Cork Talk with Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson

Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW set up Blank Canvas Wines together in 2012, focusing on terroir-driven wines from single sites in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Now numbered among the country’s top producers, they are something of a power couple, drawing on Matt’s extensive overseas experience and Sophie’s legal training and background as a journalist to produce world-class wines. To read more about Matt and Sophie have a look at the Blank Canvas Wines website . You can also follow them on Instagram at @blankcanvaswines. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.    

After spells in accountancy and advertising, Beverley Blanning decided that what she really wanted to do was write about wine, specialising in the Loire Valley, where she also has a house. She’s the ideal person to explain what makes this diverse, appealingly complex region so special, talking me through soil types, grape varieties, climate change, organic viticulture and the definition of what the locals call “vins ligériens”. To read more about Beverley have a look at the the Institute of Masters of Wine's website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @bevblanningmw. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.      

Eduardo Chadwick is one of the most significant figures in the Chilean wine industry. He’s the man behind such famous brands as Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve, Seña, Las Pizarras and Viñedo Chadwick. A serial entrepreneur who’s never been afraid to take a few risks, including planting a vineyard on a former polo field, Eduardo is passionate about his native country and is always keen to compare his wines against the best of the world. To read more about Eduardo have a look at the Errázuriz website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @Eduardo.chadwick. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.      

Robin Copestick got into the wine industry by accident when he saw an advert in the window of a wine merchant in Maida Vale. That led to a 19-year-career at Moreno Wines, before he set up his own business, Copestick Murray, in 2005. A strong believer in wine brands, Robin developed I Heart Wines, which sells more than 30 million bottles around the world. But as he told me in the course of our chat, he’s had some failures along the way, too. To read more about Michael have a look at the Freixenet Copestick website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @robin.copestick. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.      

Michael Zaccagnini is a second-generation producer in Ribera del Duero, who trained under the legendary Mariano García, formerly of Vega Sicilia, as well as his late father, Javier. A lover of music and elegant expressions of Tempranillo, he’s a person who questions everything in the vineyard and cellar, constantly striving to make better wines. His talent and dedication have made him one of the best young winemakers in Spain. To read more about Michael have a look at the Sei Solo website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @seisolo_bodegas. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.      

Pierre Mansour caught the wine bug after drinking a bottle of 1982 Château Léoville-Las-Cases with his Lebanese dad while he was at university. After jobs at the Antique Wine Company, Berry Brothers and Vinopolis, he moved to the Wine Society in 2000, where he's been ever since. Now Director of Wine, he’s in charge of a team of buyers who are responsible for one of best – and best value – ranges on the planet. A passionate Hispanophile and music lover, Pierre is a fascinating, insightful interviewee. To read more about Pierre have a look at the Wine Society's website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @pierrethewinebuyer. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.      

Dr Christina Makris is a philosopher, art lover and wine writer, three passions that she’s combined in her latest book, Art In Vineyards, pairing the palate and palette, as she puts it. Our wide-ranging chat covered everything from aesthetics to Damien Hirst, Pablo Picasso to fine dining, wine tasting to public galleries. “The thinking is in the drinking” is one of her mottos and Christina certainly made me reflect about the way we appreciate food, wine and art. To read more about Christina have a look at her website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @christinavmakris. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.      

Dermot Sugrue could have made a living as a professional cyclist in Ireland, but a post-university harvest job in Bordeaux led to a career making wine in England instead. After successful spells at Nyetimber and Wiston, he’s been entirely focused on his own still and sparkling wine project, Sugrue South Downs, since 2022. He’s a great storyteller as well as a gifted, intuitive oenologist, a man who loves words as much as he does chalk and bubbles. To read more about Dermot have a look at the Sugrue South Downs website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @ermosug. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.  

Giles Cooke MW started his career at Majestic, before working for Scottish merchant Alliance Wine for 30 years. Since 2011, he’s also had his own distinctive brand in Australia, called Thistledown Wines, which is currently enjoying its most successful year ever. Giles has championed old-vine Grenache Down Under, especially from McLaren Vale, making elegant wines that are picked “on the way up” as he puts it, and he’s finally reaping the rewards. To read more about Giles have a look at the Thistledown Wines website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @giles.cookemw.  Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Amanda Thomson was a successful TV journalist, interviewing the likes of Salman Rushdie and George Clooney, when she decided to give it all up and move to Paris to study wine. After making her name with the Skinny Champagne brand, she’s since developed a range of non-alcoholic wines under the Noughty label. I caught up with her to talk about spinning cones, bananas, Zebra striping, Steffi Graf and what makes a great entrepreneur. To read more about Amanda have a look at the Noughty website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @noughtyamanda. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.