2011 Vintage Report: United States
A first look at vintage quality in U.S. wine regions, with eyewitness reports from growers and winemakers The 2011 growing season was challenging on both coasts. Washington suffered a damaging … Continue reading
Decanter-Bond Street tasting 2011
Last week I received a rather curious gold envelope through the post. So a bit like Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, searching for his golden ticket, … Continue reading
Biodynamics are ’emotional black magic’: Richard Smart
The organic and biodynamic winemaking lobby uses ’emotional black magic’ to get its message across, a prominent consultant will argue in a debate next month. Image: Good Food Revolution Viticulturalist Richard Smart is … Continue reading
Freixenet: Cava rules should be relaxed
A leading figure in Cava has called for regulations to be relaxed, claiming they are stifling the region’s producers. Pedro Ferrer, head of Cava house Freixenet claimed the rules for … Continue reading
Learn more about Aussie wines
The trade is being offered the chance to find out more about Australian wine from leading wine writers and educators in Wine Australia’s new one day wine school running later … Continue reading
Trade ushers in Beaujolais Nouveau
Beaujolais Thursday is being marked with a flurry of on-trade events, restoring some of the sheen to day that many in the UK trade feel has been steadily losing its … Continue reading
Tower Estate Wines Press Release 2011
Tower Estate in Australia’s Hunter Valley is going from strength to strength under the careful guidance of marathon-running, winemaking wizard, Samantha Connew. Tower was established by the legendary … Continue reading
Penfolds releases Bin 620 after 40 year wait
After a wait of over 40 years, Australian producer Penfolds has released Bin 620 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz 2008. The last special bin wine was released in 1966, and the iconic … Continue reading
Biodyvin Tasting. London 2011.
The UK’s Largest Dedicated Biodynamic Wine Tasting The SIVCBD, or to give them their full title ‘Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Bio-Dynamique’ held their first tasting in London for … Continue reading
Barclay brothers bring in first Sark harvest
Millionaire newspaper owners the Barclay brothers are celebrating their first grape harvest on the island of Sark. One of the smallest of the Channel Islands, just three miles long and … Continue reading
Prosecco region ‘to grow fivefold’
The Prosecco region estimates it will grow to almost five times its current size by 2035. The Italian sparkling wine producing region forecasts production volumes will reach one billion bottles … Continue reading
Magic is going back to school. Principles of Vinegrowing.
http://www.plumpton.ac.uk This coming Monday, yours truly will be going back to school. I’ve signed up to Plumpton College’s ‘The Principles of Vinegrowing’ course. So what does this entail? The course … Continue reading
Interview with Debra Meiburg MW
debramasterofwine.com Debra Meiburg MW was gracious enough to allow me to interrupt her busy schedule to answer some questions for me. As well as being an authority in the Asian … Continue reading
Bordeaux reclaims ‘claret’ name
The French are aiming to reclaim the term ‘claret’ for the 2012 vintage. Though it has fallen out of fashion, the word claret – from ‘clairet’ or clear – was … Continue reading
The Oenophiliac 