episode six of the second press podcast is a look into the current state of the industry, from the health debates surrounding processed foods versus a glass of wine to the curious world of counterfeit wine.

we’re joined by chris wilson of gutter and stars winery, an urban winery operating out of a 19th-century windmill in cambridge. chris mulls over his transition from music journalism at jockey slut and covering the nfl for the daily mirror to winemaking, bringing a storytelling sensibility to both wine and writing.

all his fruit is sourced from essex’s crouch valley, one of the best places in the uk for chardonnay and pinot noir, and how his background in the arts influences his, one-off labels named after tracks by the stone roses and roxy music. it is an exploration of "vulnerable expertise" in a marginal climate, proving that characterful wine doesn't require anything traditional.

in episode five, brad and dan navigate a particularly eccentric week in wine news, from the discovery of a forgotten cellar beneath a sinkhole to the identity crisis facing bordeaux’s most famous export.

we had a brilliant chat with henry jeffreys, author of the award-winning vines in a cold climate. henry discusses why he prioritises the 'b******g and gossip' of the industry over technical data, the reality of writing about english winemakers before they knew who he was, and his experience co-hosting intoxicating history with tom parker bowles.

expect an honest look at the landscape of wine writing, the merits of substack, and why the english wine scene is finally moving past its city-boy-in-a-gilet phase.

for the full show notes, including specific wine recommendations, links to henry’s work, and the results of the sinkhole investigation, head over to the substack.

https://secondpresspodcast.substack.com/

having survived the gauntlet of the master sommelier exam and years with the legendary gerard basset, laura rhys is arguably one of the most technically accomplished people in the uk wine trade.

in this episode, we bypass the loud business of the wine world to talk about the quiet, methodical work of bubbles with laura. we dig into the geeky reality of why english wine has finally stopped being a novelty.

nearly 11 years acting as the global face for gusbourne, laura brings a vulnerable kind of expertise to the table, proving that you can be world-class without being a bore about it.

https://secondpresspodcast.substack.com/

jamie goode joined us for episode three, bringing nearly two decades of sunday mail columns and a phd’s worth of wine science to the table. we mostly ignored that to talk about his hand-coded html origins in the nineties and his questionable commitment to blue guitars.

equally comfortable lecturing on then details of wine faults as he is writing for a older sunday newspsper audience. we dug into how he balances that technical approach with a consumer-facing lens, plus a shared distraction for guitars that has nothing to do with viticulture.

it’s an honest look at a guy who was an "early mover" before early movers were a thing. for the full breakdown on book writing, diy websites, and why he finally hung up the newspaper column after nineteen years, head over to the substack.

https://secondpresspodcast.com/

dan and anna spooner began their master of wine journey together, study groups and hard work, neither of them have passed yet though, showing how tough the process is, anna has had a baby or two, but dan has no excuse.

anna reflects on her background in wine pr and marketing, with freixenet and the wine society during the pandemic where she scooped up awards by creating online tastings for a their at-home community.

dan questions her recent move to france and her love of the outdoors in provence. anna shares the reality of starting a new podcast focused on wine tourism and the patient, tactile process of teaching her whippet to hunt truffles.

for the technical detours, extra bits dan usually cuts out, like the full story of anna's attempts to cook for her uni student friends, and to join the conversation with us, find us at https://secondpresspodcast.com/

anne mchale mw joins us for our first proper conversation.

we trace the path from classical singing in ireland to the master of wine title. we dig into the psychology of wine education, her work mentoring wset diploma students, and why she launched diplomatherapy.

for the technical detours, extra bits dan usually cuts out, like the full story of anne’s time as a backing vocalist for the wine trade band "skin contact", and to join the conversation with us, find us at https://secondpresspodcast.com/

welcome to second press. we’re glad you’re here.

so, this is the place.

here’s a little teaser trailer to give you want a quick look at what we’re up to. the first proper episodes go live in march, and we’ll be here every two weeks after that.

at its heart, it’s a wine-ish podcast for the curious and the kindred. we’re aiming for informal interviews, wine trade insights, and honest drink recommendations. it’s about the people, the culture, the business, and everything in between.

we’ve got some great guests coming on those who really know their way around a vineyard, winery, website, or classroom. we’ll be telling stories and discussing the wine news, talking to the people that define the industry from the inside out.

we just happened to record the kind of chats we'd be having with our wine-ish friends anyway.

you’ll be able to listen to second press on spotify or apple or wherever you usually go for that sort of thing, but we’ve made substack our home if you want to get involved in the conversations.

thanks for joining us. we’re quite looking forward to seeing where this goes.

https://secondpresspodcast.substack.com/