The Tim Atkin Cork Talk Podcast

Cork Talk with Praisy Dlamini

Brought up on a sugar cane farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal, where her parents were teetotallers, Praisy Dlamini got a bursary from the Department of Agriculture when she was 16 and went to study winemaking in the Cape. Her meteoric career has taken her from a spell at Distell to a job as the general manager of Adama Wines, where she runs an all-female team of black women and has developed Amandla, a brilliant and deservedly popular South African brand.

To read more about Praisy have a look at the Amandla website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @praisyd.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Roman Roth

Roman Roth was brought up in the Black Forest, where his father was a cooper, but decided to become a winemaker in his teens. After vintages in California and Australia, he got a job at Wölffer Estate Vineyard on Long Island in 1992 and has been there ever since. Funny, creative and fond of singing to his wines, he’s a natural interviewee with a well-honed turn of phrase. Listen in to hear everything you want to know about New York wines.

To read more about Roman have a look at the Wölffer Estate Vineyard website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @roth.roman.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Tom Gilbey

Tom Gilbey’s family have worked in the wine and spirits trade since the mid-19^th century – they had a famous gin as well as owning a Bordeaux château – so it was natural that he would follow in their footsteps. In his time, he’s been a winemaker, a merchant and, more recently an educator, wine writer and Internet sensation thanks to a dip in an ice bath and the decision to run the London marathon, blind tasting 25 wines along the way.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Dawn Davies

Dawn Davies is a Master of Wine who also specialises in spirits. Originally a top sommelier at restaurants like Zuma and The Ledbury, she moved into retailing at Selfridges and is now buying director at Speciality Drinks and the Whisky Exchange. An extrovert and confirmed “people person”, she has well-informed views about things as varied as wine service, restaurant lists, Mezcal, blind tasting technique and Champagne. She’s one of a kind.

To read more about Dawn have a look at the Masters of Wine website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @dawndaviesmw. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Carmelo Peña Santana

Growing up in Las Palmas, Carmelo Peña Santana’s dream was to have his own restaurant.  But after working as a sommelier for a year, he became a winemaker instead, travelling to Portugal and Chile before returning to the Canary Islands to set up three of his own projects on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Our in-depth discussion provides a fascinating insight into one of the most talked about corners of the Spanish wine world.

To read more about Carmelo have a look at the inspiring Jable de Tao website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @carmelopenasantana. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Leo Erazo

Leo Erazo has made wines on five different continents, but these days he’s exclusively associated with the Itata Valley, Chile’s most historic wine region. I caught up with him from his bodega beside the Pacific to talk about his love of Cinsault, what it’s like working in what he calls the last pocket of the Old World in the southern hemisphere, wild fires, Pipeño style reds, the difference between granite and schist and why old vines can be overrated.

Leo is way too cool to have a website.  But you can also follow him on Instagram at @leoerazo_vinedos. 

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Gus Zhu

Gus Zhu started out studying horticulture at university but caught the wine bug when he attended a tasting class given by one of his professors. Since then, his rise has been meteoric. He was the first Chinese national to pass the Master of Wine exam at the age of 31. Today he combines his day job as a research scientist in California with a second career as an educator and author, most notably of his brilliant new book, Behind the Glass.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Noel Young

Noel Young’s dad ran a pub, so you could say he was born into the booze trade. He brewed his first beer at the age of 15 and set up his own very successful wine business, Noel Young Wines, in his early twenties. A man who has always believed in doing things his own way, championing countries whose wines he loves, like Australia, Austria, Greece and Spain, irrespective of fashion or status, he’s as entertaining as he is outspoken.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Kelli White

Kelli White’s love of wine was sparked by a trip to Paris as an undergraduate and a student job in a Boston retail store. After working as a sommelier in New York and the Napa Valley, she became a full-time writer and educator in 2015. Her brilliant latest book, Wine Confident, draws on 25 years of experience to talk in a refreshing new way about the fundamentals of wine. Kelli is as warm and entertaining in person as she is on the page.

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

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. 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 Chris Blandy

Chris Blandy of the Madeira Wine Company is the seventh generation of his family to live and work in the wine trade on this volcanic island. A native with a passion for history and science, he understands the complexities of Madeira – the place and the drink - as well as anyone. Our in-depth chat covered grape varieties, soil types, fortified and unfortified styles, Madeira’s legendary ageing ability and why it should always be stored standing up.

To read more about Chris have a look at the Madeira Wine Company's website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @chrisblandy.

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