We're back with series 11 of The English Wine Diaries and kick starting this season is The Mistress of Wine, aka Sam Caporn MW.

Not only is Sam one of just 421 Masters of Wine world-wide, (of which there are only 149 women) she was also the recipient of the 2011 Madame Bollinger Medal for Excellence in Tasting and remains one of just 16 women to have received the medal to date.

Sam’s wine career started as a trainee manager at Majestic and in the years that followed, she studied a swathe of wine qualifications, culminating in her Masters of Wine accreditation.

But, she remembers all too well the time before that, when – in her own words, she knew not a sausage about wine. And it is this that drives her passion today for educating others about wine in an approachable and entertaining way.

As well as working as a consultant across the wine industry and judging for awards, including co-chairing the International Wine Challenge, Sam hosts corporate and private tastings, which are often focused on her wine flavour tree.

The tree forms the basis for her debut book, The Wine Flavour Guide, which shows readers how to pick the best wine for any occasion.

Listen in to find out who Sam's favourite English wine brands are, who she'd choose to share her favourite bottle of wine with and the reason she has some Veuve Clicquot branded wellies in her closet.

You can follow Sam on Instagram @themistressofwine and find out more about her at themistresswine.com. The Wine Flavour Guide is published by Square Peg and is available from all good book stores, RRP £20.

With thanks to our series sponsor, Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free delivery on orders over £40. The English Wine Diaries listeners can also get 10% discount on their first purchase by entering the code TEWD10. Please drink responsibly.

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