Sarah Maddox

Last May, Sarah Maddox, co-founder of UK’s first wine bar dedicated to orange and skin contact wines, joined us at Planque to talk about amphora aged wines.

Sarah shared with us some of today’s most interesting cuvée from growers across Europe and Georgia.

After the event, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to learn more about Sarah’s most memorable bottles.

Here is the interview.

1. You're handed a wine list, what do you do?

I usually cast an eye over the skin contact section to see if they are pouring something I’ve never tried. Quickly followed by looking for a Puligny Montrachet premier cru!

2. How do you know the wine you're drinking is good?

When it smells almost too good to drink! And then it’s a battle to drink it slow enough to appreciate but fast enough so you don’t miss out on another glass! The smell of the best wines I have ever consumed live rent free in my mind.

3. What is something fascinating you’ve been told over lunch?

Oh boy I have heard so many fascinating tales over lunch. My favourite stories are usually about amazing dining experiences, when you can feel the passion and joy from the story teller.

4. In whose company do you most enjoy drinking wine?

With friends, I know a lot of wine enthusiasts who love so many different wines, it is always really interesting to join them in tasting their favourites, and learning what brings them joy.

5. Can you describe your ideal combination of wine, music, and setting?

Puligny Montrachet premier cru, in the front garden at my house in the Poitou-Charantes, with Solange - Binz on repeat.

This scene has played out before, and I am now banned from playing this song.

6. What sort of food would you add to the equation?

A dozen or two Gillardeau oysters sourced fresh from the local market.

7. What is the most memorable bottle of wine you’ve drank?

Most memorable wine consumed recently was Aragonite from Julian Guillot!

8. Where did you drink it?

This past June I took a trip to Sète in Southern France to celebrate a dear friend who is getting married. We shared a magnum of Aragonite on the beach, with a gorgeous spread of fresh mangoes, nectarines, strawberries and watermelons that we purchased from the market. It was a truly remarkable day.

9. Is there a characteristic you look for in a wine and in a friend?

Effervescence!

10. What is your approach to drinking?

Don’t start too early! unless its champagne and caviar in the shower on Christmas morning! Jokes aside, I think it’s all about enjoyment, the moment and the company. Don’t get too caught-up in what you know and don’t know about wine, just enjoy it!

11. Do you apply this approach in other aspects of life?

I always look for moments of happiness and pleasure. Life is too short to have a bad day

12. What shall we open next?

Antoine Petitprez does these insane Altesse wines from the Savoie, let’s open Turbulence next.

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