Feb 05 2025 49 mins
In this episode of the Vint Podcast, Billy and Brady are joined by James Cluer, Master of Wine (MW) and founder of Fine Vintage Ltd., a leading authority in wine education, luxury travel, and fine wine collecting. With over 30 years in the industry, Cluer has shaped how enthusiasts and professionals engage with fine wine—whether through WSET courses, exclusive wine tours, or high-end collecting.
Cluer dives into the origins of Fine Vintage Ltd., how the company has expanded from WSET education into luxury wine travel, and what goes into crafting world-class wine experiences. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from leading exclusive tours through Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne, discusses the dynamics of hospitality at top estates. Plus, the hosts and Cluer reflect on wine trends, the future of the industry, and what to watch.
- 🏰 Behind the gates of Bordeaux – how Fine Vintage secures access to the châteaux that rarely welcome guests
- 📖 Wine education done right – the difference between studying wine and truly experiencing it
- 🥂 Stories from 20+ years of luxury wine travel – from Michelin-starred dinners to unexpected late-night chaos
- The future of fine wine – trends in collecting, the shifting landscape of wine appreciation, and why storytelling matters more than ever
If you’re a collector, an enthusiast, or just someone who loves a great bottle with an even better story, this episode is for you.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Vint Podcast
08:54 Antonio Galloni's 2022 Bordeaux Report
10:18 James Cluer's Wine Education and Tours
13:44 Fine Vintage's Global Wine Education
17:45 Cultural Differences in Wine Education
19:24 Evolution of Fine Vintage Wine Tours
28:06 Typical Itinerary of a Bordeaux Wine Tour
32:21 Unique Experiences on Wine Tours
33:27 Wine Tours in Emerging Regions
39:31 Future Trends in the Wine Industry
48:38 Conclusion and Farewell
The Vint Wine Podcast is a production of the Vint Marketplace, your source for the highest quality stock of fine wines and rare whiskies. Visit www.vintmarketplace.com.
To learn more about Vint and the Vint Marketplace, visit us at Vintmarketplace.com or email Brady Weller at [email protected], or Billy Galanko at [email protected].
Cheers!
Past Guests Include: William Kelley, Peter Liem, Eric Asimov, Bobby Stuckey, Rajat "Raj" Parr, Erik Segelbaum, André Hueston Mack, Emily Saladino, Konstantin Baum, Landon Patterson, Heather Wibbels, Carlton "CJ" Fowler, Boris Guillome, Christopher Walkey, Danny Jassy, Kristy Wenz, Dan Petroski, Buster Scher, Andrew Nelson, Jane Anson, Tim Irwin, Matt Murphy, Allen Meadows, Altan Insights, Tim Gaiser, Vince Anter, Joel Peterson, Megan O'Connor, Adam Lapierre, Jason Haas, Ken Freeman, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Skyler Weekes, Mary Gorman McAdams, Nick King, Bartholomew Broadbent, Nick Jackson, Dillon Sykes, Mark Bell, David Keck, John Szabo, Channing Frye, Jay Hack, Julia Harding, Austin Hope, Michael Minnillo, Jermaine Stone, Jim Madsen, Santiago Archaval, Tom Smith, Sebastian Lowa, Matthew Crafton, Tony Parker, Andrew Caillard, Mike Veseth, Madeline Puckette, John Olney, Matthew Kaner, Amelia Singer, Chess Martin, Gaia Gaja, Liz Thach, Sarah Heller, Jess Druey, James Cluer, Eduardo Chadwick, Terry Theise, and more!