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Summary

Wine is many things to many people. But credible career path (or second career) isn’t often one of them. We set the record straight by talking to young people who’ve successfully made wine their career. And someone who made it their second career after defecting from finance (wise move). Plus, we share how we both got into wine.

Having worked up a thirst, we rustle up some student classics – spicy sausage pasta plus the easiest home-made pizza EVER – and line up a selection of value Aldi wines. (Spoiler: not all go down well but there is a great bargain to be had). Our Wine A-Z takes in biodynamics before Warren asks how to tell if a wine is corked. 

“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

Recipe

Spicy sausage pasta

This recipe is super simple and one we made up ourselves – with a little help from the fabulous Jamie Oliver! It’s subtly spicy and full of tangy tomato flavours that, as ever, are a match made in heaven for the fresh basil, Parmesan and pine nuts. We tend to buy good quality dried-egg pappardelle, which is the ideal accompaniment, but if you’re on a budget then inexpensive tagliatelle is a good alternative.

Selected recipes are available for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers