The Maker and The Merchant

THURSDAY 30TH: Woody @ Montgomery

As we reach day 7 of Welsh Wine Week we’re fully in our stride of talking to the key players and movers and shakers of this exciting and dynamic industry. Today we head to Powys (virtually) to talk to Woody of Montgomery Vineyard. One of the most well known names in Welsh wine with great distribution Woody tells us what makes him, and Montgomery tick. From the UK’s highest vineyards to his approach to blending we learn about their varieties, location, and exercises in fine tuning.
 
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation @montgomeryvineyard #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast @fergelias @wineman147

WEDNESDAY 29TH: Susan & James @ Whinyard Rocks

Following on from yesterday’s chat with a knowledgeable consumer we head back out into the fields and valleys to continue our exploration of Welsh Wine Producers. Today we talk to Susan and James from Whinyard Rocks. Their story is one of epic romance, troublesome sheep, and altitude. Quite the combination.
 
We learn how they came to plant a vineyard on the Welsh/Herefordshire border and just how diverse their production really is. While one of the smallest producers in Wales in terms of production (perhaps the smallest at the moment?) they have plans to grow and evolve. Their story is perhaps the perfect encapsulation of the whole Welsh Wine industry.
 
From fabulously named wines, to creative production, Whinyard Rocks are not only an incredible amount of fun, they’re a producer to really keep your eyes (and ears in this instance) on.
 
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation @twhinyardrocks #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast @fergelias @wineman147

TUESDAY 28TH: Bethan Roberts

TM&TM’s exploration of the Welsh Wine Space continues apace but this time with something slightly different. We love hearing what consumers think about wines (well, sometimes we love it) and we wanted to bring in a wine drinker’s point of view. Someone who doesn’t have the baggage of us wine professionals and get caught up worrying about pH or margin.
 
Bethan Roberts is one of our nation’s heroes. A GP. When she’s not busy saving lives and curing ills, Bethan enjoys a glass of wine. Particularly Welsh Wine. For some reason Bethan has been
following and interacting with this pod for a while, so we thought it high time she answered for this. Ferg brings up something about badgers.
 
Bethan talks about her discovery of wine and gives a real consumer’s viewpoint on Welsh Wine.
 
Keep your eardrums open for another Welsh Wine Week episode coming tomorrow.
 
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation @terroir.iste #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast @fergelias @wineman147

MONDAY 27TH: Robb Merchant @ White Castle

Who can believe it’s already Monday of Welsh Wine Week? These days are flying by so quickly, and there are so many wines to get through. Today’s episode focused on one of the biggest names in the world of Welsh Wine. From their beginnings as a postman and nurse, Robb and Nicola Merchant have become figureheads of an entire industry. From their first plantings in 2009 to crowdfunding their own winery, White Castle have achieved incredible things.
 
Hear their story from Robb himself as he talks about those first vines, producing the UK’s first Cabernet Franc, and hopes and visions for the future.
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation @welshwines #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast @fergelias @wineman147

SUNDAY 26TH: Gwen @ Vale Vineyard

Our Welsh Wine Series continues today with an interview with the amazing Gwen Davies of Vale Vineyard. Up in Denbigh (or down in Denbigh depending upon your own geographical location) Vale Vineyard has a unique set of characteristics that allow grapes to thrive. It’s not an obvious location for grapes, but that’s what makes these wines (and Welsh producers generally) so inspiring.
 
Gwen talks about how and where it all started, and what they’ve learned along the way (the real friends were…) Vale are another award winning producer, with their Debut Sparkling Rosé picking up a major gong at last year’s Welsh Wine Awards.
 
We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we enjoyed recording it, and make sure you keep an eye out for these wines (and the surrounding wildlife)
 
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation @valevinesandwines #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast @fergelias @wineman147

SATURDAY 25TH: Lucy Alford @ The Dell

Following yesterday first episode of TMTM:WWW we’re hitting you with our second. Today we feature a wonderful conversation with Lucy Alford from The Dell Vineyard in Raglan. Planting on a family farm without much experience of wine, the Alford’s have gone on to create award winning wines. Their 2022 Rosé picked up a major trophy at last year’s Welsh Wine Awards. Not bad considering the battles fought against local wildlife.
 
Lucy talks about where she and her husband were first bitten by the wine bug (any chance of seeing some Welsh Carmenere?) and how they decided to actually plant a vineyard. A fairly young producer they’ve achieved great things already.
 
Listen in to the fabulous Lucy as she recounts the story of The Dell, including some wonderful Welsh mythology.
 
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation @thedellvineyard #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast @fergelias @wineman147

FRIDAY 24TH: Sara Hobday @ Vin Van Cymru

Welsh Wine Week is finally upon us. As you may know, @fergelias & Lee are fans of Welsh Wine and we wanted to highlight some key figures within this growing and dynamic industry. This is the first of ten episodes, one each day of Welsh Wine Week, and we’re starting with a bang as Lee talks to the wonderful Sara, founder and director of Vin Van Cymru. This is a fabulous wine shop and tasting room in Cardiff.
Sara talks about her introduction to Welsh wine and how she sees its development. Sara also tells us about the events she has lined up over the next few days for Welsh Wine Week.
 
Hear snippets of this interview on today’s pod, with the full video over at @wineman147’s blog and some edited highlights on his own social media page. Sara has a world of knowledge of wine and Welsh Wine specifically and is well worth listening to.
Keep your ears peeled for an episode every day.
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation @vinvancymru #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast

An Important Announcement

Our regular programming has been interrupted…and for a very good reason. Tomorrow sees the start of Welsh Wine Week. A 10 day (which is a week in Wales; it is its own country and can have whatever timezone, currency, and other things it chooses!) celebration of all things vinous and Welsh.
 
Wanting to get in on the action, and desperate for content, TM&TM Senior Management took the executive decision that we would talk to some of the key figures within and around the Welsh wine industry. By we we largely mean Lee, as Ferg is “busy”, or “working” or “wondering about badgers” or something.
 
Between 24th May and 2nd June we will feature a producer/merchant/consumer a day and in so doing, give you, our dear listener (Hashtag: Ferg’s Mum) an insight into the very exciting world of Welsh Wine.
 
Look out for the following: @vinvancymru, @thedellvineyard, @valevinesandwines, @welshwines, @terroir.iste, @whinyardrocks, @montgomeryvineyard, @velfreyvineyard, @ancrehill, and @sthilaryvineyard.
 
Here’s to Welsh Wine and Welsh Wine Week!
 
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast

TM&TM: The WSTA (Miles Beale part 2)

If you listened to last week’s episode you will be primed and ready for Part II of the TM&TM interview with the WSTA’s Miles Beale. We promised a more serious episode and we are delivering. Following the fun and frolics of last week, it is time to get down to business.
We open with Miles explaining exactly who the WSTA are and what is their role within the drinks industry. There is more to this body than may immediately meet the eye, and the membership encompasses a very broad range of businesses. Lee uses this as an opportunity to push his own #ThinkIndie #DrinkIndie agenda and ask about the engagement and interaction from the indie crowd. It is often asked if bodies like the WSTA are doing enough, but are the indies supporting in return?
Given the nature of the work, we ask Miles how he walks the difficult tightrope between satisfying both the needs of members and engaging with government. Following this, we ask if there have been discussions with current shadow ministers and the opposition in the event that there is a change of government.
Special mentions to, The Online Wine Tasting Club, North South Wines, and Eynsham Cellars as examples of businesses who have engaged and ‘activated’ their local MPs.
Other questions raised by our listener and ourselves include the specifics of repackaging sizes, declining alcohol consumption and the continuing rise of the temperance movement and how to respond in the face of these challenges. Miles also cover briefly the current state of catering and hospitality, MUP, duty rises and increasing taxation; again, we ask how we can navigate these as an industry and do our best to tackle them.
Amongst these and other things, Miles also explains the Community Alcohol Partnership initiative.
This is a packed in episode that covers a great deal of ground. As covered in the episode, if you are interested in learning more about these issues, the work of The WSTA, or indeed joining them, connect with them through their website, social channels, or info@thewsta.co.uk.
Our sincere thanks to Miles and The WSTA for the fabulous work.
TM&TM: THE WSTA available to download from wherever you get your podcasts on Thursday morning.

TM&TM: Firing large guns (Miles Beale part 1)

This week on TM&TM we find ourselves in The Thick Of It as we keep ourselves In The Loop with one of the key figures, no, THE key figure in the UK wines and spirits industry. TM&TM Towers is a House Of Cards (the original, not the remake), but we had to say Yes Minister when the chance to speak to the most influential person on the UK scene. We had so many questions for this individual that we only made it to Page Eight.
We are beyond privileged to say this is part I of our talk with The WSTA’s chief executive, Miles Beale. He will need no introduction (but we do give him one in the episode) as he has steered the WSTA and our industry through multiple swells and storms during his tenure at the top.
From his life as a civil servant, move into politics, and becoming the UK’s most influential drinks figure (did we mention that?) in Part I we enjoy some fun and frolics before a much more serious Part II arrives next week.
Ferg delivers his now classic interview style with an updated and much more respectful take: Miles Does Miles Does Not while Lee asks questions about attire, snooker, and the notion of politicians as celebrities. From his loose connections to navy rum and his rumoured part in The Matrix, Miles plays along with our silly games with grace and style, as we would expect.
In next week’s episode we talk (genuinely) about the bigger issues facing our industry and the fabulous work of the WSTA. For now, enjoy hearing Miles share his preferred tipples, political background, and how to handle a suit-based interview crisis.
Our sincere thanks to Miles for his time to record this and talk about things seemingly unrelated to the very important work of the WSTA. We promise that next week’s episode is definitely worth a listen, especially if you’re in, around, or connected to alcoholic drinks in any way.
TM&TM: Firing Large Guns podvailable to loadstream from wherever you downcast your audio experiences on Thursday morning.