Best Mws Podcasts (2024)

1
UK Wine's Counterculture 58:02

39m ago58:02

58:02

There's a new wave of English and Welsh wine producers disrupting the neat and tidy order of the classic UK wine scene. Guerrilla producers - cool kids who aren't afraid to go off-piste and craft dangerous, divisive wines packed full of quirks and kinks. Their attitude? It's better to be naughty than nice. As one winemaker says - he wants to make, …

1
Sassicaia - The Insider's Guide 49:34

16d ago49:34

49:34

Not many wines ascend to the status of 'icon'. But Sassicaia is one of them. The beauty is that it's not a flashy wine - quite the opposite ('old school' might be a more appropriate description). What's more, its ascent to the wine stratosphere is largely accidental - this scented, elegant Bordeaux blend from Bolgheri in coastal Tuscany was only ev…

1
Going Gaga for Garnacha 53:27

29d ago53:27

53:27

It's called 'The Grenaissance'. This exhilarating revival of the grape variety known as Garnacha in Spain and Grenache in France, once the world's fourth most widely planted wine grape, which has gone from workhorse to show pony in the blink of an eye. How come? What's changed? Who's leading the charge and fuelling the new wave? And what's this we …

1
Grower Champagne with Lea & Sandeman 44:19

1M ago44:19

44:19

From big brand to fine wine - it's no exaggeration to say that grower champagne has changed the notion of what champagne can and should be. Pioneers like Francis Egly of iconic grower champagne Egly-Ouriet have invested huge amounts of time and money prioritising their vineyards, relentlessly focusing on quality and terroir expression in their wine…

1
Light Strike: Wine's Not-So-Secret Scandal 46:53

2M ago46:53

46:53

Light strike is probably the biggest wine fault you've never heard of. Bigger than cork, bigger than oxidation or anything else. That pretty-looking bottle of rosé perched on the bright supermarket shelf in a clear glass bottle? Probably knackered. If it's been exposed to light for a while, it may end up smelling of boiled cabbage, drains, or wet d…

1
Ancient Vines to the Rescue in St Mont 49:46

2M ago49:46

49:46

Deep in the wilds of south-west France there's a vineyard that was planted over 200 years ago with unknown vines that may hold the secret to fighting climate change. Join us as we head (virtually) out to Gascony to peer into the mists of wine history and see what lessons it holds for the future. Olivier Bourdet-Pees of the dynamic Plaimont cooperat…

1
ORANGE WINE Part 2: Gimme Some Skin 53:44

3M ago53:44

53:44

So - orange wine. Is it any good? What qualifies a wine to be 'orange'? Does it sell? And who's going to win our argument about one particularly divisive orange wine?! Dive into the controversial, topical and intriguing subject of orange wine with us as we chat with Saša Radikon of iconic orange wine producer Radikon (who gives us an exclusive reve…

1
ORANGE WINE Part 1: The Resurrection 51:37

3M ago51:37

51:37

'Please can you do an episode on orange wine?' pleaded listener David. 'It's not just hipster wine! These are some of the finest wines in the world...' How could we resist? Orange wine is topical, misunderstood, controversial... It's also an intriguing story featuring a wine style lost in the mists of time being painstakingly resurrected by a handf…

1
A Southern French Feast 46:54

4M ago46:54

46:54

Wine. Food. Merriment. And a touch of southern French sun. That just about sums up this episode. We're exploring Occitanie - the sun-kissed southern French region that stretches from the western Rhone through Languedoc and Roussillon into South West France. Taken as a whole, it's the world's largest vineyard and makes around 5% of global wine outpu…

1
Our WINES OF THE YEAR (2023) 53:09

4M ago53:09

53:09

Our Wines of the Year format has grown into this riotous, rollicking rollercoaster of a show which we humbly offer up for your amusement and delectation. This is no shopping list. Nor is it a chest-beating exercise in showing off how #wineblessed we are. This episode is the story of a year in wine: a celebration of special bottles and special times…

1
Ukraine: Wine not War 49:02

5M ago49:02

49:02

Odessa Black. It's the name of a (Ukranian) grape variety. But it could almost be code for the desperate times the people of Ukraine are living through. In this episode, we explore the history and current context of Ukraine, hearing first-hand insights from Tania Olevska of the Ukrainian Wine Company and Svitlana Tsybak of the Beykush winery. Despi…

1
The New Face of Languedoc 46:21

5M ago46:21

46:21

Languedoc is a wine region on the move. Sure, it's a huge region with plenty of history, some of it troubled. But there are things happening in Languedoc wine now that are innovative, surprising, intriguing and...well, delicious. In short, it's well worthy of our attention. In this episode, sponsored by AOP Languedoc, we chat to writers Rupert Mill…

1
The Ten Wines Never to be Without 41:47

6M ago41:47

41:47

We're going full-on Moses mode in this episode, nailing down the ten wines you should always have at home. Of course, personal taste plays a part. You want to have wines to hand you're going to reach for - which means your favourite styles. But beyond that, it helps to have some expert insight into the bigger picture in order to always have delicio…

1
Ageing English Fizz - How, Why and What 45:46

6M ago45:46

45:46

English sparkling wine. We all know it's good. But how well does it age? And could this be the secret to unlocking even greater quality from what are already exciting wines? We do our best to answer these questions and more with the help of several large glasses of very fine mature English fizz - and top winemakers Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix …

1
Ventoux: Next Century Wines 45:31

6M ago45:31

45:31

It's a wine region variously described as, 'dynamic', whose wines are undergoing a quality 'revolution', and memorably compared to South Africa's uber-cool Swartland. It's also got a big old mountain on its picture postcard. Not to mention truffles galore. This is Ventoux. And we want to take you on a journey of discovery, to meet the people, explo…

1
The Six BEST Wine Books 49:57

7M ago49:57

49:57

What are the wine books every wine lover should own? We thought about it. We argued. We drank some wine. Argued some more... And then we decided: let's go for it. No messing around: choose just the six BEST books every wine lover needs, whether enthusiastic newbie or jaded expert. It wasn't easy. But this is the DEFINITIVE listing. A lot of thought…

1
Marlborough at 50: A wine story worthy of Hollywood 49:52

7M ago49:52

49:52

This is a tale of deception, daring, disaster...and deliverance. It also features skinny sheep and wine robots. It's the story of Marlborough, the iconic New Zealand wine region which is celebrating its 50th wine birthday, after vines were planted by Frank Yukich in August 1973. Yukich had risked personal financial ruin getting to this point. 'Wine…

1
The John Malkovich EXCLUSIVE 53:48

7M ago53:48

53:48

'My wife suggested we make wine. I think in the hope of cutting down our wine bill...' It's classic John Malkovich. The wit as dry as his aged Provençal Pinot Noir rosé (yes, you read that right). In this epic episode, we get to know John Malkovich the famous actor of stage and screen - but also John Malkovich the fashion designer, the theatre dire…

1
LIVE Q&A - sulfites, party wines, climate change, top wine tourism tips and being pretentious 38:22

8M ago38:22

38:22

This bonus episode may be the last in the current season (4) but it's also a first - the first time we've ever recorded the pod in front of a live audience! A lovely bunch of people came together in our home town of Winchester to drink a glass or two of fine Hampshire fizz and bombard us with searching questions, from which wines we'd recommend for…

1
The Microbial Face of Terroir 42:48

9M ago42:48

42:48

This episode opens by linking Oppenheimer, Covid-19 and wine - and proceeds to go big by focusing on the small stuff. Microbes. The invisible world of yeasts, bacteria and beyond. We're just starting to understand how important microbes are in terms of defining wine style and quality. Sure, yeasts ferment grape sugars into alcohol. But they also do…

1
Germany's Pulling Power 44:32

9M ago44:32

44:32

Did you know that Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir in the world? Or that one in three Riesling vines in the world grow in German vineyards - and much of these are making dry, increasingly terroir-driven wines these days? There's much that's surprising, or perhaps unexpected about German wine right now. For long the sector under-p…

1
The Mystery of Minerality 55:14

10M ago55:14

55:14

It's a wine word almost everyone uses - but no one really knows what it means, what causes it, or where it's come from. It makes some people angry, it leaves others mystified - but some adore the term and can't get enough of it. Is this yet another example in wine of (as one listener calls it), 'superstition, witchcraft and myth' that is nothing mo…

1
Portugal's Fine Wines: Here Be Treasures 50:37

10M ago50:37

50:37

We all know port. But there’s a whole universe of fine Portuguese table wine out just waiting to be explored. It’s far less known but certainly no less exciting…so we dive in. Peter’s fired up after a recent trip to host a masterclass in Porto, where he tasted wines back to 1978 and recorded with a selection of Portugal’s top wine talent, from Dirk…

1
No Schist Sherlock: How Wine Gets Rocks Wrong 46:59

11M ago46:59

46:59

‘From virtually any soil a high-quality wine can be made. The use of geology to promote the quality of a wine is thus merely a marketing tool.’ This is an episode that may ruffle a few feathers. We speak to two wine-loving geologists, Professor Alex Maltman and Dr Geert-Jan Vis (the latter responsible for the quote above). Both of them raise seriou…

1
Santorini - Wines to Save an Island 46:58

11M ago46:58

46:58

Santorini's future is in jeopardy. This ancient, famous island vineyard risks being lost beneath the tourism industry's bulldozers. So how can its wine community fight back? By making exceptional, characterful, inimitable wines and selling them to the world, that's how. In this episode (our 100th Wine Blast programme, appropriately enough!) we dive…

1
Santorini - Wine's Jurassic Park 38:29

12M ago38:29

38:29

Let's go on an adventure to a place variously described as, 'Like being shot to the moon with a glass of fine wine in your hand' and where, 'you basically have the personality of an active volcano in your glass.' Santorini is arguably the ultimate wine destination - a windswept, arid, infertile outcrop of an island in the glittering Aegean Sea. Stu…

1
News & Views – Re-Writing Wine’s Ancient History, Silly Money Wine, Drops of God & More 38:53

12M ago38:53

38:53

What wine news is worthy of your attention? How should you warm up your (fine) wines in an emergency? What wines are really worth paying silly money for? And which wines should we have loved...but didn't? These are just some of the questions we dive into in this Listener Q&A episode, where we respond to your brilliant comments, feedback and questio…

1
Ahead of the Curve with New Zealand Chardonnay 47:18

1y ago47:18

47:18

Chardonnay polarises people. But times change and this is a grape that's moved on - arguably nowhere more so than in New Zealand, which in recent years has started to deliver quality, diversity and great value in spades. It's timely, too, given the supply shortages and booming prices of the wines from Chardonnay's motherland in Burgundy. We're Char…

1
The End of the Hangover? 44:57

1y ago44:57

44:57

Could it be true?! No more hangovers is a tantalising notion, a Holy Grail for many drinkers. But how could this happen, and what would it mean for the world of booze and wine? Join us as we dive headlong into the enthralling world of hangover hacks (including at least one credible ‘remedy’) and explore the new breed of so-called functional drinks,…

1
Australian Pinot Noir Comes of Age 48:35

1y ago48:35

48:35

Every wine lover craves great Pinot Noir. Burgundy is ever pricier and scarcer. So where to look? Australia might not seem the obvious destination for Pinot Noir. It’s better known for hefty reds (think: Shiraz, Cabernet), historic styles like Hunter Semillon or its heroic ‘stickies’ (sweet and fortified like Rutherglen). And if there’s a Burgundia…

1
Wine and Your Microbiome - A Recipe for Health? 49:13

1y ago49:13

49:13

This podcast is GOOD FOR YOU! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise... In this mind-blowing episode we have an exclusive interview with the world-famous Professor Tim Spector, expert in the human microbiome - this population of friendly microbes that lives inside all of us and which acts almost like an extra organ, boosting our immune system, fightin…

1
The New Beaujolais 48:50

1y ago48:50

48:50

Stuff is going down in Beaujolais. Natural wine is a hot trend. Beaujolais Nouveau is re-inventing itself. The top sites have never made better wine. A new generation is revitalising the scene. Geological research has revealed eye-opening results. And growers aren't afraid to throw caution to the wind (Côte Rôtie barrels and Sciacarello anyone?!) P…

1
Burgundy - The Tipping Point? 47:18

1y ago47:18

47:18

Has Burgundy gone bonkers?! Off the back of a nightmare 2021 season, wines are in shorter supply than ever - so prices have gone through the roof. Again. The wines are unquestionably good. That's what Burgundy does. But as the region's wines gradually become ever-more scarce and atypical - and ever-less affordable - how long will wine lovers stick …

1
How To Be a Better Wine Lover 33:53

1y ago33:53

33:53

Self-improvement - via a wine glass. With a side helping of 'vinous Kama Sutra'. But we're getting ahead of ourselves... In our last episode we explored what we wine lovers want from the year ahead. In this programme we flip the camera round and take a look how we can be better wine lovers. Suggestions like 'drink better' inevitably crop up. But so…

1
The Year Ahead: A Wine Lover's Wish List 37:09

1+ y ago37:09

37:09

So what do we all want from wine in the year ahead? What's top of our wish list for wine in 2023? For some it's drinking better (or simply more) wine. If possible, for less money. Others are hoping Pinot Noir proves to be a miracle cure and will be prescribed by doctors... More realistically, combating climate change, responsible political engageme…

1
Selling Net Zero Wine - Pipe Dream or In The Pipeline? 1:10:45

1+ y ago1:10:45

1:10:45

Wine is good. We want a good future for wine - and the planet. But wine has been described on this pod as, 'the villain in the climate story.' So what gives - and how to turn this around? One UK wine retailer has sent out a rallying cry - aiming to be carbon neutral by 2024 and net zero across its entire business by 2040. This retailer wants, ‘to b…

1
Matching Food and Wine: The ULTIMATE BURGER 14:23

1+ y ago14:23

14:23

We're not kidding. This is the ULTIMATE burger. Especially if you're a wine lover... Yes we've got the patty and the brioche bun. So far so straightforward. But the killer ingredients? A tawny port reduction ('wino's ketchup'). Blue cheese. Umami paste. And to top it all off? Truffle mustard mayo. So yes, in this fun episode we attempt to answer th…

1
Our WINE(S) OF THE YEAR! 38:11

1+ y ago38:11

38:11

WOTY?! Don't mind if we do... Welcome to our TASTIEST show of the year (and that's saying something!) In 2022 we're focusing on value to give you some ideas of delicious but affordable wines to suit the season's revelry. No spoilers but we've got wines from France, Spain, Italy, Argentina, South Africa, USA, New Zealand - even Austria and England. …

1
Matching Food and Wine: Fish Pie! 9:32

1+ y ago9:32

9:32

This is not just any old fish pie. This is LUXURY fish pie. And we've got some properly luxuriant wines to match... There's nothing worse than a dry, eggy, potato-drenched fish pie. Our version uses smoked fish, chunky prawns, mustard, cream and cheddar - so we need some seriously high octane wines. No sense fooling around: this is rich white wine …

1
Red Dawn: English Wine and Climate Change 54:50

1+ y ago54:50

54:50

A new report predicts climate change will see English red wine becoming the norm rather than the exception as part of a global shift that will upend the world's wine map as we know it. It's a tough one to get your head around. On the one hand, these are exciting times for English winemakers. On the other, climate change represents an existential th…

1
Matching Food and Wine: Spaghetti Bolognese! 9:06

1+ y ago9:06

9:06

It's a mid-week classic. But the BIG question is: what wines work best to make your spag bol taste like MAGIC?! We tackle this weighty issue like the true gannets we are, featuring some delicious Italian reds (Montepulciano + Valpolicella Ripasso) as well as more quirky pairings, from a South African Syrah to a Chilean Pais. All the while talking t…

1
Inside the Fort Knox of Wine 54:24

1+ y ago54:24

54:24

Fancy joining us as we break into the Fort Knox of wine?! It's an old mine and former munitions dump in the middle of the English countryside that now holds over 9 million bottles and £1bn+ of stock. It's one of the biggest such storage facilities in the world and one (whisky) bottle stored there recently sold for £1.2m. Only downside? Security is …

1
Matching Food and Wine: 'Green Pizza'! 8:48

1+ y ago8:48

8:48

First up: what on earth is a GREEN PIZZA??!! Well, it's a summer vegetable tart. But we couldn't quite bring ourselves to have that as our title. So we ran with 'green pizza'. Which it...almost is. What it definitely is, is utterly delicious comfort food. As well as going superbly well with a whole range of wines. So our kind of dish. It cries out …

1
Wine Blast is back! Season 4 Trailer - with BEST BITS 7:32

1+ y ago7:32

7:32

Susie and Peter are back! Still Masters of Wine, still married (the wine helps) and still serving up thrills and spills for your general delectation. Season 4 dives right back in where they left off, and promises tons of great wine content, thought-provoking angles, top guests, listener questions answered, opinion, food, recommendations - and of co…

1
Matching Food and Wine: Lamb! 10:54

1+ y ago10:54

10:54

So: what wine to pair with your roast lamb? Our answers might surprise you. Lamb is a classic in the wine matching pantheon. But it's not as easy as it may first seem. In fact, we'd argue a lot of supposed matches are way off the mark. Lamb is a very delicate red meat so needs a specific kind of wine to get the best out of the combination. Sometime…

1
Matching Food and Wine: Curry! 10:15

1+ y ago10:15

10:15

Curry. We all love it. So what's the best wine to drink with it?! Here be answers. As well as a bit of chomping (sorry), mention of whipping (no idea how that came up) and of course delicious wines all in the mix. This is a short-form Live episode, the first in our food-and-wine matching mini-series brought to you in association with Wine Club by M…

1
Why Bother Matching Food and Wine? (Here's Why - and How) 48:11

2y ago48:11

48:11

Some people say choosing the right wine for your food (or vice versa) is too complicated. Or that it's all nonsense, so not worth bothering with - just go with whatever you fancy. We beg to differ - in the most strident of ways. We've both spent more than 20 years matching wines to food on TV, radio, events, podcasts and print. We know food is one …

1
Wine from the Arab World 54:22

2y ago54:22

54:22

Aghi Ourad is a Brit of Algerian descent who wants to change the way we think about wine from the 'Arab world' (his phrase). Places like Algeria and Lebanon, where wine production has a surprisingly long history but currently operates in a challenging environment for religious, social or economic reasons. Such wines from Muslim-majority countries, …

1
The World's BIGGEST Wine Competition 59:21

2y ago59:21

59:21

Fancy tasting 18,000+ bottles of wine in a week? Humping and dumping 73,000+ bottles? Herding 250+ international wine judges? Dodging bottle crushers and giant wormeries? And, after all that, the real question is: what's it all for?! We go behind the scenes at the world's biggest wine competition, the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), to tackle th…

1
Armenia's Ambition: ancient, conflicted, hopeful 55:26

2y ago55:26

55:26

Armenia is not the first country to spring to mind in terms of wine. But this is one of the most ancient winemaking cultures in the world. The broader Caucusus region - including Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, is where the winemaking vine is believed to have first been domesticated. By way of proof, a 6,000-year-old winery was unearthed i…

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