The Drinking Hour: With David Kermode - FoodFM

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David chats to Oz Clarke OBE about his latest book, ‘Story of Wine’, which is actually more than a hundred different stories, journeying through time to explore the places and people who have shaped the wines we enjoy today. Wines featured (all fortified, from Portugal, all gold medal winners) Cálem 40-Year-Old...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Not so much a revolution… more an evolution, Argentina’s wines are winning new fans as the pursuit of quality over quantity reaps rewards. David is joined by two Masters of Wine, Dirceu Vianna Junior and Beth Pearce to reflect on the first ever ‘in situ’ judging of its wines by the IWSC. Wines featured:  Domaine...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David talks to Nyetimber’s Canadian-born head winemaker, Cherie Spriggs. She talks candidly about working with husband Brad Greatrix, why the couple were attracted to England, what defines English sparkling wine and how they developed their premium cuvée, the critically acclaimed 1086. Wines featured: Everflyht...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David is joined by Master of Wine Alistair Cooper and Libby Brodie to talk about Margaret River, a region in Western Australia that punches well above its size, with premium wines that are winning new acclaim - and plenty of top medals. Wines featured (all are gold medal winners): Stella Bella Wines Luminosa Cha...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David chats to Stephen Duckett, whose dream of producing top quality English sparkling wine led him and wife Fiona to a grassy valley in The Chilterns, where they started from scratch to establish Hundred Hills. Wines featured: Raimes English Sparkling Classic Brut 2018 (gold and a trophy) Hattingley Valley Wine...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Idris Elba is among the guests as David selects some moments from the 12th series of the Drinking Hour, which also features Dr Jamie Goode talking about wine faults, Amanda Barnes on Uruguay’s wines, Jeany Cronk espousing the virtues of winter rosé and there’s also a special focus on two iconic French regions: A...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Richard Siddle, editor in chief of The Buyer, returns for his annual chat - one of the most popular episodes of last year - to give David his predictions for what we’ll be drinking in 2024 and what might impact the drinks world in the year ahead. Drinks featured (from low/no category): Opius BV Albedo (gold) Wil...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David is joined by the head buyer at The Wine Society, Pierre Mansour, as the country’s oldest co-operative turns 150 years old in 2024 to find out more about its history and how it manages to remain so relevant to today’s wine lovers. Wines featured:  Beronia Gran Reserva 2015 (gold) Heredad De Urueña Santo Syr...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Joel Harrison, spirits judge, writer and author of 60 Second Cocktails joins David with his selection of festive hacks. Drinks featured: Dangerous Don Mezcal (gold) Via Carota Craft Cocktails Old Fashioned (gold) Salty Stone Distillery, Young Salt Negroni (gold)  Bloody Drinks, Bloody Virgin Mary (gold) Tesco Fi...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. The perfect party starter and a versatile gastronomic wine, Provence rosé is so much more than a summer wine. David is joined by Jeany Cronk of Domaine Mirabeau to spread some seasonal cheer and turn your winter pink. Featured wines: Villa Moncigale Cicada La Légende 2022 (gold) Mirabeau Pure 2022 (silver) Châte...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. An historic region, with a distinctive identity of its own, Alsace is also evolving all the time. Though 90% of production is white, it’s forging a new reputation for red, exclusively from Pinot Noir. David is joined by two pioneers of biodynamic viticulture, Olivier Humbrecht MW and Véronique Muré. Featured win...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David’s guests are Master Sommeliers Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross, authors of How to Drink Australian, a comprehensive guide to that country’s wines, its vinous history, the latest trends and the innovative producers to watch. Wines featured (all gold medal winners): Leo Buring ‘Leonay’ Mature Release Riesling 2...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David is joined by scientist and critic, Dr Jamie Goode, author of Flawless, Understanding Faults in Wine, for a whistle-stop tour of everything that might go wrong with a bottle of wine - and how to spot a fault. Drinks featured (*spirits chosen this week, to avoid associating wines with faults) -  All gold med...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David explores the wines of Sauternes and its smaller sub-zone Barsac - some of the oldest and most famous in the world - to discuss its terroir and the magical effects of ‘noble rot’, with guests Jean-Jacques Dubourdieu, co-President of the Sauternes & Barsac appellations and Mathilde Aseretto, owner of Château...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Amanda Barnes, author of the South America Wine Guide, chats to David about the wines of Uruguay, its maritime climate, the grape varieties that thrive there, its rich tradition of family wineries and, of course, the country’s distinctive food culture. Drinks featured (includes neighbouring regions, Brazil/Argen...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. Master of Wine, Sarah Abbott, and Turkish wine writer and critic, Gozdem Gurbuzatik, join David to talk about Turkey’s evolving wine scene, the challenges producers face, its distinctive indigenous grapes and the wines you must try. IWSC medal winners from Turkey (all gold): Akberg Lethe Ercis Karasi 2021 Kalpak...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. World famous for his acting roles, including The Wire, Luther and playing Nelson Mandela, and as a DJ, Idris Elba has turned his hand to wine, with friend David Farber, creating a boutique range, Porte Noire, which has launched a new rosé Champagne. Both men chat to David about what inspired them. Featured drink...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. This week, highlights of Series 11. Henry Jeffreys, Julia Harding MW, Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, Sandy Hyslop, Sarah Heller MW and Anne Bousquet and Labid Ameri of Domaine Bousquet are among David’s highlights from the most recent series.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. He opened his first bar, White Lyan in London’s East End, just a decade ago, yet Ryan Chetiyawardana is now the world’s most awarded bartender. To celebrate London Cocktail Week, his celebrated Lyan bars have been recreated together - and he also has a new cocktail book to inspire us to mix at home. Medal winner...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David talks to Master of Wine Julia Harding, lead editor of the Oxford Companion to Wine to find out what’s new in the, just-released, fifth edition of the OCW, a much-loved reference tome, totalling more than a million words on wine. Wines featured (all gold medal winners): Casa da Passarella Abanico Reserva 20...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. The low and no category is big business, with double digit growth as drinkers choose to abstain, or just have a little less. David chats to Bev Zero’s Irem Eren, who is dedicating the latest stage of her career to the development of no and low. Low and no winners (all gold): Giesen 0% Pinot Gris NV Giesen 0% Mer...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David talks to the dynamic couple behind one of Argentina’s fastest growing premium wine brands, Domaine Bousquet, which recently triumphed at the IWSC with a trio of gold medals. David hears how the story began, in rural France, and how it made the Uco Valley its own. Wines featured (all gold medal, winners jud...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. With its ability to retain high acidity in the summer sun, Assyrtiko is now planted around the world, but it never tastes the same as it does when it comes from its home in Santorini. David talks to pioneering producer, Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, at Gaia Wines, to find out why. Greek wines and spirits featured: Es...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David’s guest is a whisky legend: Master Blender and Director of Inventory at Chivas Brothers, Sandy Hyslop, talks about his 40-year-career crafting whisky, how he learnt his skill, his approach to innovation and his favourite dram. Whisky medal winners: Chivas Brothers Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Blended Scotch...

In partnership with Club Oenologique - the world through the lens of wine and spirits. David chats to Master of Wine, Sarah Heller, about her series of detailed reports on Italian fine wine, being published across the month of September by Club Oenologique, featuring Tuscany’s Chianti Classico and Brunello, Piedmont’s Barolo and Barbaresco, plus Amarone di Valpolicella. Featured wines: La Togata S...