Wine Blast with Susie and Peter

SUBSCRIBER BONUS TASTER: 27 wines - 18 top tasters - an epic blind tasting featuring just one grape: Chardonnay. From all around the world - Grand Cru Burgundy to vintage champagne via Western Australia, Sonoma County and even Japan.Who would be the big winners? And, more importantly, why?!That's what we're getting into in this intriguing subscriber-only bonus episode on The Greatest Chardonnay Showdown blind tasting at the London Wine Fair 2026. We were both privileged to be part of the stellar judging panel - so what were our considered thoughts, did we agree with the overall results...and did we even agree with each other?!Seasoned listeners may already have an instinct where this one is heading...suffice it to say there are opinions aplenty, some consensus but also a fair amount of healthy disagreement. Ultimately, hopefully, it all makes for an informative and thought-provoking episode about one of our (and the world's) favourite grape varieties.NB: This is a short taster of the full episode, which is available exclusively for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers. Use this link to find out more or subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find details from this episode, including photos and the full wine list, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E30: The Greatest Chardonnay ShowdownInstagram: @susieandpeter

Fifty years on from the historic Paris tasting that revolutionised wine - what's changed? And what will that mean for the next 50 years?!Those are the searching questions we're asking (and attempting to answer) in this special episode to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976 where unknown Californian wines triumphed against the French greats in the centre of the wine universe at the time, the capital of France.We're re-telling the story behind that momentous event - partly to clear up some misconceptions that still persist, and partly because it's just a damn good story. (Proof of that being all the many articles and books on the subject - not to mention the Hollywood film, Bottle Shock, and now even an opera...)We're helped in this task by Chateau Montelena CEO Bo Barrett, who adds his eye-witness testimony, trademark good humour and intriguing insights to the tale.But this episode isn't just a re-hashing of events half a century ago. We're also exploring the modern realities and future trends of wine. If this kind of tasting happened today, who would win, and who would lose? How has the world (and wine world) changed since 1976? How does that go beyond the US and France? And what can that tell us about the future of wine?Helping us root our thoughts in informed reality are two ambitious tasting we were lucky enough to participate in: the Greatest Chardonnay Showdown at the London Wine Fair 2026, and the IWFS Judgement +50 (among a few others). The results of which...are intriguing.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including links, references and photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E29 - The Judgement of Paris 50 Years OnTo support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Is natural wine dead? Or is it thriving? What even IS natural wine these days?! Most importantly, what's next for this multi-faceted yet misunderstood category? Helping us answer these searching questions are writer and winemaker Rachel Signer, journalist Simon J Woolf and wine producer Ben Walgate. We also indulge in a bit of impassioned debate between the two of us - this being a particularly provocative topic. (It's not every episode that moves Peter to use the phrase, 'complete bollocks', and Susie to say, 'cheeky middle finger', but here we are.)For example, did you know that the very term 'natural wine' itself is an unfortunate mis-translation? Are you familiar with, 'organic-PLUS' viticulture? Why hybrids may be the next big thing for natural producers? That natural wine is a philosophy, not a style? How the natural scene has influenced conventional wine? And the fact there's a new category of 'natural-adjacent' wines emerging..?Click on this link and use the code WINEBLAST at checkout to get 25% off Rachel Signer's brand-new book, How to Drink Natural Wine.Click on this link to get 25% off an annual subscription to Simon Woolf's Substack, The Morning Claret.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including links to previous episodes cited, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E28 - Natural Wine RELOADEDTo support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Buckle up, we're heading back out into wine country, this time to the intriguing Adelaide Hills wine region in South Australia. It gets talked about a lot - but what's it really all about?Is it all about piercing, textural Chardonnay? Or fine sparkling wine? What about the perfumed Pinot Noir, the scented Shiraz..? And let's not forget the likes of Gruner Veltliner, Nebbiolo, Gamay, Barbera, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and all those natural wines. There's a real buzz around the Adelaide Hills - but how to get our heads round it all?!Happily, we have some brilliant guides in the shape of Brian Croser (Tapanappa), David LeMire MW (Shaw + Smith), Emma Wood (Wirra Wirra), Kelly Wellington (Hahndorf Hill), Liam Van Pelt (Ashton Hills), Peter Saturno (Longview) and Xavier Bizot (Daosa/Tapanappa). (Thanks also to the Adelaide Hills Wine Region for making this sponsored episode happen and giving us access to such great producers.) They talk us through things like altitude, rain, field blends, magic, wine tourism, French arrogance, organics and 'thoughtful' wines. There's even the odd bold claim (about Chardonnay) and intriguing revelation of a long-held secret (a 'subterfuge story' no less!) Oh, and we touch on why, 'people don't want to drink like their dads.'Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including maps and wine recommendations, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E27 - Adelaide Hills: Lofty AmbitionsTo support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Grab your magnifying glass and white coat, we're getting microscopic - but this goes well beyond fermentation. We're exploring the cutting-edge techniques whereby the power of yeasts is being harnessed in fields as diverse as viticulture, winemaking and shipping. Even without the microscope, this is an eye-opening episode...Wine is facing many challenges. Climate change. The cost of living crisis. Sustainability targets. Shifting consumer tastes and trends. But what if microbes can provide solutions to these issues and more, reducing the need for chemical inputs and putting winemakers for once on the front foot?This episode is sponsored by Lallemand Oenology, who have granted us privileged access to their latest research and contacts in the field. We hear from wine consultant Christopher Chen, yeast expert Professor Hervé Alexandre, and M&S winemaker Belinda Kleinig, who report on their applied experience testing these new products. From helping vines survive drought to prevention of rot, reducing the need for sulfites and acidification, even ensuring your wine can arrive fresh after crossing continents - innovative microbial solutions are being applied to all these pressing tasks and more. The term, 'game-changer' is used in this episode. Tune in to find out why...Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E26 - Yeastie Boys: Wine's Modern Microbial SolutionsTo support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the wine world's most divisive grape varieties. On the one hand, it's hugely popular for its aromatic charm and upbeat appeal. And yet some people can't stand it, sommeliers actively steer their customers away from it and connoisseurs turn their noses up at, 'the gin and tonic of wine'. But is it possible that this is all just a bit, well, premature? That we're judging a grape variety that is only just starting to show us what its true potential really is? And that Sauvignon Blanc really is a grape variety capable of greatness?!To check the global temperature, we're privileged to be granted an audience with Château Margaux's Philippe Bascaules, South Africa's Duncan Savage, and UK Best Sommelier Maria Boumpa. What they have to say will raise more than a few eyebrows. (Including an unexpected scoop about top South African producer Eben Sadie...)We firmly believe it's time to rip up the established rule book when it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, and open our minds to a new reality. Tune in to find out why.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including producer recommendations, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E25 - Keep Calm and SauvignonTo support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

SUBSCRIBER BONUS TASTER - A privileged tasting of 100-point wines gets us thinking about scores, so-called perfection in wine, the risks of premature evaluation and how points for wine...somehow miss the point.First up - the wines: Cristal 2008, Pichon Lalande 2016, Ornellaia 2013, Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill 2013 and Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Blanco 1986. We report on these and other stellar bottles, all of them recipients of a 'perfect' 100-point score.But here's the thing. What does '100 points' mean these days? How valid are scores, which seem to be everywhere in wine as endless tasting notes and numbers are churned out on a seemingly constant basis? What are the pros and cons? Is it time for a reset, starting with the 100-point system itself?!In this discursive episode, we subject not only these supposedly spectacular wines but also scores (and ourselves) to unflinching assessment. Peter gets hot under the collar about Bordeaux En Primeur; Susie has to intervene. We weigh up scores in a public and personal context. But, lest you fear this is all a bit po-faced, we also touch on the magic of discovery, not entirely serious ‘anti-scoring’ wine rating scales and the importance of wines that make you smile...as indeed some of these bottles definitely did.NB: This is a short taster of the full episode, which is available exclusively for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers. Use this link to find out more or subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E24 - Missing the Point? Tasting 40 years of 100-point winesInstagram: @susieandpeter

August 2025, a torrid Bordeaux summer: cue thunderbolt. Lafleur, one of Bordeaux's most acclaimed wines, sensationally quits the Pomerol and Bordeaux appellations. At the heart of the issue: water.Truth is, vines need water to survive and produce good wine. Not too much, nor too little. But climate change has thrown a giant spanner into the works - places that used to have just enough rain, now often aren't getting enough. And it's a particular issue in more traditional areas, like Bordeaux, where local appellation rules often forbid irrigation (or other things like mulching, reducing vine density or changing vine varieties). Hence Lafleur's decision.In this extended episode, we hear the full rationale from Lafleur as they release their 2025 wines, which benefitted from their unique 'soil water correction' technique. With Omri Ram we discuss the reality of climate change, why Lafleur is, 'changing to remain the same', how exactly they're irrigating, the key issue of where the water is coming from, and the future of appellations. The implications are manifold.We also hear from Olivier Tregoat of Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, and share input from Cornelis Van Leeuwen - both acknowledged soil and water experts, and respected Bordeaux insiders. Finally, we get a different perspective from viticulturist Jaco Engelbrecht in South Africa, where severe drought recently saw Cape Town facing 'Day Zero' (when the water would run out). Jaco works with a stellar client list across both dry-farmed and irrigated vineyards, and shares his expert insights and recommendations.So what is the future of wine when it comes to water? Are we looking at wine Armageddon, with great Bordeaux a thing of the past? Or can human ingenuity and the vine's famous resilience save the day?Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including some illuminating photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E23 - Drop Stop: Wine's Big Water IssueTo support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Meet John Baker, Sydney wine merchant turned Indiana Jones turned author of Stalin's Wine Cellar, one of the most eye-opening wine stories you're likely to hear. In the first part of this real-life account, John recounted how he'd got a tip-off about a mysterious wine cellar in Tbilisi, Georgia, apparently chock full of the greatest wines in the world, some more than a hundred years old. What's more, the cellar came with an astonishing story of provenance and ownership...It was, in short, a wine lover's fever dream. So of course John decided to investigate, soon finding himself in the wild west of wine: a world of cash and guns and enforcers and high-speed races through the streets of Tbilisi. Not to mention heart-rending breakages, the odd death threat - and unicorn wines aplenty.In this second and concluding part of this narrative two-parter, John grapples with Georgian agendas and threats while attempting to investigate the authenticity of the wines, including a trip to Chateau d'Yquem that is memorable for all the wrong reasons. As well as adding extra detail, context and humour, John adds a final piece of exciting news by way of conclusion.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including some illuminating photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E22 - The Story of Stalin's Wine Cellar PART TWOTo support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content as well as early access to all episodes plus full archive access, not to mention subscriber benefits and giveaways, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

It's not every wine story that comes with lashings of guns and cash and enforcers and heart-rending breakages - plus the odd death threat. Not to mention unicorn wines aplenty. But this one does! Which is why it's a must-listen.John Baker was a Sydney wine merchant with a sideline in fine and rare wine when opportunity came knocking in the form of a mysterious wine cellar in Tbilisi, Georgia, apparently chock full of the greatest wines in the world, some more than a hundred years old. It was, in his words, 'a potential wine goldmine.' And that was even before you took into account the eye-opening story about where the wine had come from...What happens next is the subject of his best-selling book, Stalin's Wine Cellar. It's a fantastic story, full of intrigue and mystery and surprise and suspense. Not to mention the odd bit of nudity. John tells us the story in his own words, adding extra detail, context and humour, plus some exciting latest news.This is a narrative two-parter - the second and concluding part is available now. To support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content as well as early access to all episodes plus full archive access, not to mention subscriber benefits and giveaways, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukWe love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E21 - The Story of Stalin's Wine Cellar PART ONEInstagram: @susieandpeter

SUBSCRIBER-ONLY BONUS CONTENT (short taster): What makes a successful medical inventor develop a parallel life aiming to fundamentally change the way we drink wine? How does frustration + a needle + some spare argon = a business that's sold more than 2 million units and is involved in pouring a glass of wine every second of every day?!Welcome to the world of Coravin - and its inventor, Greg Lambrecht. This episode follows on from our previous show, where we touched on how Coravin is changing wine as we know it. But here we get to hear the full story from the horse's mouth. It's in turn fascinating and funny. A great human story of serendipity and determination. With plenty of useful tips, great anecdotes, and surprising detail.NB: This is a short taster of the full episode, which is available exclusively for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers. Use this link to find out more or subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS. Wine Blast PLUS subscribers also get a 15% discount on the Coravin website.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E20 - Greg Lambrecht UNCUTInstagram: @susieandpeter

In which we get over-excited by not only announcing the winners (and sharing the best entries) from our epic Wine Blast One Million Giveaway - but also by exploring the world of Coravin: a potential game-changer for wine.To understand just how Coravin is changing the world of wine, we're joined by Coravin inventor Greg Lambrecht and Tiny Wine co-founder Harry Crowther. The implications are far-reaching.This leads neatly onto our big giveaway to celebrate topping one million unique downloads in 2025 - and for which the prizes include a Coravin Timeless 6+ (£400), a set of Jancis Robinson/Richard Brendon glasses and decanter (£408), an Academie du Vin Library book bundle (£270+), a case of grower champagnes from iDealwine (€400) and a year's subscription to Decanter (£183) plus VIP tickets to the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter in London (£310) or New York ($450).As well as announcing our five lucky winners drawn at random, we're also sharing the best entries we received - which range from the intriguing to the inspiring via the hilarious and touching. By way of reminder, Wine Blast PLUS subscribers currently get 15% off Coravin, Jancis Robinson/Richard Brendon glassware and Academie du Vin Library books. To subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS, head to wineblast.co.uk - you'll also get subscriber-only bonus content as well as early access to all episodes plus full archive access. And of course you'll be supporting the show.We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E19 - Giveaway EXTRAVAGANZA + Game-changer CoravinInstagram: @susieandpeter

SUBSCRIBER-ONLY BONUS CONTENT (short taster) - Sam Neill leads a double life. He's not Batman, or Bananaman. He's ConvivialWineChap (trademark pending). On the one hand, he's world-famous actor Sam Neill, acclaimed for his starring roles in Jurassic Park, Peaky Blinders, The Piano and all that jazz. On the other, he's proud proprietor of Two Paddocks Wine in Central Otago, New Zealand.And this isn't just wine cosplay, either. Sam lives and breathes wine, describing himself as a Pinot Noir 'obsessive'. What's more, his wines are some of the best in New Zealand - with four of his Pinot Noirs rating between 95 and 98 points in our New Zealand Wines of the Year 2026, and his Two Paddocks Pinot Noir 2023 carrying off the prestigious Red Wine of the Year award. (Here's a link if you want to find out more about our New Zealand Wines of the Year 2026.)It hasn't been plain sailing for Sam of late, with a shock blood cancer diagnosis requiring urgent treatment. Typically, he made use of the time to be productive, writing the funny, moving memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This? Now in full remission, he's back into his double life, filming and farming, and eager to share a laugh and his unique take on wine and life in general.In this frank, fascinating and funny chat, we talk everything from Pinot to Riesling, pigs to ducklings, Jesus to Jenna Ortega, organics to 'vile' chemicals, history to heartbreak, Marlon Brando to Michael Fassbender. Trust us - you won't want to miss this one.NB: This is a short taster of the full episode, which is available exclusively for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers. Use this link to find out more or subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including wine recommendations, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E18 - Sam Neill UNCUT TasterInstagram: @susieandpeter

New Zealand wine stands at a fork in the road. One path leads towards corporate behemoths churning out industrial quantities of mass-market Sauvignon Blanc; the other features increasingly refined, site-specific wines across a range of styles that compete with the world's very best. Which will it be?In this New Zealand Wines of the Year feature, we take you behind the scenes after tasting hundreds of wines to get to grips with what's really going on in Kiwi wine.We highlight the best producers, what they're doing and why. And we throw more than a few big calls out there - for example, why New Zealand Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is currently getting our vote over Burgundy...and why fizz should be part of New Zealand's wine future.We're privileged to be joined by New Zealand wine royalty in the shape of Helen Masters (Ata Rangi), Matt Thomson (Blank Canvas), Matt Sutherland (Dog Point), Kevin Judd (Greywacke), Ed Donaldson (Pegasus Bay)...and part-time actor, full-time wine superstar Sam Neill (Two Paddocks).This episode is published in tandem with a full report on our website, which is free to download and comes with tons of information and opinion, from vintage summaries to planting stats, plus the odd map: New Zealand Wines of the Year 2026 ReportThanks to New Zealand Winegrowers for facilitating this Wines of the Year initiative, and to the wineries for supporting. This episode is dedicated to the memory of James Healy, who sadly died in early 2026. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including the full report, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E17 - New Zealand Wines of the Year 2026To support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content as well as early access to all episodes plus full archive access, not to mention subscriber benefits and giveaways, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Peter Fraser, head winemaker and general manager at Yangarra Estate Vineyard in McLaren Vale, Australia, died in a house fire on 27th November 2025, aged 51.Peter was not only tremendously well respected, he was also tremendously well liked. As a person, he was affable, gentle, modest, genuine, ready with a laugh. As a professional, he was dedicated, conscientious and hugely talented.A champion of biodynamics and sensitive winemaking, Peter made wines of elegance, nuance and gravitas. They won a litany of awards and many fans. These bottles not only conveyed the brilliance and beauty of, for example, old-vine Blewitt Springs Grenache - they also brought joy, and a smile to the lips of countless wine lovers around the world.Through this personal and professional legacy, Peter was, and will remain, a pillar of the McLaren Vale community and landscape. He will be sorely missed.This is our tribute to Peter, which features an interview recorded with him on 24th October 2025. His words and his legacy speak for themselves. To adapt a phrase Peter uses in this interview - he left the place in a better way than it was before he started.Peter Fraser, 1974-2025.

Australia's McLaren Vale is a wine region undergoing a thrilling reinvention based largely around new-wave old-vine Grenache and a motley crew of eclectic grape varieties like Fiano, Falanghina, Mencia and even Saperavi.If you want to find out why these wines, 'play with your mind', 'suit the way we live' and should be considered, 'great wines of the world,' tune into this eye-opening second part of our McLaren Vale mini-series. You may even discover why these are wines with 'rizz'...Our informative and engaging guides to The Vale are Toby Bekkers, Stephen Pannell, Richard Leask, Andrew 'Ox' Hardy, Matthew Deller MW, Mary Hamilton, Giles Cooke MW, Elena Brooks, Drew Noon MW, David Gleave MW and Chester Osborn.Thanks to the McLaren Vale Wine Region for sponsoring this mini-series, which is dedicated to the memory of Peter Fraser.And thanks to you for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including wine recommendations, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E15 - McLaren Vale: The GrenaissanceTo support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content as well as early access to all episodes plus full archive access, not to mention subscriber benefits and giveaways, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukOh, and here's a link to our Wine Blast One Million GiveawayInstagram: @susieandpeter

So what do a boxer, a ballerina and a burlesque dancer have in common? You're gonna have to listen to find out...We're very excited to be bringing you this mini-series on McLaren Vale, the historic South Australian wine region that's gone from identity crisis to full-on wine renaissance in just a few decades. It's a fascinating story, involving ancient vines, determined winemakers and a healthy appetite for reinvention.Joining us to bring McLaren Vale to life are Chester Osborn, David Gleave MW, Drew Noon MW, Elena Brooks, Giles Cooke MW, Mary Hamilton, Matthew Deller MW, Andrew 'Ox' Hardy, Richard Leask, Stephen Pannell and Toby Bekkers. Thanks to the McLaren Vale Wine Region for sponsoring this mini-series, which is dedicated to the memory of Peter Fraser. Don't miss the next installment!To get early access to new episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and subscriber-only bonus content, plus exclusive discounts and giveaways, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukThanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E14 - McLaren Vale: Boxer to Ballerina (via Burlesque)And here's a link to our Wine Blast One Million GiveawayInstagram: @susieandpeter

Books that caught our eye this year include Schott's Significa (yes, 'forbidden soup' is as grisly as it sounds), The Cheese Connoisseur's Handbook (yum) and Wine, Soil and Salvation in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament (biblical).This is a show of generous proportions. Partly to give you a chance for some extra listening indulgence. But also to allow us proper time to hear from best-selling author Ben Schott, 'the cheese lady' Svetlana Kukharchuk and priest and theologian Mark Scarlata.Believe us, you're going to want to hear what they have to say.So don't be a wet lettuce - pour yourself a glass and join us!As ever, you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E12 - Our BOOKS OF THE YEAR (2025)If you'd like more information on our giveaway, please visit our Wine Blast One Million Giveaway page.You may also find this link to our Speakpipe audio message service useful.To get early access to new episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Treats galore in this show! Because not only are we announcing our stellar Wines of the Year, we're also launching a HUGE giveaway to celebrate Wine Blast topping ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS.It's a major milestone for the pod so we wanted to say thanks to you for making it possible. Up for grabs are prizes worth more than £1,000 - from a set of Jancis Robinson Original wine glasses and decanter to a Coravin Limited Edition Hermitage Timeless 6+ to a case of grower champagnes from iDealwine, books from Academie du Vin Library and an annual Decanter subscription plus VIP tickets to the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter in either NYC or London. Wow!!More details, including what you have to do to enter, are in the show and also on our Wine Blast One Million Giveaway page.You may also find this link to our Speakpipe audio message service useful.Also in the show, we recap on the wine year that was, culminating in our Guess the Missing Word in the Wine Headline. We hear from you guys, answering the odd question along the way. Finally, we reveal our Wines of the Year - featuring some real bargains, eye-openers and downright barnstormers. Trust us, you'll want to check these out.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including the full listing of our Wines of the Year (and where to buy them) on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E11 - Our WINES OF THE YEAR (2025)To get early access to new episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

What do Hermitage, The Sex Pistols, Tavel and Pink Floyd have in common? They all, ahem, featured at a particularly funky recent London tasting of top Rhône wine appellations, or Crus, aimed at reminding us how delicious and diverse these wines can be. And how fun, too.So join us as we explore the best wines of the Rhône Valley, from Côte-Rôtie to Condrieu via Vacqueyras and Vinsobres, discovering why they taste like they do, and how they're evolving and adapting for the future. Our expert guides are Rhône expert Matt Walls plus producers Marie Perret, François Miquel and Guillaume Boissonnet. We're also regaled with live music from Bristol four-piece Adult Leisure.Thanks to Côtes du Rhône Crus for sponsoring this episode and bringing the party to Wine Blast. As if we needed an excuse...And thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E10 - Rock and Rhône: from Côte-Rôtie to Cairanne via The ClashTo get early access to new episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

We all know champagne - but what if you fancy a wine like champagne but maybe less pricey, more fruity or just different? The good news is: there's never been more choice, as production blossoms in regions as diverse as Serbia, China and India.Our stellar guide to the intriguing world of traditional-method sparkling wine beyond Champagne is Essi Avellan MW, one of the world's foremost fizz experts.Essi has just published a brilliant monograph, Sparkling Wines of the World, in conjunction with The International Wine & Food Society (IWFS). The IWFS is the world's longest-running food and wine society, founded in 1933 by André Simon. Nowadays it has more than 5,500 members across the globe, with regular get-togethers, tastings, tours and events. Do check them out!The IWFS are sponsors of this episode and are kindly offering our listeners 40% off the price of Essi's monograph, so £6 down from £9.99, until 31st December 2025. You can access that via the following link: Sparkling Wines of the World offer for Wine Blast listeners.Also in this episode, we chat with long-time IWFS member and UK wine trade guru, Mimi Avery, recommend some decidedly different traditional-method sparkling wines, and reflect on the importance of deliciousness. And big bottles.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E9 - Top of the Pops: Classic Fizz Beyond ChampagneTo get early access to all episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive occasional bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

We're in the middle of, 'the mystery of the world's most expensive bottle of wine.' We've seen the auction, met the protagonists, got a vivid taste for the heady wine-boom time of the 1980s and 90s...hell, the cork has even dramatically dropped out already (an appropriate metaphor if ever there was one). That's all in Part 1.Now we get stuck into the heart of our story. What were the doubts about this magical bottle of wine, and others like it? Who was this mysterious Hardy Rodenstock character really? And how on earth might a dead frog, a dentist's drill, windscreen wipers, an 'egghead', and radioactive isotopes crop up in the plot?!Benjamin Wallace, author of The Billionaire's Vinegar, is our expert guide, also exploring the fall-out not just from his book (including his publisher being sued) but also the broader ramifications for the key characters and the wine world in general. We also have some final words from influential wine trade characters featured in the book, with their unflinching take on Hardy Rodenstock and his legacy.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E7 - The Story of The Billionaire's Vinegar: Part 2To get early access to all episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive occasional bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Picture the scene. Christie's auction house, London, December 1985. A dapper auctioneer is expertly tantalising the stellar audience with a bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite engraved with the initials of US founding father Thomas Jefferson. It duly becomes the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold, going for £105,000 ($156,000). But it's what happens next that is the really intriguing bit...Welcome to a new kind of narrative Wine Blast episode, where we're joined by best-selling author Benjamin Wallace, whose book The Billionaire's Vinegar is the inspiration for this compelling story. He brings to life the key protagonists, from Jefferson to Christie's auctioneer Michael Broadbent, US billionaire Bill Koch and German wine collector Hardy Rodenstock. All the while building the rich and eye-opening plot around what he calls, 'the mystery of the world's most expensive bottle of wine.'And as for how the 'vinegar' comes into the story...you'll just have to listen to find out. And in the next and concluding part, we hear how the story ends - including what's happened since the book was published. Don't miss it!Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E6 - The Story of The Billionaire's Vinegar: Part 1To get early access to all episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive occasional bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Fancy a story about warriors, monks, family strife, an undercover grape variety, risking financial ruin for stubbornly sticking to stylistic guns, and deliciously drinkable fine wine?Thought you might. So join us as we get a privileged glimpse into the San Leonardo wine estate in Italy's northern Trentino Valley, not far from Verona and Lake Garda. Our guides are estate co-owner and manager Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga, Master of Wine Alex Hunt, and a bunch of pretty tasty bottles.San Leonardo makes a number of wines, all refined and understated. But it's best known for its top red, a discreet yet complex blend of Cabernet, Carmenere and Merlot. Despite being dubbed, 'The Sassicaia of the north', it's tended to fly under the radar, remaining something of an insider's tip, meaning the wine hasn't shot up in price as much as many of its more vaunted SuperTuscan cousins.Along the way, we discuss bodybuilders, banana plantations, wine as 'an energy drink', aubergines, Teroldego, hoodwinking bankers, 'Nordic' wine, how Carmenere came to Trentino and why Anselmo's dad Carlo called him, 'an idiot'. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E5 - San Leonardo: The Insider's GuideTo get early access to all episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive occasional bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

We have awards! We have good eggs, hot rocks and jailbird vignerons! We even have acts of civilisation and love. Welcome to our Chile Wines of the Year 2025...Join us as we chat with stars of the Chilean wine firmament, talking wine treasures with Sebastián Labbé (Santa Rita), the tragedy of Syrah with Mariluz Marin (Casa Marin) and fortifying life goals with François Massoc (Atelier Massoc). We also learn about circular winemaking with good wine vibrations courtesy of Cristián Vallejo (VIK).Whatever Chilean wine is today, it's not dull. With our Chile Wines of the Year initiative, we want to let everyone know just how dynamic and intriguing modern Chilean wine is - a far cry from the dull staples we often see in shops and restaurants. Alongside this podcast episode, we're also publishing a free report on our website, where you can find the full lineup of spectacular wines we've personally selected this year. You can find it via this link: Susie & Peter's Chile Wines of the Year 2025 ReportThanks to Wines of Chile for sponsoring and the wineries for supporting this initiative and allowing us to explore the fascinating world of Chilean wine.Thanks to you for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E4 - Chile Wines of the Year 2025To get early access to all episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive occasional bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Jancis Robinson is a wine superstar. But in this concluding episode of our two-part exclusive interview, we want to get behind the sparkling achievements and get to know Jancis in a personal as well as professional sense. The result is thought-provoking, funny and occasionally eye-opening.We kick off, somewhat unsportingly, by springing a quick-fire question round at Jancis before moving on to discuss everything from the Queen to influencers, negotiating with lawyers in a swimsuit, Cumbria, anorexia, regenerative viticulture, bottle weights, cans - and other hot potatoes.We also explore how she presciently set up her subscription-based website in 2000 then successfully sold it 21 years later. A rare commercial success in the world of wine...If you haven't caught the first instalment of this interview, please do check it out. You don't need to listen to that one, though, in order to enjoy this one.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E3 - The Jancis Robinson EXCLUSIVE - Part 2To get early access to all episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive occasional bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Jancis Robinson is without doubt the leading wine writer in the world today. But what's she really like behind the (highly) professional façade? Join us in this fascinating two-parter to meet the real Jancis: unfiltered, frank and sometimes really quite eye-opening...In this interview, we wanted to do something different from the many other profiles of this wine superstar. For instance, Jancis' wine scores are famously parsimonious, her reviews sometimes brutal (the best she could write about one wine was, 'it's wet'). So does she really enjoy drinking wine? What's she like when she's tipsy? How do her wine friends tease her? How did she cope when she lost her sense of smell and feared her career was over? Does she really think she's 'addicted' to the stuff?!Along the way, Jancis talks about what the perfect wine tasting note might be (it may surprise you); her horror of boring people about wine (and seeming 'bought'); and what she thinks the best value wines in the world are right now. She also addresses controversial topics like wine scores, Robert Parker and the Pavie 2003 spat, wine price inflation - and wine bores.In the next and concluding part, we spring a quick-fire question round on Jancis, and touch on subjects from the Queen to influencers, setting up then successfully selling her website, negotiating with lawyers in a swimsuit, Cumbria, anorexia, regenerative viticulture, cans - and other hot potatoes. Don't miss it!Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E2 - The Jancis Robinson EXCLUSIVE - Part 1To get early access to all episodes, full archive access to our back catalogue and exclusive occasional bonus content, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.ukInstagram: @susieandpeter

Ahead of Season Seven, we have an announcement! We're finally launching subscriptions - a very exciting moment as we aim to take Wine Blast to the next level and spread EVEN MORE wine love around.Subscribers to Wine Blast PLUS will receive Early Access to all episodes as well as Archive Access as our back catalogue becomes subscriber-only. We'll also be throwing in the occasional bonus episode just for subscribers.Those who join Wine Blast Plus will also be enabling Wine Blast to continue and grow. It takes an absurd amount of work to make the show happen, as loyal listeners will know, and it's just us. With your backing, we can start to think about more regular or new kinds of episodes to community features, video content and beyond. The sky's the limit! But we need your support to make it happen.To subscribe, follow this link to Wine Blast Plus.It's all very straightforward and there should be no change to your listening experience.We're also offering Early Birds a 15% discount on initial headline subscription prices. (Just use the code magnum25 - and it's a time-limited offer, so don't hang around!)If you do have any questions or issues, please contact [email protected] can find show notes for this episode, including links, on our website via this link: Wine Blast S7 Trailer