In this episode, I was joined by Chef Michael Caines MBE, Chef Owner of Lympstone Manor, Country Hotel, Restaurant and Vineyard alongside his longstanding Operations Manager, Steve Edwards.

It’s a hard enough job, starting a Country Hotel, in a rundown building, having to renovate it to a Relais & Châteaux standards, establishing a kitchen and a restaurant worthy of a Michelin star, before any other task is considered. Continue reading →

Heading a gastronomic family with restaurants in London and a winery in West Sussex, Bridget Gladwin sat with me for a chat about the motivation to move to the countryside, her wines and her vines.

Following her dream of owning her own vineyard, Sarah Lavery is in charge of Southlands valley vineyards, a 2 hectare plot of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Maunier in the picturesque village of West Chiltington, in West Sussex.

From 2016, her wine maker is Dermot Sugrue and vinification is exclusively single vineyard.

Listen to my chat with Simon Bladon, the owner of Jenkyn Place Vineyards in Hampshire, telling his story of buying a hop farm and having the foresight to plant a vineyard consisting of the three classic Champagne varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Maunier.

Simon is now producing world class sparkling wines from that classic blend, as well as a superb Blanc de Blanc 2015 (100% Chardonnay)

Listen to my Chat with Dermot, telling me what inspired him to explore wine aged 15. His wine journey that led him from Ireland to East Anglia, through Bordeaux to Champagne and to West Sussex. How good is English Sparkling Wine and what the future might hold. It was a fascinating and full of good humour chat. Enjoy!