What is the most memorable wine you have ever drunk?
The 1962 vintage of Château Léoville Barton from Bordeaux. It was, and
remains, the first really great Bordeaux wine that I tasted at University.
I tasted a wine, with my date for the night, that was stunning and
delicious in equal measure. Dry, but full of wonderful blackcurrant,
cedar wood, cigar box, lead and all those things that you should find in
a classic claret. Beautiful. The 1953 vintage of Château Langoa - Barton
was equally as stunning. The 1955 vintages of Château Haut-Bailly and
Château Lynch Bages would also come close to winning this accolade.
Of the many great wine regions of the world, do you have a favourite
that you like, or love, to visit – one that you would go back to above
all others?
It has to be Bordeaux. It was my first love and was the wine region that
truly opened my eyes to the world of wine from my days at university.
If I had to pick anywhere else, then probably the South Island of New
Zealand; in particular Marlborough at the top tip of the Island and
Central Otago at its bottom end. It is a beautiful, quiet, peaceful part of
the world that produces amazing wines.
Are there any emerging or perhaps less well known wine regions that
we should be looking out for?
Yes. I would take you to Eastern Europe. Moldova produces some
amazing sauvignon blanc and chardonnay these days. In Romania we
can find some wonderful, cheap, pinot noir and in Hungary we find
some stunning whites wines with great depth and good acidity (some
great pinot grigio here). These are all fantastic wine producing countries.
Keep an eye out for them when you shop.
If there were one piece of advice, or a message, that you would want
to pass on to us today about wine or the wine world, what would it be?
Three things. Firstly, if you enjoy a wine, then it’s a good wine. Don’t
let others (particularly the wine snobs of the world) tell you what you
should and shouldn’t like. So don’t be swayed from what you like. It is
your pallet, not anyone else’s. Secondly be adventurous, and explore the
world of wine, to really find out what you like. Thirdly, and finally, when
you go to a bar or restaurant, buy wine by the glass, not by the bottle.
This way you can experiment and buy a number of glasses containing
completely different wines. By doing so you won’t waste a bottle you may
not like, and at the same time will have a number of chances of finding
something that you do.
You have written many books in your lifetime. Your new book “Wine
by the Glass” is different to others you have written in the past and
covers a wide range of topics within one cover. What is the main
purpose behind, or the main message from, the book?
I have tried to inform the reader as to what I think they will find useful
when it comes to learning about wine and the wine world. I have tried to
tell the story from my perspective and to make it interesting for everyone.
Many books on wine are very detailed. This book, however, tries to give
the reader the basics when it comes to wine. I have endeavoured to make
the book readable and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their level of
knowledge (hence you find on the books back cover: ‘NO PREVIOUS
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED’.)
Christmas is approaching. Perhaps a bit of advice for those who
ponder what to drink with their traditional Christmas dinner?
First and foremost don’t splash out like mad on a wine, or on a style of
wine, that you don’t know. What you should do is trade up a notch on
what you do know – so if you like Chilean Merlot, trade up and buy a
slightly more expensive one. Don’t experiment – trade up within your
own comfort zone; and don’t necessarily go for the wines that have
been discounted. As to individual wines – sauvignon blanc is one wine
I would trade up on for Christmas. With Christmas pudding try some
Muscat, or even Asti Spumate (again trade up here where you can).
There are some fabulous English wines available today. What would
you recommend here?
There are some truly amazing wines being produced in the UK today.
If I had to pick – I would go sparkling here. Today I would actually
go English sparkling in preference to champagne. There are so many
brilliant wineries that produce such wonderful sparkling wines today
– Ridgeview, Nyetimber, Gusbourne, Camel Valley, Hattingley, Exton
Park, Harrow & Hope. This year I would also expect to find some
wonderful dornfelder and pinot noir being made in the UK too. So keep
an eye out for them.
What are you buying for your own personal consumption at the
moment?
These days I only really tend to buy single bottles. Currently I am buying
English sparkling wines, Greek white wines and white wines from
Campania in Italy. As to reds I am buying some fantastic wines from
Beaujolais, reds from the Loire Valley and from the Douro Valley in
Portugal. All wonderful wines, from wine regions that are well worth
keeping an eye out for.
You have appeared on our television screens on many occasions. Do
you have a favourite television programme of your own?
If my career had not taken the path that it has, I would have loved to
have been involved with film making in the world of natural history. For
me, therefore, the answer is easy – anything by David Attenborough. His
recent Blue Planet II series, on the BBC, was as heartbreaking as it was
thrilling. Truly wonderful.
Sport plays an important part of your life. As lifelong supporter of
Gillingham FC – who will win the Premier League this season?
An interesting question. Obviously not Gillingham. Out of the sides that
could win it, I like Liverpool to watch the most. However I think the
dark horse in this season’s title race is the Arsenal. If I had to put a £10
bet on it – I would put it on them.
If any of you are looking for an idea for a Christmas present, or a
stocking filler, you could do much worse than look beyond “Wine
by the Glass’. Published by Pavilion Books, it is available from high
street book shops as well as from online book retailers. With a retail
price of £9.99 it is a steal. It is value for money; as well as value for
information. Whether you are a total novice, or are someone who
already possesses a level of knowledge when it comes to wine and the
wine world - buy it.
Last, but by no means least, my thanks must go to Oz himself for
giving up his valuable time to talk to us and also to his publishers,
and in particular to Komal Patel from Pavilion Books for her part
in making this interview happen. The photograph of Oz comes to us
courtesy of Keith Barnes Photography.
Finally, lets hope Oz’s prediction as to who may win the 2108/2019
Premier League title proves to be incorrect!
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