News from Spain

News from Spain

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Fresh from a two-week trip to Spain, in this episode I share the insights I learnt from visiting the sherry region, Rioja, and Basque country - the latest trends and projections for the future.

Interview with Katie Nelson on Cabernet Sauvignon

Interview with Katie Nelson on Cabernet Sauvignon

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Katie Nelson has been making wine since the 1990s, and she is now based in Washington State where she makes the popular Borne of Fire Cabernet-based wine. In this interview, she talks about Cabernet Sauvignon - how it grows in Washington, the importance of site, tannin management, and other issues. Listen to get the lowdown on Cabernet in Washington.

Interview with Clay Maurtison (I) - The Evolution of the California Wine Industry

Interview with Clay Maurtison (I) - The Evolution of the California Wine Industry

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

First of three interviews with Clay Mauritson of Mauritson Wines located in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, in which he talks about his family history which dates back to 1868. That history parallels the ups and downs of the California Wine Industry - from the beginnings in the nineteenth century, through government intervention and corporate takeover, to the modern, more mature contemporary industry.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Bulgaria has a 3,000 year history of making wine, but it was only in the mid to late twentieth century that the wine was drunk abroad. After the fall of communism, quality went into decline but it's now slowly rising and there's some good wine coming from Bulgaria if you know where to look. This episode focuses on the history, the grape varieties, and the regions of Bulgaria.

Hardy Wallace of Dirty & Rowdy on Mourvèdre

Hardy Wallace of Dirty & Rowdy on Mourvèdre

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Mourvèdre is one of the great Mediterranean grapes, but it's often neglected as the third and least important of the GSM varieties. However, there's much more to it than that. In this episode, I talk to Hardy Wallace of Dirty & Rowdy, a California producer that's become known for their single-varietal, single-vineyard wines from Mourvèdre. Hardy discusses what Mourvèdre is like to work with in the vineyard, why he thinks it's the ultimate expression of California, and why it's capable of making such varied wines.

Interview with Eric Lyman (I) - The Process

Interview with Eric Lyman (I) - The Process

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

First of a series of interviews with a custom crush winemaker from Napa Valley. In this first episode, we explore how he approaches the practicalities of winemaking, especially when dealing with different customers' needs and expectations - an approach he says is all about "process." A fascinating insight into everything a winemaker does behind the scenes.

Romania

Romania

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Viticulture in Romania dates back to the 7th century BC, and the country has a rich tradition with many indigenous grape varieties. However, only 11% of wine is exported and Romanian wine is little known outside the country. Romania has the potential to expand abroad, as the wines are improving and are good value. So learn about this very varied country before the wines become better known!

North Africa

North Africa

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

North African countries may not be known for their wine, but they have a long and important wine-producing history - and currently make a small but interesting amount of quality wine.

Eastern Mediterranean

Eastern Mediterranean

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

The culture of winemaking in the Eastern Mediterranean goes back thousands of years, although it's only in the last thirty years that quality has begun to slowly re-emerge. This episode focuses on the culture of winemaking in Turkey, Israel, and Lebanon, and the challenges those countries face.

Soils

Soils

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

What impact do soils have on the taste of wine? Is there a direct correlation between soil type and flavour profile? Why do wines from vines grown on limestone soils taste differently from those grown on slate? I discuss all these questions and more in the latest episode of my podcast!

Greece

Greece

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

Greek winemaking (and drinking) goes all way back to Ancient Greece, but after centuries of neglect it's only in recent decades that the country has once again begun to make high-quality wine. Despite economic challenges and the difficulty of marketing unfamiliar varieties and regions, there are Greek producers determined to make great wine. Learn about the varieties and regions in this episode so you can go and check out some of the fantastic - and fantastic value - wines being made.

New Zealand (I)

New Zealand (I)

Matthew Gaughan
podcast

New Zealand is the youngest of the major wine-producing countries, but it has quickly become famous for its characteristic style of Sauvignon Blanc. The industry is now at a crossroads, drawing on its success to become more diverse. This episode looks at the history of New Zealand and the different grape varieties - not just Sauvignon Blanc.

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