With the ongoing challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns, organic farming in France faces significant hurdles. Recently, a French government agency has imposed restrictions on the use of copper fungicides, a vital tool for organic winemakers fighting against downy mildew, which can devastate entire grape crops if not managed effectively. However, there’s emerging hope from… Read More »

Wine in history: St Scholastica’s Day Wine Riot On February 10, 1355, a violent altercation erupted in Oxford, driven by a dispute over the quality of wine at the Swindlestock Tavern. The incident reflects the long-standing tensions between town and gown in this historic university city. The riot began when a group of scholars—two of… Read More »

Esteemed wine writer and Decanter columnist Andrew Jefford was honored with the Institute of Masters of Wine Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony held in Paris. The event, hosted just before the annual Wine Paris trade show, saw pop superstar Kylie Minogue present the award. Minogue praised Jefford, recalling how she sought his advice when… Read More »

After attending the inaugural tasting of Bhutan’s first wines, Chris Howard reflects on humanity’s fascination with novelty and the longing for the new. His thoughts were particularly stirred by this unique experience as he returned from tasting these wines in Paris one warm June evening. Bhutan, known for its carbon-negative stance and Gross National Happiness… Read More »

John Grochau established Grochau Cellars in 2002, originally branding it under his own name. Due to difficulties some customers had in pronouncing "Grochau" (it’s pronounced ‘grow-show’), the label was shortened to GC Wines, but he’s currently in the process of reverting to the original name. Starting as a waiter in Portland, John found his passion… Read More »

NUITS-ST-GEORGES DOMAINE DE L’ARLOT In the Côte de Nuits, the 2024 growing season brought heavy conditions, particularly for Premeaux-Prissey, where winemaker Géraldine Godot sprayed frequently and dealt with high malic acid levels. The harvesting took place between September 18 and 21, with yields varying significantly across vineyards. In Clos des Forêts, the yield was notably… Read More »

If anyone were to create a top ten list of South African wine producers, Boekenhoutskloof would undoubtedly rank among the very best. Established thirty years ago by Marc Kent, the winery began with a Cabernet Sauvignon from the 1996 vintage, a time when South African wine was emerging from its post-apartheid transformation under Nelson Mandela.… Read More »

CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY Sarah Marsh MW presents her insights on the 2024 Burgundy vintage, focusing on the producers from Chambolle-Musigny, highlighting the challenges and characteristics of this year’s wines. DOMAINE JACQUES-FREDERIC MUGNIER Frédéric Mugnier describes the 2024 vintage as “expressive and cool,” recommending its classic Burgundian profile. He believes it has great aging potential, akin to the… Read More »

Patrick Corbineau’s Chinon is a remarkable natural wine, notable for the absence of added sulfites. Tasted recently on a podcast with Doug Wregg, the vintage remains a mystery, as neither the label nor cork provides this information. Patrick, who has unfortunately passed away, used to annotate the bottles with a pen. Speculated to be from… Read More »

The 2024 Burgundy vintage is brought to life through detailed tasting notes from producers based in the Marsannay and Fixin regions, as described by Sarah Marsh MW. Marsannay Château de MarsannayManaged by Stéphane Follin-Arbelet, this 40-hectare estate emphasizes organic practices and covers crops. The 2024 yield was notably low at just 9hl/ha, yet the wine… Read More »