This show is brought to you in association with iDealwine. In fiction, Shangri-La was a mythical place of boundless human wisdom and agelessness. These days, after China re-named a city in north-west Yunnan Province, it's the backdrop of a potential game-changer for Chinese wine.This particular backdrop is forbidding. Think: precipitous mountain gorges above the raging Mekong River at nearly 3,000 metres altitude. A patchwork of small-holding vineyards cling to the hillsides. Prunings are fed to yaks. Tea, tobacco and mushrooms are Yunnan's historic crops. No wonder the wine potential in the Meili Mountain region long remained hidden.That is, until a particularly stubborn and resilient Australian winemaker, Tony Jordan, embarked on an arduous search on behalf of global luxury group LVMH to unearth a Chinese Grand Cru terroir. He found Shangri-La. But would his bet pay off?In this episode we discover the intriguing story of Ao Yun - how (on earth) it came to be, just how challenging this operation is to run, and most importantly - what's the wine actually like? At nearly £300 a bottle, it has a lot to live up to. We talk to winemaker Maxence Dulou, Chinese wine expert Janet Wang and Berry Brothers & Rudd Asia buyer Tom Baxter. We also deliver our verdict on the wine whose name means, 'soaring above the clouds'.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, including some eye-catching photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E21 - AO YUN: The Insider's GuideInstagram: @susieandpeterSponsors: iDealwine
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53:10
‘Adrenaline rush’: Wine Auctions & Trends with iDealwine
This show is brought to you in association with iDealwine. It's not every day the world of wine is described in terms like: 'adrenaline rush,' and going 'crazy'. Welcome to the world of online wine auctions, particularly that of iDealwine (sponsors of this show). iDealwine is a treasure trove not only of wine goodies but also high-tech functionality - so in this episode we explore how these online wine auctions work and why they might be worth trying out if you haven't already.Whisper it - but apparently they're pretty easy, accessible (with prices starting at €1) and...fun.We talk about all this as well as analyse the wine market trends of today and tomorrow with iDealwine co-founder Angélique de Lencquesaing. We also hear from iDealwine customer Jordan O'Brien in Toronto as to why we should, in his words, 'dive right in.'Along the way we talk hidden gems, Japanese Pinot Noir, 4 o'clock starts, fake wine and 1965 vinegar...Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, including full listings of the wines, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E20 - 'Adrenaline rush': Wine Auctions and Trends with iDealwineInstagram: @susieandpeterSponsors: iDealwine
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49:08
Battle of the Bubbles
BREAKING: A titanic showdown between top champagnes and the best of the rest has been settled. The victors? Headline writers...This is an impromptu pod reflecting the momentous nature of this Battle of the Bubbles tasting, which took place at the London Wine Fair 2025. Sixteen top judges (including both of us); 26 top wines, including some of Champagne's most reputable (and highly priced) bottles - and some quite astonishing results.In this episode we give the lowdown on the results and reflect on what it all means. Including the intriguing undercurrents and subtexts, as well as our personal insights and conclusions. (And yes, we do disagree...) There are some great value recommendations in there too. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, including full listings of the wines, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E19 - Battle of the BubblesThe video version of this podcast is available on our YouTube channel.Instagram: @susieandpeter
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48:24
News & Views 2025: Alcohol in deep space; Pope Francis - wine legend; Global wine stutters - but Essex, Bhutan, Pompeii on the up
Where we selectively recap on the wine headlines in recent months (informative - but also fun) and respond to various questions, comments...and grumbles.We gaze into deep space in search of booze. We consider how global wine can be in the doldrums...but Essex is on the up. We hear a sad tale of vandals destroying scientific research, and a heartening story of how ancient Pompeii wine is set to be revived. Above all, we revel in the wise words of the recently deceased Pope Francis, who declared wine to be a 'gift from God', a 'healthy consumer habit' and, 'a true joy for the heart of man'. Apparently he told winemaker Ricardo Cotarella: 'You can't party without wine.' Our kind of Pope.We play our globally popular Guess the Missing Word in the Wine Headline game, this time featuring Bridget Jones, Bhutan, a wrestling superstar and various forms of wildlife. Just a trigger warning for anyone traumatised by the mention of Peter's pants from our previous episode on fake wine - Peter's pants feature again. Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E18 - News and Views 2025Instagram: @susieandpeter
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35:36
Fake Wine: A Laughing Matter?
Brilliant rogues counterfeit unicorn wine, fool the establishment and laugh their way to the bank. It's good story - so good that even The Simpsons have released an episode dedicated to wine fraud. But is this just a laughing matter?This is without doubt one of our FAVOURITE EVER Wine Blast episodes. It stars no less than Homer and Marge Simpson, Mr Burns, Waylon Smithers and Professor Frink. Together with The Simpsons co-writer Johnny LaZebnik and wine fraud expert Maureen Downey.Fraud is an ever-bigger issue for the wine world. It's nothing new (Pliny the Elder grumbled about it in Roman times). But in the wake of notorious fraudsters like Hardy Rodenstock and Rudy Kurniawan, it has become more professional and widespread, with organised crime moving into a profitable and low-risk venture. The implications are profound, as Maureen Downey explains.But that doesn't mean we can't have a laugh about it. So we get exclusive access to the hilarious animated world of The Simpsons to experience how they explore the theme of fake wine. Along the way we talk Robin Hood, queue-jumping, Jesus, 'cover-up' sex, how radioactivity helps detect fakes, and Peter's pants.Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find contact info, together with all details from this episode, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S6 E17 - Fake Wine: A Laughing Matter?Instagram: @susieandpeter
Wine Blast is a wine podcast with a difference. Susie and Peter are married Masters of Wine and experienced broadcasters who bring wine to life with a smile via interviews with amazing people, provocative chat, food, tips, your questions, gentle bickering and a certain amount of over-sharing. (And yes, they're aware they really need to get out more...) This award-winning, chart-topping pod has been widely featured in international press including The Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Sun, Evening Standard, Radio Times, Decanter, Wine Folly and beyond. Reviews of Wine Blast say: 'Love these guys (almost as much as wine): educational, invigorating and damn funny too' - 'Relatable, entertaining, light-hearted' (Drinks Business) - 'Best wine podcast out there' - 'A complete tonic for the heart, mind and soul' (Drinks Network). Cheers!
New Zealand