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(2533)

Ep. 99 Monty Waldin interviews Alessandro Medici (Medici Ermete Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Emilia-Romagna

Ep. 99 Monty Waldin interviews Alessandro Medici (Medici Ermete Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Emilia-Romagna

In this podcast Monty Waldin meets Alessandro Medici, the youngest generation of the Medici at the Medici Ermete winery in Emilia-Romagna. Alessandro talks about how the perception and consumption of Lambrusco has changed worldwide, from its popularity in the 1970s when James Bond would ask for a glass of Lambrusco instead of Champagne, to a kind of downgrading as “cheap” wine in more recent years. Alessandro tells the story of his family along with their contribution to a Lambrusco renaissance and a commitment to make sophisticated and refined Lambrusco wines. Tune in also to discover food pairings with Lambrusco and Medici’s organic viticulture in one of their vineyards!

17 Apr 201823min

Ep. 98 Monty Waldin interviews Logan Lee (Wine Awesomeness) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

Ep. 98 Monty Waldin interviews Logan Lee (Wine Awesomeness) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

Is wine snobby? Created by Logan Lee, Wine Awesomeness brings wine to millennials in an alternative and catchy way. Tune in to Episode 98 of the Italian Wine Podcast and listen to Monty Waldin chatting to Logan on how to create a digital and fun way to discover the world of wine (with no snobbery!). Join us for our weekly episode of the Let’s Talk Wine Biz - #wine2wine series.

10 Apr 201813min

Ep. 97 Monty Waldin interviews Leonardo Bellaccini (San Felice) | Discover Italian Regions: Tuscany / Toscana

Ep. 97 Monty Waldin interviews Leonardo Bellaccini (San Felice) | Discover Italian Regions: Tuscany / Toscana

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Leonardo Bellaccini, oenologist at San Felice Group in Castelnuovo Berardenga in Chianti Classico, Tuscany. Monty and Leonardo talk about viticulture and climate change as well as the markets for Chianti wines. Leonardo also discusses the tradition of vin santo and food and wine pairings with Chianti Annata, Riserva, and Gran Selezione. Tune in also to find out San Felice’s future plans of expansion!

10 Apr 201823min

Ep. 96 Monty Waldin interviews Paul Howard (Wine Alchemy) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

Ep. 96 Monty Waldin interviews Paul Howard (Wine Alchemy) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

In this episode Monty Waldin talks to Paul Howard wine writer, educator. and owner of WineAlchemy Limited an expert in blockchain. Paul and Monty discuss the perception of Italian wine on the English market and the ins and outs of blockchain. Tune in to learn more about blockchain technology in the wine industry!

9 Apr 201816min

Ep. 95 Monty Waldin interviews Alessandra Boscaini (Masi Agricola) | Discover Italian Regions: Veneto

Ep. 95 Monty Waldin interviews Alessandra Boscaini (Masi Agricola) | Discover Italian Regions: Veneto

In this episode, Monty Waldin interviews Alessandra Boscaini at Masi Agricola in the Veneto region. This iconic family winery, at the heart of the Amarone revolution, was founded in 1772 and has been very successful internationally. Monty and Alessandra talk about Masi’s foreign markets in the United States and China. They also talk about climate change and the organic projects in Argentina and Tuscany of the Masi Group.

3 Apr 201815min

Ep. 94 Monty Waldin interviews Mike Madaio (Palate Press) | Discover Italian Regions: Emilia-Romagna

Ep. 94 Monty Waldin interviews Mike Madaio (Palate Press) | Discover Italian Regions: Emilia-Romagna

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Mike Madaio, wine journalist, blogger, and Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador. Mike also serves on the editorial board for Palate Press, and his writing has appeared in publications such as Wine Enthusiast, Undiscovered Italy and Edible Philly. Mike speaks about the evolution of food and wine blogging and of blogging more in general. Monty and Mike also discuss the notion of “taste” in relation to wines. Tune in for another episode of our “Let’s talk wine biz – wine2wine series” to learn more about wine and digital storytelling!

2 Apr 201821min

Ep. 93 Monty Waldin interviews Enrico Drei Donà (Drei Donà Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Emilia-Romagna

Ep. 93 Monty Waldin interviews Enrico Drei Donà (Drei Donà Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Emilia-Romagna

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Enrico Drei Donà, owner of the Drei Donà winery in Emilia-Romagna. Enrico and Monty discuss the historic area where Sangiovese originated and the Predappio denomination. Enrico tells Monty all about his family history and the wines they produce. Tune in also to discover a typical native grape variety of the area, Uva Longanesi!

27 Mar 201818min

Ep. 92 Monty Waldin interviews Jeffrey Porter (Batali & Bastianich Group) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

Ep. 92 Monty Waldin interviews Jeffrey Porter (Batali & Bastianich Group) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

In this episode Monty Waldin talks to Jeffrey Porter, Beverage Director at Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group in New York. Jeffrey shares his exciting and multifaceted professional story in the beverage industry in the US, from his experience as a sommelier in restaurants in the Napa Valley, to winemaking in California, to his current experience—with an Italian twist!—with the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group in New York. Tune in to meet a knowledgeable, dedicated, and humble sommelier sharing his passion for wine!

26 Mar 201817min

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