Episode 58: Josh Donaghay-Spire - Head Winemaker and Operations Director, Chapel Down in Kent.

Welcome back to series 9 of The English Wine Diaries podcast! Joining me on today's episode is Josh Donaghay-Spire, Head Winemaker and Operations Director at Chapel Down in Kent. Josh’s career in wine began as a teenager working in a wine bar and, after studying WSET qualifications and later enrolling in Plumpton College, he was able to travel to some of the world’s most renowned wine regions, honing his skills in winemaking. But he decided the English wine industry was where he wanted to be and in 2010 joined Chapel Down. Over the past 14 years, he has been at the heart the brand’s winemaking achievements and has been instrumental in its journey to become England’s largest wine producer.Last year, Josh was announced as English Winemaker of the year in the Drinks Business’ 100 Master Winemaker Awards and he continues to be one of the most talented winemakers within the English wine industry.We talk about Josh's journey back to his Kent (and family farming) roots, the growth of Chapel Down as a brand and why its Brut Non-Vintage is such an English wine success story. To find out more about visiting Chapel Down's home in Tenterden or to browse its full portfolio of English wine, visit chapeldown.com and to keep up to date with the brand's news, follow @chapeldown on Instagram and Facebook. This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10.Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at thesouthernquarter.co.uk.