The Wine Conversation

Exclusive – a very special two-part interview with Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards, now 90 years old, for our “Great Wine Lives” series. In Part I, Paul talks to Elin McCoy about his unusual path to becoming Ridge’s winemaker. He was introduced to wine by a friend’s parent when he was at school, and decided it was his calling. He decided, however, not to go to UC Davis as so much of the course was chemistry, and instead worked in intelligence for the army in Italy. Whilst in Italy and later France, he set about enjoying the wines and became friends with some of the winemakers. This formed his philosophy on fine wine and his approach to making it. Do listen in to hear this remarkable man, who is one of the most admired men in the wine world today.More information at wine-conversation.com

Listen in to Omnibus for all the wine world’s latest news and views from John Stimpfig, Elin McCoy and Sarah Kemp. This month, harvest reports from the Northern Hemisphere, controversy over alleged use of artificial intelligence in the 67 Pall Mall Communicator Awards, Champagne alcohol level change, doom and gloom in the California wine industry (with a couple of notable exceptions), remembering Matthew Jukes, Franco Bernabi, Vittorio Frescobaldi, two brilliant new books and the return of Coonawarra’s Woof and Wine. Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Listen in to hear David Gleave talk to Sarah Kemp about his new book Barolo and Barbaresco, The Primacy of the Vine, which has just been published by Académie du Vin Library. Sarah predicts it will win all the wine writing awards as it is an important book, eloquently written with great maps and quotes from producers that take you right into the vineyard. Sarah also finds out David’s favourite restaurants in the region- vital information for any wine and food lover.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Controversy swirls around the new Michelin Grapes guide to Bordeaux, not least because Château Latour isn’t even listed.. Jane Anson and Sarah Kemp discuss the criteria for the guide, which evaluates estates not individual wines, and give their frank views on the criteria and the selection of estates listed.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Jancis Robinson MW talks to Elin McCoy about the 9th edition of The World Atlas of Wine which is about to hit the shelves. Listen in to find out how she and Julia Harding MW decide which regions need  expanding, what needs to be dropped, and how the wine world has changed since Hugh Johnson wrote the first edition in 1971. Find out why Hugh asked Jancis to co-author the book (now it has three authors with Julia Harding MW joining the imprint). “Every word, every mark on the maps, has been examined and updated, moved, rewritten, omitted, added to – we go through it in forensic detail,” Jancis  says. “New maps have been added to reflect areas of increased popularity and importance.” The nineth edition of this iconic book which has sold over 5 million copies is due out end September in UK and early October in the US.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Listen in to hear Peter Sisseck, the man who helped change the image of Spanish wine,  talk to Sarah Kemp in our latest “Great Wine Lives” series. Discover how as a young man he joined his uncle Peter Vinding Diers in Bordeaux, then joined Zelma Long in California, how he nearly came to work for Paul Draper at Ridge before returning to help his uncle with a project in Spain. He discusses how he created Pingus, the single-vineyard wine in Ribera del Duero, which Robert Parker called “one of the greatest young wines I have tasted” He discusses creating PSI the wine made from 700 plots of old vines, his return to Saint Emilion to buy Château Rocheyron with Silvio Denz, and his latest project a single-vineyard Fino  on limestone in Jerez. A fascinating interview with one of the wine world’s most thoughtful vintners.More information at wine-conversation.com

The wildfires around Bordeaux have made headlines around the world. Jane Anson, Bordeaux expert and local resident, talks to Sarah Kemp about the impact on the region and the effect on the wine industry. Listen in to hear her first-hand experience of living next to a fire 15km from the city where she lives, and her early thoughts on the possibility of smoke taint in the vineyards closest to the fires.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

All the latest news and views from John Stimpfig and Elin McCoy in this month’s Omnibus. Reports on the state of Napa Valley, good and bad, how En Primeur 2025 Bordeaux fared in the UK and US (and which wines did sell through), reaction to Michelin’s guide to Burgundy, weather watch and much more.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Etna is a relatively new region in Sicily which is attracting today’s most dynamic winemakers as well as established names. David Gleave MW has just returned from there and brings us up-to-date with what is going on in our latest 10-Minute Masterclass. Find out the producers to watch and the grapes to look out for.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com

Jane Anson calls it “the best party in Bordeaux” and it is hard not to agree listening to Sarah Kemp and Jane Anson discuss the 2026 Connoisseur Week where they visited stellar estates including Cos d’Estournel, Pichon Comtesse, Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux, Vieux Château Certan, Angelus, Troplong Mondot, Condat and drank legendary wines back to 1945. Find out how the great vintages stacked up, and which vintages they recommend you drink now, and those that aren’t just ready yet. Listen in to hear about a week of glorious wines and people.Find out more at: wine-conversation.com