EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A wine podcast

About EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A wine podcast

Hey there! If you love wine, are curious about the world’s wine regions, or just want to geek out a little on grapes, terroir, and winemaking, you’re in the right place. This is a fun, educational wine podcast made for serious enthusiasts, wine students, and anyone who wants to fall in love with wine all over again. I chat with winemakers, sommeliers, and Masters of Wine who share their stories, tips, and insider knowledge - from their favourite regions and grapes to food pairings and the techniques that make each bottle special. Sometimes we open a bottle as we talk, sometimes I take you along on a 4-day itinerary I’ve mapped out from my travels, and sometimes we do quick-fire flashcard-style deep dives to test your wine knowledge - all in a way that’s engaging, uplifting, and never boring. Whether you’re working towards your WSET or MW exams, or just want to explore the world of wine with a glass in hand, this podcast is a place to laugh, learn, and celebrate the joy of wine. Come join our inclusive wine-loving community - there’s a story, a tip, or a tasting for everyone.

Publisher

Janina Doyle

Category

arts · education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

7 Jun 2018

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

285 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Ep 277 - Why Are Some Wines Worth Millions? Inside Sotheby’s Wine Auctions with Nick Pegna

   What makes a bottle of wine worth £10,000, £100,000 or even millions? Is it the vineyard, the vintage, the producer, its rarity or the extraordinary story behind it? In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina steps inside the fascinating world of fine wine auctions with Nick Pegna, Global Head of Wine & Spirits at Sotheby’s. From multi-million-pound private collections and rare bottles to intense bidding wars, Nick reveals what really happens behind the scenes of the international wine auction market - and what makes a wine truly valuable. Whether you're a wine enthusiast wanting to deepen your wine knowledge, fascinated by the world's most prestigious wine regions, or simply curious about the people willing to pay extraordinary sums for a bottle, this conversation offers a rare insight into the world of fine wine collecting. We explore how provenance, condition, rarity and maturity influence wine prices, why collectors are increasingly seeking mature wines that are ready to drink, and how the relationship between a wine's history and its market value can be just as fascinating as the wine itself. Along the way, we travel through Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and Napa Valley, discover how a new generation of collectors is changing the market, and explore why wine auctions are becoming about far more than buying and selling bottles. From winery visits and wine tourism to unforgettable food pairings and the stories that connect us to a place, this is a conversation about the culture, people and experiences that make wine so compelling. And if you've ever wondered what happens when two determined bidders compete for a legendary bottle, or why someone might pay more than £2 million for a single whisky, you're in exactly the right place. 02:35 – A day in the life at Sotheby’s — Nick reveals what it means to oversee around 60 wine and spirits auctions a year across cities including London, New York, Hong Kong and Paris. 06:59 – How do you sell a $15 million wine collection? — why major private collections can be divided across multiple auctions, countries and even several years to find the right buyers. 08:23 – What makes a bottle valuable? — provenance, condition, rarity and maturity: the key factors Nick and his team consider when appraising fine wine for auction. 12:16 – When provenance becomes part of the story — the extraordinary history behind an 1870 Château Lafite magnum and why a bottle's journey can dramatically influence its desirability and value. 14:22 – From Berry Bros. & Rudd to Sotheby’s — how more than two decades working in fine wine, including years building relationships with collectors across Asia, prepared Nick for the auction world. 18:40 – What are serious collectors buying now? — why mature, ready-to-drink wines are increasingly appealing and why patience for buying young wines and waiting decades to drink them may be disappearing. 20:21 – Which wine regions dominate the auction market? — Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne remain central, but changing prices, younger producers and new collecting habits are creating opportunities within and beyond the classic regions. 26:05 – The wines that can still surprise at auction — why mature German Riesling and other niche fine wines can attract extraordinary interest from small but highly dedicated groups of collectors. 28:15 – A new generation of wine collectors — how younger buyers are looking beyond prestige and price towards experiences, winery visits and stories, with the Hospices de Beaune auction offering a powerful example of how place and tradition can build a deeper connection to wine. 33:21 – Connecting collectors with the wineries — how Sotheby’s uses its relationships with estates to create visits, educational experiences and deeper connections between collectors and producers. 35:13 – Primary vs secondary wine markets explained — Nick breaks down what happens when wine is first released and how bottles later enter the secondary

2. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Ep 276 - Ken Forrester: The King of Chenin Blanc & the Wild Side of South African Wine

   Season 7 of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat begins in South Africa with one of the wine world's biggest personalities: Ken Forrester. Known as the “King of Chenin Blanc”, Ken joins Janina for a conversation filled with extraordinary stories, pioneering winemaking and plenty of laughter, while exploring what has made Stellenbosch one of the world's most exciting Wine Regions. Ken explains why this grape has thrived in South Africa and how decades of experimentation have produced wines ranging from vibrant traditional-method sparkling wine to the iconic FMC and the extraordinarily complex The Dirty Little Secret. For anyone looking to learn about wine through the stories of the people actually making it, this is wine education at its most entertaining. Ken also shares the story of planting Mourvèdre in South Africa, why he believes Pinotage should be celebrated as a fresh, juicy and even chillable red, and how Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre come together in his Three Halves blend. Along the way, Janina tastes several of his wines and explores just how diverse South African Wine Grapes can be. This Wine Podcast is also a reminder that wine doesn't need to be intimidating. From Sparklehorse and old-vine Chenin Blanc to Wagyu biltong and some truly outrageous stories, Ken's philosophy is ultimately about enjoyment, curiosity and sharing great bottles with good people. And if South Africa is on your Wine Travel list, expect to finish this episode wanting to head straight to Stellenbosch. Shownotes 03:15 – Ken's most outrageous wine story — a night out, a seventh-floor window and an extraordinarily lucky landing that Ken probably shouldn't have survived. 07:16 – The wild characters of South African wine — Ken remembers Charles Back of Fairview and other larger-than-life personalities who helped make the country's wine industry unforgettable. 08:35 – The people who shaped Ken's career — looking back at the pioneers and characters who influenced South African wine as the modern industry began to emerge. 13:24 – Why Chenin Blanc is so versatile — Ken explains how one grape can produce everything from crunchy sparkling wine to dry whites and intensely sweet dessert wines. 16:02 – What makes great Sauvignon Blanc? — why Ken believes truly exceptional sites need serious cooling influence and why only certain parts of South Africa deliver the right conditions. 17:32 – The accidental birth of Sparklehorse — how one troublesome patch of an old Chenin Blanc vineyard inspired Ken to create his traditional-method sparkling wine. £21(Mix 12) Great Wine Co 22:06 – Why wine should be fun — the philosophy behind Sparklehorse, Ken's team and his belief that enjoying what you do ultimately makes better wine. 25:30 – Affordable Chenin Blanc with serious personality — tasting Ken Forrester Petit Chenin and discovering why an everyday wine can still deliver freshness, clean fruit and real character. £9.90 (Mix 12) Great Wine Co 27:39 – The story behind FMC — how an old 1974 Chenin Blanc vineyard, ambitious winemaking and several failed attempts eventually created one of South Africa's most celebrated white wines. £38.70 (Mix 12) Great Wine Co 35:18 – When FMC became “Burgundy” — Ken recalls persuading a sceptical wine shopper to taste beyond price and reputation before revealing what was really in her glass. 37:26 – The Dirty Little Secret — how a remarkable high-altitude old-vine Chenin Blanc vineyard and a multi-vintage solera-style approach created one of Ken's most complex and unconventional wines. £81 (Mix 12) Great Wine Co 41:39 – Bringing Mourvèdre to South Africa — why Ken wanted this Mediterranean grape for his Rhône-style blends and how it adds earthiness, structure and power alongside Grenache and Syrah. 46:59 – Two South African reds to discover — Janina tastes Three Halves and Petit Pinotage, including a juicy, fresh style of Pinotage that proves red wine can be delicious served slightly chilled. Three Halves £26.10 (Mix 12) Great Wine Co

3. 

   17 Aug 2026

   Ep 275 - Spanish Wine Beyond Rioja: Vino de Pago, New Jerez, Bobal & More with Sarah Jane Evans MW

   What are the Spanish wine regions and grape varieties you need to know beyond Rioja and Ribera del Duero? In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina heads to Spain with Sarah Jane Evans MW, one of the world's leading experts on Spanish wine, to explore the regions, grapes and wine classifications that deserve far more attention - from Jerez and Castilla-La Mancha to Valencia, Madrid and Extremadura. At the heart of the conversation is Vino de Pago, one of Spain's most fascinating and misunderstood wine classifications. Sarah Jane explains what Vino de Pago actually means, how it differs from Spain's traditional regional classifications and why these individual estates have the freedom to explore distinctive terroirs, indigenous grape varieties and different winemaking styles. We also explore some of Spain's lesser-known grape varieties, including Merseguera, Albillo Real, Bobal and old-vine Monastrell, as well as the country's extraordinary heritage of old vineyards. Sarah Jane shares the Spanish wine regions she thinks could be the next big thing, from Jerez and Utiel-Requena to Madrid, Extremadura, the Canary Islands and Catalonia, plus her recommendations for Spanish wines under £20. If you're looking to discover Spanish wine beyond Rioja, learn more about Vino de Pago, explore lesser-known Spanish wine regions and find exciting Spanish grapes and great-value wines, this episode is a brilliant place to start. This episode was sponsored by Pago Finca Elez. Their Wines available in the UK through Fareham Wine Cellars as well as through importers in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Philippines, Japan and Hungary, with additional smaller importers across Europe. Shownotes 02:53 – What keeps surprising Sarah Jane about Spain — after decades of travelling through the country, why new generations, producers and wines mean there is always something new to discover. 03:58 – Jerez: The Spanish Wine Region Reinventing Itself Beyond Sherry — why Jerez is no longer just about traditional Sherry and how a new generation of unfortified wines is changing perceptions of the region. 06:30 – Jerez Beyond Sherry: Palomino, Albariza Soils & Unfortified Spanish Wine — how unfortified Palomino wines and the region's famous albariza soils could offer a new gateway into Sherry country. 10:05 – How to find the good stuff — Sarah Jane's advice for discovering exciting unfortified wines from Jerez through producers, specialist importers and independent wine merchants. 13:21 – What exactly is Vino de Pago? — understanding Spain's unique single-estate classification and why it was created for distinctive vineyards outside the country's famous denominations.18:07 – Grandes Pagos de España vs Vino de Pago: What's the Difference?  — how this private association brings together leading Spanish wine estates, and why it should not be confused with the official Vino de Pago classification. 20:29 – A Vino de Pago beside Ribera del Duero — how Abadía Retuerta used the classification to establish its own identity just outside one of Spain's most famous wine regions. 23:15 – Why every Vino de Pago is different — individual grape varieties, altitude, terroir and winemaking mean there is no single style connecting these unique estates. 24:16 – Has Vino de Pago been a success? — how the classification has evolved and why producers can use its independence to experiment beyond traditional regional rules. 27:00 – Discovering Merseguera — the little-known Spanish white grape offering citrus freshness, herbal character and exciting potential in the vineyards around Utiel-Requena. 29:13 – The rise of Albillo Real — another traditional Spanish white variety finding renewed relevance as producers and consumers increasingly look beyond the country's famous red wines. 31:38 – Why is Vino de Pago so difficult to explore? — the surprising lack of a complete online resource covering all of Spain's recognised Vino de Pago estates. 32:35 – P

Who has been a guest on EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A wine podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Aidy Smith
• Alex De Cata
• Carmen Stevens
• Amber Minha
• Julia Moore

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

11,095

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.5 / 5

17 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

53 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

78

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

85

Contact EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A wine podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Wine Blast with Susie and Peter

• 

  SOMM TV

• 

  Wine for Normal People

• 

  GuildSomm Podcast

• 

  Wine 101

• 

  Wine Enthusiast Podcast

Questions about EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A wine podcast