Press Release - August 2021

Introducing the Wine List

A new podcast for people who like wine but don’t know much about it

www.winelistpod.com

·       Are you intimidated by the sommelier?

·       Does your heart sink when the aging, leather bound wine list is passed to you?

·       You’re not alone - a staggering 73% of Brits are intimidated by restaurant wine lists according to 2018 research*, while 58% don’t feel they have enough wine knowledge to order with confidence

·       If you’d like to know more about choosing a good glass, but think ‘tannins’ are sun bed salons and terroir is a small dog, then ‘The Wine List’ podcast is for you; a straight talking, no snobbery guide to wine appreciation

Management Consultant and ex stand up comedian Oliver Turnbull and freelance journalist and wine educator Richard Lane introduce a new podcast, aimed at people like Oliver who like a glass of wine, but would like to know more about it. Oliver feels intimidated when confronted with a wine list and by the confusing array of information on wine-bottle labels, and calls on his old friend of 30+ years Richard to help him conquer his wine fears.

Richard has developed a deep knowledge of wine after embarking on Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) wine qualifications. He has recently passed the professionally recognised WSET Diploma, and has become a certified WSET Educator.

During the series of 10 episodes, Richard guides Oliver through ‘The Wine List’ as they explore many of the nuanced topics that make wine so fascinating—and confusing. Two key aspects underpin each episode: a reference wine list, from Richard’s favourite restaurant, Chez Bruce in south-west London; and in each episode Oliver and Richard taste at least 2 wines, often more, all sourced from the UK Wine Society. Wines for the next episode are highlighted to encourage listeners to taste along with Oliver and Richard.

As Richard gently leads Oliver through the complex and endlessly enthralling world of wine, he sympathetically corrects even his chum’s most basic mistakes, of which there are plenty! The boys cover grape growing, winemaking, tasting, provenance and pairing with a focus on joy and fun, so don’t expect a structured training course or dry academic thesis. Richard and Oliver are determined for this series to enhance the listeners’ enjoyment and appreciation of this wonderful part of our culture. But be warned: there will also be quite a bit of silliness, which is unavoidable when these two old friends get together over a glass.

The wine list journey starts from Oliver’s comfort zone—New Zealand sauvignon blanc and claret—moving into more unfamiliar territory with wines from the Loire and Chile’s Limari Valley, a focus on France where Oliver tries to detect the difference in quality between Chablis and Chablis Premier Cru, and between Cotes du Rhone and Gigondas.

Later, the duo find themselves discussing the historic wine culture of Georgia, and of Ancient Greece and Rome, with some tasting that gives them a glimpse into the fine heritage of Greek and German wine. As Oliver’s confidence grows, Richard sets him homework, with Oliver summarising the 1976 Judgement of Paris, part of a focus on how the old world helped shape a new world revolution in winemaking and wine marketing; and how more recently the new world has helped the old world of wine become more accessible to wine consumers.

Richard helps Oliver get under the skin of viticulture and winemaking, ahead of an in-depth discussion around the biology of smell and taste, before putting their olfactory bulbs and tongues to the test. Later, and with increasing curiosity, Oliver asks Richard to explain the processes behind rosé and sparkling winemaking, before they invite their friends around for a detailed look at wine and food matching (is there too much obsession about prescriptive food and wine pairing, they wonder).

Over a glass of 10-year-old tawny port, Oliver and Richard look back over the wine list journey, how far Oliver has come and where his wine curiosity might take him in the future, with the pair also enjoying a fine lunch at, of course, Chez Bruce, with Oliver ordering the wine from the extensive wine list.

The Wine List podcast features a few quirky musical notes; Oliver’s enthusiastic guitar strumming blended like a rustic wine with Richard’s violin to create the podcast’s theme music. The varying topics throughout the series often inspire Richard to get his fiddle out to create a tiny musical narrative in each episode.

By the end of the series, Oliver’s knowledge and confidence about wine has grown considerably. Although no replacement for a formal wine course, Oliver believes the Wine List podcast has given him a grounding in the complex world of wine, a clear idea of the kind of wines that he likes, and most importantly of all—he has overcome his fear of a wine list.

The Wine List launches on 15 August 2021, with each episode being released on iTunes, Soundcloud, and Google Play at weekly intervals every Sunday evening.

An audio highlights package of the Series is available for media is available here: https://www.winelistpod.com/about

For further information about The Wine List podcast please contact: hello@winelistpod.com

Notes to Editors: Source of research: The Drinks Business