Cork Talk with Rod Smith

Felicity Carter is a journalist who specialises in the business of wine. More recently, she’s become an acknowledged expert on health and alcohol policy, interviewing several of the key figures in the sector on her Drinks Insider podcast. I chatted to her from her home in Germany about the French paradox, the j-shaped curve, the World Health Organization, Prohibition, safe drinking levels, Big Tobacco and good and bad science. To read more about Felicity have a look at the Drinks Insider website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @carter.felicity. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures. 

John Duval is one the legends of the Australian wine industry. He’s known for his work as chief winemaker at Penfolds, where he was in charge of making Grange (among others things), and as the head of his eponymous family winery since 2003. I caught up with him from his beloved Barossa Valley to chat about Shiraz, old vines, his love of Priorat, Chile and the northern Rhône, what he learnt from Max Schubert and why Cat’s Pyjamas is a bad name for a wine. To read more about John have a look at the John Duval Wines website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @johnduvalwines. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures. 

Toti Undurraga’s family have been well known in the Chilean wine industry since the late 19th century, but he was always determined to forge his own path. After six years overseas, he returned to set up Koyle in Los Lingues. Today he works on both sides of the Andes – at Casas de Bucalemu in the Leyda Valley and Doña Paula in Mendoza. A passionate advocate of biodynamics, he’s one of South America’s most thoughtful and talented winemakers. To read more about Toti have a look at the Koyle website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @totiundurraga. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures. 

Jen Parr started out working in the software industry after studying English and Spanish literature at university, but moved into the wine business after she did a harvest in Gaillac. Thirty three vintages later, and still entirely self-taught, she’s one of best winemakers in New Zealand, a woman with a passion for Pinot Noir, a great palate and bags of energy and ideas. As she puts it, she always choses what’s interesting over what’s safe. To read more about Jen have a look at the Valli website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @jenlparrjp. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures. 

Elizabeth Gabay MW was born in New York, grew up in London and has lived in the French Alps for the last 20 years. Following a mixed early career in journalism, publishing and the theatre, she set up her own wine company after doing a tasting course at Christie’s. Almost by accident, she was asked to write a book about rosé, a style of wine she claimed to dislike, and has now become an evangelist as well as the world’s leading expert on pink wines. To read more about Elizabeth have a look at her website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @elizabethgabaymw.  Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures. 

Rod Smith began his working life as an illustrator but moved into wine after landing a part-time job at Oddbins. After a brief spell in the fine wine world in London, he upped sticks to the Côte d’Azur to supply the superyacht industry. Now running his own business, the Riviera Wine Academy, he was recently appointed chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and has fascinating views about how the organisation should develop and evolve. To read more about Rod have a look at the Riviera Wine Academy website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @rodwsmith68. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures. 

Brought up on a sugar cane farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal, where her parents were teetotallers, Praisy Dlamini got a bursary from the Department of Agriculture when she was 16 and went to study winemaking in the Cape. Her meteoric career has taken her from a spell at Distell to a job as the general manager of Adama Wines, where she runs an all-female team of black women and has developed Amandla, a brilliant and deservedly popular South African brand. To read more about Praisy have a look at the Amandla website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @praisyd. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures. 

Roman Roth was brought up in the Black Forest, where his father was a cooper, but decided to become a winemaker in his teens. After vintages in California and Australia, he got a job at Wölffer Estate Vineyard on Long Island in 1992 and has been there ever since. Funny, creative and fond of singing to his wines, he’s a natural interviewee with a well-honed turn of phrase. Listen in to hear everything you want to know about New York wines. To read more about Roman have a look at the Wölffer Estate Vineyard website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @roth.roman. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures. 

Tom Gilbey’s family have worked in the wine and spirits trade since the mid-19th century – they had a famous gin as well as owning a Bordeaux château – so it was natural that he would follow in their footsteps. In his time, he’s been a winemaker, a merchant and, more recently an educator, wine writer and Internet sensation thanks to a dip in an ice bath and the decision to run the London marathon, blind tasting 25 wines along the way. To read more about Tom have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @tomgilbeywine.  Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.   

Dawn Davies is a Master of Wine who also specialises in spirits. Originally a top sommelier at restaurants like Zuma and The Ledbury, she moved into retailing at Selfridges and is now buying director at Speciality Drinks and the Whisky Exchange. An extrovert and confirmed “people person”, she has well-informed views about things as varied as wine service, restaurant lists, Mezcal, blind tasting technique and Champagne. She’s one of a kind. To read more about Dawn have a look at the Masters of Wine website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @dawndaviesmw.  Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.