The English Wine Diaries

Send us a text Ending the 14th series of The English Wine Diaries on a high with one of the most well known winemakers in the UK, Emma Rice.  Emma developed a fascination with fine wine while working as a waitress in The White Horse Inn, Chilgrove as a teenager in the 1990s. It was a chance taste of the 1979 vintage of Krug that was the lightbulb moment that began her career in wine.  She got a job at Oddbins – a rite of passage for anyone going into the wine trade in the nineties – and studied here WSETs before travelling to New Zealand for a harvest.  Back in the UK and after spotting an advert in the trade press for a Wine Editor, she was taken on as managing editor of Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, but  also got involved with the World Atlas of Wine.  It was during this time that she made the move from London to Brighton and enrolled in the newly created Wine Production Course at Plumpton, becoming one of the first cohort of six to graduate in the UK. Time in Napa Valley and Tasmania followed but the excitement of working in the burgeoning domestic industry in the UK led her to return home and set up a wine analysis laboratory and consultancy in the South Downs.  Through this, she was introduced to Simon Robinson, the owner of Hattingley Valley Wines, who asked her to build him a winery – the winery today remains one of the largest in the UK.  During her 14 or so years at Hattingley, Emma was awarded UK Winemaker of the Year twice, and her wines won many awards including at The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships and WineGB Supreme Champion.  She left Hattingley Valley in 2022 and currently works as an independent consultant winemaker, releasing the first wines under her own brand last year.  Emma talks honestly and opening about how the wine industry has changed over the years, including how the challenges she has faced along the way have pushed her to be the winemaker she is today.  You can follow her latest projects on Instagram @ricerywine and emmarice.com. This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Rankin Bros & Sons — trusted suppliers of corks, closures, and packaging solutions to the UK wine industry since 1774. To learn more about how Rankin is supporting the future of British wine, visit rankincork.co.uk.  Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries are Neil and Maria Corbould, owners of The Grape Escape Vineyard – one of the country’s newest and perhaps most unique wine producers.  Neil and Maria planted their five-acre boutique vineyard in Chertsey, Surrey, in 2023 and have been busy tending to the vines with their first commercial harvest taking place this year.  However, the couple’s day jobs are quite different – often seeing them swap muddy boots and secateurs for glad rags and red carpets. Neil is an award-winning Special Effects Supervisor, whose four-decade career has helped shape some of the most iconic films in modern cinema.  His groundbreaking effects on large scale productions, such as Gladiator, Gravity, Mission: Impossible, Rogue One, and Napoleon, have earned him global acclaim, with two Academy Awards and four Baftas.  Maria is also from a distinguished film background. With a Masters degree in Film Production, she has worked across numerous major productions, including Harry Potter, Mission: Impossible, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and many more.  Their combined expertise in film brings a real storytelling element to their vineyard journey, which they share on social media with the handle @the.grape.escape.vineyard. I had so much fun recording this episode – Neil and Maria are such fun and aren't afraid to share the highs and lows of their vineyard experience.  This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Rankin Bros & Sons — trusted suppliers of corks, closures, and packaging solutions to the UK wine industry since 1774. To learn more about how Rankin is supporting the future of British wine, visit rankincork.co.uk. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Alasdair Warren, owner of Bride Valley Vineyard in Dorset.  Born and raised in Dorset, Alasdair and his family have a long history of farming in the county, with his Great Grandfather establishing Warren's cider in the 1920s. Educated at the University of Nottingham with a Batchelor of Science in Geology, Alasdair began his career in investment banking and currently heads up a Global Soda Ash business.  He also runs Slapelands Farm, just outside Bridport, where he upholds his family's cider making tradition, using heritage variety apples grown in the orchard there.  In September 2023, Alasdair purchased Bride Valley Vineyard, which was initially established by world renowned industry figure Steven Spurrier – the orchestrator of the famous 1976 blind tasting competition The Judgement of Paris.   Steven, who sadly died in 2021, planted vines on his wife’s family sheep farm in 2008 and Bride Valley has since become famous for its Dorset Crémant among other award-winning wines.   Alasdair says the acquisition of the vineyard reflects his motivation to honour and develop his family’s rural heritage while promoting the outstanding produce Dorset offers, adding that it is his aim is to "continue a deep-rooted family connection to agriculture in Dorset" by applying modern viticultural practices to preserve the unique chalk-soil terroir.  To find out more about Bride Valley, visit bridevalleyvineyard.com and follow @Bridevalleywine on Instagram.  This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Rankin Bros & Sons — trusted suppliers of corks, closures, and packaging solutions to the UK wine industry since 1774. To learn more about how Rankin is supporting the future of British wine, visit rankincork.co.uk. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Brad Lomas, co-founder and owner of Boys Hall, a beautifully restored, 9-bedroom 17th-century Jacobean manor in Ashford, Kent.  With a background in pubs, restaurants, and operations – most notably as Operations Director at East London Pub Co. – Brad brings a wealth of industry experience to Boys Hall, which he runs alongside his wife, Kristie.  The couple have painstakingly restored the house to its former glory with the help of family, friends, and a variety of local specialists – the vision to create a warm, design-led space with exceptional food, service, and atmosphere.  Since opening, Boys Hall has earned a place in the Michelin Guide and wide acclaim for its unique balance of character, comfort, and community-driven ethos. Brad is a passionate advocate for English wine and has curated a thoughtfully selected wine list that showcases the best local vineyards, while Boys Hall has recently launched its own English sparkling wine called 17 Sovereigns.  To find out more about about Boys Hall, visit boys-hall.com or follow @boys.hall on instagram.  This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Rankin Bros & Sons — trusted suppliers of corks, closures, and packaging solutions to the UK wine industry since 1774. To learn more about how Rankin is supporting the future of British wine, visit rankincork.co.uk. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Welcome back to a new series of The English Wine Diaries and a special welcome to our brand new sponsor – Rankin Brothers and Sons, leading manufacturer and supplier of bottle closures to the drinks industry. So, to kick start the 14th series, I have Rankin's, Commercial & Managing Director, JIm Rankin joining me.  Jim is the sixth generation of the family to lead the business, which was founded just over 250 years ago in 1774, meaning it has seen – and survived – the creation of the United States of America, two World Wars, and the Covid-19 crisis. Perhaps one of the key reasons for the company’s success is that it is responsible for ensuring the quality of the wine, beer and spirits that we drink remains protected while in bottle, enabling us to consume our favourite tipple in exactly the way its producers intended. That’s pretty essential if you ask me. Before Jim joined the firm 30 years ago, he admits he had little interest in the business, instead travelling to Australia to work in wine and taking an apprenticeship at Penfolds Wines, before his grandfather persuaded him to re-consider. Now, Jim heads up the company and continues to ensure the family’s expertise as corkologists is prevalent within the £3-4 billion euro cork industry today, while also embracing shifts within the market for alternative bottle closure options. To learn more about Rankin and how it is supporting the future of British wine, visit rankincork.co.uk, and follow @rankincork on Instagram.  Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text On today's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Patrick McGrath, Master of Wine and CEO of Hatch Mansfield, a UK specialist in premium wines made by independently-owned wine companies from around the world. Patrick joined the wine trade in 1983 as a Management Trainee with Victoria Wine, spending his first 6 months in shops and then joining the buying department. Five years later he joined Grants of St James’s as Marketing Manager for the former Hatch Mansfield business, before moving to Mentzendorff in 1991 as Marketing Controller and then Director for Bollinger Champagne.   Patrick passed the Master of Wine exam in 1993 and the following year became a founding member of the “new” Hatch Mansfield team, taking on the role of Managing Director.  In 2024, Patrick was delighted to mark Hatch Mansfield’s 30th anniversary and in the same year, now as CEO of the company, he was recognised for his significant contribution to the drinks industry when he was named Drinks Business Magazine’s Man of the Year. 2025 has been yet another busy year for Patrick as the first Classic Cuvée from Domaine Evremond –  the Kent wine estate he founded with friend Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger a decade ago – was released for sale and the vineyard and cellar door experience also opened to the public.  We talk about Patrick's journey to become an MW, the friendships that have formed the foundations of Domaine Evremond and the King Charles III's thoughts on serving the wine estate's 1st edition Classic Cuvee at July's state banquet with French president Emmanuel Macron.  You can find out more about how to visit Domaine Evremond and buy its wine by visiting domaineevremond.com and following @domaineevremond on Instagram.  With thanks to series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to open an account and see their award-winning range of English wine and bottles from around the globe that have exceptional stories to tell. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on this week’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Jessica Summer, founder of Mouse & Grape an award-winning cheese and wine business specialising in curated hampers and immersive tasting events focused on this delicious food and wine combo.  Jessica, who last year opened her first deli and wine bar in London, was one of Harpers 30 Under 30 in 2023 and this year was named winner of the IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Award, as well as winner of Retail Buyer of the year at The Drinks Business Awards.  Underpinning her expertise is a Level 3 WSET certificate and a Level 2 certification from the Academy of Cheese but she’s also got a brilliant marketing head on her shoulders – her innovative April Fools campaign, which saw a host of wine influencers humorously – and quite literally – combining cheese and wine, also won the Drinks Business Social Media Campaign of the Year in 2024. Mouse & Grape has been featured in publications like the Metro, Telegraph, and Express, while Jessica has made notable appearances on Saturday Kitchen, BBC Radio London, the Michael Portillo show on GB News, and today The English Wine Diaries podcast…!  We tried the following cheese and wine combinations:  NV Louis de Grenelle Platine Crémant de Loire Brut X La Tur –  a blend of thermised cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk, from Alta Langa in Piedmont, Italy.  Gruner No.1 Canned Wine Co. and Three Choirs Amber Wine X Taleggio – from Lombardy, Italy.  Treve Estivale 2022 Rosé X Tor, a smooth goat's cheese from White Lake in Somerset.  For Jessica's English cheese and wine pairing alternatives – listen in to the episode.  To find out more visit mouseandgrape.com or follow @mouseandgrape on instagram.  With thanks to series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to open an account and see their award-winning range of English wine and bottles from around the globe that have exceptional stories to tell. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me this week's episode of the English Wine Diaries is Billy Sengupta, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Cobham House, a new English wine brand based in Kent.  After working at Diageo for over seven years, Billy left his position as Global Director of Luxury Tequila to help realise a 32-year-old family dream of owning a vineyard.  In 2022, three generations of his family came together to launch Cobham House Vineyard and earlier this year they launched their first wine, a luxury, vintag still English rosé made by esteemed winemaker Emma Rice.  Just weeks after launch, the wine, which is made from 100% Gamay and fermented in used, Ruby Port Barrels, was awarded a gold medal by Wine GB, while critics have praised the innovative approach, driven by Billy’s time developing new products at Diageo.  In addition to creating luxury wines, Billy and his family intend to use Cobham House as a platform to create opportunities within English wine for underrepresented minorities and have already started to take positive steps in this space, having launched a scholarship programme with Plumpton College earlier this year. We talk about whirlwind success, happy accidents and how Cobham House intends to disrupt the English wine industry.  You can dind out more about Cobham House and buy the wine direct at cobhamhouse.co.uk and follow them @cobhamhousevineyard on Instagram.  With thanks to series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to open an account and see their award-winning range of English wine and bottles from around the globe that have exceptional stories to tell. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Sam Weatherill, wine director at etch. by Steven Edwards, an award-winning restaurant based in Hove, East Sussex founded by 2013 Master Chef the Professionals winner, Steven Edwards.  Since the restaurant opened in 2017, etch has gained a cult following and global reputation for its wine offering – particularly that made in Great Britain; it is said to have the second largest selection of English sparkling wine in the country, after 67 Pall Mall.  Born and raised in Brighton, Sam, who goes by the moniker Sassy Sommelier and runs the monthly pop-up wine tasting event Zest Wine Club in his home city, came into the wine trade late on, after studying economics and subsequently completing a MA in Corruption and Governance.  He now holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine, is a certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers and an ambassador for the British Wine WSET Diploma.   During his time at etch, the restaurant has won Star List’s Contemporary Wine List of the Year in 2023 as well as Best Medium Sized wine list in 2024 and, while Sam has ranked number 19 in the Sommelier Edit Top 100 and, at this year’s London Wine Fair, claimed the prestigious Wine Buyer On-Trade Single Venue Wine Buyer Award.  We talk about unusual food and wine pairings, the top sellers at etch and what the UK is doing that's a little bit different to elsewhere in the world when it comes to wine.  Follow Sam @sassysommelier on Instagram, check out @zestwineclub for news on his latest tastings and visit etchfood.co.uk to see the latest tasting menu and book a table.  With thanks to series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to open an account and see their award-winning range of English wine and bottles from around the globe that have exceptional stories to tell. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text This episode of The English Wine Diaries is brought to you in partnership with Knight Frank’s Viticulture department – the leading vineyard broker in the UK and the exclusive property partner of WineGB and the Wine Garden of England. As the only dedicated viticulture team in property consultancy, they support both the largest and most exciting emerging wineries - not just through brokerage, but also through consultancy that helps vineyard owners scale their businesses. Their expertise spans sales, distribution, valuation and planning, making them a key player in the growth of the UK wine sector. And joining me today is Ed Mansel Lewis, who heads up that department. Ed is a chartered surveyor by training but has also completed an MBA focused on the mergers and acquisitions of international wine businesses.  Ed has been in the sector for over seven years and during that time has worked for a wide range of clients including Domaine Evremond, Simpsons Wine Estate, Chapel Down and Hush Heath.  We talk about what goes on behind the scenes before vines are even put into the ground, Ed's biggest deal to date and Knight Frank's new demographic mapping tool which aims to enable vineyards to welcome an increasing number of customers through the door.  With thanks, as always, to series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to open an account and see their award-winning range of English wine and bottles from around the globe that have exceptional stories to tell. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Harry Cragoe, founder of The Gallivant – a luxury beachside retreat in Camber Sands, near the picturesque market town of Rye in East Sussex.  Harry describes himself as an entrepreneur with a purpose and his career has taken him across the globe and into many different businesses with one clear mission – to spark moments of joy and happiness through hospitality.  The Gallivant epitomises this. Here, Harry and his wife, Sigrid, have created a place rooted in delivering exceptional hospitality in a comfortable, thoughtfully designed setting that enables personal growth and encourages creativity and healthier lifestyles. The hotel opened in 2010 and has since built a cult following of loyal visitors from the UK and further afield – it also happens to be one of my favourite places in the world as I got married there.  Harry, Sigrid and their team are fiercely committed to supporting the local economy, particularly the English wine industry and partner with local vineyards on tours, special tasting events and their daily ‘English wine at 5’ programme, which sees guests treated to a glass of something from a different local vineyard each day.  The Gallivant was recently awarded a Michelin Key and welcomed the arrival of former Bibenden chef Matthew Harris to take the helm at the hotel’s reimagined beachside restaurant, Harry’s, which have been described by the Guardian’s restaurant critic, Grace Dent, as ‘precise, timeworn food, without making a huge song and dance about it’.  We talk about how food and wine have been central to Harry's life since he was young, why creating a hotel where people feel they can kick off their shoes and relax was so important to him and the reason he will never stop reimagining.   Keep up to date with The Gallivant's latest news by following @TheGallivant and @harryscambersands on Instagram or visit: thegallivant.co.uk.  With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to open an account and see their award-winning range of English wine and bottles from around the globe that have exceptional stories to tell.  Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Did you know over 40% of people in the UK are looking to cut down on their alcohol intake? This episode of The English Wine Diaries podcast is brought to you in partnership with BOLLE – the innovative wine brand vying to redefine the no and low category.  Joining me today is Gary Read, CEO of BOLLE Drinks, a proudly English brand that is leading the charge in this fast-growing space with the world’s first and only non-alcoholic wine to undergo secondary fermentation. This process enables non-alcoholic wine to maintain the same depth, complexity and enjoyment as its alcoholic equivalent.  Gary, who lived in California for 22 years but now resides in London, is a seasoned entrepreneur and company builder with nearly 40 years’ experience founding, leading and selling high-growth businesses across the UK, Europe and the US. His business philosophy blends what he describes as American ambition with British clarity, an approach reflected in BOLLE’s mission to transform the quality and reputation of low and no alcohol wines. Though still a young brand BOLLE is already gaining significant momentum, particularly in the US, where its Sparkling Rose recently won Best in Show for Sparkling Wine at the Monterey International Wine Competition. It’s also winning significant praise here in the UK with critics regularly rating it as their top pick when it comes to non-alcoholic wine.  To find out more, visit bolledrinks.com and follow @bolledrinks on Instagram. With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text  Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Simon Rolfe, director of 10 International and co-founder of Sea Change, an eco-friendly wine company that directly supports global ocean conservation projects.  After living with his family on the coast of Australia, Simon, who previously worked in investment banking, saw first-hand the damage being done to the ocean. He helped found Sea Change in 2018, with the mission to turn the tide against plastic pollution.  Sea Change wines are all vegan, they have no plastic wrap around the all-natural cork, the label paper is sourced from certified sustainable forests and made partially from grape waste, and a donation from every purchase supports the work of the company’s global marine charity partners. Since inception, the company has raised over €600,000 through its partnerships with charities, including Ocean Generation, Sea-Changers and the Olive Ridley Project.  In 2023, Sea Change won Luxelife’s ‘Most Eco-Friendly Wine Brand in the UK’ and it won the Innovation Award at Gatwick Diamond Business Awards. You’ll find its wines online and at the Natural History Museum, The Fat Duck and on Virgin Atlantic flights.  Find out more at seachangewine.com or follow @seachangewine on Instagram.  With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Sibylla Tindale, co-founder of High Clandon Estate in the heart of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Sibylla and her husband, Bruce, founded the boutique vineyard, which sits on a chalky-limestone hill, 20 years ago with the aim of producing only aged vintage sparkling wine to rival – and even surpass – the best that France can offer.  Each year the Tindales, who are originally from South Africa, celebrate the launch of their exquisite Cuvées with their flagship event: Art & Sculptures in the Vineyard ­– a summer exhibition of pieces dotted amongst their beautiful gardens, wildflower meadows, vineyard and atmospheric Glass Barn.   But as well as being renowned for its English Sparkling Wine, High Clandon has another claim to its name – recently, the trained noses of the Tindale’s cocker spaniels Persephone and Juno, have snuffled out black Perigord truffles on the estate – the first find in the south of England and thought to be the second such in England as a whole, the other being at the late Duke of Edinburgh’s estate at Sandringham in 2018.  Find out more about their adventures at highclandon.co.uk or by following @highclandon on Instagram.  With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Richard Gladwin of "Local & Wild" a restaurant group co-founded with his brother, Oliver, which celebrates seasonal, sustainable dining inspired by their countryside upbringing on the family farm and vineyard, Nutbourne in West Sussex.  Together, they have a portfolio of five London restaurants, which each bring the farm-to-table philosophy to life in the city. The restaurants also champion English wine, particularly those from Nutbourne.  Vines were first planted at Nutbourne in 1979 and have been owned, managed and expanded by the Gladwin family since 1991. Nutbourne is now considered one of the finest boutique wine producers in the South East, with 26 acres under vine growing eight different grape varieties to make single varietal and sparkling blends. Last year the Gladwin family – which also includes third brother and farmer Gregory, and parents, Peter and Bridget – launched a cookbook that takes readers on a journey through the seasons of their vineyard and family lifestyle, alongside recipes featuring the very best of British countryside produce and wine pairings to complement each dish. We talk about spending childhood on a vineyard and joining his first harvest at 10 years old, what it's like working with family to this day and why a bottle of Nutty will always be in his fridge.  Find out more about the Gladwins at gladwinbrothers.com or by following @thegladwins_ on instagram. Visit the vineyard website at nutbournevineyards.com and follow @nutbournevineyards on Instagram.  With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Send us a text Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Jeany Cronk, co-founder of Mirabeau.  Born in Munich, Jeany moved to the UK for secondary school and later studied at the London School of Economics. A career in tech Marketing followed, where she met her husband, Stephen in 1997, and together they have three children.  Life in the leafy suburbs of South London was good but something was missing and in 2009 the family gave up England for fragrant Provence with the dream of creating their own brand of rosé wine.  Mirabeau is now considered one of the most well-known and acclaimed rosé brands in the world – the wines are sold in 50 countries and are among the top selling roses in the UK.  Stephen and Jeany, who has been on the board of Wines of Provence for 10 years, now run their own vineyard too; they bought Domaine Mirabeau, a 20 hectare estate which includes 14 hectares of AOP Côtes de Provence vines, in 2019 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of their move to France.  At the heart of Mirabeau is a fierce dedication to sustainability, the brand achieved B-Crop Status in 2023, and Stephen co-founded the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation two years earlier to support better understanding and promotion of biodiversity in viticulture.  In the very little spare time she has, Jeany loves to cook and this May will publish a cookbook sharing recipes, table settings, and a nuanced look at the local culture and style of Provence, to give readers a little taste of life there. Find out more at maisonmirabeau.com or by following @maisonmirabeau on Instagram.  With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly.  Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com.

Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Laura Riches, co-founder of wine brand Laylo.  Laura was previously the marketing director at Naked Wines, the UK's largest direct-to-consumer wine brand and, during her tenure, was responsible for record-breaking years of customer retention through a focus on customer engagement and storytelling. In November 2020, Laura joined forces with Laura Rosenberger to create Laylo with the aim of reinventing boxed wine and making environmentally conscious drinking a no-brainer.  The design of glass wine bottles has barely changed in 200 years. But the amount of bottles and how we ship them around the world really has – to a point that has become unsustainable.  Believing that boxed wine was the smartest alternative but aware of the preconceptions about its quality, Laura and Laura set about focusing on premium quality and beautiful design.  Since its inception, Laylo has built a cult following – it has featured on mainstream TV and in national newspapers and magazines, has won awards and is now stocked by Ocado and Whole Foods as well as being served in restaurants and bars nationwide. Laylo has also recently branched out into canned wine, and last year released its first English boxed wine.  We talk about being a female maverick in a male dominated world, Laura's most 'out there' marketing stunts and the next new launch on the cards for Laylo.  Find out more about Laylo by visiting: drinklaylo.com and you can follow Laura and the rest of the team on Instagram @drinklaylo.  With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly.  Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at thesouthernquarter.co.uk.

Joining me on today’s episode of The English Wine Diaries is Sandy Booth, life-long farmer and owner of B58 Winery in Beaulieu, Hampshire.  Sandy founded the B58 Winery off the back of his hugely successful soft fruit farming business, after realising that his knowledge and innovative approach to growing fruit in polytunnels could also be applied to growing grape varieties that aren’t usually, successfully grown in the UK climate.  Growing up in St Andrews, Scotland, Sandy learnt about farming life from his father, who worked on a cattle farm looking after Aberdeen Angus, but honed his skills in plant propagation, irrigation set-up and the nutritional needs of plants when he moved to Kent when he was in his 20s.  In 1997, he joined tenant farmer John Boyd in Beaulieu and played a significant role in quadrupling the farm’s strawberry business. As well as growing strawberries, Sandy has trialled crops such as artichokes, apricots, melons and asparagus.  Recent innovations include a vegan friendly snack made from wonky' strawberries, otherwise destined for food waste, and Japanese strawberries – a ground breaking first that may lead to year-round production of strawberries on the farm. Growing vines in tunnels has enabled him to explore growing grape varieties such as Shiraz and Gewürztraminer, and together with Hampshire-based Swiss winemaker Gi-yom Lagger, Sandy launched his first wines to market in February 2025.  “My long-term goal is to break away from conventional approaches,” he says “Challenge the status quo and pursue innovative paths to achieve something truly unique and impactful.’’ With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly.  Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at thesouthernquarter.co.uk.

Welcome to a new series of The English Wine Diaries and my first guest to join me to talk about all things English wine in 2025 is Trevor Clough, CEO and head blender of Digby Fine English.  Trevor and his husband, Jason Humphries, launched their first Digby wines for sale in 2013 having swapped the corporate grind of London for Sussex, in the heart of English wine country.  Impelled to give English sparkling wine the same fanfare as its international counterparts, they developed a method of ranking England’s burgeoning vineyards to find the finest grapes going, carefully building their grower portfolio across the southeast.  In 2021, the couple acquired their best Pinot Noir site, Digby’s Hilden Vineyard, in Hildenborough, Kent, and their dedication to the maturation process was solidified the following year when they secured their own winery space in Madehurst, West Sussex. Their house blending style celebrates the satisfying sharpness of English fruit while bringing a sumptuous texture and roundness to the wines through long ageing; it’s a style they like to call “sophisticated yet racy.”  Over the years Digby Fine English has received much critical acclaim; they’ve won numerous trophies, have beaten the likes of Krug and Dom Pérignon in a prestigious 2017 blind tasting, and in 2020 became the official English sparkling wine supplier to the House of Commons Gift Shop.  To find out more about Digby Fine English and how to visit their Arundel tasting room, follow them on Instagram @digbyfineenglish or visit digby-fine-english.com. With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly.  Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at thesouthernquarter.co.uk.

Joining me on the last episode of season 11 of The English Wine Diaries is Mark Darley, founder and owner of All Angels Vineyard in Newbury, Berkshire.  Mark and his family became custodians of Church Farm in 2009 and, while it was still earlyish days for English wine back then, talks around the dinner table soon turned to planting a vineyard.  When the farmland was analysed as ideal for growing grapes for outstanding English Sparkling Wine, and the first vineyard planted in 2011, Mark decided to swap his daily commute to the city, where he had been a corporate lawyer for 35 years, for a life in viticulture.  Mark's love of wine goes back to when he started collecting at the age of 25 and his personal cellar now runs to many thousands of bottles. The opportunity to make his own wine seemed particularly fitting as a plan for retirement – although he uses that term loosely as running All Angels (along with his three labs, Skeena, Copper & Kasi) is indeed a pretty full-time job.  Over the past decade, All Angels has totted up a number of industry awards and the vineyard, which is named after the parish church nearby, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first vintage with the release of a rather special classic cuvee. We talk about the historic significance of All Angels, the high-tech methods they use to handle frost in the vineyard, and a wine in the making that Mark may not see come to fruition within his lifetime. To find out more about All Angels wines and how to visit, follow them on Instagram @allangelsvineyard or visit allangels.com. With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at thesouthernquarter.co.uk.