Feb 26

Feb 26 Sparkling Wine Blind Tasting

Blind tasting is fun, challenging, and humbling - as well as necessary for WSET Level 3 and 4 exams. Find out what students taking the Diploma made of tasting four blind sparkling wines.

Feb 20

Feb 20 Americas

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

The production of sparkling wine across the Americas is only fifty years old, but producers have been seeking out cooler sites to make quality wine using the traditional method. This episode focuses on California, Argentina, and Chile, as well as less famous regions.

Feb 15

Feb 15 South Africa, Australia, New Zealand

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

Looking at three countries in the southern hemisphere, all of which produce sparkling at different levels of quality. South Africa is the only non-European country with a specific designation for sparkling wine (Méthode Cap Classique); Australia has its distinctive Sparkling Shiraz; and New Zealand has perhaps the most naturally ideal conditions for sparkling wine production.

Feb 12

Feb 12 Italian Sparkling Wine II

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

Second episode on Italian sparkling wine, focusing on Franciacorta, Italy's only DOCG for wine made using the traditional method, and Lambrusco, the unusual and very varied style of red sparkling wine.

Feb 5

Feb 5 Italian Sparkling Wine I

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

First of two episodes on Italian sparkling wine, focusing on the two big-volume regions, Prosecco and Asti.

Jan 30

Jan 30 Cava

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

Cava covers a broad area of Spain, producing wines that are too often simple and disappointing. There is momentum to raise the quality - find out what's happening in cava in this episode.

Jan 28

Jan 28 French Sparkling Wine

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

French sparkling wine isn't just Champagne: it's made all around the country. This episode explores the frustratingly inconsistent Crémants of France, as well as some of the more unusual, historic styles of sparkling wine.

Jan 26

Jan 26 Champagne Producers

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

Discussing the relationship between growers and producers in Champagne and exploring the styles of the big producers.

Jan 23

Jan 23 Champagne Regions

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

This episode looks at plantings in Champagne, the Cru structure, and the five main regions.

Jan 16

Jan 16 Champagne: The Place, The Rules, The Styles

Matthew Gaughan

sparkling wine podcast

An introduction to the great wines of Champagne: where they're made, how they're made, the rules governing the region, and the different styles of wine.

About Matthew's World of Wine and Drink.