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Food & Drink > Tastemakers

Tastemakers

 We interview shining lights from the wine and spirits trade – from distillery managers to wine makers

Jason Haynes from Flint Wines
  • Tastemakers

Jason Haynes, Founding Director, Flint Wines

by Mark Hedley

Jason Haynes co-founded Flint Wines with a focus on Burgundy and a nose for talent. Two decades on, he’s still chasing greatness – and finding it

  • Tastemakers

Peter Fraser: “You have to be careful not to chase trends”

by Mark Hedley

With a reverence for old vines, a passion for purity, and a soft spot for shorts, Peter Fraser has redefined Australian grenache – and put Yangarra Estate on the global wine map in the process. We meet with a legend of the industry

Dr Nick Savage, Master Distiller, Bladnoch Distillery
  • Tastemakers

Dr Nick Savage, Master Distiller, Bladnoch Distillery

by Nick Savage

Bladnoch's master distiller discusses his whisky journey and what contemporary drinkers are looking for in a single-malt scotch

Andy Lennie, Whisky Specialist, Fettercairn Distillery
  • Tastemakers

Andy Lennie, Whisky Specialist, Fettercairn Distillery

by Mark Hedley

This year, Fettercairn Distillery has turned 200. To mark this impressive milestone, it’s launched an incredible commemorative set of six whiskies. Andy Lennie, Whisky Specialist, Fettercairn Distillery tells us more

Kirsteen Campbell , Macallan
  • Tastemakers

Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker, The Macallan

Kirsteen Campbell is the first female Master Whisky Maker in The Macallan’s 200-year history. Here’s how she got one of the industry’s top jobs

  • Tastemakers

Nelson Hernández, Master Rum Blender, Diplomático Rum

Nelson Hernández, Diplomático’s Master Rum Blender, shares his 40-year journey crafting award-winning rums

Annie Favia & Andy Erickson, Founders, Favia Wine
  • Tastemakers

Annie Favia & Andy Erickson, Founders, Favia Wine

by Mark Hedley

Favia was founded by renowned viticulturalist Annie Favia and her husband, consultant winemaker Andy Erickson. We meet the husband-and-wife team of this boutique Napa winery

Keith Cruickshank from Benromach
  • Tastemakers

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager, Benromach

by Jack Croxford-Scott

We meet Keith Cruickshank, distillery manager at Benromach, upon the release of the Speyside distillery’s 50 Years Old single malt

Elizabeth Mccall
  • Tastemakers

Elizabeth McCall, Master Distiller, Woodford Reserve

by Mark Hedley

When Woodford Reserve appointed Elizabeth McCall as Master Distiller it marked an historic moment for women in the spirits industry. We caught up with bourbon’s leading lady

Brian Kinsman, Master Blender, William Grant & Sons
  • Tastemakers

Brian Kinsman, Master Blender, William Grant & Sons

by Jack Croxford-Scott

William Grant & Sons changed how we drunk whisky, converting drinkers from blends to malts. We catch up with Brian Kinsman, Master Blender of the company’s entire portfolio, which includes everything from Glenfiddich to Balvenie

Melanie Chester
  • Tastemakers

Melanie Chester, Winemaker, Giant Steps

by Mark Hedley

Award-winning winemaker Melanie Chester has worked all across Australia as well as Portugal’s Douro Valley. Now at the helm of Yarra Valley vineyard Giant Steps, she tells us what wine means to her

Victoria Symington
  • Tastemakers

Victoria Symington, Brand Marketing Manager, Graham's

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Warre’s, Dow’s, Graham’s and Cockburn's: the Symingtons are port royalty. We meet fifth-generation member Victoria Symington to find out what’s next for the family business

Neil Macleod Mathieson, Whiskymaker, Torabhaig
  • Tastemakers

Neil Macleod Mathieson, Whiskymaker, Torabhaig

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Neil Macleod Mathieson is the whiskymaker of both Torabhaig Isle of Skye Single Malt and Mossburn Distillers & Blenders. We catch up with a master of his craft

Martin Murray, Co-Founder, Dunnet Bay Distillers
  • Tastemakers

Martin Murray, Co-Founder, Dunnet Bay Distillers

by Mark Hedley

From chemical engineering to an offshore oil rig via the nuclear industry, Martin Murray has not had the most conventional of journeys into distilling. But at Dunnet Bay Distillers, he’s found his calling

Euan Campbell, Head of Whisky Creation, Scotch Malt Whisky Society
  • Tastemakers

Euan Campbell, Head of Whisky Creation, Scotch Malt Whisky Society

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Euan Campbell, Head of Whisky Creation at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society has a harder role than his job title suggests – hand-picking the perfect single-casks for his discerning clientele

Robbie Hughes, Manager, Glengoyne
  • Tastemakers

Robbie Hughes, Manager, Glengoyne

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Robbie Hughes had stints at Balblair, Tormore, Linkwood, Mannochmore and others before settling in at Glengoyne. He talks us through his life and times in the whisky business

Charlie Stein
  • Tastemakers

Charlie Stein, Director, The Rick Stein Group

by Mark Hedley

Charlie Stein, son of Rick Stein, is responsible for all wine lists across the Stein restaurants and online wine shop. We caught up with him to find out about how and why he got into the wine trade

Drew McKenzie Smith
  • Tastemakers

Drew Mckenzie Smith, Founder, Lindores Abbey Distillery

by Jack Croxford-Scott

In Scotch whisky’s spiritual home, Drew McKenzie Smith has built one of Scotland’s newest distilleries, Lindores Abbey. We catch up with Drew over a dram or two

Iain McAlister, Master Distiller, Glen Scotia
  • Tastemakers

Iain McAlister, Master Distiller, Glen Scotia

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Campbeltown was once known as the ‘whisky capital of the world’. We travel there to meet Iain McAlister, master distiller of Glen Scotia, to learn more about this historic region and its whiskies

Euan Henderson
  • Tastemakers

Euan Henderson, Distillery Manager, Speyburn

Speyburn dates back to 1897, the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. We catch up with Euan Henderson – the man in charge – to find out what’s next for this historic distillery

  • Tastemakers

Barry Bayat, founder, Rumor

by Mark Hedley

Former JP Morgan managing director Barry Bayat swapped banking for blush, launching a perfectly pitched rosé for our times

John Glaser, founder and head whiskymaker, Compass Box
  • Tastemakers

Tastemaker: John Glaser, founder, Compass Box

by Mark Hedley

John Glaser swapped wine for whisky – and went on to launch boutique Scotch whisky blending house, Compass Box

Desiree Reid, founder, Cardrona
  • Tastemakers

Desiree Reid, founder and managing director of Cardrona Distillery

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Meet Desiree Reid, founder and managing director of Cardrona Distillery – and the lady responsible for putting New Zealand whisky on the map

Simon Roberts – Ridgeview Director of Winemaking
  • Tastemakers

Simon Roberts, director of winemaking, Ridgeview

by Mark Hedley

Simon Roberts has been involved in making wine at Ridgeview since the winery’s launch 27 years ago. He talks us through what’s next for the innovative British winery

Jill Russell, Cambria winery
  • Tastemakers

Jill Russell, head winemaker, Cambria Estate Winery

by Mark Hedley

Jill Russell is the winemaker at Cambria Estate Winery, one of Santa Maria Valley’s most prestigious wineries. Here the American vine whisperer tells us her story

Gordon Bruce, distillery manager, anCnoc
  • Tastemakers

Gordon Bruce, distillery manager, anCnoc

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Knockdhu's distillery manager Gordon Bruce explains how being a 21-mile round trip away from a pint of milk makes you become a lot more resourceful with what you’ve got

Stephen Rankin from Gordon & MacPhail
  • Tastemakers

Stephen Rankin, director of Prestige, Gordon & MacPhail

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Stephen Rankin is a fourth-generation scion of Gordon & MacPhail. Here he talks us through his position as the company’s Director of Prestige

Ryan Lynn, OenoGroup's new chief investment officer
  • Tastemakers

Ryan Lynn, chief investment officer, OenoGroup

by Ben Winstanley

The world’s number one wine investment firm OenoGroup has appointed a new chief investment officer as it continues to expand its remit. We speak to Ryan Lynn to find out more about his fine wine journey so far

Malcolm Rennie, distillery manager, Rosebank
  • Tastemakers

Malcolm Rennie, distillery manager, Rosebank

by Jack Croxford-Scott

With a CV covering stints at Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Glen Moray, and Lochlea, Malcolm Rennie knows his whisky. After 35 years in the business, he finds his new home at Rosebank

John MacDonald, Distillery Manager, Balblair
  • Tastemakers

John MacDonald, distillery manager, Balblair

by Jack Croxford-Scott

From the warehouses of Glenmorangie to managing the whole distillery at Balblair, John MacDonald lives and breathes the Scottish whisky industry

Chris Carpenter, winemaker
  • Tastemakers

Chris Carpenter, winemaker, Napa valley

by Mark Hedley

One of Napa Valley’s most renowned winemakers, Chris Carpenter now oversees 16 different vineyards – including Cardinale, Lokoya, Hickinbotham, Mt Brave, and La Jota. This is his story in wine

Sandy McIntyre, Tamdhu Distillery
  • Tastemakers

Sandy McIntyre, distillery manager, Tamdhu

by Jack Croxford-Scott

From environmental chemist to whisky maker: this is the story of Tamdhu's Distillery Manager Sandy McIntyre – an official ‘Whisky icon of the year’

Ned Gahan, Waterford
  • Tastemakers

Ned Gahan, head distiller, Waterford Whisky

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Introducing Ned Gahan, head distiller at Waterford Whisky – a single malt distillery in Ireland’s south-east, which brings terroir to the fore in its barley-forward whisky

Louis XIII's Leonardo Ferracina
  • Tastemakers

Leonardo Ferracina, global executive director, Louis XIII

by Ben Winstanley

Dating back to 1874, Louis XIII is the most prestigious cognac maker on Earth. Tasked with the next phase of its story is incoming global executive director Leonardo Ferracina. Ben Winstanley sits down with him to find out more

Rodolphe Frerejean Taittinger, CEO, Frerejean Frères
  • Tastemakers

Rodolphe Frerejean Taittinger, CEO, Frerejean Frères

by Mark Hedley

Rodolphe Frerejean Taittinger is the CEO of Frerejean Frères – a fine craft champagne maison he founded with his brothers in 2005. Originally intended for friends and family, the champagne became so widely sought-after that the business began to grow

Brando Baccheschi Berti, head of wine at Castello di Vicarello
  • Tastemakers

Brando Baccheschi Berti, head of wine, Castello di Vicarello

by Mark Hedley

Brando Baccheschi Berti swapped his career as a professional sailor to take on the family business. His new role? Head of Wine at Castello di Vicarello

Chris Albrecht, Bouchard Finlayson
  • Tastemakers

Chris Albrecht, head of production, Bouchard Finlayson

by Mark Hedley

Chris Albrecht is the winemaker and cellar master at Bouchard Finlayson. This boutique South African winery makes some of the best pinot noir and chardonnay in the country. Chris explains how…

Elunda Basson
  • Tastemakers

Elunda Basson, cellar master, Steenberg Vineyards

by Mark Hedley

Elunda Basson is the new cellar master at prestigious South African winery Steenberg Vineyards. She talks us through how she got there – and what's coming next

Stephen Woodcock, Glen Moray
  • Tastemakers

Stephen Woodcock, head of whisky creation and stocks, Glen Moray

by Jack Croxford-Scott

Stephen Woodcock is Glen Moray Distillery’s Head of Whisky Creation & Stocks – a suitably great job title for an equally great job. Jack Croxford-Scott finds out how he got it…

Sam Heughan
  • Tastemakers

Sam Heughan, owner, The Sassenach

by Mark Hedley

Outlander’s Sam Heughan may be better know for his on screen antics, but we’re big fans of his side hustle – The Sassenach ‘Spirit of Home Edition’

Billy Walker, The GlenAllachie
  • Tastemakers

Billy Walker, Master Distiller and co-founder, The GlenAllachie

by Mark Hedley

In March, The GlenAllachie was chosen as The World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards. Billy Walker is the industry legend who made it…

William Lowe, MW and Master Distiller at Cambridge Distillery
  • Tastemakers

William Lowe, MW and Master Distiller at Cambridge Distillery

by Mark Hedley

William Lowe went from serving cocktails to the Queen to making premium gin fit for a king. The Master of Wine and Master Distiller explains how he built Cambridge Distillery – and what’s coming next

Lawrence Cronin, Pierre Seillan and Michele Pezzicoli – the winemaking team at Tenuta di Arceno.
  • Tastemakers

Lawrence Cronin, winemaker, Tenuta di Arceno

by Mark Hedley

From California to New Zealand, Lawrence Cronin has worked all around the world. But as winemaker for Tenuta di Arceno, he’s finally at home in Tuscany…

Giovanni Mazzei, winemaker, Il Caggio
  • Tastemakers

Giovanni Mazzei, winemaker, Il Caggio

by Mark Hedley

Giovanni Mazzei is the man behind one of the most exciting Chianti Classicos created in the last decade. We meet the winemaker who is taking the sangiovese grape to new levels

Château Cantenac Brown
  • Tastemakers

Tristan Le Lous, owner, Château Cantenac Brown

by Mark Hedley

Where Scotland meets Bordeaux, and tradition meets sustainability: Château Cantenac Brown is not your average French winery. We meet its new owner, Tristan Le Lous

  • Tastemakers

Jan Konetzki, sommelier

by Ben Winstanley

It’s a tough job, but someone has to be the director of wine and Chateau Latour ambassador at Ten Trinity Square Private Club.

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