To access our full archive (including Seasons One and Two), plus exclusive bonus content and so much more, join Wine Blast PLUS. We’d love to have you as part of the Wine Blast PLUS family!

Summary

We wanted to revisit this (our second ever episode) partly to laugh at our presenting style back then, and also because it’s so full of enthusiasm, helpful tips and, most importantly, tales of young people (especially young women) seizing opportunities and forging brilliant careers in wine. And the odd second career too. 

We’re also slightly amazed at how much we managed to shoe-horn into an episode in the early days of the podcast, because we also rustled up some student classics – spicy sausage pasta plus the easiest home-made pizza EVER – and lined up a selection of value Aldi wines (spoiler: not all go down well but there is a BARGAIN to be had). Some of the wines may not be available any more but, hey, the basics still hold. Our Wine A-Z takes in biodynamics before Warren asks how to tell if a wine is corked. 

In our updated intro (yes, we did do SOME new work for this ‘bonus’ episode), we answer a question from listener Thom, who’s keen to know whether he should tackle his WSET Diploma exam when he’s got a 2-year-old snapping at his heels.

Original show notes are as follows:

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done … I don’t think I’m the usual type but that’s what’s great: I don’t think there is a type.” Zoë Driver

Running Order

• Introduction: 0 – 4.48
• Zoë Driver interview: 4.49 – 10.59
• Jacob Leadley interview: 11.00 – 13.44
• Amica Zago interview: 13.47 – 18.00
• Georgina Hindle interview: 18.05 – 21.16
• Susie & Peter chew the chud: 21.17 – 27.53
• Matching pizza and sausage pasta with Aldi wines: 27.54 – 34.56
• Wine A-Z – B is for Biodynamics: 34.57 – 39.17
• Question – How to tell if wine is corked: 39.18 – 41.46
• Recap: 41.53 – 42.43
• END: 43.07

“It felt from day one like a real adventure.” Jacob Leadley

Starring

• Zoë Driver and Jacob Leadley, Black Chalk Wine
• Amica Zago, Hallgarten & Novum Wines
• Georgina Hindle, Decanter
• Warren Hibbert
• Susie & Peter

The UK wine and spirit industry employs 358,000 people, with sales worth £22 billion (WSTA)

Featured wines

• Castellore Primitivo 2018, Italy (£4.99, Aldi)
• Exquisite Collection Organic Malbec 2019, Argentina (£6.99, Aldi)
• Baron Amarillo 80-year-old-vine red blend 2016, Spain (£6.99, Aldi)
• Specially Selected Valpolicella Ripasso 2017 (£7.99, Aldi)

“If conventional agriculture is pop, organics is blues and biodynamics is pretty funky jazz.” Peter