Ep. 2492 Sunny Hodge | Book Club with Richard Hough

Ep. 2492 Sunny Hodge | Book Club with Richard Hough

Welcome to Book Club and Episode 2492 of the Italian Wine Podcast with Richard Hough. Today Richard is in conversation with Sunny Hodge to discuss his new book, The Cynic's Guide to Wine. In this in-depth conversation, Richard and Sunny discuss Sunny’s varied career in hospitality, the ups and downs of the London wine scene, the philosophies behind his award winning wine bars, and the science behind his book, The Cynic's Guide to Wine. On the bookshelf: Sunny shared his passion for journals articles on mycorrhizal networks, while currently on Richard’s bookshelf is Question 7 by Richard Flanagan. The Cynic’s Guide to Wine is published by The Académie du Vin Library and is available to order at: https://academieduvinlibrary.com/products/the-cynics-guide-to-wine-sunny-hodge. About today’s guest: Sunny Hodge is the founder of two renowned London wine bars and a recognised disruptor in the wine trade. With a background in hospitality and a passion for truth-telling, Hodge has built a reputation for making wine approachable, exciting, and rooted in reality. Sunny Hodge completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering before embarking on a career in hospitality. He worked his way up from fast food restaurants to become a founding team member at Paulo de Tarso and Nicholas Jaouën’s London restaurant, Margot. His scientific training has always led him to look for the how and why behind food and wine, and he currently runs science-based wine tastings and is developing programmes to provide wine education based on science and functionality. Hodge is the founder and owner of two wine bars in south London, Diogenes the Dog and Aspen & Meursault, for which he was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year at the Southwark Business Awards. Both wine bars showcase unusual and lesser-known wines and share a mission to educate customers about wine. Sunny is an annual wine judge for the IWSC awards and has commentated on wine for the Evening Standard, The Times and The Guardian. Connect: Website: https://www.diogenesthedog.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnyhodgewine/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunny-hodge-wine/ 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(2535)

Ep. 123 Monty Waldin interviews Salvatore Santus (AgriPunica) | Discover Italian Regions: Sardinia / Sardegna

Ep. 123 Monty Waldin interviews Salvatore Santus (AgriPunica) | Discover Italian Regions: Sardinia / Sardegna

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Salvatore Santus, Manager at AgriPunica, a winery in the beautiful island of Sardinia, located in the Sulcis subregion, a land once connected with the ancient Carthaginians. Join Monty and Salvatore to learn more about the winery’s history, its incredible soil, and its Carignano- and Vermentino-based wines.

11 Jul 201814min

Ep. 122 Monty Waldin interviews Paolo Bartoloni (Le Cimate) | Discover Italian Regions: Umbria

Ep. 122 Monty Waldin interviews Paolo Bartoloni (Le Cimate) | Discover Italian Regions: Umbria

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Paolo Bartoloni owner of Le Cimate winery in the Montefalco area in Umbria. Paolo tells Monty about his family and winery history built on former Church land. They discuss Sagrantino, Trebbiano Spoletino and Vermentino. Paolo and Monty give interesting suggestions about pairing Sagrantino with local wild boar, mushrooms, and truffles. Paolo also suggests vegetarian dishes to pair with Sagrantino. After chatting about Sagrantino Rosé and Passito wines, they also talk about moraiolo olive oil grown in Le Cimate Estate! Join us in this podcast for a gourmet tour of Umbria!

9 Jul 201821min

Ep. 121 Monty Waldin interviews Antonio Capaldo (Feudi San Gregorio) | Discover Italian Regions: Campania

Ep. 121 Monty Waldin interviews Antonio Capaldo (Feudi San Gregorio) | Discover Italian Regions: Campania

In this podcast Monty Waldin meets Antonio Capaldo, owner of the Feudi San Gregorio winery in the Campania region. Tune in to discover Antonio’s personal story, from his studies and jobs abroad in finance to his journey home working in the family business. Antonio tells Monty about Feudi’s 2,000 year old vines and his vision to combine tradition and innovation. Monty and Antonio discuss the Italian and international markets for Southern Italian wines, wine tourism, and Feudi San Gregorio’s signature wines such as Taurasi, Greco di Tufo, and Fiano di Avellino.

3 Jul 201813min

Ep. 120 Monty Waldin interviews Matteo Basili (Benedetti & Grigi Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Umbria

Ep. 120 Monty Waldin interviews Matteo Basili (Benedetti & Grigi Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Umbria

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Matteo Basili, winemaker at Benedetti & Grigi Winery in Montefalco, Umbria. Matteo tells Monty about his previous experience as a winemaker in Australia and his current work for Benedetti & Grigi with Sagrantino grapes in Umbria. Monty and Matteo go deep into the work done in vineyard and in the cellar to make Sagrantino wines. They also discuss the potential of Sagrantino grapes to be cultivated in Australia. Tune in for a close-up on Sagrantino winemaking practices!

2 Jul 201811min

Ep. 119 Monty Waldin interviews Carole Bouquet (Sangue d'Oro Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Sicily / Sicilia

Ep. 119 Monty Waldin interviews Carole Bouquet (Sangue d'Oro Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Sicily / Sicilia

In this episode Monty Waldin meets world-famous actress Carole Bouquet who has been making Passito di Pantelleria on the Pantelleria islands for over a decade. Carole talks passionately about Italy, wine, and her forays in the wine world. She tells Monty about the rich history and beauty of the island of Pantelleria where her Sangue d’Oro Passito is made.

26 Jun 201820min

Ep. 118 Monty Waldin interviews Liu Pambuffetti (Scacciadiavoli Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Umbria

Ep. 118 Monty Waldin interviews Liu Pambuffetti (Scacciadiavoli Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Umbria

In this podcast Monty Waldin interviews Liu Pambuffetti at Scacciadiavoli Winery in the Montefalco area in Umbria. Liu talks about the origin of the Scacciadiavoli name that is also the name of the area. Liu tells Monty about her training in Bordeaux and how her studies in France have informed the winemaking in her family business. Liu describes the wines produced by Scacciadiavoli winery, including Sagrantino-based Montefalco Rosso, Trebbiano Spoletino, Sparkling Sagrantino, Sparkling Rosé and Sagrantino Passito. Tune in also to find out some interesting wine and food pairings!

25 Jun 201831min

Ep. 145 Monty Waldin interviews Lorenzo Piccin (San Martino Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Basilicata

Ep. 145 Monty Waldin interviews Lorenzo Piccin (San Martino Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Basilicata

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Lorenzo Piccin, owner of the San Martino Winery in the Vulture area of the Basilicata region. The winery produces outstanding Aglianico del Vulture wines, the “Arberesko” and “Siir” Aglianicos. Its vineyards are located between 500 and 600 meters on the sea level, in an area populated by Albanian linguistic and cultural minorities. Tune in also to learn how to cook a local delicacy, the “Cruschi” peppers!

25 Jun 201816min

Ep. 127 Monty Waldin interviews Marco Massarotto (La Via del Sake) | Italian Wine Personalities

Ep. 127 Monty Waldin interviews Marco Massarotto (La Via del Sake) | Italian Wine Personalities

In this episode of Italian Wine Podcast, we make a little exception in our topic selection and talk about the Italian connections with Japanese iconic drink sake, made with fermented rice! Monty Waldin meets “Sake Samurai” Marco Massarotto, founder of the association La Via del Sake. Marco tells Monty about his discovery of sake and about the sake scene and consumption in Italy. Marco also explores the similarities between wine and sake, both fermented drinks. Tune in to learn more about sake drinking etiquette and how sake was judged at the international wine tasting 5StarWines 2018!

24 Jun 201821min

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