EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A Wine Podcast Exploring Wine Regions, Grapes & Education

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1. Ep 281: Georgian Wine Beyond Orange - Ancient Grapes, Qvevri & Wine Travel with Sarah Abbott MWbbott MW

   2 november 2026 · 1 uur 3 min

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   Think Georgian wine and you might picture amber wines, ancient clay vessels and a winemaking tradition stretching back 8,000 years. But there's so much more to discover. From crisp, refreshing whites and vibrant reds to distinctive indigenous grape varieties and fascinating regional differences, Georgia is one of the wine world's most exciting and diverse destinations. Lees meer

   This week, I'm joined by Sarah Abbott MW, founder of Swirl Wine Group and a leading champion of lesser-known wine regions, to explore what makes Georgian wine so special. We get beyond the familiar headlines to discover the grapes, regions and winemaking traditions shaping Georgia's wine scene today, from the craft of qvevri to the country's modern winemaking renaissance.

   And, of course, Georgian wine is about much more than what's in the glass. I share how a visit to Aba-Ra! on London's Brick Lane gave me a taste of the country's generous hospitality, inspiring a conversation about traditional feasting, the meaning behind those heartfelt toasts and why wine is so deeply woven into Georgian culture.

   Whether you're curious about indigenous grapes, keen to understand qvevri winemaking or dreaming of exploring Georgia yourself, this episode is full of discoveries and inspiration. Sarah also shares her recommendations for exploring Tbilisi, Kakheti and western Georgia, where wine, food, architecture and hospitality make for a rather compelling travel combination.

   This episode is sponsored by K’AVSHIRI, the collaboration between Robert Joseph and Vladimer Kublashvili, bringing together Georgian grape varieties, regions, winemaking techniques and harvests in distinctive assemblages.

   03:48 What makes Georgian wine special? Ancient vine heritage, indigenous grapes and a living wine culture.

   09:55 “Gaumarjos!” Why Georgia’s toast means “to our victory” and what it reveals about the country’s identity.

   13:25 Arriving in Tbilisi: atmospheric streets, layered architecture, food and contemporary culture.

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2. Ep 280 - Are Gen Z Drinking Less Wine? Value, Valpolicella & New Wine Experiences with Maisie Turner

   26 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 11 min

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   Are Gen Z really drinking less wine - or are they simply drinking differently? And what does a £15 bottle offer that a £6 bottle can't? In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina is joined by Maisie Turner, assistant wine buyer at Berkmann, Master of Wine student and winner of the IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communication Award, to explore the changing world of wine and what it takes to make it exciting for a new generation. Lees meer

   From finding brilliant-value wines in Germany, Beaujolais and the Balkans to discovering North Macedonia’s key grape varieties and the character of its wines, Janina and Maisie explore how to buy better, understand more and get more pleasure from what's in your glass. They also delve into the grapes behind Valpolicella's fresh reds, Ripasso and Amarone, look at how AI is changing wine education, discuss what life is really like as a professional wine buyer, and consider why Bordeaux is experimenting with lighter, fresher reds designed to be enjoyed with a slight chill.

   But this conversation goes beyond what's in the bottle. How can the wine industry connect with younger drinkers without losing the romance, heritage and sense of discovery that make wine special? With stories from wine travels in Rioja and Verona, creative winery experiences and plenty of practical advice, this is a conversation about making wine more accessible, more relevant and a lot more fun - without losing any of its magic.

   A huge thank you to today’s episode sponsor, Tedeschi Wines, for supporting Eat Sleep Wine Repeat and helping us share more wine stories with you!

   Shownotes

   03:45 – Is Gen Z really drinking less wine? — Maisie looks beyond the headlines to explain how younger drinkers are spending their money differently and why disposable income matters as much as changing drinking habits.

   04:52 – Why ready-to-drink cocktails are growing — from BuzzBallz to wine, Maisie explains why convenience is winning attention while younger drinkers increasingly look f…

3. Ep 279 – Biodynamic Wine Explained: Olivier Humbrecht MW of Zind-Humbrecht

   19 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 4 min

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   What actually happens in a biodynamic vineyard — and can it change the wine in your glass? In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina travels to Alsace to meet Olivier Humbrecht MW, the acclaimed winemaker behind Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, to explore the science, philosophy and practical realities of biodynamic viticulture. Lees meer

   Olivier's journey into biodynamics began with a surprisingly simple question: how could he produce healthier compost? What followed — including a discovery involving contaminated manure, an Amish farmer and a striking experiment with soil bacteria — transformed the way he understood soil, vines and the vineyard ecosystem. Olivier takes us far beyond the basics, explaining biodynamic preparations 500 and 501, herbal teas, root development and the thinking behind this distinctive approach to vineyard management.

   But what does all this mean for the wine itself? Olivier explains how biodynamic farming may influence vine development, physiological ripeness and picking decisions, and why these factors matter as climate change reshapes wine regions such as Alsace. We then taste two very different expressions of Pinot Gris from Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, including the remarkable Clos Windsbuhl Pinot Gris 2020, exploring its Muschelkalk limestone soils, freshness, complexity and ageing potential before comparing it with a more approachable Pinot Gris from Turckheim.

   Whether you're curious about how biodynamic wine is made, keen to understand the relationship between soil and wine quality, or looking to discover the wines of Alsace, this episode offers a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the region's most thoughtful winemakers — and a deeper understanding of what makes a vineyard truly distinctive.l.

   Shownotes

   03:00 – Discovering Alsace — Olivier paints a picture of the region's dry, sunny climate, the Vosges Mountains, the Rhine Valley and the historic villages that make Alsace such a distinctive wine landscape.

   05:44 – How Olivier discov…

4. Ep 278 - Oceanic Wine Explained: Can You Taste the Sea? with Chris Howard

   12 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 6 min

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   Can You Taste the Sea? In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina dives into the fascinating and potentially controversial idea of Oceanic Wine with wine writer, judge and educator Chris Howard. Chris has proposed that oceanic wine should be considered a category in its own right, exploring what happens when the sea becomes one of the dominant forces shaping a vineyard and the wine in your glass. Lees meer

   But what actually makes a wine oceanic rather than simply coastal? Chris explains why proximity alone isn't enough, and how wind, fog, salt, temperature, exposure and geography can all influence vineyards in very different ways. From California's Sonoma Coast and coastal Chile to Tasmania, Margaret River, South Africa and New Zealand, this episode explores Wine Regions where the ocean may play a defining role.

   The conversation also asks one of the most intriguing questions in Wine Education: when tasters describe salinity, iodine, oyster shell or sea spray, are we genuinely tasting the ocean? Chris introduces ideas including merroir and airroir, considers how wind and fog affect Wine Grapes, and explains why science, imagination and our emotional response to place can all become part of the way we experience wine.

   For anyone looking to learn about wine from a completely different perspective, this Wine Podcast combines viticulture, geography, philosophy and tasting with plenty of inspiration for future Wine Travel. And towards the end, Chris recommends producers where he believes the ocean can genuinely be expressed in the glass before exploring one of wine's strangest experiments: ageing bottles beneath the sea.

   Shownotes

   03:27 – How Chris Howard found his way into wine — growing up among the vineyards of Sonoma County, surfing the California coast and eventually discovering that wine had been part of his life all along.

   06:28 – Why does wine need an “oceanic” category? — Chris explains how years of writing about coastal wine regions led him to propose Oceanic…

5. Ep 277 - Why Are Some Wines Worth Millions? Inside Sotheby’s Wine Auctions with Nick Pegna

   5 oktober 2026 · 56 min

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   What makes a bottle of wine worth £10,000, £100,000 or even millions? Is it the vineyard, the vintage, the producer, its rarity or the extraordinary story behind it? Lees meer

   In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina steps inside the fascinating world of fine wine auctions with Nick Pegna, Global Head of Wine & Spirits at Sotheby’s. From multi-million-pound private collections and rare bottles to intense bidding wars, Nick reveals what really happens behind the scenes of the international wine auction market - and what makes a wine truly valuable.

   Whether you're a wine enthusiast wanting to deepen your wine knowledge, fascinated by the world's most prestigious wine regions, or simply curious about the people willing to pay extraordinary sums for a bottle, this conversation offers a rare insight into the world of fine wine collecting.

   We explore how provenance, condition, rarity and maturity influence wine prices, why collectors are increasingly seeking mature wines that are ready to drink, and how the relationship between a wine's history and its market value can be just as fascinating as the wine itself.

   Along the way, we travel through Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and Napa Valley, discover how a new generation of collectors is changing the market, and explore why wine auctions are becoming about far more than buying and selling bottles. From winery visits and wine tourism to unforgettable food pairings and the stories that connect us to a place, this is a conversation about the culture, people and experiences that make wine so compelling.

   And if you've ever wondered what happens when two determined bidders compete for a legendary bottle, or why someone might pay more than £2 million for a single whisky, you're in exactly the right place.

   02:35 – A day in the life at Sotheby’s — Nick reveals what it means to oversee around 60 wine and spirits auctions a year across cities including London, New York, Hong Kong and Paris.

   06:59 – How do you sell a $15 million …

6. Ep 276 - Ken Forrester: The King of Chenin Blanc & the Wild Side of South African Wine

   28 september 2026 · 55 min

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   Season 7 of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat begins in South Africa with one of the wine world's biggest personalities: Ken Forrester. Known as the “King of Chenin Blanc”, Ken joins Janina for a conversation filled with extraordinary stories, pioneering winemaking and plenty of laughter, while exploring what has made Stellenbosch one of the world's most exciting Wine Regions. Lees meer

   Ken explains why this grape has thrived in South Africa and how decades of experimentation have produced wines ranging from vibrant traditional-method sparkling wine to the iconic FMC and the extraordinarily complex The Dirty Little Secret. For anyone looking to learn about wine through the stories of the people actually making it, this is wine education at its most entertaining.

   Ken also shares the story of planting Mourvèdre in South Africa, why he believes Pinotage should be celebrated as a fresh, juicy and even chillable red, and how Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre come together in his Three Halves blend. Along the way, Janina tastes several of his wines and explores just how diverse South African Wine Grapes can be.

   This Wine Podcast is also a reminder that wine doesn't need to be intimidating. From Sparklehorse and old-vine Chenin Blanc to Wagyu biltong and some truly outrageous stories, Ken's philosophy is ultimately about enjoyment, curiosity and sharing great bottles with good people. And if South Africa is on your Wine Travel list, expect to finish this episode wanting to head straight to Stellenbosch.

   Shownotes

   03:15 – Ken's most outrageous wine story — a night out, a seventh-floor window and an extraordinarily lucky landing that Ken probably shouldn't have survived.

   07:16 – The wild characters of South African wine — Ken remembers Charles Back of Fairview and other larger-than-life personalities who helped make the country's wine industry unforgettable.

   08:35 – The people who shaped Ken's career — looking back at the pioneers and characters who influenced South African wine as the modern…

7. Ep 275 - Spanish Wine Beyond Rioja: Vino de Pago, New Jerez, Bobal & More with Sarah Jane Evans MW

   17 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 6 min

   Afspelen
   What are the Spanish wine regions and grape varieties you need to know beyond Rioja and Ribera del Duero? In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina heads to Spain with Sarah Jane Evans MW, one of the world's leading experts on Spanish wine, to explore the regions, grapes and wine classifications that deserve far more attention - from Jerez and Castilla-La Mancha to Valencia, Madrid and Extremadura. Lees meer

   At the heart of the conversation is Vino de Pago, one of Spain's most fascinating and misunderstood wine classifications. Sarah Jane explains what Vino de Pago actually means, how it differs from Spain's traditional regional classifications and why these individual estates have the freedom to explore distinctive terroirs, indigenous grape varieties and different winemaking styles.

   We also explore some of Spain's lesser-known grape varieties, including Merseguera, Albillo Real, Bobal and old-vine Monastrell, as well as the country's extraordinary heritage of old vineyards. Sarah Jane shares the Spanish wine regions she thinks could be the next big thing, from Jerez and Utiel-Requena to Madrid, Extremadura, the Canary Islands and Catalonia, plus her recommendations for Spanish wines under £20.

   If you're looking to discover Spanish wine beyond Rioja, learn more about Vino de Pago, explore lesser-known Spanish wine regions and find exciting Spanish grapes and great-value wines, this episode is a brilliant place to start.

   This episode was sponsored by Pago Finca Elez. Their Wines available in the UK through Fareham Wine Cellars as well as through importers in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Philippines, Japan and Hungary, with additional smaller importers across Europe.

   Shownotes

   02:53 – What keeps surprising Sarah Jane about Spain — after decades of travelling through the country, why new generations, producers and wines mean there is always something new to discover.

   03:58 – Jerez: The Spanish Wine Region Reinventing Itself Beyond Sherry — why Jerez…

8. Ep 274 - What Does It Take to Become a Top Sommelier? Inside the UK Sommelier of the Year Competition with Emma Denney, 2026 Winner

   10 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 2 min

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   What does it actually take to become the UK Sommelier of the Year? And how do the world's best sommeliers blind taste wine under pressure? Lees meer

   In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina sits down with Emma Denney, the newly crowned UK Sommelier of the Year 2026 and Director of Wine at Claridge's, to go behind the scenes of elite sommelier competition, blind tasting and fine wine service.

   Emma takes us inside the competition - from identifying grape varieties, regions and vintages in a blind tasting, to recognising wine faults by aroma alone, tackling food and wine pairing and serving Champagne under pressure. She also explains how professional sommeliers build their tasting knowledge, read the clues in a glass and develop the confidence to make decisions quickly.

   But this isn't just an episode about becoming a sommelier. Emma is a brilliant guide to some of the wine world's most fascinating regions and producers. We dive into Champagne and grower Champagne, Northern Rhône Syrah and Hermitage, Jumilla Monastrell, Ningxia Riesling, Margaret River and New Zealand Pinot Grigio, with plenty of bottles and wine travel ideas to add to your list.

   You'll also learn what RM and NM mean on Champagne labels, why Champagne's chalk soils matter, what Coteaux Champenois is, how lees ageing and late disgorgement affect Champagne, how to recognise common wine faults such as Brett, cork taint and oxidation, and why some of the world's most exciting wines are coming from places you might not expect.

   So whether you're already deep into wine, studying for a qualification, improving your blind tasting or simply looking for your next bottle, region or wine trip to explore, this episode is packed with things to taste, learn and investigate.

   Shownotes

   02:30 – What does it take to become UK Sommelier of the Year? Emma reflects on winning the competition and the preparation behind it.

   05:03 – The Champagne that started it all — how one bottle sparked Emma's passion for wine and hos…

9. Ep 273 – Oregon Wine Beyond Pinot Noir: The Regions, Grapes & Wines You Need to Know with Samantha Cole-Johnson

   3 augustus 2026 · 59 min

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   Think Oregon is all about Pinot Noir? Think again. Lees meer

   In this episode I'm joined by Samantha Cole-Johnson, Senior US Editor at JancisRobinson.com and the Master of Wine student who achieved the highest mark in the world in Stage One of the notoriously challenging MW programme, to uncover the side of Oregon that most people never discover.

   From cross-border wine regions that ignore state lines to savoury Syrah grown on basalt cobblestones, richer styles of Pinot Gris and a brand-new sparkling wine movement, this episode will completely change the way you think about Oregon.

   Along the way, we also discuss what the future of wine might look like - and why the biggest challenge facing the wine industry may have nothing to do with wine itself.

   You'll discover why the Rocks District produces some of America's most distinctive Syrah, why Oregon's Pinot Gris deserves far more attention, how Method Oregon is putting the state's sparkling wines on the map, and the producers and wine regions that should be firmly on your travel wishlist.

   So, if you're ready to look beyond Pinot Noir, pour yourself a glass, sit back, and enjoy this episode.

   Shownotes

   03:05 – Learning how to communicate wine — how Samantha’s experience in cellars, formal study and wine journalism shaped the way she tastes, writes and speaks about wine today.

   05:54 – Do state lines matter in wine? — why geographical boundaries rarely determine wine style, but can have important legal and commercial consequences for producers.

   06:53 – Understanding the Columbia Gorge — how rainfall and temperature change dramatically from west to east across this cross-border Oregon and Washington AVA.

   08:36 – Visiting the Columbia Gorge — why Portland makes an ideal starting point for exploring its wineries, cycling trails, breweries and famous windsurfing.

   09:26 – Inside the Rocks District — what makes this tiny Oregon AVA’s basalt cobblestones and distinctive soils unlike almost anywhere else in the United States.

   10:…

10. Ep 272 - Counterfeit Wine & Wine Fraud: Could Your Wine Be Fake? With Maureen Downey

    27 juli 2026 · 54 min

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    What if that expensive bottle of wine you've just bought isn't what you think it is? Lees meer

    In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina explores the fascinating - and often shocking - world of counterfeit wine and wine fraud with Maureen Downey, one of the world's leading authorities on wine authentication, provenance and fraud.

    From fake bottles of Burgundy and First Growth Bordeaux to the infamous Rudy Kurniawan wine fraud scandal, Maureen reveals how counterfeit wine enters the market, which wines are most commonly faked, and how experts determine whether a bottle is genuine.

    You'll discover how wine experts authenticate suspicious bottles using forensic techniques including the examination of labels, paper, glass, UV light, invisible inks and microscopic analysis. We also explore why wine provenance - the documented history of a bottle's ownership, storage and journey through the market - is so important when buying fine wine.

    Maureen explains how organised crime has become involved in wine fraud, why even experienced collectors can be deceived, and how technology, blockchain and bottle registration could help protect the wine trade in the future. She also shares practical advice on how to buy fine wine with greater confidence and reduce the risk of purchasing a counterfeit bottle.

    Along the way, Maureen shares the wines and producers that inspire her today, including Burgundy, Champagne and Jura Chardonnay, reveals why the Côte Chalonnaise is one of the world's most underrated wine regions, and explains why every serious wine lover should experience the food and wine of Piedmont at least once.

    Whether you're a fine wine collector, an enthusiastic wine lover, planning a wine trip, or simply curious about how to tell if a bottle of wine is authentic, this episode may completely change the way you look at every bottle you buy.

    To know more, go to winefraud.com Maureen's educational platform dedicated to wine fraud, authentication and provenance.

    Shownotes

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