Sussex


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-81592" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>In the mood for a glass of something delicious? Of course you are! And who better to advise on seasonal quaffing than Lewes local Olly Smith.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The drinks writer and broadcaster’s motto is one we can all get behind: ‘All for wine and wine for all!’ He spends his time making that a reality, and his new book <em>Wine: Everything You Need to Know</em> is brimming with fun, witty ways to get the most out of every sip, from how to choose and how much to spend, to a handy ‘Grape Thesaurus’.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Pour yourself a glass and read on for Olly’s insights into all things vino, including what to drink with a shepherd’s pie and what goes well with dark chocolate.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith-book-signing.jpg" alt="Wine writer Olly Smith signing books" class="wp-image-81595" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith-book-signing.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith-book-signing-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith-book-signing-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Olly-Smith-book-signing-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Olly on his recent book tour</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-and-why-did-you-get-into-the-wine-biz"><strong>How and why did you get into the wine biz?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I began with a Saturday job and subsequently a holiday job in a wine shop in Jersey. My deep fascination with the flavours, destinations and people behind the bottles led to my belief that wine is about sharing the great things of life – my motto&nbsp;<em>All For Wine And Wine For All&nbsp;</em>reflects my belief that there’s a wine out there to suit every taste. No matter which walk of life you’re from, wine is for you – it’s about making friends at the end of the day, with the wines themselves of course, but more importantly with one another.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-and-worst-aspects-of-the-gig-nbsp"><strong>Best and worst aspects of the gig?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>The best aspect is the people that I meet, from&nbsp;<em>Ghostbuster</em>&nbsp;Dan Ayckroyd to chefs or a chat with a local at the pub, wine has led me to grow closer with the people and the environment around me. The worst aspect of the gig is that it’s impossible to taste and share every single wine in the world. But I’m willing to give it a go.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-to-take-special-care-of-your-tastebuds-nbsp"><strong>Do you have to take special care of your tastebuds?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>I live a regular life when it comes to my tastebuds, I’m grateful to them and they are in sense the architects of my professional life, but I take equal care of them as I do the rest of me. I go to the gym, practice daily meditation, enjoy yoga, long walks with the dog (Busby the scruffy terrier mix – he’s my best pal) and have recently got into Padel. My body seems to love it as much as I do!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-a-nbsp-saturday-kitchen-nbsp-regular-any-comedy-mishaps-you-can-share-with-us-nbsp"><strong>You’re a&nbsp;<em>Saturday Kitchen</em>&nbsp;regular. Any comedy mishaps you can share with us?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Oh yes, I remember years ago when Michel Roux was hosting the show and threw to me to present the wine – except that someone had forgotten to put the wine on set, so I did an imaginary wine tasting live on BBC 1. Which actually went quite well.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-most-important-to-consider-when-choosing-a-wine-nbsp"><strong>What&#8217;s most important to consider when choosing a wine?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Your own taste – you can never be wrong with wine, just follow the flavours you love and love what you’re sipping.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-you-say-to-folk-who-get-flustered-when-the-sommelier-pours-a-taster-sip-nbsp-asking-for-a-friend-nbsp"><strong>What do you say to folk who get flustered when the sommelier pours a taster sip?&nbsp;​(Asking for a friend!)&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Ah yes, just give it a quick sniff, if it smells like wine, it’s fine. You’re only checking the condition of the bottle so no need to taste it. Just give them a nod and you’re good to go. (If you smell anything unlike wine, for example, vinegar, oxidation, a smell that’s a bit like damp cardboard then just ask for another bottle of the same and fingers crossed the next one will be in good nick).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-what-we-should-be-drinking-at-this-time-of-year"><strong>Tell us what we should be drinking at this time of year?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>All of it. But specifically I am loving Late Bottled Vintage Port at the moment – it’s like drinking blackberries from the hedgerow and is stonking value for the quality, try Fonseca Unfiltered Late Bottle Vintage Port 2019 in Majestic for £18. And snap a few squares of dark chocolate with it. One of the great wine experiences of the world.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-current-favourite-food-and-drink-pairing-nbsp"><strong>What&#8217;s your current favourite food and drink pairing?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Cottage pie with a glass of Pinot Noir – Asda’s Exceptional Central Otago Pinot Noir 2023 is £8.97 and made by a top notch producer that I can’t reveal. Buy a case for your festive parties.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-know-what-you-ll-be-quaffing-with-your-christmas-dinner-nbsp"><strong>Do you know what you&#8217;ll be quaffing with your Christmas dinner?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Almost certainly a bottle of filthy old Bordeaux from the cellar but I haven’t yet started the audition process.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-there-a-vintage-on-your-wishlist-that-you-ve-not-yet-managed-to-try-nbsp"><strong>Is there a vintage on your wishlist that you&#8217;ve not yet managed to try?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>So many! If you’re buying then I’d love to try Margaux ’53 which features in my favourite film&nbsp;<em>Withnail &amp; I.</em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-a-favourite-sussex-vineyard-nbsp"><strong>Do you have a favourite Sussex vineyard?&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p>Breaky Bottom. The late Peter Hall was a great friend and inspiration. His wines have soul and the vineyard is magical. </p>



<p><em>Wine: Everything You Need to Know is published by Quadrille (£16.99). Head to your local indie bookshop to bag yourself a copy. </em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-olly-s-lewes"><strong>Olly&#8217;s Lewes</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Squisito.jpg" alt="Squisito, Lewes" class="wp-image-81600" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Squisito.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Squisito-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Squisito-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2025/10/Squisito-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Squisito, Lewes</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Best restaurant?</strong>&nbsp;Squisito</p>



<p><strong>Best bar?</strong>&nbsp;The Swan&nbsp;Inn</p>



<p><strong>Best historic spot?</strong>&nbsp;Lewes Castle</p>



<p><strong>Best free thing to do?</strong>&nbsp;A stroll by the River Ouse</p>



<p><strong>Best view?</strong>&nbsp;The Harvey’s Brewery from the bridge&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Best shop?</strong>&nbsp;Wickle </p>



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Muddy meets TV wine expert Olly Smith

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