The Tim Atkin Cork Talk Podcast

Cork Talk with Jerry Lockspeiser

Jerry Lockspeiser dreamt of being a professional footballer, but ended up in wine by accident in his early thirties. A serial entrepreneur and risk taker, who built Vinceremos and Bottle Green into major wine suppliers, he’s now the chair of North South Wines, and director of Positive News. From organic wine pioneer to marathon runner, philanthropist to published author, Jerry's career spans four decades. And he’s still going strong.

To read more about Jerry have a look at the North South website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @jerrylockspeiser.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Tony Bish

Tony Bish got a harvest job at a winery in Gisborne to fund a ski season in New Zealand’s South Island and has never looked back. After 27 years at Sacred Hill, he set up his own brand in 2013, entirely focused on Chardonnays of all shapes, sizes and styles. Sourcing grapes from some of the best vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, he’s on a mission to turn consumers into what he calls 'Chardonnistas', challenging the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) movement in the process.

To read more about Tony have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @tonybish.wines.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Marta Casas

Marta Casas originally trained as a pharmacist but switched to wine after she met her future husband and accompanied him and his family on a fact-finding tour to Australia. Now the long-term, award winning winemaker at Parés Baltà in the Penedés, she’s an expert on biodynamics as well as a passionate advocate for local Catalan grapes, with their lower alcohol, naturally high acidity and resistance to climate change.

To read more about Marta have a look at the Parés Baltà  website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @martacasasjorba. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Philippe Melka

Philippe Melka grew up in Bordeaux studying geology — never planning to make wine — until a further university course in oenology and viticulture and an internship at Château Haut-Brion changed his life. Today he's one of the Napa Valley's most celebrated winemakers and consultants, with multiple 100-point wines to his name and a philosophy built on one simple idea: stand back and let the land speak.

To read more about Philippe have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @ateliermelka.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Cathy Marshall

Cathy Marshall studied Physical Education and English Literature at university, but got interested in wine because of a few late nights in the bars of Stellenbosch. After a further degree at Elsenburg College, where she became one of her country’s first female winemakers, she travelled the world before returning to the Cape to set up Catherine Marshall Wines. A lover of elegant reds and whites, she’s a key figure in the South African New Wave.

To read more about Cathy have a look at her website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @catherinemarshallwines.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Michael Schmelzer

Michael Schmelzer is a citizen of the world, brought up in Italy, France, Germany and the United States. Today, his home is the beautiful Monte Bernardi estate in Chianti Classico, a property that his family has owned since 2003. Though Australia-trained, he’s a winemaker who believes in the traditional European ways of doing things, using biodynamic farming to get the best out of his vineyards and keeping intervention in the cellar to a minimum.

To read more about Michael have a look at the Monte Bernardi website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @michael_montebernardi.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Jade Gross

Jade Gross was all set to become a human rights’ lawyer when she got a bursary to study cookery in Paris. After a very flourishing career as a chef, culminating in the top job at the world-famous Mugaritz in San Sebastián, she changed tack once more, moving to the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra in Rioja to make her own wines. A serial high achiever, and a self-confessed control freak, she’s bus making a success of her new life too.

To read more about Jade have a look at her website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @jadegrosswines.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Martin Hofstätter

Martin Foradori Hofstätter is a fourth-generation producer from the Alto Adige, who also makes wine in Trentino as well as Germany’s Mosel Valley. He’s a passionate believer in terroir and has the wines to prove it, specialising in Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer and Lagrein. Not afraid of change, he launched a range of no-alcohol wines, called Zero, six years ago, believing that the wine industry needs to rethink the way it talks to younger consumers.

To read more about Martin have a look at the J. Hofstätter website. You can also follow the winery on Instagram at @hofstatter.winery. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Anouck Dann

Anouck Dann was born among the vines of the Valais in Switzerland. After a spell in the hotel industry, where she was inspired by the example of César Ritz, she moved to England to study winemaking and viticulture at Plumpton Agricultural College. Today, she’s back in her native region, running Les Celliers de Vétroz alongside the Fontannaz family. Passionate and knowledgeable, she’s an ideal guide to the under-appreciated world of Swiss wines.

To read more about Anouck have a look at the Les Celliers de Vétroz website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @peak_cellar.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

 

Cork Talk with Chiara Boschis

Chiara Boschis comes from a historic winemaking family in Piedmont but she had to struggle to follow the same career as her other siblings. Taking over the E. Pira winery in Barolo in 1990, she became one of the most important members of a new, modernising group of winemakers, the Barolo girl among the so-called Barolo boys. Committed to organic viticulture and a lover of Nebbiolo, she’s a fascinating guide to Italy’s greatest wine region.

To read more about Chiara have a look at the E Pira website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @chiaraboschis_pira. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.