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. 91 Monty Waldin interviews Francesca Paladin (Casa Paladin) | Discover Italian Regions: Tuscany / Toscana

Ep. 91 Monty Waldin interviews Francesca Paladin (Casa Paladin) | Discover Italian Regions: Tuscany / Toscana

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Francesca Paladin (Casa Paladin Estates). Francesca talks about the family’s wineries located in multiple regions such as Tuscany (Chianti Classico), Lombardy (Franciacorta), and on the border between Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Monty and Francesca discuss the Prosecco boom and the impact of climate change in the Franciacorta and Veneto areas. Francesca also gives the family recipe for the Agricanto liqueur, a sweet drink made from Raboso grape with almond and cherry juice. Tune in also to find out an Agricanto-based recipe for aperitivo! Cin cin with Italian Wine People!

20 Mar 201811min

Ep. 90 Monty Waldin interviews Robert Joseph (Wine Writer & Consultant) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

Ep. 90 Monty Waldin interviews Robert Joseph (Wine Writer & Consultant) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

In this episode, Monty Waldin talks to Robert Joseph, wine writer, journalist, and consultant. Currently, Robert is also producing wine in the Languedoc region of France with two partners. He has recently completed a new book, The future of wine has changed (forthcoming in March/April 2018). In the podcast, Robert sketches the future of viticulture and wine making in the face of climate change. His future projections deal with the implementation of artifical intelligence in viticulture, the use of water for irrigation and more. Robert and Monty also discuss the idea of wine cooperatives. Step into possible futures in this episode of Italian Wine Podcast!

19 Mar 201816min

Ep. 89 Monty Waldin interviews Denise Marrone (Agricola Gian Piero Marrone) | Discover Italian Regions: Piedmont / Piemonte

Ep. 89 Monty Waldin interviews Denise Marrone (Agricola Gian Piero Marrone) | Discover Italian Regions: Piedmont / Piemonte

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Denise Marrone at the Agricola Gian Piero Marrone in La Morra in the Langhe wine region in Piemonte. Denise together with Serena and Valentina are the three Marrone sisters who work in the family winery. Denise tells Monty all about her family history and her father Gian Piero’s pioneering work in the vineyard. She also talks about their signature Barolos, Barolo Bussia and Barolo Pichemej. Denise and Monty also discuss climate change and native grape varieties such as Favorita, Arneis, and Moscato.

13 Mar 201812min

Ep. 88 Monty Waldin interviews Steve Raye (Bevology INC) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

Ep. 88 Monty Waldin interviews Steve Raye (Bevology INC) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

In this episode Monty Waldin talks to Steve Raye the owner of Bevology INC, a consulting company specializing in helping wine export brands penetrate the U.S. market. Steve and Monty discuss wine importing and distribution in the American market and the impact that Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods will have on U.S. retail. Let’s get down to (wine) business in another episode of the Italian Wine Podcast “Let’s talk wine biz" series on air every Tuesday.

12 Mar 201811min

Ep. 87 Monty Waldin interviews Antonio Michael Zaccheo (Carpineto Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Tuscany / Toscana

Ep. 87 Monty Waldin interviews Antonio Michael Zaccheo (Carpineto Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Tuscany / Toscana

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Antonio Michael Zaccheo of Carpineto Wines in Tuscany. Monty’s guest talks about how Carpineto Wines came to be, that is, from the joint efforts of two families: the Zaccheo family from Puglia and the Sacchet family from Veneto. Carpineto’s founders came from opposite parts of Italy and met half-way in Tuscany, united by their love of Tuscany and Sangiovese. Antonio Michael Zaccheo talks about Tuscan wines, global markets, and… the ironic sobriquet “pulci in culo” for a local grape variety! Tune in to find out more!

6 Mar 201813min

Ep. 86 Monty Waldin interviews Alison Napjus (Wine Spectator) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

Ep. 86 Monty Waldin interviews Alison Napjus (Wine Spectator) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

In episode 86 Monty Waldin meets Alison Napjus, Senior Editor at Wine Spectator, the leading American magazine about wine and wine culture. Alison is one of the experts at Wine Spectator who selects the 100 Italian wine producers for Vinitaly’s opening gala, OperaWine (goo.gl/jcB6eN). In this interview, Alison tells Monty about her career and daily work in the magazine, her personal connection with Italy and her passion for Italian wine. Alison explains Wine Spectator’s rigorous blind tasting methodology and talks about wine tasting and the future of wine journalism.

5 Mar 201814min

Ep. 85 Monty Waldin interviews Mateja Gravner (Gravner Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Friuli Venezia-Giulia

Ep. 85 Monty Waldin interviews Mateja Gravner (Gravner Winery) | Discover Italian Regions: Friuli Venezia-Giulia

In this episode Monty Waldin interviews Mateja Gravner who works in the family winery “Gravner” in Oslavia in Friuli Venezia Giulia on the border with Slovenia. Mateja’s father, Josko Gravner is an iconic producer who created the paradigm for so-called “orange wines”—his famous Ribolla wine being made from Ribolla Gialla native grapes. Mateja tells Monty about his father Josko’s innovation in wine-making that includes skin contact and fermentation in amphoras coming from Georgia. Tune in to discover the history of the Slovenian-speaking Gravner family that intersects also with major events in the history of Italy and its contested north-east borders.

27 Feb 201819min

Ep. 84 Monty Waldin interviews Adam Teeter (Vine Pair) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

Ep. 84 Monty Waldin interviews Adam Teeter (Vine Pair) | Monty Waldin's Let's Talk Wine Biz

In this episode Monty Waldin meets Adam Teeter, CEO of Vine Pair, the influential American publication for millennials in the wine, beer, and spirits sector. Adam tells Monty about his initial forays in the wine world, when he used to organize concerts in an Italian restaurant in New York “pairing” alternative rock bands with wines. Adam talks about his publication, Vine Pair, and about strategies for communicating wine to millennials.

26 Feb 201820min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
hanna-de-heldige
fryktlos
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
treningspodden
foreldreradet
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-mann-i-krise-med-sagen
dypdykk
rss-sunn-okonomi
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf
sinnsyn
hverdagspsyken
rss-kunsten-a-leve
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
mikkels-paskenotter
anlegg-og-sjau-med-lothepus-og-pilgaard
doktor-fives-podcast