the icon that is Rosemary Shrager. In the early to mid-noughties Rosemary rose to small screen fame with guest appearances on cooking shows before landing her own prime-time programme on Channel 5 called Castle Cook. She’s rarely been off our TV screens over the past 20 years appearing on shows such as Ladette to Lady, I’m a Celebrity, The Real Marigold Hotel and Cooking with the Stars to name just a few. Throughout her career...
2024-02-0736 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 58: Josh Donaghay-Spire - Head Winemaker and Operations Director, Chapel Down in Kent.Send us a textWelcome back to series 9 of The English Wine Diaries podcast! Joining me on today's episode is Josh Donaghay-Spire, Head Winemaker and Operations Director at Chapel Down in Kent. Josh’s career in wine began as a teenager working in a wine bar and, after studying WSET qualifications and later enrolling in Plumpton College, he was able to travel to some of the world’s most renowned wine regions, honing his skills in winemaking. But he decided the English wine industry was where he wanted to be and in 201...
2024-01-3133 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 57 - Jérôme Moisan, co-founder PelegrimsSend us a textToday's guest on The English Wine Diaries is former tech executive and now co-founder of Pelegrims Skincare, Jérôme Moisan Born and raised in rural Brittany, Jérôme moved to the UK after he met his English wife, Laura, at university and they settled in the town of Maidstone in Kent, where they are surrounded by vineyards stretching along the North Downs. Having seen the success that companies, such as Caudalie, had achieved in his native France – and with the English wine industry now booming – Jérôme went about...
2023-09-1346 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 56: Henry Jeffreys – drinks writerSend us a text*Apologies for the sound quality at the start of this episode due to some technical difficulties*This week on The English Wine Diaries podcast is last year’s Fortnum & Mason Drink Writer of the Year, Henry Jeffreys. Henry studied English and Classical Literature at Leeds University before working in the wine trade and later becoming a freelance writer and broadcaster. He was wine critic at The Lady, has appeared in magazines, such as Spectator and BBC Good Food and has featured on BBC radio and TV. Currently he...
2023-08-3043 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 55 - William Coren, CEO House CorenSend us a textJoining me on this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries podcast is William Coren, the CEO and founder of House Coren, a vineyard and négociant, based near Horsham in West Sussex. After ten years of wine retail and hospitality, William and his family decided to plant 30,000 vines in 2020, with the aim of creating innovative and high-quality English wines that are accessible to all. Whilst waiting for Lower Lodge Vineyard's first harvest, William pioneered the launch of Boco by House Coren; a Charmat Method sparkling wine usin...
2023-08-2352 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 54 Jose Quintana, Vagabond WinesSend us a textThis week's guest on The English Wine Diaries podcast is Jose Quintana, winemaker at Vagabond Wines – one of London’s urban wineries. Despite the Spanish name, Jose grew up on an arable farm in Sussex and agriculture was always a part life. After attempts at careers in music and property, Jose took inspiration from friends and family, who were grape growers and winemakers in Spain, and enrolled at Plumpton College to study viticulture. While there, Jose worked at Davenport Organic Vineyards in Sussex, with Dermot Sugrue at Wiston Estate and d...
2023-08-161h 23
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 53: Lucy Hulland, Huxbear VineyardSend us a textJoining me on today's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Lucy Hulland from Huxbear Vineyard, situated in the rolling hills of the picturesque Teign Valley, just outside the ancient wool town of Chudleigh in Devon. Lucy and her husband, Ben, established the vineyard in 2007, planting roughly 15 acres of the three classic Champagne varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – alongside Bacchus, Siegerrebe, Schonberger and Pinot Gris.The couple had two aims: to produce delicious English wine and to make the winemaking process as sustainable as possible. And they have...
2023-08-0944 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 52: Kirsty Goring, brand director Wiston EstateSend us a textMy guest on today's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Kirsty Goring, brand director for Wiston Winery, wife of Richard Goring and daughter-in-law of Pip and Harry Goring, who call this historic estate in West Sussex home. Kirsty read history at Oxford before signing up to a course at the famed Irish cookery school Balleymaloe. Her time on the 100-acre organic farm sparked a passion to grow and utilise the freshest and most delicious ingredients wherever possible. After marrying Richard in 2004, the couple moved to Canada together to wo...
2023-08-021h 14
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 51: Steve Parker, cheese and wine expertSend us a textWelcome back to the eighth series of The English Wine Diaries podcast!Joining me on today’s episode, in the week that we celebrate National Cheese and Wine Day, is author, speaker and cheese and wine expert Steve Parker. Having worked for an international brewer and wine distributor, Steve left corporate life to set up an award-winning cheese shop, delicatessen and wine bar in South West London. A judge for international food and drink competitions, such as the British, International and World Cheese Awards, Steve now organises food...
2023-07-261h 02
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 50 – Adam Smith & Jonathan Ellson, Coworth ParkSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode are Coworth Park’s executive chef, Adam Smith, and Director of Food and Beverage, Jonathan Ellson. Adam grew up in Birmingham, starting his culinary career as a pot wash at his local pub aged just 13. After joining The Ritz in 2004, he rose up the ranks and won numerous awards including the Roux Scholarship in 2012. Three years at The Devonshire Arms followed before Adam joined The Dorchester Collection’s only county house hotel, Coworth Park in 2016. The following year he was named Master of Culinary Arts – the UK’s...
2023-04-1948 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 49 – Gavin Hills, wine director at The Hand & FlowersSend us a textOn this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Gavin Hills, wine director and assistant restaurant manager of the only pub in the UK to hold two-Michelin stars, The Hand & Flowers, in Marlow.Born in Cambridge, Gavin grew up with a passion for cooking and a strong love of baking, which led him to study Food Technology at Cambridge Regional College. His professional life began in kitchens but it wasn’t long before his ambition to work front of house took over. After supervising a number of restaurants at h...
2023-04-121h 06
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 48, Jacob Leadley and Zoe Driver, Black Chalk VineyardSend us a textJoining me on this week's episode of the English Wine Diaries is Jacob Leadley and Zoe Driver, winemakers at Black Chalk Vineyard in Hampshire. In 2009 Jacob left a comfortable job in the City to re-train as a winemaker at Plumpton College. Since then, he has worked in the English wine industry including seven years at Hattingley Valley, where he helped produce a number of award-winning sparkling wines. In 2015, he launched Black Chalk together with his brother-in-law Andrew Seddon and is currently the chair of Wine GB Wessex. Zoe fell in...
2023-04-0550 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 47, Sam Mount, Woolton Farm VineyardSend us a textJoining me on today’s episode is Sam Mount, Managing Director at Kentish Pip Cider and Woolton Farm in Bekesbourne near Canterbury. Sam grew up on the farm where his parents, Mark and Rosie, grew apples, pears and soft fruits and was encouraged to muck in with all aspects of farming life from an early age. After travelling and living abroad in his early 20s, Sam settled in London and built a career as an event producer and operations manager working on projects such as the London 2012 Olympic ceremonies and...
2023-03-2956 min
The English Wine DiariesCherie Spriggs, Head Winemaker Nyetimber – Episode 46Send us a textThis week's guest on The English Wine Diaries is Cherie Spriggs, Head Winemaker at Nyetimber in Sussex. Cherie was born and raised in Canada and after completing a master’s degree at the Wine Research Centre in Vancouver she and her husband, Brad, who is also a winemaker, decided to follow their dream of working together at a winery that shared their passion for producing only the best sparkling wine. Cherie had previously tasted Nyetimber and detected a texture and potential in the wine that she hadn’t experienced anywhe...
2023-03-221h 04
The English Wine DiariesLucy Hitchcock, Founder Partner in Wine – Episode 45Send us a textJoining me on today's episode of The English Wine Diaires podcast is wine enthusiast, entrepreneur and modern-day innovator, Lucy Hitchcock. Lucy is an e-commerce and branding consultant and the founder of Partner In Wine, a business born out of need – the need to avoid drinking warm rosé wine at all costs. Partner In Wine was launched during lockdown in 2020 but it was when one of Lucy’s TikTok videos racked up half a million views in 12 hours, that the business went viral, with sales increasing by 1,700 per cent in a single...
2023-03-1548 min
The English Wine DiariesDermot Sugrue, Sugrue South Downs – Episode 44Send us a textMy guest on this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Dermot Sugrue, who is widely recognised as the UK’s most successful and decorated winemaker. After studying viticulture at Plumpton College Dermot joined Nyetimber in 2003 and oversaw the West Sussex vineyard’s emergence as one of the world’s greatest sparkling wine producers. He went on to help Harry and Pip Goring establish Wiston Estate a few miles down the road and for the next 16 years was responsible for making some of England’s most celebrated wines. Someho...
2023-03-0849 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 43 - Helen McGinn, wine writer and presenterSend us a textMy guest today is award-winning author, drinks writer, presenter and founder of The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club, Helen McGinn.Helen started her wine career as a supermarket wine buyer for Tesco, before founding her successful wine blog, which garnered so much attention that it is now a best-selling book.She writes for the Daily Mail’s Femail Magazine, as well as Waitrose Food Magazine, and regularly appears on television as a wine expert on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen and ITV’s This Morning.Helen co-chairs the Internat...
2022-12-1449 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 42, Joe Beckett – Kinsbrook VineyardSend us a textJoining me on the podcast today is Joe Beckett from Kinsbrook, a young, progressive vineyard in the heart of West Sussex wine country. At just 29, Joe remains one of the youngest vineyard owners in the country and, together with his partner Rebecca Dancer and an enthusiastic team, produces an exciting range of English wines from grapes grown on his third-generation family farmland, just outside Thakeham. At the top of the team’s agenda is to create an inclusive and sustainable lifestyle culture centred around wine, feel-good food and hospitality. ...
2022-12-071h 02
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 41, Sam and Ben Ellis – EverflyhtSend us a textJoining me on the podcast today are Sam and Ben Ellis, owners of Everflyht, a new single vineyard estate set at the foot of the Ditchling Beacon. Both planners by career, Sam and Ben built a designer house for their family on the estate, before planting 6.8 hectares of vines. These included the traditional sparkling varieties of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, as well as some Pinot Gris, Pinot Précoce and Gamay. Under the watchful eye of general and vineyard manager Luke Spalding and with the help of the...
2022-12-0238 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 40, Ian Kellett – Owner & MD Hambledon VineyardSend us a textMy guest on today's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Ian Kellett, owner and managing director of Hambledon Vineyard in Hampshire. Ian grew up in Yorkshire but ventured south for university where he studied biochemistry before qualifying as an accountant and working in the food and drink industry in general management, equity research and then corporate finance. After buying a house in France, Ian fell in love with the idea of owning a vineyard but, instead of purchasing one in Medoc, saw that Hambledon Vineyard, nestled on the edg...
2022-11-2347 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 39, Cindy-Marie Harvey – Love Wine FoodSend us a textToday's guest on The English Wine Diaries is Cindy-Marie Harvey, owner of private wine tour company, Love Wine Food, and author of the newly-released cookbook Watercress, Willow and Wine. Cindy-Marie’s career in wine began after she spent a year in Piemonte and discovered the local’s passion for ‘abbinamento’ – the Italian name for food and wine pairing. She fell in love with the area so much, she ended up staying for five years.When she returned to the UK, she became a wine importer and then spent the next 20 yea...
2022-11-1653 min
The English Wine DiariesEpisode 38, Tamara Roberts – CEO Ridgeview Wine EstateSend us a textWe're back with the sixth series of The English Wine Diaries! On this week's episode, my guest is Tamara Roberts, CEO of Ridgeview Wine Estate in Ditchling, Sussex. Founded by Tamara’s parents, Mike and Chris Roberts in 1995, Ridgeview produces award-winning traditional method sparkling wines that are now sold across the globe, have been served at Buckingham Palace and are the official sparkling wine for all receptions at No. 10 Downing Street. Tamara took over as CEO of her family business when Mike sadly passed away in 2014 and has...
2022-11-0953 min
The English Wine DiariesDan Farrell-Wright, director Wickhams – episode 37Send us a textJoining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Dan Farrell-Wright from online wine merchant Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant and our sponsor for this series of the podcast. Dan started Wickham’s in November 2020, at the height of the pandemic and quickly caught the attention of the wine industry. Within a year, the Newton Abbot-based company had been shortlisted for two Decanter wine awards. The team at Wickhams are hugely passionate about knowing the story behind the wines they sell, a quarter of which come f...
2022-08-101h 02
The English Wine DiariesAlex Preston, head sommelier Isaac At restaurant – Episode 36Send us a textMy guest today on The English Wine Diaries is Alex Preston, head sommelier at Isaac At in Brighton – the first restaurant in the UK to have an exclusively English wine list. Alex caught the wine bug early at vocational college and, after joining the Isaac At team in the summer of 2016, he rebuilt the then limited English-only wine list into a library of unconventional pairings that champions English Wines, Beers, Ciders and Spirits.Since the restaurant re-opened post-lockdown, Alex has won the Sussex Champion and Sussex Wine award at the...
2022-08-0348 min
The English Wine DiariesCharlie Stein, director at The Rick Stein Group – Episode 35Send us a textJoining me on today's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Charlie Stein, the youngest of celebrity chef Rick Stein’s three sons and director at the family’s restaurant brand, where his passion lies in creating extraordinary dining experiences with excellent wine.Born in Padstow, where his mother and father opened their first restaurant in the early seventies, Charlie was immersed in food and wine from a young age and regularly joined his father on his travels across the globe.After completing his wine and spirit qualifications, Charlie worked as a...
2022-07-2837 min
The English Wine DiariesPhil Norman, Head of Production, The Uncommon - Episode 34Send us a textJoining me on today’s show is Phil Norman, who is head of production at The Uncommon, the UK’s number one producer of English wine in a can. With a French mother and family ties in Burgundy, Phil has never been far away from fine food and wine. He studied viticulture and enology in the mid noughties whilst completing an apprenticeship alongside Denis Bachelet in Gevrey Chambertin.Since then he has worked at vineyards in France, New Zealand and the UK, including Nyetimber in Sussex and The Grange in Ha...
2022-07-2058 min
The English Wine DiariesSusy Atkins, wine columnist – Episode 33Send us a textOn this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is award-winning wine writer Susy Atkins.Susy began her career in the early nineties at WINE magazine before heading to Australia to get her hands dirty working as a cellar hand at wineries in the Barossa Valley.When she returned the UK, she began to edit Which? Wine Monthly, eventually becoming the co-editor of the Which? Wine Guide. She now writes a regular weekly column for The Telegraph and is the drinks editor of delicious. magazine.She has...
2022-07-1337 min
The English Wine DiariesSam Linter, Bolney Wine Estate - Episode 32Send us a textOn this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries, I am joined by Sam Linter, managing director and head winemaker at Bolney Wine Estate in Sussex.Sam’s parents, Janet and Rodney Pratt, founded the vineyard in 1972, at which time Bolney Wine Estate was one of the first commercial vineyards in England and Sam spent her childhood living on the vineyard, joining the family business in 1995. Since then she has led the estate to win numerous awards including the IWSC UK Wine Producer of the Year’ and ‘Winery of the Yea...
2022-06-2947 min
The English Wine DiariesMichael Caines MBE, Michelin Star chef & owner Lympstone Manor – Episode 31Send us a textWelcome back to series 5 of The English Wine Diaries! Joining me on this week's episode of the show is one of Britain’s most acclaimed chefs, Michael Caines MBE. Michael held two Michelin stars for 18 consecutive years before he took the leap of faith to open his own country house hotel at Lympstone Manor in Exmouth in 2017. His restaurant there was awarded a Michelin star within just six months of opening but Michael’s vision for Lympstone was to offer far much more than a luxury hotel and fine dini...
2022-06-221h 01
The English Wine DiariesZam Baring, The Grange Wine – Episode 30Send us a textToday my guest on The English Wine Diaries is Zam Baring, who joins me from The Grange in Hampshire – home to the famous Grange Opera Festival. Just over a decade ago Zam and his siblings Mark, Rose and Lucy, who are custodians of The Grange estate, decided to embark on a project to “make something great, together” and, noting their land was perfect for the cultivation of grapes for sparkling wine, planted Burge’s Field Vineyard. Having spent most of his childhood splashing about in the sparkling, clear tributaries of the upp...
2022-03-2349 min
The English Wine DiariesFinn Dunlop, Macknade – Episode 29Send us a textThis week on The English Wine Diaries, my guest is Finn Dunlop, who is the senior purchasing manager for Macknade – a Kent based company that creates spaces and experiences to bring communities together around a shared love of food & drink.Having started his career at The Savoy Group of Hotels in London, Finn has always had a strong interest, knowledge and love of Food and Wine which he uses to help bring producers, suppliers and consumers in the garden of England closer together via the Macknade brand. We talk ab...
2022-03-1655 min
The English Wine DiariesAmerica & Nick Brewer, Oastbrook – Episode 28Send us a textThis week on The English Wine Diaries, I am joined by one of the most enthusiastic couples I have ever met when it comes to English Wine. America and Nick Brewer bought Oastbrook, their picturesque vineyard near Robertsbridge in East Sussex, in 2013. Formerly a Guinness hop farm, the estate has now been transformed by the pair into a stunning venue, not only to visit but also to stay, with a quirky Hobbit House, glamping experience and their newest venture a waterside lodge. America, who is originally from Brazil, takes c...
2022-03-091h 19
The English Wine DiariesJames Bayliss-Smith – founder Nania's Vineyard, Episode 27Send us a textToday on The English Wine Diaries, my guest is award-winning filmmaker and founder of Nania’s Vineyard, James Bayliss-Smith. James’ work as a filmmaker has taken him across the globe, making character-driven and presenter-led documentaries and current affairs programmes. However, it was back here in the UK, in an allotment in Bristol, that his adventurous English wine journey began. After inheriting a 50-year-old grape vine in their garden, James and his wife, Shelley, caught the wine bug. Initially planting just 30 vines in their allotment back in 2017, they were soon embarki...
2022-03-021h 02
The English Wine DiariesDuncan Schwab, CEO & head winemaker Sandridge Barton – episode 26Send us a textToday my guest is Duncan Schwab, CEO and head-winemaker at Sandridge Barton in Devon. Duncan’s passion for growing grapes and making wine was first ignited when he helped plant his parent’s vineyard in Cornwall, in the early 1980s. He joined Devon’s Sharpham Vineyard, which is also famed for its cheese, a decade later and has been involved with the award-winning estate for nearly 30 years, taking over the reins from Mark Sharman and overseeing the winery’s recent relocation further down the banks of the River Dart to Sandridg...
2022-02-2342 min
The English Wine DiariesAlistair Morrell, co founder Cider is Wine – Episode 25Send us a textWelcome back to the fourth series of The English Wine Diaries!My guest today is Alistair Morrell, who is the co-founder of Cider is Wine, the quality mark for ciders, perries and fruit wines fermented exclusively from the fruit and not from concentrate. Using their extensive experience in the wine industry, Alistair and his business partner, Roddy Kane, have defined a new sector in the market for quality ciders entrenched firmly in the belief that these artisan drinks, made from apples, pears and other fruits, deserve our appreciation just a...
2022-02-1650 min
The English Wine Diaries*Bonus Episode* with wine expert Oz Clarke – Episode 24Send us a textWe're back for a special bonus episode before the year is out with the legend that is Oz Clarke. Here in the UK there aren’t many names more synonymous with wine than Oz Clarke. He started his wine career some 40 years ago, back when only a small percentage of the UK population were drinking wine. Whilst he was at university, he started competing in wine tasting competitions and before long was on prime-time TV show Food & Drink together with his partner in crime Jilly Goolden, teaching the masses tha...
2021-12-081h 20
The English Wine DiariesElisha Rai, co-founder FOLC – episode 23Send us a textToday on The English Wine Diaries, my guest is Elisha Rai, one half of the couple who founded FOLC, a high quality English rosé wine brand with a modern mindset. Recognising the demand in the UK for an English version of the popular Provence-style rosés made in the south of France, Elisha and her finance, Tom Cannon launched their 2019 vintage of FOLC just as the world descended into lockdown. It was a challenging time to launch a new business but FOLC soon gained a huge fanbase and this year...
2021-11-1838 min
The English Wine DiariesJulian & Tom Barnes, Biddenden Vineyard – Episode 22Send us a textToday my guests on The English Wine Diaries podcast are father and son Julian and Tom Barnes from Biddenden Vineyard in Kent. Originally an apple orchard, Biddenden has been owned and run by the Barnes family since 1969. Today it remains very much a family affair with Tom and his brothers, Will and Sam dealing with the day to day management of the vineyard and winemaking process under the watchful eye of their father, who continues to walk the vines every day. Recently, the vineyard reached another milestone with the...
2021-11-1051 min
The English Wine DiariesNick Wenman, Albury Organic Vineyard - Episode 21Send us a textToday on The English Wine Diaries, my guest is Nick Wenman, from Albury Vineyard in Surrey. Running a vineyard was a very early dream from Nick. When he was 17, he won the school economics prize, he chose the World Atlas of Wines and Spirits for the headmaster to present to him as a prize on speech day . It wasn't until some time later, following a career in the IT industry, that Nick was able to fulfil his dream by planting his first vines on the southern slopes of the N...
2021-11-0345 min
The English Wine DiariesWine expert and broadcaster, Olly Smith – Episode 20Send us a textToday on The English Wine Diaries podcast, my guest is the multi-award-winning wine expert and broadcaster, Olly Smith. Olly is the wine columnist for The Mail on Sunday’s You magazine, appears regularly on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen and he also hosts his own drinks podcast 'A Glass With…’ where he speaks to celebrities and more about their favourite tipples. He has been named International Wine and Spirits Communicator of the Year, Drinks Writer of the Year at the Great British Food Awards and he’s also the UK’s Drinks Amb...
2021-10-2747 min
The English Wine DiariesCricket legend Phil Tufnell - Episode 19Send us a textMy guest today is cricketing legend, sports pundit and former King of the Jungle, Phil Tufnell. Now, you may well be thinking, 'what the hell is an ex-England cricketer and TV personality such as Phil doing on a wine podcast?' But there is very good reason. Phil has recently launched his own collection of wines – aptly named Tuffers' Tipple, which are available through Virgin Wines. Over a glass of his own English Bacchus, we talk about his memories of going on tour as an England cricket international, touring vine...
2021-10-2021 min
The English Wine DiariesChristopher Moore, The Clink Charity – Episode 18Send us a text"Of the 80,000 men and women in prison, 47% of those released each year go back to re-offending, mainly because they haven't got a bed, they haven't got a job nor support, so The Clink was set up to break that cycle of crime." My guest today is Christopher Moore, the chief executive of The Clink Charity, which trains prisoners to gain City and Guilds qualifications in hospitality. When released from prison they are found employment, accommodation and are fully supported. The scheme, which involves operating restaurants, that are open to t...
2021-10-1324 min
The English Wine DiariesSusannah Ricci – Yotes Court Episode 17Send us a textToday my guest is Susannah Ricci, who has transformed Yotes Court, near Mereworth in Kent, from a tired house with an overgrown garden and fruit farm into a magnificent Manor House, vineyard and Cellar Door. Susannah released her debut wines this year and they have already won a whole host of awards but you may recognise the name Ricci for other reasons as Susannah and her husband, Richard are successful racehorse owners. The majority of their horses are trained by champion trainer Willie Mullins and their famous green and...
2021-10-0628 min
The English Wine DiariesJackie Wilks - Terlingham Vineyard Ep 16Send us a textToday we will be talking wine and wellness with Jackie Wilks from Terlingham Vineyard in Kent. Jackie’s family originate from South Africa but came to the UK in 2007 and, a few years later, they stumbled upon Terlingham, a boutique vineyard in Folkestone that was up for sale. They decided to take the plunge and have since grown the vineyard into a beautiful retreat where the focus is not only on the natural wines they produce but also on mindfulness. We talk about what it's like growing a f...
2021-09-2931 min
The English Wine DiariesWilliam Lowe, Cambridge Distillery – Ep 15Send us a textThis week, on the last episode of series two of The English Wine Diaries, I am joined by William Lowe, founder of the world's most innovative distillery – the Cambridge Distillery. William has worked within the drinks industry for 23 years and has taught over 10,000 individuals through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, which has led him to be awarded WSET Educator of the Year twice. In 2012, he set up the Cambridge Distillery and has since created a collection of ground-breaking gins, including a truffle gin and the world’s first insect-based gin.
2021-08-0438 min
The English Wine DiariesLaura Rhys, Master Sommelier at Gusbourne - Ep14Send us a textThis week my guest is Master Sommelier Laura Rhys. The early days of Laura’s wine career saw her working alongside some of the industry’s finest including World Sommelier Champion Gérard Basset, before she went to head up the wine team at Michelin-starred Chiswick restaurant La Trompette. In 2009 Laura won the UK Sommelier of the Year award and the following year, became a Master Sommelier – one of only 267 (and only 34 female master sommeliers) in the world! She became the Kent-based vineyard, Gusbourne’s global brand ambassado...
2021-07-2831 min
The English Wine DiariesKit Ellen MD of Exton Park and Charles Carron-Brown, head sommelier at the Simon Rogan group: Episode 13Send us a textFor this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries, I have not one but two guests joining me. Kit Ellen started his wine journey over 20 years ago when he joined the Majestic Wine graduate scheme, where he won the prestigious Gonzalez Be-ass Scholarship before moving to Free Run Wines, where he focussed on supplying grower Champagnes and sparkling wines to the UK market. It was a natural path into the world of English wine and today he is the Managing Director at Exton Park vineyard in Hampshire. My second gu...
2021-07-2140 min
The English Wine DiariesSimon Robinson - Hattingley Valley: Ep12Send us a textToday's guest is Simon Robinson, founder and owner of Hattingley Valley in Hampshire and current chairman of Wine GB, which is the national trade association for grape-growers and winemakers in the UK. Next month, he will hand over the Wine GB reigns to Sam Linter, from Bolney Wine Estate. Simon was previously a senior partner at city law firm Slaughter and May for 24 years, before he planted his first vines in 2008. The debut vintage was released in 2013 and since then Hattingley Valley has gone on to win multiple awards for its E...
2021-07-1431 min
The English Wine DiariesLucy Dalwadi, Lucy's Wines - Episode 11Send us a textToday my guest is wine business entrepreneur Lucy Dalwadi. In 2020 Lucy founded Lucy’s Wine, an online wine delivery service which focuses on natural and organic wines from across the globe. Lucy previously worked in the luxury fashion sector, but during lockdown decided to make the jump that she’d dreamt of since university – coupling her entrepreneurial spirit with her love of wine. We talk about her first introduction to wine how that led to her writing her own wine blog and why she is now sharing her pa...
2021-07-0732 min
The English Wine DiariesLiz Sagues - wine writer - Episode 10Send us a textToday my guest is wine writer Liz Sagues, whose latest book, Sussex by the Glass focuses on two of the county's pioneering wine estates, Ridgeview and Bolney.The book takes the reader through a journey of English wine, from the early formative years right through to the emergence of powerhouse producers like Nyetimber, before focusing on the Ridgeview and Bolney stories.Both of these family-run vineyards have recently celebrated milestones – Ridgeview marked its 25th anniversary last year and Bolney is 50 this year – are are also led by female winemakers, Sam L...
2021-06-3031 min
The English Wine DiariesSteven Edwards, Chef and Founder of Etch - Episode 9Send us a textWe're back with a second series of The English Wine Diaries podcast. This week my guest is Steven Edwards, who in 2013 was crowned the sixth winner of BBC TV show Masterchef The Professionals. At the time, he was one of the youngest ever winners of the competition at 26 years old and his food was described by Michael Roux Junior as ‘faultless’. Following his win, Steven set up etch, initially as a pop-up concept touring venues across the country, including Nyetimber Vineyard in West Sussex, before he opened his permanent restau...
2021-06-2332 min
The English Wine DiariesCamilla Jennings, Jenkyn Place - Ep8Send us a textToday my guest is Camilla Jennings from Jenkyn Place in Hampshire. Camilla's father, Simon Bladon, planted the first vines at their family home in 2004 and Camilla joined the business 10 years later. We talk about her decision to join the family business following a career in property, how English wine got under her father's skin (and in turn hers) and the vineyard's other-worldly visitors which has given it a reputation as one of the spookiest places in England. "I've never seen any but my mum says she thinks she might h...
2021-05-2634 min
The English Wine DiariesRuth Simpson, Simpsons Wine Estate - Ep7Send us a textThis week my guest is Ruth Simpson from Simpsons Wine Estate, in the village of Barham in Kent. Ruth and her husband Charles have been making wine at their property in the South of France for almost two decades but in 2014 decided to bring their expertise back to the UK, establishing Simpsons, right in the heart of what is now known as the Wine Garden of England. Ruth’s background is working in the charitable and humanitarian sector and she is a fifth-generation member of the Grant family, who are responsible for...
2021-05-1944 min
The English Wine DiariesNeil Walker, The English Vine - Ep6Send us a textToday my guest in Neil Walker, who after 15 years working in banking, set up The English Vine in a bid to bring English Wine to a new generation of wine drinker via a no-nonsense approach. The company has already had an incredibly successful pop-up bar in Shorditch - the first in London to focus solely on English and Welsh wines - and Neil’s ‘Wine Revolution’ as he likes to call it, has continued with a series of immersive tastings throughout lockdown."Too many of us have been left with no...
2021-05-1238 min
The English Wine DiariesKristin Syltevik, Oxney Organic Wine Estate - Ep5Send us a textThis week my guest is Kristin Syltevik, founder of Oxney Organic Estate, near Rye in East Sussex. Norway-born Kristin started the vineyard, now the largest single-estate producer of English organic wine, in 2012 after a long career in public relations and runs it with her partner, Paul Dobson. Oxney's 35 acres of vines produce around 20% of all organic grapes grown in the UK, which are used to make an increasingly celebrated range of still and sparkling wines using low intervention methods. The vineyard forms part of a wider organic farming estate, n...
2021-05-0530 min
The English Wine DiariesChris White, CEO Denbies Wine Estate, Ep 4Send us a textThis week my guest is Chris White, CEO of Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, right in the heart of the Surrey Hills. The land Denbies sits on was once a pig farm, before Chris's father, Adrian, was advised by neighbour Professor Richard Selling that the bowl shape of the land was the same as countryside in Champagne and the unique characteristics of the North Downs landscape were perfect for winemaking. Initially planting just 30 acres of vines in 1986, the vineyard has since grown to a sprawling wine estate of over 600 a...
2021-04-2828 min
The English Wine DiariesFergus Elias, head winemaker at Balfour Hush Heath - Ep3Send us a textFergus Elias is one of the country’s youngest Head Winemakers. He first joined the Balfour Hush Heath Winery in Kent as a cellarhand in 2014 and, after studying at Plumpton College, has worked up the ranks, quickly following in the footsteps of his father, Owen, who with 30 years’ experience is considered one of England’s top winemakers.Recently Fergus has been involved in some exciting projects for the Hush Heath’s Balfour brand including The Winemakers Collection and their first sparkling wine in a can. Listen to find out...
2021-04-1938 min
The English Wine DiariesSarah Driver, co-founder of Rathfinny Wine Estate - Ep2Send us a textTogether with her husband Mark, Sarah Driver established Rathfinny Wine Estate in Alfriston, on the Sussex South Downs in 2010, initially planting 60,000 vines. A decade later and the estate now has over 380,000 vines, a RIBA-nominated winery, an award-winning restaurant, stunning accommodation in the Flint Barns and is well on its way to being one of, if not the, largest vineyard in England. Mark and Sarah are also behind the campaign for Sussex wines to be the first in England to have a PDO and in 2018 produced the first official Sussex Spa...
2021-04-1434 min
The English Wine DiariesRobin Hutson, founder of The Pig Hotel Group - Ep 1Send us a textRobin Hutson is one of the most successful and influential hoteliers in the country. Robin started working in the hospitality industry at some of London’s top luxury hotels including Claridge’s and The Berkeley, before founding his own hotel chain, Hotel du Vin, together with renowned sommelier Gerard Bassay, in 1994. More recently Robin founded THE PIG hotel group, which this year will open its eighth hotel in the South Downs, complete with its very own vineyard. Robin joins me from his home in Hampshire, where he talks t...
2021-04-0246 min