the episode that we couldn't bring ourselves to edit down, a long chat with nelson weaving our way from the jazz clubs of soho to the cellars of barolo.in the news this week we look at the trend towards chilling red wines, and how it has started to creep into mainstream consciousness, congratulate emma denney for winning the uk sommelier of the year, and spend a little time mulling over new generation wines recent purchase of bancroft wines and what that might mean for two businesses we know well.

we’re joined by nelson pari, a wine buyer, educator, judge, podcast host and jazz guitarist. he’s also known for one of the most popular wine tastings ever at 67 pall mall, his single vineyard barolo masterclass. nelson seems to like telling a story or two, drifting off on tangents, and pulling in metaphors and examples from arts and music and video games to illustrate a fascinating life in music and wine. so much so we couldn’t really bring ourselves to edit this down, so take a little extra time out of your day and listen to the full interview, we think it’s worth it.

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[00:00] – intro and wine news

[06:00] – introducing Nelson Pari

[07:00] – ditching music for wine

[09:45] – joining 67 Pall Mall

[14:45] – what the wine trade can learn from the music industry

[16:20] – career, self-reliance and finding your niche

[18:00] – mike best, and putting together the podcast

[22:15] – judging wines and the responsibility to buy them

[25:15] – 67 pall mall's barolo tastings

[34:20] – Modigliana, Italy's next great wine region

[38:10] – video games, philosophy and life outside wine

[41:55] – wrap up

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wine industry digest – the week in wine every friday

https://wineindustrydigest.com/

this weeks news from the wine industry digest looks at the trade headlines, including champagne’s early harvest and the wsta board changes.

andrew johnson from woodwinters joins us to discuss the brutal realities facing the uk wine trade. we deep dive into the practical side of agency life, navigating cash flow pressures, and the evolving landscape of restaurant wine lists. andrew shares his love for the current south african and italian wines and laments the loss of the wine trade friday lunch. he’s an advocate for greece too, with a new greek wine scholarship project aimed at championing indigenous varietals for the on and off trade.

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[00:00] – opening and wine trade news

[01:07] – champagne on course for its earliest harvest ever

[02:44] – whispering angel invests in premium alcohol-free

[04:27] – steve finlan joins the wsta board

[05:25] – andrew johnson joins the podcast

[06:06] – from classical music to the wine trade

[09:07] – building woodwinters and why south africa keeps winning

[14:31] – what buyers really look for in a wine

[18:35] – cash flow, agencies and the realities of importing

[21:28] – the uk wine trade: restaurant closures and a long road ahead

[25:35] – why greece is one of wine's most exciting regions

[27:24] – exclusive: the greek wine scholarship

[29:52] – cooking, music and life outside wine

[32:09] – death row wines: giacosa, assyrtiko and champagne

[35:10] – interview wrap-up, cambridge wine festival and sign-off

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links and notes

wine industry digest – the week in wine every friday

https://wineindustrydigest.com/

news this week doens't get too political, but does briefly cover the wine industry, tracking a slight decrease in hospitality insolvencies alongside the evolving landscape of english still wines at the winegb awards. our guest is master of wine caroline gilby, who joins the conversation to look at the historical trajectory, post-communist evolution, and marketability of central and eastern european indigenous varieties. we also travel north of santiago with concha y toro's marcello papa to quickly chat through the viticultural dynamics, water constraints, and golf handicaps that define premium chardonnay and pinot noir production in the limarí valley.

caroline gilby mw joins us for a chat about the post-communist quality revolution and native grape varieties of central and eastern europe.

a look at why declining hospitality insolvencies and shifting english still wine trends matter for the trade..

marcelo papa joins us for a chat about golf and pacific breezes in the desert vineyards of limarí.

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00:00 – introduction and recording during english wine week

01:08 – trade news: hospitality insolvencies, winegb awards, the rise of english still wines, and sir ian botham's latest english wine collaboration

05:13 – interview with caroline gilby mw: from horticultural scientist to master of wine and eastern europe specialist

09:26 – why eastern european wines disappeared from the uk and how gilby became the region's leading authority

11:30 – indigenous grape varieties, pronunciation challenges and selling eastern european wines in the uk

14:49 – tourism, rising quality, decanter judging and the future of central and eastern european wine

18:24 – slovenia, bulgaria and why elegant, terroir-driven wines are reshaping perceptions of the region

21:33 – life outside wine, mountain running and gilby's apocalypse wine choice

24:09 – interview with marcelo papa: making world-class chardonnay on the edge of the atacama desert

25:35 – limarí's climate, water management and why the region is built around chardonnay and pinot noir

29:16 – tasting viña amelia quebrada seca chardonnay and discussing its mineral, saline style

30:53 – reflections on the interviews, mw specialisms and english wine week

32:43 – listener feedback, english wine recommendations and closing remarks