The Tim Atkin Cork Talk Podcast

Cork Talk with Julio Bouchon

Julio Bouchon’s family came to Chile form Bordeaux back in the 1880s, but this fourth generation winemaker has done more for the reputation of a forgotten Spanish grape – País – than for any French variety. Listen to us talk about his training as a journalist, his love of granite soils, the ongoing impact of social change in Chile and his joint venture in South Africa.

To read more about Julio's' wines, look at the Bouchon Family Wines website. You can also follow him on Instagram @bouchonfamilywines

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as on my website. 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 Jean-Charles Boisset

Jean-Charles Boiset is a hoot – an entrepreneur, a tireless innovator and a brand in his own right. Brought up in Burgundy, where his family owns Boisset, the region’s largest producer, but now living in California, he’s in charge of the Boisset Collection of West Coast wineries. Listen to him talk about Pinot Noir, kickboxing, biodynamic farming, perfume and how to learn from your failures.

To read more about Jean-Charles' wines, look at the Boisset Collection website. You can also follow him on Instagram @jc_boisset.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as on my website. 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 Steve Pannell

Steve Pannell was born into one of Margaret River’s pioneering wineries, Moss Wood, but has chosen to follow his own path in McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. Rightly regarded as a key figure in the modern Australian wine industry, he’s a brilliant, considered and stimulating conversationalist. Listen to us talk about the wonders of Grenache, why tannin is a good thing in red grapes and how he’s working to change perceptions of Australian wine.

To read more about Steve's wines, look at the SC Pannell website. You can also follow him on Instagram @scpannell.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as on my website. 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 Hubert de Boüard

Given his first pairs of secateurs by his dad on his seventh birthday, Hubert de Boüard was destined to be a winemaker. Best known for his transformation of Château Angélus in St. Emilion, which is now one of only four Premiers Grands Crus Classé A, Hubert is also an international consultant who works on three continents. Listen to us chat about his love of Caberent Franc, where to find value for money in Bordeaux and the secrets of a great blender.

To read more about Hubert's wines, look at the Château Angelus and Hubert de Boüard Consulting websites. You can also follow him on Instagram @hubertdebouardconsulting.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as on my website. 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 Paolo De Marchi

Think Chianti, think Paolo de Marchi. He was born in Piedmont, but he’s been a resident of Tuscany since 1976 – and he’s a key figure in the renaissance of Chianti Classico at Isole e Olena. Not to mention he’s also the creator of the Supertuscan brand, Cepparello. We talked about his formative time in the United States, his love of Sangiovese, the challenge of climate change and why he’s happy that there are loads of things he will never understand.

To read more about Paolo's wines, look at the Liberty Wines website . You can also follow him on Instagram @isoleeolena.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as on my website. 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 Laura Catena

Laura Catena is no one-trick pony. She’s a global wine personality, managing director of Catena Wines in Argentina – and a trained emergency room doctor. Dividing her time between San Francisco and Mendoza, Laura is also an author, businesswoman and energetic ambassador for the wines of her country. Listen to us chat about the Italian origins of the Catena winery, her ambitions to create a Grand Cru vineyard in the Uco Valley and why Malbec is so well suited to Argentina. 

To read more about Laura's wines, look at the Catena website. You can also follow her on Instagram @lauracatenamd.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as on my website. 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 Steve Smith

Master of Wine Steve Smith is a scarily brainy person, who seems to know a lot about almost everything, but is also a lot of fun to hang out with. One of the world’s leading viticulturists and the man who created the Craggy Range brand from scratch, he talks to me about the unrealised potential of Syrah in New Zealand, why he thinks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is “pigeon-holing” the country’s image, his new project running Pyramid Valley and his plans for the next 15 years, which he hopes will be the “most prolific” of his brilliant career.

To read more about Steve's wines, look at the Pyramid Valley website. You can also follow him on Instagram @stevesmithmw

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

Cork Talk with Ken Forrester

Known as the King of Chenin Blanc, Ken Forrester is one of the South African wine industry’s best-loved and highest profile figures. He was originally a restaurateur in Johannesburg, but he bought a run-down farm in Stellenbosch in 1993 and has, as they say, never looked back. We talked about his Dirty Little Secret, Rhône grapes in the Cape, Ken’s upbringing in Zambia and what the acronym FMC – his most famous Chenin Blanc – really stands for.

To read more about Ken's wines, look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram @kenforrestervineyards.

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 winemakers. 

Cork Talk with Marcelo Retamal

Marcelo Retamal is sometimes described as the spiritual leader of Chile’s wine revolution. He’s the man who encouraged a generation of winemakers to focus on terroir, elegance and fruit purity – rather than just power. Listen to him talk about his 2011 Damascene conversion, his new project in Spain, the excitement around traditional grapes like País, Cinsault and Carignan and how he came to be involved with Viñedos de Alcohuaz, the highest vineyards in the country.

To read more about Marcelo's wines, look at their De Martino and Viñedos de Alcohuaz websites.. You can also follow Reta on Instagram @retadechile. 

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 winemakers. 

 

Cork Talk with Virginia Willcock

Virginia Willcock of Vasse Felix is one of the most awarded winemakers in Australia. She’s famous for the quality of her Chardonnays and Cabernets, as well as her sense of humour and forthright views. We chatted about what makes Margaret River such a special place to grow grapes, about her dad’s ‘hobby’ vineyard north of Perth that inspired her to make wine and about how, after 29 vintages in Western Australia, she’s learnt how to ‘let my wines be, rather than intervene’.

To read more about Vasse Felix's wines, look at their website. You can also follow the winery on Instagram @vassefelixwines

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 winemakers.