Alan Johnson

Today’s special guest is… WINE! Will and Anneka round off the series with their focus firmly on the star of the series. Will introduces three wines, one from the past, one from the present, and perhaps a taste of the future? Plus, Anneka looks back on the best bottles from the series and together they choose which guest they’d most like to travel with. Wine 1: 2019 Le Pavillon de Targé, Saumur-Champigny Wine 2: 2020 Polkura Syrah, Colchagua Valley, Chile Wine 3: 2021 Gentle Riot Orange Wine, FranceAll the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.ukSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCraeAssistant producer: Sharna Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will and Anneka are joined by Hugh Dennis, star of Outnumbered and Mock the Week, as they sip their way around South Africa. Hugh impresses Will, as he turns out to be quite the curious student of wine. And Anneka, an unashamed fan of Outnumbered, wants to know what the timeless BBC sitcom was like to work on. Wine 1: 2022 Chardonnay, Hamilton Russell, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa Wine 2: 2018 Pinot Noir Appellation Series, Boschendal, Elgin, South Africa Wine 3: 2019 Pinotage, Bellemore Family Selection, Stellenbosch, South Africa All the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.ukSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCraeAssistant producer: Sharna Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussing and decanting with Anneka and Will is Paralympian and Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords, Tanni Grey-Thompson. As well as three great wines to taste from New Zealand, Tanni reveals that she has a lifetime supply of wine, Will shares how Sauvignon Blanc came to be and Anneka falls in love with a New Zealand red.  Wine 1: 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Hunter’s Home Block, Marlborough, New ZealandWine 2: 2021 Chardonnay, Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay, New ZealandWine 3: 2020 Pinot Noir, Greywacke, Marlborough, New Zealand  All the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk Series producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCraeAssistant producer: Sharna Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anneka and Will are joined by Michel Roux Jr. for three jaw dropping French wines. Michel is the chef patron of Le Gavroche, the first restaurant in the UK to receive one, two and then three Michelin stars. As he closes the doors to his historic restaurant for the final time, Michel explains his future plans. And Anneka is seriously impressed with Will’s wine selections. Wine 1: 2018 Pinot Noir, Domaine Bott-Geyl, Galets Oligocène, Alsace, France Wine 2: 2018 Chassagne-Montrachet, Maison Joseph Drouhin, Burgundy, FranceWine 3: 2019 L’Epiphanie de Pauillac, Pauillac, France All the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.ukSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCraeAssistant producer: Sharna Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenny Eclair, the trailblazing comedian, joins Anneka and Will for a tour of Greek wines (with a brief detour to Hungary). Will gives a surprising lesson in how the Ancient Greeks enjoyed wine, Anneka amusingly bemoans restaurant wine menu formats and Jenny rethinks her usual aversion to all things sweet as she sips a mouth watering dessert wine. Wine 1: 2019 14/27 Agiorgitiko, Nemea, Greece Wine 2: 2019 Invicta Xinomavro, Amyndeon, Greece Wine 3: 2017 Royal Tokaji Blue Label 5 PuttonyosAll the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.ukSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCraeAssistant producer: Sharna Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussing and decanting with Anneka and Will is the Blur bassist, farmer and award-winning artisan cheesemaker, Alex James. As well as three great wines to taste Alex reveals his wackiest rider requirements, Will questions whether you should have sparkling wine over ice and Anneka discovers her new favourite pairing with cheese… frazzles.Wine 1: Britpop Brut by Alex James NVWine 2: Santa Inés Single Parcel Chardonnay 2022Wine 3: Maison Dominique Piron Fleurie 2020All the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.ukSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCrae Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Postman turned politician Alan Johnson clinks glasses with Will at Cheltenham’s Literature Festival. They muse over the influence of The Beatles, the joys of writing thriller novels and Alan reflects on Prime Ministers of the past drinking habits.Wine 1: 2021 Sauvignon Gris, Chateau Le CoinWine 2: 2018 L'Epiphanie de Sauternes, Bordeaux, France All the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.ukSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCrae Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anneka and Will listen admiringly to the smooth voice of actor and musician, Clarke Peters, as they sip luscious wines from Portugal. Clarke recounts tales of trial and error from his vegetable garden in the Algarve. While Anneka reminisces about her many visits to Clarke’s dressing room in the 1980s.Wine 1: 2022 Arquipélago, Açores, Portugal 12.5%Wine 2: 2021 Vilarissa Grande Reserva, Douro, Portugal Wine 3: Baronesa de Vilar Rosé Port (50cl) NVAll the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.ukSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCraeAssistant producer: Sharna Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will and Anneka are celebrating 50 years of the Sunday Times Wine Club. And what a way to do it! At a live event held at Times HQ in London, readers and guests sipped a selection of wines chosen by 12 very discerning columnists.In this bonus episode, we hear about some of those selections, straight from the columnists’ mouths. Anneka and Will were joined, amid the hustle and bustle, by Giles Coren, Martin Samuel and Tony Turnbull.You can find out more about the Columnists’ Case by visiting: https://www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk/columnistscaseSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCrae Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anneka and Will sip their way through wines from America with filmmaking royalty, Paul Feig. The director of Bridesmaids talks of how, as a kid, he always longed for adulthood. Nothing represented that more than sipping on cocktails and wine. And everyone was pleased with Will’s US selections. Wine 1: 2019 Au Bon Climat, La Bauge Pinot Noir, Santa Maria ValleyWine 2: 2020 Lyeth Red Sonoma Meritage, Sonoma CountyWine 3: 2021 Ridge Geyserville, Alexander Valley All the wines in the series are available at www.sundaytimeswineclub.co.ukSeries producer: Anya PearceProducer: Calum McCraeAssistant producer: Sharna Johnson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.