It’s not every wine story that comes with lashings of guns and cash and enforcers and heart-rending breakages – plus the odd death threat. Not to mention unicorn wines aplenty. But this one does! Which is why it’s a must-listen. John Baker was a Sydney wine merchant with a sideline in fine and rare wine when opportunity came knocking in the form of a mysterious wine cellar in Tbilisi, Georgia, apparently chock full of the greatest wines in the world, some more than a hundred years old. It was, in his words, ‘a potential wine goldmine.’ And that was even before you took into account the eye-opening story about where the wine had come from… What happens next is the subject of his best-selling book, Stalin’s Wine Cellar. It’s a fantastic story, full of intrigue and mystery and surprise and suspense. Not to mention the odd bit of nudity. John tells us the story in his own words, adding extra detail, context and humour, plus some exciting latest news. This is a narrative two-parter – the second and concluding part is available for Wine Blast PLUS subscribers now. To subscribe to Wine Blast PLUS, head to wineblast.co.uk – you’ll also get subscriber-only bonus content as well as early access to all episodes plus full archive access. And of course you’ll be supporting the show. We love to hear from you so please do get in touch! Send us a voice message via Speakpipe. Or you can find all details from this episode, including photos, on our website: Show notes for Wine Blast S7 E21 – The Story of Stalin’s Wine Cellar PART ONE Instagram: @susieandpeter
