The Drinking Hour: With David Kermode - FoodFM

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. He’s known as Mr Bubbles for his prowess with traditional method sparkling wine. Graham Beck’s winemaker, Peter Ferreira, talks to David about why he has dedicated his entire career to South Africa’s trademark sparkler, Cap Classique. Wines featured: Graham B...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David is joined by entrepreneurs Rob Wallis and Sam Hunt, co-founders of ready to drink cocktail brand MOTH, Britain’s fastest growing RTD brand - and also The Wine Society buyer Freddy Bulmer, taking about his recent trip to New Zealand. Drinks featured: Chu...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David meets the Chief Winemaker of Yealands, Natalie Christensen, to talk about her journey from classical music to sustainable winemaking in New Zealand’s Marlborough region, including her latest creation, a Kiwi Albariño. Wines featured: Yealands Reserve Sa...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David reflects on the highlights of the latest series, including the FT columnist Alice Lascelles, old vine champion Sarah Abbott MW, Carlos Agrellos of Quinta do Noval, Mermaid Gin’s Xavier Baker, plus renowned Bordeaux expert Stephen Brook and find out what...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David turns his focus to the breathtaking beauty of the Douro Valley, as he talks to Carlos Agrellos, Technical Director at Quinta do Noval, about its still wines and Ports, including the much-coveted ‘Nacional’, from historic pre-phylloxera vines.  Drinks fe...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. The Isle of Wight Distillery is on a mission to make top notch spirits in a sustainable, community-focused way. David talks to co-founder Xavier Baker about IWSC gold medal winning Mermaid gin and vodka and the ethos behind it. Drinks featured: Isle of Wight...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. What makes an old vine worth treasuring? David heads to Italy for the Old Vine Conference inaugural ‘field trip’, hearing from Sarah Abbott MW, Domenico Veronese and Claudio and Niccolo Zani. Wine featured (all old vine wines): Le Bortole - Suprème Dry 2021 V...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. Virgile Joly winner of the IWSC’s inaugural Green Wine award and Master of Wine Ray O’Connor, wine director at Naked Wines, join David to talk about sustainability and its importance to the world of wine. Wines featured: (all Naked Wines this week) Virgile Jo...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David is joined by Richard Siddle, editor-in-chief of The Buyer, to look ahead to 2023 and how global events, and the latest trends, could have an impact on what goes in our glass.  Drinks featured: (note first spelling is correct/lower case/upper etc - Maori...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David is joined by Carl Anthony Brown and Tim Blake of alcohol-free producer, Crossip, sponsors of the IWSC ‘emerging talent - bartender of the year’ competition, to talk about innovation in the world of low and no alcohol. Drinks featured (all low/no and all...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. Australia is our theme with Freddy Bulmer, Wine Society buyer, as he reflects on an epic post-pandemic trip there, ahead of the Society’s festive rush, while Joel talks about his latest book, ‘One Minute Cocktails’ that’s perfect for New Year celebrations. Le...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. For the second special edition, David focuses on white wines, speaking to Sarah; a co-operative producer responsible for some of the UK’s favourite wines and Guillain, a new generation winemaker from Graves. Wines featured:  Baron Edmond de Rothschild Château...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. The world’s most famous wine region, Bordeaux, is the focus for the first of two special editions. Red wines account for 85% of production, so David looks at the modern style of red, with Quentin (a new generation winemaker), and also creates his own red blen...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. Acclaimed Bordeaux expert Stephen Brook joins David to talk about his latest book, the fourth edition of ‘The Complete Bordeaux’. Wines featured: Church Road Mcdonald Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (gold) Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (gold) H...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. Award-winning drinks columnist for the Financial Times Alice Lascelles joins David to talk about her new book, The Cocktail Edit, the latest trends, the drinks that really inspire her and also Professor Brian Cox’s champagne collection.  Drinks featured: Seaw...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David presents his favourite moments from series seven, including veteran wine writer Hugh Johnson; the editor of his Pocket Wine Book, Margaret Rand; Essi Avellan MW talking about her Champagne Report for Club Oenologique; Schloss Gobelsburg’s Michael Moosbr...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David chats to global rum ambassador Ian Burrell - a regular face on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch - about rum, its history, what makes a great example, its role in cocktail culture and why he decided to co-create his own brand, Equiano. Rums featured: Equiano Ru...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David talks to veteran wine writer Margaret Rand, editor of Hugh Johnson’s much-loved Pocket Wine Book about the latest edition, released this month - and also reflects on her many years of wine writing and criticism. Wines featured:  Famille Carabello-Baum C...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. With sustainability currently on everyone’s mind, David is joined by expert and author, Nick Breeze, and Mafalda Vasques, winemaker at Herdade dos Grous, to learn more about how one of Portugal’s biggest regions has focused on its environmental impact with ‘t...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David is joined by Alejandro Galaz - head winemaker at Tara - to talk about the enormous challenge of making wine in one of the driest places on earth, Chile’s Atacama Desert, and finds out why it is worth all the effort. Drinks featured: Tepaluma Patagonian...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. Billed as the world’s biggest celebration of cocktails, David is joined by the founders of London Cocktail Week, Hannah Sharman Cox and Siobhan Payne, to talk trends, cocktail villages - and the world’s most rubbish bar. Drinks featured: 1800 Milenio Tequila...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. To mark the release of Club Oenologique’s inaugural ‘Champagne Report’, its influential author Essi Avellan MW joins David to talk about the state of Champagne, the impact of rising demand on quality, where to find the finest examples and also the perils of ‘...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. To celebrate Rioja Wine Month, David is joined by Jane Parkinson, wine expert on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen to learn more about this beautiful region, its food culture and, of course, its world famous wines.   Drinks featured: La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reser...

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David celebrates Austria’s fine wines with Michael Moosbrugger, director of historic Schloss Gobelsburg and President of the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter, plus he catches up with The Wine Society buyer Freddy Bulmer.  Learn more about your ad choices....

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David talks to Victoria Mason, Waitrose wine buyer for South Africa and Italy, to learn more about how wines get from the vineyard to the shelves, the current trends in the sector and where we should look for the most exciting wines.   Drinks featured: Gabrie...