Category Archives: Blog

The recent tasting of 45 Pinot Noir wines from Oregon’s Willamette Valley showcased the region’s acclaimed ability to produce high-quality vintages. Experts Andrew Jefford, Anthony Rose, and David Williams collectively noted the wines’ tenderness, intricacy, and grace, with several standouts receiving impressive ratings. Among the top-ranking wines was the Walter Scott Koosah Vineyard Willamette Valley… Read More »

Bowmore and Aston Martin have collaborated to unveil a prestigious whisky known as Bowmore ARC-54, priced at an astonishing £71,000. This limited-edition release, which features only 130 decanters worldwide, marks the culmination of a partnership between the renowned Islay distillery and the luxury sports car manufacturer. The whisky, distilled in November 1968, is a blend… Read More »

Magura is a notable winery established in 1967, located in Bulgaria with a production capacity of 2 million litres of wine. Recently changing ownership to Eurohold, it is undergoing significant renovations, although half of the winery still operates in its traditional form, featuring 73 old concrete tanks. Historically, much of their wine was produced for… Read More »

In early 2025, Oregon celebrates 60 years since David Lett’s pioneering introduction of Pinot Noir to the Willamette Valley. Lett planted his vines in 1965, following his "cosmic brick" epiphany at the University of California, Davis. Although Oregon’s vineyards date back to the 1880s, Lett’s work significantly shaped the state’s wine industry. Today, Oregon boasts… Read More »

The Beira Interior, a lesser-known wine region located on the eastern side of Portugal, right below the Douro and above the Alentejo, offers intriguing wines, particularly from notable producer Quinta dos Currais. This estate encompasses 130 hectares, with 30 hectares devoted to vines planted in 1996 on schist soils. One standout wine is the Quinta… Read More »

Images showcasing the charm of vineyards, winemakers, and wine culture have recently been shortlisted for the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year 2025 award. This esteemed competition features stunning photography across three categories: People, Places, and Produce. The competition emphasizes the importance of photography in the winemaking industry, offering a unique window into the stories… Read More »

In 2023, a new association known as La Nouvelle Garde de Crozes-Hermitage was established in the northern Rhône, aiming to unite the next generation of winemakers in the region’s most significant cru. Sandra Combat, a young winegrower, highlighted the need for camaraderie among the producers: “The idea is we realized we are working here in… Read More »

In March, Clive Pursehouse, the North American Editor of Decanter, reviewed approximately 150 wines, yielding some standout selections. His extensive tastings included backing up the napa correspondent at Heitz Cellars and assisting the Sonoma correspondent during a day of tasting with top producers. He described March as an exciting month due to its designation as… Read More »

In the context of a changing climate, the narrative around traditionally overlooked grape varieties like Carignan, Aligoté, and Palomino is shifting. Once considered mere workhorses of the vineyard, these grapes are now gaining recognition, propelled by a new generation of vintners and changing consumer preferences. Carignan, for example, was long seen as too acidic and… Read More »

On my recent visit to Italy’s stunning Franciacorta region, known for its high-quality sparkling wines, I sensed a palpable frustration among local winemakers. Despite the exceptional quality of their wines, they struggle with global recognition, primarily due to the fact that only 12% of their production is exported. The low export rate is disheartening, especially… Read More »