🎙️ Sparks by VinoVonk: De Wijn Interview Podcast

Jeroen Vonk

🍷 Diepgaande gesprekken met de mensen achter uitzonderlijke wijnen, champagnes, en innovatieve dranken. Host Jeroen Vonk (WSET Level 3, CIVC Level 4 Champagne, wijnschrijver) neemt je mee in intieme 45-60 minuten interviews met wijnmakers, importeurs, sommeliers en vernieuwers die onze drankenwereld vormgeven. Geen script, geen opsmuk – alleen authentieke gesprekken over passie, vakmanschap en visie. 📅 NIEUWE AFLEVERINGEN: Elke twee weken op donderdagochtend 🇳🇱 Hoofdzakelijk Nederlands | 🇬🇧 Engels met internationale gasten

  1. Jun 12

    Sparks #038: een Solera-champagne van pure Meunier | Gauthier Monmarthe (Engelstalig)

    Sparks #038 | Deze aflevering is Engelstalig. Gauthier Monmarthe is de zevende generatie op het familiedomein in Ludes, op de noordflank van de Montagne de Reims. Hij stuurde me twee flessen uit zijn single-plot reeks. Allebei braken ze met iets wat ik dacht te weten. De eerste, Le Nid d'Agace 2018 ("eksternest"), komt van een gecomplanteerd perceel: oude Chardonnay bovenop de helling, jonge Pinot Noir op klei onderaan, samen geplukt en samen geperst. Geen malolactische gisting, zes jaar op de gist, vergist op foudre. Vol in de mond, en toch fris. De tweede trok me echt naar binnen. De Solera Blanc de Meunier komt uit een eeuwigdurende reserve uit 2015, bewaard in de oudste betonnen tank van het domein. Meunier op krijt, zonder dosage, 4.188 flessen. Een Solera ken je van Jerez. Hier gaat hij naar de druif die de Champagne jarenlang als minste behandelde. We praten over onafhankelijk zijn als wijnboer, over het CIVC en de dalende opbrengsten, over HVE-landbouw, over de 70 plukkers die tien dagen op het domein wonen, en over waarom z'n vader overtuigd moest worden van een Meunier zonder een grammetje suiker. In Nederland en België importeert Vinétique [checken] de wijnen van Monmarthe. Shout-out naar Louise de Sadeleer. De toffe B-roll in de intro is gevonden met haar b-roll-finder: github.com/louisedesadeleer/b-roll-finder Champagne Monmarthe: https://champagne-monmarthe.com VinoVonk: https://www.vinovonk.com Minder drinken. Beter kiezen. — English below — This episode is in English. Gauthier Monmarthe, seventh generation at his family estate in Ludes, sent me two single-plot wines. Le Nid d'Agace 2018 is a co-planted Extra Brut: six years on the lees, no malolactic, vinified in foudres. The Solera Blanc de Meunier comes from a perpetual reserve started in 2015, kept in the estate's oldest concrete tank. 100% Meunier on chalk, zero dosage, 4,188 bottles. We talk grower independence, the CIVC, HVE farming, and why his father took some convincing on a Meunier with no sugar at all. Shout-out to Louise de Sadeleer — the b-roll in the intro was sourced with her b-roll-finder: github.com/louisedesadeleer/b-roll-finder Champagne Monmarthe: https://champagne-monmarthe.com

  2. May 14

    Forget sweet Samos. Evmorfia Kostaki makes dry Muscat | Sparks 37

    Samos is supposed to mean sweet dessert wine. Evmorfia Kostaki and her partner Lorenz Immerfall are trying to change that from a vineyard above Karlovasi that has been Muscat for more than a hundred years. The vineyard has been certified organic since 2000, the first organic vineyard on Samos. The vines are propagated by massal selection, cutting buds from the next terrace over, so the plant material is unique to this site. Evmorfia studied Chemistry at the University of Athens, then Viticulture and Oenology with Vinifera Euromaster between France, Italy and UC Davis. She picked up the WSET Diploma alongside the masters and is now in stage two of the Master of Wine programme. We taste three wines. The Prototype sparkling is traditional method but uses no commercial yeast or sugar. The 2023 base wine was aged in barrel for a year, then blended with actively fermenting must from the next vintage. That fermenting must brought its own sugar and its own indigenous yeast for the second fermentation. 500 bottles, all sold through their Greek distributor. The Kostaki Dry is the most complex wine in the range. Floral, Mediterranean herbal, faintly hazy. A touch of orange-wine grip on the gums even though it is a clean white. The Early Harvest is 9 percent alcohol with grapes picked early. Off-dry sweetness against sharp acidity creating tension. Closest in spirit to a Mosel Kabinett, but with a Greek herbal accent and a Muscat lineage. We also cover why Muscat does not get taken seriously, why organic farming on Samos is harder than on Santorini, the meltemi wind, gobelet bush vines as natural umbrellas, lightweight UV-protective brown bottles, screwcaps, women in Greek wine, and what the next five years of Samos winemaking could look like. The wines are not yet imported into the Netherlands. If you are an importer, this episode is your nudge. Kostaki Winery: kostakiwinery.gr Instagram: instagram.com/kostakiwinery VinoVonk: vinovonk.com In het Glas newsletter: vinovonk.com/nieuwsbrief Chapters 00:00 Why Samos is not just sweet wine 01:30 Welcome to Samos and Karlovasi 03:30 From chemistry to winemaking 06:00 The 100-year-old massal-selection vineyard 08:00 More rain than London, the climate of Samos 11:00 Why Muscat is so hard to grow well 14:00 Organic since 2000 17:00 Reductive winemaking, screwcap and lightweight bottles 19:30 The three styles of Muscat at Kostaki 22:00 Tasting Prototype Sparkling 26:00 Tasting Kostaki Dry 31:00 Tasting Early Harvest at 9% 35:00 Master of Wine, year five 38:00 Women in Greek Wine 41:00 The future of Samos and a call to Dutch importers 43:00 Where to find these wines

  3. Apr 2

    Wat is een proxy? Met Roza Brito van Brito's Farm, Polen

    De fles opende ik buiten. Ik kende de video's op Instagram — kurk eraf, alles spat. Roza Brito stuurt me een proxy vanuit de Mazovian regio in Polen. Fles 708 van 770. Gefermenteerde kruiden van het eigen familiebedrijf: hyssop, tijm, oregano, artisjokblad, jalapeño. Geen extracten. Geen alcohol. Geen categorie die er al een naam voor heeft. Maar we noemen het een proxy. We proeven samen. We praten over wat een proxy is en waarom dat antwoord bewust opengelaten wordt. Over drie jaar testen op een boerenmarkt in Polen, tussen de eieren en de groenten. Over een prototype dat ze een "red" noemt: diep, warm, en de nasmaak die ze zoekt zit er nog niet in. En over de droom om ooit in dezelfde ruimte te staan als wijnmakers op een festival. Nu staat ze nog in een aparte zaal. Dit is Sparks by VinoVonk — innovatieve dranken, eerlijke gesprekken, kennis zonder pretentie. 🇬🇧 ENGLISH I opened the bottle outside. I'd seen the Instagram videos. Roza Brito sends me a proxy from the Mazovian region of Poland. Bottle 708 of 770. Fermented herbs from the family farm: hyssop, thyme, oregano, artichoke leaf, jalapeño. No extracts. No alcohol. No category with a proper name yet. We taste together. We talk about what a proxy is and why the answer is deliberately left open. About three years of testing at a farmers' market in Poland, next to the eggs and vegetables. About a prototype she calls a "red" — deep, warm, and not finished. And about the dream of standing in the same room as winemakers at a festival. Right now, she's still in a separate hall. This is Sparks by VinoVonk — innovative drinks, honest conversations, knowledge without pretension. 🌿 Brito's Farm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brito_farm_/

  4. Feb 26

    Retsina Doesn't Have to Taste Like That — Eleni Kechri of 1979 Wines Proves It

    Almost everyone has had a bad Retsina. Sharp, cheap, that unmistakable resinous coat on your teeth that put you off for years. But what if the problem was never the resin — it was the way the resin was harvested? In this episode, I taste three bottles with Eleni Kechri, the founder of 1979 Wines and one of Greece's most rigorous Retsina researchers. All three made from Assyrtiko from her own vineyard in Emathia, northern Greece — but each produced with resin from a completely different pine forest. The result is a masterclass in what forest terroir actually means. In this episode: Why sustainable resin harvesting (without sulphuric acid) fundamentally changes the wineHow coastal pines in Halkidiki produce different aromas than inland forests in Attica or Corinthia7,000 years of Retsina history — and how shortcuts almost destroyed its reputationWhat it meant when Julie Harding MW awarded 18/20 to a Greek RetsinaWhere Eleni is heading next: rosé, claret, and more forests to exploreEleni Kechri holds degrees in chemical engineering (University of Thessaloniki) and oenology (Bordeaux), worked in Germany and France, and founded 1979 Wines — named for the year Retsina received its official denomination, which is also her birth year. And mine also :-) Wines discussed: 1979 Kalos Thalassino 2022 — Assyrtiko, coastal Pinus halepensis from Halkidiki (iodine, lemon zest, sea spray) — approx. €16 in Greece1979 Kalos Stergianos 2022 — Assyrtiko, Megara plateau, Attica (herbal, rounder, rosemary) — approx. €16 in Greece1979 Kalos 2020 — Assyrtiko, assemblage of three forests (hazelnuts, citrus marmalade, petrol) — approx. €25 in Greece1979 Wines: https://1979.gr/en/ Connect with Jeroen: Instagram: @vinovonkLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeroenvonkWebsite: vinovonk.com

  5. Feb 10

    Rebuilding an Ecosystem, One Vineyard at a Time | Enrico Rivetto

    What if the future of Barolo isn't about perfecting monoculture—but about rebuilding biodiversity? Fourth-generation winemaker Enrico Rivetto is doing exactly that on his Piedmont hill, with 1,000 trees, five kilometers of biological corridors, and Demeter-certified biodynamic vineyards that produce wines unlike any others in the region. In this episode: Why Enrico calls himself a "caretaker of agricultural organisms" rather than just a winemakerThe brutal first five years of converting from conventional to biodynamic viticultureHow his daughter's childhood drawings became his wine labels (and why the consortium initially rejected them)What co-plantation means and why it's his next big experimentTasting Nascetta Borea and Nebbiolo d'Alba Vigna Lirano—two wines that express terroir through biodiversityEnrico Rivetto is the fourth generation of his family's Barolo winery, based between Serralunga d'Alba and Sinio in Piedmont. Seventeen years ago, at 30, he began transforming his estate into a complex ecosystem—one that prioritizes biodiversity, soil health, and authenticity over standardization. His wines are Demeter-certified biodynamic and his approach challenges everything the Barolo monoculture represents. Wines discussed: Langhe DOC Nascetta "Borea" – Indigenous white grape, early harvest, eastern exposure, floral and herbal with mineralityNebbiolo d'Alba DOC "Vigna Lirano" – From the estate's first biodynamic vineyard planted in 2009, high acidity, terroir-drivenLinks & resources: Rivetto Winery: https://www.rivetto.it/enNascetta Borea: https://www.rivetto.it/en/wines/langhe-doc-nascetta-boreaNebbiolo d'Alba Vigna Lirano: https://www.rivetto.it/en/wines/nebbiolo-dalba-doc-vigna-lirano

  6. Jan 13

    Greek Wine Secrets: Stamatis Mylonas on Savatiano & Attica's Terroir | Sparks by VinoVonk

    🍷 Welcome to Sparks by VinoVonk - where beautiful wine stories come to life In this fascinating episode, host Jeroen Vonk travels (virtually) to Greece to meet Stamatis Mylonas, the third-generation winemaker behind Mylonas Winery in the Attica region. Located just 35 miles south of Athens, this UNESCO-protected terroir holds secrets that date back to ancient times. What makes this conversation extraordinary? Stamatis reveals how the indigenous Savatiano grape - often underrated due to its association with Retsina - can produce world-class white wines that age for 10+ years while maintaining remarkable freshness. This isn't theory - Jeroen tastes a 2016 Gran Reserva that spent 2.5 years in oak and 5 years in bottle, and the results are mind-blowing. 🔑 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Discover why Attica's soils contain 750 of the world's 5,500 known minerals - the same earth that funded the construction of the Parthenon through ancient silver mining. Learn how 55+ year-old bush vines, all hand-harvested, create intensity and complexity that rivals wines three times the price.Stamatis shares his family's journey from bulk wine producers (since 1917) to internationally recognized winemakers, with wines featured on the prestigious Great Greek Wines list curated by Master of Wine Yiannis Karakasis.💡 KEY INSIGHTS: Why indigenous Greek varieties are the future of Greek wine (300+ varieties to explore)How old vines on mineral-rich soils create age-worthy winesThe value proposition of Greek wines in today's marketBuilding quality partnerships with growers (Stamatis prunes alongside them at 6 AM!)Strategic use of oak: large casks and old barrels to highlight terroir, not overpower itWhy people are "drinking less but better" - and how Greek wines fit perfectly🍇 WINES DISCUSSED:• Mylonas Savatiano 2024• Mylonas Assyrtiko 2024• Mylonas Cuvee Vouno Savatiano 2020This episode is perfect for: ✓ Wine enthusiasts seeking discoveries ✓ Professionals in the beverage industry ✓ Anyone interested in Mediterranean culture and history ✓ Fans of terroir-driven, authentic winemaking 🎁 SPECIAL THANKS: Oenopolis, the leading Dutch importer of Greek wines, provided wines for this episode. Visit: https://oenopolis.vin 🌐 LEARN MORE: Mylonas Winery: https://www.mylonas-wines.gr/en/ Great Greek Wines List: https://greatgreekwines.com/ 🎧 SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: Love Sparks by VinoVonk? Subscribe and leave a review to help others discover great wine stories! Host: Jeroen Vonk - Wine writer, educator, and content creator from Amstelveen, Netherlands Next episode coming soon - join us for more beautiful wine stories from around the world!

About

🍷 Diepgaande gesprekken met de mensen achter uitzonderlijke wijnen, champagnes, en innovatieve dranken. Host Jeroen Vonk (WSET Level 3, CIVC Level 4 Champagne, wijnschrijver) neemt je mee in intieme 45-60 minuten interviews met wijnmakers, importeurs, sommeliers en vernieuwers die onze drankenwereld vormgeven. Geen script, geen opsmuk – alleen authentieke gesprekken over passie, vakmanschap en visie. 📅 NIEUWE AFLEVERINGEN: Elke twee weken op donderdagochtend 🇳🇱 Hoofdzakelijk Nederlands | 🇬🇧 Engels met internationale gasten

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