Matthew's World of Wine and Drink

Overview of my 17-episode series on The Culture of Wine available over on patreon.com/mattswineworld exploring how wine reflects the culture of the countries in which it's made, an avenue into their history, people, geography, economics, war, and trade. Have a glass of wine while discovering just where that wine comes from, not just today but over thousands of years.

Ever wondered how a glass alters your appreciation of a wine? Lukas Therre works at Josephinenhütte, a series of very distinctive glassware designed by Kurt Zalto. This is a fascinating interview, which covers how wine glasses are made (an intensive process), the sensory effect of a wine glass, what glass we should use for sparkling wine, and even water glasses. Pick up a glass and listen!

There are eighteen grape varieties permitted for Châtauneuf-du-Pape, some of them very famous, others much more obscure. This episode details the characteristics of each of the varieties and what they bring to a blend—and why blending is so important in the warm climate of the southern Rhône—as well as looking at some of the other regions the varieties are grown in.

Gouais Blanc is a little-planted white grape variety that in the past has been banned in France. It produces indeterminate, high-acid wines, but is indirectly responsible for some of the greatest wine in the world. Through natural crossings, it's the parent of Chardonnay, Aligoté, and Gamay in Burgundy/Beaujolais, as well as Riesling, Furmint, and Blaufränkisch. Without Gouais Blanc, wine as we know it wouldn't exist, nor would our understanding of DNA and grape genetics.

Henry Jeffreys's book, Vines in a Cold Climate, is an essential and extremely engaging history of the development of English wine since the 1970s. He interviews many characters and charts the change from amateur DIY winemakers to the professionalism of the industry in the 1990s to the investment from wealthy entrepreneurs in the 2000s onwards. I talk to him about how English wine, sparkling in particular, has become such a talking point, referencing the climate, the place, and the people behind the rise of the industry.

Luke Whittall is the author of The Sipster's Pocket Guide which is an annual overview of the best wines made in British Columbia. This interview with Luke is a great insight into and overview of British Columbia wines, which are getting more and more interesting. Learn about the regions—especially Okanagan Valley—the climate, the grape varieties, and the styles of wines. Even if they're hard to find, you need to know about them.

Interview with Peter Andrews of Culture Wine Co, who's importing South African wine into California. Topics covered include Pinotage; Mediterranean varieties; Sauvignon Blanc; the regionality of South Africa; innovative winemakers; racial diversity; and future trends for South African wine.

Gamay: a high-yielding variety associated with youthful, fruity wine but which, in the right growing conditions, makes wonderful, structured wines. This episode explores the areas where Gamay is grown: Beaujolais of course as well as Loire, Savoie, Lorraine, Switzerland, the US, and New Zealand.

Brazil's wine industry has gone through many changes since the 1990s, and is still finding its feet. The focus on quality wine began with sparkling wine, with investment from French producers, and has continued with a focus on grape varieties such as Tannat. The climate changes drastically from region to region, and grape-growing can be difficult. My interview with winemaker Flavio Pizzato explores why Brazil is quite different from other South American wine countries.

A conversation with Garth Hodgdon of Cage Imports, which imports 15 small Champagne producers into the USA. We talk about trends in Champagne, how to discover those small producers (and who they are), who's drinking champagne, and why Meunier rocks! Visit Cage Imports: https://www.cageimports.com/

Georgia is one of the world's oldest winemaking countries. Traditions—such as amber wine and wine made for home consumption—continue, which make Georgian wine a wonderful trip to the past. But it's also an evolving wine country, with regions producing different expressions from the many local grape varieties. In this episode, I interview Tom Williams of Eat This! Food & Wine Tours, who specialises in explorations of Georgian wine and provides a fascinating insight into Georgian culture. If you're visiting Georgia, then connect with Tom through his website: https://eatthistours.com/

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Long Island has unique growing conditions heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. I interview three producers: Jenny Smith from Pellegrini (on the North Fork), Roman Roth of Wölffer Estate (in The Hamptons), and Jonathan Romberg of RGNY (a much younger winery also on the North Fork). Our conversation explores the growing conditions, the styles of wine, and the market for Long Island wines.

Two neighbouring countries, formerly of Yugoslavia. Kosovo's winemaking history goes back 2,000 years, with a renewed focus on quality after the bulk wines under Yugoslavia. Montenegro has one of the largest vineyards in Europe, with research into indigenous varieties and how best to develop them to advance the country's wine culture. Lots of history, with exciting potential for the future.