As series 15 comes to a close, host David Kermode looks back on some of the conversations he has had with a variety of guests, from iconic biodynamic pioneer Gérard Bertrand to author and broadcaster Tom Surgey.
The episode starts with an excerpt from episode 170 with Perrier-Jouët cellar master Séverine Frerson, who shares how her passion for wine began during her childhood, playing in a vineyard belonging to a family friend in Champagne.
In his conversation with Faouzi Issa, Kermode hears how politics and the economy in Lebanon is affecting the wine trade in the country. Issa talks through the everyday realities he faces as a winemaker.
Tim Shand, chief winemaker at Voyager Estate in Margaret River, shares how the winery has prioritised organic viticulture. He explains how the initial challenges of organic winemaking can be overwhelming but also discusses the benefits. On the same theme, Gérard Bertrand tells Kermode how homeopathic medicine inspired him to radically shift his 17 vineyards to biodynamic farming.
In the second half of the episode, Will Hill, director of wine at Novel Wines, talks on the storied history of kvevri and offers a quick masterclass on how to pronounce the names of Georgia’s native grapes. Finally, Kermode looks back on his conversation with author and wine broadcaster Tom Surgey, who dives into what his early career at The Ivy taught him about wine, including some tantalising anecdotes about some of the more eccentric guests.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here.
