Emma Rice, Hattingley Valley Wines, England

In this episode Gordon jumps feet first into a vat of grapes, hard graft and global success as he gets the lowdown on English wine – courtesy of Emma Rice, Head Wine Maker at the multi award-winning Hattingley Valley Winery in Hampshire. Don’t expect polite chit chat over a glass of fizz…the pair get straight into the joys of working in the countryside, getting your hands dirty, grape varieties and whether or not you have to be born with a good ‘nose’ for the job. As you’d expect from someone who heads up the Wines of Great Britain Technical Wine Making Committee, Emma’s expertise, accomplishment, and dedication to crafting world class sparkling and still wines shine through. With 30 plus commercial wineries now operating in Britain and some 700 vineyards established, she explains where English wine has come from and why it’s now having a moment. She also spills a few trade secrets about the making of Hattingley Valley’s sought after wines – including Emma’s favourite rosé: a liquid so delicious the winery can’t make enough of it to keep up with demand! And forget the old saying, ‘grape or grain, never the twain’: tune in to hear Gordon and Emma find plenty of shared ground between whisky and wine making: from oak barrels and sustainability to the importance of community and staying friends with your competitors. 

Om Podcasten

Gordon Bruce is curious about craft. And in Knock Tales, the Knockdhu Distillery Manager and anCnoc single malt whisky maker meets people who know exactly what it takes to make the world’s most beautifully crafted and celebrated products. He’ll be sharing a dram with these fellow craft obsessives to get to the bottom of his favourite topic: ‘making things well’. There’s always meticulous process, traditional skills, impeccably sourced raw materials and a stubborn refusal to compromise. But it’s the personal pride and passion you hear in each story that is the making of a truly great craft product. As Gordon says: ‘Nothing compares to a product that has been made by someone, not just with their head but with hand, heart and soul. This is craft, and I’ll be sharing some great stories and a few secrets from people who, like me, spend their days making things to put out into the world for people enjoy. I do hope you’ll join us!’