New Zealand is a young country: first settled by the Maoris in the 1200s and then by Europeans in the 1800s. The two main islands are much bigger than they first appear—there's a lot of land devoted to farming, each island has mountain ranges in the middle, and the major cities are small. It was only in the 1980s that New Zealand wine became available internationally. For a young country with a small population, New Zealand has made its presence felt in sport, beer, and wine.

Australia is both an island and a continent, shaped by British colonialism and European immigration. The culture is frank and irreverent, never afraid to try something new. A vast country, the major cities are separated by swathes of empty nothingness. It's a sports-mad, beer-mad, barbeque-mad, and a wine-mad place that never ceases to surprise.

South Africa's wine culture goes back nearly 400 years: in the early 1800s, Vin de Constance was considered one of the great wines of the world. But apartheid caused South Africa to be extremely isolated—it was only with the introduction of democracy in the 1990s that the country's wines became available internationally. A vibrant, diverse country, South Africa is a captivating yet contradictory country to visit.

Julian Hanna has just published "Island," a book all about island life. It's an evocative series of chapters on the many different islands he has lived on and visited, how each island has its own unique culture and the esoteric people who live there. He lived in Madeira for several years: the book provides a wonderful sense of what it's like to live on one of the world's great—and strangest—wine islands.

Not so long ago, English wine was a niche topic; now it’s one of the most exciting trends in the wine industry. Henry Jeffreys has written a book, Vines in a Cold Climate, detailing the revolution in English wine from nothing to defined styles of wine. Essential reading for anyone interested in what’s happened, what is happening, and what is going to happen in England.

Review of a highly entertaining and informative new book about the wines of Germany by Stephen Bitterolf, who set up an import company, vom Boden, ten years ago. His commitment to supporting German producers is apparent throughout and the “love letters” to the regions bring them to life. Alongside beautiful photos, this is an ode to German wine.

Aligoté has had a bad reputation: it has high yields and produces wines with searingly high acidity. However, some producers in Burgundy are taking it much more seriously. If yields are contained, then the high acid is well-suited to warmer growing conditions. There are some very good wines being made, and Aligoté is becoming increasingly interesting.

The equivalent of appellation rules outside of Europe are usually much looser. This allows much greater liberty for producers but less information for consumers and a potential unclear identity for regions. It also means greater potential for experimentation for producers. How appellation systems have developed outside Europe gives an insight into the pros and cons of how wine regulations work.

When producers leave appellations, it can create a lot of confusion which can sometimes be easier to ignore than address. Why do producers leave appellations and why do appellations matter? And should wine exams feature producers who have left the appellation?

Second series of “Following the Variety” features six episodes on Chardonnay which is found in many wine regions across the world. The series explores Chardonnay in the vineyard, the winery, and the bottle, and the important places it’s grown in: Burgundy, Chablis, Champagne, other sparkling wine regions, Australia, the USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, and Chile, providing a comprehensive overview of the world of Chardonnay.

The first part of a video series on the major grape varieties of the world, with six episodes exploring Sauvignon Blanc around the world. Although it's often dismissed for producing generic wines, it's a fascinating grape variety made in many styles. This series, available exclusively on patreon.com, explains in detail the particularities of Sauvignon Blanc and the many places it's grown.

Terah Bajjalieh is an up-and-coming winemaker in California, making wine from Grenache, Syrah, Vermentino, and Falanghina. The wines are modern expressions of California, but also representations of California's Mediterranean climate and its history from the early days of the nineteenth century. In this episode, we talk about all things California in relation to these Mediterranean varieties.

Gouais Blanc is a little-planted white grape variety that in the past has been banned in France. It produces indeterminate, high-acid wines, but is indirectly responsible for some of the greatest wine in the world. Through natural crossings, it's the parent of Chardonnay, Aligoté, and Gamay in Burgundy/Beaujolais, as well as Riesling, Furmint, and Blaufränkisch. Without Gouais Blanc, wine as we know it wouldn't exist, nor would our understanding of DNA and grape genetics.

Julian Hanna has just published "Island," a book all about island life. In this episode, I interview him all about island culture and how it differs from the culture of the "mainland." We take in islands associated with wine in many different ways: Madeira, Sardinia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and plenty of others.