Cork Talk with Willy Pérez

Willy Pérez originally wanted to be a musician, but after surviving cancer in his late teens, he decided to follow his father, Luis, into the wine business. A passionate defender of traditional Sherries and vinos de pasto based on vineyard origin rather than maturation and fortification, he’s one of the key figures in Spanish wine, a profound thinker about climate change, as well as singing the praises of Palomino, the region’s most widely planted grape. To read more about Willy have a look at the Bodegas Luis Pérez website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @willyperezv.  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.    

Marquis Sauvage got into wine when he was at college in Colorado, beginning with White Zinfandel of all things. After opening Denver’s first wine bar, he moved into distribution before creating his own winery, Burn Cottage in Central Otago in New Zealand. A lover of hearty food, heavy metal and fine Burgundy, Marquis is passionate about biodynamics, basketball and attention-grabbing labels.  In short, he’s a hoot. To read more about Marquis have a look at the Burn Cottage website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @burncottagevineyard. 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.  

Spyros Zoumboulis is a Greek winemaker with an international perspective, having worked in France, Argentina and Bulgaria as well as his native country. Following his motto of “maximum nature, minimum intervention”, he’s a specialist in biodynamics and natural wines. A fan of great rosés, old vines and Greece’s fund of indigenous grapes, he’s a man with passion, good taste and a belief that sustainability is all about replenishing. To read more about Spyros have a look at the Zoumboulis & Associates website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @spyroszoumboulis. 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.

Cherie Spriggs was born in Canada, but has made her name in England at Nyetimber as one of the world’s leading sparkling winemakers. A classically trained pianist, she says she likes to think of blending her wines in musical terms. Our fascinating conversation covered her love of running, her drive for perfection, the differences between grapes from West Sussex, Kent and Hampshire and why she feels sorry for Pinot Meunier. To read more about Cherie have a look at the Nyetimer website. You can also follow the winery on Instagram at @nyetimber. 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.

Sam Harrop MW is an Auckland-based consultant winemaker with a cosmopolitan outlook, a man who has been influenced by the time he’s spent in Spain, Japan and the United Kingdom. An advocate of what he calls “beautiful simplicity” in wine, Sam is as happy discussing Frank Lloyd Wright, Sake and the Zen aesthetic as he is talking about Brettanomyces, palate training and the potential for premium no-alcohol wines. To read more about Sam have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @samharropwine. 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.

Paul Clüver’s family has owned De Rust Estate in Elgin since the 1890s, but it wasn’t until 1987 that his neurosurgeon father, also called Paul, planted the first vines there. Now regarded as one of the leading cool climate producers in South Africa, Paul Clüver Family Wines has grown and prospered under his stewardship, specialising in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. As smart as he is articulate, Paul is a fascinating interviewee. To read more about Paul have a look at the Paul Clüver Family Wines website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @paulcluver. 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.

Musician, Oscar winner and wine lover, Jorge Drexler was a successful doctor in Montevideo before he became a celebrated singer songwriter, or cancionista as he puts it. Our in-depth, hour-long chat covered some profound themes – identity, immigration, inspiration, Artificial Intelligence and the effects of the pandemic – as well as more personal stuff, such as his favourite wine regions, fellow musicians and his love of performing live. To read more about Jorge have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @drexlerjorge. 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.

Adrianna Catena is a distinguished historian specialising in the expansion of the Spanish empire in the 15th and 16thcenturies, as well as a partner in two wine projects: El Enemigo in Mendoza and El Reventón in Gredos. Our fascinating discussion covered lots of topics: empowering women in the vineyard, the origins of the conquistadors, Das Kapital and how she and Ale Vigil came up with an award-winning wine brand over a late-night kebab. To read more about Adrianna have a look at the El Enemigo website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @adriannacatena. 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.

Felipe Müller’s dad has never drunk alcohol, but that didn’t stop his son studying viticulture and oenology. After a formative spell working alongside Marcelo Retamal at De Martino, he moved to Viña Tabalí in the limestone-rich Limarí Valley in 2006, where he’s built areputation for making some of Chile’s best reds, whites and fizzes. Among the leading winemakers in South America, Felipe knows his country’s terroirs as well as anyone. To read more about Felipe have a look at the Tabalí website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @felipemullereast. 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.

Sam Caporn got into wine by accident at university when a friend of her twin sister suggested she run what amounted to a drinking club. Her subsequent career has included jobs in retail, wine buying and journalism. She passed her Master of Wine at the first attempt in 2005, winning the Bollinger award for the best taster. Author of The Wine Flavour Guide, Sam has informed views on everything from food pairings to persistent wine myths. To read more about Sam have a look at her Mistress of Wine website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @themistressofwine. 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.