Explore every episode of the podcast The Premier Cru - Wine Podcast

We have decided to pause The Premier Cru podcast. This episode is just a quick announcement and an opportunity to say a huge thank you for tuning each week and supporting the show. We hope you enjoyed every minute of the content!

We will be keeping up The Premier Cru Instagram account (@the_premier_cru), starting up a new wine of the week series, featuring a wine that we love or want to try weekly. Follow us on Instagram if you want recommendations on what wines to drink next.

Of course, we will be the first to let you know, if/when we get the opportunity to get the podcast back up and running. Thank you again for all your support in the meantime!

We welcome Sarah Heller, Master of Wine, to The Premier Cru!

On a recent trip to Montalcino, we got the opportunity to try Rosso di Montalcino from over 60 producers. To place the wines into context, Sarah treated a small group of us to a masterclass introducing the category and the different styles of wines produced.

What stood out, is how useful the wines are. They are approachable young and adaptable to be paired with lots of different types of food, making them the perfect "swiss army knife" for sommeliers.

We wanted to share the insights of the masterclass with you and the focus for this episode is an introduction to Rosso di Montalcino as a category. We sandwich that conversation between an introduction to Sangiovese as a grape variety and insights into what it takes to become a Master of Wine.

Let us know in the comments if you have any questions or requests for upcoming guests/topics of discussion.

If you have not already, then please also follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

We welcome Gabriele Gorelli, Master of Wine, to The Premier Cru!

I recently had the opportunity to visit Montalcino and go on a tour of the region. It was exceptional fun and a highlight was attending a seminar, delivered by Gabriele and the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino, introducing a new research project they have conducted.

The output is a new map of the region, which is as detailed as you find in other fine wine regions, such as Burgundy or Barolo. For wine geeks, its the perfect resource to understand and investigate the profiles of producers and individual wines in more depth.

In addition, they have created a new method to evaluate the characteristics of each vintage. They have moved away from a quantitative 5-star rating, to a qualitative evaluation using 3 words that summarise the vintage. Traditional wine media has given higher scores for vintages that are more powerful and intense. This new method has the potential to be far more nuanced and to enable consumers to select the vintage that best matches their palate.

Both developments are going to greatly enhance our understanding of Brunello, making this episode a must listen for anyone passionate about the region and Sangiovese!

On this episode we briefly introduce you to Brunello as a region and then discuss all of Gabriele's research. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions.

If you have not already, then please also follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

We welcome Lucas Reynaud-Paligot, Head of Wine at Hélène Darroze at the Connaught Hotel, to The Premier Cru!

In 2021, Hélène Darroze at the Connaught was awarded a third Michelin Star, placing the restaurant at the top of the culinary table. It goes without saying that the food and service is therefore impeccable, but Lucas has made sure that the wine list is no supporting act! There is simply no iconic fine wine that has not been opened at the restaurant, which offers customers 5 different wine flights to pair with the tasting menu.

Given Lucas has tasted almost any fine wine you could dream of, we spent much of the episode getting his recommendations from the most important fine wine regions around the world. Whether you are interested in Barolo or Burgundy, this episode has a recommendation for you, as we also introduce you to the restaurant.

Let us know whether you enjoyed the episode in the comments and your favourite fine wine!

If you have not already, then please also follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

We welcome Sunny Hodge to The Premier Cru! Sunny is the Founder of two wine bars, Diogenes The Dog and Aspen & Meursault, and the author of a newly published book, called a "Cynic's Guide to Wine".

Sunny's academic background is in engineering and that made him continually question his wine education once he started his career in hospitality. Finding wine textbooks and answers from people in the trade insufficient, Sunny started researching the scientific principles that answered his questions. The book is the output of his research and uses science to challenge many assumptions and ideas that have been handed down generations in the wine trade.

So the focus of this episode is wine science as we investigate what TRULY impacts the flavour of your favourite wines. We also taste a wine on the episode, applying Sunny's frameworks and principles! This episode is for you if you love science or simply have a slightly cynical perspective on some of the b*llsh*t you hear from sommeliers (and myself!).

If you have not already, then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

Welcome to the final part of our mini series "Champagne: Meet the Growers", in which we introduce you to some amazing Grower Champagne Domaines. In this episode, we welcome Raphaël Piconnet to The Premier Cru, who is the head winemaker and vigneron at Domaine de Bichery located in the Côte des Bar.

We wanted to end the series by showing you a rising star in the region. Since releasing their first vintage in 2015, Domaine de Bichery has been gaining an incredible reputation and are one of a number of young Domaines in the Côte des Bar going from strength to strength and establishing the sub-region as one of the most exciting in Champagne.

On top of their sparkling cuvees, they also produce two brilliant Couteaux Champenois so in this episode we discuss:

• The history of the Domaine
• The impact of global warming on Champagne
• The rise of Couteaux Champenois

We also taste two of the Domaine's wines on the podcast: La Source and their Couteaux Champenois Blanc.

If you have not already, then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

Welcome to part three of our mini series "Champagne: Meet the Growers", in which we introduce you to some amazing Grower Champagne Domaines. In this episode we move from the the Côte des Blancs and the Vallée de la Marne to the Côte des Bar, which is one of the most exciting sub-regions within Champagne.

Historically it has been viewed as secondary to sub-regions further north. However, the silver lining is that land prices are therefore a lot cheaper making it an attractive destination for some of Champagne's rising stars.

The inspiration to many of the new growers in the sub-region is none other than Bertrand Gautherot of Domaine Vouette & Sorbée, who I have the pleasure of welcoming to The Premier Cru. Bertrand practices biodynamic viticulture with a capital "B" and low intervention winemaking and won critical acclaim for his wines long before people paid close attention to the Côte des Bar.On the episode we discuss:

• The history of the Domaine
• The terroir of the Côte des Bar
• Biodynamic viticulture

We also taste two of the Domaine's wines on the podcast: Fidele and Extrait

If you have not already, then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

Welcome to part two of our mini series "Champagne: Meet the Growers", in which we introduce you to some amazing Grower Champagne Domaines. In this episode we move from the the Côte des Blancs to the Vallée de la Marne, which is the home of the best Pinot Meunier in Champagne.

We welcome Geoffrey Delouvin, who is the 11th generation winemaker and vigneron at of Domaine Delouvin Nowack, to The Premier Cru! Since taking over the Domaine, Geoffrey has introduced a new range of wines called, Famille Delouvin.

The full range is exceptional, but perhaps the most exciting wines are those produced from Pinot Meunier which is particularly well suited to the Domaine's terroirs in the Vallée de la Marne. For a couple of his cuvees he uses a 100% Pinot Meunier perpetual reserve dating back to 1992. It is unique and adds real complexity to the wine, showing off what Pinot Meunier can achieve when handled by an expert. It was a no-brainer to interview Geoffrey when we decided to devote an episode to the variety and the sub-region.

On the episode we discuss:

• The history of the Domaine
• The rise of Pinot Meunier and why it is finally gaining the respect it deserves
• The terroir of the Vallée de la Marne and why it is so well suited to Pinot Meunier

We also taste three Famille Delouvin wines on the podcast: Sauvage, Semper Fidelis and Les Chaillets

If you have not already, then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

Welcome to the part one of our mini series "Champagne: Meet the Growers", in which we introduce you to some amazing Grower Champagne Domaines.

We welcome Arthur Larmandier of Domaine Larmandier-Bernier to The Premier Cru! Larmandier-Bernier make quintessential Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. They started in the 1970s and have become one of the leading Grower Champagne Domaines. Simply put, Grower Champagne does not get much better than Larmandier-Bernier.

On the episode we discuss:

• The history of the Domaine
• The terroir of the Côte des Blancs and why it is so well suited to Chardonnay
• Their approach to viticulture and winemaking to get the best terroir expression in their wines

We also taste two Larmandier-Bernier wines on the podcast: Latitude and Terre de Vertus

If you have not already, then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

We welcome John and Desiree Chantarasak, Co-Founders of AngloThai, to The Premier Cru!AngloThai started as a pop-up and evolved into a restaurant in November 2024. Within six months, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin Star, which is testament to the hard work, passion and skills of John, Desiree and their team. The cuisine takes inspiration from Thai flavours, people and culture using seasonal British produce. It is truly a unique addition to the UK culinary landscape!

On the episode we discuss:

• The development of AngloThai from pop-up to Michelin Star restaurant
• Creating authentic Thai flavours using British produce
• The personal relationships they have with suppliers and wineries
• And the restaurant's fantastic wine program

We also taste two wines by Charlie Herring in the UK and Nibiru in Austria. Both are delicious!

If you have not already, then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

We welcome Alex Pitt, Co-Founder of Lower Wine Bar, to The Premier Cru!

When a wine bar gets set up by a team that's worked at Brat, The Clove Club, Kiln and The 10 Cases, you know it will be good. Lower has a brilliant wine list and at some of the best prices you will find in London. Right in the heart of Waterloo, the bar is intimate and welcoming with a functional cellar as an awesome private dining room. Their signature dish, Spanish tortilla, is not to be missed either.

On this episode we discuss:

• How Lower Wine Bar was founded

• Alex's favourite wine regions and producers
• The best spots in London to try your favourite wines

If you want to listen to a blind tasting live then this is the episode for you. Tell us in the comments if you want more blind tastings.

If you have not already, then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

We welcome Federico Moccia, Head Sommelier of 67 Pall Mall, to The Premier Cru!

67 Pall Mall is a private members club devoted to fine wine. It gives members the opportunity to enjoy their passion for wine with like-minded people in stunning locations. The first club was founded in London and offers an extensive wine list without standard restaurant mark-ups.

The club has a fantastic restaurant in the Members' Lounge and a more relaxed Clubroom. In both locations, members can access a list of 6,000 wines covering 42 countries. Not only are the great producers of classic regions represented but also more esoteric offerings from up and coming regions and countries, like Greece. Furthermore, over 1,000 of the wines can be tried by the glass making it one of THE best places for wine lovers to enjoy their passion.

On top of amazing tasting experiences with producers, members can also access cultural events with art galleries and socialise with a community of like-minded wine fanatics.

Tune into the episode as we:

• Introduce you to 67 Pall Mall and what members get access to
• Discuss some of the most memorable tasting experiences Federico has hosted at the club
• Discuss some of the global expansion plans 67 Pall Mall has in progress

If you have not already, then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

We welcome Clément Cousin, Co-Founder of Bavette Bistro, to The Premier Cru!

Clément and his partner Sandy met whilst working at Terroirs (now closed), an iconic wine bar located in central London. After honing their crafts for 10+ years , as front of house and chef respectively, they decided it was time to set up their own venture and Bavette Bistro was the result.

It has been incredibly well received, winning Good Food Guide's award for "best local restaurant of the year 2024", and is a great addition to the culinary scene in Leeds.

Clément is from Anjou, in the Loire Valley in France, where his father and brother manage their family's vineyards. They produce a great range of cuvées (predominantly red) that are all underpinned by organic/biodynamic viticulture and low intervention winemaking. The wines have to be labelled as Vin de France as they break many appellation "rules", making them similar to the style made popular by the likes of Mark Angeli and Richard Leroy. We taste two of his father's wines on the podcast, which are both included on Bavette Bistro's wine list.Tune into the episode as we discuss:

• How Bavette Bistro was founded
• The food and wine on offer
• The Cousin family vineyards in France

If you have not already then please follow us on Spotify/Apple and on Instagram (⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠) as it makes a massive difference to the channel!

On this episode, we continue our conversation with Jasper Morris, the leading Burgundy wine critic. Jasper is the author of "Inside Burgundy" which is an in-depth guide to the region and has evolved into an online subscription platform.

During part 1, we focused on the 2023 vintage and the en primeur campaign. This week we discuss the top trends shaping the region including:

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

It is January, which means one thing for the wine calendar: Burgundy en primeur.

As a result, we decided to welcome Jasper Morris to The Premier Cru. Jasper has established himself as the leading Burgundy wine critic, having previously imported many of the top domaines to the UK. More recently he wrote “Inside Burgundy” an in-depth guide to the wine region, which has developed into an online subscription platform.

There was so much we wanted to ask Jasper that we decided to split our conversation into two parts. During part 1 this week, we discuss:

• How Jasper became Burgundy’s leading wine critic
• Weather conditions that shaped the 2023 vintage
• Which villages and producers performed particularly well
• Whether buying en primeur is worth it

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Walter Speller to The Premier Cru. Walter has built a brilliant career as a wine writer, specialising in Italian wine and contributing to Jancis Robinson's purple pages.

Walter recently invited us to the Benvenuto Brunello tasting, to try the 2020 vintage that is being released to market in January 2025. We thought it was the perfect opportunity to:

• Introduce you to Brunello as a wine region
• Discuss the 2020 vintage and resulting wines
• Assess the trends shaping Brunello, including single-vineyard wines

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Patrick McGrath to The Premier Cru. Patrick has had an amazing career in the wine trade, becoming a Master of Wine in 1993 and the CEO of Hatch Mansfield.

More recently he has also founded Domaine Evremond in collaboration with the Taittinger family. It represents the first attempt by a famous champagne house to produce wine in Britain. The project began in 2015 and their first non-vintage sparkling wine will be released to market in Spring 2025. Given the anticipation ahead of the release, we got the opportunity to try the wine and provide a preview!

On the episode we discuss:

• How Domaine Evremond was founded
• Why the Taittinger family wanted to produce wine in Britain
• How they approached making their first wine
• How Domaine Evremond fits into the British wine landscape
• How Patrick became an MW

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Charles Carron Brown to The Premier Cru. Charles is the Restaurant Manager at Aulis, an exclusive Michelin Star restaurant as part of the Simon Rogan Group.

Aulis is not your everyday dining experience, incorporating:

Tasting menus - both food and wine

Exceptional food - Michelin Star restaurant

Sustainability - food sourced from Simon Rogan's farm

Exclusivity - just 12 covers per evening

On the episode we introduce you to Aulis and their wine program, tasting three wines on their list by:⁠

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Michael Sager to The Premier Cru. Michael is the Founder of:

• Sager + Wilde wine bar
• Bruno
• Sager + Wines
• Equal Parts

Michael burst onto the UK wine and food scene via a wine pop-up, which inspired him to found his first venture, Sager + Wilde wine bar. It was an instant success and encouraged him to turn the concept into a brilliant restaurant in Bethnal Green (also called Sager + Wilde).

Although he recently closed the restaurant, Michael has been busy establishing his latest wine bar, Bruno, and building his wine import business, Sager + Wines.

Tune in as we discuss:

• Michael's story to founding Sager + Wilde
• The difficult decision to shut his flagship restaurant
• The challenges facing the hospitality industry
• His new venture in wine importing

We also taste three wines imported by Michael:⁠

• Esmeralda Garcia
• Vin Noe
• Parr Wines & Phelan Farm

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Matthew Mawtus to The Premier Cru. Matthew is the Head of Food & Beverage at ⁠Hide⁠ restaurant, following an amazing career including stints at Claridge's and Pollen Street Social.

When you imagine a Michelin Star restaurant, Hide is exactly what you see:

Tasteful decor - the UK's most photographed staircase

World class chef - Ollie Dabbous

Unrivalled wine list - full access to range at ⁠Hedonism Wines

⁠Exceptional service - led by Matthew

On the episode we introduce you to Hide and also their plans to go from 1 Michelin Star to 2/3 Stars. We also taste three wines on their list by:⁠

Bruno Paillard⁠ ⁠Plan B!⁠ ⁠Viader⁠

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome our first couple, Patrick Williams and Amy Corbin, to The Premier Cru! Patrick and Amy are the dynamic duo behind the Kudu Collective - a set of South African inspired restaurants in South London.

Since opening in 2018, Patrick and Amy have been serving exceptional modern European food with a South African twist, influenced by Patrick's upbringing in South Africa. From establishing a loyal customer base as a neighbourhood restaurant to battling through COVID, they have since expanded to multiple sites. The Kudu Collective has something for everyone including a cocktail bar and a traditional braai grill!

On the episode we introduce you to the Kudu Collective and discuss South African food and wine. We also taste three wines on their lists by:

Pieter Ferreira

Raats Family Wines

Kaapzicht

Follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Anthony Gopal to The Premier Cru, who is the Head Sommelier at KOL.

KOL is the brainchild of Santiago Lastra (Head Chef). The principle aim of the cuisine is to transport the flavours and soul of Mexican food using local British produce. Since opening in 2020, KOL has received a Michelin star and also been listed in The World's 50 Best Restaurants.

Anthony has done an incredible job developing the wine offering, creating an unrivalled list of wines from top producers based in central and eastern Europe. On the episode we taste wines by:

Andreas Tscheppe

Marko Fon

Schäfer-Fröhlich

We also introduce you to KOL and discuss what it takes to become a Michelin star restaurant.

Follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Melania Battiston to The Premier Cru. Melania is one of the UK's top young sommeliers, having worked at The Medlar and Aman Hotel Group whilst running her own coaching business and judging at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Melania's latest adventure is joining David Liverpool and the team at Cornus, a new roof-top restaurant based in Belgravia. They serve delicious food grounded in the principles of French cuisine - think lobster pasta topped with caviar and Amalfi lemon. C'mon!

The wine programme is equally exciting as the food, bringing together all of Melania's experience with exceptional prices. Get yourself a reservation now!

On the episode we discuss what it takes to become a top sommelier and introduce you to Cornus.

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Ed Templeton to The Premier Cru, who is the Co-Founder of Carousel. What differentiates Carousel from other restaurants?

Well, they have a weekly chef in residency programme, inviting new chefs each week from across the world to showcase their cuisine to London customers. It is a culinary hub where you can explore different cuisines, cultures and real creativity. On top of that they also have a wine bar and a Mezcaleria acting as more casual spaces in which to enjoy Carousel if you don't feel like fine dining.

Given we invited Ed to join The Premier Cru - you guessed it - they also have a brilliant wine programme, run by Joshua Bratt, who also runs a series of wine raves called Close Ties. With a weekly changing menu, they need a strong wine list to pair with an eclectic range of dishes.

Join us as we discuss how:

• Carousel was founded
• To run a weekly chef in residency programme
• The Carbonara King caused havoc this year

We also try three brilliant wines from the Carousel list:

• Carousel "House white", by Valle Reale, Abruzzo, Italy, NV
• Vi di Taula, by Els Jelipins, Penedes, Spain, 2022
• VB1, by Selvadolce, Liguria, Italy, 2019

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Hedonism Wines has to be one of the most luxurious retail experiences in the UK. Think of it as a wine Disneyland including chandeliers made of wine glasses, multiple large format bottles and some of the greatest wines you can get your hands on!

Hugo and Ben welcome Julien Le Doaré, General Manager of Hedonism Wines, onto the podcast. In the episode we discuss:

• The vision behind Hedonism Wines
• The range of wines available
• Expansion into hospitality via a Michelin star restaurant

We also taste 3 wines from the Hedonism range that you can purchase online:

• Alkemi, Xinomavro Rose, 2022
• "Clos des Epeneaux", Pommard, Comte Armand, 1990
• "Le Desir", Verite, 2013

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Nick Gibson to The Premier Cru!

Nick is the Founder of The Drapers Arms, a pub based in the heart of Islington. They have a ridiculously good (and good value!) wine list showcasing 300+ bottles many of which have some real bottle age.

Nick set up The Drapers Arms in 2009, following a career in finance, and believes that treating staff well is the cornerstone of a good business, with fantastic food and a great wines the rest should take care of itself. The Drapers Arms also have a strong social impact supporting charities such as The Trussell Trust, Refuge and Action Against Hunger.

On this episode we discuss:

• Moral values of running a business
• Restaurant culture
• The pub, food and wine list
• And how Nick's created one of London's best wine lists

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials and subscribe to our Substack⁠ to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Carole Bryon to The Premier Cru!

Carole is the Founder of The Lady of the Grapes, a restaurant and wine bar based in the heart of Covent Garden. On top of serving fantastic food, their wine list exclusively showcases wines produced by female winemakers.

The 2023 Women in Wine survey revealed that 78% of respondents (women working in the trade) agreed that sexism, gender bias and harassment were serious issues in the industry. Initiatives, such as The Lady of the Grapes, represent important efforts to make the wine trade more inclusive.

The best way to support is to get yourselves a reservation and try their amazing array of wines.
On this episode we:

• Introduce you to The Lady of the Grapes
• Discuss inclusivity in the wine trade and Carole's experiences
• Taste 3 wines made by female producers on The Lady of the Grapes wine list

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

We welcome Joe Haynes to The Premier Cru!

Joe is the Founder of Penzer Wines, which he set up after studying wine at Geisenheim and completing a stint working for the legendary Klaus Peter Keller. All the wines as part of the Penzer portfolio are delicious as Joe seeks out wines from sustainable producers that represent great value.

More recently Joe Co-Founded Cloth Restaurant in Farringdon. Cloth has already been receiving brilliant reviews from critics due to it's wonderful wine list, food and charming interior. It is a great addition to London's diverse and rich restaurant landscape. On this episode we:

• Introduce you to Penzer Wines and Cloth Restaurant
• Discuss Germany's changing wine culture
• Taste three wines from the Penzer portfolio

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

This week is all about Palestinian food, culture and wine, yes there is such a thing!

Hugo and Ben welcome Fadi Kattan, Founder of Akub restaurant, and Anna Patrowicz, Consultant and Sommelier, onto the podcast. Akub is a Palestinian restaurant celebrating the rich diversity of ingredients and culinary traditions from the region, while working with locally sourced British ingredients.

Fadi Kattan is a Franco-Palestinian chef living in Bethlehem and London. He has two restaurants: Fawda (in Bethlehem) and Akub (in London). He also has a boutique hotel in Bethlehem, as well as a Youtube series profiling Palestinian grandmothers and their food knowledge and traditions. Anna is supporting Fadi at Akub and doing exceptional work to bring awareness to Palestinian producers.

Fadi has become an authority and an ambassador for contemporary Palestinian cuisine and recently released a cook book titled Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food

In the episode we discuss:

• Akub as a restaurant and how it was started
• The intrinsic link between Palestinian food, wine and culture
• Fadi's new book

Check out and subscribe to our Substack. We will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more!

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

It's all about sake this week. Somewhere between a beer, a spirit and a wine, there is a mystique when it comes to sake as people rarely understand what it is, the range of styles and therefore the possibilities it offers. This week we change that!

Hugo and Ben welcome Tom Wilson, Co-Founder of Kanpai, onto the podcast. Kanpai is the UK's first sake brewery based in Bermondsey beer mile. They produce a range of styles and are open to the public via tours and their amazing taproom.

In the episode we discuss:

• How Kanpai was founded
• What sake is made of
• How sake is made

We also taste 3 sakes from Kanpai that you can purchase online:

• Sora Honjozo
• Kaze Junmai Ginjo
• Hana Yuzu Fruit Sake

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Hugo and Ben welcome Karl Sjöström onto the podcast, our final instalment from filming at Karakterre wine festival in Vienna, Austria.

In the episode we discuss:

• Fruit wine as a category and what it actually is
• Fruktstereo, who they are and what they're getting up to in Sweden

Check out and subscribe to our Substack. We will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more!

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Hugo and Ben welcome Henry Jeffreys onto the podcast. It's English wine week and we are delighted to be telling the story of how England became a wine producing country.

Henry is the author of "Vines in a Cold Climate: The People Behind the English Wine Revolution", which was awarded Drink Book of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason food and drink awards 2024. Nobody knows the people and stories underpinning England's growing wine industry better than Henry.

In the episode we discuss:

• How England became a wine producing country
• Politics between different producers
• The Sussex PDO
• The impact of climate change
• Adoption of regenerative viticulture

Check out and subscribe to our Substack. We will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more!

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

The Premier Cru are on tour, visiting Austria for a wine festival called Karakterre. This time Hugo welcomes award winning wine writer, Simon Woolf, onto the podcast.

Simon has been writing about wine since 2011, focusing on natural wine, and related themes such as organics, biodynamics, minimal intervention and orange wine. In this ep we discuss:

• Simon's book, Amber Revolution
• What orange wine actually is
• How to get stuck into more of them

About Amber Revolution:

New York Times best wine book of 2018

Louis Roederer wine book of the year 2019

https://amber-revolution.com/

Check out and subscribe to our Substack. We will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more!

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

The Premier Cru are on tour, visiting Austria for a wine festival called Karakterre! The festival lasts 2 days and showcases over 200 central and eastern European producers, who practice either organic or biodynamic viticulture. Throughout the week, producers open their doors to visitors, whilst bars and restaurants across Vienna provide tastings and parties alongside the main event.

Community is at the heart of Karakterre and we welcome Marko Kovac, Co-Founder of of the event, to The Premier Cru to tell us all about it. This week we discuss:

• What it's like to run a leading wine festival
• The community that underpins Karakterre
• Austria's most exciting wine producers and regions

Check out and subscribe to our Substack. We will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more!

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

This week is all about Gusbourne, one of England's leading wine producers!

Hugo and Ben welcome Laura Rhys MS, Head of Wine at Gusbourne, to discuss their success and acclaim since launching their first wines in 2006.

We discuss:

• What it takes to become a Master Sommelier
• Gusbourne's approach to viticulture and winemaking
• The development of English wine since the 80's
• And how English wine is perceived on the international market

And we tucked into these three wonderful wines from Gusbourne:

• Blanc de Blanc 2019
• Blanc de Noir 2019
• Pinot Noir 2022

Check out and subscribe to our Substack. We will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more!

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Hugo and Ben welcome Honey Spencer to The Premier Cru.

Honey is the lady of the hour in the UK wine scene. Alongside her husband, she recently launched a fantastic restaurant called Sune, which has already been nominated for the best opening of the year as part of The National Restaurant Awards.

As if that was not enough excitement, Honey has also just released a new book called ⁠"Natural Wine, No Drama: An Unpretentious Guide"⁠. The book expertly does what it says on the tin.

On this episode we introduce you to both Sune and Honey's new book, whilst tasting three wines available on the restaurant wine list:

• Riesling, MIRA
• Vino bianco "Arcese", Vittorio Bera & Figli
• Les perles du Mont Blanc, Domaine du Gringet

Check out and subscribe to our Substack. We will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more!

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

In contrast to last week's ep with Corney & Barrow, this week we continue on the theme of Bordeaux but this time looking at New Wave Bordeaux - what the &*%$ is that I hear you say!

Hugo and Ben welcome Benedict Butterworth, founder of Benedict Butterworth Wines, onto the podcast to give us an overview of the modern state of play in Bordeaux. BBW is an independent wine importer and retailer with a focus on the innovative, wacky, and creative superstars you wouldn't usually associate with the most famous wine region in the world. 

We discuss:

• China and climate change (sounds like a Trump special!)
• Snarky Bordelaise politics including Cheval Blanc and Angelus
• Grape varieties you've never heard of
• And Ben attempts a Geordie accent, hawey the lads!

And we tucked into these three beauties for Benedict's portfolio:

• ⁠Chateau Cazbonne, Comme en 1900⁠
• Vielles Chapelle, Les Amuse-Gueles⁠
• Chateau Tapon Saint Emilion Grand Cru ⁠

Follow @The_Premier_Cru to keep up to date with future eps and behind the scenes snippets.

Subscribe to our ⁠Substack⁠ as well to access more exclusive content with our guests.

It's May, which can only mean one thing. The Bordeaux 2023 En Primeur Campaign has officially kicked off.

Hugo and Ben welcome Ida Weatherall, Sales Executive at Corney & Barrow, onto the podcast to provide an introduction to Bordeaux as a wine region and buying wine En Primeur. Corney & Barrow are one of the UK's oldest wine merchants. There is no one better to provide an introduction to Bordeaux, one of the most historic and prestigious wine regions globally.

We try 3 fantastic wines all available as part of their En Primeur campaign:

• L'Aurage 2018
• Chateau la Grave a Pomerol 2017
• Chateau Rocheyron 2015

Follow @The_Premier_Cru to keep up to date with future eps and behind the scenes snippets.

Subscribe to our Substack as well to access more exclusive content with our guests. This week we will be providing a vintage report and some en primeur recommendations shared directly from the Corney & Barrow team.

Hugo and Ben welcome Margaux Aubry, Co-Founder of Naughty Piglets, onto the podcast.

Naughty Piglets is a fantastic restaurant based in Brixton, serving seasonal modern European food alongside 200+ organic and natural wines.

At the beginning of 2024 they started a chef residency programme which will keep the vibe of the restaurant changing throughout this year.

On the ep we discuss:

• How they got started and what Jay Rayner had to do with it
• The time Andrew Lloyd Webber asked them to set up a second restaurant
• Margaux's pairing Comte and Vin Jaune straight from the bottle

And Margaux brought along 3 fabulous wines from the Naughty Piglets list:

• Maupertuis Puy Long Chardonnay 2022
• Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2022
• Tony Bornard Vin Jaune

Check out and subscribe to our Substack. We will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more!

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Hugo and Ben welcome Tom Gearing, Co-Founder and CEO of ⁠Cult Wines⁠, onto the podcast. Cult Wines specialise in fine wine investment and combine a deep passion for wine with financial and technology expertise. Their latest innovation is ⁠Cult X⁠, an app helping users to easily trade and invest in fine wine. They can now cater to both complete novices and to experienced wine investors. Look them up now!

Not only is Tom a wine investment guru, but he is also a media superstar having featured on The Apprentice. You can see highlights of his time on the show here - this is a "must" watch (after our podcast episode of course)!

In this episode we look at:

• how Cult Wines was founded
• what makes wine a great asset class
• building the perfect wine investment portfolio

We also try 3 investment grade wines selected by Tom:

• Bannockburn Chardonnay, Felton Road, 2022
• Cuvée 910, Clos des Vignes du Maynes, 2019
• Les Suchots, Vosne Romanée, Domaine Grivot, 2009

In big news, The Premier Cru is also launching a Substack account, where we will be connecting you with our guests and developing our community. Expect wine recommendations, recipes from chefs and much more! Our first articles will be dropping this week, showing you the best performing investment wines released since 2000! Subscribe to hear more...

You can also follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

In 2019 Mark and Matt set up Levan, a restaurant in Peckham serving contemporary European dishes, inspired by the ‘bistronomy’ movement and their favourite eateries in Paris, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Stockholm and Berlin. They have a huge wine list with a real focus on Jura.

A year or so later Bar Levan opened right next door, which is a cosy wine bar, bistro and shop serving natural wine and food from Tuesday to Saturday. Think pickled mussels and crisps, comte, and Vin Jeaune by the glass!

In this episode we look at:

• What it takes to set up and run Peckham's leading wine focused restaurant and bar
• And Mark takes us on a deep dive of the Jura

He also brought also these for us to try:

• Yves Dupont Cremant
• Domaine Labet En Chalasse
• Valentin Morel Trousseau Les Trouilotts

Follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Join Hugo and Ben as they discuss and taste their 3 wines of the week:

• Good Value: Côtes du Rhône, Tanners, 2021
• Wacky and wonderful: Ribolla Gialla, Vigna Traverso, 2021
• Fine wine: Barbaresco, Produttori del Barbaresco, 2019

Each of the wines is available from the merchants below:

• Good value: Tanners Wine Merchants
• Wacky and wonderful: Jeroboams⁠
• Fine wine: The Wine Society

Keep up to date with all developments @The_Premier_Cru

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• YouTube
  

There are few (if any) organisations that have had as much impact on the natural wine scene in the UK as Les Caves de Pyrene. Not only do they import an amazing range of natural wines, they are also the team behind the legendary wine bar, Terroirs (now shut), and The Real Wine Fair.

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Doug Wregg to The Premier Cru. Tune in as we discuss:

• The story behind Les Caves de Pyrene
• The question of "What is natural wine?"
• The Real Wine Fair

We also taste and discuss three wines from the Les Caves de Pyrene portfolio:

• "Handcrafted" Gruner Veltliner, Martin & Anna Arndorfer
• Stagbeetle, Weignut Andreas Tscheppe
• "Saint Epine" St-Joseph, Herve Souhaut

We are really looking forward to joining The Real Wine Fair this year on 28th and 29th April. You can find tickets to the event via this link if you want to attend the UK's largest natural wine fair and meet some of the leading producers.

Follow ⁠⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Join Hugo and Ben as they discuss and taste their 3 wines of the week, including a delicious Bobal from the legendary producer Ponce, an entry level Pinot from New Zealand and a stunning 'village' Burgundy from Sylvain Pataille.

• Good Value: Kumeu River Pinot Noir
• Wacky and wonderful: Bodegas Ponce PF
• Fine wine: Domaine Sylvain Pataille Marsannay

Each of the wines is available from the merchants below:

• Good value: Jeroboams
• Wacky and wonderful: Natty Boy
• Fine wine: The Wine Society

Keep up to date with all developments @The_Premier_Cru

• Instagram
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
  

One of Manchester's leading wine focused restaurants, Climat opened their cellar doors to The Premier Cru. Having opened only 15 months ago they have already been nominated for and won awards from Star Wine List for their 400+ bottle list.

We spoke with Wine Director, Oliver Fletcher, to learn:

• What it takes to set up a restaurant
• How you develop an award winning wine list
• What the future looks like for Manchester's wine scene

Oliver also brought along 3 delicious wines from their list:

• Le Petit Beaufort 2017
• Domaine Simon Bize, Bourgogne Blanc 2020
• Rouvalis Mavrodaphne 2021

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Join Hugo and Ben as they discuss and taste their 3 wines of the week:

• Good Value: Crianza Rioja, Bodegas Urbina, 2012
• Wacky and wonderful: Tinus, Chateau des Tourettes, 2016
• Fine wine: Pouilly Fuisse, Chateau Fuisse, 2021

Each of the wines is available from the merchants below:

• Good value: Handford Wines
• Wacky and wonderful: Roberson Wines
• Fine wine: Jeroboams

Keep up to date with all developments @The_Premier_Cru

• Instagram
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube
  

Hugo and Ben welcome Kat Mayhew, co-founder of Candour onto the episode.

Candour is changing the game when it comes to wine in a can, setting a new benchmark in the market. Kat and her co-founder, Guada, have spent their careers in the wine trade and spotted an opportunity to make genuinely delicious canned wine!

They have carefully selected the producers they work with, all of whom are small scale and adopt low intervention winemaking. The common thread between the wines is that they have acidity and energy, making them appealing to drink anytime, any place, anywhere. Game changed.

On this episode we discuss:

• Kat's journey to co-founding Candour
• The benefits of the can vs bottle
• Common misconceptions with canned wine

We also try Candour's full portfolio on the episode:

• Dry Riesling
• ⁠Pale Rose
• Lively Red

Follow ⁠@The_Premier_Cru⁠ on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Join Hugo and Ben as they discuss and taste their 3 wines of the week, including a vibrant Grenache from the Languedoc, an entry level Nebbiolo from Piedmont and a village level Vosne Romanee.

• Good Value: La Bioca, Nebbiolo d'Alba Superiore
• Wacky and wonderful: St Jacques d'Albas, La Collection
• Fine wine: Berthaut Gerbert, Vosne Romanee

Each of the wines is available from the merchants below:

• Good value: Jeroboams
• Wacky and wonderful: Handford Wines
• Fine wine: The Wine Society

Keep up to date with all developments @The_Premier_Cru

• Instagram
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube

Hugo and Ben welcome Sean Evans, founder of The Geordie Wine Guide and co-founder of Progression Wines, onto the episode.

Sean started The Geordie Wine Guide after a friend of his filmed him one weekend talking about wine. Over 2k YouTube subscribers later, Sean is continuing to produce great content and is now actually importing wines via Progression Wines. The wines imported are typically by small producers, using organic or biodynamic farming and low intervention winemaking.

On this episode we discuss:

• Sean's journey into the wine trade
• Several wines from the Progression Wines portfolio
• Debunking some wine terms (e.g. natural wine)

Sean has kindly bundled the wines tasted on the episode for listeners so you can find them online!

Follow @The_Premier_Cru on socials to keep up to date with future episodes and behind the scenes snippets.

Join Hugo and Ben as they discuss and taste their 3 wines of the week:

• Good value: Gran Cerdo 2022
• Wacky and wonderful: Langhe Nascetta 2022
• Fine wine: Saint Aubin Premier Cru 2021

Each wine is available from the merchants below:

• Good value: ⁠Noble Green Wines
• Wacky and wonderful: Jeroboams
• Fine wine: ⁠Handford Wines

Keep up to date with all developments @The_Premier_Cru on:

• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠
• ⁠YouTube