Does listening to music affect our impression of wine? Some professional tasters argue that only silence will do. Susan Lin is the ideal person to give us some answers, as she’s both a professional pianist and someone who wrote her Master of Wine Research paper on classical music and the sensory perception of Non-Vintage Champagne. Our chat provided a deep dive into the world of cross-modal correspondences – and so much else besides. To read more about Susan have a look at her website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @susanrlin. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.    

Antonio Amorim runs the biggest natural cork company in the world. He took over the reins in 2001 at a time of existential crisis for the industry because of TCA - cork taint - and the rise of alternative closures, but has overseen important changes, not least the creation of a cutting-edge Research & Development department. He knows the cork industry as well as anyone and is very happy to share his knowledge of what he calls a "noble material”. To read more about Antonio have a look at the Amorim website. You can also follow the company on Instagram at @amorimcork. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.    

Cliff Roberson has had an eventful and very successful career in the wine trade, spanning 60 years and taking him to New York, Bordeaux, Chile and back to his native London, where he runs the city’s original urban winery. Stylish, outspoken, funny and never afraid to try new things, he insists that most of the good things in his life have happened by him by accident. Still very active as he approaches his 85th birthday, he’s the perfect podcast guest. To read more about Cliff have a look at the Roberson website. You can also follow is urban winery on Instagram at @londoncru. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

João Portugal Ramos went to a German school in Lisbon, an education that has helped him bring a bit of organisation to his subsequent career. Among the key figures in the modern Portuguese wine revolution, he’s a champion of the Alentejo, Portugal’s largest region, and the Douro Valley, as well as native grapes such as Arinto and Touriga Nacional. Our conversation covered his remarkable, ground-breaking 40-year career in fascinating depth. To read more about João have a look at his website. You can also follow the winery on Instagram at @joao_portugal_ramos. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.    

Charlie Melton was on a road trip across Australia when he got a part-time job as a cellar hand in the Barossa Valley. More than 50 years later, he’s still there, having created his own winery in 1984 and turned it into one of Australia’s most iconic producers. A lover of Grenache, dry-farmed, historic vineyards and wines that “take you to a place”, he’s benefitted from hard work, talent and what he calls “serendipitous ignorance”. To read more about Charlie have a look at the Charles Melton Wine's website. You can also follow the winery on Instagram at @charlesmeltonwines. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.    

Willy Pérez originally wanted to be a musician, but after surviving cancer in his late teens, he decided to follow his father, Luis, into the wine business. A passionate defender of traditional Sherries and vinos de pasto based on vineyard origin rather than maturation and fortification, he’s one of the key figures in Spanish wine, a profound thinker about climate change, as well as singing the praises of Palomino, the region’s most widely planted grape. To read more about Willy have a look at the Bodegas Luis Pérez website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @willyperezv.  Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.    

Marquis Sauvage got into wine when he was at college in Colorado, beginning with White Zinfandel of all things. After opening the Denver’s first wine bar, he moved into distribution before creating his own winery, Burn Cottage in Central Otago in New Zealand. A lover of hearty food, heavy metal and fine Burgundy, Marquis is passionate about biodynamics, basketball and attention-grabbing labels.  In short, he’s a hoot. To read more about Marquis have a look at the Burn Cottage website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @burncottagevineyard. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.  

Spyros Zoumboulis is a Greek winemaker with an international perspective, having worked in France, Argentina and Bulgaria as well as his native country. Following his motto of “maximum nature, minimum intervention”, he’s a specialist in biodynamics and natural wines. A fan of great rosés, old vines and Greece’s fund of indigenous grapes, he’s a man with passion, good taste and a belief that sustainability is all about replenishing. To read more about Spyros have a look at the Zoumboulis & Associates website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @spyroszoumboulis. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Cherie Spriggs was born in Canada, but has made her name in England at Nyetimber as one of the world’s leading sparkling winemakers. A classically trained pianist, she says she likes to think of blending her wines in musical terms. Our fascinating conversation covered her love of running, her drive for perfection, the differences between grapes from West Sussex, Kent and Hampshire and why she feels sorry for Pinot Meunier. To read more about Cherie have a look at the Nyetimer website. You can also follow the winery on Instagram at @nyetimber. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Sam Harrop MW is an Auckland-based consultant winemaker with a cosmopolitan outlook, a man who has been influenced by the time he’s spent in Spain, Japan and the United Kingdom. An advocate of what he calls “beautiful simplicity” in wine, Sam is as happy discussing Frank Lloyd Wright, Sake and the Zen aesthetic as he is talking about Brettanomyces, palate training and the potential for premium no-alcohol wines. To read more about Sam have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @samharropwine. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Paul Clüver’s family has owned De Rust Estate in Elgin since the 1890s, but it wasn’t until 1987 that his neurosurgeon father, also called Paul, planted the first vines there. Now regarded as one of the leading cool climate producers in South Africa, Paul Clüver Family Wines has grown and prospered under his stewardship, specialising in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. As smart as he is articulate, Paul is a fascinating interviewee. To read more about Paul have a look at the Paul Clüver Family Wines website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @paulcluver. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Musician, Oscar winner and wine lover, Jorge Drexler was a successful doctor in Montevideo before he became a celebrated singer songwriter, or cancionista as he puts it. Our in-depth, hour-long chat covered some profound themes – identity, immigration, inspiration, Artificial Intelligence and the effects of the pandemic – as well as more personal stuff, such as his favourite wine regions, fellow musicians and his love of performing live. To read more about Jorge have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @drexlerjorge. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Adrianna Catena is a distinguished historian specialising in the expansion of the Spanish empire in the 15th and 16thcenturies, as well as a partner in two wine projects: El Enemigo in Mendoza and El Reventón in Gredos. Our fascinating discussion covered lots of topics: empowering women in the vineyard, the origins of the conquistadors, Das Kapital and how she and Ale Vigil came up with an award-winning wine brand over a late-night kebab. To read more about Adrianna have a look at the El Enemigo website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @adriannacatena. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Felipe Müller’s dad has never drunk alcohol, but that didn’t stop his son studying viticultureand oenology. After a formative spell working alongside Marcelo Retamal at De Martino, hemoved to Viña Tabalí in the limestone-rich Limarí Valley in 2006, where he’s built areputation for making some of Chile’s best reds, whites and fizzes. Among the leadingwinemakers in South America, Felipe knows his country’s terroirs as well as anyone.To read more about Felipe have a look at the Tabalí website (https://tabali.com/en/our-team/).You can also follow him on Instagram at @felipemullereast.Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You canlisten to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’smost extraordinary wine figures.

Sam Caporn got into wine by accident at university when a friend of her twin sister suggested she run what amounted to a drinking club. Her subsequent career has included jobs in retail, wine buying and journalism. She passed her Master of Wine at the first attempt in 2005, winning the Bollinger award for the best taster. Author of The Wine Flavour Guide, Sam has informed views on everything from food pairings to persistent wine myths. To read more about Sam have a look at her Mistress of Wine website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @themistressofwine. 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. 

Marco Ventrella ran restaurants and nightclubs as a young man, but switched to a very successful career in wine in his late twenties. Now established at the KWV as one of the best viticulturists in South Africa, he claims, with considerable modesty that “with each vintage, I feel I know less rather than more”. He’s a fascinating guide to the different climates and terroirs of the Western Cape, as well as the best way to farm them. To read more about Marco have a look at the wine.co.za website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @marco.ventrella.35 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. 

Fernando Mora MW originally trained as a mechanical engineer, but decided he wanted to become a winemaker after visiting Rioja as a tourist. A passionate defender of old vines and local varieties, especially Garnacha, he’s become one of the key figures in the renaissance of the wine scene in his native Aragón. Entirely self-taught, he says that the most important ingredient of his success has been to have no fear of change. To read more about Fernando have a look at the Bodegas Frontonio website website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @fernandomoramw. 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. 

Bryan MacRobert grew up on a farm near Cape Town and always wanted to be a winemaker. Working for Eben Sadie in Priorat gave him the chance to travel to Spain, where he’s lived with his oenologist wife Clara Canals since 2012. One of the new generation of vineyard-focused Rioja producers, he has strong view about good farming, the wisdom of old ways, the potential of the region’s white wines and the way out of the current crisis. To read more about Bryan have a look at the MacRobert & Canals website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @macrobertandcanals. 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. 

Kate McIntyre MW’s parents were pioneers in the cool climate of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, but her initial intention was to be a theatre director rather than join the family business. Now she’s an essential part of Moorooduc Estate, working alongside her dad, Richard. A passionate Europhile, experienced show judge, wine writer and educator, she’s the ideal person to chat to about Australian Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. To read more about Kate have a look at the Moorooduc website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @kateandpx. 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. 

Christopher Cannan has worked in the international wine business for more than 50 years, representing some of the greatest producers through his company Europvin as well as making his own wine, Clos Figueras, in the Catalan region of Priorat. Fluent in at least four different European languages, he’s a Bordeaux-based citizen of the world, who can look back over the last century with a sharp eye and palate and a wry sense of humour. To read more about Christopher have a look at the Europvin website. You can also follow the company on Instagram at @europvin. 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.