Drinking Well with Berry Bros. & Rudd

Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. Hosted by Barbara Drew MW, this podcast is designed to help you enjoy and shape your fine wine collection. You’ll hear from Buyers and experts from across Berry Bros. & Rudd as they share their insights into the world’s most important fine wine regions. You’ll discover which vintages to drink – and what to look out for – in the year ahead.

Food
1
Jill Douglas - Cycling, MND and Loire Sauvignon...
In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by broadcaster and sports journalist Jill Douglas MBE. For seven years, Jill was CEO of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation (also Berry Bros. & Rudd’s chosen charity partner), created by late Scotland rugby player, Doddie Weir. With a bottle of Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Jill tells Barbara more about her work with MND, the buzz of covering the Olympics and her love for a dry martini. Featured bottle: 2023 Reuilly Blanc, Les Pierres Plates, Denis Jamain, Loire Click here to browse our selection of Loire whites. If you would like to discover a white Burgundy for yourself then browse our range here. To find out more about the perfect No.3 Gin martini, click here. You can make a donation to My Name’5 Doddie here.
38 min
2
Michel Roux – Food and wine pairing, Sauternes ...
Chef Michel Roux has made the pursuit of taste and culinary excellence his life’s work, particularly at his much-missed restaurant, Le Gavroche. As they enjoy a bottle of aromatic sake, Michel and Barbara cover the joys of food and wine pairing, the magic of Sauternes and what Christmas looks like in the Roux household. Featured bottle: IWA 5, Assemblage 3, Shiraiwa K.K. Brewery, Toyama Prefecture, Sake You can browse our full Sake selection here: Berry Bros. & Rudd - Sake To browse our selection of Sauternes, follow this link: Berry Bros. & Rudd - Sauternes If you’d like to find out more about food and wine pairing for Christmas, here is our expert guide: Berry Bros. & Rudd - What to eat and drink this Christmas
35 min
3
Patrick Grant – Tea, tailoring and Scotch whisky
Our podcast guest for this episode is tailor and “The Great British Sewing Bee” judge Patrick Grant. Together, he and Barbara enjoy a special single malt Scotch whisky as they discuss sustainable fashion, craftsmanship and the importance of seeking out quality. To browse our selection of spirits from Nc’nean Distillery, follow this link: Berry Bros. & Rudd - Nc'nean Distillery If you would like to browse our selection of single cask whiskies, simply follow this link: Berry Bros. & Rudd - Single cask whiskies You can find out more about Patrick’s Community Clothing label here: Community Clothing To purchase a copy of Patrick’s book “Less”, follow this link: Less by Patrick Grant - Harper Collins
43 min
4
Katharine Pooley – The inspiration of travel, c...
This week, Barbara speaks to interior designer Katharine Pooley. With a bottle of South African Cabernet Sauvignon, they explore the theme of wine as art, the creative inspiration of travelling and Katharine’s collection of recipes. Featured bottle: 2021 Damascene, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa To browse our selection of wines from Damascene, simply follow this link: https://www.bbr.com/producer-4868-damascene-vineyards Discover more about Katharine’s work, particularly a wine room she created for the Château de la Croix des Gardes in Cannes, at her website: https://katharinepooley.com/portfolio/cannes-chateau/
39 min
5
Charlie Siem – Violins, musical history and Sup...
In this episode, Barbara is joined by concert violinist Charlie Siem. Together, they discuss the shared creativity of winemaking and music, the experience of tasting (and playing) history and why you shouldn’t wait to open a special bottle. Featured bottle: 2019 Caiarossa, Tuscany, Italy To browse our selection of Super Tuscans, simply follow this link: https://www.bbr.com/category-super-tuscans To listen to our episode on Super Tuscans and how they came about, you can find that here. https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Df1OtbqxchoSfvpIJ4DKi?si=e9b6d852b14b4064&nd=1&dlsi=49b4d2d8b5f143f2 You can find out more about Charlie at his website here: https://www.charliesiem.com/
36 min
6
Rachel Vosper – Candles, floriography and Austr...
Chandler Rachel Vosper is our guest for this episode. Over a bottle of Austrian Riesling, she and Barbara discuss the languages of scent and flowers, memories of special bottles shared and the magic of Riesling. Featured bottle: 2022 Riesling, Smaragd, Wachstum Bodenstein, Prager, Wachau, Austria To browse our selection of wines from Weingut Prager, simply follow this link: https://www.bbr.com/producer-8790-weingut-prager Discover more about Rachel at her website: https://rachelvosper.com/
44 min
7
Ep 6 - Rob Symington and the future of fortifie...
In the final episode of this series, we speak to Rob Symington, Marketing Director at Symington Family Estates and part of the fifth generation of the family business. With a bottle of Graham’s 40-Year-Old Tawny Port from Rob’s own cellar, he and Barbara discuss the changing fashion for fortified wines and new, exciting ways we can enjoy them today.
42 min
8
Ep 5 - Chris Pollington and the evolution of Tu...
In this episode, Account Manager Chris Pollington talks to us about all things Tuscan – from the dominance of the Sangiovese grape to the region’s Bordeaux-inspired Super Tuscan wines. Over a bottle of 2019 Poggio Valente from Fattoria Le Pupille, he and Barbara examine the origins of Super Tuscans and what the rebellion of their creators means for the future of the region’s wines.
28 min
9
Ep 4 - Mark Pardoe MW on climate change and hot...
Mark Pardoe MW is our Wine Director at Berry Bros. & Rudd. Having bought over 40 vintages in his career so far, he is no stranger to the nuances of vintage variation and how climate change is affecting them. With a bottle of Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair’s Bourgogne Rouge, Les Grands Chaillots from the hot 2020 vintage, Mark and Barbara explore how warmer years are becoming the norm and what this means for your wine collection.
39 min
10
Ep 3 - Emma Fox and the future of the wines and...
For this episode of Drinking Well, we speak to Berry Bros. & Rudd CEO, Emma Fox. Emma has had a finger on the industry pulse in many CMO and CEO roles since becoming a wine buyer after university. Over a bottle of Hambledon Classic Cuvée Rosé,Emma and Barbara Drew MW discuss the future of the industry, what it’s really like running a family business and where English wine might be heading.
32 min
11
Ep 2 – Yoan Bernard and the Loire Valley
In this episode, we speak to Buyer Yoan Bernard about the Loire Valley and why it’s a collector’s region of the future. With a bottle of 2020 Saumur-Champigny, Les Coudraies from Domaine des Closiers, Yoan talks to us about the new style of Cabernet Franc emerging from the Loire and those bottles you simply must have in your cellar.
33 min
12
Ep 1 - Daniel Szor and English spirits
In the first episode of our fourth series, we speak to Cotswolds Distillery founder, Daniel Szor. With an Own Selection bottling of 2018 Cotswolds Distillery English single malt whisky, Daniel discusses the rise of English spirits, his journey from New York to the Cotswolds and why the best barley is always local.
34 min
13
Ep 6 - Charlie Rudd and Domaine Comte Armand
In the final episode of this series, we speak to Charlie Rudd, Regional Manager for Southeast Asia and fourth generation of the Rudd family. Over a bottle of 2007 Volnay from Domaine Comte Armand, he and Barbara discuss the timeless appeal of Burgundy, the joy of Singaporean food matching and the wonder of making memories with wine.
36 min
14
Ep 5 - Edward Richardson and Occidental
We discuss the intricacies and the history of collecting fine wine with Private Client Manager, Edward Richardson. Edward shares a bottle of Occidental’s 2019 Station Vineyard Pinot Noir from California. As well as discussing classic fine wine regions, Edward enthuses about his regions to watch, producers to keep an eye on and how to assess whether a wine is worth collecting.
36 min
15
Ep 4 - Joe Whittaker and 1998 Ben Nevis Scotch ...
Our Global Spirits Brand Ambassador, Joe Whittaker joins us for episode four to discuss all things spirits. Accompanied by a bottle of 1998 Ben Nevis Scotch whisky, Joe discusses collecting spirits, their part in a balanced cellar and our role as an independent bottler.
38 min
16
Ep 3 - Tara Field and Luigi Giordano
In this episode, Barbara speaks to Tara Field, one of our Account Managers. We explore Tara’s advice for new collectors, and she shares her passion for Italian wines with a bottle of 2019 Barbaresco, Cavanna from Luigi Giordano.
35 min
17
Ep 2 - Philip Moulin and 2004 Ch. du Tertre
In this episode, Barbara speaks to Philip Moulin – our fraud and fakery specialist - about provenance, storage and counterfeit wine. Tasting the 2004 vintage of both Château du Tertre and Château Brane-Cantenac, Philip illustrates how wines develop and age – and how important perfect storage is to this process.
34 min
18
Ep 1 – Lizzy Rudd and Leclerc Briant
In the first episode of our third series, Barbara Drew MW speaks to the Chair of Berry Bros. & Rudd and third-generation Rudd family member, Lizzy Rudd. Over a bottle of Champagne from organic and biodynamic producer, Leclerc Briant, Lizzy discusses history, family and the vital importance of sustainability in wines and spirits.
44 min
19
325th Anniversary Special – The Family Reserve
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. For this anniversary special, celebrating 325 years of Berry Bros. & Rudd, Barbara Drew MW is joined by eighth-generation family member and Creative Director Geordie Willis and Adam Holden, Director to the Chair’s Office, to discover one of the greatest wine collections in the world: the Family Reserve. Recorded within the Family Reserve cellar itself, this episode explores how this fascinating wine collection started, and how it has evolved over time. In addition, you’ll hear stories of some of the iconic wines within the collection, as well as tips on how to develop your own cellar. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from the experts, visit bbr.com/podcast.
35 min
20
Christmas Special 2 – Sparkling, Sweet & Fortif...
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. This second Christmas podcast special covers the sparkling, sweet and fortified wines to open this Christmas. With Account Manager Tom Cave, and Wine Educator Rebecca Lamont, this episode covers the best ways to serve sweet wines, which Champagne vintages are tasting magnificent now, and whether it is ever acceptable to pass the port to the right. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from the experts, visit bbr.com/podcast.
35 min
21
Christmas Special 1 – Red & White Wines
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. For this Christmas podcast special, Barbara Drew MW is joined by Account Manager Amy Johnson and Commercial Manager Martyn Rolph to discover which red and white wines to open this Christmas. The episode covers both classic and more unusual whites to serve to a crowd, the Bordeaux wines which are perfect for turkey, and why large formats win every time at Christmas. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from the experts, visit bbr.com/podcast.
27 min
22
Ep 6 - South America
The final episode of series two focuses on collecting and enjoying South American wine. The wines of Chile and Argentina normally feature quite strongly at the start of a wine lover’s journey – the wines are rich, ripe and enjoyable, but there’s a perception of simplicity. However, as we’ll learn with Buyer Catriona Felstead MW and Account Manager Fergus Stewart, South America offers incredible quality and value across its regions. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from our experts, visit bbr.com/podcast Wine tasted: 2016 Pulenta Estate, Palma Carola Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
24 min
23
Ep 5 - Australia
For this episode, Hannah Crosbie is joined by Barbara Drew MW and Sebastian Balcombe from our Buying team to discuss the fascinating wines of Australia. Misconceptions abound when it comes to Australian wine. They are often dismissed as too big, too alcoholic or too oaky. But those myths will be dispelled as our experts illustrate why there are many that deserve a place in your cellar. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from our experts, visit bbr.com/podcast Wine tasted: 2013 Giaconda, Estate Vineyard Chardonnay, Victoria, Australia
29 min
24
Ep 4 - Loire
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. Hosted by Hannah Crosbie. For this week’s episode, we sit down with our Buyers Max Lalondrelle and Adam Bruntlett to discuss the Loire. Although the pair usually buy for Bordeaux and Burgundy, a bottle of Sancerre from Claude Riffault reveals why the Loire is of increasing importance in the world of fine wine. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from our experts, visit bbr.com/podcast Wine tasted: 2020 Sancerre, Monoparcelle 469, Claude Riffault, Loire
25 min
25
Ep 3 - Germany
Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. Hosted by Hannah Crosbie. This week, we’ll be exploring the multi-faceted world of German wine. Because a bit of knowledge is needed to decipher their wine labels and understand their styles, German wines are something of an insider’s secret. But today, Buyer Rob Whitehead and Barbara Drew MW will explain why German wine is undoubtedly worth the extra effort. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from our experts, visit bbr.com/podcast Wine tasted: 2012 Schlossberg Riesling QbA, Eva Fricke, Rheingau
35 min