Uncorked: Ben Hodges
Tell us about the moment you first became interested in wine
I never took communion but always wondered what the wine tasted like. Apparently it wasn’t a good vintage, the less said about the bread the better.
Describe your wine list at Alfi
We have a mix of classical grape varietals and wines and a more adventurous section with orange and natural wines.
Over the course of your career, have you had any wine-related disasters?
When we first opened Alfi the wine taps weren’t fitted properly and half way through a service one of the red wine taps flew off and red wine started spraying all over the bar.
Name your top three restaurant wine lists
Brat, Manteca and Sager & Wine (all in London).
Who do you most respect in the wine world?
Winemakers and growers - its such a labour of love. Some of the stories of lost crops and temperatures going below freezing break my heart.
What’s the most interesting wine you’ve come across recently?
Really love some of the UK wines, which are getting better every year. I had a pink sparkling from Durslade Vineyards in Somerset last week, which was great.
What are the three most overused tasting notes?
Dry, sweet and medium.
What’s the best value wine on your list at the moment?
The 2022 Niburu - Grundstein Riesling from Kamptal, Austria, is delightful, complex and inexpensive.
What is your ultimate food and drink match?
I really love the seafood from Galicia along with some of their Albariño and lesser known whites. I visited Abastos 2.0 in Santiago de Compostela not long ago and really enjoyed the traditional octopus and raw sea bass.
Old World or New World?
Old, I’m European at heart.
What is your pet hate when it comes to wine service in other restaurants?
Things taking too long. Sometimes it takes ages and you just want to drink something.
Who is your favourite producer right now?
The Sicilian co-operative who make our Nero D’Avola (Valdibella). It is an impressive and inspiring cooperative based in the west of island’s which has a focus on biodiverse farmlands, an active social impact, and are part of the Addiopizzo anti-mafia movement.
As the co-founder of Alfi, what question do you most get asked by customers?
“I love orange wine, what is it?”
Which wine producing region or country is underrated at the moment
Greece has lots of great things but would have to mention the UK as well as there is so much new stuff going on all the time. Some of it isn’t great but some of it really is.
It’s your last meal and you can have a bottle of any wine in the world. What is it and why?
Maybe a Nerello or Nero D’Avola because it takes me on holiday to southern Italy.
