The Tim Atkin Cork Talk Podcast

Rod Smith began his working life as an illustrator but moved into wine after landing a part-time job at Oddbins. After a brief spell in the fine wine world in London, he upped sticks to the Côte d’Azur to supply the superyacht industry. Now running his own business, the Riviera Wine Academy, he was recently appointed chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and has fascinating views about how the organisation should develop and evolve. To read more about Rod have a look at the Riviera Wine Academy website. [https://www.rivierawineacademy.com/]You can also follow him on Instagram at @rodwsmith68. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/158yZfexDKo1nJWB9MXMsk?si=8cicoyyYQnCqPsu3cujzAg]as well as Apple Podcasts [https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-podcasts/]. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Brought up on a sugar cane farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal, where her parents were teetotallers, Praisy Dlamini got a bursary from the Department of Agriculture when she was 16 and went to study winemaking in the Cape. Her meteoric career has taken her from a spell at Distell to a job as the general manager of Adama Wines, where she runs an all-female team of black women and has developed Amandla, a brilliant and deservedly popular South African brand. To read more about Praisy have a look at the Amandla website. [https://www.amandlawines.com] You can also follow her on Instagram at @praisyd. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/158yZfexDKo1nJWB9MXMsk?si=8cicoyyYQnCqPsu3cujzAg]as well as Apple Podcasts [https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-podcasts/]. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Roman Roth was brought up in the Black Forest, where his father was a cooper, but decided to become a winemaker in his teens. After vintages in California and Australia, he got a job at Wölffer Estate Vineyard on Long Island in 1992 and has been there ever since. Funny, creative and fond of singing to his wines, he’s a natural interviewee with a well-honed turn of phrase. Listen in to hear everything you want to know about New York wines. To read more about Roman have a look at the Wölffer Estate Vineyard website. [https://www.wolffer.com/] You can also follow him on Instagram at @roth.roman. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/158yZfexDKo1nJWB9MXMsk?si=8cicoyyYQnCqPsu3cujzAg]as well as Apple Podcasts [https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-podcasts/]. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Tom Gilbey’s family have worked in the wine and spirits trade since the mid-19th century – they had a famous gin as well as owning a Bordeaux château – so it was natural that he would follow in their footsteps. In his time, he’s been a winemaker, a merchant and, more recently an educator, wine writer and Internet sensation thanks to a dip in an ice bath and the decision to run the London marathon, blind tasting 25 wines along the way. To read more about Tom have a look at his website. [https://tomgilbey.com] You can also follow him on Instagram at @tomgilbeywine.  Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/158yZfexDKo1nJWB9MXMsk?si=8cicoyyYQnCqPsu3cujzAg]as well as Apple Podcasts [https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-podcasts/]. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.

Dawn Davies is a Master of Wine who also specialises in spirits. Originally a top sommelier at restaurants like Zuma and The Ledbury, she moved into retailing at Selfridges and is now buying director at Speciality Drinks and the Whisky Exchange. An extrovert and confirmed “people person”, she has well-informed views about things as varied as wine service, restaurant lists, Mezcal, blind tasting technique and Champagne. She’s one of a kind. To read more about Dawn have a look at the Masters of Wine website. [https://www.mastersofwine.org/dawn-davies-mw] You can also follow her on Instagram at @dawndaviesmw.  Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/158yZfexDKo1nJWB9MXMsk?si=8cicoyyYQnCqPsu3cujzAg]as well as Apple Podcasts [https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-podcasts/]. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.