Ep. 2560 Sophie Thorpe’s Wine Books of 2025 | Book Club with Richard Hough

Ep. 2560 Sophie Thorpe’s Wine Books of 2025 | Book Club with Richard Hough

Welcome this special Christmas edition of Book Club and Episode 2561 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Richard Hough. In this episode, Richard speaks with Sophie Thorpe about her top five books of 2025. They explore how Sophie first became interested in wine, trace her career in the luxury wine sector, and discuss the role and influence of wine writing in shaping the industry. The conversation also touches on the wine she plans to enjoy on Christmas Day, making for a festive and insightful discussion. Sophie Thorpe’s Top 5 Wine Books of 2025: Saint-Julien: Vineyards, Cellars, People, and Place (English Edition) by Marc Bouffard The Wines of California by Elaine Chukan Brown Taste the Limestone, Smell the Slate by Alex Maltmans Drinking the World: A Wine Odyssey by Victoria Brzezinski and Bert Blaize The Cynics Guide to Wine by Sunny Hodge The wines discussed in today’s show include: Nascetta, the rare indigenous white grape from the Langhe hills of Pimonte Timorasso, the rare ancient white grape from the Colli Tortonesi region of Piemonte The “Gris” Pinot Grigio from the Lis Neris winery in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Sophie’s choice for Christmas Day is a 1994 Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru Les Lavières from Domaine Robert Ampeau. Other books mentioned in the show are: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë The Comic Book History of the Cocktail by David Wondrich The 500 Best Pubs in England by Will Hawkes (as seen in the Telegraph) About today’s guest: Sophie Thorpe is an award-winning wine writer and editor with over a decade of experience working with fine wine merchants, including FINE+RARE and Berry Bros. & Rudd. She contributes to Decanter, Club Oenologique, JancisRobinson.com, and has featured in the Académie du Vin Library (On Burgundy, On Tuscany). Sophie has been shortlisted twice for the Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Awards, won the Guild of Food Writers Drinks Writing Award (2021), and was recently shortlisted for the 67 Pall Mall Award (2024). A WSET Diploma holder, she is currently on Stage Three of the Master of Wine programme. Outside of wine, she boxes competitively and has a well-stocked library and cellar. Connect: Website: https://www.firstpress.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-thorpe-40909331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/svthorpe/ More about the host: Richard Hough is the editor, translator and project curator behind The Art of Wine Storytelling, Wine Democracy and Vine and Prejudice. He has also published several books about life in Verona, chronicling the city’s history, culture and daily life, not forgetting, of course, its wine, including Verona Campione, published in May 2025. With a long-standing passion for whisky and beer, he’s a relative newcomer to the world of wine and is now desperately trying to make up for lost time! He is the host of Book Club on the Italian Wine Podcast. Connect: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rickhough.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verona_campione Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhough/ _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!

Episoder(2607)

Ep. 47 Monty Waldin interviews John Baum (The Winemakers Club, London) | Italian Wine Personalities

Ep. 47 Monty Waldin interviews John Baum (The Winemakers Club, London) | Italian Wine Personalities

In this episode Monty Waldin meets John Baum, Director of the Winemakers Club in London. John tells Monty about his career in the world of Italian wine and his fondness for the Italian regional wines of Calabria and Basilicata. Monty and John also discuss winemaking trends in popular wine regions such as Chianti.

25 Jul 201710min

Ep. 46 Monty Waldin interviews Laura Bianchi (Castello di Monsanto) | Discover Italian Regions: Tuscany / Toscana

Ep. 46 Monty Waldin interviews Laura Bianchi (Castello di Monsanto) | Discover Italian Regions: Tuscany / Toscana

In this episode Monty Waldin talks to Laura Bianchi, owner of Castello di Monsanto winery in Barberino Val d’Elsa in Tuscany. Laura tells Monty about the story of her family, her vineyards, and her forays in the wine business, when she was just a young woman. Laura also teaches Monty some Italian proverbs about wine, whereby you can’t have 'la botte piena' and 'la moglie ubriaca'! Tune in for some Chianti conversations and folk wisdom!

24 Jul 201712min

Ep. 45 Monty Waldin interviews Stefano Chiarlo (Michele Chiarlo Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Piedmont / Piemonte

Ep. 45 Monty Waldin interviews Stefano Chiarlo (Michele Chiarlo Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Piedmont / Piemonte

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Stefano Chiarlo of the Michele Chiarlo Winery in Calamandrana, Asti. Stefano tells Monty about his family history and his own wine-making philosophy. He also recommends a walk in the vineyard as the perfect way to enjoy the territory and appreciate the wine. Tune in for another exciting conversation about the great Piedmontese wines Barolo and Barbera!

18 Jul 201715min

Ep. 44 Monty Waldin interviews Ben Robson, Italian wine Importer at Bat & Bottle Wine Merchants | Italian Wine Personalities

Ep. 44 Monty Waldin interviews Ben Robson, Italian wine Importer at Bat & Bottle Wine Merchants | Italian Wine Personalities

In episode 44 Monty Waldin takes us to England to meet Ben Robson, wine merchant at Bat & Bottle in Oakham, Rutland, that specializes in Italian wine. Ben talks about sales trends of Italian wine in England and his love for Italy and Piemonte. Ben also discusses the enormous potential of the Aglianico grape and his hopes for a growth in Lambrusco. Cin Cin with Italian Wine People from all over the world!

17 Jul 20178min

Ep. 43 Monty Waldin interviews Swedish Sommelier Anna Ronngren | Italian Wine Personalities

Ep. 43 Monty Waldin interviews Swedish Sommelier Anna Ronngren | Italian Wine Personalities

In episode 43 we take a virtual journey to Northern Europe to learn more about the appreciation of Italian wine in Sweden. Monty Waldin is joined by Anna Ronngren Head Sommelier at Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm. Anna and Monty delve into an interesting conversation about the Swedish market for Italian wine. Anna also talks about wine and food pairings and her favorite combinations of Italian wine with Swedish food. Thirsty and hungry yet?

12 Jul 20176min

Ep. 42 Monty Waldin interviews Alessandro Ceretto (Ceretto Wines) | Discover Italian Regions: Piedmont / Piemonte

Ep. 42 Monty Waldin interviews Alessandro Ceretto (Ceretto Wines) | Discover Italian Regions: Piedmont / Piemonte

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Alessandro Ceretto from Ceretto Wines in the beautiful Unesco World Heritage Landscape of Langhe in Piedmont. Monty and Alessandro talk about the terroir, organic and biodynamic farming methods, and Ceretto’s famous wines: Barolo, Barbaresco, and Arneis. Join us for another #ItalianWine journey in one of the most famous wine regions.

10 Jul 201711min

Ep. 41 Monty Waldin interviews Elena Fucci (Elena Fucci Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Basilicata

Ep. 41 Monty Waldin interviews Elena Fucci (Elena Fucci Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Basilicata

In this episode Monty Waldin meets the “volcanic” Elena Fucci, owner of Elena Fucci Wines in Basilicata. Elena tells Monty about her forays in the world of wine and the distinctive character of Aglianico del Vulture and its terroir. Tune in also to find out what to eat with a bottle of Aglianico! Cin Cin with another charismatic Italian Wine Personality!

4 Jul 20177min

Ep. 40 Monty Waldin interviews VIA Italian Wine Ambassador Julien Boulard | Education meets Business

Ep. 40 Monty Waldin interviews VIA Italian Wine Ambassador Julien Boulard | Education meets Business

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Julien Boulard who is a Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador and wine educator based in China. Julien talks about his experience of learning about Italian wine last April in Verona and his favorite Sicilian wines. He also discusses the Chinese market for Italian wine. Tune in for a Cin Cin between Italy and China!

3 Jul 20176min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
merry-quizmas
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
treningspodden
foreldreradet
dypdykk
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
jakt-og-fiskepodden
fryktlos
rss-kull
sinnsyn
rss-sarbar-med-lotte-erik
hverdagspsyken
gravid-uke-for-uke
rss-mind-body-podden
rss-kunsten-a-leve
rss-var-forste-kaffe
lederskap-nhhs-podkast-om-ledelse
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid