The Maker and The Merchant

S5E7: TM&TM So I Bought A Volvo

That's it folks. The history books will need to be rewritten. They will now just say 'Ferg bought a Volvo.' Everything else will just be a footnote.
 
Included in that footnote will be an intricate and detailed précis of how Ferg also fell into the world of Low and No Alcohol. And how he fell into the world of Rosé. It's like Ferg has set out to make something specifically to annoy Lee. That's all too easy to do these days.
 
Ferg gets technical, Lee asks a combination of useful, insightful questions alongside some utter nonsense. But it's genuinely interesting.
 
More interesting than a Volvo. Wow, as I write that I realise exactly what TM&TM has become.
 
We need to rewrite the history books indeed.
 
TM&TM: So I Bought A Volvo, reversing into your cul de sac on Thursday morning.
 
#wine #podcast #winecast #lowandno #rosewine

S5E6: It’s not about us

Many industry commentators have not suggested how Ferg & Lee have been known to wander off on existential tangents. Literally millions of global wine drinkers have not noticed Lee's predilection for both dismissing the very concept of time, and his deep love of the one true sport, the sport upon which all others are based: snooker. In a similar instance of 'somebody not noticing something' Ferg had not heard the news about the Snooker World Championship staying at the hallowed Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
 
What's this got to do with wine, and a wine podcast? Lee has rare talent. Rare in that it has not been seen and is likely non-existent. In one swift move he can turn ANY conversation to snooker. Yep, it's one of those episodes.
 
What is the true nature of wine? What is its value? How does one 'truly enjoy wine?'; this is a selection of questions asked and not necessarily answered. 
 
In a shocking twist, Ferg wants to learn more about not just Claret, but also the green baize. In a past life on social media (before he grew up and shut it all down) Lee was particularly not well known for interacting with Triple Crown Winner Shaun Murphy AND MC extraordinaire Phil Seymour. Think we can do a collab of snooker meets wine? We can off The Onefourseven podcast a tour of a winery and vineyards with a man known as 'Former England's Youngest Winemaker' and his cohost who 'Once made a 47 break'. We're sure they have FAR better things to do than bother with this nonsense though. And who can blame them.
 
Anyway...there's an episode out Thursday morning; keen-eared listeners may notice some callbacks to an episode that hasn't aired yet. WE GOT BEYOND META.
 
So, rack them up, chalk your cue, and the clock will start the next time you press play.

S5E5: It Just Cuts To, Like, Bird Song.

Birds, birds, birds. How do they know? What do they know? What have they got to do with this podcast? Nothing actually. Nada.
 
What does concern this episode is Ferg's visit to the incomparable Shaw & Smith. You may know for making awesome wine. Ferg knows them for both this, and their charcuterie. Please let it be noted that this was not an officially sanctioned TM&TM Beano and was entirely self-funded by Ferg. Nor was an invitation extended to the man often referred to as 'The Lesser Of The Two TM&TM Hosts.'
 
So yeah. That's what this one is about.
 
Set your toast to medium/light and get ready to barrel ferment. 
 
Episode live in aisle five from Thursday morning.
 
#podcast #wine #winecast #firstnotsecond #Australianwine 

S5E4 182007

Here's some blurb...
 
You may have noticed we write quite a bit of copy to highlight our episodes and what they're about. This takes literally minutes out of our day and well, we can't be bothered. Does anyone read it? Do you just look at the expertly photoshopped pictures? Do you even listen to the audio bit? Research suggests not.
 
TM&TM: 182007 out from Thursday morning.
 
#podcast #wine #winecast #originalsnotcopyists #upwithoriginalthoughtdownwithbullshit

S5E3 We’re Going To Name This One Farewell

We're not afraid of the big questions here at TM&TM. Questions like “will you stop that?”, “In which aisle will I find the quince paste?” And “is this your rootstock sir?” Today however we tackle possibly the biggest of all big questions: what IS Lee? Specifically what does he actually do? If you've ever heard Lee speak (for which we do profusely apologise but we accept no responsibility, liability, or culpability) he does his best to not answer. This leads us down a winding path of the nature of his work, but also a deeper look at the nature of the charity for whom he works.
There may be tangents, there could possibly be non sequiturs, and some of you may not make it...but it is a sacrifice we are prepared to face.
So get your textbooks out, put your phones on silent, and face the front as we delve into the world of an educator educator.
#wine #podcast #winecast #waitwehavesomethingtosay #wineeducation

S5E2: TM&TM Soup

Do you like wine? Do you like soup? Do you like satire? Then Batman voice  You're going to love this*
 
Ferg and Lee had a plan. They'd exchanged notes, wHattsuppps, messages, and even emails. Then the record button got pressed and the walls came crashing down as if it was Jericho relived. They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions and while we can't really comment on that, we can say that the brave souls who walk this road are likely doing so on a diet of soup.
 
This episode contains 250% of your RDA of utter nonsense but there are some flecks of gold to find amongst the mud and soil. What can wine learn from the soup industry? What can satirists do to survive these dark times? Just where have Ferg and Lee been on their travels recently?
 
All this and, well, not really much more in an episode that is already being described as 'loose', 'hard going', and 'is this the last dying voice of podcasting?'.
 
Prepare all of your systems to be nervous as you pipe this lunacy directly into your limbic system...
 
*Highly unlikely anyone would like this.

S5E1: 5Maker5Merchant

Ferg & Lee travel to Brazil, on the run, hunted by a relentless listener demanding content (hashtag: Ferg's mum), and in desperate need of a score. Identifying a bank vault filled to the brim with satire, angst, and whimsy, they decide to go all out and steal it.
 
Wait, that's not quite the plot (if it could be called that) of one of them there Fust & Farious films.
 
If you thing this is absurd, wait until you hear what Ferg & Lee discuss this season. Yes, season. We're back, and more middle aged than ever (Ferg prematurely so). After a long break, not long enough according to some industry commentators, The Maker & The Merchant return with their own brand of...err, stuff. It's a bumper episode to kick off season 5. Is this because there's lots to cover? Is it because of a glut of wine trade happenings that urgently need discussed? Is it because we want to give you, the listener, incredible value for money? No, none of these. It's becasue we don't use timers in the office nor actually script what we do.
 
Prepare for our regular 'This Is The News' feature, which at the time of recording was highly topical and insightful...who knows how it will sound now. Ferg updates us on the day his carer signed an official agreement to keep an eye on him indefinitely, and we review what has been described as 'The Best Vintage We Have Ever Seen'*
 
So, strap in, take a tranquiliser, and ready your ears for some incredible and valuable insights couched in the language of insanity.
 
It's good to be back.
 
*2025 to be clear, no '24, 0r '23, or...you get the idea.

S4 E18: Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes

Well, the event of the summer has happened and we’re all thrilled (but y’know, there’s comes a point when you need to stop going on about it.) Ferg and Bethan have exchanged vows, rings, and secret family hot toddy recipes and have been officially pronounced bacon and egg. They are husband and wife and we at TM&TM could not be more thrilled. So thrilled we’ve let Ferg have one more episode off.
Despite the lack of the greater of our two hosts we continue with our PDO Series apace. In his stead we have 2 heavyweights of the modern industry. A man who cannot decide if he is from The Princess Bride or Highlander but who is producing some of England’s most consistently interesting and excellent wines for Vagabond, Senior Jose Quintana. He goes toe to toe, mano a mano, cheek to cheek with everybody’s favourite democratic winemaker and winner of fictional awards (and real ones too) Alex Brogan.
Way back in the mists of time, these 2 members of the wine intelligencia had what they termed a ‘lively discussion’ about the concepts of a PDO over a South African braai. They agree to repeat this discussion, to the best of the sober abilities, through the medium of a wine based podcast. We look at the history, purpose, and relevance of PDOs and importantly ask who it actually benefits.
It's a great, informed discussion that raises as many questions as are perhaps answered. There’s a lot of food for thought here. Does it matter as to the origin of that food? We’re not sure, but we know it’s both nutritious and delicious.
With our enormous thanks to Jose and Alex for their time, considered insights, and thought provoking comments and discussion.
Shout outs to @vagabondwines who are someone you should be keeping your eye on for a number of reasons and to @geyerwineco who provided the juice to keep Jose going during the recording. Alex himself was drinking one of his own wines (we do call him out for this) but also some fine liquid from @gianluca_colombovini, with whom he is about to head out to for the next @notyetnamedwineco vintage.
TM&TM: Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes defining your terminology from Thursday morning.
#Podcast #wine #winecast #PDO #Englishwine @fergelias @joluqu

S4E 17: The Wedding

This weekend will see an event take place that can only be described as 'A Wedding'. Yes, our very own Ferg, your favourite of our 2 hosts, is committing his life not to wine, but to the marvellous Bethan. No we're not sure either.
 
Of course this means the Ferg has been rather busy and scheduling in a recording has been more challenging than usual. This is of course misdirection as it's really bloody Lee's fault (he has his usual litany of excuses about homework eating his cat and his gravity being switched off). As a result, this is the shortest episode of TM&TM of all time.
 
So what's actually in it then? Lee shares a few thoughts on musings on the man who is not just is cohost, but one of his closest friends. More importantly we feature special guests @saturday.kitchen (by pulling the audio from a recording and really hope that's ok) as @knackeredmother not only chose one of Ferg's wines to feature, but gave Bethan and her soon to be husband a shout out! @matt.tebutt offered his congratulations and importantly @weemissbea seemed to enjoy the rosé (although like Lee, she's not necessarily a fan of the category - top work).
 
Due to Lee being disorganised he didn't give everyone time to respond, but there are a few surprise visits from some of Ferg's friends and a super special cameo appearance from everyone's favourite friend @buxtagram.
 
Please join us in raising your glasses in celebration of Bethan and Ferg and in wishing them the happiest life together!
 
TM&TM: walking down your aisle from Thursday morning.

S4 E16: The Tabards, The Lanyards, The High Viz Vests, PDO special

We welcome back friend of the pod and TM&TM Alumnus (alumni? aluminati?) Mr Henry Jeffreys in the first of our episodes focused on PDO.
What is a PDO? Are you a PDO? Are we a PDO? (PDOI? AlumiPDO?). Importantly, what is a PDO supposed to be and who does it represent. We consider it from multiple angles; does it benefit producers? Consumers? Do consumers know or even care?
 
When it comes to English wine and positioning it both domestically and in the export markets what is the relevance of further legislation and does it help or hinder sales? How does it fit with both a singular and wider brand? From handpicking to discussing what's in a name we attempt to start unlocking the conversation that is becoming ever more frequent in the lands of English wine.
 
Several bombs are dropped, by both our magnificent guest and Ferg himself...you'll be delighted to know that Lee wasn't around for this one. It was actually the only thing on Henry's rider; his equivalent of Van Halen and their dislike of brown M&Ms.
 
With huge thanks to Henry for his time and sharing his deep insights on the subject.
 
TM&TM: The Tabards, The Lanyards, The High Viz Vests, regulating your labels from Thursday morning.
 
#podcast #wine #winecast #Englishwine #PDO #rulesandregulations @fergelias @henrygjeffreys