The Tim Atkin Cork Talk Podcast

Cork Talk with Raj Paar

Born in Calcutta, Raj Paar didn’t drink wine until he was 20. He made up for it in no time, rapidly become one of the best sommeliers in the United States and developing a legendary palate. In 2009, he began to make wine in a serious way and now farms 4.5 hectares in Cambria near San Luis Obispo. Listen to us chat about balance in wine, his love of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and why he never stops asking questions.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Franck Massard

Born in Brittany and brought up in the Loire, Franck Massard made his name as an award-winning sommelier in the UK before moving to Spain in 2004. Acquiring a small vineyard in Priorat changed his life, inspiring him to become a winemaker. Our chat covered his love of Carignan, the affinity he feels with medieval monks, his views on sustainability and why controlled risks pay off in the vineyard and winery.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Mel Knox

Mel Knox became a barrel broker by accident when he was working in a wine shop in California. Over the space of a 43 year career representing such famous cooperages as Taransaud and François Frères he’s worked with many of California’s greatest producers and even made a few wines of his own. He’s a witty, well-informed and opinionated interviewee, as you’ll find out from our entertaining chat.  

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Pedro Parra

Pedro Parra wanted to be a jazz saxophonist until he realised he'd never be the next John Coltrane. Instead, he became a terroir expert. As a consultant, he's had a huge influence on wine, not just in his native Chile but around the world. Our fascinating chat covered everything from minerality to the energy of the best vineyards, the democracy of geology to the potential of Cinsault, "the brother of Pinot Noir, in Itata. 

To read more about Pedro have a look at this website. You can also follow him on Instagram @pedroparraterroir.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Mac Forbes

Mac Forbes is one of Australia’s most thoughtful winemakers, a man who lives and breathes his native Yarra Valley. I caught up with him during vintage to chat about his formative time in Europe, his love of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling, his respect for Aboriginal culture, his relationship with old vines and why winemaking is about more than ticking boxes.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Miles Beale

Miles Beale started his working life as a Eurocrat in Brussels before becoming private secretary to two very contrasting Labour Party politicians in Mo Mowlam and John Prescott. For the last decade, he’s been the chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, dealing with alcohol taxation, minimum unit pricing, the fallout from Brexit and the demands of one of the drinks trade’s highest profile jobs.

To read more about Miles have a look at the WSTA's website. You can also follow him on Twitter @WSTA_Miles.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Carole Meredith

Over a 22 year academic career at the University of California Davis, Carole Meredith changed the word of wine for ever. Using genetic markers and DNA fingerprinting, she helped to identify the parents of grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, as well as solving the mystery of Zinfandel’s origins. Now retired, she spoke to me from the celebrated Mount Veeder vineyard that she owns with her husband, Steve Lagier.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Olly Smith

Olly Smith is one of the UK’s most engaging wine experts, known for his appearances on Saturday Kitchen, his newspaper columns, his podcasts and his books, as well as his sense of humour and love of words. I caught up with him from his house in Lewes to talk about his favourite films, his collection of English sparkling wines, his love of all things Greek and his friendship with the late Sir Roger Moore.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Stephanie Toole

Born in New Zealand, Stephanie Toole has zigzagged across the globe as she nurtured her love of wine. She became interested in wine in London, ran a wine wholesaler in Perth and then moved to the Clare Valley when she fell in love with her husband Jeffrey Grosset. We chatted about her Mount Horrocks range, her conversion to biodynamics, how she and Jeffrey run two different brands from the same cellar, her love of Nero d’Avola and why she never needs a break from wine.

To read more about Stephanie have a look at the Mount Horrocks website. You can also follow her on Instagram @mounthorrocks.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. 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 Miguel Merino

Miguel Merino didn’t always want to be a winemaker, despite the fact that his dad owned a bodega. He worked in sports journalism and as a TV screenwriter, before finally turning to his roots in his late 20s. I caught up with him to chat about Rioja’s new generation, single parcel wines, pruning just after a full moon, the impressive quality of his region’s whites and the advantages of clay soils in a warming world.

To read more about Miguel have a look at the Bodega Miguel Merino website. You can also follow him on Instagram @bodegamiguelmerino.

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