
Decca Aitkenhead: Sauvignon Blanc, “weird" wines and conversations with The Chancellor of the Exchequer at his Highland croft
Vintage PoliticsShow Notes
Decca Aitkenhead, Chief Interviewer of The Sunday Times, joins Vintage Politics for a lively, free-flowing conversation over a glass or two. She shares her love of Sauvignon Blanc and is introduced to an aged white from Alsace—an experience she expresses as just “weird.”
In a wide ranging career she has interviewed major political players from Hillary Clinton to Nigel Farage, getting to know the characters behind the political personas. In this episode she shares stories from a weekend spent in the wilds of Scotland with a former Chancellor of the Exchequer just before the financial crisis and reflects on interviewing Tony Blair after the pandemic—who, Cherie reveals, was perhaps not quite the domestic goddess he would have had her believe!
It’s sharp, funny and full of surprises and, as for the wines, were they a hit or a miss? Well, you'll just have to pour yourself a glass and watch and or listen to find out…
Wines featured: Mid week wine: Exceptional by ASDA Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Asda Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut Rosé, Joseph Perrier Vacheron Sancerre 2024, Hedonism Domaine Weinbach Gewurtztraminer 2008, Hedonism Château Trotanoy 1971, Hedonism
More from Vintage Politics
She’s one of the BBC’s most recognisable faces in Europe, reporting on everything from Brexit and political turmoil to the war in Ukraine. But after years of asking the difficult questions, it’s Katya Adler’s turn to answer a few. The BBC’s Europe Editor joins me for a glass or two as we explore the extraordinary characters she’s encountered, the stories behind the headlines and what she really thinks about Europe’s increasingly uncertain future. We talk about languages, life on the road, the challenges of reporting on a continent in crisis and whether Europe is quite as divided as it sometimes seems. And with some wonderful wines on the table, we discover a rather different side to one of Britain’s best-known journalists. Katya Adler joins me on Vintage Politics — where wine meets politics, and the conversation is anything but ordinary.
From apprentice at 16 to Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan took an unconventional route into politics. On Vintage Politics, she talks openly about how her years in business shaped her, the pressures of leading the Department for Education, including the RAAC crisis, and what it was like to leave Westminster behind. There are serious reflections, some unexpected laughs, and a glass of rosé along the way. #ad. Wines are supplied by Corney & Barrow, with Anthony’s vintage bottle provided by Vintage Wine & Port. For your chance to win an ETO, visit: https://www.vintagepoliticspod.com
This week on Vintage Politics, former Chancellor George Osborne joins me for a conversation about the highs and lows of his political career, Britain’s decision to leave the EU, and why he’s optimistic about AI. He also explains why the Bayeux Tapestry matters and how he helped bring it to the British Museum. All this and wines from Old World Europe and a very special vintage Barolo. #ad. Wines are supplied by Corney & Barrow, with Anthony’s vintage bottle provided by Vintage Wine & Port. For your chance to win an ETO, visit https://www.vintagepoliticspod.com
Anthony Scaramucci joins Vintage Politics to talk about his new book All the Wrong Moves, where America went wrong, why Trumpism took hold and what happens next.
Season Two of Vintage Politics begins with BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen. Over four remarkable wines, Jeremy joins Abbie Bennington to reflect on more than four decades of frontline reporting, the human cost of war and the challenge of finding truth in some of the world’s most contested places. It’s a candid and deeply personal conversation about journalism, politics and the stories that stay with you, generously hosted by Corney & Barrow at its London headquarters. To discover more about the wines featured in this episode, visit vintagepoliticspod.com.