We're on the road again. This time, diving into Pays d'Oc IGP - we're talking scenic southern France, and a little-known but intriguing origin story involving California, Algeria, violence, desperation, stubborn visionaries...and victory rescued from the jaws of defeat. Oh, and 'Liberté!'

Helping us paint the picture are Jacques Gravegeal (an exclusive interview, rare for an English language show), Olivier Simonou and Gerard Bertrand. Fascinating people, all with a unique story to tell.

From a standing start in 1987, Pays d'Oc IGP now sells around 21 bottles every second across 170+ countries. It's a stunning (and rare) vinous success story, and one that's transformed the fortunes not just of an entire region, but also a national treasure in the shape of French wine.

In this programme, we get to grips with how it all came about, the challenges involved in making it happen, and the exciting recent developments for a category where innovation 'is in the DNA'. Thanks to Pays d'Oc IGP for sponsoring and giving us unique behind-the-scenes access.

Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including links, maps and photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E31: Pays d'Oc Part 1 - Land of the Free

To support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.uk

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SUBSCRIBER BONUS TASTER: 27 wines - 18 top tasters - an epic blind tasting featuring just one grape: Chardonnay. From all around the world - Grand Cru Burgundy to vintage champagne via Western Australia, Sonoma County and even Japan.

Who would be the big winners? And, more importantly, why?!

That's what we're getting into in this intriguing subscriber-only bonus episode on The Greatest Chardonnay Showdown blind tasting at the London Wine Fair 2026. We were both privileged to be part of the stellar judging panel - so what were our considered thoughts, did we agree with the overall results...and did we even agree with each other?!

Seasoned listeners may already have an instinct where this one is heading...suffice it to say there are opinions aplenty, some consensus but also a fair amount of healthy disagreement. Ultimately, hopefully, it all makes for an informative and thought-provoking episode about one of our (and the world's) favourite grape varieties.

NB: This is a short taster of the full episode, which is available exclusively for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers. Use this link to find out more or subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS.

Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find details from this episode, including photos and the full wine list, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E30: The Greatest Chardonnay Showdown

Instagram: @susieandpeter

Fifty years on from the historic Paris tasting that revolutionised wine - what's changed? And what will that mean for the next 50 years?!

Those are the searching questions we're asking (and attempting to answer) in this special episode to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976 where unknown Californian wines triumphed against the French greats in the centre of the wine universe at the time, the capital of France.

We're re-telling the story behind that momentous event - partly to clear up some misconceptions that still persist, and partly because it's just a damn good story. (Proof of that being all the many articles and books on the subject - not to mention the Hollywood film, Bottle Shock, and now even an opera...)

We're helped in this task by Chateau Montelena CEO Bo Barrett, who adds his eye-witness testimony, trademark good humour and intriguing insights to the tale.

But this episode isn't just a re-hashing of events half a century ago. We're also exploring the modern realities and future trends of wine. If this kind of tasting happened today, who would win, and who would lose? How has the world (and wine world) changed since 1976? How does that go beyond the US and France? And what can that tell us about the future of wine?

Helping us root our thoughts in informed reality are two ambitious tasting we were lucky enough to participate in: the Greatest Chardonnay Showdown at the London Wine Fair 2026, and the IWFS Judgement +50 (among a few others). The results of which...are intriguing.

Thanks for tuning in. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including links, references and photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E29 - The Judgement of Paris 50 Years On

To support the show, enjoy subscriber-only bonus content and discount benefits, access our full archive and get every episode before it goes on free release, subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS at wineblast.co.uk

Instagram: @susieandpeter