The Acid Test: Comparing English and Belgian Sparkling Wines

English and Belgian Sparkling Wine: A Promising Future A recent tasting of English and Belgian sparkling wines revealed an encouraging outlook for Northern European production, particularly highlighting Chardonnay as a standout varietal. This event, hosted by a panel that included Simon Field MW, Anthony Rose, and myself, involved a selection of wines nominated by their… Read More »

Exploring Maturana: A Hidden Gem in Chile’s Boutique Winery Scene

José Ignacio Maturana, after spending 15 years as the chief winemaker for Casa Silva, decided to embark on a new venture with his brother Sebastien in 2014. They established Maturana Winery in the diverse region of Maule, Chile, where they have made significant investments in constructing a state-of-the-art facility. This winery emphasizes sustainability and fairness,… Read More »

Exploring the New Era of Douro Viticulture: Innovations and Trends in Wine Production

The New Douro Viticulture In a significant exploration of Douro’s viticultural evolution over the past 40 years, two key players, the Fladgate Partnership and Symington Family Estates, reflect on how their practices have transformed, especially following the World Bank-funded plantings in the 1980s. Charles Symington notes the dramatic changes in Douro viticulture during this period.… Read More »

Exploring the 2022 Vintage: Emidio Pepe’s Stellar Offerings from Abruzzo Winery

Popped into Dynamic Vines today and tasted through the 2022s from Emidio Pepe, a noteworthy winery that has been previously discussed extensively. Emidio Pepe is distinguished by its commitment to low-intervention winemaking, with none of its wines undergoing oak aging, which results in pure, expressive flavors. Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2022 This wine is beautifully… Read More »

Douloufakis: Crafting Impressive Wines from the Heart of Crete, Greece

Douloufakis is a winery located in the village of Dafnes, close to Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete. The vineyards are organically farmed and run by the third generation of the Douloufakis family, with Nikos Douloufakis at the helm since 1993, following his wine studies in Alba, Piemonte. Initially, Nikos planted several international grape… Read More »

Confirmation of Linux Kernel 6.6 as an Official LTS Release

In his final column for The World of Fine Wine, Michel Bettane reflects on his two-decade journey with the magazine and expresses profound concerns about the future of wine, stating, "The world of wine is on the brink of the biggest struggle for its survival since the phylloxera era." Bettane has been a voice for… Read More »