The Maker and The Merchant

TRIBUTE

THE MAKER & THE MERCHANT: TRIBUTE 
Hugely aware that TM&TM isn’t the greatest and best podcast in the world, Ferg and Lee start by discussing what happened when Descartes and Sartre walked into a bar, margins on mugs, and non-linear jazz wine tastings. Talking of tastings, Lee highlights the upcoming Grapest Hits event coming up soon involving North South Wines, Condor Wines, and Hayward Brothers. (Apologies to Hayward Bros that Lee forgot you were involved…he is being investigated by TM&TM HR as we speak) 
Lee FINALLY covers off the fabulous Flavours of Spain tasting he attended about a million years ago featuring, amongst others, Xulia Bande, Lar de Maia, Bodega Ojuel, and Garage Wines. Lee sends a huge thanks to Ana and all the producers who took the time to talk to him. Usually he is kicked out immediately. For good reason. 
We ask if consumers and the trade are aligned in their expectations and assumptions and just who is the English Wine Trade’s Captain Cristopher Pike? 
Fergus reviews the English vintage so far and we go on to compare the pricing of ESW and Champagne. He asks for our listener’s ideas for a new vintage t-shirt (send us your ideas by email of through the socials) and we get surprisingly political while Ferg drops some revealing and deeply personal truth bombs. 
Lee recommends 3 great value English Sparkling Wines that you should be tasting…and they’re not all from Balfour. Although one of them is. 
We also review some new stats from WineGB and tease a VERY special guest who is due to appear on our next episode. HINT: He’s just published a phenomenal new book about Vines In A Cold Climate. 

TORTUGA NARANJA

In this episode Ferg discovers that Lee isn’t actually there. But was he ever? Stepping into the huge shoes left by Lee we have the infinitely talented and knowledgeable Janina Doyle. Already a podcaster in her own right on the excellent East,Sleep, Wine, Repeat.
Janina talks us through her start in wine, those Damascene Moments, her celebrity crush, and explains why she's always Russian...especially when it comes to getting stuck into old vines.
Fergus Elias and Janina disagree however upon her Revelation, but reconcile over a shared love of the metaphysical question: just where IS Vinexpo? Ferg and Janina also ask what time is it in Spain?
In this marmalade-packed episode, Janina drinks Spanish, Ferg gets his Riedel out, and there's a deep discussion about wines appropriate for a wedding. In the news Janina and Ferg cover wine regions beginning with 'Ch' while Janina shines a light on the whites of Beaujolais.
We’re delighted to report Mr Isaacs will be back in your ears very soon, as TM&TM without one of the TM’s is like a pencil without a lead…pointless. 
TM&TM: Tortuga Naranja available Thurpod AM from whencever you daycast your load downs.

Handsome Ben

Here at TM&TM Towers we're not frightened to try something new...unless it involves ignorance, heights, or hazlenuts as we're terrified of all 3. For the first time Fergus and Lee left the confines of The Towers and were allowed to venture into the wild. To The People's Republic Of Islington they were welcomed, and with huge thanks to The Sampler, allowed to record in situ.
 
In front of a live studio audience, Ferg & Lee chat to World's Most Handsome Man and Face Of Hattingley Valley, Ben Ludford. Ben discusses his love of data, being a chess prodigy, and does some fabulous impressions. At some point Lee wanders off (you're welcome dear listener) and is replaced by World Winemaker Alex Brogan who touches on his Not Yet Named Wine Company project (and is due to appear on a future episode).
 
As if this wasn't enough, there are further impressions of geese, discussions on why our ELO ratings are so low, and we ask where exactly is Tom Bombadil? Before Lee wanders off he gives thanks to Tim Carlisle, North South Wines, and Cosme Palacios for inviting him to the Gran Caballeros dinner, and to Tim Milford for organising the fandabiedozie YOBA lunch.
 
There is so much more, including The Oastbrook Incident, Yeast Chat, and how to be an Australia.
 
TM&TM: Handsome Ben - available to downcast wherever you podload your audio experiences.

Between two piers

As the show that nobody asked to return returns for yet another episode, Ferg and Lee cover some vital ground: just how many Bruce Springsteen puns are appropriate? How is Ferg's car insurance debacle playing out? What makes a good Alien film?
 
We explore the tricky world of Rondo briefly and think we've discovered those who have figured out the true nature of this divisive variety. Shouts outs go to Ingrid and Dunleavy and Mark at All Angels.
 
Think you have to be posh to be a winemaker? Ferg discusses his newest celebrity friends Joanna Lumley, Victoria Moore, and Oz Clarke while Lee gets all too existential and concerned with the true nature of time...and how he can clear your winery of brett with only his guitar.
 
Eventually we get to some wine. Lee tastes Finca Bacara's 'Time Waits For No One' Monastrell Biologico while Ferg cracks open a can of Howl & Grappa's Elektron via Bin Two's Wonky Post Vineyard.
 
On top of all this, learn our new brand hashtags: #FergsMum #JacksMum #BenLudford and #NotBensMum.
 
TM&TM S2E5: Between Two Piers. Available to castload in your downpods from Thursday morning.
 
When will it end?!

MORE THAN A PODCAST

We're celebrating at TM&TM Towers. Our valiant leader, who is both the brains and the looks of the pod, returns triumphantly from a trip to Portugal. Hear all about Ferg's adventures involving copious amounts of Port and seafood. Lee, who has been manning the fort, is overjoyed.
In this week's thrilling episode we go in depth on the new exciting releases from Balfour and learn a little more about Ferg's approach to making top notch, boundary pushing English still wine. We also discuss the runners and riders at the recent Wine Garden of England event which took place at Balfour. How many of these producers do you know?
We highlight great achievements by friend of the pod Jessica Summer and hopefully a friend of the pod Sam Povey, who have both been named in Harper's '30 Under 30'. Congratulations also to FOTP Libby Brodie for her placing in The Drinks List Top 100 Most Influential People In Drinks.
Ferg and Lee discuss the recent MW exams and send their hearty congratulations to all those who have endured, battled, and worked their way through one of the world's most challenging qualifications.
Lee talks about his time judging at this year's IEWA and we cover off the big winners including Busi Jacobsohn, Oastbrook, and Biddenden.
As if that wasn't enough for you, there's the usual nonsense including chesschat, cattalk, and a theatre recommendation.
TM&TM: More Than A Podcast, available to castdown wherever you loadpod from Thursday morning.

Ecclesiastical Court

The Maker And The Merchant: Ecclesiastical Court
 
Things have gone haywire; Fergus has gone AWOL, which leaves Lee in charge. Despite the potential for catastrophe, we have been saved at the 11th hour by the fabulous Jack Merrylees. Marketing & PR Director at Balfour, Jack has extensive experience running marketing and PR in the industry, having been the head of such things at Majestic.
 
Jack talks about his journey into wine, and recounts stories of just what it takes to run successful marketing and comms for a national wine retailer. He touches on the role of critics in today's industry, and the differences he has found moving to a successful English wine producer. He does a superb impression of Olly Smith while also informing us what connects Winston Churchill, Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon.
 
Did Jack's mum double out listener figures? Has she whatsapped him upon listening to the episode?
 
And just what should Ferg's punishment be for such dereliction of duties?

Winemaker Raised By Puffins

TM&TM returns with a...some kind of noise. Not a really loud one, just one that's disturbing enough you had to reread the opening line of the Decanter feature you were starting. In this episode Ferg & Lee face some big questions such as: Does Ferg's mum control an army of AI Bots? Just how fast is your bottling line? and should Lee return to making those terrible guitar videos? If he does, what song should he play for Fergus's BRAND NEW Bacchus?
 
Looking at the Wine News we examine the case of a woman alone in the outback who survived on a bottle of wine. We also raise the plight of Fourty Hall who desperately need your help with funding. When it comes to funding, we also talk about the crowdfunder to build a winery being run by the wonderful White Castle in Wales.
 
In This Week We Have Mostly Been Drinking: Ferg opens up about his skiing holidays and also uncorks a bottle of Savoie. Lee on the other hand, minimising his drinking, pops open a delicious Gruner Veltliner from The Canned Wine Company.
 
We also hit up some consumer stats, discuss whether oysters ever really live, and just what is Lee's phobia of Coravin?

Family

THE MAKER AND THE MERCHANT RETURN!
 
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the podcasts, TM&TM are back to spoil things, like a shark's fin in the ocean.
 
Ferg & Lee spend their time promoting other podcasts such as Wine Blast, Wine Flight, Eat Sleep Wine Repeat and Kermode And Mayo's take before covering off just what is being planted in Ferg's garden*. While Fergus enjoys some Slovenian dessert wine and Lee talks us through a brace of Argentine Malbecs *yawn* we tackle big subjects such as Is Précoce really Pinot? The benefits of going clonal, and just how many Fast And Furious films are there?
In a new feature, Ferg and Lee tackle the big news stories of the day including Bordeaux En Primeur and The Kent Wine Vaults Saga.
 
It's great to be back...for us at least.
 
*may not be HIS garden.

Fromage a Trois

A TM&TM Christmas: Fromage a Trois
 
Continuing our theme of bringing great names down to our level, and reducing their street cred to zero, we are joined by uber-special guest Libby Brodie.
 
We share 3 very special bottles of wine, which includes Ferg finally working out why he blind-tasted Ken Forrester's FMC when that wasn't what Bin Two sent him. Libby works her way through Karim Mussi's Alandes Paradoux Blanc and Lee doesn't even open his bottle.
 
We explore some key Christmas drinks statistics as well as answering the important questions such as: is The Great Escape a Christmas film (it absolutely is)? Just how many times a day can you get Wham!med? What exactly does Lee have against Sainsbury's?
 
Things get a little existential but ultimately we realise that the real wines were the ones we drank along the way.
 
TM&TM will now take a short break but promise (threaten?) to be back before too long with the little-anticipated season 2.

Cantilever Melons

Who's tasted sparkling English rosé going back nearly 20 years? Ferg has; listen as he talks through the retrospective of Balfour Brut Rosé going back to 2004.
 
Are Ferg and Lee any good at blind tasting? Obviously, no. But are they any good at working answers out based on evidence on knowledge? Also no.
 
Listen as Ferg fails to open a wine sent by Mike at Bin Two, instead opting to open something completely different. Lee at least opens the correct wine but forgets the existence of Bandol, can't identify his favourite grape variety, and complains at his mistreatment. This mistreatment involves being sent a bottle as a gift by the aforementioned Mike at Bin Two. Ungrateful.
 
With huge thanks to Mike for gifting Ferg and Lee bottles to try blind...we'll get the correct wine open in a future episode. For anyone looking to replicate this tasting you can get at least one of these wines from www.bintwo.com
 
What a pair of clowns.
 
Episode 7:... available to download Thursday morning from wherever you get your pastcods.