Thanks to support from Vintage Politics.
Meet Abbie Bennington, former senior producer of BBC News at Ten, now an experienced wine educator on a mission to bring together great conversation and great wine. Each week, she is joined by leading figures in politics and journalism to talk candidly about careers, power and public life, all over a relaxed glass of wine… or a few.
We sat down with Abbie to hear about her successes in not one, but two major industries, and her plans for the podcast.
Tell us about Vintage Politics and what you are trying to do?
Vintage Politics is a filmed podcast where I meet with journalists and politicians in sumptuous surroundings to talk about key moments of their career over wines they love. From Brexit to run-ins with Donald Trump, guests share their memories. I just share the wine from the vintages that mark them.
Why did you want to do this type of podcast bringing wine, politics and journalists together?
Having worked in political news a long time ago, I was bitten by the bug, and I still inhale political news daily through podcasts like The Rest is Politics and The News Agents. The current popularity with these shows alongside my love of wine made me think that there would be a natural overlap that could appeal to both audiences. It seems like a great pairing yet to be explored.
How did you decide which guests to have on the series? Did you have to dip back into your old contacts book?
Yes. I still have some weird and wonderful numbers in my little black book! I started with colleagues I worked with and they were more than happy to come drink wine with me in some great venues like the Savoy’s Restaurant 1890 and Hide in Mayfair. From there, more and more guests wanted to take part. As Jon Sopel said to me “what’s not to like”.
What’s the format for the podcast; how does each episode unfold?
Guests arrive with their easy-drinking mid-week wine; we get an insight into their tipple of choice when at home. We then usually move onto something sparkling (not always), served by some of the most respected sommeliers in London. After this, we try a vintage wine they like and that’s important to them from a good career or storytelling perspective. Finally, we play a game: “Guess the vintage?”, where we show them a bottle of wine from their birth year and, through careful elimination, they guess the price. So far, only one guest has got it right.
A sort of Desert Island Discs but with wine rather than music?
It does have a similar feel but if the music were wine! However, I choose the wines based on their previously discussed likes and dislikes. They share key stories of their career and we explore some of the more interesting political stories and anecdotes that any wine lover would love to hear.
Who is it aimed at?
It is aimed at anyone who loves wine, news, and politics. You don’t need to know about wine to listen; you just need to enjoy or appreciate it from time to time! Young or old, the stories our guests share will be sure to hook anyone with a love of current affairs.
How are you funding the podcast as it has very high production standards?
I have been lucky enough to secure funding for the first series from an individual who saw the potential in this space: a wine podcast that does more than talk about wine over a Zoom connection. They happened to love both wine and politics too! But it wasn’t just that person’s foresight; this whole project would not have been possible without the incredible support of my colleagues in hospitality at Hide Restaurant and the Gordon Ramsay group. As for the production standards, that’s thanks to our director Joe - his talent speaks for itself - alongside our great graphic designer, Candace. We are always looking for support for the next series!
Tell us about your background in politics and journalism?
I was a journalist in local radio back in the early 2000s before becoming a Producer for BBC Six then Ten O’clock news. It was my year as the producer for the BBC’s Political Editor, Nick Robinson, that was the most exciting and exhausting year of my life. Working with Nick and the team at Millbank saw me covering so many exciting stories, from transitioning Prime Ministers to visits to New York to see how American politics shapes our own.
Why did you want to move away from that world and go into wine?
I was exhausted after my time covering politics in Millbank. My love of wine and food made me happy, so I retrained at Leiths School of Food and Wine for their Diploma. I thought I might become a chef, but didn’t want to swap one set of bad hours for another. Thankfully, I was bitten by the wine bug instead.
Vintage Politics is clearly a great way of bringing your two careers and those worlds together?
Yes, I think it marries the two worlds together beautifully, I remember most days after a bulletin we would go relax with a glass of wine and talk about the stories we covered so doing it in this more focused format felt like a natural next step.
Who can we expect to see on future episodes?
We drop three episodes in the first week! So keen listeners can gorge on the conversations I have with Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson and Anna Foster. Following that, other guests include satirist Dom Joly and former Boris Johnson Communications Director Guto Harri, who has a lot of fun stories to share. We have ten episodes - you will have to listen to hear the rest!
Any other podcasts out there that have inspired you?
I learnt the most from The News Agents, which I rarely miss an episode of, and The Rest is Politics. As for wine, I really enjoy Wine Blast with Peter and Susie Barrie.
Having worked in broadcast before, what lessons have you learnt to make an effective podcast?
Attention to detail, checking and then re-checking facts about your guests to be sure you get the right wines with the right vintages. I try to avoid as many mistakes as possible as I know eager wine lovers will be quick to correct me if I do! Fingers crossed we have that covered.
Looks like you are having a lot of fun along the way?
What’s not to like? I am literally joining two passions of my life and career in one. Great wine for all budgets, great stories and phenomenal settings. I’m a lucky woman.
