The Tim Atkin Cork Talk Podcast

Irakli Peradze developed a successful career in telecommunications after university, but always wanted to be a wine producer at heart. After a Saperavi he’d made as a hobby won a competition in France, he decided to set up his own winery. Today he buys grapes from small growers in all of Georgia’s main wine regions, turning them into 46 different bottlings. He’s the ideal guide to the country’s history, wine styles and indigenous grapes. To read more about Irakli have a look at the Peradze Winery website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @peradze_winery. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.  

The daughter of a vet and an author, Margaret Rand started her life in publishing, but moved into wine after meeting Serena Sutcliffe MW. After spells editing various magazines, including one about opera, she has established herself as one of the wittiest and most intelligent wine journalists of her generation as well as the General Editor of Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary edition. To read more about Margaret have a look at the Hachette website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @margaret_randpocketwine. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.  

Noelia Orts was born and brought up in Benidorm, but after studying viticulture and oenology and Spain, and an overseas harvest in New Zealand, moved to Chile in 2009, where she is in charge of the premium wine portfolio at Viñedos Orgánicos Emiliana. Our chat covered her love of travel, cover crops, the art of blending, climate change and what it’s like being involved with the largest organic and biodynamic estate on the planet. To read more about Noelia have a look at the Viñedos Orgánicos Emiliana website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @noeliaorganicwine. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.  

Guy Woodward has spent his working life as a journalist, writing about food, travel, sport and even casinos before turning his attention to wine when he moved to Decanter magazine. As an editor, columnist and content provider, he can look back over more than two decades of achievement. Our chat covered music, fine wine, competitions, the changing media landscape and what it’s like to exchange legal letters with Robert Parker. To read more about Guy have a look at his website. You can also follow him on Instagram at @guyawoodward. Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.  

Cristina Mercuri had a successful career as an international lawyer in Milan but gave it all up to study and create a second career in wine, becoming Italy’s first female Master of Wine within a decade. A consultant, educator and journalist, Cristina likes to describe herself as a “cultural bridge” between Italy and the rest of the world. She’s also on a mission to bring more women into the wine industry and make wine less “self-referential”. To read more about Cristina have a look at her website. You can also follow her on Instagram at @cristinamercuri_wine.  Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts, where you can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.