Intoxicating History

TWS Creative, Antica & Telltale Studios
Intoxicating History

From the rise and fall of empires to the birth of modern diplomacy, civilization's greatest moments have been shaped by an unlikely force: what filled our glasses.  Join award-winning author Henry Jeffreys and renowned food writer Tom Parker-Bowles as they pour through history's most intoxicating stories. From Charles Dickens's beloved punch to the royal family's legendary drinks trolley, discover how alcohol has shaped civilizations, sparked wars, and sealed peace treaties. Each episode finds our convivial hosts uncorking a different chapter of human history through the unique lens of alcohol. Whether they're recreating Dickens's beloved punch recipes, infiltrating the closely-guarded royal wine cellars, proving that the English invented champagne or discovering how Portuguese port sparked an international alliance, Henry and Tom blend scholarly insight with irreverent wit and a shared passion for historical peculiarities. Authoritative yet wonderfully entertaining, Intoxicating History serves up serious history with a generous measure of irreverent humour. Through revolutions and peace treaties, cultural upheavals and technological breakthroughs, your hosts reveal how the contents of the glass have steered the course of history – usually while sampling the evidence, (purely for research purposes, of course!) Whether you're a history buff, food and drink enthusiast, or simply love a well-told tale, raise a glass with us as we explore civilization's most intoxicating moments. Pour yourself something suitable and join us for a journey through time, one drink at a time. New episodes served weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Episode 7 - Wine, War and the WW2 Battle for France’s Vineyards

    When the Nazis stormed into France, they weren’t just after land—they had their eyes on the ultimate spoils of war: France’s legendary vineyards became battlegrounds, not just for soldiers, but for winemakers fighting to protect their lifes’ work  from the clutches of the Third Reich. In this episode, Henry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles look at the dramatic, and often absurd, true story of how the Nazis tried to loot France’s finest vintages—and how the French fought back, sometimes with nothing more than a well-placed spider web. From vineyards bricked up behind false walls to daring escapes through underground wine cellars, this is history as rich and intoxicating as a fine Burgundy. Meet the so-called Wine Führers—German officials who were meant to “manage” the French wine trade but often found themselves duped by the very vintners they sought to control. Learn how entire vintages were hidden beneath haystacks, mislabelled as vinegar, or sent to Hitler’s personal stockpile—where he barely touched a drop. Meanwhile, the French Resistance wasn’t just blowing up bridges—they were sabotaging Nazi wine shipments, stealing back barrels, and in one case, using a staged Fête du Vin to cover up an escape tunnel from a POW camp. With betrayal, bravery, and a whole lot of booze, this is the story of how wine became a secret weapon of war—and how France’s most precious vines survived the darkest days of history. Join us for a vintage tale of resistance, deception, and the ultimate toast to liberation. Supported by Taylor’s Port Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min

About

From the rise and fall of empires to the birth of modern diplomacy, civilization's greatest moments have been shaped by an unlikely force: what filled our glasses.  Join award-winning author Henry Jeffreys and renowned food writer Tom Parker-Bowles as they pour through history's most intoxicating stories. From Charles Dickens's beloved punch to the royal family's legendary drinks trolley, discover how alcohol has shaped civilizations, sparked wars, and sealed peace treaties. Each episode finds our convivial hosts uncorking a different chapter of human history through the unique lens of alcohol. Whether they're recreating Dickens's beloved punch recipes, infiltrating the closely-guarded royal wine cellars, proving that the English invented champagne or discovering how Portuguese port sparked an international alliance, Henry and Tom blend scholarly insight with irreverent wit and a shared passion for historical peculiarities. Authoritative yet wonderfully entertaining, Intoxicating History serves up serious history with a generous measure of irreverent humour. Through revolutions and peace treaties, cultural upheavals and technological breakthroughs, your hosts reveal how the contents of the glass have steered the course of history – usually while sampling the evidence, (purely for research purposes, of course!) Whether you're a history buff, food and drink enthusiast, or simply love a well-told tale, raise a glass with us as we explore civilization's most intoxicating moments. Pour yourself something suitable and join us for a journey through time, one drink at a time. New episodes served weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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