Welcome to Episode 2608 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Book Club with Richard Hough. In this episode, Richard is in conversation with the award-winning wine and beer writer Katie Mather to talk about Katie’s career in hospitality, the wine scene in Tenerife, South Tyrol and Le Marche, as well as the meaning of pub culture and how natural wines can provide a more accessible entry point into the sometimes mystifying world of wine.
The places mentioned in the conversation:
• Pubs: Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton and the New Inn in Clitheroe.
• The craft beer brewery: Bowness Bay Brewing in Kendal.
• The natural wineries: Rita & Rudolf Trossen and Staffelter Hof in Mosel and Katla Wines in Rheinhessen.
WWOOF (https://www.google.com/search?q=WWOOF&sca_esv=d5a9de7bb6a34566&rlz=1C5GCEM_enIT1161IT1161&biw=1440&bih=778&sxsrf=ANbL-n7TV24JYlQp9cygX_4G_tx9nv0M0Q%3A1770629591344&ei=16mJaZX7E4P_7_UP-JDymAM&ved=2ahUKEwi2_sOijcySAxVdnP0HHReDE7wQgK4QegQIARAB&uact=5&oq=what+is+wwoofy+in+farming&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGXdoYXQgaXMgd3dvb2Z5IGluIGZhcm1pbmcyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBTIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBUjFCVD_AVj_AXABeAGQAQCYAYcBoAGHAaoBAzAuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCAqAClgHCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcDMS4xoAf4ArIHAzAuMbgHjgHCBwMyLTLIBwuACAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp) (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a global, non-profit program that connects volunteers (“WWOOFers”) with organic farmers for educational and cultural exchange. You can learn more here: https://wwoof.net/.
Other writing referred to in the conversation include:
•
Close to the Tree — Pochle, Edinburgh’s Communal Apple Spirit by Imran Rahman-Jones (https://www.pelliclemag.com/home/2026/1/26/close-to-the-tree-pochle-edinburghs-communal-apple-spirit)
•
These Wooden Ideas — The Incomparable Theakstons’ Old Peculier by Katie Mather (https://www.pelliclemag.com/home/2024/9/18/these-wooden-ideas-theakstons-old-peculier)
•
Exploring South Tyrol’s indulgent winter food scene by Katie Mather (https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/italy/south-tyrol-italy-food-holiday-winter-b2880739.html)
•
Con Altura — Making Wine and Preserving Culture in Tenerife’s Vineyard Heartland by Katie Mather (https://www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/6/24/con-altura-making-wine-and-preserving-culture-in-tenerife)
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
• The Meaning of Beer by Jonny Garrett
The Book Review by Richard Hough:
“Crisp, refreshing and extremely satisfying, Pellicle is an independent magazine dedicated to in-depth beer, wine, cider, food and travel journalism. Founded in 2019, it explores the stories behind what’s in your glass and explores the vital role of Britain’s vibrant pub culture in contemporary society, featuring original artwork and the very best in contemporary storytelling.”
About today’s guest:
Katie Mather is a Lancashire-based drinks culture and food writer, and Deputy Editor and Wine Lead at the independent drinks publication Pellicle. She has been writing about beer, wine, cider, non-alcoholic drinks, and food since 2018, quickly earning recognition with a Silver award for Young Beer Writer of the Year from the Guild of Beer Writers.
Katie also writes the newsletter The Gulp, which won Silver for Best Short-Form Beer Writing at the 2024 British Guild of Beer Writers Awards. In 2025, she expanded into luxury adventure travel writing for The Independent, and released her self-designed zine A Place To Be, published by Pellicle.
Connect:
Website: https://www.katiematherwrites.com/ https://www.pelliclemag.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiematherkm/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorkatie
More about the host:
Richard Hough is the editor, translator and project curator behind The Art of Wine Storytelling, Wine Democracy and Vine and Prejudice. He has also published several books about life in Verona, chronicling the city’s history, culture and daily life, not forgetting, of course, its wine, including Verona Campione, published in May 2025. With a long-standing passion for whisky and beer, he’s a relative newcomer to the world of wine and is now desperately trying to make up for lost time! He is the host of Book Club on the Italian Wine Podcast.
Connect:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rickhough.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verona_campione
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickhough/
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