Matthew Clark Interviews

Hello and welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. Today we’re talking to Alix Walker, the Global Ambassador for Thomas Dakin gin and all-round expert on everything gin! Thomas Dakin Gin is a modern gin with an old-fashioned twist, created to reflect the long and storied history of Manchester gin grandee Thomas Dakin. Deeply rooted in Manchester, we talk to Alix about the connection with the city and the history of this small batch gin of unmistakable  character.

Hello and welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. Today we’re talking to Alejandro Van Lieshout, ‎Export Manager at ‎Casa Rojo. Casa Rojo is a team of people with varied backgrounds and specialties that have come together to create nine wines in nine denominations of origin of Spain, each produced in their own style.

Hello and welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. Today we’re talking to Davide Champion, Sales Manager at Sella & Mosca winery, based in Sardinia the team at Sella and Mosca produce wines with an unmistakable personality and have done for over a century. Sella & Mosca is known as Sardinia's leading wine producer. It is renowned for premium wines made exclusively from estate-grown grapes of native varieties such as Vermentino, Torbato and Cannonau. Alongside protecting these indigenous varieties the winery has successfully pioneered the introduction of international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon.

Welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. Today we’re talking to James Downes, owner and vineyard manager at Shannon Vineyards, situated in the beautiful Elgin Valley. Shannon Vineyards is situated in the Elgin Valley within the Kogelberg Biosphere with mountains on our western boundary and the Peninsula Dam forming the eastern boundary. The Elgin Valley which has long been regarded as the apple and pear centre of South Africa, now has some of the country's most highly regarded winemakers establishing vineyards in the area, testament to its obvious winemaking potential.

Welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. Today we’re talking to Gerhard Swart at South Africa's Flagstone winery. The Flagstone philosophy is that ‘Wine should do a small, simple thing: it should add joy to life'. Formerly headed by influential winemaker Bruce Jack, today Gerhard brings his own deep love of wine and quest for simplicity to craft quality and a distinctive character in Flagstone Wines.

We've swapped wine for beer on this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, to put some focus on the upcoming World Water Day. We’re chatting to Alan Mahon, founder of Scottish craft beer label Brewgooder which is on a mission to give 1,000,000 people access to clean drinking water. Launched in early 2016, Brewgooder donates 100% of its profits to clean water projects around the world. Founded by Alan and Josh Littlejohn MBE both of which were and are involved in Social Bite a movement to end homelessness in Scotland, the business runs on a simple message of drink beer, give water.

Hello and welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. Today we’re talking to Martin Moore, Cellarmaster at the Durbanville Hills winery situated 20 minutes from Cape Town’s city centre, with spectacular views of Table Mountain and Table Bay. Founded in the late 1990’s, Durbanville Hills Wines has wasted no time in establishing one of South Africa's leading wineries. The Durbanville Hills region is the second oldest wine region in South Africa. We talk to Martin about his career, his approach to winemaking and the wonderful wines he crafts.

Hello and welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. Today we’re talking to Andrea Freeborough, Cellarmaster here at Nederburg, a historic South African winery. Founded in 1791, Nederburg is South Africa’s most decorated name in wine. In 2016, Nederburg won the International Wine & Spirit Competition South African Wine Producer of the Year trophy, the second time in four years. We talk to Andrea about life on the Western Cape and how she got involved in winemaking. We discuss the ranges of Nederburg wines that includes the Heritage Heroes range of wines, individually named for key figures in the wineries past. We also enquired about the future of the winery and Andrea herself.

Welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. In this episode, we’re talking to Joe Fattorini, IWC Personality of the Year and IWSC Wine Communicator of the Year. Wine expert, writer and one of the stars of TV’s The Wine Show, Joe actually has a previous life working for Matthew Clark. Joe gives us the latest on series 2 of The Wine Show, lets us in on his favourite moments from filming and tells us how he got involved with the show. We also investigate the keys to good wine communication as Joe shares with us his tips on not only how to talk about wine, but his secrets to making yourself sound like a wine expert!

Welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. In this episode, it's Alastair Rimmer, the winemaker at South Africa's Kleine Zalze. Kleine Zalze’s are known for their award-winning wines filled with a distinctly South African character, boasting lively, full-bodied flavours that reflect the local climate and terroir. Based in the iconic Stellenbosch region, the wines of Kleine Zalze are produced by a dedicated team including today's guest, Alastair. Alastair has had a long career in wine and has worked in many of the worlds key regions. We chat to Alastair about Stellenboach and his affinity with the region, what he learnt travelling the world making wine and about brand South Africa and it's future.

Welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. In this episode, it's David Bicknell of Australia's Oakridge Wines. Founded in 1978, Oakridge are an award-winning and internationally renowned winery that pioneered wine growing in the upper Yarra Valley region. Chief Winemaker David Bicknell, has received one of the Australian wine industry’s most prestigious awards; the Gourmet Traveller Wine (GTW) Winemaker of the Year 2017, so when we had the opportunity to chat with him in London we jumped at it. We chat to David about the Yarra Valley, the philosophy at Oakridge, the secret behind his head-turning Chardonnay wines and he tells us about the stupidest thing he's done in winemaking.

Welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. In this episode, it's Lucy Clements of industry titans Accolade Wines. Lucy Clements has had a long and varied history in the wine industry covering making Champagne with Taittinger, English Sparkling at Chapel Down and buying for Britains biggest supermarkets. Now she's returned home, heading up the commercial winemaking at Accolade Wines covering some of the industries most well-known wines such as Hardy's. We chat to Lucy about her past, how that has shaped the wines she now produces for the UK market as well as the future of Australian wine and bringing more women into the industry.

Welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. In this episode, it's Nuno Cabral of Esporao wines, Quinta dos Murças. Nuno Cabral has been with Esporao wines for a little while and is now embarking on their latest project, developing the historic vineyards of Quinta dos Murças in the Duoro. The vineyards are planted on schistous soils in the sub-region of Cima Corgo, in the cooler part of the Douro. They are planted, so as to harvest the maximum amount of sunlight; essential to fully ripen the grapes. Some are farmed vertically on slopes that fall steeply down to the river; these offer up spectacular views, but cultivating them is laborious. We chat to Nuno about Portuguese wine, the background and philosophy to the work being undertaken and the great range of wines they've introduced to the UK market.

Welcome to this Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. In this episode, it's Hugh Crichton, Winemaker of Vidal Estate Wines from the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand. Hugh Crichton became the Vidal Estate winemaker in 2006, having worked with the Vidal Estate winemaking team in various capacities since 2004. Prior to joining Vidal Estate, Hugh had established a solid winemaking career both in New Zealand and overseas, working vintages at Chateau Soutard Grande Cru Classe in Saint Emilion France, Chard Farm in Central Otago, Donnafugata in Italy and several at Millton Vineyards in Gisborne where his inspiration for environmentally conscious and organic winemaking and viticulture was fostered. We chat to Hugh about New Zealand wine, the background and philosophy to the Vidal Estate and the limited availability legacy range.

Welcome to the first Matthew Clark Interviews podcast, where we sit down with the industries key figures. In this episode it's Meaghan Frank, General Manager of Dr. Konstantin Frank Wines from the famed Finger Lakes region of New York State. It’s the American home of Riesling production, by 2012 the US had the world’s second biggest area of Riesling vineyards after Germany. Dr Konstantin Frank revolutionised wine growing in Finger Lakes after arriving in the US in 1951. He was a professor of plant sciences and had brought with him a vision that would elevate wine growing in the region. A decade later he founded his own winery on the back of his research, growing the delicate European vinifera grape varieties in the local climate. We chat to Meaghan about preserving the work of her forefathers, the philosophy behind their winemaking and the American dream story of Konstantin Frank who went from ridiculed for his ideas to renowned.