Proust Q&A: Eddie McDougall

Host of the acclaimed TV series, The Flying Winemaker on Discovery Channel’s TLC, Eddie McDougall is also an award winning winemaker, wine judge and columnist. He was raised in Hong Kong and Australia and in 2013 was selected for the Lens Evans tutorial where he spent time with Australia’s top wine experts in the Hunter Valley. McDougall also has over a decade of winemaking experience and in 2007, created his own brand, Eddie McDougall Wines. He lives in Macau with his wife Frederica and son Hugo.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

At the beach, kicking a rugby ball with my son whilst sipping Champagne and eating oysters with my wife.

What is your greatest fear?

Being locked in a safari enclosure with an ostrich.

Which living person do you most admire?

Jamie Oliver for his continued effort in making food fun and accessible for the next generation.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I was in a rush to get over to Macau and all the ferries from Hong Kong were fully booked out so I decided to pay for a helicopter ride which ended up costing me over HK$5,000! This is probably more considered as a desperate measure rather than a extravagance.

What is your current state of mind? 

This changes frantically but currently I am feeling pretty buzzed from the double shot latte I just drank.

What is the quality you most like in a woman? 

This is a really tough question as there are just so many to list off but if I had to choose just one it would be their ability to control men.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?

This is a no brainer – my wife, Frederica.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“Believe it or not”… I really need to stop saying it!

When and where were you happiest?

Generally happy most the time but if had to single out a recent occasion it would say the birth of my son Hugo last January.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Stop being so nice to everyone. I hate saying “no”.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I would really like to be fluent in more languages. Just being able to speak English and Cantonese just doesn’t cut it for me. I would love to be able to speak French, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Producing The Flying Winemaker TV series for the world’s number one lifestyle channel – Discovery Channel’s TLC.

Where would you most like to live?

Anywhere on the Italian western coast line.

What is your most treasured possession?

Tough decision between my childhood stamp collection and now my vinyl collection. Can I have both?

What is your most marked characteristic?

Glass is always half full, if not completely full to the brim.

Who is your favourite writer?

Roald Dahl.

Who is your hero of fiction?

Batman.

What is it that you most dislike?

Stingy people.

What is your greatest regret? 

I actually don’t have anything that comes to mind.

What is your motto?

No pressure, no results.

Who would be your ideal dinner party guests and what three wines would you serve?

Sean Connery, Jamie Oliver, Emilia Clarke, Seth MacFarlane and Jancis Robinson and I would serve: Marques De Murrieta Castillo Y’Gay, Egly-Ouriet Champagne and Armand Rousseau Chambertin grand cru.