Ameliarate Through Wine

Today I am excited to have on the podcast; the super inspiring athlete, entrepreneur and philanthropist, former England Rugby captain, Chris Robshaw! Chris is renowned for being the Former player and Captain of the London Based Harlequins as well as the Former England Rugby Captain who enabled England to win the 6 Nations in 2016.    He is now a multifaceted entrepreneur and his passion for wine means he leads Vin X - a Fine Wine investment platform – in their Sports and Entertainment division. Together with his equally talented and passionate wife, opera singer Camilla Kerslake, they created the Kerslake Robshaw foundation. A charity which enables children from underprivileged backgrounds to have access to Sport and the Arts.   We covered his thoughts on the recent Euros and how one captains a team through the highs and lows, what he has learnt about wine since working for Vin X, the trials of early retirement for sportsmen, his views on how our country could be doing more for the Arts and Sports PLUS advice he would give to aspiring athletes as well as his children.. one of which is about to be born any day now!!   I look up to both him and his wife as inspiring cross pollinators of culture as well as making an unexpected and brilliant blend as a couple. The wines chosen were picked on that basis.   First up is a gorgeous chilled red made from the Marzemino grape as Chris loves Pinot and this Sainsbury’s option is a great alternative. The other two wines come from renowned distributors and sponsors of this podcast, the Rothschild Wine Collection. I chose two of my favourite wines which epitomize brilliant yet not conventional blends. A fantastic white Bordeaux Blend from @chateauclarke and an opulent yet elegant Malbec/Cabernet Blend from @bodegascaro. Videos for these wines are being featured on my Instagram this week for more info!  Supermarket Wine: Sainsburys Wine: Marzemino, Taste the Difference Range, Trentino, Italy 2022 Distributor: Rothschild Wine Collection Wine:  Le Merle Blanc, Chateau Clarke, Bordeaux, France 2022 and Amancaya, Bodegas Caro, Mendoza, Argentina 2021 To buy the wine and drink along, visit your local Sainsburys and for the Rothschild Wines visit www.goedhuiswaddesdon.com Social Links – IP to add:  @goedhuiswaddesdon @chateauclarke @bodegascaro https://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on:https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliaswine?_t=8mtCRmAkept&_r=1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wptycOC-LlJ6iG7Ujq3qAThis podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk 

On this episode I have the inimitable LOYD GROSSMAN – OBE, CBE who also has few honoury doctorates AND possibly the most unique voice in media history ever… He is a food lover who presented the original Masterchef and is the innovator of celebrity food with his iconic sauces range. Loyd is also a journalist and published author, and his love of history and the arts has led to leading roles in cultural institutions from English heritage to the Arts society, the royal parks and the royal historical society.   AND since 14 he has always been a guitarist in a band, playing Glastonbury 8 times BUT must be the only punk rock guitarist to ever chair the Churches Conservation Trust. He is the definition of a life enthusiast and talking to him was inspiration for the soul. We covered everything from the 1960s American wine scene and what that meant to Loyd being a rock musician, his antipathy for food and wine pairings, his favourite summer drink which I can’t wait to try, the controversy around breakfast tv, how he created a multi million pound sauces range, why and how we should be protecting the Arts, his favourite dishes and places abroad, Indian wine plus lots more!   For this energetic enthusiastic, I had to curate an equally engaging and diverse wine journey. We started with a Burgundian Chardonnay equivalent from Essex from London based, Black Book Winery. I then introduced him to his first ever Orange Wine from Greece which he adored and then…rather scarily for me… I presented Loyd with an Indian Shiraz paired with his Balti curry sauce. Thankfully it was a success! Thank you Hallgarten wine importers for those last two off piste yet delicious wine offerings.   English Winery: Black Book Winery Wine:  ‘Pygmalion’ Chardonnay, Crouch Valley, Essex 2020 Importer: Hallgarten & Novum Wines Wine:  Assyrrtiko Clay Orange Wine, Gaia Wines, Santorini, Greece 2020 & Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz, Nashik, India 2022 Social Links:  @blackbookwinery @gaiawines @sula_vineyards https://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on:https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliaswine?_t=8mtCRmAkept&_r=1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wptycOC-LlJ6iG7Ujq3qAThis podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk 

Meet my extremely talented yet also ridiculously self deprecating next guest - Sebastian de Souza. He made his debut at age 16 on the tv series Skins and has not stopped since! Actor, screen writer, producer, musician, author and an aviation enthusiast. Due to his open mind and insatiable curiosity, I have chosen wines which enable us to vinously travel around the world, have interesting stories and which don’t fit into boxes.   This conversation felt like talking to an old friend. I loved how honestly Seb talked about the joys and curveballs which come with having a multifaceted career, advice for actors, what drinks are enjoyed at wrap parties, his existential fears for the future which he explores in his book ‘Kid’, the best meals he has enjoyed on set, Oscar politics plus plenty more.   This conversation went on quite a journey which was replicated by the varied provenances of the wine. Seb fell in love with a super delicious and accessible orange wine from Romania from the winery Cramele Recas. I also chose two wines from Wanderlust Wine – a wonderful importer who specializes in boutique wineries from far flung places. Seb tried his first wine, a beautiful Rosé from New York which made him want to go back there at once. We ended with a soulful white wine from the Azores islands to pair with his Portuguese heritage and love of minerality in wine.  Online Retailers: Hennings Wine, Latitude Wine, Reserve Wines Wine: Cramele Recas, Solara Orange, Romania 2022 Importer: Wanderlust Wine Wine: Channing Daughters, Rosato Cabernet Franc, New York, USA, Adega do Vulcão, Arinto Ameixamber, Azores, Portugal To buy the wine and drink along, go online to www.wanderlustwine.co.uk and for the orange wine – check out the several listed online retailers. Social Links@wanderlustwine@cramelerecas https://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on:https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliaswine?_t=8mtCRmAkept&_r=1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wptycOC-LlJ6iG7Ujq3qAThis podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines on Instagram @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk 

It was such a delight being reunited with my dear friend and highly esteemed wine expert, Oz Clarke OBE. He is a highly lauded wine writer, broadcaster, tv presenter and kickstarted the demystification of wine back in the 80’s. As well as being the wine world’s most popular guide and cheerleader, he has continuously been an inspiration and supporter in my own vinous career.  We could have spoken for hours but I think this slightly longer than usual episode gives one plenty to think about and highlights why Oz shines in his field. We covered the complex topic of climate change and what it means for English wine, the downside of today’s highly evolved winemaking techniques, the best underappreciated regions to look out for, wine industry politics, how music relates to wine, discovering Australian wine with Patrick Stewart plus lots more. Being an accomplished RSC actor and performing musician, expect hilarious yet insightful anecdotes, animated wine tasting tips and of course Oz singing Gregorian chants.... I knew he would break into song at some point!  This animated and insightful chat was enhanced by equally engaging and interesting wine from around the world. Majestic’s Chilean Merlot brought back memories for Oz of his first trip to Chile in the 80s, and in his words, is “serious happy juice.” I also had fun cheerleading my local wine store in Gloucestershire, Raffles Fine Wine, by serving two bottles from their shop. A New Zealand Pinot Gris which I was introduced to by Monica Galletti and a stunning Rosé from the Languedoc which gives Provence a run for its money. In Oz’s words, it’s a “rosé with stuffing!  Supermarket: Majestic Wine: Single Vineyard Merlot, Montes, Chile 2021 Importer: Raffles Fine Wines Wine: Kumeu River, Pinot Gris, New Zealand 2020 and Domaine La Lauzeta, Certeza Rosé, France, 2021 To buy the wine and drink along, go visit your local Majestic and go online to: https://raffles-wine.com/ Social Links:@majesticwine@rafflesfinewines https://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on:https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliaswine?_t=8mtCRmAkept&_r=1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wptycOC-LlJ6iG7Ujq3qA This podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines on Instagram @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk 

My next guest is Jo Elvin - a multi award-winning editor who has launched and steered some of Britain’s most successful magazines including Sugar and Glamour – the biggest selling glossy in Europe. This Australian powerhouse arrived in the UK from Sydney in 1992, with a two-line CV and £400. And her first job was as a waitress in a pub! But she slowly worked her way up through the ranks to become one of the country’s most respected editors. For the last two years she was CEO of Children with Cancer UK and through wine we will be delving deeper into her inspiring and multifaceted career and life decisions. We cover a wide range of topics – I would expect nothing less – from the effects of the digital age on the magazine industry, the importance of ‘method acting’ when being an Editor, the dearth of teenage magazines when they are needed more than ever, the importance of knowing when to leave a job, who to watch in fashion and much more!  To power this awesome chat, I had to feature incredible wines by inspiring female winemakers and female run wineries around the world. For our supermarket option, I introduced Jo to the crisp yet fruity Spanish grape, Godello, made by one of Spain’s top winemakers, Katia Alvarez and who rightfully features in Majestic’s Winemaker Series. From Liberty Wines, I chose a gorgeous Rosé from iconic Sicilian winery, Donnafugata, who for this wine has done a collab with Dolce & Gabbana to express the connection of wine to fashion and the arts. I also chose one of my favourite Fleuries, made by another inspirational Aussie, Jane Eyre – who previously was a hairdresser and is now an award winning Negociant in Burgundy.    Supermarket: Majestic Wine: The Winemaker Series: Godello Grape, Spain Importer: Liberty Wines Wine: Dolce and Gabbana Rosa, Donnafugata, Sicily, 2022, Italy and Jane Eyre, Fleurie, Beaujolais, 2022, France  To buy the wine and drink along, go visit your local Majestic and go online to: www.libertywines.co.uk Social Links:@majesticwine @liberty_wines https://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on:https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliaswine?_t=8mtCRmAkept&_r=1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wptycOC-LlJ6iG7Ujq3qAThis podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines on Instagram @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk  

Major warning: we should probably have added in bleeps for this recording, but I would have expected nothing less from the ‘brilliant but irascible’ Giles Coren. Most of you will know him as The Times Restaurant critic and writer. He is also a Queens Park rangers superfan, winner of the worst literary sex scene and confesses himself to be a ‘bit of an arse hole’. He was actually lovely and I adored our candid conversation around wine bores, how to navigate restaurant wine lists, how context is actually more important than food whilst also busting a lot of misconceptions and myths around the food industry. I even managed to get in my grilled guinea pig impersonation much to Giles’ bemusement.  The wines to pair over this opinionated and colourful lunch had to be equally personality filled and slightly rebellious. From M and S, I served an orange wine from Georgia – which absolutely delivered on the personality front. For my next two wines, both from wine importer, Lay and Wheeler, I served a Grand Cru equivalent Pinot Noir from Austria and a stunning Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa which Giles described as smelling and tasting ‘posh’. Phew! Both were made by innovative, rebellious winemakers who refused to follow the crowd. Much like my memorable guest.  Supermarket:  Marks & Spencer Wine: Lost and Found Range: Mtsvane, Georgia 2022 Importer: Lay and Wheeler Wine: Blaufrankisch, Ried Kirchberg, Blaufrankisch, Weingut Moric, 2020 and Main Road and Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon, Restless River, Hemel en Aarde, South Africa 2018  To buy the wine and drink along, go visit your local Marks and Spencer and go online to: www.laywheeler.com Social Links:@marksandspencer@laywheeler https://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on:https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliaswine?_t=8mtCRmAkept&_r=1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wptycOC-LlJ6iG7Ujq3qA This podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines on Instagram @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk 

To kickstart Series Two, it made sense to have Candice Brathwaite – Sunday Times Best selling author, writer of non fiction as well as YA fiction, blogger, fashionista, social media queen and online aunty to many! Together we discuss her thoughts on social media and how to navigate it whilst being a parent and working with her husband, advice for young writers, her ancestral heritage and evolving spirituality and much more. PLUS she reveals the most hilarious Wine Confessional we have ever had on the podcast! I was actually wiping back tears. The wine which fuelled the flowing laughter was a super fun summer white option from Greece thanks to The Wine Society, a White Chateauneuf du Pape which was a revelation to Candice and a soulful New Zealand Pinot which pairs perfectly with her newly released book, Manifesto. Both of these wines were from Philglass and Swiggot, a wine merchant and also online retailer. Wine Merchant: The Wine Society Wine: The Society’s Greek White 2023 Retailer: Philglass and Swiggot Wine: Bosque des Papes Cuvee, Tradition Blanc 2022, Moonlight Race Pinot Noir Burn Cottage 2020,  To buy the wine and drink along, go online to www.thewinesociety.com and philglass-swiggot.com Social Links:@thewinesociety1874@philglasswiggot https://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on:https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@ameliaswine?_t=8mtCRmAkept&_r=1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wptycOC-LlJ6iG7Ujq3qA This podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines on Instagram @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk 

For the last episode of the first series, who could be a better guest than my own father, John Singer!  As someone who describes himself as ‘impossible to classify’ - we explore a range of wines which ‘can’t be put in a box’ and which also reveal some hilarious as well as revealing professional and personal stories. Being a pioneer of Private Equity in Europe, we explore the importance of having courage in life, his scariest career moments and why he ‘almost’ but never quite made it to investing in wine!  As well as his work in the Finance World, John was also awarded a CBE for his contributions to the world of Education and the Arts. The importance of supporting small businesses, individuals and of course independent wine makers is championed over a range of fascinating wines from an Australian viognier to a superb and fantastically priced South African Bordeaux blend – both available from my favourite local wine shop and online at  Golborne Wine and Deli. To wrap up this extremely (!) lively discussion we enjoyed a wonderfully hedonistic Californian red blend from Orin Swift – that can be found at your local Majestic. The delicious wine, laughter and cheerleading of the Arts in the episode is the perfect way to wrap up this wine and culture series. The ‘Ameliarate Through Wine’ podcast series is taking a January detox – but will be back later on in the year. Until then, thank you SO much for your support, it is hugely appreciated, and I wish you the very best bacchant blessings xx Highstreet Store: Majestic Wine: Abstract Red blend, Orin Swift, California, USA 2021 Retailer: Goldborne Wine and Deli  Wine: Clonakilla Viognier, Canberra, Australia 2021 and Gabrielskoolf Blend Series, Walker Bay, South Africa, 2019 To buy the wine and drink along, go to Majestic for the Abstract Red Blend and purchase all the other wines at www.golbornefinewinedeli.com plus other online retailers Social Links @majesticwine@golbornedelihttps://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en This podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines on Instagram @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk  

I actually cried with laughter on this week’s episode. Operatic Tenor, Nicky Spence, recently voted most compelling singer actor and Winner of BBC Music’s Personality of the Year – ABSOLUTELY DELIVERS as a podcast guest. Together on my sofa, complete with Glen, his bow tie clad pouchon, we discuss everything from the wine served at his recent wedding, how to survive night’s out as a singer and just as importantly, how opera, like wine, is meant to be for everyone. Nicky’s journey from growing up in a council estate to becoming an international singing sensation, is inspiring. However, I adore his emphasis on making opera accessible to everyone whilst not dumbing it down – from his judging on Sky Art’s ‘ Anyone Can Sing’ to using music as therapy when consulting with younger artists. This is a wonderful sensorially enhancing episode ( he even sings at one point) and is the perfect conversation to listen to during Christmas week. To aid both our vocal chords we enjoyed a light and zesty Alvarinho – like the Opera Carmen – it is a crowd pleaser. And then moved onto the ‘Wagner’ of wine – a compelling and complex South African Chardonnay. For our finale, I had the pleasure of introducing Nicky to his first ever chilled red, which is made by one of Napa’s most iconic winemakers, Steve Matthiasson. What could be better for this marvellous maestro?! Highstreet Store: Morrisons Wine: The Best Alvarinho  Retailer: Nekter Wines Wine: Atlas Swift Chardonnay, Cape South Coast, South Africa, 2020 and Tendu, Dunnigan Hills, California, USA 2019 To buy the wine and drink along, go to Waitrose for the Chenin Blanc and purchase all the other wines at www.nekterwines.com And CHECK NICKY SPENCE’S future tours and performances at: www.nickyspence.com Social Links @morrisons@nekterwineshttps://www.amelias-wine.com and follow me on https://www.instagram.com/amelias_wine/?hl=en This podcast has been vinously propelled by the Rothschild Wine Collection. Explore the world of Rothschild wines on Instagram @rothschildwinecollection or shop online at waddesdonwine.co.uk