The Wine Conversation

▻ Bringing Mature Bordeaux Back on Wine Lists 02.06.2026 6min

When did you last see a mature bottle of Bordeaux on a wine list? Sarah Kemp talks to Michael Saunders and Robert Mathias MW of Coterie Holding’s wholesale arm Hallgarten and Novum about “The Cellar Series”, an initiative to put mature Bordeaux back on hotel and restaurant wine lists. Listen in to hear how they have persuaded some of Bordeaux’s classed growths to embrace the hospitality industry, and put Bordeaux back where it belongs, on the table.

▻ The Story of the Judgement of Paris – Part IV 29.05.2026 32min

In our final episode of The Judgement of Paris, Sarah Kemp and John Stimpfig discuss the impact of the historic tasting, and discuss with Patricia Gallagher, Bo Barrett, Brian St Pierre and Hervé Berland how it affected the world’s wine industry. We find out from Bella how Steven viewed it, and hear from Steven himself on why, for him, wine is a way of life.

▻ The Story of the Judgement of Paris – Part III 28.05.2026 32min

May 24th 1976 – a day when a tasting in Paris changed the wine world. Listen in to Part 3 of the story of the Judgement of Paris to hear from two of the people who were actually in the room, Patricia Gallagher and Bella Spurrier. Discover Mike Grigich’s reaction when he received a telegram to say Chateau Montelena had won the white wine flight and find out how Baron Phillipe de Rothschild’s reacted when Château Mouton Rothschild came second to an unknown Californian wine, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. Plus the backlash against Steven Spurrier who became persona non grata in many French vineyards and how the French judges came under fire. Unmissable drama.

▻ The Story of the Judgement of Paris – Part II 27.05.2026 32min

“We weren’t always welcome because they thought we were French”. Bella Spurrier recalling her trip to California with Steven while sourcing the wines for the Judgement of Paris. Listening in to part two of the History of the Judgement of Paris to hear the remarkable tale of how the tasting came about, and how the wines were chosen. In this episode, Sarah Kemp and John Stimpfig talk to Bella Spurrier, Steven’s wife who accompanied him on his trip to California, Patrica Gallagher, Steven’s director of the Academie du Vin who came up with the idea for the tasting and Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena who remembers the visit (he was told to clean the cellars and disappear by Mike Grigich). Unmissable recollections from the people who were actually there.

▻ The Story of the Judgement of Paris – Part I 26.05.2026 32min

The most significant wine tasting in history celebrates its 50th anniversary. Join us for the first episode in a special four-part series on “The History of the Judgement of Paris”, hosted by Sarah Kemp and John Stimpfig. Exclusive interviews with Bella Spurrier, Steven’s wife, Patricia Gallagher, director of the Academie du Vin, Bo Barrett, owner of Chateau Montelena, Brian St Pierre, media director at the Wine Institute of California in the 70s and Hervé Berland, ex- Managing Director of Château Mouton Rothschild, and a recently discovered audio of Steven Spurrier discussing how a tasting in Paris changed the wine world. Listen in to hear from the people who were there, and made it happen.

▻ Omnibus XLIII 17.05.2026 58min

Listen in to Omnibus for this month’s biggest wine stories with John Stimpfig and Elin McCoy. Find out what the talk of Napa Valley is, discover Elin’s Bordeaux 2025 wine of the vintage, how Spring frosts have affected Champagne, which wines are hot in New York and much more.

✒ Ca’Marcanda’s 30th Anniversary 14.05.2026

Gaia Gaja was in town to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ca’Marcanda, the family’s Bolgheri estate.

▻ What Will Make The Bordeaux 2025 Campaign A Success 07.05.2026 6min

As Bordeaux châteaux start to release their prices for the Bordeaux 2025 vintage, Sarah Kemp talks to Tom Burchfield, Head of Market intelligence at Liv-ex about the market, and asks the all-important question – what needs to happen to make this campaign a success? Listen in to find out how the market is right now, which château released and has been a success, and the key criteria for making the campaign a success.

▻ Bordeaux 2025: The Verdict 04.05.2026 6min

Bordeaux 2025 – the verdict is in. Sarah Kemp talks to Jane Anson about her views on the 2025 vintage after tasting over 800 wines. She discusses how the vintage ranks compared to previous vintage, names her wine of the year and potential best value wine of the year. It is not a homogenous year, but there are some truly great wines. Listen in to hear from the woman who is regarded as the world expert on Bordeaux. Essential listening to anyone thinking of buying Bordeaux 2025.

▻ Bordeaux 2025: Part 2 22.04.2026 6min

Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp are halfway through the Bordeaux 2025 tastings, with Jane having tasted over 500 wines, and Sarah trying to catch up with 250. Listen in to hear their thoughts so far on the vintage, find out what’s new this year, and a sneak preview of some wines that have impressed. There is a special subscription discount offer to www.janeanson.com site, which will have full tasting notes and analysis of the vintage released on April 30th. Wine Conversations listeners can save 15% by entering the code GEP2515.

▻ Bordeaux 2025: Part 1 19.04.2026 6min

First report on Bordeaux 2025 from Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp. In their first En Primeur podcast they describe the vintage, which despite on paper looking like 2022, is in fact quite different in character. 2025 has the lowest yields since 1991, and neither Sarah or Jane can remember a vintage quite like it. Concentrated fruit and low ph are two of its characteristics. They believe you can’t make generalisations about appellations; this really is château by château. Listen in to hear their first thoughts on Bordeaux 2025.

▻ How You Get The Next Generation Into Fine Wine 13.04.2026 32min

Wine consumption is at its lowest since the early 1960s, and one reason is that the younger generation isn’t drinking wine. One company that is addressing this is Goedhuis Waddesdon, the bluest of blue-chip British wine merchants, who have set up The Goed Wine Collective, a club for under-35-year-olds. Sarah Kemp talks to the company’s Harry Tennant and Tilly Loughton, both in their 20s, on how the club works (spoiler alert – it’s free), how they recruit young members, the events they put on, and the language needed to engage their generation. A fascinating look into the under-35-year-old fine wine mindset.

▻ Drops of God 08.04.2026 32min

Listen in to hear Sebastien Pradal talk to Elin McCoy on how he came to be the wine consultant to the hit Apple TV series “Drops of God”. As the wine consultant, he worked with the script writers and actors to ensure that all the facts and wine details were correct, as well as choosing the wines and winery locations. A fascinating conversation on how this hit wine TV drama came together.

✒ Isole e Olena 2026 New Releases 07.04.2026

John Stimpfig reports on the latest releases from Isole e Olena, one of the great estates of Tuscany.

▻ The 250-Year History Between USA and Bordeaux 26.03.2026 32min

Jane Anson discusses the extraordinary relationship between the USA and Bordeaux as the US begins to celebrate its 250th anniversary of independence. Listen in to hear about the Founding Fathers' love of Bordeaux, and why Jane believes that Benjamin Franklin rather than Thomas Jefferson was the true advocate for Bordeaux. Discover the châteaux which had US connections and meet the extraordinary people in Bordeaux who helped the War of Independence.

▻ Barbaresco with David Gleave MW 16.03.2026 11min

Join David Gleave MW for a deep dive into the wines of Barbaresco in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass. Discover the vineyards to look out for on the label, the best producers and the upcoming names to watch. Expert advice from one of Italy’s foremost authorities.

▻ Chassagne-Montrachet with Jasper Morris MW 09.03.2026 10min

Listen in for our latest 10-Minute Masterclass on Chassagne-Montrachet with Burgundian guru Jasper Morris MW author of Inside Burgundy and www.insideburgundy.com. Discover the vineyards to know, the producers to watch, the four bands of Premiers Crus, its terroir – and find out why it is frowned upon for producers to marry someone across the main road!

▻ Omnibus XXXXII 25.02.2026 1h 1min

“We are having a reckoning of the US wine industry.” Elin McCoy reports. Vineyards being pulled up, wineries for sale, wineries closing, exports falling, grim news from the US in this month’s Omnibus. There is, however, a bright spot – Taylor Swift’s love of Sancerre has made the wine fly off the shelves. Elsewhere, John Stimpfig reveals that the EU and New Zealand have concluded trade agreements with India (the first took two decades, NZ’s agreement took 9 months), a big market opens up for and Indian wine lovers can look forward to more choice. In Argentina the government has torn up 973 out of 1207 wine regulations. Plus get your running shoes out for the first Napa marathon. Listen in to Omnibus to hear all the latest wine news and views.

▻ St Estèphe with Jane Anson 16.02.2026 11min

“I would say St Estèphe is one of Bordeaux’s most exciting appellations right now” Listen in to our latest 10-Minute Masterclass with Jane Anson to find out why she believes this is an appellation worth looking out for. Find out about its history, the producers and the names to look out for.

▻ Ernst Loosen 02.02.2026 46min

He is known around the world as “Mr Riesling”. He fired the workforce during his first vintage, threw a book of how to make wine at the one person left, and started his mission to restore Riesling’s fine wine reputation. The man, of course, is Ernst Loosen and he talks to Sarah Kemp for our “Great Wine Lives” series. Frank, funny and totally unmissable.