jancis robinson

Jancis Robinson wrote the book on wine. Literally. The author of the first four editions of the definitive Oxford Companion to Wine, she has also published some 20 books on the subject and more than 1,500 articles for the Financial Times, for which she has been the wine correspondent since 1989. A member of the royal family’s wine committee, she also helps select wines for Queen Elizabeth II. A trailblazer and a nimble scholar, Robinson—who, in addition to her work at the FT, pours her expertise into her jancisrobinson.com website—was the first wine writer ever to become an M.W., or Master of Wine, a rare distinction.

With nearly five decades in the trade, Robinson has an acute awareness of the forces behind the field’s constant evolution, and gives her readers context so that they can understand what it all means. Her primary interests lie not just in the flavors of wine, but rather in the stories that wines tell about where they came from, how they’re made, and what they reveal about the world. A supporter of the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation, a nonprofit working to improve soil health, she also helps amplify the many ways in which the climate crisis is impacting the wine industry, such as harvest dates and “smoke taint.” By her account, the wine world is in more flux today than ever before. 

On this episode, Robinson speaks with Spencer about the power of old vines, the trials of translating taste and smell into language, and why some of today’s most thoughtful producers are packaging great wines in cardboard boxes and cans.

Special thanks to our Season 5 sponsor, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.

Show notes:

• Full transcript
• jancisrobinson.com
• [15:10] Regenerative Viticulture Foundation
• [17:16] The World Atlas of Wine
• [22:43] Vintage Time Charts
• [26:47] “Ancient Vines and Stunning Wines, But Portugal’s Douro Valley Has a Problem”
• [28:37] Historic Vineyard Society
• [28:48] Sideways
• [31:14] Jancis Robinson’s Wine Course
• [43:09] Master of Wine exam
• [46:04] The Oxford Companion to Wine
• [49:45] The 24-Hour Wine Expert
• [57:53] Wine Grapes
• [59:53] Design Classics
• [01:00:51] The Royal Opera House

Spain is home to hundreds of native wine grapes! The country was a safe haven for vitis vinifera during the last Ice Age causing a boom of developing grape species that are part of the tapestry of this wine making country. As we explore some of Spain’s interesting range of indigenous varieties we are joined by Ferran Centelles, Spanish Wine Specialist for jancisrobinson.com.

This is Spain Uncorked, a Special Miniseries from Wine Pod. 

Ferran is a WSET Diploma level graduate and Sommelier who has worked for the world-renowned El Bulli and is still owner Chef Ferran Adria's "wine guy" for his new project El Bulli 1846. Ferran received the WSET 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award. He also sits on judging panels at international wine competitions and is WSET Certified Educator.

Let’s raise a glass because today’s guest is a world-renowned wine expert—the trailblazing Jancis Robinson. A wine critic, correspondent, and columnist with more than 100 awards to her name, Jancis is the author of the Oxford Companion to Wine and the force behind Jancis Robinson.com, an online resource about all things wine that she launched 20 years ago. Jancis joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about her remarkable life and career, from her time at Oxford to helping select wine for the Queen of England to her recent glassware collaboration. They also talk about how issues such as sexism and sustainability are changing the world of wine.

Thank you to Kerrygold and the Wines of Sicily for supporting today’s episode of Radio Cherry Bombe.

Plus, find out why Anna Goldberg, the co-founder of Dough Dealer, thinks Abena Anim-Somuah (@bakingbeanss), baker and founder of the #5BlackBakers hashtag, is the Bombe!

This week's real life Brave New Girl is Amanda Scott, Founder and CEO of B-Corp certified Thomson and Scott creators of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic champagnes and sparkling wines. A true innovator and disrupter of the global wine industry, Amanda trained at Le Cordon Bleu School in Paris, before developing her own portfolio and brand. Always with the party and taste in mind, she wanted to create wines that were vegan, organic and with the least added sugar as possible. She was taking the road less travelled and she faced many challenges and naysayers along the way.

Brave New You TRIBE podcast Host, artist & illustrator, Lou Hamilton chats with Amanda as they discuss the entrepreneurial journey, the power of knowledge and curiosity and the courage to put one foot in front of the other even when the obstacles in front of you seem unsurmountable. With verve and fizzing with energy this party girl, Amanda brings us her Story from the Edge.

Find out more about Amanda's work on https://thomsonandscott.com/ follow her on instagram @thomsonandsctott and @noughtyaf

Join our tribe https://www.brave-new-you.com/tribe and follow us on instagram @bravenewyoutribe and Lou @brave_newgirl

Thanks to Podstar Ltd for producing the series https://podstarpr.com/

Music is licensed from Melody Loops

Lou is the founder of Brave New Girl Media, helping put your expertise, vision & mission in the spotlight by helping you launch and grow your podcast. https://bravenewgirlmedia.com

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• Brave New Girl- How to be Fearless
• Co-author: Women Excelling Everywhere #1 International Best-seller

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Heritage-inspired tableware designer Richard Brendon and acclaimed wine critic Jancis Robinson combined forces to create one glass that suits all types of wine – and the pair succeeded. Richard gave us an exclusive inside look on how The Wine Glass came to be, informed by his history creating luxury drinkware and Jancis’s renowned expertise, on this week’s episode of Verishop’s shoppable podcast, “Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka.”

Shop the show on Verishop with free one-day shipping and free returns. And listen to the episode for  a special discount code for first-time customers.

In theory, a glass’s purpose is simple: Hold the liquid of one’s choice until it’s ready to be drank. The experts will tell you there’s much more to it than that. For Richard Brendon and Jancis Robinson, they felt that a wine glass should bring out the best of the drink on behalf of the drinker in an elegant, uncomplicated manner. It had to be the right size, shape and material, and it had to be beautifully constructed.

While Jancis -- a Master of Wine, multiple James Beard Award-winner and adviser for Queen Elizabeth II’s cellar -- was able to bring unrivaled knowledge on how a glass can best suit the wine, it was Richard’s ability to turn this inspiration into reality that brought The Wine Glass into being. 

Richard approaches design with a reverence for the past and focus on functionality that’s enabled him to strike the winning balance of modern and timeless throughout his pieces. It’s this instinct that led to a wine glass that’s already beloved by sommeliers and discerning at-home wine drinkers globally. 

On this episode, host Alex Barinka wanted to started with Richard’s background, and how he smashed onto the luxury table and barware scene back when he was serving drinks in various pubs (and in sub-par glasses, no doubt) to make a living. He expanded his expertise from ceramics to glassware, including the brilliant cut-crystal Old Fashioned glasses sold on Verishop.

It was this foray into the glass medium that opened up the door for the eventual designing of The Wine Glass, and the choice to have each and every piece hand-made by glass-blowing artisans. Tune in to the episode to hear the intriguing process by which Richard Brendon’s products are made and how they can enhance your at-home entertaining, plus exclusive details on his partnership with Jancis Robinson. Listen to the show, the shop the episode.

For more behind-the-scenes content, follow host Alex Barinka on Instagram and Twitter.