A Spirited Sip with a Wine Maverick Raymond Blake
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)
Episode 306
Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you!
A Spirited Sip with a Wine Maverick Raymond Blake
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 306 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! A Spirited Sip with a Wine Maverick Raymond Blake Join hosts Kim and Mark on as they uncork a fantastic conversation with acclaimed Irish wine author, Raymond Blake. In this spirited episode, Raymond takes us on a journey through his unconventional path to becoming a respected wine writer, starting with a surprising "interest" at the tender age of 10. We dive deep into the world of Burgundy, exploring common misconceptions and his thoughts on the Aligoté grape, all inspired by his books Cote d’Or: The Winemaking Heart of Burgundy and Breakfast in Burgundy. Raymond also shares his unique perspective on French wine values and his work in Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Books. The conversation flows into topics from his book Wine Talk, including the concept of "sense of place" and Champagne’s "garbage history." You'll be amazed by his candid revelation of a travel destination that fell short of his expectations. Finally, Raymond’s passion shines through as he unravels the beautiful mystery of wine, offering a captivating and insightful look into why it captivates so many. Find Raymond on Instagram @Blakeonwine and his website http://www.blakeonwine.com Cheers Kim And Mark đˇđˇđˇ http://www.thewww.wine #WinePodcast #WineAuthor #BurgundyWine #WineTalk #RaymondBlake #TheWonderfulWorldOfWine #WWWwine #FrenchWine #WineLover
Raymond Blake is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and in a previous career worked as a schoolmaster in Clongowes Wood College, where James Joyce started his schooldays. Based in Ireland, Raymond enjoys an international reputation as a wine writer and communicator, and his work has been published across the globe. He writes the Burgundy entries for the annual Hugh Johnsonâs Pocket Wine Book â the worldâs best-selling wine book. In addition, he is a regular contributor to The World of Fine Wine, widely acclaimed as the leader in its field, and Sommelier India, as well as writing for a number of different websites including Wine-Searcher.
In 2023 he contributed three essays to the AcadĂŠmie du Vin Libraryâs publication, On Burgundy, From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Wine Tales, which features the work of 30-plus leading wine writers from around the world. In May 2025 the second edition of his highly-acclaimed book, CĂ´te dâOr, was published. At its core it features 100 producer profiles, along with chapters on history, viticulture, winemaking and vintage assessments.
Raymond Blake is also much in demand as a speaker at themed wine dinners, tutored tastings and other events. His style is far from po-faced; he calls it âWine-tertainmentâ. He is regularly commissioned to organise events that range in scale from a private dinner for a dozen people up to major corporate events with scores of attendees. As well as Ireland, these engagements take place in the UK, Portugal and the USA. He also leads customised wine tours, usually in Burgundy, and principally f⌠Read More
