The Maker and The Merchant

We know, we know—this episode is a bit late! With Lee off on a well-deserved summer holiday, Ferg took over the editing duties, which somehow turned into a 10-day epic. But, as they say, good things come to those who wait! In this season finale, Ferg and Jack take the reins for the second part of our deep dive into the history of wine. From the Romans’ questionable attempts to cultivate vineyards in chilly Britain to the Dark Ages, where viticulture all but vanished, our dynamic duo explores how wine managed to survive and thrive in England against all odds. They dive into the role of monasteries in keeping the wine flowing through medieval times and how the love for a good glass of vino persisted despite plagues and freezing temperatures. But it’s not all serious history! Expect plenty of laughs as Ferg and Jack debate the Romans’ wine-making skills and share how English wine made its comeback post-war. As they wrap up this two-part special—and the series—you'll find out why the story of wine in England is as much about resilience as it is about taste. So, grab a glass and join us for one last toast before we cork it up for a well-earned break. Cheers! 🥂

The end is nigh, after 7 months and 42 episodes season 3 of The Maker and The Merchant is finally coming to a conclusion. Fear not however as we have two more episodes to share with you as we bring this season to a close prior to our summer break. Unfortunately Lee misread the communication from TM&TM hr and has already started his summer hols. Fortunately Ferg was joined by the inimitable Jack Merrylees, Marketing director at Balfour Winery and general history buff. This week Ferg and Jack desperately try to get from the first grape vine to "hommo Winemaker" the evolutionary state human attain prior to ascension. Expect random interludes when the chickpea curry arrives, a very loud cough Ferg wasn't able "to fix in post" and the regular inclusion of a rather loud German Shepherd. It's a fascinating episode leaving you, dear listener on a knife edge to hear more. TM&TM Grubby Hole Diggers get it ere now

DEMOCRACY! We love it. Especially when it goes our way…and involves wine. But do democracy and wine meet anywhere? Sure, the Greeks drank plenty of wine and invented the concept, but what about today? Where are the winemaking heroes prepared to put big decisions back in our hands? Wait…should we leave non-experts to make such large and groundbreaking decisions? One man who has proved democracy is alive and well, and can be found in the wonderful world of wine is Alex Brogan (not an IWSC 30 Under 30 Winner as some mistakenly think) founder of The Not Yet Named Wine Company. Avid listener of the show will have heard not only his name before, but also the man himself; he appeared as a special guest on our well thought out live episode at The Sampler way back when. In today’s episode Lee (Ferg’s got a problem with his gravity and is still floating around the winery) talks to Alex about the origin of The Not Yet Named Wine Co, the first (discounting a one off American project over a decade ago) the bring democratic principles to the wine drinking masses. From concept to first vintage, we explore how the concept has progressed and understand more about the kind of options the community are able to make and influence. TNYNWC is more than just the wine though, with discussions and votes involving names, labelling, and many other things too. Also, the community involved have access to special events and Dictator Wines. Talking of events, there is still time for you to join an Arrival Party this Saturday 27th July…hit the social medias of TNYNWC website to join the fun. Beyond this we focus on the impending vintage 5, which will see Alex travel to Slovenia to carry out the demands of his faithful followers…and there is still time for you to join the action. As well as this, Alex shares stories of how the project is connecting people across continents, school trips, and an incident with a pig. With huge thanks to Alex for his time and sharing his fabulous story; we’re huge fans of this business and think you will be too. TM&TM: THE NOT YET NAMED WINE CO. available to castdown from your podloads on Thursday morning. @fergelias @wineman147 @alexanderjbrogan @notyetnamedwineco #wine #podcast #winecast #winetime #notyetnamedwineco #democracy #vote #voting

Welcome back dear listener. You can't help yourself can you? Following the ENORMOUS success of our English Wine Week series, Ferg & Lee review the week itself. From the big news of the week, to the announcement of the Wine GB awards, we name our favourites and highlight once again the exciting world of English Wine. Lee then raises of the question of just where to have a good wining and dining experience in Oxford. The city may be a seat of culture and learning, and be home to many great wine merchants, but where in town can you go for a great evening of Michelin recommended food and wine pairing? Lee it seems has the answer. He recently attended just such an event at Summertown's Pompette Restaurant. Under the expert guidance and tutelage of Suzy Nemeth, Lee traveled the world of the Loire with wines that were both excellent, and not necessarily obvious. Not only that, it was a culinary trip of excellence. Prepare to be regaled with tales of superb wines, excellent food, and a wonderful evening. Just think about how much it would have been if he wasn't there! Check out Pompette's website for details of future events and get yourself along if you're in the area. We send our thanks to everyone at Pompetter not only for giving Lee a wonderful evening, but also giving us a night off. So sit back, strap in, and enjoy HAVE YOU BEEN TO A WINE DINNER? Available to loadpod from your downcasts on Thursday morning. #wine #podcast #winecast #winetime #wineoclock #winedinner #Oxford #Pompette @fergelias @wineman147 @winegb @suzynemeth @pompetterestaurant @shedlikesfood

In this week’s emergency episode, Fergus delves into the latest industry statistics released by Wine GB, accompanied by the wonderful Phoebe French, communications manager at Wine GB. Unfortunately, Lee couldn’t join the podcast this week as he found himself unexpectedly detained by Sussex Police on suspicion of attempting to “float a winery out to sea.” While this peculiar incident has temporarily sidelined Lee, rest assured he’ll be back with us next week to share his unique perspectives. Seizing this unexpected opportunity, Fergus decided to record from his parked car in an industrial estate. Consequently, the sound quality on his end is less than optimal. We apologise for this inconvenience and kindly ask you to bear with this episode, dear listener. Despite the audio hiccups. Phoebe’s contributions are crystal clear, providing genuinely important and relevant information about the state of the fastest-growing agricultural sector in the United Kingdom. Phoebe discusses the significant growth the industry has seen recently, the challenges it faces, and the exciting developments on the horizon. From advancements in viticulture to the impact of climate change, this episode covers a broad spectrum of topics that are essential for anyone interested in the UK’s burgeoning wine sector. There are many challenges ahead, but also much to be positive about, making this a truly enlightening episode. So, tune in and enjoy this informative discussion, and stay tuned for Lee’s return next week.

1,000 downloads in a month. IN A SINGLE MONTH! No, we're not harvesting stats from some Russian bot farm, these are all from you. Our dear Listener. How can we say thank you? We, we thought we'd say thank you by continuing to record our absolute nonsense. This week opens with thoughts about the new snooker season and crying in the streets. However, we quickly get into things as Ferg shares many details about his recent 'study' trip to Alsace. From the impact of climate change to discovering Syrah (yeah, nice one Ferg, it's been around a while) via a discussion about the roles and responsibilities of governing bodies, Ferg lays it all bare. And we do mean all. Thankfully Lee has edited the images out of the podcast and you remain mentally-scar free. Just what are producers in Alsace doing to mitigate, pre-empt, and survive climate change? Are they growing the most suitable varieties? How are wine styles changing? Just what is this Temple Of Ego he describes? As if this wasn't enough, Lee tells us about his impending wine dinner for Flavours of Spain (remember: he's their ambassador) at l'Oculto SE4 on Thursday 11th July. Apparently he's going to talk about the joys of Valencia and will share bottles that bubbles, whites that intrigue, reds that uplift, and sweeties and soothe. Or something like that. There may still be a few tickets remaining to head to @locultose4's website via this link and get yourself booked in. TM&TM: The Wrong Varieties available to loadpoad from wherever you downdown from Thursday morning.

TM&TM Langham are 15 Does the child of two MWs become an MW cubed? What should you have at Cobham services? Why are there so many Starbucks at service stations out west? Why are the boys in the Langham disgorging hall? What is the ethos at Langham and why is it so special? All will be explained in this one-off special episode to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Langham, featuring the second-youngest head winemaker in the country, Tommy "Bloody" Grimshaw. #EnglishWine #LanghamWine #15thAnniversary #TommyGrimshaw #WineMaker #CobhamServices

It’s a shame someone has to go last in these mini series. But, we have saved a big hitter and one of our favourites for you.In today’s concluding episode we talk to Marie Davies of Stopham fame. Synonymous with this excellent producer, you may think that Marie has been there from the start. Marie talks us through her journey into wine and the industry, and how she became so innately connected and vital to Stopham (and English wine generally) Then by exploring the story of Stopham, and their approach to the vineyard and wine, we cover topics such as sustainabilityand wider communication with existing and potential English wine consumers. Again, a lot of ground is covered today, but Marie has agreed (as if there was a choice) to come back on in future and dig into the subjects in greater detail. Stopham are distributed in the UK by Liberty, and as mentioned in the episode you can find their wines in @majesticwine @hawkinsbros @grape_britannia and @butlerswinecellar amongst others. As well as on @virginatlantic. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @mariedenisedavies @stophamvineyard @liberty_wine #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

For today’s English Wine Week episode we head to Berkshire, to a place that is only 45 minutes from Paddington station. Who would have thought there would be vineyards so close to London? We have a world of vinous riches on our doorsteps in the UK and today we talk to the wonderful Mark Darley, the man behind All Angels Vineyard. Trading a life in the city and a ‘commute next to someone’s armpit’ for ‘a 3 minute walk with 3 labradors’ seems like a pretty good deal to us, and this is exactly what Mark did when he went into his vines full time. All Angels have won multiple awards for their vintage sparkling wines. It’s no wonder are these are communicative and delicate wines that offer tremendous value. Mark talks about how it all started and shares his thoughts on getting (and keeping) consumers engaged and enthused with the subject of English wine. From corporate events to dosage trials, there is a lot more happening at All Angels than just grape growing. Well worth the 45 minute journey from Paddington (or more minutes from further afield) and definitely worth 25 minutes of your time today, give this a listen as we continue to celebrate English Wine Week. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @allangelsvineyard @bottleopenerltd #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

As we hurtle towards the end of English Wine Week there is still plenty of time for everyone to get involved. With the weekend around the corner surely it’s time for a glass of something English. But do you stop to consider the world behind the glass? When were these grapes planted? Who is working them and what are the challenges? Just what would drive someone to undertake such a challenge? Today we talk to the joyful and joyous Phil Harris from Natalia Harris. Phil’s journey began as a natural successor to Indiana Jones, but thankfully he chose to leave archaeology and join the wine industry instead. From experiences at Davenport and Domaine Humbrecht, Phil and his wife Natalia planted a vineyard near Hastings. We talk cultivation, organics and sustainability, and include feedback their wines have received from notable names Jancis Robinson MW and Henry Jeffreys (amongst others). This is a fun and uplifting 20 minutes in the presence of one of English wine’s great personalities. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @nataliaharriswine @jancisrobinson @henrygjeffreys #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

What’s cooler than being cool? Being an awesome English wine grower making something unique, exciting, and boundary pushing. Or as Andre 3000 summed it up…’ice cold’. Charlie quoted Gareth Maxwell when he told me “B*ll*cks, what can go wrong?”. Charlie takes us on a wonderful journey through the incredible history of this piece of land – a history that involves Henry VIII, the Canadian Royal Air Force, Peter Dominic…and even AC/DC (just about). Anyone else got that in their English wine armoury? We think not. Coolhurst produce the Triple Vs: all their wines are single variety, single vineyard, and single vintage. A bold move in a marginal climate where there is nowhere to hide. But hiding isn’t necessary, the Coolhurst wines comes highly rated (especially by Lee who knows them reasonably well) So settle in for a fabulous episode in which Charlie reveals all about Coolhurst and we all cover some thoughts on vintage variation and wine comms. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @coolhurstvineyards #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

So far this week we’ve talked to chief executives, makers, marketers, and retailers…we now turn our attentions to competitors. Or rather, competition organisers. For the last 8 years the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA) has flown the flag for this growing industry, and its many varied and dynamic producers. Lee himself holds the privilege of having judged, and served as a panel chair, and multiple occasions but this time, we get the down low, the intel, the facts from the founder of this competition. Alex Taylor had his interest in wine competitions piqued by studying WSET. He was furious when first introduced to English wine…that it hadn’t been brought to his attention earlier. Thus started a journey into starting a competition that would help raise the profile of producers and the whole category. Alex explains his ethos, how the competition works, and mentions just a few of the many extremely talented judges and brilliant medal winners. It’s a classic TM&TM slice of English wine action so strap in and enjoy. We also have a special visit from the Taylor clan. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @tasetbristol @the.iewa @dnkrbywine @messy.massey @lymebaywine @jameslambertwine @theenglishwineman @hawkinsbros @waistcoatwines @pickledmimi @huxbear_vineyard @susyatkins @food_writer @liamsteevenson @langhamwinery @tuffonhallwine @windingwoodvineyard @burnvalleyvineyard @greatbritishwine #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

For several years now, Lee has talked about his heroes, specifically his wine heroes, more specifically his wine superheroes. There is an equivalent to the Bat Signal in this world of English wine, and it takes the form of Sarah Massey and Lyme Bay. We have been incredibly fortunate to grab a few minutes of Sarah’s time and here we explore her journey into wine and how she has become not only a stellar winemaker, but a serious role model for young women in the industry. There is much more to this conversation and we hope to have Sarah back on soon for a full episode to explore her career, influences, and huge impact on the industry. This aside we learn about the ethos and direction of Lyme Bay, and how Sarah goes about expressing the multiple sites and high quality fruit grown in some of England’s most premium and exciting sites. It’s a jam packed episode and one we know has much more to cover. We press Sarah for her favourites in the Lyme Bay range and recommend seeking them out to enjoy this English Wine Week. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @messy.massey @lymebaywine @jameslambertwine #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

It’s all very well and good talking about the amazing producers, sites, and fruit England now has in its armoury. It’s also fun talking about marketing and comms (hear yesterday’s episode) but who is on the front lines? Who is going out into the real world of UK wine consumers and fighting the good fight to get as many great wines in front of them as possible? We have some great retailers of wine in the UK and in today’s episode we spend some time chatting to the wonderful James Hawkins of Hawkins Bros, an English Wine Specialist retailer. It’s here at the coal face that we can discover in real time what consumer think, want, and expect of English wine. Retailers perform a key task in being the link from vineyard and winery to actual drinker and James shares his insights and thoughts on where English wine sits in the mind of the modern consumer. Among events the Hawkins Bros are running this week you’ll be able to try wines from @albourneestate @extonparkvineyard @greyfriarsvineyard @simpsonswine @candoverbrook @drink.folc @ambrielsparkling (which won’t be the only time they’re mentioned in this series!). James also talks about his discoveries through @the.iewa including @windingwoodvineyard and @poyningsgrangevineyard. Keep your eye on their social channels for full event details. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @tastebristol@theenglishwineman @hawkinsbros #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

Like any decent minded individual we bloody love Dan Kirby. A font of wisdom and knowledge, MW student, and Brand Ambassador for Flint Vineyards. We get straight into it by asking Dan to give us the intel on Flint but the conversation quickly moves into the realm of consumer attitudes, expectations, and how we can better build comms and engagement. With Dan’s trademark insight and wit we look into where English wine is currently and examine the opportunities for growth. All of this weaves effortlessly around what Flint do, how they do it, and what makes them tick. There’s a lot of great stuff here from both a producer and consumer perspective. So, settle in and prepare to be both soothed and enlightened by the gentle tones of one of English wine’s great figures. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @dnkrbywine @flintvineyard #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

Who better to talk to at the beginning of English Wine Week than Nicola Bates? The Chief Executive of WineGB very kindly found time in her ridiculously busy schedule to talk to us. Nicola talks us through the vital work of WineGB and explains the many different complex areas in which this organisation works. We assess the impact on plans of the sudden election campaign and discuss how to move forward during these turbulent times. Nicola also explains the key areas of focus for WineGB and its members, before we go all JFK and ask not what WineGB can do for us, but what can we do for WineGB. Finally, we ask Nicola to highlight some important events and activity to look for during this English Wine Week. There’s a lot of ground covered for such a short episode and we hope to entice Nicola back for a more indepth chat in future. Until then, enjoy this great primer to English wine and English Wine Week. Our sincere thanks again to Nicola for finding the time to chat to us. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

TM&TM:EWW Hot on the heels of Welsh Wine Week and the internationally* successful TM&TM: WWW Ferg & Lee are delighted to kick things off for English Wine Week. A huge celebration of all that is great about English wine. Well, not all, because we can’t fit that in. Over the course of English Wine Week we will be talking to the makers and shakers, the groovers and movers, the people who make English wine tick. This is a dynamic and exciting scene filled with vibrance, creativity, and excitement. Over the course of English Wine Week you’ll hear from growers, makers, retailers, marketers, competition organisers, and best of all, the Chief Executive of WineGB herself. So keep your pods open and your ears logged on…we’re come at you like a bullet, like a ray, like a super cool English wine. Our huge thanks to everyone involved in English Wine Week, especially those who have taken the time to chat to us. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @tasetbristol @the.iewa @dnkrbywine @flintvineyard @coolhurstvineyards @allangelsvineyard @bottleopenerltd @messy.massey @lymebaywine @jameslambertwine @theenglishwineman @hawkinsbros @mariedenisedavies @stophamvineyard @nataliaharriswine #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147 *Wales is another country after all

Amazingly following last week’s debacle, Tom of Paso Primero (and Guardian snack feature) fame has returned to TM&TM Towers! At least this time he was prepared for a recording that had no plan, no understanding of how to conduct a tightly structured interview, and two presenters he described as ‘duelling banjos’. This time we delve deeply into the wines crafted by Tom’s own hands (and jocks). Thanks to the magnificent Online Wine Tasting Company, Ferg and Lee each had 6 of Tom’s wines to taste (drink) and work through under Tom’s expert tutelage. Through the medium of these wines Tom shares more of his winemaking stories, Spanish adventures, and exactly how he went about crafting them. It’s fair to say that our pair of banjos were suitably impressed. Blown away. These wines fully deserve their cult status and following, and not just because Tom himself is a class act. If you would like to try them, you can purchase the same tasting pack through The Online Tasting Club. Do it, you won’t be disappointed. From outdated pop culture references, chasing cockerels, and dubious use of sponsorship money, this episode is another big one, but it’s a huge amount of wine tasting and story telling fun. You’ll love it. TM&TM: Take Your Cos And F*** O*** loaddownable from your poddingcasts Thursday morning.

How does a Shrewsbury boy achieve fame through the medium of savoury snacks and The Guardian newspaper while simultaneously being a rock start winemaker in Spain with a cult following? All this will be explored, and much more, in Part I of TM&TM’s interview with Thomas Holt A.K.A. Mr Paso. The winemaking genius behind Paso Primero started life as a potential kickball star before discovering booze. Or he was injured or some other excuse. Before long he was headed to University where his contributions to science have never been questioned…as it seems there aren’t any. Suddenly it was back home to Shropshire and into the loving arms of one of the UK’s best wine merchants (for once, this isn’t actually about Bin Two)…Tanners. It was here that Tom fell in love…in more ways than one. Following sojourns around New Zealand and Canada, it was off to Spain to establish what has quickly become an iconic brand with a fabulous story. With success in Somontano came a journey back to the world of The Kickball as Tom became the winemaker-on-call for Shrewsbury Town. In this episode we tackle winemaking techniques, the beauty of Shropshire (especially that there flower show), and high profile celebrity encounters. Ferg improves upon his [guest name] Doo [guest name] Don’t in a way no one could have foreseen and Lee returns to pitting the two winemakers head to head in a battle of vinous wits. It’s a big one this, and rightfully so. So settle in, kick off your dancing shoes, and be ready for Part I of a Pasodyssey. TM&TM: Not Contributing To The Science out Thursday morning to podcast from wherever you get your downloads

We round out our series on Welsh wines with a look to the future. While there are now many established vineyards in Wales, it is still new territory with new plantings and producers popping up all the time. One such producer is St. Hilary. Planted in 2021, their first harvest took place last year, with the first wines expected imminently. Liz explains where the dream originated, what they planted, and their hopes for their wines, and those of the Welsh Wine industry too. Liz shares so much information and detail on the St. Hilary story you’d think they’d been established for a decade. This new vineyard has a lot of potential and early barrel sampling of the wine has yielded some very positive feedback from a knowledgeable industry figure. Learn more about them by following them at @sthilaryvineyard. We have had such fun talking to all our guests over the course of this series, although we’re no closer to an answer on the badger question. Hopefully this series has revealed how adventurous, creative, and dynamic the Welsh wine industry really is. There are many more producers than the handful we’ve interviewed here, and perhaps we’ll be able to entice more to join us at TM&TM Towers soon. Our sincere thanks to @vinvancymru, @thedellvineyard, @valevinesandwines, @welshwines, @terroir.iste, @whinyardrocks, @montgomeryvineyard, @velfreyvineyard, @ancrehill, and of course @sthilaryvineyard. Go and get visiting and tasting Welsh wine and share with us your thoughts through social media or by emailing themakerandthemerchant@gmail.com @welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast @fergelias @wineman147