Vint Podcast

James Cluer MW on Wine Education, Luxury Tours & the Future of Fine Wine

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 Podcast is presented by Coravin, the world's leader in wine preservation systems. Listeners of the Vint Podcast can take 15% off their purchase on Coravin.com by using promo code VINT15 at checkout*. Members of the trade can access exclusive discounts at trade.Coravin.com.

The Vint 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 https://vint.co or Vintmarketplace.com or email Brady Weller at brady@vint.co, or Billy Galanko at Billy@vintmarketplace.com.

*Terms and Conditions Apply. Offer valid only on Coravin.com while supplies last. Pricing and discount are subject to change at any time. Coravin reserves the right to limit order quantities. No adjustments to prior purchases. Not valid for cash.

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,...

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