Episode 10: The Greek Wine Revolution

Greece has emerged as one of the hottest new wine scenes in the world – so how did that happen? Andy Neather and Victoria Moore look at why Greek wine is so exciting right now, talk to leading figures, and tell you what’s worth looking out for.

Interviewed:

Alexandra Manousakis, Manousakis Winery, Crete

Stefanos Kokotos, Maltby & Greek, London

Featured: people and wines

Paris Sigalas

Apostolos Thymiopoulos (Jeunes Vignes Xinomavro)

Vasilis Gerovassiliou

Stelios Boutaris, Kir-Yianni

Akrathos – Assyrtiko from the Halkidiki

Nikos Karavitakis, Crete

 LaurensHartman, Domaine Karanika

Kechris retsina, Thessaloniki

Feaured: grapes (accent given for pronunciation)

Assýrtiko

Xinómavro

Vidianó

Robóla

Moschofílero

Malagouzía

Agiorgítiko

Featured: places (accent given for pronunciation)

Meganísi

Oía, Santoríni

Thessaloníki

Gouménissa

Chalkidikí/Halkidiki (Mount Athos)

 Chíos

Chaniá, Crete

Kefaloniá/Cephalonia

Amýndeo/Amyndeon

Recommended wines:

DomaineKaranika sparkling wines (from Maltby & Greek, from £26.)

Tetramythos Retsina Natur 2025 (from The Wine Society,£14.50.)

Dalamaras Xinomavro, Naoussa (from The Wine Society and elsewhere, from £26.)

Waitrose Blueprint Greek White (£9.25)

This episode we discuss the phenomenon of AI - hard to avoid just now, and we’re being promised that it will transform our drinking experience. But will it? We test-drive the Wine Society’s new AI platform, My Taste Match (https://www.thewinesociety.com/), and talk to the Society’s CEO, Steve Finlan, about why they’ve launched it. And we consider the shortcomings of AI in dealing with something as intangible as taste. We also look at some of the ways AI is being used elsewhere in wine, including in the brave new world of agricultural drones and robots.

Also mentioned:

Whistler Wines “Shiver`” Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023

Aotearoa New Zealand Fine Wines’ Pyramid Valley vineyard

Saga Robotics

Recommended wines: Whitewolfe Estates KC2 English Chardonnay 2022 (Elementary Wine Co, Fortnum & Mason, from £46)

Domaine Bon Augure “Aux Innocents les Mains Pleines” 2024 (The Sourcing Table, Dvine cellar, Hop Burns & Black, from £18)

Original music by Rosa Neather ⁠https://open.spotify.com/track/6U2rMSG1sTA3DAvYlXmE9f?si=Xh4HdR2nQhe6C79hYumNlwEND

Today rosé wine isn’t just something we just turn to in a heatwave, perfect though it is then. Sales of rosé have exploded in Britain - as well as France - in recent years, especially the very pale-coloured rosés produced in Provence. But might we have reached peak Provence rosé now? Andy and Victoria explore the rise of rosé, why it’s the colour it is, and what other rosés are worth a try.

Featured:

Whispering Angel (Sacha Lichine)

Maison Mirabeau (Stephen and Jeany Cronk)

M de Minity

Château Léoube

Aix

Recommended wines:

Château Ollieux Romanis Racine rosé 2025, Corbières (The Wine Society, £11.95)

Boutari “Dianthos” rosé 2025, PGI Imathia (Tesco, £11.50)

Moropolous rosé 2024, PGI Arcadia (Lea & Sandeman, £19.95 or £17.50 as part of a mixed case of 12)

Mas de la Rouvière rosé 2025, Bandol (Yapp, £23.50)

Original music by Rosa Neather ⁠https://open.spotify.com/track/6U2rMSG1sTA3DAvYlXmE9f?si=Xh4HdR2nQhe6C79hYumNlw

The war in the Persian Gulf has already sent oil prices soaring and hit global supplies of natural gas and fertiliser - so how well cushioned is the wine industry? Costs of diesel, electricity, bottles and shipping are all going up for wine producers and importers. But some of the industry’s moves towards sustainability will help blunt the impact. We look at renewable energy and hear from Rathfinny Estate’s owner, Mark Driver, about how they’re using solar power to cut bills. We explore how bottles have got lighter, cutting energy use. And we look at how bulk shipping has cut the energy used to get a bottle of wine to your table.

Featured:

Rathfinny Estate, Sussex

Simpson’s Wine Estate, Kent

Gusbourne Estate, Kent

Mouchão, Portugal

Domaine Bousquet, Argentina

Rippon Vineyard, New Zealand

Andy’s book with Jane Masters MW is Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine http://bit.ly/4t7OKlV

Recommended wines:

Zuccardi Regiones Cabernet Franc

Speri Valpolicella and Valpolicella Superiore

Original music by Rosa Neather ⁠https://open.spotify.com/track/6U2rMSG1sTA3DAvYlXmE9f?si=Xh4HdR2nQhe6C79hYumNlw

Episode 6: Lebanon makes fabulous wines, part of the country’s rich tradition of hospitality and good food. But now Lebanon’s winemakers find themselves in desperate straits under yet another assault by Israel, part of the wider conflict in the Middle East. Andy Neather and Victoria Moore discuss what makes Lebanese wine special and find out how winemakers are coping in the latest war, with contributions from award-winning Anglo-Lebanese writer Michael Karam.

Featured:

Michael Karam's book, Wines of Lebanon: The Journey Continues

Château Ksara "Le Prieuré"

Domaine des Tourelles "Cuvée Pierre Brun"

We also discuss Château Musar, Ixsir and Château Kefraya

Original music by Rosa Neather https://open.spotify.com/track/6U2rMSG1sTA3DAvYlXmE9f?si=Xh4HdR2nQhe6C79hYumNlw

Victoria Moore and Andy Neather answer your burning wine questions. Discover why cork is greener than screw caps, how to handle "unacceptable" (that's not our word) glassware situations and whether you need to be a "super taster" to justify spending more on wine.

Andy also gets stuck in to a question about natural wines, explaining what "funky" really means and how to avoid borderline faulty bottles. And Victoria predicts the next big wine trends—think darker rosés and chilled reds.

Plus, Andy reports from Australia's Yarra Valley, exploring how climate change is reshaping cool-climate winemaking and some seriously good restaurants. From sustainability to stemware etiquette, this episode answers the questions every wine lover wants to know.

Recommendations:

Yeringberg Marsanne-Roussanne Yarra Valley Australia

Fox Tales Winemakers Selection Saperavi 2024 Australia

Wine sales are falling and moderation is up: is this thebeginning of the end for wine? (Spoiler: no…) Andy Neather and Victoria Moorediscuss what falling wine sales and increased interest in moderation mean forwine lovers. They also taste some no and low drinks – and end up with reasons to becheerful about wine’s future in 2026.

Featured:

· Momo kombuchas: https://momo-kombucha.com/

· Saicho sparkling teas https://www.saichodrinks.com/

· Samuel Billaud “Les Grands Terroirs” Chablis2023, France - £30-35 at good independentwine stores

· Moorooduc Estate PinotNoir 2020, Mornington Peninsula, Australia – from £25 at good independent wine stores

Music: Rosa Neather ⁠https://open.spotify.com/track/6U2rMSG1sTA3DAvYlXmE9f?si=Xh4HdR2nQhe6C79hYumNlw

Andy Neather and Victoria Moore discuss when to decant wine; what wine to enjoy at Christmas with your Stilton cheese; brain food for Christmas, including a podcast with Coravin inventor Greg Lambrecht, plus Ruby Tandoh's new book; a party game with AI wine tasting notes; and some Christmas wine recommendations.

Featured:

Taittinger Champagne NV Brut

Waitrose Blueprint Amontillado Medium-Dry Sherry

D'Oliveiras Medium-Sweet 5 year-old Madeira

Talisker 10 Year-Old Single Malt Whisky

Domaine Bousquet "Ameri" Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Gualtallary, Argentina https://vintageroots.co.uk/domaine-bousquet-ameri-gualtallary-sauvignon-blanc/

Tim Atkin's Cork Talk interview with Greg Lambrecht: https://timatkin.com/cork-talk/cork-talk-with-greg-lambrecht/

Ruby Tandoh's book: “All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now"

Music: Rosa Neather https://open.spotify.com/track/6U2rMSG1sTA3DAvYlXmE9f?si=Xh4HdR2nQhe6C79hYumNlw