Wine Education - Matthew's World of Wine and Drink

Matthew's World of Wine and Drink

About Matthew's World of Wine and Drink.

This blog began as a record of taking the WSET Diploma, during which I studied and explored wines and spirits made all around the world. Having passed the Diploma and become a WSET Certified Educator, the blog has become much more: a continual outlet for my passion for the culture of wine, spirits, and beer.

I aim to educate in an informal, enlightening, and engaging manner. As well as maintaining this blog to track my latest enthusiasms, I provide educational tastings for restaurants and for private groups. Details can be found on the website, and collaborations are welcome.

Wine is my primary interest and area of expertise and this blog aims to immerse the reader in the history of wine, to understand why wine tastes like it does, and to explore all the latest news. At the same time, beer and spirits will never be ignored.

For the drinker, whether casual or professional, today is a good time to be alive.

Jul 16

Jul 16 Chile (II)

Matthew Gaughan

Second episode focusing on Chile, discussing its wine regions and the different styles of wine made up and down the long, narrow country.

Jul 9

Jul 9 Chile (I)

Matthew Gaughan

Winemaking in Chile goes back to the 1550s - wine has been made continuously in Central Valley, the epicentre of the industry, since 1554. But internationally, Chile has only come to the fore in the last 30 years, meaning it's a country still learning a lot about its wines and their potential. This episode focuses on the history and geography of history and the main grape varieties planted.

Mar 19

Mar 19 Jura

Matthew Gaughan

Jura is the smallest of France's wine regions, but one that is very fashionable due to its unique styles of wine. It also provides a great alternative to nearby Burgundy, another reason people are so attracted to it.

Mar 12

Mar 12 Chardonnay

Matthew Gaughan

Chardonnay is one of the most famous grape varieties across the world. Made in a wide range of styles, it can provoke strong opinions. This episode explores the grape, the styles of wine it makes, and the regions in which it's grown.

Mar 5

Mar 5 Portugal

Matthew Gaughan

Portugal is best known for port, but it is producing an increasing amount of high quality white and red wines from indigenous varieties little planted elsewhere.

Continental & Atlantic Spain

Feb 24

Feb 24 Continental & Atlantic Spain

Matthew Gaughan

From the vast, hot plateau of La Mancha to the wet, cool Atlantic Coast - Spain has extreme climates which can be challenging but rewarding for winemakers.

Mediterranean Spain

Feb 16

Feb 16 Mediterranean Spain

Matthew Gaughan

Exploring the regions of Mediterranean Spain, along the coast from innovative Catalunya to the big reds of Valencia and Murcia.

Feb 8

Feb 8 Northern Spain

Matthew Gaughan

The north of Spain is home to one of the country's historic regions, Rioja. This episode explores its history and its wines, as well as those of nearby regions Navarra, Somontano, Catalayud, and Cariñena.

Jan 25

Jan 25 Southern Italy

Matthew Gaughan

Southern Italy is an historically poor part of Italy, making inferior wines. The last 20 years have seen more investment and quality has risen - not least because there are some superb local grape varieties such as Aglianico, Fiano, Greco, and Falanghina.

Jan 18

Jan 18 Central Italy

Matthew Gaughan

Central Italy is home to some of Italy's most historic wine regions, but quality varies - not least in Chianti. This episode explores the reasons for the inconsistency in quality, ranging from inexpensive to the super-premium Brunello di Montalcino.

North-East Italy

Jan 11

Jan 11 North-East Italy

Matthew Gaughan

North-East Italy encompasses a diverse range of regions, including Alto Adige, Trentino, Veneto, and Fruili-Venezia-Giulia. Some of these have a strongly Germanic and Slavic influence, producing unique wines different from elsewhere in Italy.

North-West Italy

Jan 4

Jan 4 North-West Italy

Matthew Gaughan

Some of the world's greatest wines are made in Piemonte in north-west Italy, particularly from Nebbiolo in the famous Barolo and Barbaresco regions. Find out what makes these wines so special, and about the other areas in Piemonte.

Sparkling Wine Introduction

Dec 28

Dec 28 Sparkling Wine Introduction

Matthew Gaughan

An introduction to sparkling wine: its history, different production methods, styles, and regions. In this episode, I credit the English for accidentally creating champagne and completely forget to mention the current trend in amazing English sparkling wine...

Dec 23

Dec 23 Hungary

Matthew Gaughan

Hungary has a long history of winemaking, particularly with the great sweet wines of Tokaj. It had a difficult twentieth century, however, from which it is re-emerging as one of the most exciting countries in Europe. Learn about the dry and sweet whites, and the under-the-radar reds.

Dec 14

Dec 14 Austria

Matthew Gaughan

Learn all about Austria, its wine regions, and its unique grapes: Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, and St-Laurent. For a relatively small country, there's a great diversity of wines being produced - and at consistently high quality.

German Wine Regions

Dec 7

Dec 7 German Wine Regions

Matthew Gaughan

Germany's cool climate means that the best wines come from steep slopes on the banks of its great rivers, espeically the Rhine and the Mosel. Learn about the different styles produced in Germany's regions.

German Grape Varieties

Nov 30

Nov 30 German Grape Varieties

Matthew Gaughan

Germany is one of the great wine-producing countries, but its labels can be daunting. This episode helps you decipher them by understanding the German classification system, the styles of wine, and the grape varieties.

Nov 20

Nov 20 Sweet Wines

Matthew Gaughan

Some of the greatest wines of the world are sweet, made in historic regions such as Sauternes, Tokaj, or Germany. There are lots of different ways of making a wine sweet, some of them simple, some of them complex and expensive. This episode explores the many different styles of sweet wine and the regions in which they are made.

South-West France

Oct 30

Oct 30 South-West France

Matthew Gaughan

South-West France is one of the most historic wine-producing regions of France, but it's been overshadowed internationally by Bordeaux. There are plenty of high-quality, good-value, and distinctive wines to be found - definitely a region worth seeking out. Learn more about the different, individual appellations in this episode.

Oct 19

Oct 19 Languedoc

Matthew Gaughan

France's largest wine region, Languedoc is re-inventing itself, with a greater emphasis on quality than ever before. Learn about the different appellations and styles of wine in this good-value, underrated region.