EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A wine podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

In this episode, I have just returned from an incredible long weekend in the Languedoc wine region, and I'm thrilled to share all the highlights with you. Whether you're a wine aficionado, a foodie, a nature enthusiast, a hiker, or simply someone seeking peace and tranquility, the Languedoc region has something special to offer.

Join me as I recount my adventures across the three captivating sub-regions of Limoux, Corbières, and Minervois. With countless activities and accommodations to choose from, I've done the research and gathered insights from locals to make it super easy for you to plan your own trip.

For those who can't make it to the south of France just yet, I’ll be offering valuable tips on which Languedoc wines to look for and why they deserve a spot on your wine rack. We'll delve into the history and significance of the Mauzac grape, explore the world's first-ever sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux, and introduce you to two remarkable crus: La Livinière and Boutenac.

This episode is sponsored by Wickham Wines, A small business themselves focusing on top quality wines. Do yourself a favour, and go check out their online store for their amazing collection! Use the code EATSLEEP10 for 10% off your first order.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.55: The bulk history of the Languedoc

3.01: Location of the Languedoc

4.10: What to expect on your visit

6.25: Bush Vines V Goblet Vines: The difference

8.39: Visiting Carcassone

9.33: Visiting Domaine Gayda

12.11: AOC Malpere

12.58: The first Cru of the Languedoc: La Livinière

13.53: The wines: Villa Mon Reve, La Petite Villa, Chemin de Moscou, Altre Cami, Figure Libre Rouge & Blanc

17.45: Visting Mirepoix

18.18: Visiting Saint Hilaire Abbey: The birthplace of Sparkling wine

19.57: Blanquette de Limoux Methode Ancestral

20.32: Blanquette de Limoux

21.08: Crement de Limoux

22.12: Visiting Chateau Ollieux Romanis

25.36: The Cru Boutenac

28.48: The wines: Atal Sia, Cuvee OR, White Prestigue

32.28: Visiting Lagrasse

34.17: Visiting Chateau Maris

35.19: Deeper understanding of environmental sustainability

37.41: The wines: Brama, Les Anciens, La Touge, Les Planels

40:55: Visiting Minerve

Any thoughts or questions, do email me: [email protected]

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat

If you fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

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THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST HAS BEEN FEATURED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE, RADIO TIMES AND FEED SPOT AS THE 6TH BEST UK WINE MAKING PODCAST.

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Hello, wine friends! Welcome back to part two with the incredible wine presenter, Tom Surgey. If you caught part one, you already know why he’s a master at talking about wine. In our previous episode, we delved into the Bairrada wine region, but today, we're shifting our focus just east to the Dão region.

Dão, with its higher altitudes and elevations, produces wines that are elegant, perfumed, and full of finesse—perfect for gastronomy. We’ll explore how beautifully Touriga Nacional and the white grape variety Encruzado thrive in this region.

Get ready to dive deeper into the Dão wine region and join us as Tom walks us through his new wine book, “How to Drink Wine” (due out 29th August). We’ll focus on the food pairing section, where Tom will share his insights on pairing Dão wines with various dishes.

You can pre order it now HERE

However, Tom’s book isn’t just about pairings or wine history. It also covers practical topics like restaurant markups, wine shop pricing, and tips for buying the right wine. One intriguing topic we’ll cover is light strike - a wine fault that can significantly affect flavor. We’ll discuss what it is, how it happens, and how to avoid it.

This episode is sponsored by Wickham Wines, A small business themselves focusing on top quality wines. Do yourself a favour, and go check out their online store for their amazing collection! Use the code EATSLEEP10 for 10% off your first order.

If you want to skip ahead:

03.01: Toms’ trip to Dão in Portugal and his experience in the region

04.36: Francesinha - the portuguese must try sandwich

10.45: The main white grape: Encruzado

13.44: The main red grape: Touriga Nacional

16.42: The red grape variety Alfrocheiro - tannin profile, fruit yields and harvesting

18.00: Mencia (known here as Jaen) - flavour and aroma profiles

18.28: Winemakers thoughts on Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo)

22.15: Top producers like Carlos Lucas: Quinta do Ribero Santo

25.05: Wines from Quinta dos Roques

26.37: Portugal’s industry is still big on blends

30.04: Toms’’s new book  “How To Drink Wine” and how he would pair Dão wines with food

38.18: Discussing the cost of wine, duty,  and markups (all mentioned in detail in the book)

43.08: How UV light affects wines in direct sunlight - “Light strike”

46.15: Researching Light strike and performing experiments in different settings/environments

Any thoughts or questions, do email me: [email protected]

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat

If you fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

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THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST HAS BEEN FEATURED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE, RADIO TIMES AND FEED SPOT AS THE 6TH BEST UK WINE MAKING PODCAST.

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

Hello, wine friends! In this episode, we journey into the Alsace wine region with the brilliant Anne Mchale, Master of Wine, and independent wine consultant and educator based in London. Anne's expertise spans across wine list design, corporate and private tastings, and innovative educational programs like her renowned course for WSET diploma students - Diplomatherapy 

Sign up here:

https://annemchale.com/diplomatherapy-2024-registration/

Or get email updates:

https://annemchale.com/diploma-emails/

We'll explore the unique terroir of Alsace, its Grand Cru sites, and compare Riesling's distinct style with other renowned wine regions. Anne shares insights from her recent trip, highlighting hidden gems like the Sylvaner grape, dubbed the Cinderella grape, and the region's exciting focus on Pinot Noir.

Anne also provides invaluable tips for those studying for the challenging D3 exam.

Don't miss Anne's recommendations for top Alsace producers and must-visit places. Plus, discover the fantastic Crémants d'Alsace, a great alternative to champagne. 

This episode is sponsored by Wickham Wines, A small business themselves focusing on top quality wines. Do yourself a favour, and go check out their online store for their amazing collection! Use the code EATSLEEP10 for 10% off your first order.

If you want to skip ahead:

05.08: How learning to speech French allowed Anne to fall into the world of wine

09.56: A wine memory at Pontet-Canet in Bordeaux who focus on biodynamic viticulture

11.48: Alsacian winemakers working more organically and biodynamically due to climate

14.20: Diplomatherapy - Anne’s membership programme to help you pass your WSET diploma

16.45: How to answer a typical D3 question: “Describe the unique terroir of Alsace and how it influences the characteristics of the wines produced there”

18.32: The climate during growing season in Alsace, the diurnal range in Grand Crus, and the cool climate

21.51: The 4 noble grape varieties of Alsace and increased plantings of Pinot Noir 

24.37: The 51 Grand Crus, and the two to now permit Pinot Noir

26.45: Riesling in Alsace, compared to other regions and the change in labelling for dry Riesling

30.54: Common occurrence of petrol notes in aged Rieslings, and how they aren’t typical of Alsace 

33.15: Tasting a Vendange Tardive Gewürztraminer 1953

38.27: Traveling tips for going to Alsace

42.36: Sylvaner -”The Cinderella Grape”

44.45: The Alsace Cru Terroir group and recommended producers to try

Any thoughts or questions, do email me: [email protected]

Or contact me on Instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat

If you fancy watching some videos on my youtube channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

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THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST HAS BEEN FEATURED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE, RADIO TIMES AND FEED SPOT AS THE 6TH BEST UK WINE MAKING PODCAST.

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is Part 2 with Victoria Daskal, a second stage MW candidate and founder of Mummy Wine Club. She was born in Moldova and finally got to go back several years ago. Victoria tells us about this trip, giving us great oversight of the wine industry there; past, present and future. The regions, the grapes and what to see and eat when you are there.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.22: My Winery of the week: Sălcuța

3.30: Tasting the Eno Tămâioasa de Sălcuța 2020 £15 moldovawine.co.uk

*also one of the Moldovan wines included in the April Subscription box at Mummy Wine Club

7.21: Chat with Victoria

9.35: The history of Moldovan wine

11.03: Everyone grows their own wine

13.10: Are the more commercial wineries doing things naturally?

14.00: Grape varieties in Moldova

16.15: The native varieties of Moldova

18.13: Location of Moldova and affect from Black Sea

20.03: The three IGPs of Moldova

21.15: Hectares planted

21.59: The wine routes of Moldova

26.32: Eating Moldovan food

27.56: The different styles of wine made in Moldova

29.47: Recommended producers to try

34.06: The Wines in Aprils Mummy Wine Club Subscription Box

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

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

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This is Part 1 with Victoria Daskal, a second stage MW candidate. She has completed the OIV MSc in International Wine Management– a whirlwind program that took her around 45 wine regions and 23 countries, and so we are looking at some of her favourite memories and thoughts from this time. She was also lucky enough to work for Jancis Robinson MW. We discuss all this and throughout the episode, grape varieties to try and wine regions are dropped in. Victoria is now the founder and director of Mummy Wine Club which offers a monthly wine subscription club and bespoke wine tastings in the UK. We talk about the wine boxes she puts together and the wine themes within them, which should hopefully motivate you for any wine tastings you may want to put on, or inspire your wine choices next time you are in an independent wine shop.

Normally my episodes are more educational and detailed (wait for next week – Wines of Moldova!), but this one is just a great little glimpse into the life of someone who contributed beautifully to the wine industry. I hope you will curl up with a glass of wine on this one, slow down a little and enjoy the episode.

If you want to skip ahead:

2.12: How Victoria got into the wine industry

4.34: Moving to France and starting the OIV wine management program

7.16: Favourite memories and places from traveling on the wine management program

10.03: Most beautiful wine region

11.18: Female inspirations in the wine industry

14.06: Working for Jancis Robinson

19.51: Setting up the Mummy Wine Club

23.20: Wine subscription and wine boxes

29.55: Different wine themes and favourite wines that have been in the wine boxes

34.30: Pairing wine with books

36.33: Cahors Malbec

37.46: Favourite food and wine pairing

39.46: Recommended wine book

41.52: Difference between modern and tradional Riojas and Barolos

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

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

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

I am joined by Anne Krebiehl MW (editor-in-chief of Falstaff International) for Part 2 and in this episode, we are looking at the wines of Germany and the lesser-known wine regions. We will also focus on some of the lesser-known grape varieties such as Silvaner and talk about Sekt, Germanys sparkling wines. Throughout you will pick up lot of German words and terms to help you with those labels.

GIVEAWAY!!

There is a giveaway running on my instagram @eatsleep_winerepeat where you can wine a copy of the latest Falstaff Magazine (the place for wine, food and travel). It's open till Monday 26th March at 6pm. If you do not have instagram you can always email me [email protected] with the word Falstaff and I will add you in manually: GOOD LUCK!!

If you want to skip ahead:

2.12: My winery of the week: Weingut Horst Sauer

4.00: The grape variety SCHEUREBE

5.18: Alcohol content in German wine and the ripeness levels and sugar levels

6.32: Tasting the Horst Sauer Escherndorfer lump Scheurebe Spätlese 2019 £19.99 Hedley Wright Wine Merchants

8.43: Chat with Anne - discussing her wining wine book of the year 2020 for The Wines of Germany

10.36: The grape variety SILVANER

17.11: The iconic Bocksbeutel bottle used in Franken wine region

18.54: Franken wine region

20.33: Sekt - Germanys sparkling wine

23.27: Großes Gewächs: Germans premium dry wines

24.11: The VDP quality growers association

25.11: Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in Germany

26.48: Sachsen and Saale-Unstrut wine regions

33.47: Master of Riesling and rising star of Rheingau: Eva Fricke

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

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

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

I am delighted to be joined by Anne Krebiehl MW (editor-in-chief of Falstaff International) in this really deep and interesting episode. Anne's childhood really continued to her sense of smell and taste, which you will learn about, alongside struggles taking the Master of Wine, how she now mentors others, one of her female wine inspirations and then we get stuck into some of the real wine geeky stuff: We are talking about Pinot Noir Clones, why they are so important and how they have come about, from where they started and the history of Pinot Noir. Then we are jumping across from Burgundy to Germany to talk about Spätburgunder which is the German name for Pinot Noir. Anne gives us an idea of regions and why all of them produce different styles of Pinot.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.52: How Anne got into wine

5.07: The wine moment that changed it all

7.00: Discovering WSET and moving onto the Master of Wine Programme

10.29: Studying and writing in a second language

12.35: Being traumatised by Master of Wine tasting exam

16.00: Female wine inspiration and thoughts on women in wine

19.25: Talking on new role as Editor-in-chief at Falstaff International and what this magazine offers the reader

27.32: Looking deep into Pinot Noir clones

37.44: The history of Pinot Noir

38.34: Pinot Noir in Germany

44.19: Comparing Pinot Noirs around the world to Burgundy

52.31: Featuring a wine quote from The Queen of Burgundy Lalou Bize-Leroy

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

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

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This episode is part two with Quintessa winemaker Rebekah Wineburg. We are listening to Rebekah talk about what it is like as a winemaker to make wine in great vintages and challenging ones. How they dealt with the Napa Fire of 2017 and how they are preparing for future ones. We compare the two vintages 2017 and 2018 in detail as I have both bottles of Quintessa to try. We talk about what each Bordeaux grape variety adds to the blend and how the soils affect these flavours with a focus on soil mapping with the help of Soil celebrity Dr Pedro Parra.

If you want to skip ahead:

2.13: Chat with Rebekah

2.29: The highs and the lows of a winemakers during great and challenging vintages with talk between the 2017 and 2018 vintage throughout

5.00: The Napa Valley fire of 2017

6.46: How to be more prepared in a winery for fires

7.23: Being a family in Quintessa

11.45: Quintessa Harvest Opening Ceremony

14.23: Tasting the Quintessa 2017 and 2018 – comparison of the years and how this affects the flavours in the wine and talking about the different soils and what they add

Quintessa 2017 £187 Tannico, Crump Richmond & Shaw Fine Wines (half bottles -Hedonism)

Quintessa 2018 £150 Uncorked, Cru World Wine London, uh, Farr Vintners, Burnett & Herbert Fine Wines

22.00: Working with Dr Pedro Parra (Soil specialist)

22.41: Mapping out the soils in the vineyard, how it is done and how it can benefit the wines in the future

31.45: Comparing Bordeaux to Napa Valley in terms of Bordeaux blends

35.30: Phenolics in Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This episode is part one with Quintessa winemaker Rebekah Wineburg. We are comparing wine regions to Napa Valley, looking at the differences of Sauvignon Blanc in Napa compared to New Zealand and talking about Biodynamics in the vineyard. Alongside this you will learn about Sauvignon Musque, how fermentation vessels affect the flavour of wine, and who Rebekah's inspiration and mentor has been in the wine world. I am also tasting the incredible Illumination, which is a very special Sauvignon Blend.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.58: Chat with Rebekah

3.34: How Rebekah got the idea to become a winemaker

5.43: What makes New Zealand special in terms of vines and vineyards

6.46: Comparing Oregon to Napa Valley

8.21: The effect of the droughts in Napa Valley

11.56: Why is Quintessa Estate so unique?

19.52: What does Biodynamics mean to Quintessa

24.39: Talking about a few of the Biodynamic preps used in the vineyard

28.17: Talking about the Illumination 2018 and what is Sauvignon Musque

Illumination 2018 £37.50 Ally Wines

31.00: How different fermentation vessels affect the wine

25.25: The label of Illumination coming from the book of Kells

36.12: Women history month, and Rebekah’s female mentor

40.34: How Sauvignon Blanc is different in Napa Valley V New Zealand

43.20: Explaining who Celia Welsh is

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

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

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!

To download the transcript CLICK HERE

This episode is part two with Natalie Maclean, award-winning wine writer and presenter. She is taking us through the wines of Canada with a big focus on Canadas largest wine region ONTARIO and the ICE WINE that is made here. You will hear lots of top wineries mentioned so you know who to visit or try if you can find a bottle.

If you want to skip ahead:

1.45: My winery of the week: Stratus Vineyards

3.54: Tasting The Stratus Cabernet Franc 2017 £28.85 Vinvm

6.19: Chat with Natalie

7.01: Stats on Canadian wine

8.31: Climate and wine regions in Ontario

9.43: Ice wine

18.59: A mention about Quebec and Nova Scotia

20.30: The Sub appellations of Ontario in more detail

25.30: One of Natalies favourite wineries: Featherstone Estate Winery

28.44: The grape varieties of Canada

31.07: The grapes used in Ice wine

33.14: Hybrids, Vitis Lambrusca and BACO NOIR

34.56: The future for Canadian wine

To learn more about Wines of Canada: https://winecountryontario.ca/

To go to Natalie's website: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/

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

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

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

Until next time, Cheers to you!