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Summary

Stalin’s Wine Cellar has been found…Wine seems to be better for you than other booze (even when it comes to keeping men looking young)…Gen Z aren’t shunning alcohol, as feared…Why GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are bad news for wine…And how Joan of Arc may have enjoyed a cheeky taste of Pinot Noir.

We discuss all this and more in our regular news recap – as well as engaging in our usual Guess the Missing Word in the Wine Headline tomfoolery.

We also give a short tribute to Sam Neill: outstanding actor, brilliant wine grower, and wonderful human being who will be much missed.

Also in this episode is an update on English and Welsh wine, given we’re fresh from co-chairing the WineGB Awards 2026, so full of insights and top wine tips after tasting some 380 UK wines blind. 

We highlight some of our favourites from the tasting, especially those majoring on good value for money (NB: not the same thing as cheap). 

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GB Wine Tips

Sparkling

  • Langham Corallian NV (£32)
  • Domaine Hugo HUGO Brut Nature MV (£64)
  • Candover Brook Brut NV (£38)
  • Digby Brut NV (£38)
  • Woodchester Valley Blanc de Blancs 2019 (£48)
  • Harrow & Hope Blanc de Blancs 2020 (£38)
  • Langham Blanc de Blancs NV (£47.95)
  • Exton Park Blanc de Blancs 2013 (£65)
  • Fenny Castle Blanc de Noirs 2021 (£37)
  • Harrow & Hope Blanc de Noirs 2020 (£36)
  • Oastbrook Sparkling Rosé 2018 (£38)
  • Digby Leander Pink NV (£39)
  • Langham Rosé NV, Dorset (£37.95)
  • The Grange Pink NV (£41)
  • Trevibban Mill Pinot Noir Rosé (£42.95)
  • Westwell Petulant Nature (£28)

Still

  • Blackbook Pygmalion Chardonnay 2023 (£40-45)
  • Westwell Village Chardonnay (£19.50)
  • Wiston Tank 5 Chardonnay MV (£27)
  • Flint Vineyard Silex 2023 (£27)
  • Balfour 1503 Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (£20)
  • Balfour’s Liberty’s Bacchus 2025 (£29)
  • New Hall Bacchus Fumé (£23)
  • Vagabond Solena #4 (£35)
  • Whinyard Rocks Skin Contact Orange Solaris 2024 (£25)
  • Mousehall Tidebrook Medieval Monk Pinot Gris 2023 (£29)
  • Walgate Pinot Meunier rosé 2023 (£34)
  • Cobham House Gamay rosé 2025 (£38)
  • Chapel Down English Rose 2025 (£13)
  • Lily Farm Sunset Pink Rosé 2023 (£13.95)
  • The Heretics The Disobedient Pale Rosé 2023 (£32)
  • Flint Vineyards Pinot Precoce 2024 (£25)
  • Two Beacons Pinot Precoce 2023 (£24)
  • White Castle Pinot Precoce 2023 (£37)
  • Simpsons Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir 2024 (£25-26)
  • Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2024 (£27.50)
  • Biddenden Gamay Noir 2025 (£22.50)
  • Sandridge Barton Sonny NV (£??)

Links

Here are links to the stories we feature in this episode:

Here are some previous Wine Blast episodes cited in the show:

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Transcript

Coming soon!