Tom Gilbey has spent over 30 years in the wine trade, but you’ll probably know him best as that guy on social media who is brutally and hilariously honest about every wine he tastes, rating them CLASS, PASS or absolute ARSE.

He’s tasted a different bottle at every mile of the London Marathon, demonstrated wine temperature by sitting in an ice bath at 3 degrees, he has a book, a new wine club and is about to take his live show Absolute Filth on tour around the UK and Ireland. In a world of stuffy tasting notes, he’s a real breath of fresh air.

In this conversation, we talk about his long family history in booze, a joint love of unpretentious wine places, the bottle that ‘did it’ for him, ice baths, sensory memories, TikTok, Jam Shed wine and his upcoming tour, Absolute Filth.

Find Tom Gilbey

Instagram: @tomgilbeywine

For all things tour, book and info: tomgilbey.com

In the glass…

A Chilli Martini from Sophie’s Soho

Make it yourself? Here’s how:

• Vodka: 50 ml (or 1.75 oz) premium or vanilla-infused vodka

• Passionfruit Puree: 25 ml (or 0.8 oz)

• Vanilla Syrup: 15–20 ml (or 0.5–0.75 oz) depending on sweetness preference

• Red Chilli: 1/2 to 1 sliced red chilli (adjust to your preferred heat

  Chill a martini glass, then muddle fresh red chilli slices with vanilla syrup in a shaker to release the heat. Add vodka and passionfruit puree, fill with ice and shake hard for 15-20 seconds. Double strain into the chilled glass to keep out seeds, and float a chilli slice on top to garnish.

*******

Liked this? Listen to more episodes:

Olympian Legend, Dame Jess Ennis-Hill

Designer & entrepreneur, Cath Kidston

‘Chocolat’ author, Joanne Harris

Actor & Winemaker Sam Neill

Designer & Artist Laurence Llewellyn Bowen

Broadcaster & super athlete, Vassos Alexander

Co-Founder of Renais Gin, Alex Watson

Artisan perfumer, Sarah McCartney

Mr Plant Geek, Michael Perry

This episode is a little different in format, as I managed to grab some time with Sam Neill while on a recent wine press trip to New Zealand before I knew The HelenaSips Podcast would exist!

In this intimate chat, we hear about Sam’s philosophy on wine and the character of each of the Central Otago subregions where he grows his grapes for Two Paddocks. We hear what he drinks when it’s not Pinot, get an explanation of each of his cuvées as songs, discover his favourite role to play and learn why he will never put his wine under a cork again!

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Find Sam Neill

Instagram: @samneilltheprop

In the glass…

Two Paddocks Estate Pinot Noir 2024

Silky, elegant and aromatic with notes of wild herbs and bright red cherry. A delight!

twopaddocks.com

*******

Liked this? Listen to more episodes:

Designer & entrepreneur, Cath Kidston

Chocolate author, Joanne Harris

Broadcaster & super athlete, Vassos Alexander

Co-Founder of Renais Gin, Alex Watson

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is an interior designer turned TV icon who’s now reclaiming his roots as a fine artist. Classically trained at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, he spent years adorning everything from oligarchs’ boudoirs to West End theatre ceilings before the cameras showed up.

He then spent the best part of a decade transforming other people’s living rooms on national television with Changing Rooms, watched by 12 million Brits at its peak and since then has been a regular feature on all sorts of shows, from being thrown around a jungle on celebrity bear hunt to playing pictionary live on air. But somewhere between the leather trousers and the velvet curtains, the painter got quietly sidelined by the tvs star. Now, in his 61st year, he’s picking the brushes back up and touring the country with his third solo show, Drawn to Adorn, and by his own admission, hitting a technical peak most pensioners don’t get to brag about…

We talk gin as an antiseptic, simple food habits, his upbringing in Kensington and southeast London and his journey from art school to television and back to artist again. Along the way, we touch on his mother’s influence, the importance of arty careers, confidence, genitals and some pretty solid advice for life.

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Find Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

Instagram: @llewelynbowen

LLB Design Website: llb.co.uk

Drawn to Adorn show with Buckingham Fine Art:

• Sat 27th June in Brighton

• 11th July in Stratford-upon-Avon

Get tickets and more information HERE.

Buy the art here: cotswoldcontemporary.co.uk

In the glass…

Gin. Any Gin. And sometimes, with tonic!

*******

Liked this? Listen to more episodes:

Olympian Legend, Dame Jess Ennis-Hill

Designer & entrepreneur, Cath Kidston

‘Chocolat’ author, Joanne Harris

Actor & Winemaker Sam Neill

Broadcaster & super athlete, Vassos Alexander

Co-Founder of Renais Gin, Alex Watson

Artisan perfumer, Sarah McCartney

Mr Plant Geeek, Michael Perry

I was absolutely delighted to have the chance to meet Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill recently AND taste the very first bottle of her brand new ‘mid’ wine, Seven Summers.

Jess Ennis-Hill is one of Britain’s most iconic athletes. She captured the nation’s heart at the London 2012 Olympics as our gold medal-winning, heptathlon champion before returning after motherhood to win gold at the world championships in 2015 and Olympic silver in Rio in 2016. But this conversation isn’t just about medals. Since retiring from elite sport, Jessica has been navigating a very different kind of challenge, shifting from a life defined by performance and precision to one shaped by family, wellbeing and a deeper understanding of the body beyond its limits. Now a mother and entrepreneur, she’s helping women rethink fitness in a more intuitive, sustainable way.

In this episode, we explore what happens after you’ve achieved the dream and how you rebuild a life that feels just as meaningful and joyful, without the roar of the crowd, all with a splash of her genuinely delicious, brand new, 7% ABV ‘mid wine’: a Provençal pink called Seven Summers!

Find Jess Ennis-Hill

Instagram: @jessicaennishill @wearejennis

Jennis on Youtube

In the glass…

Seven Summers 7% ABV Rosé Wine

A brand new launch from Jess herself, Seven Summers is an exceptionally well-made rosé from Provence with an ABV of just 7% but all of the crisp and saline, strawberry-scented charm of your favourite Provençal pink. Find it for £12.50 a bottle at 7summers.co.uk and follow on instagram @7summers_wine

*******

Liked this? Listen to more episodes:

Designer & entrepreneur, Cath Kidston

‘Chocolat’ author, Joanne Harris

Actor & Winemaker Sam Neill

Broadcaster & super athlete, Vassos Alexander

Co-Founder of Renais Gin, Alex Watson

Artisan perfumer, Sarah McCartney

In this episode, Helena Nicklin chats to Cath Kidston MBE, a much-loved creative founder based in the UK. Known for her eponymous, global lifestyle brand, we discuss her new venture, C. Atherley, which was inspired by nature and scented geraniums.

Hear about her journey from the early 90s vintage market to building a brand rooted in nostalgia and everyday pleasure as well as her transition from homewares to body care and home fragrance. Along the way, we’ll hear Cath’s thoughts on the importance of creating a welcoming home and the influence of her father’s legacy on her work.

Find Cath Kidston

C-atherley.com

Instagram:

@c.atherleylondon

@cathkidstonpagham

In the glass…

Fresh Lemon & Ginger Tea

In this episode, I speak to Sarah McCartney, a self-taught, British artisan perfumer and founder of cult perfume house 4160 Tuesdays.

Sarah is known for creating scents inspired by memories, places and everyday pleasures, from marmalade on toast and tea and biscuits to seaside holidays. After 14 years working as head writer for Lush Cosmetics’s magazine, during which time she devoured over 200 books on herbalism and essential oils in order to better describe products to customers, Sarah turned her writing talents towards a novel, which then became the launch point for a whole new new career in perfumery. She has since built a devoted following for her fragrances that are imaginative, joyful and unapologetically human.

Join us as we discuss what being a called “a young upstart” at 50 looks like, the joy and function of fragrance, why perfumery doeasn’t have to be an exclusive club and of course, a lot of parallels with wine.

Please subscribe if you enjoy these conversations - and tell your friends!

Subscribe now

Find Sarah McCartney

Instagram: @sarahmccartneythinks and @4160tuesdays

4160tuesdays.com

In the glass…

Kier Normonde aka Kier Breton

A blend of local dry cider from Normany or Brittany with a splash of crème de Cassis de Dijon. Light, refreshing and deliciously local.

*******

Liked this? Listen to more episodes:

Designer & entrepreneur, Cath Kidston

‘Chocolat’ author, Joanne Harris

Actor & Winemaker Sam Neill

Broadcaster & super athlete, Vassos Alexander

Co-Founder of Renais Gin, Alex Watson

In episode 4 of The HelenaSips Podcast, Helena meets Alex Watson, co-founder of Renais Gin with his actor sister, Emma Watson.

This is a conversation about creating a unique spirit made from ‘upcycled’ Chablis grapes that looks as good as it tastes. We hear about what growing up in France has taught him about the French concept of the Art of Living and what makes for a good life. Along the way, we touch on glassware and cocktails, the family winery and how to make and epic ‘terroir-tini’.

In the glass

The Terroir Martini

60ml Renais Gin

15ml Chablis Wine

2 Dashes Lemon Bitters

Chilled Martini Glass

Method: Add all your ingredients into a mixing glass, then fill to the brim with large chunks of clear, quality ice. Stir for 20 seconds to chill and dilute. Pour into the chilled glass and garnish with a twist of lemon if desired.

Find Alex & Renais Gin

Instagram @Alex.s.watson and @RenaisGin

Website: Renais.co.uk

Subscribe to be the first to hear about new episodes!

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Michael Perry, also known as Mr Plant Geek, has spent his career making the plant world genuinely exciting thanks to his infectious enthusiasm for the subject. He is an author, a TV presenter, podcaster, content creator and self-described hortpreneur who spent many years at Thompson & Morgan introducing hundreds of new plants into the UK before going freelance. He has been named in the Sunday Times twenty most influential horticulturists in the country and has spent the years since travelling across Europe and beyond lecturing and speaking at all sort of plant-based events.

In this episode, we hear about how it all started and where it has taken him, thoughts on faux flowers and the weirdest plants he’s come across. We also touch on functional drinks and plants in cocktails, water sommeliers and why it’s important to always go with your gut when making life decisions.

Subscribe now

Find Michael Perry, aka Mr Plant Geek

Instagram: @mr_plantgeek

Website: mrplantgeek.com

Podcast: The Plant Based Podcast

Book: Hortus Curious

In the glass…

Three Spirit, Livener, £25.99, threespiritdrinks.com

A gorgeous, punchy, functional, non-alcoholic botanical elixir. "The Pick-Me-Up".

*******

Liked this? Listen to more episodes:

Olympian Legend, Dame Jess Ennis-Hill

Designer & entrepreneur, Cath Kidston

‘Chocolat’ author, Joanne Harris

Actor & Winemaker Sam Neill

Broadcaster & super athlete, Vassos Alexander

Co-Founder of Renais Gin, Alex Watson

Artisan perfumer, Sarah McCartney

In this episode, Helena Nicklin talks to Vassos Alexander, a much-loved broadcaster and endurance athlete, about his journey from an ordinary, self-described “regular bloke” to someone who thrives on pushing the limits of human capability. The conversation explores how running, swimming and extreme physical challenges have reshaped his relationship with his body, alcohol and daily rituals, replacing old habits with a deeper sense of purpose, discipline, and connection to both nature and self.

For Vassos, joy and contentment come not from comfort, but from stepping beyond it, testing boundaries and embracing the discomfort that ultimately makes life feel more vivid and meaningful. Ultimately, we hear about his simple but powerful philosophy: to seek out challenges, savour everyday pleasures and consciously “squeeze the juice” out of life, finding playfulness and joy in even the most ordinary moments.

Find Vassos Alexander

Instagram:

@vassos.alexander

Books:

Swimmingly, by Vassos Alexander

Running Up That Hill, by Vassos Alexander

Don’t Stop Me Now, by Vassos Alexander

In the glass…

A crisp, light red wine. Try Frappato: a native red wine grape from Sicily, that’s all about earthy strawberry with a bit of spice.

In this first ever episode of the HelenaSips Podcast, Helena Nicklin interviews Joanne Harris, a globally renowned storyteller and author of Chocolat, amongst many other novels.

In this conversation, Joanne discusses her new book, Vianne, which is a prequel to Chocolat and her use of scent in her writing process. She also describes her writing shed and shares thoughts about her synesthesia, a sensory condition that influences her writing, emphasizing the importance of small, consistent writing habits and the joy in the creative process. We hear about her band ‘Storytime’, which performs musical illustrations of her stories and discuss her upcoming projects, including a children's book and a new novel.

In The Glass

Floc de Gascogne

Floc is a traditional French fortified wine (a.k.a. mistelle) from the Gascony region, made by blending two-thirds fresh grape juice with one-third young Armagnac. Dating back to the 16th century, this 16–17% ABV sweet, aromatic aperitif comes in white, red and rosé and is made using local grapes such as Colombard, Ugni Blanc, and Gros Manseng; for the whites and Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Tannat for the pinks and reds.

The word “Floc” comes from the southwestern French Occitan language, meaning “bouquet of flowers”. It is often served chilled with foie gras.

Find Joanne Harris

joanne-harris.co.uk

Instagram: @joannechocolat

Buy the book Vianne HERE

I am your host: Helena Nicklin, a drinks and lifestyle writer and broadcaster with a love of all things sensory.

This podcast is all about intimate conversations with creative people I admire to find out what makes them tick, their rituals for joy and their favourite sensory memories. I also want to know what they like to eat and drink, how they host what they do in their free time all to see what we can learn from them about the Art of Living in this crazy modern world.

Coming up: Actor Sam Neill, author Joanne Harris, designer Cath Kidston and more…

You can always find the show notes here and watch clips on my YouTube and generally keep up to date by following my instagram @HelenaSips

Please subscribe if you enjoy these chats and let me know who I should talk to next!

Subscribe now

Happy listening!

Helena

LISTEN HERE!

In episode 4 of The HelenaSips Podcast, Helena meets Alex Watson, co-founder of Renais Gin with his actor sister, Emma Watson.

This is a conversation about creating a unique spirit made from ‘upcycled’ Chablis grapes that looks as good as it tastes. We hear about what growing up in France has taught him about the French concept of the Art of Living and what makes for a good life. Along the way, we touch on glassware and cocktails, the family winery and how to make and epic ‘terroir-tini’.

Oh, and the Charles Spence phrase we were looking for was the ‘Provençal Rosé Effect.’ Intrigued? Have a listen!

In the glass

The Terroir Martini

60ml Renais Gin

15ml Chablis Wine

2 Dashes Lemon Bitters

Chilled Martini Glass

Method: Add all your ingredients into a mixing glass, then fill to the brim with large chunks of clear, quality ice. Stir for 20 seconds to chill and dilute. Pour into the chilled glass and garnish with a twist of lemon if desired.

Find Alex & Renais Gin

Instagram @Alex.s.watson and @RenaisGin

Website: Renais.co.uk