Tastemakers

Realm Cellars co-owner and CEO Scott Becker on building one of Napa Valley’s most collectible wineries – from near-bankruptcy to estate vineyards, long-term vision, and the future of fine wine

Matt Tipping, CEO of Jeroboams, on building a people-first wine business, long-term thinking and the moments that defined his career

Master Sommelier Jason Smith, now Vice President Global Strategy & Engagement at Constellation Brands, reflects on his path through America’s top restaurants, his philosophy on excellence, and the evolving world of high-end wine

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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 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 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 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…

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’

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 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

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 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

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